C6 The King Is Coming

Aria woke to the sound of wolves howling.

Not one.

Not two.

Dozens.

Their voices rose from different corners of the Blackwood territory, overlapping until the entire forest seemed to tremble beneath the sound.

She opened her eyes.

For several seconds, she couldn't remember where she was.

Then the ceiling of her small room came into focus.

The familiar cracked wooden beams.

The narrow window.

The faded curtains.

Home.

Or what had once been home.

Aria slowly pushed herself upright.

Her body felt strangely heavy.

The memory of the previous day returned in fragments.

The shrine.

Elder Rowan.

The silver pendant.

The woman on the lake.

"You carry an ancient bloodline."

Aria touched her chest.

Her heartbeat immediately quickened.

"Lyra?"

No response.

"Lyra."

Still nothing.

A cold feeling settled in her stomach.

Her wolf had been unusually quiet since the vision.

That frightened Aria more than she wanted to admit.

She swung her legs over the edge of the bed.

The moment her bare feet touched the floor, a sharp pain shot through her palm.

She gasped.

A thin silver line had appeared across her skin.

Aria stared at it.

The mark slowly curved into the shape of a crescent moon.

Then it vanished.

"What the hell..."

A knock suddenly sounded against her door.

Aria quickly pulled the blanket over her hand.

"Who is it?"

"It's me."

Lily's voice.

Aria blinked.

She opened the door.

The little girl stood outside with her mother, who immediately bowed her head.

"Forgive us for coming so early."

Aria looked at Lily.

"Is everything okay?"

Lily nodded eagerly.

"I brought you something."

She held out a small bundle wrapped in cloth.

Aria accepted it.

Inside was a tiny wooden wolf.

"I made it with my brother," Lily announced proudly.

"It's for your trial."

Aria smiled.

"It's beautiful."

"You need it."

"Why?"

Lily's expression became completely serious.

"Because brave people need something to remember home."

Something tightened inside Aria's chest.

She crouched down until they were at eye level.

"Thank you."

Lily hugged her without warning.

Aria froze.

Then slowly wrapped her arms around the child.

For eighteen years, she had wondered what it felt like to belong somewhere.

Perhaps belonging wasn't always about blood.

Sometimes...

It was simply about having someone who believed in you.

When Lily and her mother finally left, Aria placed the wooden wolf beside her bed.

Then she heard the sound of horns outside.

Three long blasts.

Her stomach dropped.

The Luna Trials.

She had almost forgotten.

"Aria."

Lyra's voice finally returned.

Aria closed her eyes.

"Where have you been?"

"Watching."

"Watching what?"

"You."

Aria frowned.

"That's not an answer."

"It is the only answer I can give you right now."

Before Aria could respond, another sound echoed through the village.

This time, it wasn't a horn.

It was a roar.

A deep, powerful sound that seemed to shake the windows.

Every wolf outside fell silent.

Aria rushed to the window.

People were running toward the northern gate.

Warriors were already forming lines.

"What happened?"

Lyra's voice became unusually tense.

"Someone has entered the territory."

"Who?"

A strange sensation moved through Aria's body.

Heat.

Not the familiar warmth of her wolf.

Something deeper.

Something ancient.

Her crescent pendant suddenly became hot against her chest.

Aria pulled it from beneath her shirt.

The silver crescent was glowing.

"No..."

She stepped away from the window.

The pendant had never reacted like this before.

Then she heard him.

Not with her ears.

Inside her mind.

A voice.

Deep.

Commanding.

Frighteningly calm.

"Aria."

Her breath caught.

"Who are you?"

Silence.

Then the voice came again.

"I have been looking for you."

Her fingers tightened around the pendant.

"Lyra?"

Her wolf didn't answer.

Instead, something inside Aria seemed to awaken.

A pull.

A connection.

A bond she couldn't explain.

She hurried outside.

The village was in chaos.

Warriors rushed toward the northern gate while civilians were ordered to remain indoors.

Aria pushed through the crowd.

"What's happening?"

A warrior grabbed her arm.

"Go back inside."

"Why?"

"Because the northern border has been breached."

"By who?"

The warrior's face had gone pale.

"Lycans."

The word spread through the crowd like wildfire.

