FQ-TemptedPages-ff

Chapter One Aria's POV "Sometimes the person you'd take a bullet for is behind the trigger." I learned early that being invisible was better than being seen. In a house with three perfect daughters, I was the mistake nobody talked about, the evidence of my mother's affair that destroyed everything. My name is Aria Chen, and I'm the only human in a family of werewolves. While my half-sisters could shift into magnificent wolves by age twelve, I spent my sixteenth birthday crying in the bathroom because I'd never transform. My stepfather, Alpha Marcus of the Silvermoon Pack, barely looked at me. To him, I was the walking reminder that his true mate had betrayed him with a human man. "Aria! Get down here now!" My stepfather's voice boomed through the house, rattling the windows. I closed my laptop where I'd been working on my college essays and hurried downstairs. When the Alpha called, you answered even if you were just the unwanted human stepdaughter. The living room was packed. My three half-sisters sat on the cream leather couch like princesses holding court. Sophia, the eldest at twenty-one, had our mother's golden hair and sharp green eyes. The twins, Emma and Ella, eighteen and identical down to their perfectly manicured nails, flanked her like bodyguards. Marcus stood by the fireplace, his massive frame taking up most of the space. Even at fifty, he looked like he could tear apart anyone who challenged him. His dark eyes found mine, and I saw the familiar flash of disgust before he masked it. "Sit," he commanded. I perched on the armchair furthest from everyone, trying to make myself small. Our mother had died two years ago in a rogue attack, and since then, Marcus had made it clear I was only here until I turned eighteen next month. "I've received a summons from the Alpha King," Marcus announced, his deep voice filling the room. "There's to be a grand gathering next week. Every Alpha family must attend, including all unmarried daughters between sixteen and twenty-five." Sophia straightened, her eyes gleaming with interest. The twins exchanged excited glances. "The Prince is still searching for his mate," Marcus continued. "This gathering is disguised as a peace summit, but everyone knows the real purpose. Prince Alexander has been looking for his mate for eight years. The King grows impatient." My stomach dropped. Surely this didn't include me? "All four of you will attend," Marcus said, his gaze landing on me like a physical weight. "But Father," Sophia protested, her voice honeyed but sharp, "Aria isn't even a real member of this family. She's human." "The King's summons was specific," Marcus replied through gritted teeth. "Every daughter, regardless of status. Apparently, he wants no stone unturned in finding his son's mate." Emma laughed, the sound like breaking glass. "Can you imagine? Aria as the future Queen? She can't even sense wolves approaching. She'd be dead within a week." "Enough," Marcus snapped, though I noticed he agreed. "We leave in five days. Aria, you'll share a room with the servants at the palace. Try not to embarrass us more than your existence already does." The words stung, but I'd heard worse. I kept my face blank, a skill I'd perfected over the years. "What about our protection?" Ella asked. "The roads have been dangerous lately with all the rogue attacks." "I'm assigning our best warriors to escort us," Marcus said. "Beta James will coordinate security. This gathering is too important to risk anything going wrong." "Do we know which other packs are attending?" Sophia asked, already calculating her chances. "Every major pack in North America," Marcus replied. "The Bloodmoon Pack, Storm Ridge, Desert Sun, and at least twenty others. The palace will be packed with the most powerful wolves on the continent." My throat felt dry. Hundreds of werewolves, all of them stronger, faster, and deadlier than me. And I'd be trapped there for who knows how long, pretending I belonged. "You're all dismissed," Marcus said. "Start preparing. Sophia, you're in charge of ensuring your sisters are properly dressed. We represent the Silvermoon Pack's strength." As we stood to leave, Marcus grabbed my arm. His grip was just tight enough to hurt. "Listen carefully, human," he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. "You will stay silent and out of sight. If you embarrass this pack, if you draw any negative attention to us, I'll send you away the moment we return. The streets would be kinder than what I'd do to you. Understood?" "Yes, Alpha," I whispered. He released me with a disgusted snort, and I fled upstairs. My hands shook as I closed my bedroom door behind me. Five days. I had five days before walking into a den of wolves who'd see me as prey. I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my messages. There was one from my best friend Mia, the only other human in our pack territory. Her father was the pack doctor, which gave her some protection, but we'd bonded over being outsiders. *Movie tonight?* her text read. *Can't. Pack stuff,* I replied. Three dots appeared immediately. *Everything okay?* Before I could answer, my door burst open. Sophia stood there, her perfect lips curved in a smirk. "Start packing, little human," she said. "And don't even think about trying to run. Father has guards watching you now." "Why would I run?" She laughed. "Because you're smarter than you look. This gathering? It's not just about finding the Prince's mate. It's about power, alliances, and showing strength. And you?" She looked me up and down with contempt. "You're our weakness." She left, slamming the door behind her. I sank onto my bed, my mind racing. The Alpha Prince, looking for his mate. Hundreds of wolves who'd see me as less than nothing. My stepfather's threats. And somewhere in all of this, a feeling in my gut that my life was about to change forever. My phone buzzed. Mia again: *Aria, I just heard about the gathering. My dad says something big is happening. Be careful.* I stared at her message as another text came through: *There are rumors about the Prince. They say he's different. Dangerous. Whatever you do, stay away from him.