had gon

tightly into the rock beneath her. She could stil

ci

ed in shadow, smooth and cold, yet terrifyingly fam

oncern, his brows narro

onds, afraid that saying it out

voice trembling. "Lucien. In my h

"That's not po

l active," Aria finished for h

ath that sounded like a curse. "He shouldn't be able to reach y

ted, trying to hold onto that memory. "T

ybe it wasn't the bond break

him. "What do

line is ancient. If your child carries both his power and whatever is in your veins

osed to be a reject. A cursed omega. That kin

xactly why it d

im? Why his voice lingered in her thoughts even when she hated

ees brought Kael's atte

quickly. "If he can reach you mentall

nees weak, her eyes still scanning

aid, "Somewhere they'll never think to l

neutral territory? I heard no

d. "No pack. No border

no sa

"But you'll b

invisible. Not anymore. But she k

the sky, the moon slowly fadi

ws I'm

to her bones. And yet... there was

et. A hint of

sn't just tryin

isse

h comforted and

er steps unsure but determined, Aria knew one th

an, the louder the w

rning dew, and the shadows under the trees felt heavier than before. Every time a branch snapped or a cro

and staying alert. His silence wasn't cold - it was focuse

s I'm a

tatement of awareness. A pulse of recognition. A tether

again?" she asked soft

s reached you once, the bond will keep pulling a

a thick root, nearly

it takes control.

block it?" she whispered be

a moment. He didn't turn

g for him," he said, not

hate him for what he did to me. For what he ordered. B

he bond. It's not love, Aria. It's blood. It's magic. It

burning behind her eyes. "Then why does i

tead, he motioned for

s and soft, swaying reeds. A stream trickled through the far side, glinting in

er. "Once we cross, we're off pack territory. That means no laws, no alli

ing her fingers into the co

ries. Banished wolves. Some

f fog waiting beyond. It felt like crossing int

ael said. "Which, right now, mig

hand drifted to her belly. A

fr

immediately.

.. I felt

lightly, then softene

owly, smiling

a felt something she hadn't in weeks, purpose. Her child was real. Alive. G

ed through her chest. A

getting

and clutche

his blade instant

de. "He can feel me

sing to his feet. "We need to l

d their knees, soaking her boots and making her limbs tremble

eavier. Quiet in

ged, alert and low.

world swallowed by the thick fog around them. Trees l

appeared in the mist ahead, huts, tent

had m

her. "Let me talk first. Sta

ing her cloak ti

the mist, glowing, untrusting, cautious. A gr

wisted scar across his throat. He eyed Kae

like deat

. "That's pr

asily, not sure if it

e. Shelter," Ka

d. "And why would we help a hu

ause the girl isn't just

ugh the camp like smoke. Every wolf f

hers, but around her. Like her very presence had

epped back slightly

he is... then you've bro

t a war," Kael said. "B

wed. "Then she bette

slowly, strength se

said, voice