Chapter 45
JACE
Five days. For five whole days I barely left this room. Phantom prowled restlessly inside me, demanding I protect her, guard her. When Aria finally woke up in my arms, I felt like I could breathe again.
Her question about the voice shocked me. Who had been communicating with her while she slept? The hint about ‘transformation disturbed me even more. She was human, at least we all thought so. But the way those wounds healed… no human recovered that fast.
Now she rested against my chest, her color much better than days before. Her breathing was steady, her body warm and soft against mine. Aurora slept peacefully on her other side, small hand clutching Aria’s arm. The picture was perfect. My daughter and my-
I took a deep breath. I needed to tell her the truth. The blood moon was only eight days away.
“Aria?” I called softly, unsure if she’d fallen asleep again.
“Hmm?” Her voice was soft, tinged with drowsiness.
“Are you still awake? There’s something I want to tell you. Something important.”
She shifted slightly in my arms, adjusting to look up at me. “What is it, Jace?”
This was harder than I’d imagined. The Alpha of Moon Shadow Pack, considered one of the most powerful werewolves in North America, afraid of a human girl’s reaction. Ironic.
‘I want to tell you about me. About why I’m… different from other Alphas.”
Aria was fully awake now, her eyes fixed on mine, curious and attentive. “I’m listening.”
I took a deep breath and began. “Centuries ago, the world was ruled by powerful Primal Wolves. They were stronger than modern werewolves, able to shift between two forms. The last Wolf King had a daughter who fell in love with a warrior wolf.”
“They had a son, but to protect him from those who would destroy the royal bloodline, they gave the child to a childless Alpha couple.”
“That child was your ancestor,” Aria said softly.
I nodded. “The Carter lineage has guarded this secret. Each generation carried this blood, waiting for the right time to reclaim our destiny. When I turned seventeen, Phantom awakened, and I transformed into a massive silver–backed black wolf, proving the Carter lineage was real.”
I paused, considering how to continue.
“The ancient markings on Phantom’s back – the royal sigil visible only to those who know what to look for – confirmed what the elders had whispered: I wasn’t just meant to lead a pack. The prophecy spoke of one who would unite the scattered packs under a single crown again.”
Aria remained silent for a long time. I couldn’t read her thoughts, could only wait.
“So, she finally spoke, “you’re not just an Alpha, but a descendant of the Wolf King? That’s why you’re more powerful than other Alphas?”
“Yes.”
‘I’ve seen your wolf form,” she said thoughtfully. “Phantom is a four–legged giant wolf, not the half–man, half–wolf form described in fairy tales.”
“About that,” I said, “there’s an ancient prophecy. On the night of the blood moon, the power within me will be fully unleashed, and the seal will break. I might gain the ability to take the bipedal form
“The blood moon… eight days from now? On my birthday?”
I nodded. “The prophecy mentions special powers converging on that day.”
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Chapter 45
I carefully avoided mentioning the true mate part. Telling her I was a Wolf King descendant was enough; I didn’t want to overwhelm her.
“That’s why the elders are so focused on this blood moon,” Aria realized, “because you might transform.”
We fell into silence. She processed the information while I waited for her reaction. This could change everything, or
nothing at all.
To my surprise, Aria leaned forward and pressed her lips gently against mine. I responded immediately, one hand cupping her cheek softly.
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