* A chill ran down my spine. Different how? But before I could reply, the lights in my room flickered and went out. In the darkness, I heard it, a long, mournful howl that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. Then, carved into my window frost, four words appeared that made my blood run cold: "You're already being watched." Chapter Two Chapter Two Aria's POV "Fear is the mind-killer." The words on my window were gone by morning, leaving me to wonder if I'd imagined them. But the chill in my bones told me otherwise. Someone or something knew about me. I dragged myself out of bed at dawn, unable to sleep after last night's incident. The house was quiet, which meant my sisters were still asleep. This was the only time I felt safe here, when the wolves were dormant. The kitchen was my sanctuary. I'd learned to cook from my mother before she died, and it was the one thing I could do better than my sisters. They had their wolf strength; I had human patience and creativity. I was halfway through making breakfast when footsteps made me freeze. But it wasn't one of my sisters, it was James, the Beta, my stepfather's second in command. "Aria," he said quietly, his expression softer than most wolves when they looked at me. James had always been kinder, maybe because he had a human mate who died years ago. "The Alpha wants you ready by noon. We're going shopping for the gathering." "Shopping?" I couldn't hide my surprise. Marcus never spent money on me. "The King's orders were specific," James said, pouring himself coffee. "Every young woman must be presented appropriately. Even..." he paused, choosing his words carefully, "even you." "You mean even the human embarrassment?" James winced. "You know I don't think of you that way." "But everyone else does." I turned back to the stove, flipping pancakes with more force than necessary. "I heard Emma taking bets on how long I'd last at the palace before someone attacks me." "No one would dare," James said firmly. "The palace has strict laws. Any violence there means immediate execution." "That's comforting," I muttered. "So I'll be safe as long as I stay within palace walls. What about the journey there? What about when we return?" James was quiet for a moment. "Aria, can I tell you something?" I nodded, not trusting my voice. "Your mother... before she died, she made me promise to watch out for you. She knew this day would come." My hand stilled on the spatula. "What do you mean?" "She knew about the prophecy," he said quietly. "About a human girl who would—" "Beta James!" Sophia's sharp voice cut through the kitchen. "What are you doing here so early?" James straightened immediately. "Discussing travel arrangements with Aria." Sophia's green eyes narrowed as she looked between us. She was already perfectly dressed despite the early hour, her golden hair falling in waves past her shoulders. "Since when does the human get private meetings with pack leadership?" she asked sweetly, but there was venom underneath. "Since the Alpha ordered it," James replied calmly. He nodded to me. "Be ready by noon, Aria." He left, and Sophia grabbed my arm the moment he was gone. "I don't know what game you're playing," she hissed, "but stay away from James. He's mine." I jerked free. "James is thirty-five years old and still mourning his mate. He's not interested in you, Sophia." Her hand moved so fast I didn't see it coming. The slap echoed through the kitchen, leaving my cheek burning. "Know your place, human," she snarled. "James will be my mate. I've known since I was sixteen. We just haven't made it official yet." I touched my stinging cheek. "If he was your mate, you'd have known the moment you turned sixteen. That's how it works, isn't it? You're twenty-one, Sophia. He's not your mate." Her eyes flashed dangerously, and for a moment, I thought she might shift right there in the kitchen. But then she smiled, cold and calculating. "You're right," she said. "He's not my mate. But neither is anyone else in this pack, which means my mate is out there somewhere. Maybe at this gathering. Maybe someone powerful. Maybe even the Prince himself." She leaned closer, her breath hot on my face. "But you? You'll never have a mate. You'll die alone and unloved, just like you've lived." She grabbed a pancake from the plate I'd made and walked out, leaving me shaking. By noon, I was dressed and waiting by the door. My sisters emerged like supermodels, wearing designer clothes that probably cost more than I'd ever seen. I wore jeans and a simple sweater, the nicest things I owned. Marcus looked at me with disgust. "This is why we're going shopping. You look like a beggar." The ride to the mall was torture. I was squeezed between the twins, who spent the entire time discussing which wolves might be at the gathering and ranking them by attractiveness and power. Sophia sat in front with Marcus, occasionally glancing back at me with that calculating look. The mall was three towns over, in neutral territory where humans and supernatural creatures mingled freely. Marcus had chosen the most expensive department store, of course. "One hour," he announced. "Get her something presentable. Nothing too expensive," he added, looking at me. "You're not worth the investment." A sales associate appeared immediately, sensing money. She was human, with kind brown eyes and graying hair. "We need formal wear for this one," Sophia said, gesturing to me dismissively. "Something that won't embarrass us at a royal gathering." The woman's eyes widened. "A royal gathering? How exciting! Come, dear, let's find you something beautiful." For the next hour, I was transformed into a dress-up doll. The twins critiqued everything, too fancy, too plain, too attention-grabbing, too boring. Sophia vetoed anything that actually looked good on me. Finally, the saleswoman brought out a midnight blue dress that made even my sisters pause. It was simple but elegant, with long sleeves and a flowing skirt that reached my ankles. The fabric shimmered subtly when it caught the light. "No," Sophia said immediately. "That's too—" "Perfect," Marcus interrupted from where he'd been waiting. "We'll take it. And find her two more, something similar. Nothing that stands out." As the woman rang up the purchases, she leaned close to me. "That blue dress is special," she whispered. "My grandmother made it. She always said it was waiting for the right person." Before I could ask what she meant, she pressed something into my hand, a small silver pendant on a chain. "Wear this," she said quietly. "For protection." I looked down at the pendant. It was a crescent moon with a star in its curve, and it felt warm against my palm. "Aria! Move!" Emma snapped, and I quickly pocketed the necklace. The ride home was quieter. My sisters seemed unsettled by something, exchanging glances I couldn't interpret. When we arrived, I headed straight to my room with my packages. As I hung up the dresses, my phone buzzed. It was a number I didn't recognize. *The gathering isn't what it seems. Trust no one, especially not the Prince. Your mother knew the truth.