The castle slept in darkness when Marcus appeared at Aria's window. His tribal tattoos caught moonlight as he balanced on the stone ledge, grinning like a wild thing. "Come with me," he whispered, eyes dancing with fun. Aria's heart jumped.
"Marcus, what are you" "Trust me." He held out his hand. "I want to show you something." She looked back at her empty room, then at his waiting hand. Without thinking, she grabbed his hand and climbed through the window. They dropped quietly to the courtyard below. Marcus pulled her toward the forest edge, moving like smoke through shadows. His excitement buzzed through their bond, making her pulse race.
"Where are we going?" she breathed. "Somewhere you've never been." His voice held promises of excitement. They slipped past the guards and into the woods. Pine needles crunched under their feet as Marcus led her deeper into darkness. Trees towered above them like old giants, their branches blocking most of the starlight. "I can barely see," Aria whispered. Marcus stopped and turned to face her. "Then don't use your eyes."
"What do you mean?" He stepped closer, his warmth wrapping around her. "Close them. Feel the forest instead." Aria shut her eyes. At first, she heard only her own breaths. Then other sounds crept inwind through leaves, an owl's faraway call, her heartbeat mixing with Marcus's. "Good," he mumbled. "Now let your wolf guide you." Something stirred inside her chest.
A rage she'd kept buried her whole life. Her wolf senses sharpened. She smelled dirt and moss, felt air currents on her skin, heard tiny creatures scurrying through underbrush. "I can feel everything," she gasped. Marcus's hand found hers again.
"That's just the beginning. Come on." They ran. Not walking, not joggingrunning like wolves through the dark forest. Aria's feet found their rhythm, avoiding roots and rocks without stumbling. Her blood sang with freedom. For the first time ever, she wasn't the Beta's daughter or the confused Luna.
She was just herself, wild and living. Marcus laughed as they jumped over a fallen log together. The sound sent shivers down her spine. He was beautiful in his elementdangerous and free, tattoos quivering as muscles moved beneath his skin. They burst into a starry clearing beside a rushing stream.
Aria fell on the grass, chest heaving, laughing with pure joy. "I've never felt anything like that," she panted. Marcus sat beside her, close enough that she caught his scentleather and smoke and something darker underneath. "Your wolf's been caged too long." "My father always said I should stay close to home.
That the forest was dangerous." "It is dangerous." Marcus's eyes glowed in the moonlight. "But you're dangerous too. You just don't know it yet." Aria shivered at the hunger in his voice.
"What do you see when you look at me?" He was quiet for a long moment, studying her face. "Power. Real power, not the fake kind Elias claims to have. You could rule this pack better than any of us."
"That's not what Tobias thinks. He says the forecasts warn against unworthy Lunas." Marcus's jaw tightened. "Tobias sees doom in every shadow. I see strength."
They lay back on the grass, staring up at stars scattered like diamonds across black velvet. The stream babbled close, peaceful and eternal. "Marcus," Aria said softly, "why did you really bring me here?"
His body went rigid beside her. For a heartbeat, she thought he might tell her something important. His mouth opened, then closed. She felt conflict ripple through their bondsomething heavy and guilty. "I wanted you to know what freedom feels like," he said eventually. "Before everything gets more complicated."
"What do you mean?" He rolled onto his side to face her. "There are things happening that you don't understand. Dangerous things." Aria's stomach dropped. "What kind of things?" Marcus reached out to touch her cheek, his thumb tracing her skin. "I wish I could protect you from all of it. But some battles you'll have to fight alone." "You're scaring me." "Good. You should be scared." His voice cracked with emotion. "There are people who want to hurt you, Aria. People close to us."
"Who?" He pulled his hand away like she'd burned him. "I can't. Not yet." Frustration flared in her chest. "Why does everyone keep secrets from me? First Tobias with his prophecies, now you with mysterious warnings. I'm tired of being protected!" Marcus sat up abruptly, running hands through his short hair.
"You don't understand the cost of knowing. Some secrets destroy everything they touch." "And some secrets destroy everything when they stay hidden," Aria shot back. He looked at her with such pain that her rage melted away.
"Marcus, what's wrong? Really wrong?" For a moment, she thought he would break. His hands shook as he stared at the ground. When he spoke, his voice was barely a whisper. "I've done things. Bad things. And they're going to catch up with me soon."
"What things?" He stood quickly, pacing to the stream's edge. "We should go back." "No." Aria jumped up and grabbed his arm. "Don't shut me out. Not after bringing me here, showing me who I could be. Talk to me." Marcus spun around, eyes blazing.
"You want the truth? Fine. I'm not the man you think I am. I'm not the brother Dorian thinks I am. I'm not even the son my father raised."
"What does that mean?" He stepped closer, backing her against a tree. His body caged her in, but she wasn't afraid. She was fascinated by the raw honesty in his face.
"It means that everything you know about me is a lie," he said roughly. "And when you find out the truth, you'll hate me." "I could never hate you." "You will." He pressed his face against hers. "God help me, you will." His lips brushed hers, soft as a breath.
The kiss lasted only a second, but it left her breathless. When he pulled back, tears gleamed in his eyes. "Remember this moment," he said. "Remember how you felt here, free and wild. Because everything's about to change." A branch snapped in the trees behind them.
Marcus spun around, every muscle tight. "What is it?" Aria whispered. He held up a hand for quiet, head tilted like a hunting wolf. Then his face went white. "We have to go. Now." "Marcus, what" "They found us." His voice shook with terror.
"They weren't supposed to find us here." More branches cracked. Footsteps, getting closer. And something elsea low growling that didn't sound quite like dogs. Marcus grabbed Aria's hand. "Run. As fast as you can. Don't look back no matter what you hear."
"I won't leave you!" "You have to!" He shoved her toward the trees. "Go to Dorian. Tell him the Syndicate knows about the talks. Tell him Marcus said the wolf is loose."
"The Syndicate?" Aria's blood turned to ice. "Marcus, no" A howl split the night. Not a wolf howlsomething twisted and wrong.
Evil laughter echoed through the forest. Marcus pushed her harder. "RUN!" As Aria stumbled into the dark woods, she heard Marcus whisper behind her: "Forgive me." Then the sounds of battle erupted, and her world exploded into nightmare.