Lycans.

The ancient race that most wolves believed existed only in legends.

Aria's heart pounded.

No.

A second roar echoed from the forest.

This one was closer.

The warriors lowered their heads.

Every wolf in the area instinctively bowed.

Then the gates opened.

A line of enormous black horses entered the territory.

Their riders wore dark armor.

Silver markings covered their shoulders and chest.

And at the center...

rode a man who made the entire world seem to stop.

He was tall.

Powerfully built.

His black hair fell slightly across his forehead, and his eyes were a striking shade of gold.

He wore no crown.

He didn't need one.

Authority radiated from him so intensely that even the Alpha's warriors seemed insignificant in his presence.

Aria had never seen him before.

Yet the moment their eyes met...

Her wolf screamed.

"Mate."

Aria stopped breathing.

The man dismounted.

His golden eyes never left hers.

Around them, whispers erupted.

"That's him."

"The Lycan King."

"King Kael Draven."

Aria's heart slammed against her ribs.

The stranger walked toward her.

One step.

Then another.

Every instinct inside her told her to run.

But her feet refused to move.

Kael stopped directly in front of her.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

His gaze moved over her face as if he were trying to memorize every detail.

Then his expression changed.

The coldness in his eyes disappeared.

Something almost vulnerable replaced it.

He whispered one word.

"Finally."

Aria swallowed.

"Why are you here?"

Kael's gaze dropped briefly to the silver pendant around her neck.

Then returned to her eyes.

"Because you called me."

"I didn't call anyone."

A faint smile touched his lips.

"You didn't have to."

Behind Aria, someone gasped.

Then another voice whispered,

"The Moon Goddess..."

Kael extended his hand.

Not demanding.

Not commanding.

Simply offering.

Aria stared at it.

And somewhere inside her...

Lyra finally spoke.

"Take his hand."

Aria's fingers trembled.

She reached forward.

But before their hands could touch—

A voice thundered across the courtyard.

"Get away from her!"

Aria turned.

Damon stood at the top of the manor steps.

His eyes were fixed on Kael.

His jaw was clenched.

Ryker's growl echoed through his expression.

For the first time since Damon had rejected her...

Aria saw something in his eyes she had never seen before.

Fear.

Not fear of Kael.

Fear of losing her.

Kael slowly turned toward Damon.

The warmth vanished from his face.

His golden eyes became cold.

"Alpha's heir."

Damon stepped down one stair.

"She belongs to this pack."

Kael's expression hardened.

"No."

His gaze returned to Aria.

"She belongs to herself."

Then he looked back at Damon.

"But if you are asking whether she is mine..."

His voice dropped.

"...ask your wolf."

Damon's face went pale.

Because Ryker was no longer growling.

He was howling.

And every wolf in the Blackwood Pack heard him.

The courtyard fell into complete silence.

Aria could hear her own heartbeat.

She could hear the nervous breaths of the warriors surrounding her.

And beneath it all...

She could hear Ryker.

The Alpha heir's wolf was fighting for control.

Damon's fists tightened at his sides.

"Aria," he said.

His voice was strained.

"Come here."

Aria stared at him.

For eighteen years, she had obeyed every command he gave without question.

But something inside her had changed.

She wasn't the same girl who had stood before him three nights ago, trembling as he rejected her.

She slowly shook her head.

Damon's expression tightened.

"Aria..."

"I don't belong to you."

The words came out quietly.

But everyone heard them.

A murmur swept through the courtyard.

Damon looked as though she had struck him.

"You are my mate."

"You rejected me."

His jaw clenched.

"I made a mistake."

Aria felt something inside her crack.

"You don't get to decide that now."

Damon took a step toward her.

Kael immediately moved between them.

The atmosphere changed.

Every warrior instinctively reached for a weapon.

Kael didn't even look at Damon.

"Do not approach her."

Damon's eyes flashed.

"This is Blackwood territory."

"And yet..."

Kael's golden eyes finally met his.

"...you are not the strongest wolf standing here."

A dangerous growl rolled across the courtyard.

Damon's wolf surged forward.

His eyes briefly flickered silver.

Aria's heart raced.

This was becoming dangerous.

"Stop."

Her voice wasn't loud.

