C7 The Price of Being Chosen

The courtyard remained frozen in silence.

No one moved.

No one dared speak.

Ryker's howl continued to echo through the minds of every wolf within the Blackwood territory.

Aria stared at Damon.

The Alpha heir's face had gone pale.

He looked as though he had just realized something he could no longer deny.

Kael, however, remained perfectly still.

His golden eyes stayed fixed on Damon.

Then Ryker's howl abruptly stopped.

Damon's shoulders rose and fell with a heavy breath.

"Aria..."

She didn't answer.

Damon stepped down another stair.

"I need to speak with you."

Aria shook her head.

"You've had eighteen years to speak to me."

Pain flashed across his face.

"I know."

"No."

Her voice trembled, but she didn't look away.

"You don't know."

The courtyard became even quieter.

"You don't know what it was like to stand there while everyone watched you reject me."

Damon swallowed.

"I was wrong."

"You were cruel."

His eyes lowered.

"I know."

Aria felt the familiar ache return to her chest.

But this time, it didn't control her.

"I spent years believing there was something wrong with me because you never looked at me."

Damon's expression twisted with regret.

"I looked at you."

"Not the way I wanted."

"I couldn't."

"Why?"

Damon opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

Aria stared at him.

"Exactly."

Kael's gaze moved between them.

He said nothing.

For once, he allowed Aria to speak for herself.

Damon finally stepped down from the manor stairs.

"I thought I was protecting the pack."

"From me?"

"No."

His voice broke slightly.

"From what I thought would happen if I accepted you."

Aria frowned.

"What does that mean?"

Damon looked toward the elders.

Elder Rowan's expression immediately tightened.

Kael noticed.

"So you knew."

Damon's head snapped toward him.

"Knew what?"

Kael's voice was cold.

"That something was wrong with her bond."

Damon's face hardened.

"I didn't know what she was."

"But you knew enough to reject her."

Damon's fists clenched.

"I was told that accepting her would endanger the pack."

Aria stared at him.

"Who told you?"

Damon hesitated.

Before he could answer, Alpha Magnus stepped forward.

"That is enough."

His commanding voice echoed across the courtyard.

Everyone immediately turned toward him.

The Alpha descended the manor steps slowly.

His expression was stern.

"Damon, return inside."

"But Father—"

"Now."

Damon's jaw tightened.

He looked at Aria one last time.

Then his gaze shifted toward Kael.

There was something in his eyes that made Aria uneasy.

Jealousy.

Fear.

And something darker.

Damon turned and disappeared into the manor.

Alpha Magnus remained.

His gaze settled on Kael.

"Your Majesty."

Kael didn't bow.

"Alpha Magnus."

"You entered my territory without permission."

"I came for my mate."

A ripple moved through the crowd.

Magnus's eyes narrowed.

"She is still a member of the Blackwood Pack."

Kael's expression remained calm.

"For now."

The words carried a quiet threat.

Magnus stepped closer.

"You cannot simply arrive here and take her."

Kael's eyes flashed gold.

"I have no intention of taking her."

He looked at Aria.

"If she chooses to come with me, she will."

Aria's heart skipped.

Magnus followed his gaze.

"She is confused."

"Perhaps."

Kael's voice softened.

"But she is not incapable of choosing."

Aria looked at him.

Something about those words affected her more deeply than she expected.

He didn't claim ownership over her.

He didn't command her.

He simply believed her capable of deciding her own future.

Elder Rowan finally stepped between them.

"We need to return to the Council Chamber."

Magnus frowned.

"Why?"

Rowan looked toward Aria's pendant.

"Because the Moon Seal has awakened."

The Alpha's expression changed.

"You are certain?"

"I have seen it with my own eyes."

Magnus's gaze shifted to Aria.

For the first time, she saw something other than indifference in his expression.

Fear.

"What exactly did you find?"

Rowan's voice dropped.

"The First Blood."

The surrounding wolves immediately began whispering.

Magnus looked at Kael.

"Is that why you came?"

Kael didn't answer.

He didn't need to.

The answer was written in his eyes.

Magnus turned toward the warriors.

