The moon hung heavy that night, tinged with an eerie crimson at its edges. As the pack slumbered—or pretended to—Aria stood at the sacred pool of Lunaris, surrounded by a circle of ancient stones etched with glowing silver script. These were the Stones of Union, once used by Lunas of old to test and awaken their mate bond… and determine the true match.
Tonight, she would begin the first bond trial.
Aiden waited inside the circle.
Silent. Tense. Guarded.
He wore no armor. Only the mark of his rank on his chest and the band of his late mother—Luna Seraphina—wrapped around his wrist.
Kael stood just outside the ring, staff in hand. “This is no ordinary test. If he’s not the chosen one, the Moonfire will reject him.”
“And if he is?” Aria asked softly.
“Then your flames will merge. The p