* My hands trembled as I typed back: *Who is this?* *A friend. There are others like you, Aria. Others who know what's coming. The blue dress will help them find you.* *What's coming?* I typed frantically. But there was no response. I stared at my phone, fear and confusion warring in my chest. My mother knew something. James had started to tell me about a prophecy. And now mysterious texts? A howl pierced the night, closer than before. Then another. And another. I ran to my window and gasped. The forest behind our house was lit with eyes, dozens of them, all staring at my window. Then, as one, they all turned and ran, disappearing into the darkness. But on my windowsill, they'd left something behind. A black rose, its petals still wet with dew. And beneath it, a note in elegant handwriting: "The lost princess returns home soon." Chapter Three Chapter Three Aria's POV "Secrets are like shadows – they grow longer as the sun sets." The black rose turned to ash the moment I touched it, leaving only the note behind. I read it over and over until the words blurred. Lost princess? It had to be a mistake. I was nobody, just the unwanted human in a pack of wolves. Sleep was impossible after that. I sat by my window until dawn, watching the forest for any sign of movement. But the woods remained still, keeping their secrets. By morning, exhaustion weighed me down like lead. We were leaving for the palace tomorrow, and I still had to pack. But first, I needed answers. I found James in the pack training grounds, overseeing morning drills. He saw me coming and immediately walked over, concern creasing his features. "Aria, you look terrible. What happened?" I pulled him aside, away from curious ears. "You started to tell me something yesterday. About my mother and a prophecy." His face went carefully blank. "I don't know what you mean." "Please, James." I showed him the note. "Strange things are happening. Someone's watching me. They mentioned a lost princess." James went pale. He grabbed my arm and pulled me further from the training grounds, into a small grove of trees where no one could overhear. "Where did you get this?" he demanded. "My window. Last night. With a black rose that turned to ash when I touched it." He cursed under his breath. "This is happening too fast. You weren't supposed to... not yet." "What aren't you telling me?" James looked around nervously, then pulled out his phone. He showed me an old photograph, my mother, young and smiling, standing next to a man I didn't recognize. He was tall, dark-haired, with striking silver eyes. "Your mother didn't have an affair with a human," James said quietly. "She had an affair with someone far more dangerous." My legs felt weak. "Who?" "Prince Dominic. The previous Alpha King's younger brother. He died shortly after you were conceived, killed by rogues. Or so the official story goes." The world tilted. "That's impossible. I'm human. I can't shift." "Your mother was human, yes. But your father..." James hesitated. "Royal blood works differently, Aria. Sometimes it skips the wolf gene entirely, creating something else. Something that only awakens when—" "Beta James!" We both jumped. Marcus stood at the edge of the grove, his face furious. "Alpha," James bowed his head. "I was just—" "I know what you were doing," Marcus snarled. He grabbed my arm roughly. "Get back to the house. Now." As he dragged me away, I heard him whisper to James: "Tell her anything else, and I'll banish you." Marcus didn't speak during the walk home, but his grip left bruises on my arm. When we reached the house, he shoved me inside. "Pack your things," he ordered. "Don't leave your room until tomorrow." I stumbled upstairs, my mind reeling. Royal blood? My father wasn't human but a prince? It was insane. It had to be a lie. But then I remembered my mother's final words to me, spoken through blood-stained lips as she lay dying: "You're more than you know, my darling. When the time comes, don't be afraid of what you are." I'd thought it was delirium. Now I wasn't sure. My phone buzzed. Mia: *Emergency. Meet me at our spot. Fifteen minutes.* Our spot was an old oak tree on the border of pack territory. It took me ten minutes to sneak out through my window, a skill I'd perfected over the years. Mia was already there, pacing anxiously. When she saw me, she ran over and hugged me tight. "Thank god you're okay," she breathed. "Aria, something big is happening. My dad was up all night on calls with other pack doctors. They're all talking about some ancient prophecy activating." "What prophecy?" She pulled out an old leather journal. "I stole this from my dad's office. Look." The page was filled with symbols I couldn't read, but there was an illustration, a woman with a crescent moon on her forehead, standing between two wolves, one black and one white. "The Moon's Daughter," Mia read. "Born of royal blood and human heart, she will bridge two worlds when the Blood Moon rises. Her choice will either unite the packs forever or destroy them all." "That's not... that can't be about me." "Aria, the Blood Moon rises in three weeks. Right after the gathering ends." Mia grabbed my hands. "And there's more. The illustration, look at the woman's wrist." I looked closer. On the illustrated woman's wrist was a birthmark shaped like a crescent moon. My blood ran cold. I pushed up my sleeve, revealing the birthmark I'd had since birth – a