The room still smelled faintly of burnt magic.
Even hours after the explosion of power, golden dust lingered in the air like the remnants of a dying star. The bed sheets were wrinkled beneath me, its fabric warm from Aiden's body heat—because he hadn't left my side for even a second.
Not when I collapsed.
Not when the elders panicked.
Not when Serene screamed.
Not when everything threatened to break.
Aiden sat on the edge of the bed, cradling me against his chest as if he were holding the last surviving piece of hope.
One arm wrapped around my shoulders.
The other stroked my hair softly… rhythmically… as if each gentle touch could keep me alive.
His breathing was uneven.
Sharp.
Fear hidden beneath anger.
I could feel it.
He was terrified of losing me.
Kai paced near the window, muttering under his breath.
Ethan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his expression a mix of fear and awe.
But Serene—
She was gone.
Aiden had noticed immediately.
"Where is she?" Aiden growled, eyes flashing silver.
Kai shrugged. "Probably crying somewhere."
Ethan muttered, "Or plotting."
Aiden's entire jaw locked.
"She was staring at Liyana before she left. That's not normal crying."
Kai exhaled slowly. "Alpha… she loved you. She's hurt."
"Love doesn't justify jealousy," Aiden snapped. "Or endangering my mate."
The word mate hit the air like thunder.
No one dared argue.
But Serene wasn't crying.
Outside the Alpha Wing, Serene stood in the shadows—breathing fast, clutching something to her chest.
A shirt.
Not hers.
Not Aiden's.
Mine.
The last shirt I wore, still carrying my scent.
A low whisper slithered through the air.
"Bring it."
Serene trembled. "Are… are you sure this will help?"
A colder whisper answered:
"If you want him back… you must remove her."
Serene clenched the fabric tighter, tears dripping onto it.
"I don't want to kill her," she whispered shakily. "I just want Aiden to see what she really is."
The voice chuckled softly.
"He will. Soon."
The shadows swallowed Serene whole.
Inside the room
Aiden didn't know what Serene was planning.
He didn't know she'd stolen my scent already.
He only knew one thing:
I wasn't waking up.
My breathing grew shallow.
My pulse faltered.
Magic flickered beneath my skin like lightning trapped in glass.
"Aiden…" Kai whispered, glancing nervously at me. "She's getting colder."
Aiden's grip tightened around me.
"I know."
"You haven't slept."
"I will not sleep."
Ethan sighed. "Alpha, you're scaring the juniors. Wolves think you're losing your mind."
Aiden looked up slowly, eyes glowing.
"Then they can be afraid."
Kai swallowed.
His voice softened.
"Alpha… you love her too much."
Aiden didn't blink.
"I don't love her," he said quietly.
Kai and Ethan froze.
Aiden brushed his thumb over my cheek gently.
"I worship her."
Silence fell heavy.
Not dramatic.
Not angry.
Just honest.
Aiden bowed his head.
"I'm not losing her," he whispered. "Not now. Not ever."
The Awakening Begins Again
My body jolted.
Magic slammed through my veins like a tidal wave.
The golden cracks blazed bright—too bright—running up my arms, spreading to my neck, my chest.
Kai yelped and jumped back.
"OH GOD, SHE'S GOING NUCLEAR AGAIN—!"
Ethan ducked behind a chair.
"WHY DO WE KEEP ENDING UP NEAR HER WHEN SHE DOES THIS—?!"
Aiden didn't move.
He held my face, forehead pressed to mine.
"Liyana. Hear me. Focus on my voice."
Another violent wave of magic blasted from my body—
The bed shook.
The walls groaned.
The windows rattled in their frames.
Aiden tightened his grip around me, refusing to budge.
"Come back to me," he whispered fiercely.
"Don't let him pull you."
Because he knew what was happening.
The Shadow King was calling me again.
My body arched backward, mouth opening in a silent scream as if invisible hands were pulling me from the inside.
Aiden shouted, "LIYANA!"
My eyes snapped open—
And the world melted.
THE DREAM REALM
I stood in darkness.
Alone.
Barefoot.
Cold.
Except—
"Little flame."
His voice.
The Shadow King stepped from the black fog—
cloaked in darkness, eyes glowing white, face hidden beneath shadow.
"You awakened too fast," he murmured, circling me like a predator. "Your vessel is unstable."
My throat tightened. "Get away from me."
He chuckled.
"You are mine, Liyana. No amount of wolf affection will change that."
His hand reached out—
but the bond yanked me backward.
Aiden's voice echoed faintly in the distance:
"Come back."
The Shadow King's expression darkened.
"He is weakening you. Let me strengthen you."
I stepped back shakily.
"I'm not going with you."
"You will," he whispered. "The seal is broken."
My palm glowed—
symbols forming, swirling, burning.
I gasped.
"What is happening to me?!"
"You are becoming what you were born to be," he murmured.
"Power enough to break realms. Enough to replace me."
My chest tightened painfully.
"I don't want this."
"You don't have a choice."
Aiden's voice exploded in my head:
"LIYANA—WAKE UP!"
Golden light burst around me—
And the realm shattered.
BACK IN THE ROOM
I jerked awake with a scream.
Aiden caught me instantly, wrapping both arms around me.
"I'm here—I'm right here—look at me—"
My fingers twisted in his shirt.
"He's—inside my dreams," I whispered shakily. "He said… I can't hide."
Aiden's eyes darkened.
"I'll tear his heart out."
Kai muttered, "Great, Alpha's homicidal again."
Aiden didn't look away from me.
"What else did he say?"
I swallowed hard.
"He said I'm awakening too fast. That my body can't handle the power."
Aiden's hand slid to my jaw.
"Then we slow it down."
"He said I was born to replace him—"
Aiden snarled. "Over my dead body."
The room vibrated with the force of his wolf.
But then—
Something worse happened.
My palm burned.
Aiden grabbed my wrist.
A NEW sigil appeared—
forming in swirling golden lines.
Ethan whispered in horror,
"That's… that's a realm-mark."
Kai went pale.
"She's being CLAIMED."
Aiden's entire body radiated fury.
"No," he growled. "She is not his."
He pressed his palm over mine—
and the bond sparked.
My veins glowed brighter.
A wave of heat surged through me—
but this time…
It didn't hurt.
It soothed.
Aiden exhaled shakily.
"See? I can reach you. I can stop him."
But the elders outside the door had heard everything.
Rowan's voice echoed through the hall.
"ALPHA! OPEN THIS DOOR IMMEDIATELY!"
Aiden stood, muscles tense.
"No. She stays with me."
"Alpha, she is being MARKED by a dark king! We cannot allow her to remain—"
Aiden ripped the door open.
The elders stumbled backward.
Fully shifted eyes—
silver and deadly—glared down at them.
Aiden snarled:
"ANYONE who tries to take her away from me—
I will tear apart."
The elders trembled.
Aiden slammed the door shut again.
Then he turned to me, voice softer, deeper—
terrified.
"We're leaving tomorrow," he whispered.
"I'm taking you somewhere he can't reach."
My heart pounded.
"Aiden… where?"
He brushed a kiss over my forehead.
"To the ancient Moon Temple."
His voice dropped to a growl.
"No shadow can cross its walls."
But outside—
In the trees—
Something smiled.
Because Serene was already waiting.
And she wasn't alone.