The journey back to Moonstone Pack was tense.
Dante and I moved swiftly, covering ground with careful precision, avoiding known patrol routes, and keeping an ear out for potential threats. We weren’t just running from whoever was hunting me—we were heading straight into the fury of the Alphas we had abandoned.
Dante was silent for most of the trip, his mind working through scenarios, preparing for what awaited us. I, on the other hand, was drowning in my own thoughts.
The Shadow Order.
The name echoed in my head, rolling through me like a slow-burning fire.
They had created me. Made me.
I wasn’t just an omega. I was their experiment.
A living, breathing test subject.
And now, they wanted me back.
The thought sent a shiver through me, but I pushed it down. Fear wouldn’t help me now.
What mattered was what happened next.
And I had a feeling Sebastian wouldn’t be in a forgiving mood.
By the time we reached the outer edges of Moonstone Pack territory, the sun was setting, casting long shadows over the dense forest.
Dante signaled for me to stop. “We should wait for nightfall.”
I shook my head. “No. We go now.”
Dante exhaled. “You realize we’re walking straight into an execution, right?”
I smirked. “I think you’ll be fine. I’m the one they’re really pissed at.”
Dante’s lips twitched slightly, but the amusement didn’t reach his eyes.
We both knew what was coming.
Together, we crossed the border.
Confrontation
The moment we stepped into the main grounds of the estate, all hell broke loose.
Wolves emerged from the shadows, their bodies tense, their eyes gleaming with hostility. I recognized a few of them—warriors, scouts, enforcers.
They weren’t just reacting to our return.
They had been waiting for us.
Within seconds, we were surrounded.
A growl rumbled through the air, and then—
Sebastian stepped forward.
His green eyes were ice-cold, his expression a mask of control. But I could feel the rage beneath the surface, simmering like an untamed storm.
Kai stood beside him, arms crossed, his golden eyes burning with something more than just anger.
Betrayal.
I swallowed hard. This was going to be bad.
Sebastian’s voice was eerily calm when he finally spoke.
“You ran.”
I met his gaze, forcing myself to stand tall. “Yes.”
His jaw clenched. “You disobeyed direct orders. Left our territory. Put yourself—and this entire pack—at risk.”
Dante spoke before I could. “It wasn’t a risk. It was necessary.”
Sebastian’s gaze snapped to him. “You don’t get to decide that.”
Dante didn’t flinch, but tension crackled between them.
Kai’s voice was quieter, but no less dangerous. “You left, Aria.”
My chest tightened.
I turned to him, searching for any sign of understanding. But there was none.
Only disappointment.
I inhaled sharply. “I had to.”
Kai let out a bitter laugh. “Had to? Do you even realize what’s been happening while you were off playing detective?”
I stiffened. “What are you talking about?”
Sebastian’s fists clenched at his sides. “More attacks. More losses. Wolves dying—because our enemies thought we were vulnerable.”
Because I had left.
Guilt slammed into me.
I had known there would be consequences, but I hadn’t realized just how bad it had gotten.
“We needed answers,” I said, forcing strength into my voice. “And we got them.”
Sebastian’s expression didn’t change. “Then I hope for your sake, Aria, that they were worth the cost.”
I swallowed hard.
Dante took a step forward, his voice steady. “We found something. A name.”
Sebastian didn’t react, but I could feel the weight of his attention shift.
Dante exhaled. “The Shadow Order.”
The change was immediate.
Kai stilled.
Sebastian’s expression turned lethal.
And then—
A sharp, angry snarl ripped through the air.
I turned just in time to see one of the Beta warriors lunge at me.
I barely had time to react before Sebastian moved.
He intercepted mid-air, slamming the wolf down with bone-crushing force. The warrior hit the ground, coughing, his face twisted in rage.
“Aria is a threat,” he spat. “She’s the reason they’re coming! The reason our people are dying!”
Sebastian’s voice was deadly quiet. “Stand down.”
The warrior hesitated, his gaze flickering between me and his Alpha.
Then—he backed away, his teeth bared.
I clenched my fists. They blamed me.
And maybe…
Maybe they weren’t wrong.
But that didn’t mean I was going to run.
I turned back to Sebastian. “We need to talk. Now.”
Sebastian’s green eyes locked onto mine.
Then, finally, he nodded.
“Follow me.”
The war room was dimly lit, the heavy wooden table covered in maps, battle reports, and bloodstained notes.
Sebastian stood at the head of the room, Kai and Dante flanking him.
I took a deep breath.
And then—I told them everything.
I told them about the Shadow Order. About how I was made. About the failed experiments that came before me.
And about the man who found us in the woods.
By the time I was finished, the room was dead silent.
Sebastian stared at the table, his expression unreadable.
Kai was gripping the edge of the desk, his knuckles white.
Dante—who already knew most of it—watched them carefully.
Finally, Sebastian exhaled.
“They created you.”
I nodded. “Yes.”
His gaze lifted. “And now they want you back.”
A shiver ran down my spine. “Yes.”
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Then, Sebastian turned to Dante. “You should have told me.”
Dante’s lips twitched. “You would have stopped us.”
Sebastian’s jaw tightened. “Damn right, I would have.”
Kai finally spoke. “So what’s the plan?”
Sebastian exhaled sharply. “We prepare for war.”
Dante arched a brow. “That’s your answer for everything.”
Sebastian’s green eyes flashed. “Because it’s the only answer that works.”
I swallowed hard. “We don’t know how many there are. We don’t know their numbers, their strengths—”
Sebastian turned to me. “Then we find out.”
A slow, cold realization settled in my chest.
“We’re going after them,” I whispered.
Kai smirked. “Damn right, we are.”
Sebastian crossed his arms. “They made a mistake coming for you, Aria.”
His green eyes gleamed.
“Now, we return the favor.”
My pulse thundered.
The war wasn’t coming.
It was already here.
And this time—
We weren’t waiting for them to strike.
We were taking the fight to them.