The roar of the Primal Alpha stopped, and there was complete quiet.
Aria's silver light moved back and forth like a candle in the wind. She felt like her strength was being pushed too far and was about to break.
"It's here," she whispered as she watched something huge move between the trees through the broken walls.
The old thing laughed. "Finally. The real Alpha wakes up after a thousand years of sleep."
The ground shook from the heavy steps. Each of them made cracks in the castle's base. The thing that was coming at them made the very old creature look small and weak.
Alpha Magnus stumbled to his feet, still pale from having his life force stolen.
"Everyone out," he ordered. "Evacuate the castle now."
"No," Aria said strongly. Her violet eyes blazed silver again. "If we run, it will hunt us down one by one."
"You can't fight something that created your entire bloodline," Luna Seraphina argued, her voice tight with fear.
"Watch me."
But before anyone could move, Caleb's voice echoed through the castle's speaking stones.
"The duplicate is dead," he reported, breathing hard. "The children are safe. But something else is coming. Something that makes my wolf want to hide."
"The Primal Alpha," Magnus said grimly. "I can feel its presence pressing against my mind."
Through her enhanced sight, Aria saw Cyrus racing toward them through the passageways. He'd fought his way through a dozen rogues and looked like he'd been through a meat grinder. Blood covered his clothes, but his green eyes burned with purpose.
"How many enemies are left?" Caden asked, moving closer to Aria.
She closed her eyes and let her power sweep through the castle. "Twenty-three rogues still living. But they're all retiring toward the courtyard."
"Running from their own summoning," the old creature noticed with amusement. "Smart little wolves."
"Why aren't you afraid?" Aria demanded. The thing's red eyes gleamed.
"Because I made a deal. My life in return for bringing you to the Primal Alpha. Once it devours your power, I become its servant."
"Traitor," Magnus growled.
"Survivor," the creature revised. "Your pack's time is over. The old ways are returning."
A new roar split the night, so close now that dust rained from the ceiling. Through the holes in the walls, Aria glimpsed something that made her blood freeze.
The Primal Alpha stood thirty feet tall. Its fur was midnight black, shot through with veins of silver that sparked like lightning. Eyes like burning stars stared directly at the castle. When it opened its lips, teeth the size of swords gleamed in the moonlight.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" the old thing purred. "The first Alpha. The one who taught dogs to become more than animals."
"It's a monster," Aria breathed.
"It's power. Pure, endless power."
The Primal Alpha took another step forward. Trees snapped like twigs under its huge paws. Its star-bright eyes fixed on the great hall where they stood.
"It knows you're here," the thing said to Aria. "Can sense the Moon Wolf blood singing in your veins. You're calling to it without even trying."
Aria felt the truth of those words. Something deep inside her reacted to the Primal Alpha's presence. Part fear, part awareness, part terrible hunger for the power radiating from the ancient beast.
"Don't listen to it," Caden warned, grabbing her hand. "That thing wants to use you."
"Everyone wants to use me," Aria said coldly. "The pack, the rogues, even you three brothers. I'm tired of being everyone's tool."
"You're not our weapon," Caden maintained. "You're our—"
"What?" she interrupted. "Your mate? Your future Luna? Another part someone else picked for me?"
Before Caden could answer, footsteps pounded on the stairs. Caleb burst into the big hall, still in his massive wolf form. His golden fur was stained with blood, but his eyes blazed with fierce protectiveness.
Behind him came Cyrus, hobbling but alive. When he saw Aria surrounded by enemies, his whole body went hard.
"Release her," Cyrus growled at the old thing.
"She's free to leave anytime she wants," the thing answered smoothly. "But where will she go? The Primal Alpha can track Moon Wolf blood across countries."
As if reacting to its name, the ancient beast let out another earth-shaking roar.
This time, Aria felt forced to answer. Silver light burst from her eyes without her permission. The Primal Alpha's massive head turned toward the house. Its star-eyes locked onto hers through the broken walls.
"No," she gasped, trying to cut off the link. But it was too late.
The beast began walking toward them with slow, inevitable steps. Each step cracked the ground. Its presence pressed against Aria's mind like a heavy weight.
