CHAPTER SIX: THE TRUTH IN THE DARKNESS

I ran until my lungs felt like they were on fire.

The forest was dark and cold. My thin servant dress caught on branches. My shoes slipped on wet leaves. But I didn't care. I just needed to get away. Away from the ballroom. Away from the laughter. Away from the look in Damon's eyes when he called me nothing.

My chest hurt so badly I thought I might die.

Is this what rejection feels like? Like your heart is being torn out slowly, piece by piece?

I collapsed against a massive tree, sliding down until I hit the ground. Sobs ripped from my throat. I couldn't stop them. Couldn't breathe. Couldn't think about anything except his words.

"You're nothing."

Hot tears streamed down my face. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold the pieces together.

My wolf was howling inside me. Crying. Begging me to go back. To make him take it back. But I know the truth now. He meant every single word.

I don't know how long I sat there crying in the dirt. Time stopped meaning anything.

Then I heard voices.

I froze. Pressed myself against the tree trunk. Hold my breath.

"This is a complete disaster." Uncle Marcus. His voice was close. Too close.

My heart started pounding.

"Maybe it's better this way?" Aunt Clara said quietly. "If the Alpha doesn't want her, she'll just... fade away. We won't have to..."

"Won't have to do what?" Marcus snapped. "The mate bond activated tonight! Don't you understand what that means?"

I shouldn't be listening to this. But I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.

"The wolfsbane stopped working," Clara whispered. "She's getting stronger. Marcus, what if she shifts? What if she remembers everything?"

Wolfsbane? Remember what?

"She won't get the chance." Marcus's voice went deadly cold. "We should have finished this twenty years ago. Like The Purity Order ordered."

The world tilted sideways.

"I couldn't kill a baby!" Clara's voice broke. "Harrison and Celeste's daughter. My own brother's child. I couldn't..."

Harrison. Celeste.

Those names hit me like lightning. I knew them. Somewhere deep in my bones, I knew them.

"Your brother was a fool," Marcus said. "He and his precious Luna believed in fairy tales. In true love and destiny. And it got them both killed."

"You poisoned them." Clara sounded sick. "You murdered them in their own home."

No. No no no.

This couldn't be real. This had to be a nightmare.

"The Purity Order wanted the Sinclair bloodline eliminated," Marcus continued. "They were too powerful. Their bond was too strong. They had to go." He paused. "But that little brat survived. And now she's going to ruin everything."

He was talking about me.

"What are we going to do?" Clara asked.

"What we should have done twenty years ago." Ice dripped from every word. "The pathetic Omega ran into the forest after being rejected. Heartbroken. Alone. These things happen. Tomorrow they'll find her body. Tragic accident."

My blood turned to ice.

He was going to kill me. Tonight.

"Go back to the packhouse," Marcus ordered. "Make sure you're seen. I'll handle this."

Footsteps. Clara leaves without another word.

I had to run. I had to move. But my legs wouldn't work. The rejection pain made everything weak.

"Well, well, well."

Three huge men stepped out from the shadows. Marcus's personal guards. They all had silver knives.

I tried to stand but fell back down. My whole body was shaking.

"Boss says bring her back," the biggest one said. He smiled like a predator. "But accidents happen in the forest. Lots of dangerous animals out here."

"Please," I begged. My voice came out tiny. Broken. "I'll leave. I'll never come back. You'll never see me again."

"Too late for that, sweetheart." He moved closer. "You heard too much. Can't have you running your mouth."

They circled me. Three wolves. One wounded rabbit.

This was how I died. Alone in the dark. Just like my parents.

I closed my eyes. Waited for the end.

Then everything exploded.

Something massive hit the guards like a freight train. Bodies flew through the air. Bones cracked. Men screamed.

I opened my eyes and couldn't believe what I saw.

A wolf. But not any normal wolf.

He was enormous. Twice the size of any wolf I'd ever seen. His fur was pure silver-white, glowing in the moonlight like magic. His eyes burned gold. Ancient. Powerful. Absolutely beautiful.

One guard tried to run. The silver wolf was faster. It was over in seconds.

The second guard attacked with his knife. The wolf moved like water. Like wind. The guard didn't stand a chance.

The last guard fell to his knees, begging. The wolf's growl made the ground shake.

Then silence.

The massive wolf turned and looked right at me.

I should have been terrified. But something in my chest pulled tight. Warm. Right.

My wolf woke up. I really woke up for the first time in my entire life.

She whispered one word. Mate.

The silver wolf began to shift. His body twisted. Reformed. Became human.

