CHAPTER SEVEN: The Night of Ashes
1876 Words
The grand hall of the Moonfang Pack glittered with gold chandeliers and silver goblets, but beneath the beauty, tension coiled like a snake ready to strike.
Every noble family in the Northern Territories had gathered for the Blood Moon Banquet, the most important event before the annual Alpha Council meeting. Warriors lined the marble walls in ceremonial armor while servants moved quietly through the crowd carrying crystal trays filled with wine.
At the center of it all stood Alpha Tristan Blackwood.
Powerful.
Respected.
Untouchable.
Or at least that was what everyone believed.
Beside him, Selene wore a gown of pale gold silk, pretending to be the perfect Luna while soaking in the attention she had stolen from another woman. Her fingers rested possessively on Tristan’s arm as she smiled at the guests.
But her smile faltered the moment the doors opened.
Silence swept across the hall.
One by one, heads turned.
Then whispers erupted.
“She’s alive…”
“That’s impossible.”
“The former Luna?”
Aria stepped into the hall like vengeance dressed in black.
The fitted velvet gown hugged her figure elegantly, the slit revealing silver heels that clicked against the marble floor with deadly calm. Her dark hair cascaded over one shoulder, and around her neck gleamed the crescent moon pendant that once symbolized her rank as Luna.
The pendant Tristan had ripped from her neck five years ago.
Yet tonight, she wore it again.
Proudly.
Confidently.
As though she had returned to reclaim what was hers.
Tristan’s expression hardened instantly.
For a second, genuine shock flashed across his face.
Then anger.
“How dare she come here?” Selene hissed under her breath.
Aria ignored them both.
Every step she took toward the center of the hall carried terrifying composure. She no longer looked like the broken woman who had begged for her marriage, her title, and her son.
That woman had died.
This woman was dangerous.
Lord Vincent rose from his seat near the council members, his sharp eyes filled with amusement.
“Well,” he drawled lazily, lifting his glass, “this banquet just became interesting.”
Several Alphas shifted uncomfortably.
Everyone knew the rumors.
The former Luna who disappeared after betrayal.
The woman who returned with mysterious wealth and terrifying influence.
The female Alpha had taken control of the Shadow Ridge territory in less than a year.
Nobody knew how powerful she truly was now.
And that uncertainty frightened them.
Aria stopped a few feet away from Tristan.
Their eyes locked.
For one long moment, the entire hall vanished around them.
Memories crashed violently through her mind.
His promises.
His lies.
The nights she cried alone.
The moment he chose Selene over her.
But Aria only smiled.
“Alpha Tristan,” she said smoothly. “It’s been a while.”
His jaw tightened.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“And yet,” she replied softly, “here I am.”
A few guests awkwardly looked away.
Others watched eagerly, hungry for drama.
Selene stepped forward, clinging tighter to Tristan’s arm. “You lost your place in this pack years ago.”
Aria’s gaze slowly moved toward her.
Cold.
Sharp.
Almost pitying.
“Did I?” she asked.
Selene stiffened under the weight of her eyes.
For the first time, she realized something horrifying.
Aria was no longer intimidated by her.
Not even slightly.
Before Selene could answer, a small voice suddenly echoed across the hall.
“Daddy!”
The crowd parted as a little boy ran toward Tristan.
Ethan.
Aria’s chest tightened painfully at the sight of her son.
He had grown taller.
Older.
His once-soft baby features had become sharper, resembling Tristan more with every passing year. He wore formal black clothing, and excitement lit up his face as he rushed forward.
Then he saw Aria.
His steps slowed.
Confusion filled his eyes.
The hall became painfully silent again.
Ethan stared at her for several seconds.
As if trying to remember something buried deep inside him.
Aria’s fingers trembled slightly.
She wanted to run to him.
To hold him.
To tell him she never abandoned him.
But she remained still.
Because she knew the truth.
If she moved too quickly, Tristan would use Ethan against her again.
Selene immediately knelt beside the boy. “Ethan, sweetheart, come here.”
But Ethan didn’t move.
Instead, he looked at Aria carefully.
“Who are you?” he asked innocently.
The question sliced through her heart.
For years, she imagined this moment.
Yet nothing prepared her for the pain of hearing her own child fail to recognize her.
Selene smirked subtly.
Tristan noticed the flicker of hurt in Aria’s eyes and strangely felt something twist inside his chest.
Guilt.
It vanished almost immediately.
Aria forced a calm smile.
“I’m an old friend,” she answered softly.
Ethan blinked.
Then tilted his head.
“You smell familiar.”
The entire hall froze.
Werewolf children possessed stronger instincts than adults.
And instincts never lie.
Selene’s face paled.
Tristan’s expression darkened instantly.
Aria said nothing.
But inside, her wolf stirred violently.
Mine.
Her wolf recognized her pup instantly.
Ethan continued staring at her with growing curiosity before Selene quickly pulled him away.
“You’re imagining things,” Selene said sharply.
“But”
“Go sit down.”
The boy reluctantly obeyed, though he kept glancing back at Aria.
Tristan stepped closer.
His voice lowered dangerously.
“What are you trying to do?”
Aria met his gaze calmly.
“Enjoy the banquet.”
“You think showing up here changes anything?”
“No,” she replied. “But it terrifies you that it might.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw.
