Aria woke before dawn.
Not from fear.
From power.
It surged through her veins like silver lightning, quiet but undeniable. Her wolf stretched inside her mind, not restless… not angry… but alert in a way she had never felt before.
She inhaled sharply.
The air tasted different.
Sharper.
Layered.
Alive.
Beside her, Damien stirred instantly.
He was awake in seconds. "What is it?"
She sat up slowly, pressing a hand to her abdomen.
"I don't know."
But she did.
The warmth had changed.
It wasn't just an ember now.
It pulsed.
Strong.
Damien rose with her, eyes scanning her face, reading every micro-expression.
"Are you in pain?"
"No."
Her voice trembled slightly, not from weakness but from awe.
"It feels like… like my wolf is expanding."
His brow furrowed.
"That's not how pregnancy works."
A breathless laugh escaped her. "We're not exactly normal."
True.
Very true.
She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood.
