CHAPTER 2

LUCAS'S POV

People usually think that strength comes with power, but they are wrong.

Real strength comes from control-mostly when you're holding yourself together when everything in you wants to break.

That is a lesson I learned early in life. I learned that you don't have to be the future Alpha of Moonfang pack by being soft.

Softness is weakness itself. Soft gets people killed and that's why I trained and fought harder.

Aria is the one thing I've never been able to control, not even when we were kids even up till now.

*

The moment the warning growl reached the training ground, my instincts hit me like a punch. I knew this won't end well.

The Warriors were running Helter Skelter, and the villagers were screaming nonstop. Everyone was running for their own survival.

I drew my sword out of my pants and aimed for the training ground, fearlessly.

My wolf claws beneath my skin, wanting to come out.

"Let me out! Let me protect the pack!'' My wolf screamed but I ignored it. I need to bring whoever this was on my own without any help.

"Protect her, Lucas" My instincts screamed at me again but I pushed that instincts to down. "Focus, Lucas. The pack comes first " I said to myself.

But even as I ran, I felt Aria's eyes on my back and I hate myself for wanting to go back to her.

I reached the training ground at once and I saw two of the pack's soldiers on the ground, their heads were bowed to the ground and between them was a stranger. He was tall and muscular and he was wearing a mask, only his silver eyes were visible. He doesn't has the smell of wolf, he was just natural.

"Who are you?" I demanded, raising the sword to his face and he smirked.

"I came to deliver a message, Lucas " He said with a grin, an unsettling smile that smell of danger.

"Start talking before I pull this blade on your neck" I said and before I could blink he disappeared and reappeared at my back.

He pulled out a sword and almost hit me with it but I was fast enough to shield myself with my blade.

"You move like a king" He murmured. "How interesting" He smiled.

"I'm not a king yet but I'll kill you if you dare touch my pack. Know this and know peace " I said, my eyes piercing deep into his eyes.

"That's even a more interesting. You're not a king yet" He chuckled.

Every hair on my body stood as the words hit deep. I'm not a king yet, not ever an Alpha.

"I came for the blood moon girl" He tilted his head as he talked.

My eyes widened at once.

Aria?

He wants Aria? Why? My chest tightened immediately.

"You better don't try anything that you'll regret in the future. Stay away from her" I said, pressing the blade against his throat tighter.

"I cannot. It's already too late. Fate already picked her. She's not your business neither is no one so stop acting like you own her" He said and the blade fell from my hand.

"You can try protecting her, my dear friend but you should know that blood moon children are never born by accident. It's her destiny" He said.

"Shut up " I yelled, every hair in my skin stood.

"Accept the truth that__"

"One more word from you and I'll slice your neck into pieces and feed it to the rogues" I said with sharp eyes.

"No need for violence, Lucas "

"I'm not an Alpha "

"But you're an Alpha of her fate, you know?" He said and I froze.

How come he knows so much about me that I know. He walked closer to reach me and dropped a small object on the ground and I shifted backward.

It was a small black crescent and it was moon marking, carved like a small stone and it's glowing faintly.

Every legend about Blood Moon children flashed in my head.

"What does this mean?" I asked.

"It means she's awakening and you know what does that mean?" He whispered. "It's either you choose her " he added.

The moment he said those words he disappeared like a wind.

The two warriors stood up and the soldiers came to my front and they all looked at me.

"No one leaves the bother till further notice. Understood!" I yelled and they all bowed. Even if I'm not the Alpha yet they all obeys me.

I retreated backward to the spot I left Aria and she was still there standing innocently close to the fence. The small wind moved her hair to one side and the crescent moon on her neck came to view as it shone brighter.

She hasn't seen me yet. Her hands were tucked into her hoodie pocket. It seemed like she sensed my presence already because the moment I made to take another step she turned to look at me.

My heart sank immediately as something hit me. She didn't feel my presence with her mind but her body did and it means only one thing.

She isn't my mate and the ceremony hasn't begin yet and the moon goddess hasn't revealed that she's my mate.

