Aria stared at the little girl with violet eyes. Her heart hammered against her ribs like a caught bird.
"I don't understand," she whispered. "How can she be calling me mama?"
The Guardian stepped closer, her old robes rustling like dry leaves. "Time moves differently in the Deep Places. Past, present, and future mix together like water."
"That doesn't explain anything," Caden snapped, his ice-blue eyes blazing with protective rage.
The old woman smiled sadly. "The Moon Wolf family is older than you know. What you see here are echoes. Memories trapped in stone and shade."
Above them, the Primal Alpha's roars got louder. Chunks of roof began falling around them.
"We need to move," Caden pushed, reaching for Aria's hand.
But she couldn't stop looking at the child. Something deep inside her chest ached with recognition. Like looking at a picture she'd forgotten she owned.
"Mama, please don't go," the little girl begged, tears running down her face.
"I'm not your mama," Aria said gently, kneeling down. "I'm sorry, but—"
"You are," the Guardian interrupted. "In another time. Another life. The Moon Wolf who painted these walls was your grandfather. Her daughter's spirit has waited here for ages."
The chamber shook strongly. Cracks spread across the painted walls like spider webs.
"We're going. Now," Caden ordered, pulling Aria toward a tunnel opening.
They ran through winding passageways while the castle collapsed behind them. The little girl's cries echoed in Aria's ears until finally, they emerged into moonlight.
They stood on a rough ledge halfway up the mountain. Below them, the old castle burned. Above them, the Primal Alpha sat on the highest tower, its star-bright eyes scanning the darkness.
"It's looking for us," Caden breathed.
"Let it look," Aria said, silver light flashing around her fingers. "I'm tired of running."
"Don't be stupid. You saw that picture. Fighting it means death."
"Maybe. But hiding means everyone else dies instead."
Before Caden could argue, footsteps crunched on the rocky path behind them.
They spun around, ready to fight. But instead of enemies, they found Liana Voss climbing toward them. Her golden-brown hair was messed up and dirt streaked her honey-colored skin.
She looked tired and scared. "Thank the Moon you're alive," Liana gasped, running forward. "I've been searching everywhere for you."
Aria stepped back automatically. Something felt wrong. "How did you find us?"
"I followed your scent trail from the house. Are you hurt?" Liana's eyes swept over them with what looked like genuine worry.
"We're fine," Caden said carefully. "What about the others? Caleb? Cyrus? My parents?"
"Safe. The Alpha managed to get most everyone to the underground bunkers. But Aria..." Liana's voice broke. "They're saying terrible things about you."
"What kind of things?"
"That you brought this attack. That the Primal Alpha only came because of your Moon Wolf power."
Liana reached out like she wanted to comfort Aria. "I know it's not true, but some pack members are scared."
Aria's stomach dropped. "They blame me?"
"Not everyone. But enough."
Liana's honey-colored eyes filled with tears. "Magnus wants to send you away. He thinks if you're gone, the danger will leave with you."
"That's ridiculous," Caden growled. "She's not the enemy here."
"I know that. You know that. But fear makes people stupid." Liana wiped her eyes with shaking hands. "That's why I came to find you. I want to help."
"Help how?" Aria asked carefully.
"I've been thinking. If you're going to be Luna someday, you need to learn how to handle pack politics. How to make people trust you instead of fear you."
Aria blinked in surprise. "You want to teach me?"
"Who else? I grew up around this stuff. I know how the Beta families think, how to win them over." Liana's smile looked warm and real. "We should stick together. Support each other."
Something twisted in Aria's gut. "Why would you help me? You've never liked me."
"That's not true." Liana looked hurt. "Maybe I was jealous before. But seeing you tonight, watching you fight for everyone... I realized how wrong I was."
The words sounded right. But Aria's enhanced senses picked up something odd about Liana's smell. Fear mixed with excitement. And underneath it all, something that smelled like lies.
"I appreciate the offer," Aria said slowly, "but—"
"Please," Liana interrupted, grabbing her hands. "Let me show I'm really your friend. I know I haven't always been kind, but I want to change."
Caden frowned. "This seems sudden."
"Crisis changes people," Liana said strongly. "I don't want to be the angry girl who tears others down anymore. I want to be someone who builds others up."
Her words hit exactly the right notes. Humble but driven. Apologetic but strong. If Aria hadn't grown Moon Wolf senses, she might have believed every word. But she could smell the lie rolling off Liana like smoke.
"Okay," Aria said carefully. "What did you have in mind?"
Liana's eyes lit up. "First, we need to get you back to the house. Show everyone you're not running away. Then we work on your picture. Teach you how to speak to the pack council, how to dress like a Luna, how to command respect."
"The castle's under attack," Caden pointed out.
"The main fighting's moved to the outer walls. The central keep is safe." Liana squeezed Aria's hands. "This is your chance to prove you're not the threat they think you are."
Every sense Aria had screamed danger. But she needed to know what Liana was really planning.
"All right," she agreed. "Lead the way."
Liana's smile was bright. "You won't regret this. I promise."
As they headed down the mountain road, Aria caught Caden's eye. His ice-blue look was sharp with worry. He sensed the trap too. But they had to spring it to find out what it really was.
Behind them, the Primal Alpha's roar rang across the mountains. It had lost their smell for now, but not for long. And ahead of them, Liana walked with the confident stride of someone who knew exactly where she was taking them.
"Tell me about Luna training," Aria said, keeping her voice relaxed. "What's the first lesson?"
"Trust," Liana responded without turning around. "A Luna has to know who to trust and who to watch carefully."
"Good advice," Aria whispered.
But as they approached the castle's side entrance, she spotted something that made her blood turn to ice.
Fresh claw marks on the stone walls. Not from wolves or ancient animals. From human fingernails.
Someone had been desperately trying to claw their way out of the castle. From the inside. And the scratches were still bleeding.