But the moment she spoke, both men went still.

Aria looked at Damon first.

"I don't want a fight."

Then she turned toward Kael.

"Neither do I."

Kael studied her for several seconds.

Then he stepped aside.

The gesture surprised everyone.

Damon stared at him.

"You listen to her."

Kael's expression didn't change.

"Always."

Something about the simple answer unsettled Aria.

No one had ever said that to her before.

Not even those who claimed to care about her.

***

A sudden cry came from the edge of the courtyard.

"Make way!"

Everyone turned.

Elder Rowan hurried through the crowd.

His eyes immediately found Kael.

The old man's face went pale.

"Your Majesty."

Kael inclined his head.

"Elder Rowan."

"You know him?"

Aria looked between them.

Rowan hesitated.

"Unfortunately..."

Kael's gaze sharpened.

"You knew I would come."

Rowan's silence was answer enough.

Aria's confusion deepened.

"You knew?"

The elder looked at her.

"I suspected."

"You never told me."

"I couldn't."

Aria's frustration flared.

"Everyone keeps saying that!"

She turned away.

"I am tired of secrets."

Kael watched her carefully.

Then he spoke.

"She deserves the truth."

Rowan lowered his head.

"She does."

Damon stepped forward.

"What truth?"

Kael ignored him.

Rowan looked around the courtyard.

"Not here."

He turned toward the manor.

"The Council must hear this."

A low murmur spread among the wolves.

Aria looked at Kael.

"Why did you come?"

His eyes softened.

"Because I felt you awaken."

"How?"

"Through the Mate Bond."

Aria's breath caught.

"You're saying..."

Kael nodded.

"Yes."

"I am your mate."

The courtyard erupted.

Some wolves gasped.

Others immediately bowed their heads.

Damon looked devastated.

Selena, who had been standing near the manor entrance, looked as though the world had just collapsed around her.

Her fingers curled into fists.

"No."

Victor stood beside her.

His expression was far more controlled.

But Aria noticed the way his eyes narrowed.

He was calculating.

Planning.

Watching.

Selena whispered,

"He can't take her."

Victor leaned closer.

"He doesn't have to."

"What?"

"We do."

Selena looked at him.

Victor's voice became barely audible.

"If Aria reaches the Lycan Kingdom..."

"...we lose everything."

Selena's eyes hardened.

"Then she won't."

***

Inside the Council Chamber, tension filled the air.

The elders sat around the enormous circular table.

Damon stood on one side.

Kael stood on the opposite side.

Aria sat between them.

Elder Rowan remained at the head of the table.

He placed the crescent pendant on the table.

The moment it touched the polished wood...

The ancient symbols carved into the surface began glowing.

Several elders stood abruptly.

"What is that?"

Rowan's face was grim.

"The Moon Seal."

An elderly woman shook her head.

"Impossible."

"It disappeared centuries ago."

Rowan nodded.

"That is what we believed."

He looked at Aria.

"It was created for her bloodline."

Aria stared at the pendant.

"Why?"

No one answered.

She pushed back her chair.

"Enough."

The word echoed through the chamber.

"I want answers."

Rowan slowly nodded.

"Your parents belonged to an ancient lineage."

Aria's hands trembled.

"What lineage?"

"The First Blood."

Silence.

Kael's expression changed.

Damon looked confused.

One of the elders whispered,

"The First Blood..."

Rowan continued.

"They existed before the modern wolf packs."

"They were guardians of the balance between wolves and Lycans."

Aria stared at him.

"My parents were guardians?"

"Yes."

"Then why was I abandoned?"

Rowan's expression softened.

"They weren't."

Aria's breath caught.

"What?"

"They didn't abandon you."

The old elder looked away.

"They died protecting you."

Everything inside Aria stopped.

Her eyes filled with tears.

"You knew?"

"I knew enough."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because there were people still searching for you."

"Who?"

Rowan looked toward Kael.

The Lycan King's expression had become dangerously cold.

"The descendants of those who destroyed the First Blood."

Aria swallowed.

"They're still alive?"

"Not all of them."

"But their hatred survived."

A chill ran down her spine.

Kael finally spoke.

"They have been searching for the First Blood heir for generations."