perfect crescent moon. "It's just coincidence," I whispered. "Is it?" Mia asked. "You've always been different, Aria. You can sense things before they happen. You've never been sick a day in your life. And remember last year when those rogues attacked? You touched that dying wolf and he healed." "That wasn't me—" "It was. We both know it was." She squeezed my hands. "You're not just human, Aria. You never were." A branch snapped behind us. We spun around to find Sophia standing there, her face a mask of shock and rage. "So the little human has secrets," she said slowly. "This is very interesting." "Sophia, please—" "Oh, I won't tell Father," she said, smiling cruelly. "This is far too valuable. You're going to do exactly what I say at the gathering, or I'll make sure everyone knows what you are. And trust me, there are plenty of wolves who'd love to get their hands on the Moon's Daughter. Dead or alive." She turned to leave, then paused. "Oh, and Aria? That birthmark of yours? I'd keep it covered if I were you. The Prince has been searching for a girl with a moon-shaped mark for eight years. Something about a vision he had." She disappeared into the forest, leaving Mia and me frozen with fear. "You have to run," Mia said urgently. "Leave tonight. Go somewhere they can't find you." "I can't. Marcus has guards watching me. And if I run now, Sophia will tell everyone." I felt trapped, walls closing in from every direction. "Then what will you do?" I thought about the mysterious texts, the black rose, James's revelation about my father. All paths led to one place. "I go to the gathering," I said quietly. "And I find out the truth about what I am." Mia hugged me again. "Be careful. If you really are the Moon's Daughter..." "Then I'm either the savior or destroyer of the werewolf world," I finished. "No pressure." As I walked home, the forest seemed different. The shadows moved strangely, and I could swear I heard whispers in a language I didn't understand but somehow felt familiar. When I reached my window, there was another black rose on the sill. This time, the note was different: "Tomorrow, everything changes. The Prince has been dreaming of you for eight years. He knows you're coming. Be ready." I climbed inside and found all three of my sisters waiting in my room. "We need to talk," Sophia said, and for once, she didn't look cruel. She looked afraid. "About what happens when you meet Prince Alexander tomorrow." Chapter Four Chapter Four Aria's POV "Sometimes the people you trust most are the ones who betray you first." My sisters had never all been in my room at once. Seeing them there, Sophia perched on my desk chair like a queen, the twins flanking my doorway like guards, made the small space feel like a cage. "Sit," Sophia commanded, pointing to my bed. For once, I didn't argue. The way they were looking at me, like I was a ticking bomb, made my skin crawl. "What we're about to tell you doesn't leave this room," Sophia said. "Father would kill us. Literally." Emma locked the door while Ella pulled something from her pocket, a small black stone that she placed on my nightstand. The air shimmered around it. "Sound barrier," Ella explained. "No one can hear us now." "Why are you helping me?" I asked suspiciously. "We're not," Sophia said bluntly. "We're protecting ourselves. If you really are what that prophecy says, your actions affect all of us. Our entire pack." "A year ago," Emma began, "Prince Alexander visited our pack. You were at that human friend's house, so you never met him. But he asked about you." My heart stopped. "What?" "He'd heard rumors about a human living in the Silvermoon Pack," Ella continued. "An Alpha's daughter who couldn't shift. Father told him you were away at boarding school." "But the Prince didn't believe him," Sophia said. "He kept asking questions. What you looked like, how old you were, and if you had any unusual marks or abilities. Father got nervous and changed the subject, but the damage was done." "After he left," Emma said, "Father got a call from the Alpha King himself. Warning him that if he was hiding something, the consequences would be severe." I felt sick. "So this gathering..." "It's not really about finding the Prince's mate," Sophia finished. "It's about finding you. The Prince has been having visions since he turned sixteen. Visions of a girl with a crescent moon birthmark who would either save or destroy everything." "But I'm not... I can't be that important." The twins exchanged glances. "Tell her," Emma said to Sophia. Sophia sighed. "Three months ago, a witch came to our territory. Father tried to keep it secret, but I overheard. She said the Moon's Daughter had been hidden in plain sight, suppressed by a powerful spell. A spell that would break on her eighteenth birthday." "My birthday is next week," I whispered. "Three days after the gathering starts," Sophia confirmed. "The same night as the welcome ball, when you'll be presented to the Prince." The room spun. Everything was happening too fast. "There's more," Ella said quietly. "The witch said the Moon's Daughter would have a mate. A mate whose darkness would either be tamed by her light or consume them both." "The Prince," I breathed. "He's not called the Dark Prince for nothing," Emma said. "He's killed more rogues than any wolf in history. They say he's ruthless, cold, without mercy. His wolf is pure black, the sign of an Alpha with dangerous power." "But he's been searching for you," Sophia added. "Obsessively. Every gathering, every ball, every pack visit, he's looking for the girl from his visions." "So what do I do?" Sophia stood, and for the first time since our mother died, she looked at me with something other than hatred. "You survive," she said simply. "Keep your birthmark hidden. Don't let him touch you, skin contact strengthens mate bonds. And whatever you do, don't be alone with him." "Why are you helping me?" I asked again. "Because if you're really the Moon's Daughter and he's really your mate, your union would make Silvermoon one of the most powerful packs in the country," Sophia said pragmatically. "We'd be untouchable. But if you die or reject the bond, the shame would destroy us." Of course. It was still about power. The twins removed the sound barrier stone. "We leave at dawn," Emma said. "Be ready." They filed out, leaving me alone with my racing thoughts. I pulled out my phone to text Mia, but there were already three messages from unknown numbers: *Don't trust your sisters.