Aiden collapses with me still in his arms.
Not falling—
but dropping to his knees like the world was suddenly ripped out from under him.
His grip on my waist turns desperate, fingers digging in as if he's terrified I'll vanish if he loosens even slightly.
"Liyana…"
He gasps like breathing is hurting him.
"Something's wrong—what's happening to you—why does the bond feel—"
I clutch his face with both shaking hands.
"Aiden, look at me."
His eyes—
usually fierce, steady—
are wide and frantic, wolf-panic bleeding through.
"It feels like you're slipping," he whispers.
"You were fading. I felt you dying. I—"
He breaks off, shaking.
"I thought I lost you."
My heart twists painfully.
I rest my forehead against his.
"You didn't lose me," I whisper.
"I'm here."
But the bond pulses weak again—
like a flickering flame struggling under a storm.
Aiden jerks, pain shooting up his spine.
"NO—NO—stay with me—please stay—"
"I'm here—Aiden, breathe."
He drags in a harsh breath, burying his face in my neck like he needs my scent to stay standing.
Kai and Ethan are shaking behind him.
Kai whispers,
"She's glowing. Like… a lot."
Ethan adds,
"She's glitching. This is bad. Really bad."
Aiden ignores them all.
He pulls back enough to see me, thumb trembling against my cheek.
"Tell me what he did," he demands, voice low and broken.
"Tell me what that monster did to you."
I swallow hard.
"He didn't do anything."
Aiden's expression shatters.
"Then WHY—"
He grips my shoulders.
"WHY does it feel like you're dying?"
My throat closes.
I look down at my hands.
Silver.
Gold.
Shadow-black threads pulsing under my skin.
"All this power…"
I whisper.
"It wasn't meant to exist together."
Aiden freezes.
"What?"
"I chose both."
He closes his eyes for one long, agonizing second.
When he opens them—
he looks destroyed.
"Liyana," he breathes.
"You can't hold both. You're human—"
"I'm not," I whisper.
"Not anymore."
He stares at me like the world is ending.
"You chose BOTH powers…"
His voice is soft and terrified.
"That's why the bond is unstable."
I nod, tears slipping down my cheeks.
Aiden's thumb wipes them away immediately.
"Don't cry," he pleads.
"Moonlight, don't cry—please—"
"I don't know how long I can hold this," I whisper.
"This power… it's too much."
Aiden's eyes blaze.
"Then give it back. Let it go. THROW IT AWAY—"
"I can't."
"WHY NOT?!"
"Because if I let go of Shadow—"
My voice breaks.
"—the Shadow King will take me."
Aiden goes still.
"And if I let go of Moonfire—"
My next words shake.
"—the Moon Goddess will burn me for rejecting her blessing."
Aiden's breath catches.
"And if I reject BOTH…"
I whisper.
"I die."
Silence.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Unforgiving.
Aiden pulls me into his chest like the world might fall apart if he doesn't anchor me.
His voice is a whisper of agony.
"So no matter what… you suffer."
I close my eyes.
"Yes."
He grips the back of my head, holding me against him.
"No. No—NO."
His voice cracks.
"I won't let that happen."
"You can't stop it."
His fingers tighten in my hair.
"I can. I will."
"You can't, Aiden—"
He pulls back suddenly, cupping both sides of my face.
"LOOK at me."
I meet his eyes.
He looks like a man tearing himself apart from the inside.
"You're MINE," he whispers fiercely.
"And I protect what's mine."
"Aiden—"
"I don't care what throne claims you.
What prophecy hunts you.
What power tries to consume you."
His voice drops to a desperate growl.
"You belong with me."
I choke on a sob.
"I don't know if the bond can handle this, Aiden."
"It CAN," he snarls.
"It WILL."
He presses his forehead to mine, gripping me like a lifeline.
"You hear me? I'll hold it together myself if I have to. I'll carry the pain. I'll take it ALL."
His voice breaks.
"Just don't leave me."
I grab his wrists, tears streaming.
"I'm trying. I swear—I'm trying."
He pulls me into his arms again.
The bond pulses faintly.
Weak.
"Weak again," Aiden whispers, voice hollow.
"It's weakening again—why—why—"
I know why.
Because I'm losing control of both powers.
Because my body is breaking under the weight.
Because choosing both wasn't supposed to be possible.
A jolt of pain rips through me.
I crumple forward.