"Lucas" She called with a short smile as she approached me.

"You're still here? I thought you already left"

"What happened at the northern gate?" She asked.

"You're supposed to be inside"

"There you go again.... You're ignoring my question" She frowned.

"There was someone at the gate" I spoke.

"Who? A hunter?"

"No"

"Then what is it?" She asked with curiosity in her eyes.

"An unknown person. He was putting on a mask. I don't even know him " I said, trying to hide the fears in my

"You're scared "Aria said and I cracked a small laugh.

"Why would I be? Alphas don't get scared" I waved my hand in the air.

"Yes they do but they don't show it" She flaunts her hair backward and the crescent moon came to view again and I swallowed hard.

She isn't aware of her mark yet. I'm sure of that. Her smell of wild jasmine mixed with the night wind cloud my head and the hair my neck stood abruptly.

"Touch her. She's yours" My wolf screamed inside me but I forced my hand to stay put.

"I don't want you to near the border again " I said and she sneered.

"Is that an order?"

"Yes " I replied.

"For the pack or..."

"For your sake. Just listen to me this time around Aria " I cut her off.

"Why are you pushing me away, Lucas?" She asked and I blinked rapidly.

"It's for your own protection" I whispered to myself. "Because staying close to me will only ruin you and anytime I'm with you I am weak"

She tapped my arm and I jerked back to earth.

"Because getting close to me... will destroy you." I only said.

I wanted to tell her the truth that a stranger came to find her and her powers are forming but she's not aware. How would I tell her that? Telling her the truth would worsen things.

"Go home, Aria" I said coldly, returning to my normal self.

She take one step closer to me with fears in her eyes. "You're making me scared, Lucas. Tell me what's wrong" She sniffed.

I can't disclose anything to her. Her heart is still fragile and I can't say anything yet else she might take it wrongly.

It's best I keep it a secret that her wolf is awakening and strange people are coming for her.

Chapter 3

Aria's pov

The moment Lucas walked away from me I felt something deep inside my chest cracked. This was unlike him. He hasn't for once show any affection to me since he started his training as an Alpha.

"Something is definitely wrong somewhere" I muttered. "Go home" his words replayed in my head.

I stood there for a few seconds, watching him disappear into the trees with his warriors, and I swear I can still feel his warmness in the air.

What was I expecting? He's the future Alpha and I'm no one. It's best I keep my distance from him. If he wants distance I'll give him that. I'm tired of begging for his attention.

*

Inside the pack's house, everywhere was silent which was normal because morning training has empty everyone outside.

My footsteps echoed loudly across the empty room. I headed straight to my room when someone walked into my path.

Mira!

She was wearing a smirk on her face with her arms crossed under her breasts.

"You look upset... Did Lucas finally let you out of his way?" She asked with a grin and I didn't say a word instead I continued with my walk.

She blocked me from moving any further by placing her hand on the way.

"Why are you even always with him? You're nothing but a weak wolf. You can't even shift" Those words hit like slap.

"Out of my way" I said sharply.

"No" She lowered her voice as she stepped closer.

"Girls like you don't deserve to go close to Alphas, you work is to serve them not the other way around " She said and I only heaved. "It's best you leave this place. Leave the sight of the Alpha. He doesn't want you, understood?"

"If you don't get the hell out of my way right now you'll regret what's going to happen to you in the next two seconds. It's best you respect yourself and get out of the way" I said with my fist clenched tightly beside me and for the first time in my life I saw fears in Mira's eyes.

The way she looked at me says it all. She was shocked. She didn't say a word instead she scoffed and murmuring some inaudibly words as she walked.

I watched her figure disappearing into thin air till she was out of sight completely and I pressed my shaking hands together, inhaling a deep breath.

I walked into my small space, my room. I collapsed on the bed and palmed my face with my palm and sobbed silently.

"Just take a deep breath, Aria. Don't let Mira words get to you. She means nothing" I reassured myself trying not to think deep about what she had said to me earlier.

