a's

!" Morgana's voice cut through the pain

in agony. Every nerve screamed as if I was being torn open,

nching the sheets, my

.. the sil

ud, strong

a gently lifted the child from between

anded him to me. My hands trembled as I

hitching. He was the light af

e for a while, then said, "Wh

n," I w

nod

est. I'll prepare som

room, and I st

the grief h

n wasn'

him breathe for the first time. But he wasn't. Because he was b

houghts. Morgana stood at the doo

this," s

"Why are you so k

use I was once broken too. And

There was something mysterious

how you ended up in

's just say I didn't always live here. I ran too, just like

tails. But her wor

n into a happy, strong boy. She taught me to be fierce again. To walk

time to re-en

told Morgana one morning,

oney. "There's power in you, Aria. Don'

nod

I didn't want to be found, especially not

s skills. Then, one day, I saw a job posting from a company named Lucian Tech. Elite,

Lucia

nterviews later, I was called in

ed suit. Classy. Powe

o his office, my h

. His energy wrapped around the room like a st

our ey

wide

tely. His nostril

at

it. So

at?" he asked

llowed hard and placed m

view," I said, tone shar

, knowing sound. "

ink. "Is tha

e replied. "It's

ted answers. I had learned to protect myself. To never reveal too mu

knowledge to the edge. And I answered

leaned back in his ch

hired,"

d. "Just

, I always trust my instincts. And they tell me

omach

tbreak. I had Damien. My world d

child," I s

. "Then he's lucky to

g for judgment, hesitation,

and walked

" he said. "I know something

dn't

dinner," h

shing the door open slightly. "Alpha, we need you in t

ng inside

ght

me and the door, then back at me. "Come

*******

map. Images flickered across the screen, hac

the analysts said. "The breach route came from the Eastern

You have a background i

ed caut

and the system pulled

ou crac

ser. My eyes s

tion. This was Killian's signatu

omach

ers. But it was there his name burned i

n my expression. "You k

lf of it," I

om went

rows lifted

mate. I was once his Luna. That system..

o you're telling me you k

fire in mine. "Wi

***

om with a thousand memo

s mistress. The night he walked away

ght I'd

d break

e had ot

mission. The Nightrun Pack has crossed too ma

away. Just stared at the sky

w?" I wh

to rogue witches. We just confirmed it. Your

rned

t wa

ch

rst re

aid. "But I'm not

once. "Un

a deep

turn. I'm going to destroy everything you built. Just like

Killian chose another, now burned stronger with Lucian. For

ate more powerful than the Alpha who broke me. And standing

, eyes unreadable. "Y

d. Because this time, I'm

"Welcome to