The moment Kai says the words "eyes glowing white", every drop of warmth drains from the room.
Aiden's jaw tightens so hard his teeth grind.
His wolf flickers dangerously beneath his skin.
I stand from the bed, legs still weak, but magic buzzing in my fingertips.
Aiden steps toward me instantly, catching my arm as if I might fall.
"I'm fine," I whisper.
He doesn't believe me.
"Stay behind me," he growls, pulling me closer.
Kai shifts nervously from foot to foot. "Alpha… he's just standing at the barrier. Not moving. Not speaking."
That alone is terrifying.
The packhouse barrier isn't a fence.
It's a magical shield carved with centuries of wolf blood and Alpha power.
Nothing gets through unless allowed.
Not even shadows.
And yet—
something is standing in front of it.
Waiting.
Calling.
For me.
Aiden grabs a black shirt, throws it on, then grips my wrist again.
"You're coming with me," he says.
"I thought you said—"
"I changed my mind."
His voice is ice.
"If he's here for you, I'm not letting you out of my sight."
His wolf rumbles violently in agreement.
Ethan appears at the bedroom door, face pale, eyes wide.
"Alpha… the pack is gathering. They're terrified."
Aiden pushes past him, dragging me gently but firmly.
As we walk through the hallway, wolves flatten themselves against the walls.
Some drop their eyes in fear.
Some in respect.
Some… in confusion.
Whispers follow us like shadows:
"The witch."
"Alpha carrying her…"
"The fire… the bond…"
"Is she dangerous?"
"Or our only hope?"
Serene stands near the staircase, eyes red and swollen.
She looks like she hasn't stopped crying since the courtyard.
When she sees me walking beside Aiden—
his hand wrapped possessively around my wrist—
her expression shatters again.
"Aiden…" she whispers. "Don't go near him. Please. This is a trap."
Aiden doesn't stop walking.
Doesn't look at her.
His voice slices the hallway in two.
"If anyone lays a finger on her during this, I will tear their throat out."
Wolves stop breathing.
Serene flinches like she's been hit.
I don't look back.
I don't need to.
The bond pulls me forward.
And Aiden's grip never loosens.
The Barrier
We reach the clearing where the packhouse's magical barrier glows faintly between the trees.
Wolves crowd around, forming a circle around the figure standing outside.
A tall man.
Cloked in black smoke-like fabric.
Skin pale as frost.
Hair silver-white.
Eyes glowing pure white with no pupils.
He isn't a rogue.
He isn't a wolf.
He isn't alive.
He is a shadow made flesh.
A messenger of the Shadow King.
The moment Aiden and I step into the clearing—
the messenger bows.
Not to Aiden.
To me.
Wolves gasp.
Kai mutters: "Oh, that's… bad. That's very bad."
Aiden's wolf explodes under his skin.
His snarl rattles the trees.
"Raise your head," Aiden growls.
The messenger obeys slowly.
His white eyes lock onto mine.
My breath stops.
His voice is not human.
Not even close.
"Moonfire Witch."
Aiden instantly steps in front of me, blocking the messenger's view.
"Speak to me," Aiden snaps. "Not her."
The messenger tilts his head.
His lips curl into a chilling smile.
"I do not speak to wolves."
Aiden's body tenses.
His claws slide out.
The pack collectively steps back.
Kai whispers to Ethan,
"Alpha is going to rip this guy's spine out."
Ethan mutters, "He'll have to find the spine first."
The messenger's eyes slide back to me, ignoring Aiden entirely.
"My king sent me with a message."
Aiden growls, "Give your message to me."
The messenger smiles wider.
"You do not matter, Alpha."
The air cracks like lightning.
Aiden lunges.
But the messenger raises one finger.
Just one.
And the barriers around the packhouse flicker—
glitch—
distort.
Every wolf jumps back.
Kai swears under his breath. "He's manipulating the barrier."
The messenger's voice echoes like wind through bones:
"Moonfire Witch, your king wants you."
Aiden roars, shifting halfway instantly.
"HE. IS. NOT. HER. KING."
The messenger does not even look at him.
"The Shadow King says you have something that belongs to him."
My stomach twists.
"What?" I force out.
"Your power."
He takes one step closer, not touching the barrier—
but the ground beneath him cracks.
"Give it.
Or he will claim it."
My heart slams painfully in my chest.
"I won't," I whisper. "It's mine."
The messenger sighs.
"Defiance."
His smile widens.
"My king expected that."
Aiden snarls, stepping fully between us.
"Talk one more second—
and I will tear you apart."
The messenger laughs softly.
"Wolf, your threats are adorable."
Every wolf in the clearing flinches.
The messenger lifts his hand.
A swirling orb of shadow grows in his palm—
pulsing
hungry
alive.
Magic that feels like void.
Magic that smells like death.
The wolves growl.
Serene screams.
Even the elders back away.
Kai curses, pulling out his daggers.
"A shadow orb… that thing can swallow a wolf whole!"
Aiden's wolf form bristles, and he lunges—
I grab him.
Not physically.
Through the bond.
"Aiden, no!"
He freezes mid-motion, chest heaving.
His silver eyes snap to mine, burning.
The messenger chuckles.
"Ah… yes. The bond works both ways."
Aiden's head whips back toward him.
His voice is pure warning.
"Don't. You. Dare."
The messenger lifts the orb, preparing to throw it at Aiden—
My magic explodes.
"NO!"
A wave of Moonfire shoots from my hands, golden and blinding.
It slams into the barrier—
but instead of burning it—
it merges with it.
The entire packhouse barrier lights up in gold.
The flames swirl through the wolf runes, powering them, strengthening them, turning them into something ancient and fierce.
The messenger hisses, stepping back.
The orb in his hand dissolves.
"Impossible," he snarls.
"You are not strong enough to expand the barrier."
Aiden turns slowly, eyes wide.
"Liyana… you used your magic to protect us."
I pant, breath shaking.
"I didn't mean to. It just… reacted."
The messenger steps back farther, shadows twisting violently around him.
"You are growing… too fast."
He looks upward, eyes glowing brighter.
Then he recites a message—not from himself.
But from him.
"My king says:
The moon has chosen the wrong mate.
The wolf must break…
or the witch must burn."
Aiden roars, "Tell him—if he comes near her, I will kill him with my bare hands."
The messenger watches Aiden, unblinking.
"My king looks forward to watching you try."
With that, he melts into black smoke and vanishes into the trees.
Silence.
Terrifying silence.
Aiden shifts fully back, breathing hard, fury shaking him.
He turns to me slowly.
His voice, low and rough, breaks the quiet:
"Liyana."
I swallow. "Yes?"
He steps close.
Too close.
Close enough that I feel his heartbeat slamming against his ribs.
Close enough that the bond hums with heat.
Close enough that his breath brushes my cheek.
He cups my face with both hands.
"Listen carefully," he whispers.
"There is nothing—NOTHING—that shadow bastard can offer you that I can't protect you from."
My heart races.
"Aiden—"
He leans in.
His forehead touches mine.
His lips hover inches from mine.
His voice breaks against my skin.
"You belong with me."
The bond pulses—
Warm
Dark
Dangerous
Inevitable.
And I whisper the truth neither of us wants to admit:
"Aiden… he won't stop."
Aiden's fingers tighten at my jaw.
"Then let him come," he growls.
"I'll be waiting."