On the other hand, Mira and everyone is right on this. The Lucas deserve a Strong Luna that they can rule the kingdom together forever and not a weak wolf that was cursed by the blood moon and can't even shift yet.

Before I know it tears started slipping from my eyes to the bed, I couldn't even wipe them off.

"Why does it has to be me? It should have been someone else." I hiccuped as more tears poured out.

All of a sudden a sharp pain hit my chest and before I could think of anything else blood spilled out of my mouth.

"What the hell?" I gasped as my hand went to my lip. I suddenly felt a strange energy around me. It felt like something in me was struggling to come out. I could feel the heat rushing down my body.

It hurts so much. My visions turned blurry. Everywhere turned red and it was as if I was in another world. My legs stayed glued to the ground.

"Argh!!! Make it stop. Someone help!" I shouted the moment I caught my fingers and veins glowing and all red.

The pain was unbearable. I bet that anyone could hear me because I couldn't even hear my own voice.

I heard a voice and my eyes snapped open at once and I looked around.

"Who's there?" I asked in shaking lips.

"Aria " the voice came again but this time around it came from inside me. "Finally" The voice came again and that was all I could remember before passing out on the cold floor.

*

I woke after a few minutes and the first thing I noticed was the sudden change of weight but I ignored it. I was drenched in sweats and for some seconds I thought all that happened was a dream.

I staggered to the small mirror on my dressing table and I picked it up and stared at myself. My heart left my chest the moment I saw my reflection on the mirror.

My eyes were no longer brow but instead they were glowing red like blood and I stumbled backward and flipped my eyes opened again and it was the same thing.

Fear gripped me at once and the mirror slipped out of my hands and shattered to the ground.

I grabbed my jacket and ran out of the room. My face was covered with the hoodie cap and a familiar scent hit my nose but I ignored it.

"Aria " Lucas called and I halted, holding the jacket tight.

He was at a distance leaning against a wall and he was covered in sweats like he just ran a Maranon.

He came closer to me. "Aria. You don't look good, Are you okay?" he tried to pull the hood up but I turned around sharply.

"Don't!" I whispered in fears.

"Don't do what?" He asked.

I turned sharply and pushed him out of the way and made to run again but I missed my steps and fell to the ground and my hood cap fell in the process, revealing my eyes.

"Aria!!" He gasped with wide eyes. "Your eyes... They looked so different!!"

"I know and I don't know what's happening to me" I said with a heavy breath, staring at the ground.

"Just look at me Aria..." He tried touching me but I slapped his hands off.

"I said don't come close, please. I'm a beast and you'll get hurt if you come close" I said but he didn't keep his distance.

"Stay put Aria let us figure this out..." He said with a small smile and I moved backward slowly while shaking my head sideways.

"You made it clear to me in the morning that we're nothing. You shun me off like I was nothing and now you're suddenly saying we will figure this out? Let's stop deceiving ourselves Lucas. I'll handle this myself " I said and he sighed loudly.

The pain I felt earlier came again and this time around it was unbearable. I couldn't even breath. I gasped for air.

I felt a burning sensation from my neck and my finger found it way to my neck but before I could touch the spot, something shone brightly from there.

"Your wolf is waking up, Aria " Lucas muttered.

"What are you spitting? I don't have a wolf!!" I shouted.

"And who the hell doesn't have one, Aria? It's waiting for the perfect time which is now" He said and he did the least I was expecting. He squatted to my level and held my arms. "Let it all out, Aria..."

My eyes glowed brighter and my fingers curled up as my heart was racing faster. Lucas never let me go instead he held my tightly to himself.

"Shift Aria... You can do this, I trust in you " He soothed me caressing my hair.

"Argh!!!" I screamed loudly as the moon turned blood red and I fell to the ground weakly.

CHAPTER FOUR

LUCAS POV

I caught Aria in my arms before she could reach the ground. For a moments everything stopped moving like it's just the both of us existing.

"What just happened?" I questioned no one in particular.

Some minutes ago,she was screaming at the top of her lungs and now she's unconscious in my hands. I stared at her fragile,pale face that was rest on my chest.