Lord Vincent suddenly approached them with a grin.
“Lady Aria,” he said, deliberately loud enough for nearby guests to hear, “you look breathtaking tonight.”
Aria inclined her head politely. “Lord Vincent.”
Tristan’s eyes narrowed at the interaction.
The possessiveness in his gaze didn’t go unnoticed.
Neither did it escape Selene.
Her nails dug into her palms.
For years, she believed she had won.
But now Aria stood before them more beautiful, more powerful, and far more respected than before.
And worst of all,
Tristan couldn’t stop looking at her.
A council member cleared his throat awkwardly. “Perhaps everyone should take their seats.”
The banquet resumed, but the atmosphere had changed completely.
Whispers spread endlessly through the room.
Some pitied Aria.
Others feared her return.
And many secretly hoped for chaos.
Aria sat beside Vincent at the long royal table while Tristan remained across from her.
Throughout dinner, she could feel his eyes on her.
Studying her.
Trying to understand what she was planning.
But Aria gave him nothing.
She laughed lightly at Vincent’s jokes.
Spoke confidently with neighboring Alphas.
And ignored Tristan completely.
That irritated him more than anything.
By the time dessert arrived, Selene’s patience had nearly snapped.
Then the council elder rose from his seat.
“As tradition demands,” the old man announced, “the Blood Moon Banquet will conclude with the ceremonial dance.”
Soft music filled the hall.
Couples began moving toward the dance floor.
Tristan stood automatically and offered his hand to Selene.
But before she could take it—
Vincent rose first.
He walked around the table and extended his hand toward Aria.
“May I?”
The hall erupted into murmurs.
Aria glanced briefly toward Tristan.
His expression had turned dangerously cold.
Perfect.
She placed her hand in Vincent’s.
“I’d love to.”
Selene looked furious.
Tristan looked murderous.
And Aria?
She smiled.
The music swelled as Vincent guided her onto the dance floor.
His hand rested gently on her waist while they moved gracefully beneath the chandeliers.
“You’re enjoying this far too much,” Vincent murmured.
“Am I?”
“You’ve had Tristan glaring at me for the past ten minutes.”
Aria laughed softly.
“He has no right.”
“True,” Vincent admitted. “But men like Tristan rarely understand that.”
As they turned across the floor, Aria caught sight of Ethan watching her from his seat.
Their eyes met briefly.
The child smiled shyly.
Her heart nearly shattered.
Vincent noticed immediately.
“You miss him.”
“Every day.”
“You’ll get him back.”
Her expression hardened slightly.
“Oh, I know.”
Across the hall, Selene finally lost control.
“This is humiliating,” she snapped quietly at Tristan. “Do something.”
Tristan’s gaze remained fixed on Aria.
“She came here for a reason.”
“And you’re just going to watch her flirt with Vincent?”
That finally pulled his attention toward Selene.
For the first time in years, irritation flashed openly in his eyes.
“She’s free to do as she pleases.”
Selene stared at him in disbelief.
Free.
The word echoed bitterly inside her head.
Aria was supposed to remain broken forever.
Not rise stronger.
Not become admired.
And certainly not attract Tristan’s attention again.
Fear began creeping into Selene’s chest.
Because deep down…
She knew Tristan had never truly forgotten Aria.
The music slowed.
Vincent leaned slightly closer to Aria.
“Your enemies are unraveling beautifully.”
“This is only the beginning.”
“I figured.”
She looked toward Tristan once more.
Their eyes locked again across the dance floor.
This time, something dangerous passed between them.
Not love.
Not hatred.
Something far more complicated.
A storm neither of them could control.
Then suddenly,
A loud crash echoed through the hall.
Everyone gasped.
One of the massive palace windows shattered inward violently.
Cold wind exploded into the room.
Warriors instantly drew their weapons.
A dark figure stepped through the broken glass.
Blood covered his clothes.
His breathing was ragged.
And terror filled his eyes.
“Alpha Tristan!” he shouted desperately. “The southern borders have fallen!”
The hall erupted into chaos.
“What?”
“That’s impossible!”
“We had guards stationed there!”
The messenger collapsed to his knees.
“They’re dead,” he whispered hoarsely. “All of them.”
Tristan shot to his feet immediately.
“Who attacked?”
The messenger looked up slowly.
His face turned pale with fear.
“The Crimson Claw Legion.”
The name struck the hall like thunder.
Several Alphas cursed under their breath.
Even Vincent’s expression darkened.
Because everyone knew the truth.
The Crimson Claw Legion wasn’t just an army.
They were monsters.
Merciless rogues who destroyed entire packs without mercy.
And they had been silent for years.
Until now.
Tristan immediately began issuing orders.
“Seal the borders. Double security around the territory. Move the civilians”
“They’re already inside the outer villages,” the messenger interrupted weakly.
Panic spread rapidly.
Selene grabbed Tristan’s arm anxiously. “They’ll attack the capital next!”
But Tristan barely heard her.
Because at that moment, he noticed something strange.
Aria wasn’t afraid.
Not even slightly.
She stood calmly beside Vincent, watching the chaos unfold with unreadable eyes.
As though she had expected this.
Tristan’s instincts screamed instantly.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
And for the first time in years…
Alpha Tristan Blackwood realized he might no longer control the game.
- Writer