"Clear the courtyard."

The warriors immediately began ordering everyone away.

Aria remained where she stood.

She wasn't sure whether she wanted to run or demand answers.

Then Kael approached her.

"Are you afraid?"

Aria looked at him.

"Yes."

He nodded.

"Good."

She blinked.

"Good?"

"Fear keeps us alive."

He paused.

"But it should never decide where we go."

Aria studied his face.

"Do you really believe I can choose?"

Kael's expression softened.

"I wouldn't have come if I didn't."

Her heart gave an unfamiliar flutter.

Before she could respond, a sharp pain suddenly tore through her chest.

Aria gasped.

Her knees buckled.

Kael caught her before she hit the ground.

"Aria!"

The world blurred.

A strange sound filled her ears.

A heartbeat.

Slow.

Deep.

Ancient.

Then a voice whispered inside her mind.

"The blood has awakened."

Aria's eyes widened.

The courtyard disappeared.

She was standing somewhere else.

A vast stone hall stretched before her.

Hundreds of torches burned along the walls.

Wolves and Lycans stood together beneath a silver moon.

At the center of the hall stood a woman wearing a crown of white bone.

Her eyes were silver.

Her hand rested over a glowing crescent symbol.

Then the scene changed.

Fire.

Screaming.

Blood.

The same hall was burning.

Wolves fought Lycans.

Friends became enemies.

The crowned woman fell to her knees.

Someone stood behind her.

A man holding a black blade.

Aria couldn't see his face.

But she heard his voice.

"The First Blood must end."

The blade plunged forward.

Aria screamed.

She suddenly returned to the courtyard.

Kael was holding her tightly.

"Aria."

She gasped for air.

"What happened?"

Her fingers clutched his shirt.

"I saw..."

"What?"

"The war."

Kael's face became still.

"What war?"

"The first war."

His eyes darkened.

"What did you see?"

Aria looked at him.

"Wolves and Lycans."

She swallowed.

"They were fighting each other."

Kael's jaw tightened.

"And?"

"A woman."

"Who?"

"I don't know."

Aria closed her eyes.

"She wore a silver crown."

Kael went completely silent.

His reaction frightened her.

"You know her."

He slowly nodded.

"Yes."

"Who was she?"

Kael looked toward Elder Rowan.

Then back at Aria.

"My ancestor."

Aria's breath caught.

"The first Lycan Queen."

Kael's expression hardened.

"And the woman who began the bloodline you carry."

***

The Council Chamber had never felt so small.

Aria sat at the center of the table.

Kael stood behind her.

Elder Rowan stood opposite them.

Alpha Magnus sat beside the other Council members.

No one spoke for several moments.

Finally, Magnus broke the silence.

"If Aria truly carries the First Blood, the Luna Trials cannot continue."

Aria immediately looked up.

"No."

Several elders turned toward her.

Magnus frowned.

"You don't understand what you're facing."

"I understand that I started these trials."

"And they may kill you."

Aria's voice remained steady.

"Then I will face them."

Rowan stared at her.

"Aria..."

"You said a Luna needs courage."

Her eyes moved across the elders.

"You said power without wisdom destroys kingdoms."

She slowly stood.

"Then let me prove I have both."

Kael watched her with unmistakable pride.

Magnus shook his head.

"This is madness."

"No."

Aria looked toward the Alpha.

"This is the first time I've ever chosen something for myself."

The room fell silent.

Then the chamber doors suddenly burst open.

A warrior stumbled inside.

Blood covered his armor.

Everyone jumped to their feet.

"Alpha!"

Magnus rushed toward him.

"What happened?"

The warrior struggled to remain standing.

"The northern border..."

He collapsed to his knees.

"They're inside."

Magnus's face changed.

"Who?"

The warrior looked directly at Aria.

His eyes were filled with terror.

"The hunters."

Aria's heart stopped.

Kael's expression became deadly.

"How many?"

The warrior swallowed.

"Too many."

Then, from somewhere outside the chamber...

A horn sounded.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Kael turned toward the doors.

His hand slowly curled into a fist.

Aria touched her pendant.

It was burning against her skin.