* *The Prince knows what you are.* *Your mother's death wasn't an accident.* That last one made me drop the phone. My mother had died in a rogue attack, torn apart while protecting a group of pups. But what if... A soft knock interrupted my spiral. "Aria?" James's voice. "Can I come in?" I opened the door to find him holding a small wooden box. "Your mother asked me to give this to you before the gathering," he said, handing it over. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you more earlier." Inside the box was a silver bracelet with tiny moon phases carved into it, and underneath, a letter in my mother's handwriting. *My dearest Aria,* *If you're reading this, then the time has come for you to know the truth. You are not human, though you've lived as one. You are something far more precious and dangerous.* *Your father was Prince Dominic, brother to the Alpha King. He loved me truly, though our love was forbidden. When he learned I was pregnant, he tried to protect us, but some wanted him dead. They succeeded.* *I hid you in plain sight, binding your true nature with magic that cost me dearly. The spell would hold until your eighteenth birthday, keeping you safe from those who would use you.* *The bracelet will help control your powers when they manifest. Wear it always.* *Trust your instincts. They've never been human instincts, they've been the instincts of something between worlds.* *And Aria, my darling girl, when you meet him and you will know who I mean, remember that darkness and light are two halves of the same whole. Don't fear what feels like fate.* *All my love,* *Mom* Tears blurred my vision. "James, did you know? About my father?" He nodded sadly. "I helped hide you. Your mother and I... we thought we had more time." "Time for what?" "To prepare you. To train you. To help you understand what you are before—" A howl split the night, so loud the windows shook. Then another. And another. James went rigid. "No. They're too early." "Who?" "The Prince's guards. They're here." Marcus's voice boomed through the house: "EVERYONE DOWNSTAIRS. NOW." I grabbed the bracelet, clasping it around my wrist. The moment it touched my skin, I felt a surge of something electric, like lightning in my veins. James grabbed my shoulders. "Listen carefully. Whatever happens next, don't reveal yourself. The Prince can't know, not yet. Not until you understand what you are." We rushed downstairs to find the living room full of massive warriors in black uniforms bearing the royal crest. And in the center, his back to us, stood a man whose presence made the air itself feel heavy. He turned slowly, and I forgot how to breathe. Prince Alexander was devastating. Tall, broad-shouldered, with jet-black hair and eyes like liquid silver. Power radiated from him in waves that made everyone in the room want to bare their throats in submission. Everyone except me. Our eyes met, and the world stopped. I saw recognition flash across his perfect features. His nostrils flared, scenting the air, and his eyes went wide. "You," he breathed, his voice like dark velvet. "Finally." He took a step toward me, and every instinct screamed at me to run. But I couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't think. Because the moment our eyes met, I felt it, a pull so strong it was like gravity itself was trying to force us together. "No," I whispered. He smiled then, dangerous and beautiful. "Hello, little moon. I've been waiting for you." And that's when my birthmark started to glow. Chapter Five Chapter Five Alexander's POV Eight years. I'd been searching for eight goddamn years, and she'd been hiding in Marcus's pack the entire time. The moment I walked into that house, I knew. Her scent hit me like a physical force, vanilla and moonlight, with something else underneath, something that made my wolf go absolutely feral. He'd been clawing at my insides for years, desperate and half-mad from searching for our mate. And there she was. Standing on the stairs like she was trying to disappear into the wallpaper. Aria Chen. The human who wasn't human. The girl from my visions. My mate. She was nothing like I'd expected. Smaller, for one thing. Delicate-looking with that pale skin and dark red hair that fell past her shoulders. But her eyes, deep brown with flecks of gold held a strength that made my wolf purr with satisfaction. When our eyes met, everything else ceased to exist. Just her and me and this pull between us that felt like destiny and doom wrapped into one. Then her birthmark started glowing through her sleeve, and all hell broke loose. "Get her upstairs!" Marcus shouted, moving to block my path. "Now!" The Beta, James, grabbed Aria and practically dragged her away while her sisters formed a barrier on the stairs. Brave, if stupid. "Move," I commanded, using my Alpha voice. They whimpered but held their ground. Interesting. Family loyalty or fear of their father? "Prince Alexander," Marcus said carefully, "I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow." "Plans changed." I didn't take my eyes off the stairs where Aria had disappeared. My wolf was snarling, demanding I chase after our mate. "I heard you had a human daughter. I wanted to meet her." "She's nothing special," Marcus said too quickly. "Weak. Sickly. Hardly worth your time." I turned my full attention to him, and he stepped back. Good. He should be afraid. "Lying to royalty is treason, Marcus." His face went white. "I'm not—" "You are." I moved closer, letting him feel the weight of my power. "I know what she is. I've always known. Did you really think you could hide the Moon's Daughter from me?" The room went silent except for someone's sharp intake of breath – one of the daughters. "How?" Marcus whispered. "I've been dreaming of her since I was sixteen," I said. "Every night, the same vision. A girl with a crescent moon birthmark who would either save my soul or destroy it. The Moon Goddess's own daughter, hidden among