Silence weighed heavier than the mountain itself.
The stranger's words hung in the air like a blade suspended over all three of them.
"You must complete the bond with her.
Or she won't survive her final transformation."
Aria's glowing eyes widened.
Ronan's breath stopped.
The sanctuary's trembling seemed to pause—waiting for their reaction.
Finally, Aria whispered, "Complete… the bond?"
Her voice was barely audible.
Barely her own.
Ronan swallowed hard, jaw clenched. "Explain."
The stranger stepped closer, urgency cracking through his calm façade.
"The Moonbreaker transformation threatens to tear her identity apart. Human and Moonborn are colliding inside her. Without a grounding tether, her spirit will fracture."
Aria shivered violently in Ronan's arms, silver running beneath her skin like lightning trapped in veins.
The stranger continued, "A true bondmate provides stability. Balance. An anchor to the physical world. She needs emotional connection—constant connection—to stay herself."
Aria's heartbeat stuttered. "You mean… a mate bond?"
The stranger nodded slowly. "Yes."
Ronan tensed so hard Aria felt the muscles in his arms go rigid. His breath hitched—not fear, exactly, but shock, uncertainty, something deeper he wasn't ready to show.
Aria whispered, trembling,
"Ronan… is that… even possible? You and me?"
He looked down at her.
Her glowing eyes.
Her trembling lips.
Her fragile, terrified hope.
He looked away abruptly, jaw tight.
The stranger answered instead.
"Yes. The Moonbreaker can bond with a wolf. The bond strengthens them both. But for her… it's life or death."
Aria's voice cracked. "Ronan…"
He finally looked at her—
and she saw it.
The conflict.
The fear of choosing wrong.
The weight of everything he might lose.
And everything he might give.
She whispered, "If we don't… I'll die?"
Her voice broke on the last word.
Ronan reached up and cupped her face gently—
thumb brushing her cheek as he steadied her.
"No," he said. "You're not dying."
"But—"
"I won't let you."
His words were fierce and raw, but not enough to quiet the rising panic in her chest.
The stranger cut through the tension. "Intent isn't enough, Alpha. A partial transformation has already begun splitting her soul. Without the bond—"
Suddenly Aria bent forward, gasping in pain.
Her chest glowed violently.
The moon sigil burned brighter.
Her ribs shifted under her skin.
"Ronan!" she cried.
He held her tightly. "I'm here. I've got you."
But her body spasmed again, uncontrollable.
Her fingers curled in agony.
Her breath came in frantic, shallow bursts.
Silver light throbbed through her veins like fire.
The stranger shouted, "She's destabilizing! Her spirit is slipping—"
"No!" Ronan lifted her face toward his. "Aria, stay with me! Look at me!"
"I—can't—" she cried.
"Yes, you can!" His forehead touched hers. "You hear me? Stay. With. Me."
Her vision blurred.
Her heartbeat faltered.
And faintly, deep inside her—
the Devourer whispered:
Break.
Break.
Break…
Aria screamed.
Ronan roared right back, pulling her firmly into his lap as though he could physically hold her soul together.
The stranger whispered urgently, "She won't survive the final stage without the bond. You must decide now."
Aria trembled uncontrollably, silver light bleeding from her fingertips.
Ronan held her tighter, breathing hard.
"I—can't—make you do this," she whispered through tears. "Not if it costs you everything."
He froze.
"Ronan… your pack… your throne… your future… You'd be binding yourself to me forever. Losing everything for someone who—"
"Stop." His voice shook, soft and fierce. "Aria Hale, if you ever say you're 'someone who' anything again—"
He didn't finish.
He couldn't.
Not with her body shaking like she was being torn apart.
⸻
A Sudden Attack
A low growl echoed from the tunnel entrance.
Ronan stiffened, snapping his head toward the sound.
Out of the shadows—
A massive form limped into the sanctuary.
Elias.
Still corrupted.
Still half-controlled.
Still broken.
Black veins covered his body.
His movements were jerky, trembling.
His eyes flickered between white and amber—fighting, resisting, slipping.
Aria gasped. "Elias…?"
He snarled weakly—
Then collapsed onto his side.
The stranger stepped toward him. "He's dying."