"It's coming for you," the old thing said happily. "Nothing can stop it now."
"Then we fight," Magnus stated, despite his weakened state.
"With what?" the thing laughed. "Your best fighters? Your Alpha magic? The Primal Alpha is where all your power came from. It can take back what it gave."
To prove the point, Magnus suddenly stumbled. His eyes dulled as some of his Alpha power drained away. The Primal Alpha was already siphoning power from anyone with Alpha blood.
"Father!" all three brothers moved toward him.
"Stay back," Magnus ordered through gritted teeth. "It's feeding on the family link. The closer you get to me, the faster it can drain you too."
Caleb's wolf form flickered, threatening to fall back to human shape. Cyrus grabbed the wall for support as his legs went weak. Even Caden swayed on his feet.
"But not you," the old creature said to Aria with attention. "Moon Wolf power flows the opposite way. Instead of being tired, you're getting stronger."
It was true. As the Primal Alpha drew closer, Aria felt power flooding through her blood. Her silver light burned brighter than ever before.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because you're not just connected to it," the creature revealed. "You're its replacement. The next step in growth. When it devours you, it will become young again. Perfect again."
"I won't let that happen," Caden said firmly, though he could barely stand.
"How will you stop it? You can't even stand up."
The Primal Alpha was only a hundred yards away now. Its massive form blocked out the stars. When it breathed, frost formed on the castle walls despite the warm night.
"There might be a way," Luna Seraphina said suddenly. Everyone turned to look at her. "The mate bonds. If all three brothers accept Aria fully, their combined power might be enough to—"
"No," Magnus interrupted sharply. "Absolutely not."
"Magnus, this could save everyone."
"It could also destroy our kids. Full mate connection with a Moon Wolf? The power swap could kill them."
"Better than letting everyone die," Seraphina countered.
"Not my boys. I won't sacrifice my children."
"Then what do you suggest?" Aria asked coldly.
Magnus met her blazing silver eyes. "You choose. Right now. Pick one brother and bond with him fully. Use that power to drive off the Primal Alpha."
"And if I choose wrong? If one bond isn't strong enough?"
"Then we evacuate whoever we can and abandon the territory."
"You'd give up everything?"
"To keep my kids alive? Yes."
Aria looked at the three boys. Caleb, still trying to stay in wolf form, his golden eyes fixed on her with desperate hope. Cyrus, bleeding and exhausted but ready to die shielding her. Caden, the one who understood her best, whose hand still held hers despite the risk.
"Choose," Magnus repeated quickly. "The Primal Alpha will be here in minutes."
"I need more time—"
"There is no more time!"
Through the walls, Aria saw the ancient beast stop. Its huge head tilted as if listening to something only it could hear. Then its star-bright eyes narrowed with hunger. It had found what it was looking for.
"Too late," the old creature whispered with pleasure. "It knows exactly where you are now."
The Primal Alpha opened its mouth and released a howl that shattered every surviving piece of glass in the castle. The sound held a message that made Aria's blood run cold.
Mine. Come to me. Or I will come to you.
"Choose now," Magnus ordered. "Or I choose for you."
"You can't—"
"I'm still Alpha of this pack. If you won't pick a mate, I'll plan a political marriage with another Alpha. Tonight. Before that thing reaches us."
"You wouldn't dare."
Magnus pulled out his phone with shaking hands. "Alpha Marcus of the Silver Ridge Pack owes me a favor. His son needs a Luna."
"Father, no," Caleb's wolf managed to speak.
"Don't make me do this, Aria," Magnus warned, his finger hovered over the call button. "I will not let my pack be destroyed because you can't make a decision."
The Primal Alpha took another step closer. The ground shook so hard that cracks showed in the great hall's walls.
"Choose," Magnus said again. "Right now. One brother, or I make the choice for you."
Aria looked between the three boys she cared about. Her heart hammered against her ribs. Silver light blazed around her like a storm.
Outside, the Primal Alpha began to run toward the castle.
"I..." she started to speak.
Then the old creature smiled and said the words that changed everything:
"You should know, little Moon Wolf, that whatever choice you make won't matter. Because the boy you don't choose dies tonight anyway."