humans." I laughed, dark and without humor. "And you've had her here, suppressed and ignorant, letting her believe she was worthless. Did you know what you were doing, Marcus? Or were you just that stupid?" "The King—" "My father doesn't know. Yet." I smiled at his relief, then crushed it. "But he will, when I bring her home as my mate and future Queen." "She doesn't know," the eldest daughter, Sophia said suddenly. "About any of it. She just found out today about the prophecy." I studied her. "And you care because?" "She's still my sister," Sophia said, lifting her chin. "Half-sister, but still family." Interesting. Not what I'd expected from Marcus's spoiled daughters. "Bring her down," I ordered. "Now." "Please," Marcus actually begged. "She's not ready. She doesn't understand what's happening." "Then I'll explain it to her." Heavy footsteps on the stairs made everyone turn. James appeared, his face grim. "She's gone." The words hit me like a physical blow. My wolf roared, and the windows cracked from the force of my rage. "What do you mean gone?" I snarled. "Out the window. She left this." He held up a piece of paper. I snatched it from him, reading her delicate handwriting: *I need time. Please.* Two sentences that made my wolf want to tear the house apart. "Find her," I ordered my guards. "Don't hurt her, don't scare her, just find her." They scattered immediately, leaving me with Marcus's terrified family. "You're all coming to the palace tonight," I decided. "We'll leave immediately." "But our things—" one of the twins started. "Will be sent for." I turned to Marcus. "You've hidden her from me for eighteen years. The only reason you're still breathing is because killing you would upset her." I pulled out my phone and called my Beta. "Dimitri, prepare the east wing. I'm bringing guests." "How many?" his rough voice asked. "Five. Including her." There was a pause. "You found her?" "Yes." "Thank the Goddess. Your wolf—" "It's barely controlled," I admitted. "She ran." "She... ran? From you?" I could hear his disbelief. No one ran from me. Ever. "She's scared," I said, though the words tasted bitter. My mate shouldn't fear me. She should want me as desperately as I wanted her. "Sir," one of my guards mind-linked me. "We found her trail. She's heading for the pack border." "Don't let her cross it," I commanded. I turned back to the family. "Where would she go?" They exchanged glances, and the blonde daughter sighed. "Her friend Mia. The pack doctor's daughter. They have a meeting spot by the old oak tree." I left without another word, shifting into my wolf the moment I hit the door. My wolf was massive, pure black, built for killing. But right now, all he wanted was to find our mate. Her scent was everywhere, fear and confusion and something else. Power. Raw, untapped power that made my wolf drunk with need. I found her at the oak tree, talking rapidly with another human girl. She sensed me before she saw me, spinning around with wide eyes. "Don't," she whispered. "Please." I shifted back, not caring that I was naked. Humans and their modesty weren't my concern. "You ran from me." It came out as an accusation. "You're a stranger," she shot back, surprising me with her fire. "A dangerous stranger who shows up at my house claiming I'm something I'm not." "You are exactly what I said you are." I moved closer, noting how she held her ground even as her friend cowered. "You're the Moon's Daughter. And you're my mate." "I don't have a wolf. I can't be your mate." "Your birthmark says otherwise." I gestured to her wrist where it still glowed faintly under her sleeve. "You feel it, don't you? The pull between us?" She bit her lip, and I had to clench my fists to keep from grabbing her. "I feel something," she admitted quietly. "But that doesn't mean—" "It means everything." I was in front of her now, close enough to touch. "You're mine, Aria. You've always been mine. And I've been yours, waiting, searching, going half-mad with the need to find you." "You don't even know me." "I know you're brave enough to live among wolves who treated you as less than. I know you're smart enough to hide your true nature even from yourself. I know you're kind enough to protect your friend right now even though you're terrified." She blinked up at me. "How do you—" "Because I've been dreaming of you for eight years," I said softly. "Every night, I see you. Different scenarios, different places, but always you. Always with those brown eyes that see too much and that mark that glows like the moon itself." "This is insane." "This is fate." I reached out slowly, giving her time to pull away. She didn't. The moment my fingers touched her cheek, electricity shot through both of us. She gasped, her birthmark flaring bright, and I saw her eyes flash silver for just a moment. "What was that?" she breathed. "The beginning," I said. "Your powers are waking up. You're going to be magnificent, little moon." "I'm scared." The admission broke something in me. My mate shouldn't be scared. She should feel safe, protected, cherished. "I know," I said gently. "But I'll keep you safe. Always. Even from myself if necessary." She studied my face. "They call you the Dark Prince. They say you're dangerous." "I am." No point in lying. "I've done terrible things, Aria. Things that would horrify you. But I would never hurt you. I couldn't. You're the light to my darkness, the only thing that can save me from myself." "That's a lot of pressure." I laughed, surprising us both. "It is. But you're stronger than you know." "Aria," her friend Mia finally spoke. "You should go with him." We both looked at her in surprise. "The texts you've been getting? I know who's sending them. It's the resistance, the ones who want to use you. At least with him..." she looked at me nervously, "at least he wants to protect you." "Resistance?" I growled. Aria pulled out her phone, showing me the messages. Each one made my wolf more furious. "Someone's been stalking you." "For days now. Leaving roses, notes, threats." "You're coming with me. Tonight." It wasn't a request. She looked back at the house, then at me. "What about my family?" "They're coming too." "And if I say no?" I stepped closer, backing her against