Aria looked at him.

"And now they've found me."

Kael nodded.

"Yes."

A sudden crash shook the chamber.

Everyone jumped.

One of the windows shattered.

A black arrow flew across the room and embedded itself in the wall.

Attached to it was a strip of parchment.

Kael moved first.

He crossed the room and pulled it free.

His eyes scanned the message.

His expression darkened.

"What does it say?" Damon asked.

Kael handed the parchment to Rowan.

The elder read it.

His face drained of color.

Aria stood.

"What?"

Rowan looked at her.

"They know you're here."

The chamber went silent.

Then another arrow struck the opposite wall.

This one carried a single message.

THE HEIR WILL BLEED BEFORE THE THIRD MOON.

Aria's blood turned cold.

"The third moon?"

Kael's jaw tightened.

"The Luna Trials."

Damon stepped toward Aria.

"We need to move her."

Kael immediately shook his head.

"Not yet."

Damon glared at him.

"Why?"

"Because moving her now is exactly what they expect."

"Then what do we do?"

Kael looked at Aria.

"We prepare."

"For what?"

Kael's golden eyes burned.

"War."

***

That night, Aria stood alone on the balcony outside her room.

The forest stretched beneath her.

The moon hung low in the sky.

She touched the pendant.

"Lyra?"

Her wolf stirred.

"I'm here."

"Do you know what the First Blood is?"

A pause.

"Yes."

Aria closed her eyes.

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you weren't ready."

"I am tired of hearing that."

Lyra's voice softened.

"I know."

Aria leaned against the stone railing.

"My parents died protecting me."

"Yes."

"Who were they?"

"Your father was a Guardian."

"And my mother?"

"She was something more."

Aria turned sharply.

"What does that mean?"

Lyra didn't answer.

"Lyra."

Silence.

Then—

"She was the last Moon Keeper."

Aria's breath caught.

"What is a Moon Keeper?"

Before Lyra could explain, footsteps sounded behind her.

Aria spun around.

Kael stood at the entrance.

He had removed his armor.

Without it, he looked less like a king and more like a man.

But somehow...

That made him more dangerous.

"You shouldn't be here."

"I know."

"Then why are you?"

Kael stepped closer.

"Because I wanted to see you."

Aria's heart skipped.

"You barely know me."

"I know enough."

"How?"

His gaze softened.

"I have felt your loneliness."

Aria's throat tightened.

"What?"

"Through the Mate Bond."

He stopped several feet away.

"I felt every night you cried alone."

"I felt the pain when Damon rejected you."

"And I felt your fear when your wolf awakened."

Aria stared at him.

"You felt all of that?"

"Yes."

She looked away.

"Then you know how broken I am."

Kael's voice was gentle.

"No."

He stepped closer.

"I know how strong you are."

Aria looked at him.

"There's a difference."

"There is."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Kael reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black stone.

He held it toward her.

"What is that?"

"A protection stone."

"I don't need protection."

"I know."

His lips curved slightly.

"But I need peace of mind."

Aria hesitated before accepting it.

The instant their fingers touched...

A surge of warmth rushed through her.

The pendant around her neck glowed.

Kael's eyes widened.

The stone in Aria's palm cracked.

A thin silver light escaped through the fracture.

Kael stared at it.

"That shouldn't be possible."

"What?"

He looked at her.

"The stone only responds to ancient blood."

Aria's heart pounded.

"First Blood."

Kael nodded.

"First Blood."

Suddenly, a scream echoed from the courtyard.

Both of them turned.

A warrior came running through the gates.

"Your Majesty!"

Kael immediately moved toward the stairs.

"What happened?"

"The northern patrol..."

The warrior struggled to breathe.

"They've been attacked."

"By whom?"

The warrior looked toward Aria.

His face was pale.

"We found no bodies."

Kael's expression hardened.

"Then what did you find?"

The warrior swallowed.

"A symbol."

"What symbol?"

The warrior hesitated.

"A black crescent."

Aria's blood ran cold.

Her pendant began glowing again.

And somewhere beyond the forest...

A wolf howled.

Not a wolf from the Blackwood Pack.

Something older.

Something darker.

Lyra's voice whispered inside Aria's mind.

"They've found us."