The Silver Moon's Betrayal

oorway, her breath caught in her throat. His presence was commanding, yet strangely familiar, as though his mere existence

aped her lips before she could stop herself. She had never met this man, yet he see

subtle smile, but his eyes

with an air of certainty. "I've come to speak

spot. There was something about Kael that held her in place-a presence that de

words escaping her more cautiously this time, as she

life is about to change in ways you cannot yet comprehend. There are things you must kno

his words. It sounded like he knew more about her th

main composed. Her world, already fractured by Selene's cruelty and the strange relations

rs, and lowered his voice just enough to make her

th something unspoken. "Not the one you think, but one that hold

t of his words pressed agains

incredulous. "I'm

e, a flicker of something unrecognizable fl

the air, thick wit

ete sentence as confusion mixed with the creeping sense o

out her. This is about you, Aria. There are things about your heritage, about your bloodl

m everyone dismissed as weak and insignificant. The man Lila was to marry. But Kael was s

e desperately needed to know. She could feel her world tipping into uncertainty,

gs to come," Kael replied simply, his words he

turned just in time to see Selene and Lila appearing at the end of the hall, t

s voice was sharp, lik

Selene and then back to Aria. "A messenger of fate," he said

oes he want with Aria?" she asked, her voice

l answered, his tone cool. "This

something greater than herself. She opened her mouth to ask more questions,

e matters to attend to," Selene ordere

deny that something deep inside her was stirring. Something that told her Kael was right. That her life

ed reluctantly, stepping back from th

ed away, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. Lila, still

eant by his cryptic words, nor did she understand why he seemed to know so much about her. But one thing was c

rcing shade of green-seemed to hold depths of secrets she couldn't begin to fathom. He wore a dark cloak, the edges frayed, but the expe

ck, her heart racing. Who wa

s gaze locked with hers, and his lips cu

e a silk thread woven through the tension in the air. "You're not used t

but she held her ground.

ll an air of mystery about him. "I've come to

e another stranger come to take advantage of her? A man sent by her stepm

y, though her voice wavered ever so

th a quiet intensity. "I know about your heritage, your

f the door. No one knew about her heritage. Not truly. Not since her mother

trembling despite herself. "I'm just a se

s. "That's what you've been led to believe, yes. But I assu

t of fear tighten in her chest. "I don'

manner. "You are no ordinary girl, Aria. You are descended from the ancient wolves. The Silver Moon bloodline flo

the ones she had dismissed as mere fairy tales, flooded her mind in a rush. Were they true? W

ely escaping her lips. "Why are you tell

Aria. Your stepmother, Selene, is more than just a cruel woman. She's tied

rds. Her stepmother was a wicked woman, but to suggest that she was connected to some ancient

se," Aria said, her voice steadying. "But

m not just a stranger, Aria. I am a protector. A guardian of your bloodline. I have watched ov

nd racing. "But... Why haven't you

ou had to learn on your own. You had to understand the world you lived in bef

ia's brow fu

nswer, a voice echoed

Of c

that practiced look of innocence. Lila's eyes flickered between Aria and the man, her express

e?" Lila asked, her

in. She didn't want her stepsister to know the truth. Not yet. Not until sh

ckly, her voice betraying none of the un

never left Aria. He gave a slight nod, a silent ackno

Well, don't let him disturb you too much," she said with

sence was a reminder of the fragile balance she had to maintain in this house. But the stranger had give

descended from the ancient wolves. The Sil

Her life was no longer just about surviving her stepmother's cruelty. There was somethi

to endure this life. S