The Lycan Runes

Angry Aries

(Present Day)

Aqua tried to focus on the good things in her life — her job, her friends, the stability she’d built — but her mind kept drifting back to the past. Back to the summers when everything felt simpler. Back when she and Kieran were racing across forests and abandoned towns, tracking Lycan Runes on her radar, piecing together the truth of how the Crimson River pack stole Elderwood territory.

She remembered meeting the surviving Elderwood wolves, learning their stories, watching Kieran fight challengers who wanted the runes for themselves. She remembered the thrill of collecting all ten runes, summoning the Moon Cub, resurrecting the fallen Elderwood wolves, and helping them reclaim their land.

Those memories were bright, wild, unforgettable — even if the victory didn’t last.

“That was such an exciting but uncomplicated time of my life…” Aqua muttered as she put clean dishes away.

She was hiding in the kitchen, trying to stay out of earshot while Aries — the ousted Alpha of the Elderwood pack — caused yet another ruckus upstairs in the guest suite.

Months earlier, everything had fallen apart again. The Crimson River pack had managed to retake Elderwood territory through Roma and Remus, the eldest Reginald relatives. Remus returned stronger, more tactical, and challenged young Alpha Aries for leadership.

Aries, inexperienced and still growing into his power, lost the one‑on‑one combat and was forced to forfeit his position.

Before Remus could deliver the final blow, Kieran and a handful of omegas created a diversion and dragged Aries to safety.

That was how Aqua ended up with Aries as her houseguest.

Kieran had shown up in the middle of the night with a few friends and a barely conscious Aries, begging her to hide him while the omegas figured out how to reinstate him as Alpha. Aqua could never refuse Kieran anything — so she placed Aries in the same guestroom Kieran had used all those years ago.

At first, Aries had been the perfect patient. Grateful. Polite. Respectful. Even charming in his own aloof, wolfish way. And it didn’t hurt that he was drop‑dead gorgeous — emerald eyes, tall frame, a face that looked like it belonged on a movie poster. She used to joke to herself that she had her own personal Tyler Posey wandering around her house.

But something was wrong.

His wounds weren’t healing. Not even with the best salves. Not even with rest. Not even with her care.

Then she got his blood results back.

Aconite. Wolfsbane.

Remus had poisoned him.

Her father, Yamato, had been working on a rejuvenation tank for a military contract — a device meant to rapidly heal soldiers with minimal medical intervention. Aqua had dragged him into the basement lab, and together they placed Aries into the prototype tank.

Within a day, his wounds began closing. Within a week, he was almost fully healed.

He had been grateful. Kind. Cooperative.

Until he wasn’t.

Something snapped. His behavior shifted. He became paranoid, volatile, and frighteningly unpredictable. He trashed his room, accused Aqua of working for Remus, and demanded to return to Chestnut Bay to fight his uncle immediately.

Aqua remembered that afternoon vividly:

(Present Day – Afternoon)

She’d asked Hilda to prepare Aries a light lunch — antioxidant‑rich, easy to digest — and made him a smoothie with a mild sleeping pill mixed in, hoping rest would calm him. Hilda prepared a berry salad, poached eggs on rye, creamed spinach, and homemade chicken noodle soup.

Aqua carried the tray upstairs and knocked.

She thought she heard him say, “Come in.”

She stepped inside — and gasped.

Clothes were everywhere. Bedding shredded. Pillows torn open.

“What happened here?” she breathed.

Aries was pacing by the bay window. He froze when he saw her.

“You can’t buy me! I know what you’re up to.”

“What are you talking about?!” Aqua snapped, setting the tray down.

“I need to get back to Chestnut Bay! I need to fight my uncle! He’s going to erase everything I built for the past ten years!”

“You can’t go back yet. You’re still too weak—”

“Excuse me?” Aries’ eyes flashed dangerously. “I am an Alpha. How dare you call me weak.”

“You just recovered a few weeks ago! You’re not ready to fight Remus.”

“I am Aries Lucas Reginald! The true Alpha of Elderwood! And you—” he pointed at her accusingly “—are a spy for my uncle!”

“Aries, I swear I’m not—”

“That’s exactly what a spy would say!” he roared. “You think you can keep me here with your luxury room and your disgusting hospital food? I’m smarter than the average bear!”

“How dare you call Hilda’s cooking hospital food! Her meals are the best! Even Kieran can attest to that!”

“Why should I care about that omega wolf’s opinion? He’s a nobody!”

