The soft click of the door echoed as Lena exited, leaving Aria alone once more. The tea had gone cold in her hands, untouched. Her mind still whirled from everything Lena had revealed — the whispers in the fortress, the hierarchy, the tension. Maria.
That name echoed like a warning bell.
Aria stood and crossed the room slowly. Though the space was luxurious — thick rugs, golden sconces, velvet curtains — she felt out of place. Her fingers trailed the stone wall near the window, grounding her. She could still feel the hum of the necklace against her skin — a weight both comforting and burdensome.
She hadn't been here long, but already, it felt like a battlefield.
A knock sounded again.
Before she could respond, the door creaked open.
Maria.
She stood in the doorway, flanked by two unfamiliar girls — both beautiful, both dripping in smug confidence. Maria wore a crimson corset top, tight leather pants, and an arrogant smirk that never seemed to leave her face.
"Hope we're not interrupting," she purred, stepping inside without waiting for permission.
Aria straightened, her brows furrowing. "Can I help you?"
Maria's laugh was soft and syrupy. "I just came to welcome you. Personally. After all, it's not every day a… stray pup finds her way into the Alpha Fortress."
The girls behind her giggled.
Aria's spine stiffened. "I'm not a stray."
"Oh, darling." Maria's eyes gleamed. "That's exactly what you are. Dragged in from the woods, covered in blood, clinging to Kael like a damsel from a bad fairytale. How adorable."
Anger flared in Aria's chest. "Is there a reason you're here?"
Maria circled the room like a cat, her sharp heels tapping on the floor. "Let's just say I'm doing you a favor. I'm warning you — stay in your lane. This place is filled with people who don't take kindly to outsiders pretending to be special."
"I didn't ask to be here."
"But you are." Maria stopped just inches from Aria. "And whether you like it or not, that makes you a problem."
A pulse of energy flared in Aria's chest — unintentional, barely controlled. The candle flames near the wall flickered, dimmed… then flared brighter.
Maria noticed.
She blinked, stepped back slightly, and for the first time, her confident mask cracked.
"You think you're dangerous?" she scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself."
"I don't need to," Aria said coldly. "You came here because you're threatened."
Maria hissed softly, her jaw clenching. "Careful, girl. The Fortress is filled with secrets. One wrong step, and you'll wish you never crossed the gate."
With a final glare, she turned on her heel and stormed out. The other girls followed, leaving a trail of cold silence behind them.
Aria's heart raced.
She didn't know exactly what was happening to her, but something was changing. That brief flare of energy… it had responded to her emotions. The necklace, her blood, the moon — they were connected.
The door opened again — Kael, this time.
His expression darkened immediately when he saw her pale face and trembling hands.
"What did she say?"
"Nothing I didn't expect," Aria muttered, swallowing hard. "But Kael… something happened again. I think I made the candles flicker. I didn't even mean to."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "It's starting faster than I thought."
He entered fully, shutting the door. "Maria shouldn't have come near you. I'll deal with her."
"No." Aria's voice was firmer than she expected. "Let me."
Kael paused, surprised.
"I need to stop being scared," she said. "If I'm really some Moonblood heir, I need to act like it."
He watched her for a long beat, then nodded once.
"You're stronger than you know," he said. "But be careful. The moment you show power… the game changes."
Aria nodded.
She wasn't ready for war — not yet.
But she could feel the fire beginning to burn.