Kai Thorne stood in front of me.

He was completely naked. Covered in blood that wasn't his. Moonlight painted his body in silver. Every muscle. Every line. He looked like some ancient god who'd just stepped out of legend.

And he was staring at me with those burning golden eyes.

My mouth went dry. Heat flooded my body despite the cold night air.

He walked toward me slowly. Carefully. Like I was something precious that might break.

"Did they hurt you?" His voice was rough velvet. Deep. It made my stomach flip.

I shook my head. Words wouldn't come.

He knelt in front of me. So close I could feel the heat from his skin. I could smell pine and something wild and male that made my head spin.

"I've been searching for you for twenty years," he said softly. His hand reached out. Touched my face so gently it made my heart ache. "Aurora Sinclair. The lost princess. The Silver Wolf."

Tears spilled over. He caught them with his thumb.

"You're not an Omega, little wolf." His eyes blazed with intensity. "You're royalty. Lycan royalty. The most powerful bloodline in existence."

"I don't understand," I whispered.

"Your uncle has been poisoning you since you were three years old. Keeping your wolf trapped. Keeping you weak." His jaw clenched. "He murdered your parents. Stole everything that was yours. And tonight he tried to murder you too."

The truth crashed over me like a wave. Everything made horrible sense now.

"But he made one mistake," Kai said. His hand moved from my face to my neck. His thumb pressed against my racing pulse. "He let you live long enough for me to find you."

The way he touched me. The way he looked at me. Like I was precious. Important. Worth protecting.

No one had ever looked at me like that.

"Come with me," he said. His voice dropped lower. Intimate. "Let me take you away from this place. Let me show you who you really are. What you're meant to be."

"Where?" I barely got the word out.

"My kingdom." His other hand settled on my waist. Pulled me closer to his bare chest. "Where you'll be safe. Where you'll be treasured. Where I can teach you everything."

The way he said everything sent shivers down my spine.

"I..." My chest tightened. "Damon..."

Pain flared through the bond. Kai felt it. His eyes flashed with fury.

"That fool rejected perfection." His hand tightened on my waist. Possessive. "He threw away the greatest gift the Moon Goddess could give. His loss." He leaned in until his lips almost touched mine. "My gain."

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. Could only feel the electricity sparking between us.

"How do I know I can trust you?" I whispered.

His smile turned dangerous. Beautiful. "You feel it, don't you? The pull. The bond. Your wolf is calling to me." His hand slid up to cup my face. "Trust that, Aurora. Trust what your soul already knows."

Then he kissed me.

Oh god. Oh god.

His mouth was hot and demanding. Not gentle. Not sweet. Raw and claiming and absolutely devastating.

I'd never been kissed. Never been touched like this. But my body knew what to do. My mouth opened under his. My hands grabbed his shoulders. His skin was hot. Smooth. Perfect.

He groaned against my lips. The sound sent fire straight through me. His kiss deepened. Hungrier. More desperate. Like he'd been starving and I was the only thing that could satisfy him.

When he finally pulled back, we were both breathing hard. His eyes had gone molten gold.

"Say yes," he commanded softly. "Come with me. Be mine."

Somewhere behind us, shouts echoed. More guards coming. Marcus would send everyone.

I had seconds to decide. Stay and die. Or trust this beautiful, deadly stranger who kissed me like I was worth dying for.

"Yes," I breathed.

Triumph flashed across his face. He lifted me into his arms like I weighed nothing. Held me against his chest.

"Hold tight, little wolf. This might feel strange."

Purple and silver light swirled around us. Magic. Real magic.

A portal ripped open. Glowing. Spinning. Beautiful and terrifying.

And that's when I felt it. The bond. Damon. Suddenly aware. Panicking. His emotions slammed into me. Rage. Fear. Desperation.

"He's coming," I gasped.

"Too late." Kai's arms tightened. "You're mine now, Aurora. And I protect what's mine."

We stepped toward the portal.

A howl split the night. Damon. I'd never heard such pain in my life.

Kai's lips brushed my ear. "Don't look back."

But I couldn't help it. I turned my head one last time.

And there, at the edge of the forest, was Damon. Shifted into his massive black wolf. Ice-blue eyes locked on mine across the distance.

The broken bond between us screamed.

He started running. Fast. Desperate.

"Kai..." I whispered.

"I know." He held me tighter. Stepped into the swirling light.

The last thing I saw was Damon's wolf launching through the air, trying to reach us.

Too late.

The portal swallowed us whole.

And everything went black.

END OF CHAPTER SIX