Ronan growled, ready to defend. "He's still dangerous."
"No," Aria said faintly, pulling away from Ronan despite the pain wracking her body. "He… tried to warn me."
"Aria—stay back," Ronan said urgently.
But she shook her head.
Weak.
Glowing.
Trembling.
"He fought it," she whispered. "He still is."
Elias raised his head, jaws trembling as if he wanted to speak—but wolves couldn't form words like humans.
Still, Aria understood.
"Help… her…"
The stranger's voice softened. "He's breaking free for seconds at a time."
A harsh choke tore from Elias's throat. His body convulsed with black corruption.
Ronan snarled. "He's losing control—"
Elias's head snapped toward Aria.
Ronan lunged—
But instead of attacking her—
Elias slammed his body into the wall, pinning himself down and preventing his corrupted side from reaching her.
Aria burst into tears. "Elias, no…"
He whined softly.
A sound of apology.
Of gratitude.
Of farewell.
The stranger placed a hand over Elias's head and whispered something ancient.
Ronan froze.
Aria sobbed. "What are you doing?"
The stranger's voice cracked. "Helping him let go."
The corrupted wolf breathed one last, long exhale…
And went still.
Aria covered her mouth, sobbing into her hands.
Ronan bowed his head for a heartbeat.
Even wolves deserved peace.
⸻
The Devourer Moves
The mountain trembled again.
But this time—
not from Aria.
From outside.
A shadow slid through the cracks in the sanctuary ceiling—
thick
pouring
alive.
The stranger's eyes widened. "It knows she's weak. It's coming."
Aria curled into Ronan, shaking. "I can hear it… it wants me…"
Ronan wrapped both arms around her. "It won't touch you."
The stranger spoke quickly, urgently, no trace of calm left:
"There is no time. Ronan Hale—Alpha King—if you want to save her, you must complete the bond NOW."
Aria trembled violently. "Ronan…"
She could barely breathe.
Barely speak.
Barely exist.
Ronan held her like she was breaking glass.
Her glowing eyes searched his desperately.
"I won't force you," she whispered, voice cracking. "If you say no—I'll understand. I'll still be grateful—f-for everything you—"
He cut her off with a shaking breath.
"Aria."
She looked up, breath frozen in her chest.
Ronan cupped her face gently and rested his forehead against hers, breathing her in like she was the only air he needed.
"I choose you."
Aria's lips parted in shock.
Ronan's voice dropped, rough and quiet.
"I'm not afraid of bonding with you. I'm afraid of a world without you in it."
Her tears fell freely.
"Ronan…"
He brushed them away gently with his thumb.
"You are not destroying my future. You are my future."
Her heart stuttered.
The stranger took a step back, giving them space as the shadows closed in overhead.
"Then say it," he whispered. "Both of you."
Aria met Ronan's eyes—her world, her anchor, her impossible, terrifying hope.
And together, they whispered the ancient vow:
"I accept the bond."
Silver light flashed between them—
hot
bright
unstoppable.
Ronan gasped as warmth shot through his chest.
Aria cried out as her glowing veins stabilized.
Their hands intertwined, glowing.
The Devourer screamed from outside.
Too late.
The bond ignited.
Aria fell into Ronan's arms, light swirling around them like a protective storm.
Ronan held her tightly.
"I've got you," he whispered, voice breaking. "You're mine now. I won't lose you."
Aria's heartbeat synced with his.
The transformation surged again—
but this time
she wasn't alone.
Ronan's strength flooded into her through the bond—warm, grounding, fierce.
Her power responded.
Her light sharpened.
Her mind cleared.
She gasped.
"Ronan… it's working."
He kissed her forehead, overwhelmed. "Good. Hold on to me."
And she did.
For the first time, she held the power—
instead of the power holding her.
The Devourer shrieked.
Aria lifted her glowing hand.
Ronan whispered in awe, "Moonbreaker…"
Aria stood.
Her eyes blazing silver.
Her heartbeat steady.
Her spirit anchored.
Her transformation at last beginning to heal—not destroy.
Ronan took her hand, grounding her, steadying her.
Together, they faced the descending shadows.
Aria's voice was calm for the first time in hours.
"Let it come."