the tree. "Then I stay here, in your pack, making everyone uncomfortable with my presence until you say yes. Your choice, little moon. Come with me willingly, or I'll simply never leave." She glared at me, and it was adorable. "That's not much of a choice." "It's more than most would give you." She considered this, then sighed. "Fine. But I have conditions." My wolf preened. Our mate was negotiating with us. She was perfect. "Name them." "My own room. No touching without permission. And you tell me everything about the prophecy, my parents, all of it." "Done." She blinked. "That was too easy." "You'll learn, little moon, that I'll give you anything you want. You just have to ask." A blush colored her cheeks, and I had to physically stop myself from kissing her. "We should go," she said. I nodded, pulling out my phone. "Dimitri, bring clothes to the oak tree. And a car." "Clothes?" Aria asked. I gestured to my naked form. "Unless you prefer me like this?" Her blush deepened, and she deliberately looked away. "Definitely need clothes." I laughed, and for the first time in eight years, my wolf settled. We'd found her. Our mate. Our salvation. Now I just had to convince her to keep us. Chapter Six Aria's POV "Every ending is also a beginning. We just didn't know it at the time." The palace was nothing like I'd imagined. I'd expected something cold and imposing, full of marble and stone. Instead, it looked like something from a fairy tale – warm golden walls, flowering vines climbing up towers, and windows that caught the light like jewels. "It's beautiful," I breathed, forgetting for a moment that I was trying to maintain distance from the dangerous Prince beside me. Alexander's lips curved slightly. He'd been watching me the entire three-hour drive, his silver eyes never leaving my face. It should have been creepy, but instead, it made something warm unfurl in my chest. "Wait until you see the gardens," he said. "They bloom year-round, even in winter." "Magic?" I asked. "Love," he replied, then seemed to catch himself. "My mother designed them before she died. She was human, like you." That surprised me. "The Queen was human?" "The strongest woman I've ever known," he said softly. "Until now." Before I could respond, the car stopped. Alexander was out and opening my door before his driver could move, offering his hand. I stared at it, remembering our deal. "No touching without permission." Something flashed in his eyes – frustration? Hurt? – but he withdrew his hand. "Of course." I climbed out on my own, trying to ignore the disappointment on his face. Behind us, another car pulled up with my stepfamily. Marcus looked pale, my sisters unusually quiet. "Prince Alexander!" A massive man jogged toward us, bronze-skinned with tribal tattoos covering his arms. "Thank the Goddess. Your father has been—" He stopped, staring at me. "Is this?" "Aria, meet Dimitri, my Beta and best friend." Alexander's voice held warning. "Dimitri, this is Aria Chen. My mate." Dimitri's eyes widened. "The Moon's Daughter? She's real?" "Very real," I said dryly. "Though still confused about the whole thing." Dimitri laughed, loud and warm. "I like her already. Your Highness, the King is waiting in the throne room." Alexander tensed. "He knows?" "The moment you crossed the border with her. Her power... it's like a beacon to those who know what to look for." "What power?" I asked. "I don't have any power." Both men looked at me strangely. "Aria," Alexander said carefully, "you're glowing." I looked down and gasped. My skin had a faint silver luminescence, like moonlight made solid. The bracelet my mother left me was warm against my wrist, the moon phases shining. "How do I turn it off?" I asked, panicking. "You don't," Alexander said. "Not anymore. Your eighteenth birthday is in three days. The closer it gets, the stronger your powers will become." "I need that handbook now," I muttered. "First, my father," Alexander said grimly. "He'll want to meet you immediately." We walked through massive doors into a grand entrance hall. Wolves were everywhere – guards, servants, nobles – and every single one stopped to stare at me. At us. Whispers followed our footsteps. "Is that her?" "The human?" "Look at her glow..." "The Prince finally found his mate..." I wanted to disappear, but Alexander's presence beside me was oddly comforting. He didn't touch me, respecting my request, but he stayed close enough that I could feel his warmth. The throne room doors were massive, carved with scenes of wolves and moons. They opened silently, revealing a space that took my breath away. The ceiling was glass, showing the darkening sky above. Two thrones sat on a raised platform – one empty, one holding the most intimidating man I'd ever seen. Alpha King Rafael looked like an older version of Alexander – same black hair, same silver eyes, same dangerous beauty. But where Alexander's power felt controlled, the King's was barely leashed violence. "So," the King said, his voice echoing through the chamber, "this is the girl my son has been obsessing over." I felt the weight of his stare like a physical thing. My knees wanted to buckle, but I forced myself to stand straight. "Your Majesty," I said, proud when my voice didn't shake. He stood, descending from the throne with predatory grace. "You don't bow?" "She doesn't know how," Alexander said quickly. "I wasn't talking to you, son." The King circled me slowly. "Interesting. You have no wolf, yet you resist an Alpha King's presence. That should be impossible." "I'm good at impossible things, apparently." Someone snickered – Dimitri, I thought – but the King's expression didn't change. "The Moon's Daughter," he mused. "Hidden as a human for eighteen years. Your mother was clever." "You knew my mother?" "I knew of her. She came to me once, begging for sanctuary. I refused." His eyes were cold. "I regret that now. Things might have been different if I'd helped." "You mean she might still be alive," I said, anger flaring. The temperature in the room dropped. Alexander stepped closer to me, a warning growl rumbling in his chest. The King smiled, showing teeth. "There's the fire. You'll need it for what's coming." "What's coming?" "War," he said simply. "The