"You didn't tell me everything."
Aria's voice cut through the silence, sharp and accusing. She stood with her arms crossed, eyes narrowed as Dante paced the length of the clearing. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting long shadows on the ground, but it did nothing to soften the tension between them.
Dante stopped mid-stride, his back still to her. He didn't respond immediately, his broad shoulders tensing at her words. After a moment, he exhaled, running a hand through his hair before turning to face her.
"There's a lot I haven't told you," he admitted, his voice rough with exhaustion.
Aria's jaw tightened. "About him. About Luca." She took a step closer, her gaze searching his face. "Why does he care about me? What aren't you telling me?"
Dante's eyes darkened, and for a moment, the flicker of vulnerability she had seen earlier disappeared, replaced by the hard, impenetrable mask he always wore. "Luca isn't someone you should worry about."
"Don't do that," she snapped, her frustration boiling over. "Don't treat me like I'm fragile. You of all people should know I can handle the truth."
Dante's gaze met hers, and for a moment, something passed between them—an understanding, a silent acknowledgment of the shared pain they both carried. But it was fleeting, gone as quickly as it had come.
"You're not fragile, Aria," he said quietly. "But Luca... he's dangerous. He's been after power for as long as I've known him. And now, for some reason, he's focused on you."
Aria's heart skipped a beat at his words, but she forced herself to remain calm. "Why?"
Dante hesitated, his expression unreadable. "Because you're not just any wolf. There's something different about you. Something even I don't fully understand."
Aria frowned, confusion mixing with the anger still simmering beneath the surface. "What do you mean?"
Dante glanced away, his jaw clenched. "When you killed that rogue... the way you fought. It wasn't normal. That kind of strength—it comes from something older, something more powerful than any of us."
Aria's chest tightened. She had felt it too, that surge of energy, the raw, primal force that had coursed through her veins when she fought. But she had dismissed it, thinking it was just adrenaline. Now, she wasn't so sure.
"So, what are you saying?" she asked, her voice quieter now. "That I'm some kind of... weapon?"
Dante shook his head. "Not a weapon. But there's something inside you that's been awakened. And Luca—he can sense it."
Aria swallowed hard, her mind racing. The Moon Goddess's words echoed in her head, the cryptic promise she had made before sending Aria back to this life. You will find your purpose. But first, you must survive.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Because I didn't want to believe it," Dante admitted, his eyes locking onto hers. "I didn't want to drag you into this."
Aria took a step closer, her pulse quickening as she searched his face. "Into what?"
Dante's gaze darkened, the weight of his words pressing down on her like a physical force. "A war, Aria. A war for control of the pack, the land, the power that runs through our bloodlines. Luca's been planning his move for years, waiting for the right moment to strike. And now, he sees you as the key to tipping the balance in his favor."
Aria's breath caught in her throat, the gravity of his words sinking in. This wasn't just about her revenge, or even her survival. It was something much bigger, something that went beyond the personal vendetta she had carried since her death.
Before she could respond, the soft rustle of leaves behind her sent her instincts into overdrive. She spun around, her muscles tensing, ready to fight. But instead of another rogue or enemy, a familiar figure stepped out of the shadows.
"Cassian?" Aria's voice faltered as the young man emerged from the darkness, his face pale and drawn.
Cassian was one of the few wolves in the pack Aria had considered a friend, someone who had always been on the outskirts of the power struggle between the dominant wolves. But now, there was something different about him. His eyes were haunted, his body trembling as if he had seen something he couldn't unsee.
"You have to go," Cassian said, his voice shaking with urgency. "Both of you. Now."
Dante stiffened beside her, his body going rigid. "What's going on?"
Cassian glanced over his shoulder, his breath coming in shallow gasps. "They're coming. Luca's men. They know you're here. If you don't leave now—"
A low growl cut through the air, and Aria's blood turned to ice. She could sense them now, the dark presence of wolves moving through the trees, closing in on them from all sides. There were too many to fight, too many to escape without a plan.
"Damn it," Dante muttered under his breath, his fists clenching at his sides.
Aria's heart raced, her pulse pounding in her ears. "What do we do?"
Dante didn't hesitate. He grabbed her arm, pulling her close. "We run."
The command in his voice left no room for argument, and before Aria could process what was happening, they were sprinting through the forest, the sound of wolves crashing through the underbrush behind them. Cassian was close on their heels, his breath ragged as they ran, weaving through the trees with a speed that defied logic.
Branches whipped at Aria's face, her lungs burning as she pushed herself harder, faster. She could feel the presence of Luca's men closing in, their growls growing louder, more insistent. But Dante didn't slow down, his grip on her arm firm as he led them deeper into the woods.
Suddenly, he veered to the left, pulling her off the main path and into a dense thicket of trees. The sounds of their pursuers grew distant, muffled by the thick canopy above.
"Here," Dante said, his voice low as they crouched behind a large boulder, hidden from view.
Aria's chest heaved, her heart still pounding as she tried to catch her breath. She could hear the faint rustle of leaves, the distant howls of Luca's men as they searched for them. But for now, they were safe. At least for the moment.
Cassian collapsed beside them, his face pale and drenched in sweat. "I didn't think I'd make it in time," he panted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Aria turned to him, her mind racing with questions. "Why did you warn us? Why now?"
Cassian hesitated, his eyes flickering with guilt. "Because... I didn't have a choice. Luca—he's not just after you, Aria. He's planning to take down the entire pack. He wants to burn everything to the ground."
Aria's heart skipped a beat, her mind spinning. "What does he want from me?"
Cassian's gaze met hers, and the fear in his eyes chilled her to the bone. "You're the key, Aria. The one who can unlock the power he's been chasing for years. And he won't stop until he has you."