Aria’s Fate

Chapter2

In an attempt to comprehend the man in front of her, Aria fixed her gaze on Elder Zane. She had never encountered anyone in the pack like him. He exuded a silent strength that seemed ingrained in his very nature—an old strength. His eyes were black and unwavering, and despite the lines on his face, they possessed an intensity that belied his years. He watched her with a level of knowledge she hadn't anticipated.

"Young wolf, why do you cry here?" He repeated the question in a steady, seemingly patient tone.

Aria's initial reaction was to turn away and repress her feelings. However, something about Zane's presence made her feel secure enough to let her guard down, even though she was worn out and her heart was raw and hurting. She responded in a voice that was hardly more than a whisper, her eyes meeting his as the weight of everything she had been through spilled over.

"I... Struggling to find the right words, she started, "I thought this would be the night everything changed." Lukas was meant to be my mate. This was meant to be my opportunity to show my belonging and redeem my family's name. But when she gasped, her voice was filled with emotion. He rejected me. Treat me as though I were unimportant.

Zane nodded, his expression calm but serious. As though he had been bearing that burden himself, he answered quietly, "The weight of disappointment can feel heavier than any burden."

Aria inhaled deeply and shuddered. With a sour tone, she went on, "All I wanted was a chance." But he went with Selena instead. She was stronger, he claimed, and more qualified to lead alongside him. And the pack—they treated me like an i***t, as if they had always anticipated my failure. Her sorrow flared with wrath as she balled her fists. "To them, I am nothing. I am absolutely nothing.

Zane put an unexpectedly soft hand on her shoulder as he stretched out. With a strong tone, he said, "Ariana, you are more than you realize." "Failure did not erase your family's legacy. Those who were afraid of the power that ran through your family seized it and concealed it. They did so out of dread for what would happen if you ever reached your full potential, not because they were weak."

As his words set in, she felt a slight chill. Convinced that her family had brought dishonor to the pack, she had grown up bearing the burden of their shame. She was uneasy about the notion that their demise had been planned and that fear, not failure, was the cause.

"You mean they intentionally threw us out?" She inquired, her tone vacillating between incredulity and interest.

She could tell Zane was not aiming at her because his eyes hardened and his face was veiled with fury. Indeed. The pack places a great priority on physical strength, but your family had power beyond that. They were linked to something more profound, an enduring power that transcended power and control. Because the Alphas of old were afraid of it, they buried it and twisted the facts to keep your bloodline under control and secret.

As she attempted to comprehend what he had said, her thoughts raced. She felt a strange sensation of joy as well as rage as the weight of everything weighed down on her. She had always thought that weakness was the cause of her family's demise. But now that she had learned that her ancestors had been strong enough to intimidate even the Alphas, she sensed a small spark of pride starting to burn within her.

"But... if I have this power," she said in a doubtful tone, "why did Lukas turn me down? Why is it invisible to others?

Zane's tone was chilly as he responded abruptly, "Because Lukas is blinded by his own ambitions." He just sees what he desires to see. He picked Selena because she bolsters his ego and makes him feel unstoppable, not because she is stronger. He has no idea how to appreciate or comprehend the actual strength you possess.

Aria experienced a wave of grief mixed with irritation. Once, she had respected Lukas, believing him to be a great leader who was powerful and knowledgeable. But the Alpha she had trusted was not the guy Zane had portrayed. "So what now?" she questioned, the words scarcely passing her mouth. "What am I supposed to do if I can't gain their respect and if I mean nothing to them?"

Zane's face grew softer, a trace of pity in his eyes. He continued softly, "Ariana, you don't have to gain the respect of people who don't see your value." "Your strength doesn't come from their consent. It is knitted into the very fabric of who you are. You just need to accept it."

She turned her head away, doubt in her heart. "How? I'm not sure where to begin. I have no notion what I might become or who I am.’’

Zane answered in a calm, unflinching voice, "Then let me show you." He held out a hand, his face composed but demanding. "I can teach you to harness the power within you if you are ready to let go of the fear and doubt that have held you back and are eager to learn."

Aria's heart was racing as she gazed at his hand. She had nothing left to lose, no place in the pack, and no future to return to. Nevertheless, the idea of discovering how to use this ability and taking back her family's heritage gave her a little but unmistakable sense of purpose. With more force than she had anticipated, she grasped his hand and closed her fingers around it.

She experienced a weird warmth and a pulse of energy that resonated with a force she had never experienced before as he assisted her in standing up. Deeper into the trees, Zane led her to a small moonlit clearing with stones forming a rough circle around its center. This time, the air felt energized, nearly pulsing with vitality.

Zane pointed to the middle of the circle and said, "Sit here." Feeling the weight of the earth under her, she complied and settled herself on the cool ground.

"Now, shut your eyes," he added in a quiet but firm voice. Pay attention to your breath. Feel your own energy. Aria, it is a part of who you are and not anything distinct.

She closed her eyes, let herself become lost in the isolation, and felt the chilly night air against her skin. For a while she could only hear the steady rise and fall of her breath and the beat of her own heart. But as she focused, she became aware of something else: a faint warmth that pulsed within her like a parallel heartbeat. She concentrated on it, let it seep into her senses, and slowly she felt it expanding, a gentle but powerful stream flowing through her body.

"Well," Zane whispered. "Go for it now. Allow it to rise like a flame inside of you.

A golden heat gathered in her hands, fingers, and chest as the feeling grew stronger. Never before had she felt anything like it, alive, vibrant, and throbbing through her veins with a force that made her breath catch in her mouth. When she opened her eyes, almost expecting to see her hands burning, she saw that the clearing surrounding her was lighter, the shadows disappearing as though in awe of her strength.

With a note of pride in his voice, Zane remarked, "You got it, Aria." "This is just the start."

She looked at him, a thousand questions burning in her mind. “What is this power?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“It is the legacy of your ancestors,” Zane replied. “A power tied to the earth, to the very roots of your lineage. For a long time, this ability has been kept a secret.

Aria felt a rush of hope, something she hadn't felt in years. The shame and rejection began to fade as she accepted the strength she had never realized she possessed. She looked directly into Zane's eyes, her resolve solidifying.

Then instruct me, she said steadily. "I'd like to learn." What was taken from my family is something I want to get back.

With a

determined gaze, Zane nodded. "Then we start at sunrise.”