And Lyra whispered inside her mind.

"They didn't come for the pack."

Aria's blood ran cold.

"They came for you."

The horn sounded again.

This time, the entire Blackwood Pack heard it.

Warriors rushed through the corridors.

Doors slammed open.

Orders echoed from every direction.

Aria stood in the center of the Council Chamber, her fingers still wrapped around the burning pendant.

"What are we going to do?" she asked.

Alpha Magnus immediately turned toward the nearest warrior.

"Seal the northern gate."

The warrior nodded.

"Send every available fighter to the eastern and western borders."

"Yes, Alpha."

"And wake the reserve warriors."

The man hesitated.

"All of them?"

Magnus's expression hardened.

"All of them."

The warrior hurried away.

Aria watched him disappear through the doorway.

She could feel the tension spreading through the pack.

Fear.

Confusion.

Anger.

But beneath all of it...

Something else.

A strange pull.

The same ancient sensation she had felt when Kael first arrived.

She closed her eyes.

"Lyra."

Her wolf stirred.

"I'm here."

"What are the hunters?"

There was a long silence.

"Enemies."

"I already know that."

"Then you already know enough."

Aria frowned.

"No, I don't."

She opened her eyes.

"I want the truth."

Lyra remained silent.

"Who are they?"

"They have hunted your bloodline for centuries."

"Why?"

"Because they fear what you can become."

Aria's heart pounded.

"What can I become?"

"A bridge."

"A bridge between what?"

"Two worlds that were never meant to remain divided."

Before Aria could ask another question, Kael stepped closer.

His expression was hard.

"We need to move."

Aria looked at him.

"Where?"

"Somewhere secure."

"No."

Kael paused.

Aria shook her head.

"I won't hide."

"This isn't about hiding."

"Then what is it about?"

"Survival."

Aria stared into his golden eyes.

"You said fear should never decide where I go."

Kael's expression softened.

"It shouldn't."

"Then don't ask me to run."

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then Kael nodded.

"Very well."

Magnus stared at him.

"You're agreeing to this?"

Kael looked at Aria.

"She has made her choice."

The Alpha shook his head.

"She's barely eighteen."

Aria's eyes narrowed.

"Being eighteen doesn't mean I am helpless."

Magnus opened his mouth.

But Elder Rowan interrupted.

"She is right."

Everyone looked at him.

Rowan stepped toward the center of the chamber.

"The First Trial has already awakened something inside her."

Magnus frowned.

"You're suggesting she fight?"

"No."

Rowan looked at Aria.

"I'm suggesting she learn."

Kael nodded.

"Then we have very little time."

A violent explosion suddenly shook the building.

The entire chamber trembled.

Several elders cried out.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

Magnus immediately drew his sword.

"What was that?"

A warrior burst through the doorway.

"Alpha!"

His face was pale.

"The northern wall has fallen."

Magnus's eyes widened.

"How?"

"We don't know."

"How many enemies?"

The warrior swallowed.

"At least fifty."

Kael stepped forward.

"That's not an attack."

Everyone looked at him.

"What do you mean?" Magnus asked.

Kael's expression darkened.

"It's a distraction."

"For what?"

Kael turned toward Aria.

"For her."

Aria's pendant suddenly burned brighter.

Then the lights inside the chamber went out.

Darkness swallowed the room.

A scream came from somewhere outside.

Then another.

Aria felt something brush against her mind.

A cold presence.

Watching.

Searching.

She froze.

"Someone is here."

Kael immediately moved toward her.

"Where?"

"I don't know."

"Aria."

She closed her eyes.

Lyra's presence surged forward.

The world around her changed.

She could suddenly see through the darkness.

Not with her eyes.

With something else.

Shapes appeared.

Warriors.

Elders.

Kael.

Magnus.

And one figure standing behind them.

A shadow.

Aria turned.

Nothing was there.

Then the figure moved.

She raised her hand instinctively.

A burst of silver energy exploded from her palm.

The chamber erupted with light.

A masked man was thrown against the wall.

Everyone gasped.

The stranger rolled across the floor and immediately sprang back to his feet.