Aiden catches me instantly, panic exploding across his face.
"Liyana—NO—DON'T—"
The pain spreads like burning ice, crawling up my spine.
Black threads and silver veins flare violently under my skin.
The bond snaps—
Aiden gasps like someone stabbed him.
He clutches his heart, collapsing with me.
"STOP—STOP—STOP!" he begs.
"Don't let go—don't you dare let go—"
I scream as the power surges uncontrollably.
Silver fire bursts from my right side.
Shadowfire bursts from my left.
Aiden shields me with his body even as he's shaking violently.
"TAKE ME INSTEAD!"
His roar shakes the chamber.
"TAKE ME, NOT HER—TAKE—"
"AIDEN, STOP!" I cry, grabbing his face.
He's crying.
Aiden.
My Alpha.
Has tears running down his face.
Because he thinks I'm dying.
Because he thinks the bond is breaking.
Because he loves me enough to die for me.
"Aiden…"
I whisper, pushing through the pain.
"I'm not leaving."
"You're fading—"
His voice cracks.
"I can FEEL you fading—"
"I'm fighting—trust me—trust me—"
His forehead collapses against mine, shaking violently.
"I trust you," he whispers.
"I trust you with everything.
Just live.
Just LIVE."
The bond sparks weakly—
but it's there.
Alive.
Barely.
Aiden sobs in relief.
But then—
A shadowed whisper curls into my ear:
"She cannot hold both."
The Shadow King.
I gasp.
Aiden snarls, lifting his head sharply, eyes glowing silver-white.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!"
The Shadow King's voice is calm.
"Your mate will break."
"She WON'T!" Aiden roars.
"She's stronger than you—stronger than ANY—"
"She won't break now."
Aiden freezes.
"What?"
The Shadow King's whisper drops like ice.
"She will break…
when she loves you enough to die for you."
My heart stops.
Aiden's face drains of color.
"No…" he breathes.
"No—NO—don't—DON'T—"
I clutch his shirt.
"Don't listen—ignore him—"
Aiden trembles violently.
"He's saying you'll die because of ME," he whispers.
"That I'm the reason—
that loving me will be the thing that kills you—"
I grab his face.
"Aiden—LOOK AT ME."
He does.
With broken eyes.
"I'm not dying," I whisper fiercely.
"I'm not breaking.
I CHOSE you.
And I survived it."
The bond sparks weakly again.
Aiden shudders.
"You're hurting because of me—"
"I'm hurting because of both powers," I correct.
"Not because of you."
He swallows hard.
"But loving me—
being tied to me—
makes it worse—"
"NO!" I snap.
"Being tied to you is the ONLY thing keeping me alive."
He freezes.
"I would have shattered already if I didn't have you."
His breath catches painfully.
"Liyana…"
I press my forehead to his.
"You don't break me.
You hold me together."
He trembles in relief.
But the Shadow King whispers again—
soft
cold
deadly:
"She will break eventually.
And when she does…
you will die with her."
Aiden roars:
"SHUT UP!"
The chamber explodes with silver light as he partially shifts—
fur ripping through his skin
fangs lengthening
eyes glowing like molten moonlight.
He shields me with his entire body.
Breathing hard.
Rage shaking his chest.
"I will NEVER—
EVER—
let her die."
The Shadow King laughs softly.
"Then the final trial will be fun."
A cold wind sweeps through the chamber.
The shadows vanish.
Aiden and I collapse into each other.
Breathing.
Shaking.
Alive.
Barely.
Aiden cups my face gently.
"Moonlight…"
His voice cracks.
"I will fight the whole world.
I will fight gods.
I will fight destiny.
Just—just don't let go."
I press my lips to his.
Just once.
Light.
Soft.
Alive.
"I'm not letting go."
The bond pulses—
Weak
but real.
Alive.
But then—
A boom shakes the entire Temple.
Deep.
Thunderous.
Final.
Kai screams,
"WHAT NOW?!"
Ethan grabs him. "This is bad—THIS IS BAD—"
The Temple voice echoes:
"Final trial begins in one hour."
Aiden pulls me up against him, holding me like I'm the only thing left in his world.
His voice is barely a whisper.
"We only have one hour…"
His hand slides to the back of my neck.
"Stay alive for me."
I breathe against his lips.
"I will."
But the final words echo through the chamber—
"Only one will walk out alive."
Aiden freezes.
I go pale.
And the chapter ends.