ets. Moonlight poured through the trees like silver blood, casting long shadows on the

wasn't

as es

shoulders. Every step was calculated. Every breath, a prayer. Lila's map burned in her memory: t

ntal-just food, herbs, and the tiny blanket Lil

ch

had. From Kael. From Selene. From the vicious

d a hand to its cold frame. On the o

power, silence. Kael's world. A wor

an they ever knew,

essed f

r creak

she

is study, stari

reakfast, when she'd said nothing and he'd grunted a command abo

like

s she

crets. Or maybe it was the weight of unspoken words-the ones Aria could feel pressing against her chest, clawing to escape. The pack stood still, but their ga

olf pace bene

kn

ci

's g

harder than th

ed slowly

d the eastern gate open. Her scent t

ide Kael shif

econds, grabbing Lucien

or her to be bey

el's chest. Not a

him

d known. Had watched the

k her. Get Dorian and the

d. "Kael... she

room

gered bac

it ag

g your heir. Tha

e roare

s soul cr

til her leg

apped her in mist and moss.

dis

silence of no one

oods, but it was a comfort compared to the chaos inside her chest. Her hands trembled violently as she cupped the icy water and brought it

hit her stoma

tonight, fear clung to her like a second skin. Her body ached from running, her lungs burned, and her heartbeat hadn't calmed since

o her belly, pressing

l. But she knew. She h

er voice cracked in the cool night air. "I didn't mea

ause she was alone. After all, the father of her child didn't care. After all, every step forward felt like walking through fire. She cri

her flinch. She turned sh

as just

to. The Hollow Pack was out there. And Kael..

en noticed s

e water's edge, knees to chest,

just runn

s prot

he would not let it touch the life bloomi

whispered. "I'll kee

oed in the

call o

l of

he first time,

for

e girl she

thought she

irl wa

mother

ld never be

d somewhere between the bruises and the heartbreak. In her place stood something new. Something forged in fire and fear, but no longer ruled by either. She wasn't just survivi

contin