moment the other packs learn what you are, they'll either try to claim you or kill you. The prophecy says you'll choose the fate of our kind. Some won't want to leave that choice to you." "But I don't even know what the prophecy means!" "Show her," the King commanded Alexander. "The archive room. Let her read the original text." Alexander nodded, but before we could leave, the doors burst open. A woman strutted in, beautiful in the way that poisonous flowers are beautiful. Long black hair, green eyes, wearing a dress that left little to imagination. "Alexander!" she purred, completely ignoring me. "You left without saying goodbye." I felt Alexander stiffen beside me. "Victoria. What are you doing here?" "I heard you found some human girl. I had to see for myself." She finally looked at me, dismissive. "This little thing? She's your mate?" "Watch your tone," Alexander warned. Victoria laughed. "Oh, Alexander. We both know she's not strong enough for you. You need a real wolf by your side. Someone who can match your darkness." She moved closer to him, her hand reaching for his chest. I acted without thinking. "Don't touch him." The words came out with such force that Victoria actually stumbled backward. My skin was glowing brighter now, and the bracelet felt like fire on my wrist. Victoria's eyes flashed. "Did you just use a command on me? You're not even a wolf!" "No," I said, stepping between her and Alexander. "I'm something else." Power surged through me, raw and untamed. The glass ceiling cracked. The lights flickered. And for just a moment, I could have sworn I saw silver wings of light spread from my back. Then Alexander's arms were around me, grounding me. "Breathe, little moon. Pull it back." I focused on his voice, his scent, the solid warmth of him. Slowly, the power receded, though my skin still glowed. "Everyone out," the King commanded. "Except my son and his mate." The room emptied quickly, Victoria shooting me a venomous look as she left. "Well," the King said once we were alone, "that was interesting." "What just happened?" I asked, exhausted suddenly. "Your powers are manifesting faster than expected," Alexander said, still holding me. I didn't protest. "Strong emotions trigger them." "Jealousy, specifically," the King added with amusement. "You saw another female touching your mate and reacted. Your human side might not understand the bond yet, but your power recognizes him." I pulled away from Alexander, embarrassed. "I'm not jealous. I don't even know him." Both men smiled identical, knowing smiles. "The archive room," the King said. "Go. Read the prophecy. Tomorrow, the other packs arrive for the gathering. You need to understand what you are before then." Alexander led me out, his hand hovering near my back but not touching. The walk was silent until we reached a door covered in ancient symbols. "This room holds our oldest texts," he explained. "The prophecy about you is in here." Inside was a circular room lined with books and scrolls. In the center sat a pedestal with a single ancient book. Alexander opened it carefully, pointing to a page written in a language I shouldn't have been able to read – but I could. *When moon and shadow meet as one, The daughter of two worlds will come. Born of royal blood and human heart, She'll tear the veil of worlds apart. In her hands, the choice will rest, To unite the cursed or let them rest. But beware the price of power's call, For love's triumph might doom them all.* "What does it mean?" I whispered. "We don't know entirely," Alexander admitted. "But the last line... some interpret it to mean that if we complete our mate bond, it could trigger something catastrophic." I looked up at him. "Then we can't—" "I don't care," he said fiercely. "I've waited eight years for you. I won't let some ancient prophecy keep us apart." "Even if it means destroying everything?" He cupped my face gently, and I didn't pull away. "You won't destroy anything. You're not capable of it." "You don't know that. You don't know me." "Then let me," he said softly. "Give me the chance to know you. To show you that this thing between us isn't something to fear." Before I could answer, the lights went out. In the darkness, I heard whispers in a language that sounded ancient and wrong. "Alexander?" "I'm here." His arms came around me protectively. "Don't move." Red eyes appeared in the darkness. Dozens of them. Then a voice, neither male nor female, spoke from everywhere and nowhere: "The Moon's Daughter has awakened. The blood moon comes. And with it, the choice that will damn or save us all." The lights flickered back on. We were alone, but written on the wall in what looked like blood was a single word: CHOOSE. Alexander pulled me closer, and I felt him trembling. Not with fear, but with rage. "Someone's in the palace," he growled. "Someone who shouldn't be able to get past our defenses." "Who?" He looked down at me, his silver eyes swirling with darkness. "The ones who killed your father. The ones who've been hunting you." "But I thought—" "Your mother lied about how he died. He wasn't killed by rogues." His jaw clenched. "He was murdered by the Shadow Council. The same council that's been pulling strings in the werewolf world for centuries." "Why?" "Because they knew about you. What you'd become. And they wanted to control you." He touched my glowing birthmark gently. "But they failed. You're here, with me, where you belong." A bell tolled somewhere in the palace, deep and ominous. "What's that?" I asked. Alexander's expression went dark. "The gathering has officially begun. Every Alpha and their family are arriving." He looked at the bloody message on the wall. "And someone just declared war." I stared at the word written in blood, my mother's bracelet burning on my wrist. In three days, I'd turn eighteen. In three days, according to everyone, I'd have to make a choice that would change everything. But as I stood there in Alexander's arms, feeling safer than I'd ever felt despite the danger around us, I realized something terrifying: I was already falling for the Dark Prince. And that might be the most dangerous thing of all. ======== 👉 (When you open the App, it will automatically jump to the book.)