Aria's POV
Get behind us, the scarred man orders. Now.
The Covenant wolves pour out of the shadows like a flood of darkness. There have to be thirty of them, maybe more. Their eyes glow red with something that isn't natural.
I said NOW, he snarls at me.
My wolf should obey. He's an Alpha I can feel the command in his voice trying to make me submit.
But something in me pushes back. I'm not some weak Omega anymore. I'm whatever these silver runes say I am.
No, I hear myself say.
All three men whip around to stare at me.
Did you just the beautiful one starts.
Aria, this isn't the time to be stubborn, the grey-haired one says urgently. These are Covenant assassins. They'll kill you.
They can try, I say, and I'm shocked by how calm my voice sounds. Inside, I'm terrified. But my wolf? My wolf is angry.
These things want to hurt me. Want to cage me. Want to steal what I just found.
My wolf says absolutely not.
Power builds under my skin. The silver runes start glowing brighter.
The scarred man Zane makes a frustrated sound. She's going to get herself killed. Darius, can you
My visions say let her fight, the grey-haired one Darius interrupts, his eyes distant like he's seeing something we can't. She needs this.
Are you insane? the beautiful one Cael demands. She just shifted for the first time five minutes ago!
Trust me, Darius says firmly. Then to me: Trust yourself.
The Covenant wolves attack.
I don't think. I just move.
My body shifts on instinct human to wolf in a heartbeat. My white wolf explodes forward, faster than anything should be able to move.
The first enemy wolf lunges at my throat. I dodge without trying, like my body already knows what to do. My jaws close on his shoulder and power pulses through me.
He drops like a stone. Not dead. Just... asleep. Unconscious.
What did I just do?
No time to wonder. Three more come at me. I spin, my tail knocking one off his feet. My claws rake across another's side not deep enough to kill, just enough to make him yelp and retreat.
The third one actually manages to bite my leg.
All three of my Alphas roar in fury.
Zane shifts mid-leap, his massive black wolf slamming into my attacker with enough force to break bones. The scarred wolf is terrifying in action all violence and rage.
Darius moves like he knows exactly where each enemy will be before they get there. His dark grey wolf flows through the fight like water, precise and deadly.
Cael is the fastest thing I've ever seen. His silver wolf appears and disappears, striking from shadows, taking down enemies before they even know he's there.
Together, we're unstoppable.
But there are so many of them.
A Covenant wolf breaks through our defense, coming straight at me. I brace for impact
The wolf stops mid-leap. Just freezes in the air like time paused.
Then drops to the ground, bowing his head to me.
What I start.
Another enemy wolf approaches, snarling and vicious. The moment his eyes meet mine, he stops. Whimpers. Lowers himself to his belly.
She's commanding them, Darius breathes, back in human form and staring at me in wonder. She's using her True Luna power.
I don't know what that means, but I can feel it now threads of connection between me and every wolf here. Even the Covenant ones. Like I could pull those threads and make them do whatever I want.
It should feel wrong. Instead, it feels right.
Stop, I say, putting power behind the word. All of you. Stop fighting.
Every single wolf except my three Alphas freezes instantly.
The Covenant wolves look confused, fighting against my command but unable to break it.
Leave, I order them. Go back to whoever sent you and tell them I'm not interested in being hunted. Tell them if they come for me again, I won't be nice about it.
The wolves turn and run, crashing back into the forest like their tails are on fire.
Silence falls over the clearing.
Zane shifts back to human, his chest heaving. Blood drips from a cut on his shoulder, but he ignores it. That was the most reckless, stupid, incredible thing I've ever seen.
You could have died, Cael adds, also shifting. He sounds angry, but his hands are shaking.
But she didn't, Darius says quietly. She was magnificent.
I shift back too, suddenly remembering I'm naked. My face burns. Cael immediately wraps his jacket around me.
How did you do that? I ask, looking at the jacket that definitely wasn't there a second ago.
I'm always prepared, he says with a small smile. Unlike some people who run into danger without thinking.
I had to, I protest. They were going to hurt you.
All three men freeze.
You fought, Zane says slowly, to protect us?
Well, yes. You were protecting me. It's only fair
I don't get to finish because Zane pulls me into a hug that lifts me off the ground. He buries his face in my hair, breathing deeply.
You smell like home, he whispers, so quiet I almost don't hear it. Like everything I've been missing.
Darius steps closer, his hand gentle on my back. We need to get you somewhere safe. The Covenant won't give up this easily.
Agreed, Cael says, though his eyes are locked on me like I might disappear. My territory is closest. Seattle. We can be there in an hour if we run.
Your territory? I pull back from Zane's hug. Wait. Who are you people? I don't even know your full names.
Zane Blackthorn, the scarred one says. Alpha of Nightshade Pack.
My stomach drops. I've heard of him. Everyone has. The Alpha who killed his way to power at sixteen.
Darius Ashwood, the grey-haired one adds. Alpha of Bloodmoon Pack.
The Seer. The one who sees death coming and can't stop it.
Cael Silvercrest, the beautiful one finishes. Alpha of Silverfang Pack.
The one who controls Seattle's underworld.
Three of the most powerful, dangerous Alphas alive.
And they're all looking at me like I'm precious.
This is insane, I whisper. Yesterday I was nothing. Today I'm this? And you're saying I'm your mate? All three of you? That's not how it works. Wolves only have one mate.
True Lunas are different, Darius explains gently. You're meant to unite packs. That requires multiple Alpha bonds.
I don't want to unite anything, I say, panic rising in my chest. I just want the pain to stop. I just want
My voice breaks. The adrenaline from the fight is wearing off, and everything hits me at once.
Kade rejected me. My father banished me. My family threw me away. I'm alone and broken and these three strangers are talking about bonds and mates and can't
Breathe, Zane says firmly, his hands on my shoulders. Just breathe.
I don't know how to be what you think I am, I sob.
Then we'll figure it out together, Cael says.
You don't have to be anything right now, Darius adds. Just let us keep you safe.
Before I can answer, the air turns cold. Frost spreads across the ground even though it's summer.
A woman steps out of the shadows. She's beautiful and terrible, with white hair and eyes like black holes.
How sweet, she says, her voice making my skin crawl. The lost Luna found her guard dogs. But you're all missing something important.
She waves her hand and pain explodes in my chest. The broken bond with Kade flares to life, dragging me to my knees.
That rejected mate bond? the woman smiles. It's killing you. Slowly. Painfully. You have maybe three days before your heart gives out.
My three Alphas snarl, moving between us.
But I can fix it, she continues. For a price. Come with me. Let the Covenant study your power. And I'll save your life.
Don't listen to her, Zane growls.
She's lying, Darius says, his eyes flashing with visions. There are other ways
Are there? the woman asks. Your visions show her dying in three days, don't they, Seer? I can see it on your face.
Darius goes pale.
Three days, the woman repeats. Tick tock, little Luna. Choose wisely.
She disappears in a swirl of frost and darkness.
I look at my three Alphas, at the panic and fury on their faces.
Is it true? I whisper. Am I dying?
Darius closes his eyes. Yes.