His eyes were black.

Not dark brown.

Not deep blue.

Black.

Completely black.

He stared directly at Aria.

"The heir."

Aria's blood ran cold.

Kael stepped between them.

"You will not touch her."

The stranger laughed.

"You still don't understand."

Kael's eyes flashed gold.

"Explain."

The stranger looked at Aria.

"She isn't the heir."

Silence.

Aria's heart stopped.

The man slowly removed his mask.

His face was scarred from one side to the other.

"The heir died eighteen years ago."

Kael's expression changed.

"Then who is she?"

The stranger smiled.

"The key."

Before anyone could move, he slammed his hand against the floor.

A black cloud erupted around him.

Kael lunged forward.

But the stranger vanished.

The smoke disappeared seconds later.

Only a black crescent symbol remained burned into the stone.

Aria stared at it.

"What did he mean?"

No one answered.

Kael slowly approached the symbol.

He crouched beside it.

His expression became grim.

"This mark belongs to the Order of the Hollow Moon."

Rowan's face went pale.

"They were destroyed."

Kael shook his head.

"We were wrong."

Magnus stared at him.

"What do they want?"

Kael looked at Aria.

"Her blood."

A cold silence settled over the room.

Aria's hand instinctively moved toward her pendant.

"Why?"

Kael stood.

"Because your blood can unlock something they have been searching for."

"What?"

Kael hesitated.

"The Moon Gate."

Aria frowned.

"What is the Moon Gate?"

Rowan answered this time.

"An ancient gateway."

"To where?"

The old elder's voice dropped.

"To the realm beneath the Moon."

Aria stared at him.

"That doesn't make sense."

"It wasn't supposed to."

Rowan looked at Kael.

"Until the First Blood returned."

A distant scream echoed through the manor.

Everyone turned toward the doors.

A warrior stumbled into the chamber.

His armor was torn.

Blood covered his face.

"Alpha..."

Magnus rushed toward him.

"What happened?"

The warrior struggled to speak.

"They're inside the village."

"How many?"

"I don't know."

He coughed.

"They aren't attacking the warriors."

Magnus frowned.

"What are they doing?"

The warrior looked toward Aria.

"They're searching every house."

"For what?"

The warrior's voice trembled.

"For the girl."

Aria's stomach tightened.

"They know where I am."

Kael nodded.

"Yes."

"Then we should leave."

Magnus shook his head.

"The village is surrounded."

Kael looked toward the window.

"Then we break through."

Magnus gave him a hard look.

"This is my pack."

Kael's gaze sharpened.

"And she is my mate."

The two men stared at each other.

Aria stepped between them.

"Enough."

Both immediately looked at her.

"We don't have time to argue about who has the right to protect me."

She looked at Magnus.

"Your pack is under attack."

Then she looked at Kael.

"And your enemies came for me."

She took a breath.

"So let's stop reacting."

"What are you suggesting?" Magnus asked.

Aria looked toward the map on the table.

"The northern wall is already broken."

She pointed toward the eastern forest.

"If they're concentrating their forces here..."

Her finger moved across the map.

"...then the eastern border should be weaker."

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"You're thinking of attacking their flank."

"I'm thinking of giving our warriors somewhere to push."

Magnus studied the map.

She was right.

The eastern border was protected by a smaller patrol.

If the enemy had moved most of their forces north, that side would be vulnerable.

Magnus looked at his Beta.

"How many warriors?"

"Twenty-five."

"Take thirty."

The Beta nodded.

"And you?"

Magnus looked toward Aria.

"I'll defend the village."

Kael stepped forward.

"I'll take the eastern flank."

Aria shook her head.

"No."

Everyone looked at her.

"You can't go."

Kael frowned.

"Why?"

"Because they are expecting you to."

He stared at her.

"What makes you think that?"

"The masked man."

Aria pointed toward the black crescent on the floor.

"He wanted me to know who they were."

She looked around the room.

"He wanted us to panic."

Rowan's eyes widened.

"She's right."

Aria continued.

"The attack isn't about killing everyone."

She looked at Kael.

"It's about separating us."

