Chapter 6 – Bloodlines and Burdens
751 Words
The cabin Ronan had stashed her in was secluded—tucked beneath a canopy of ancient pines and shielded by layers of protective enchantments. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was safe. And right now, that was all Arias could ask for.
Still, the silence inside the small space felt louder than the chaos outside.
She sat curled on the worn leather couch, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Her body still buzzed with the aftermath of whatever had happened in the woods. Her skin no longer glowed, but something inside her had shifted—unleashed. She could feel it pulsing beneath the surface.
Ronan stood at the counter, pouring hot water into a chipped mug. His back was tense. Rigid.
He hadn’t spoken since they returned.
Aria broke the silence first. “What’s happening to me?”
He didn’t turn around. “You tell me.”
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “I’ve never... felt anything like that before.” It was like... something took over. And I couldn’t control it.
Ronan finally turned, his eyes unreadable. “You tapped into something most wolves only dream of accessing. That kind of power isn’t normal.”
She clutched the blanket tighter. “I thought I was just an omega.”
“You were told you were,” he said, crossing the room and handing her the mug. “That doesn’t mean it was true.”
She took a shaky sip, letting the warmth calm her nerves. “Then what am I?”
Ronan sat across from her, elbows on his knees. “I did some digging after Kael rejected you. Your scent... it didn’t match what I remembered from when we were younger. There was always something off.”
“You knew me before?” Aria blinked. “From where?”
Our packs used to trade when we were kids. You won’t remember—your parents kept you hidden most of the time. His gaze dropped. “Especially after the fire.”
Aria’s hands trembled slightly. The fire. Flashes came back to her—screaming, smoke, the suffocating heat. Her mother’s voice tells her to run.
“I thought they died in that fire.”
“They did,” Ronan said gently. “But it wasn’t an accident.”
Her heart stilled.
“They were targeted. Your family carried a rare bloodline—descended from the Moon-Blessed. Witches, wolves... hybrids, even. You weren’t supposed to survive.”
“I... I don’t understand.”
Ronan leaned forward. “The bounty on your head? It’s not just because you’re a rogue. You’re the last living heir of the Eclipse Line. You carry dormant magic that hasn’t been awakened in generations. Until now.”
Aria’s chest tightened. “That’s what I felt out there?”
He nodded. “It was just a flicker.” But if others find out what you are—if they realize you’re alive—there will be more than bounty hunters coming after you.
“Kael didn’t know, did he?”
“No,” Ronan said, his voice darkening. He rejected you, believing you were weak. An omega with no value. But if he had known the truth... he would’ve either killed you—or claimed you out of greed.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips. “So much for fate.”
Ronan’s jaw clenched. “You were never meant to be his.”
The words hung between them, heavy and raw.
Aria looked up, meeting his eyes. “Why are you helping me, Ronan?”
He hesitated. “Because I owe your parents.” And because... His voice lowered. Because I see you. The real you. And I won’t let the world destroy that.
Her throat tightened. Emotions warred inside her—fear, confusion, hope.
She didn’t know who she truly was yet. But for the first time, she wanted to find out.
“I want to learn,” she said quietly. “If I’m not just an omega... if I’m something more...” I want to know how to control it.
Ronan’s gaze sharpened with resolve. “Then we started to start tomorrow. But you have to promise me something, Aria.”
“What?”
Don’t give up. No matter what truth we uncover, no matter how painful it gets. His eyes burned into hers. “Promise me you won’t run from who you are.”
She nodded slowly.
“I promise.”
And for the first time in a long time, she meant it.
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- Writer