“Well, that omega wolf cares about you!” Aqua shot back. “He saved you from your uncle and has been keeping you safe ever since!”

Aries burst into manic laughter. “Keeping me safe? Oh, you’re dumber than you look. He works for my uncle too. You all do!”

Aqua’s stomach twisted. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

“Please, Aries… calm down.”

“Calm down?” He stalked toward her, eyes gleaming with something unhinged. “You can help me calm down, I’m sure.”

“What do you mean?” she whispered.

“Well, Uncle Remus must have hired such a cute girl for a reason, right?” Aries murmured, placing a heavy, possessive hand on her shoulder. His breath brushed her ear as he leaned in. “Are you one of his concubines? Has he decided to share you with me?”

Aqua froze, disgust twisting in her stomach.

Before she could react, Aries closed the distance between them, his face inches from hers, eyes wild and unfocused. He looked ready to force a kiss out of her — and that was the moment Aqua snapped.

“Excuse me?!” she shouted, shoving him with all her strength. “This would never happen in a hundred years!”

Aries stumbled back several steps, clearly not expecting her to fight back.

Aqua bolted out of the room, heart pounding, and ran to her bedroom. She texted Kieran on his secret phone, begging for help.

He replied with a thumbs‑up emoji.

She knew he’d come.

----------

Within an hour, Kieran arrived, knocking frantically.

“Kieran! Thank you for coming!” Aqua cried, relief flooding her.

“Of course. Where is Aries?”

“In your old room. He won’t calm down.”

“Do you still have those sleeping pills you used to give me?”

“Yes, but he refuses to take anything. He thinks I work for Remus.”

Kieran took the stairs two at a time. Aqua struggled to keep up.

“Sorry I left you alone with him,” he said. “Things at the compound are bad. The new Alpha is desperate to find Aries. I couldn’t risk leading anyone here.”

“Do you think you were followed?”

“I shifted into my super‑werewolf form. No one could keep up.”

Aqua pictured it — Kieran’s hybrid form, towering and powerful, like a living Anubis statue. Seven feet tall, silver‑gray fur, muscles enhanced by the Moon Goddess’s blessing. Almost unstoppable.

“That’s how you got here so fast,” she said.

“I couldn’t let Aries destroy your home after everything you’ve done for us.”

“It’s more than that,” Aqua insisted. “He’s never been this bad. Something’s wrong.”

“What happened?”

“He called Hilda’s lunch ‘hospital food.’”

Kieran gasped. “That’s insane. Hilda is one of the best chefs alive.”

“I know! That’s what I said!”

“Is that all?”

Aqua hesitated. “I… think he tried to kiss me. Or force himself on me. I pushed him away and ran.”

Kieran stopped dead. “Did he kiss you?”

“No! I pushed him before he could.”

Relief washed over his face — then fury.

“Don’t worry,” Kieran said darkly. “I will destroy him.”

“Kieran, no! He’s not himself. Something is wrong with him.”

Kieran exhaled slowly. “He’s been our Alpha for ten years. I know exactly what you mean by rude but respectful. This is different.”

He reached Aries’ door.

A low, guttural growl vibrated through the wood.

Aqua’s heart pounded.

“Kieran…”

He placed a hand on the knob. “Stay behind me.”

He opened the door.

Aries stood in the center of the room, chest heaving, eyes glowing a sickly, unnatural green.

“There you are,” he hissed. “The little spy.”

Kieran stepped in front of Aqua instantly.

“Aries,” he said calmly, “stand down.”

Aries laughed — a broken, jagged sound. “The omega thinks he can give orders.”

“You’re not well,” Kieran said. “Something is affecting your mind.”

“The only thing affecting me is betrayal.”

Kieran stepped forward. “Let me help you.”

“You can’t help me,” Aries whispered. “No one can.”

His knees buckled.

“Kieran!” Aqua cried.

Kieran caught him before he hit the floor. Aries trembled violently, eyes rolling back.

“Kieran, what’s happening?!”

Kieran checked his pulse, his temperature — and his expression darkened.

“He’s burning up. His pulse is erratic. This isn’t normal wolfsbane poisoning.”

Aqua’s voice shook. “Then what is it?”

Kieran looked up at her, fear flickering in his eyes.

“A curse,” he said quietly. “Remus didn’t just poison him. He cursed him.”

Aqua’s blood ran cold.

“What kind of curse?”

Kieran swallowed hard.

“The kind meant to finish what Remus started."