Aria Thornveil had always believed that destiny was cruel, but nothing had prepared her for the cruelty that awaited when the full moon revealed her deepest nightmare.
Ten years ago, in a forgotten corner of Ironfang Pack's territory, she had been a young girl full of innocence, protected under the very Alpha who had sworn to guard her. But now, under the same silver moon, she was a woman—stripped of her innocence, scarred by the betrayal of the very pack that once called her family.
The heavy chains that bound her wrists burned with silver, and the scent of earth and wet leaves filled her nostrils. It wasn't the rain that soaked her clothes, but the sweat and blood from countless hours of torment. Aria had been dragged here in the middle of the night, the pack's warriors closing in around her like wolves hunting prey.
They had no mercy in their eyes.
And then, there was Alpha Rael Blackbourne.
Rael had been her protector, her alpha, the one she trusted more than anyone else. Until he turned on her. Until he rejected her—his fated mate—without hesitation. The heartbreak was still fresh, as sharp as the night he'd cast her out into the cold, banishing her from Ironfang Pack like an animal.
Now, she was back.
And she wasn't here to beg for a second chance.
"Rael, you don't want to do this," Aria's voice was barely a whisper, but it echoed with defiance. "I'm not your enemy."
Rael's gaze met hers. His eyes, once soft and filled with affection, were now hardened and cold. The fury burning in his chest seemed to radiate from his very core, as if the rejection he had cast upon her had tainted not only their bond but his soul.
"You were never my enemy," Rael spoke through gritted teeth, his voice a low growl. "But you are a threat to my pack. And I won't let you destroy everything I've worked for."
Aria felt the sting of those words like a slap to the face. She had never wanted to destroy his pack. But now, standing before him, she realized that everything had changed. She was no longer the helpless girl he had once protected. She had grown stronger, more powerful, and yet more dangerous. The magic that had been dormant inside her for years had been awakened.
And now, it was a wildfire waiting to consume everything in its path.
"You really think I'm a threat?" Aria scoffed, her lips curling into a smirk. "You rejected me, Rael. You tore apart our bond. You think I'll still play by your rules?"
Rael's jaw clenched, his wolf fighting to break free. She could feel the tension in the air—thick, suffocating. The full moon above seemed to pulse with a deadly energy, amplifying the storm that raged within them both.
"You don't understand, Aria," he growled, stepping closer. His eyes flickered briefly, revealing the gold of his wolf's gaze, but the human side of him held back. "I have no choice. You're a danger to everyone. I can't let you near the pack."
Aria's heart raced, the bond between them tugging like an invisible rope. Even though he had rejected her, the bond was still alive. Fate was a cruel thing. It refused to release them from its grasp.
She could feel the heat rising from within her, the magic she had long kept buried beginning to churn violently. Her powers were awakening, but not in the way she expected. It wasn't just the surge of magic—it was the wolf inside her, urging to come out.
"No," Aria whispered to herself, shaking her head. She refused to let the wolf consume her. Not tonight. She would be in control.
Rael stepped forward, the chains around her wrists rattling as his presence loomed closer. His every movement was calculated, measured, but beneath it all was a flicker of uncertainty. A small part of him didn't want this—didn't want to be the monster who had pushed away the woman who was meant for him.
But duty, loyalty, and pride all weighed heavy on him.
"Rael, you don't have to do this," Aria pleaded, her voice a raw whisper of pain. She saw the conflict in his eyes. She saw the man she had once loved, struggling beneath the weight of his responsibilities.
For a moment, everything seemed still.
Then Rael's hand rose, and with a swift motion, he yanked the silver chains that bound her. The pressure on her wrists increased, sending waves of agony through her body, but she refused to give in to the pain. This was it. This was the moment.
"Don't make me do this," Rael murmured, his voice soft yet carrying a weight of finality.
But the truth was, she wasn't going to let him get away with it.
With a burst of raw power, Aria summoned the magic she had kept hidden for years, unleashing it in an explosion of pure force. The air crackled, the ground beneath her feet shaking as the magic swirled around her like an unstoppable storm.
Rael was momentarily thrown back, his body slamming into the earth with a force that sent dirt flying.
"Rael!" she cried, her voice breaking. "You never even gave me a chance to explain."
She had been gone for ten years, hiding, training, and growing. But still, all Rael saw was the enemy.
He lifted himself off the ground, shaking off the dirt. His eyes were wild now, glowing with the intensity of his wolf. The bond had been broken, but it wasn't shattered. And now, it burned hotter than ever before.
"You've always been my weakness, Aria," he growled, his voice shaking with frustration and desire. "And that's why I had to let you go. You were never meant to be a part of this world."
The fire that raged inside her wasn't just magic. It was her heart. Her desire for revenge. Her need to prove herself, to show Rael that she was no longer the helpless girl he had once known.
"You're wrong," Aria spat, her lips trembling with rage and sorrow. "I don't need you to protect me anymore."
Rael's breath hitched. For a moment, just a moment, he looked like he might cave—like he might reach for her and pull her into his arms. But he didn't. Instead, his wolf rose to the surface, his muscles tense, his body coiled like a predator preparing to strike.
And that was when she felt it.
The bond—the deep, soul-deep connection between them. Rael was hers. And she was his. But the rejection... the rejection had scarred them both.
"I'm not your weakness, Rael," Aria whispered, her eyes locked on his. "I'm not your enemy either. I'm your fate."
Before he could respond, before he could say anything more, Aria unleashed another wave of magic. This time, it was different. This time, it wasn't just an explosion—it was an inferno.
The flames ignited the air around them, reaching higher than the trees and tearing through the night like an unstoppable force.
Rael's roar echoed through the forest, a primal sound filled with fury and desperation.
But Aria didn't care anymore.
The bond was unbreakable. And tonight, she would make sure Rael would never forget her again.
Rael staggered to his feet, his wolf raging beneath the surface. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and burning earth. Aria stood before him, her hands glowing with power, the intensity in her eyes daring him to challenge her.
"You've made your choice, Alpha."
And with those words, the battle for her heart had just begun.