Chapter 46 

When we broke apart, she was smiling. “Thank you for telling me this, Jace.” 

My heart raced. She hadn’t run away. She was still here, in my arms. 

“Gabriel and the elders are planning the blood moon celebration,” I said, “the entire pack will attend.” 

Aria sat up straighter, her eyes shining with excitement. “I want to help. Can I be involved in the preparations?” 

Her enthusiasm made me smile. ‘Of course. They’d welcome any ideas you have.” 

Watching her eyes light up with excitement, I couldn’t help thinking: she would make a perfect Luna. My Luna 

“Jace,” she turned serious suddenly, “that voice during my unconsciousness… she mentioned transformation. But I’m human. Humans don’t transform.” 

My heart skipped a beat. “You’re sure she used that word? Transformation‘?” 

“Absolutely certain. She said when the time for transformation comes, I would need your and Phantom’s strength. That doesn’t make sense, does it?” 

I gripped her hand, my mind racing. “Aria, your wounds healed too quickly, fast enough to shock even Eliana. That’s not normal human recovery.” 

“What do you think it means?” she asked, her voice slightly trembling. 

‘I don’t know,” I answered honestly, “but on the night of the blood moon, we might find out.” 

Aria’s gaze turned inward, as if searching for truth within herself. “What if I’m not who I think I am? What if my entire life has been built on a lie?” 

One thought consumed me: if Aria wasn’t just human, as the prophecy suggested, the blood moon could change everything. 

“Jace,” she whispered, breaking the silence. “That day when I crossed into your territory… you acted strange. You knew something then, didn’t you?” 

I tensed. How much should I tell her? The moment she’d entered Moon Shadow territory, Phantom had recognized her immediately. My true mate. But did she need that burden now, on top of everything else? 

‘I sensed something special about you,” I admitted carefully. “Phantom reacted to your presence in a way I’d never experienced before.” 

‘Is that why you accepted Gabriel’s family so quickly?” 

“Partly,” I said. “But Gabriel saved my life once, years ago. I respected him and Bree both.” 

Aurora stirred beside Aria, mumbling something in her sleep before settling again. Aria smiled down at her, brushing a strand of hair from my daughter’s face with such tenderness it made my chest ache. 

“She loves you,” I said quietly. 

‘I love her too,” Aria replied, surprising me with her candidness. “From the first moment I saw her. It doesn’t make sense, does it? We barely knew each other.” 

“Some connections transcend logic,” I said, allowing myself to stroke her cheek. “Some bonds are written in our souls.” 

She leaned into my touch, eyes closing briefly. “I should be terrified by everything you’ve told me. About who you are, about the prophecy, about what might happen to me. But I’m not.” 

“What do you feel?” I asked, heart hammering in my chest. 

‘Like I’m finally where I belong. Her eyes met mine, honest and unguarded. “Like everything in my life – losing my parents, being raised by Gabriel, coming 

was leading me to this moment. To you.” 

here 

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Chapter 46 

“whatever tappa, “Ised, “whatever we distroyer shush yon the you wont forn i 

She nodded, then nestled back against my chest. Her breathing gradually showed as sleep claimed her one more. I kald her, this my go might not be entirely human after all, and silently vowed to protect her from whatever was coming 

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