CHAPTER 62: CHAPTER 62

Aria’s POV.

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over Alpha Kael as he slept peacefully in the bed.

His chest rose and fell with slow, steady breaths, his face relaxed in a way I rarely saw. After the long, intense night we’d had, seeing him so calm felt like a quiet gift.

I stood by the window, my bare feet cool against the wooden floor, my eyes drifting to the world outside. A heavy sigh slipped past my lips, carrying the weight of everything swirling in my mind.

I wanted to think about Kael’s words from last night—how he’d called me his Luna, how he’d promised to protect me.

But then, my gaze caught something outside that pulled my thoughts away.

There, in the courtyard below, stood Sonia and Liam. Even from this distance, I could see the familiar slump in Sonia’s shoulders, the way her head hung low.

She was still her usual gloomy self, wrapped in a sadness that seemed to cling to her like a shadow. And who could blame her? She’d lost her husband, the person who’d been her whole world. My heart ached just thinking about it.

I knew that kind of loss wasn’t something you could fix with a few kind words or a pat on the back. Sympathy wasn’t enough for Sonia, not now.

She needed something real, something solid. She needed love, someone to sit with her in the quiet and make her feel less alone. She needed a friend.

I thought back to what Alpha Kael had said earlier, his voice steady and sure: "Be there for her, Aria. She needs you." His words echoed in my head, stirring something inside me.

He was right. If anyone could reach out to Sonia, it was me. I wasn’t just the Luna by title—I wanted to be someone who made a difference, someone who could offer a hand to hold when the world felt too heavy.

My inner wolf, Kyra, stirred faintly, nudging me forward, like she agreed with the plan.

I turned my head, stealing one last glance at Kael. He looked so peaceful, his dark hair messy against the pillow, one arm flung across the bed where I’d been lying moments ago.

A small smile tugged at my lips. Part of me wanted to stay, to curl up beside him and forget the world for a little longer. But Sonia was out there, hurting, and I couldn’t ignore that.

With a quiet breath, I made up my mind. I padded softly across the room, careful not to wake him, and slipped out the door.

The cool air of the hallway brushed against my skin as I closed it behind me, my heart set on finding Sonia.

The stone steps were cold under my feet as I made my way downstairs, my mind racing with what I’d say.

I didn’t have all the answers, but I knew I wanted to be there for her, to listen, to let her know she wasn’t alone.

Maybe that’s what being a Luna was about, not just standing beside an Alpha, but lifting up the people who needed it most.

Once I got outside the cabin, I sat on a wooden bench in the Eastern Island, the morning sun warm, the salty air sharp with the crash of waves against the shore.

Sonia sat beside me, her dark hair tied back, her face tired but soft, her hands twisting in her lap.

Liam played nearby, his curls bouncing, his small hands digging in the sand, his laughter bright despite the sadness in his mother’s eyes.

My heart ached for them, Elijah’s death, his bloodied body, Kael’s guilt, a heavy shadow over us.

My blue dress fluttered in the breeze, my silver hair loose, my wolf, Kyra, purring softly, her warmth urging me to comfort Sonia, to be the friend Kael asked me to be.

I smiled, my voice gentle, my hands reaching for hers, wanting to ease her pain, to pull her from her grief.

"Sonia," I said, my eyes meeting hers, my heart racing with care.

"Tell me about Liam. What’s his favorite thing to do?" My words were soft, my smile warm, hoping to shift her thoughts from Elijah, her late husband, whose loss still broke her.

She looked at me, her eyes wet, a small smile forming, her voice low.

"He loves stories," she said, her hands relaxing, her gaze flicking to Liam.

"Every night, I’d tell him about heroes, wolves, adventures. Elijah used to call, promising to tell him one himself someday." Her voice cracked, her smile fading, her sadness raw, and my chest tightened, my heart breaking for her, for Liam, who’d never hear his father’s voice again.

"That’s sweet," I said, my voice shaky, my hand squeezing hers, my eyes burning with tears I held back.

"Maybe we can tell him a story tonight, together." My heart pounded, my care for them growing, Kyra whining, her love for this small family strong.

Sonia nodded, her smile returning, faint but real, her eyes grateful, though they saw me as Luna Celeste, the name I hid behind, my true identity a secret locked tight.

My chest ached, guilt creeping in, hating the lie but knowing Seraphina’s threat "I’ll expose you" left me no choice.

We talked more, my voice light, asking about her favorite foods, her childhood, anything to keep her mind busy.

"What about you, Celeste?" she asked, her voice curious, her eyes soft. "What do you love?" My heart jumped, my smile faltering, fear flickering, but I steadied myself, my voice calm.

"I love the forest," I said, my eyes on the waves, my hands clenching. "Running with the pack, feeling free." My words were true, my love for my wolf life real, but the name she called me stung, my secret heavy.

Liam ran over, his hands sandy, his eyes bright, holding a shell.

"Look, Luna!" he said, his voice loud, his smile wide, offering it to me.

My heart lifted, my sadness easing, my hand taking the shell, its surface smooth, my smile real.

"It’s beautiful, Liam," I said, my voice warm, my eyes meeting his, my heart swelling with love for this boy, my promise to Kael, be their friend, stronger.

Sonia smiled, her face softer, our bond growing, her trust in me, as Celeste, warming my chest despite the lie.

Suddenly, Brian rushed toward us, his boots kicking sand, his face pale, his brown eyes wide with panic.

My heart jumped, my breath catching, Kyra growling, sensing trouble. "Where’s Alpha Kael?" he asked, his voice sharp, his hands clenching, his chest heaving.

My heart raced, fear gripping me, memories of Kael’s coldness, his anger at Seraphina, flashing through my mind.

"He’s in the room," I said, my voice shaky, my eyes wide, pointing to the cabin. Brian nodded, his steps quick, rushing inside, the door slamming.

Sonia’s face tensed, her hands gripping Liam’s shoulders, her eyes meeting mine, her worry clear.

"Something’s wrong," she said, her voice low, her face pale, her hands trembling.

My heart pounded, my fear growing, my body standing, my dress catching the breeze.

"We should go see," she urged, her voice firm, pulling Liam close, his shell forgotten.

I nodded, my heart racing, my steps quick, following her to the cabin, Liam’s small hand in hers, my worry loud, Kyra whining, her instincts sharp.

We reached the cabin, the air cool inside, the wooden floor creaking under our boots. Kael stood by the window, his ash-gray shirt tight, his dark hair messy, his face hard, his eyes fierce as Brian spoke, his voice low, urgent.

My heart thumped, my breath short, my eyes locked on Kael, his tension clear, his fists clenched.

Sonia stopped beside me, her grip on Liam tight, her face pale, her worry matching mine. Brian turned, his eyes flicking to us, his face grim, his voice steady but heavy.

"Alpha," he said, his hands clenching, his eyes on Kael. "We need to leave the island. Now. The elders heard about Elijah’s situation. They’re demanding your presence at the packhouse immediately." My heart stopped, my breath catching, shock hitting hard.

The elders? Elijah’s death, his betrayal, now known? My chest tightened, my fear spiking, memories of Brian’s warning, "The elders will get angry" ringing in my ears.

Kael’s face darkened, his eyes burning, his jaw tight, his silence heavy, filling the room with tension.