The words hit Aria like a physical blow.
"…slaughtered."
The clearing fell into a heavy silence.
Even the wind seemed to stop moving through the trees.
Aria stared at Alder, her mind spinning.
"That's not possible," she said quietly.
Her voice barely sounded like her own.
"I would remember something like that."
Alder watched her carefully.
"That's the problem."
Kael stepped forward, placing himself slightly in front of Aria again.
"You're going to explain exactly what you mean."
Alder's silver eyes flicked toward him.
"You're the Alpha."
"Kael."
Alder nodded once.
"Well, Alpha Kael, I'm not your enemy."
Marcus crossed his arms.
"That's what enemies usually say."
Alder ignored the comment and looked back at Aria.
"You really don't remember anything before ten years ago?"
Aria hesitated.
She searched her memory.
Her earliest clear memories were from when she was found near the small human town.
Alone.
Confused.
Hungry.
Before that…
Nothing.
Her chest tightened.
"…no."
Alder sighed softly.
"I was afraid of that."
Kael's patience was wearing thin.
"You said her pack was slaughtered."
"Yes."
"Who did it?"
Alder didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he studied the clearing, the wounded wolves, and the remains of the earlier fight.
Then his gaze returned to Aria.
"The same people who will come for her now."
Marcus frowned.
"That's not helpful."
Rowan stepped forward.
"Start talking."
Alder nodded slowly.
"Ten years ago, there was a pack called Moonveil."
Aria's wolf stirred at the name.
Something about it felt… familiar.
Alder noticed the small change in her expression.
"You recognize the name."
Aria shook her head slowly.
"No… but it feels like I should."
"You should," Alder said.
"Because Moonveil was your pack."
Her heart skipped.
"My pack?"
"Yes."
Aria looked at Kael instinctively.
His expression was serious now.
"What kind of pack were they?" Kael asked.
Alder's eyes darkened slightly.
"An ancient one."
Marcus muttered,
"That doesn't sound good."
Alder continued.
"Moonveil wasn't just powerful."
He looked directly at Aria.
"It was the only pack in centuries to produce a True Luna."
The clearing went quiet again.
Aria felt the strange power inside her stir at those words.
"True Luna?" she repeated.
Kael frowned slightly.
"I've heard the term before."
Rowan looked confused.
"I haven't."
Alder explained calmly.
"A True Luna isn't just a mate to an Alpha."
He gestured toward Aria.
"She's something more."
"More what?" Marcus asked.
"A leader of wolves," Alder said.
"A Luna who can command not just one pack… but many."
Aria's breathing slowed.
"That's impossible."
Alder shook his head.
"Not impossible."
He looked at her meaningfully.
"You already did it tonight."
Everyone remembered the moment immediately.
When the rogue wolves had lowered themselves to the ground.
When they had bowed.
Lena spoke quietly.
"They submitted to her."
Rowan nodded slowly.
"…and she didn't even try."
Alder folded his arms.
"That's the power of a True Luna."
Kael's voice was tense now.
"And Moonveil had one."
Alder nodded.
"Yes."
He looked directly at Aria again.
"You."
Aria felt the ground beneath her feet suddenly feel unstable.
"That can't be true."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm not… special."
Marcus snorted slightly.
"You literally threw an Alpha across a porch tonight."
Aria ignored him.
Alder's voice softened slightly.
"You were born with that power."
"Then why don't I remember anything?"
Alder's expression darkened.
"Because someone made sure you wouldn't."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?"
Alder exhaled slowly.
"Ten years ago, Moonveil was attacked."
"By who?" Rowan asked.
Alder looked toward the forest briefly.
Then back at them.
"Several Alphas."
Marcus blinked.
"Several?"
"Yes."
Kael's voice dropped.
"That kind of alliance doesn't happen without a reason."
Alder nodded.
"There was a reason."
He looked at Aria.
"You."
Her chest tightened again.
"They attacked a whole pack… for me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Alder's silver eyes hardened.
"Because whoever controls a True Luna… controls the future of the wolf world."
Silence spread across the clearing again.
Marcus finally spoke.
"So let me get this straight."
He pointed toward Aria.
"Multiple Alphas wiped out her entire pack… just to capture her?"
Alder nodded once.
"That was the plan."
Aria felt sick.
"But I'm here."
"Yes."
"You said they slaughtered everyone."
"They did."
Aria's voice trembled.
"Then how did I survive?"
Alder's expression softened slightly.
"Because someone saved you."
Her heart skipped again.
"Who?"
Alder hesitated for the first time.
Kael noticed immediately.
"You know."
Alder nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Aria stepped closer.
"Then tell me."
Alder looked at her with something almost like sadness.
"Your father."
Aria froze.
"I had a father?"
"Yes."
Alder's voice grew quieter.
"He was the Alpha of Moonveil."
Kael's brow furrowed.
"And he let his pack get slaughtered?"
Alder's eyes flashed sharply.
"No."
His voice carried quiet respect now.
"He fought like a monster."
The clearing went silent again.
Alder continued.
"He knew they would eventually overpower him."
"So he made one last choice."
Aria's heart pounded.
"What choice?"
Alder looked directly into her eyes.
"He erased your memories… and sent you away."
Her breath caught.
"…erased my memories?"
"Yes."
"So you wouldn't know who you were."
"Why?"
Alder's voice was steady.
"So no one could use you."
Kael's jaw tightened.
"But someone still found her."
Alder nodded slowly.
"Yes."
His silver eyes darkened.
"And now that Darius has seen her power…"
Aria's stomach twisted.
"They'll all come."
Marcus groaned.
"Oh great."
Rowan sighed.
"How many is 'all'?"
Alder answered calmly.
"Every Alpha who knows the legend."
Aria's chest tightened.
"And how many is that?"
Alder's voice was quiet.
"Too many."
The wind moved through the trees again.
But this time it carried a new feeling.
A warning.
Because far away—
Somewhere beyond the forest—
Another Alpha had just heard about her. 🐺