The moment the decision was made, there was no turning back.
Aria stood with Sebastian, Kai, and Dante at the edge of the Moonstone Pack’s territory, preparing to head west toward the rogue Dante had spoken of. The morning air was thick with tension, a crisp bite of cold against her skin.
She adjusted the strap of the dagger holster on her thigh, forcing herself to focus. This wasn’t just another mission. This wasn’t about simple reconnaissance.
This was about finding the truth.
The truth about the Shadow Order. About her.
The warriors accompanying them were some of Moonstone’s best—hand-selected by Sebastian for their skill and loyalty. Five wolves in total, dressed in lightweight armor, weapons secured.
Aria glanced at Sebastian, who was finishing up the last of his orders to the warriors staying behind. His presence was commanding, the kind of quiet power that made others follow without hesitation.
Kai was more relaxed, rolling his shoulders as if heading into a fight was just another way to kill time. But she didn’t miss the way his golden eyes flicked toward her every so often, like he was keeping an eye on her.
Dante, as usual, was unreadable.
Sebastian turned back to the group. “We move fast and quiet. No unnecessary risks.” His gaze flicked to Aria, lingering for a second longer than it needed to. “If something feels wrong, we turn back.”
Aria met his gaze evenly. “Understood.”
Kai smirked. “I’d say we’ll be in and out, no trouble, but let’s be honest—when is anything ever that easy?”
No one responded.
Because they all knew the answer.
It never was.
Sebastian gave the final nod. “Let’s go.”
And just like that, they disappeared into the trees.
The western border of Moonstone territory was rugged, untamed. Thick forests stretched in every direction, the kind of terrain that made tracking difficult, that could swallow entire groups if they weren’t careful.
Dante took the lead, navigating the dense landscape with ease, his movements precise, efficient. The man never wasted energy.
Aria followed close behind, her senses sharp, her pulse steady.
She could feel it—the shift in the air.
They weren’t alone out here.
Sebastian must have sensed it too. His shoulders were tense, his gaze flicking toward the trees, scanning for unseen threats.
Kai, however, was the one who spoke first.
“We’re being watched.”
No one argued.
Dante kept walking, but his posture shifted, subtly changing as he adjusted for a possible attack.
The moment stretched, silent, heavy—
Then—
A rustle in the trees.
A blur of motion.
The warriors barely had time to react before figures erupted from the forest.
Wolves. Not Moonstone.
Not rogues, either.
Their movements were too calculated, too precise.
Trained killers.
Shadow Order.
Everything happened fast.
Aria ducked as a blade whistled past her ear, narrowly missing her. She twisted, using her momentum to drive her dagger into the stomach of her attacker.
A choked gasp—then a body hitting the dirt.
Sebastian was a storm, moving with terrifying efficiency, his claws ripping through enemies like they were made of paper.
Kai fought like he was playing a game, laughing between strikes, a wild glint in his golden eyes as he took down opponent after opponent.
Dante was a ghost. Silent. Deadly. He moved between the shadows, striking before his enemies even realized he was there.
And Aria?
She fought like hell.
One enemy lunged at her—she sidestepped, slashing her blade across his throat. Another grabbed for her wrist—she twisted, shoving her dagger into his chest, feeling the sickening resistance of flesh and bone.
Blood sprayed.
Bodies fell.
But they just kept coming.
Aria’s chest heaved as she took a step back, scanning the battlefield. This wasn’t an ambush.
This was a test.
They weren’t trying to wipe them out.
They were studying them.
And that terrified her more than the battle itself.
Sebastian must have realized it too, because his next words were sharp, commanding.
“We pull back! Now!”
The warriors shifted, closing in around each other, moving in sync as they retreated.
The enemy didn’t pursue.
Aria’s breath caught as she saw why.
A figure stood at the edge of the trees, watching them.
Lucian.
His silver eyes glowed in the dim light, his expression unreadable. He wasn’t smiling this time.
No words. No threats.
Just watching.
Aria felt a chill run down her spine, but she forced herself to turn away.
They needed to regroup.
They needed a plan.
And they needed it now.
By the time they returned to Moonstone territory, the tension was thick enough to cut with a blade.
The warriors dispersed, tending to injuries, checking their weapons.
Sebastian, Kai, and Dante followed Aria into the war room, shutting the door behind them.
The silence stretched before Kai finally exhaled sharply. “Well. That was fun.”
Sebastian ignored him, turning to Dante. “That wasn’t a rogue.”
Dante nodded. “No. It wasn’t.”
Aria clenched her jaw. “They were testing us.”
Sebastian’s green eyes darkened. “I know.”
Kai ran a hand through his hair, letting out a low whistle. “So, just to be clear—we went looking for a rogue, and instead, we found an entire hit squad from the Shadow Order.”
Dante’s expression was unreadable. “Lucian was there.”
That shut everyone up.
Sebastian’s grip tightened on the edge of the table. “And he let us go.”
Aria exhaled slowly. “He’s waiting.”
Kai scoffed. “For what?”
Her stomach twisted. “For me.”
The words tasted like poison.
Sebastian’s jaw clenched, his green eyes flickering with something dangerous. “Then we don’t give him what he wants.”
Aria looked at him, really looked at him, and for the first time, she realized—
Sebastian wasn’t just fighting for the pack.
He was fighting for her.
For all of them.
Her chest tightened, but she pushed it down.
She had bigger things to worry about.
Sebastian straightened. “From now on, we prepare for war.”
Kai sighed. “Finally.”
Dante smirked slightly, but his expression remained cold. Calculated.
Aria exhaled.
They had just walked straight into the enemy’s trap.
And now?
There was no turning back.