The night air was thick with an unspoken tension as Aria lay beside Kael, her heart pounding against her ribs. The full moon's glow seeped through the windows, casting silver shadows over their bodies. The intimacy between them had been undeniable, a force neither of them could resist. But now, as silence stretched between them, a strange realization settled in Aria's chest.
Something was wrong.
Kael should have been weakened by the full moon, his strength drained as it always had been. Instead, he had been stronger than ever. The way he had touched her, claimed her—it was unlike anything she had expected. And now, an even deeper fear clawed at her.
She might be pregnant.
The thought sent a shiver down her spine. It wasn't just because of what it meant for her future, but because she knew werewolves weren't supposed to conceive this easily—especially not under a full moon.
Kael sat up, his piercing eyes locking onto her. He must have sensed her distress. "Aria… what's wrong?"
She hesitated, unsure of how to voice the turmoil within her. "Something feels… different," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
His brows furrowed, and for the first time, she saw uncertainty flicker in his gaze. "I felt it too," he confessed. "The moon… it didn't weaken me. If anything, I was stronger. And you…" He reached out, tracing his fingers over her bare shoulder. "You were different too."
Aria swallowed hard. "Kael, what if—" She stopped, unable to say the words.
Kael's grip on her tightened. "Tell me."
She forced herself to meet his eyes. "What if I'm carrying your child?"
The words hung between them, heavy and inescapable.
For a moment, Kael didn't move. Then, slowly, his hand drifted to her stomach, his expression unreadable. "That shouldn't be possible," he muttered, but there was something else in his tone—something deeper.
Fear.
Aria felt her own fear mirror his. If she was pregnant, then something beyond their understanding was at play. Was it the curse? The prophecy? Or something even more dangerous?
A sudden chill filled the room, making her shudder. Kael noticed and pulled her closer. "Whatever this means, we'll face it together," he promised, but Aria wasn't sure if even Kael could protect her from what was coming next.
Because something was watching them.