"Aria " I tapped her cheek but I didn't get any response.

Her eyelids were still and her eyes were still glowing red.

"Aria, please open your eyes" I tapped her cheeks but she didn't moved a finger.

I pressed my forehead on her hand and shut my eyes. I know here wolf is gradually waking up, I'm aware of that. I've studied Alpha manuals, how to awake your wolf and even people who got possessed for wolf but Aria own case is different.

I wasn't prepared for this. I started feeling her energy coming back. Her faint heartbeat could be heard. All of a sudden she jerked back to life. She pushed me out of the way with full force and I gasped.

"Aria..." I tried reaching her but she growled loudly and went on all fours and ran into the woods.

"Oh no" I gasped and ran after her.

*

Getting to the woods, I saw her lying on the floor. She has transformed into her normal self already and her clothes were off. I quickly ran to meet her, taking off my jacket and wrapping her up with it.

"Be safe, Aria... I beg you" I heaved and carried her into my arms and began leaving the woods.

I headed to my room keeping my eyes on the way I as walked. I came across Aria on the way. She was sweating profusely like someone who just ran a marathon.

She walked by my side. I could feel her eyes on me but I choosed to ignore.

"What happened to her?" She paused. "Is that your jacket around her body?" She seethed. "Why is that?" She questioned with a scoff rolling her eyes in the process.

"As you can see Mira, I'm not in the mood for long talk can you please go back to the field and continue with your training?" I said and I saw the hatred in her eyes but she covered it with a smile.

"I'm not returning to the field till evening. I have something to tell you. It's about the__"

"I'll be extremely busy today. Can you please send the message through my Beta?" I said.

"No, it's really important. The message is for you specially and I fear that if I don't deliver it sooner something terrible would happen" She replied.

"If you can't send it through my Beta tomorrow then forget about it" I continued with my walk, ignoring her totally.

Mira can be a pain in the ass most times and I can't stand to see her start behaving like she owns my life.

My eyes fell on Aria's face as she slept peacefully. Her eyelids shook a little and a small small curled up in my lips.

I got to my suite and headed for my room. The guards at the door opened up and I went in.

I placed her on the bed gently and went to the window and drew the curtains close. The moon was still glowing red. I exchanged a quick glance with Aria and inhaled shortly.

I walked to the bathroom and filled a bowl with enough water and picked a small napkin from the closet and then walked back to the bed and drenched it before placing it on Aria's forehead.

She must've been exhausted after shifting for the first time and I understand her perfectly well. She has been waiting for this day to come and it finally did.

The crescent moon on her neck was glowing and I swallowed hard and looked away.

A knock came on the door and I stood up and went to the door and turned the door knob and the messenger face came to view. He had a small note in his hand, with his head bowed he stretched out the note.

"From who?" I asked, taking the note.

"From Ethan Dreagor. He said he wants to speak with you but you have been busy these days so he sent a letter instead" He replied.

"Is that so?" I muttered, staring at the note all through.

"Yes Alpha" He said.

"You can go" I said and he bowed one last time before taking his leave. I shut the door behind and walked to the study table and turned on the small lamb.

*The glowing moon means that the cursed child is finally gaining her abilities and I'm sure you noticed it already. Something needs to be done before she changes completely. A meeting would be held tomorrow at the castle in two days time and at the same time you're getting crowned as the king. Be prepared because it's going to be messy*

I squeezed the note into tiny fold before dumping it into the trashcan beside me.

I clasped my hands together while staring at Aria. The book I read about marked and cursed children from the old library shouldn't be true.

I hope her fate gets change and she shouldn't suffer in the hands of those who wants her.

The unknown man earlier at the filed words replayed in my head. I dived my fingers into my hair, breathing hard. The exact moment they noticed she's starting to get her powers her enemies would start coming and she needs to be prepared for anything further.

"Lucas..." I turned to see her, sitting on the bed with her legs drew to her chest while staring at me with those ambers eyes since her eyes has gone back to normal and her hair is back to normal as well.

"What happened?" She added, her eyes locking with mine.