Kael's expression became thoughtful.

"From each other."

"Yes."

"And then?"

"They take me."

Silence.

Kael's jaw tightened.

"Then I stay with you."

Aria nodded.

"Exactly."

Magnus stared at the two of them.

"You intend to use yourself as bait?"

Aria looked directly at him.

"No."

She touched her pendant.

"I intend to find out why they are so afraid of me."

Before anyone could answer, another explosion shook the building.

This one was much closer.

The windows rattled violently.

Warriors rushed into the hallway.

"Alpha!"

Magnus drew his sword.

"Positions!"

The chamber doors opened.

Dozens of warriors rushed past.

Kael reached for Aria's hand.

She looked at him.

"Stay close."

Aria nodded.

Then something slammed against the outer wall.

A massive crack appeared across the stone.

Everyone froze.

Another impact followed.

The wall began collapsing.

Kael pulled Aria behind him.

The stone exploded inward.

Dust filled the chamber.

Through the smoke...

A group of masked figures emerged.

At their center stood a woman dressed entirely in black.

Unlike the others, she wore no mask.

Her silver eyes locked onto Aria.

She smiled.

"Finally."

Aria's pendant began glowing.

The woman slowly lifted one hand.

"After eighteen years..."

Her smile widened.

"We found you."

Kael stepped forward.

"Who are you?"

The woman ignored him.

Her eyes remained fixed on Aria.

"Your mother hid you well."

Aria's breath caught.

"You knew my mother?"

The woman laughed softly.

"I knew exactly who she was."

Aria stepped forward.

"Tell me."

Kael immediately reached for her arm.

But Aria pulled away.

"Tell me what happened to my parents."

The woman's expression became strangely satisfied.

"You really don't remember."

"Remember what?"

The woman took another step.

"The night they died."

Aria's entire body went cold.

"You were there."

"Yes."

"Who killed them?"

The woman smiled.

"Ask the Lycan King."

Everyone turned toward Kael.

His expression had become unreadable.

Aria stared at him.

"What does she mean?"

Kael didn't answer.

The woman laughed.

"Now you understand."

Aria's eyes filled with disbelief.

"You knew."

Kael finally spoke.

"Aria..."

"You knew something about my parents."

"I knew part of the story."

"And you didn't tell me."

His expression tightened.

"I was trying to protect you."

Aria took a step backward.

"Everyone says that."

The woman smiled.

"Because everyone has something to hide."

Kael's eyes flashed.

"Enough."

He moved toward the woman.

She raised her hand.

The masked warriors immediately attacked.

Steel collided with steel.

The chamber erupted into chaos.

Aria backed away as warriors fought around her.

A masked attacker lunged toward her.

She raised her hand.

Silver light exploded from her palm.

The attacker flew backward.

Another came from behind.

Kael intercepted him.

His claws emerged.

His eyes burned gold.

The warrior barely had time to react before Kael slammed him into the wall.

Aria stared.

The Lycan King was terrifying.

But she didn't have time to watch.

Three more attackers surrounded her.

Lyra growled.

"Let me out."

Aria's eyes flashed silver.

"Not yet."

"Aria."

"I can handle this."

The first attacker lunged.

Aria ducked.

She grabbed his arm and twisted.

He fell.

The second struck.

She blocked the blow.

Pain shot through her shoulder.

The third attacked from behind.

Aria spun.

Something inside her awakened.

Silver energy surged through her body.

The entire chamber shook.

Every person froze.

The attackers stared at her.

Kael stopped mid-step.

Aria's eyes glowed silver.

The pendant rose from her chest.

It floated in the air before her.

Then the crescent symbol on the floor began glowing.

The woman in black smiled.

"Yes."

Her voice trembled with excitement.

"That's it."

Aria looked at her.

"What did you do?"

The woman shook her head.

"Not me."

She pointed at the pendant.

"She did."

Aria looked down.

The silver light became brighter.

A deep rumbling echoed beneath the floor.

Rowan's face went pale.

"The Moon Gate."

The woman smiled.

"It's opening."

Aria's heart stopped.

Beneath her feet...

The ancient stone began to split apart.