The golden cocoon fades slowly.
Light dissolves into dust, drifting down like glowing snow.
Aiden's arms stay wrapped around me long after the magic settles, as if he's terrified I'll vanish if he loosens even a little.
My head rests against his chest.
His heartbeat is uneven.
His breathing is ragged.
He's still scared.
Not of me—
but for me.
I lift my hand. My skin still glows faintly. The cracks have dimmed, but they're still there, like golden scars.
Aiden cups my palm and brings it to his lips.
"You're shaking," he whispers.
"So are you."
His jaw flexes. "Because you almost—"
He stops.
The words break in his throat.
I swallow. "But I didn't. You brought me back."
He pulls me closer.
"No. You fought for yourself. I just held on."
Behind us, the elders stand frozen—equal parts terrified and awestruck.
Kai speaks first.
"Okay so, uh—no offense—but what the hell just happened?"
Ethan nods rapidly. "Yeah, because she looked like a glowing goddess about to burn the entire building down."
Serene stands near the door, mascara streaked, trembling.
Her voice cracks:
"She could've killed him."
Aiden's head snaps up.
"Enough."
Serene swallows hard.
She looks at him like he's the one breaking her heart.
"She almost exploded! Aiden, I— I don't understand what you're doing. She's dangerous."
Aiden stands slowly, bringing me up with him, not letting go of my waist even for a moment.
"She's hurt. She's awakening. She's not dangerous."
Serene's voice rises in panic.
"But her power—!"
Aiden cuts her off sharply.
"Stop talking like you know her."
"I know you," Serene whispers. "I know what you're doing to yourself. You're destroying everything for her."
Aiden's wolf flashes in his eyes.
"Everything I've done tonight saved this pack."
Rowan steps forward. "Alpha, the Council will not approve of this. A witch with Shadow blood cannot live among wolves. She must be contained—"
Aiden's snarl shakes the room.
"CONTAIN HER?"
Rowan steps back instantly.
Aiden stands in front of me like a shield.
"You touch her, you threaten her, you even LOOK at her wrong— you'll answer to me."
Mira tries to intervene gently.
"Alpha… she almost lost control. You cannot deny the danger—"
"I can control it," I whisper weakly.
Aiden grips my waist reassuringly.
"Yes. You can."
Mira looks pained but firm.
"She needs guidance. Training. And distance from your emotions."
Aiden snaps, "No."
Rowan presses on:
"Alpha, you cannot let the pack live in fear of an unstable power."
Aiden's voice drops into deadly calm.
"Then I'll remove the fear."
They blink.
Aiden turns toward Ethan.
"Effective immediately:
BlackMoon goes into lockdown.
No one enters. No one leaves."
Ethan's eyes widen. "Alpha—"
"Do it."
Ethan bows his head. "Yes, Alpha."
Aiden then looks toward Kai.
"Double security around my quarters. No wolf comes near my door without my permission. No elder either."
Kai nods, seriousness replacing his usual sarcasm.
"Done."
Serene chokes.
"Aiden… you're cutting off the entire pack—for her?"
His answer is quiet but deadly clear:
"Yes."
Serene's tears spill over.
"You're choosing her over all of us."
He doesn't deny it.
He doesn't blink.
"She is my mate."
Serene collapses into a chair, hands shaking uncontrollably.
The room goes silent.
Everyone feels the finality.
The world has changed.
Aiden is no longer just Alpha.
He's a man in love.
And a man willing to wage war for that love.
Later — In Aiden's Private Quarters
Aiden carries me to the bed, ignoring everyone else.
He sits with me in his lap, fingers brushing my arms as if he fears the golden cracks will hurt.
"You're exhausted," he murmurs.
I lean into him.
"I feel like my bones are vibrating."
"That's the bond stabilizing you."
"And the golden lines?"
His hand pauses.
"They're spreading."
My breath trembles. "Is that bad?"
"It's change," he says softly. "You're becoming something rare."
I swallow.
"A monster?"
He turns my face sharply toward his.
"Never call yourself that again."
I say nothing.
He cups my cheek.
"You saved me. You saved the pack. That's not a monster."
"But I could've—"
"You didn't."
His voice softens.
"You came back to me."
My heart stutters.
"Aiden…"
He lowers his forehead to mine, voice barely above a whisper:
"I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. No matter what you become. No matter who your father is."
I close my eyes, overwhelmed.
But the moment is shattered—
When a voice flickers in my mind:
"You cannot hide from me."
I jolt.
Aiden immediately tenses.
"What?" His hands grip my arms.
"I heard him."
Aiden goes rigid.
"What did he say?"
"…that I can't hide."
Aiden growls low in his chest, a quiet, deadly sound.
"I swear, I'll tear him apart with my bare hands—"
But the voice returns.
"You are awakening faster than expected.
Your power calls to mine."
My blood runs cold.
Aiden grips my jaw softly. "Stay with me. Ignore him."
But I can't.
His voice slides through my skull like fog.
"Come to me, little flame.
The wolf cannot protect you from what you are."
A wave of nausea hits me.
My vision blurs.
"Aiden—" I gasp, clutching his shirt. "I don't feel—"
He grabs me tight.
"Liyana? Liyana—look at me. Stay conscious. FEEL the bond!"
The gold in my veins flickers rapidly, as if responding to the Shadow King's voice.
Elder Mira rushes forward.
"Alpha—she's connecting with him again!"
Aiden snarls.
"NO SHE ISN'T!"
He crushes his lips to my forehead, grounding me with the bond.
Warmth spreads.
The Shadow King's voice fades.
The gold dimming.
I collapse against Aiden's chest, breath shuddering.
He holds me like he's holding his entire world.
"It's okay," he whispers.
"I've got you."
But behind us—
Rowan whispers:
"Alpha… this cannot continue.
She is attracting him.
She threatens us all."
Aiden's entire body goes still.
He slowly turns his head toward the elders.
"You want to take her away?"
Rowan swallows.
"If necessary—yes."
Aiden shifts in an instant.
Full Alpha aura blasts outward—
Elders fall to their knees.
Lamps explode.
Walls shake.
His voice is ice and fire:
"Over. My. Dead. Body."
Rowan coughs on the floor. "Alpha, you risk war—"
Aiden steps forward.
"Then war it is."
Kai whispers,
"Oh hell."
Ethan mutters,
"This is how kingdoms fall."
Serene sobs into her hands.
And I—
my head buried in Aiden's chest—
hear the Shadow King whisper faintly:
"War is exactly what I want."
My blood freezes.
Because for the first time—
Aiden isn't just fighting for me.
He's fighting against destiny itself.
And destiny…
never loses without a price.