Chapter 4: Broken Chains
Aria's POV
The harsh, chilly air blew on me. My boots thumping the ground, I ran. I had no idea where I was heading to. Right immediately. Keep the pack house at bay. Stay away from Darius.
The walls had vanished. ripped to pieces. My own strength. I was afraid.
I came to a halt, struggling to breathe. I was encircled by quiet, gloomy trees. I turned to face my hands. There was a little silver gleam about them.
Who was I? What had I become?
I tried to recall by closing my eyes. But I had a jumbled head. Flashes of lightning, fragments of recollections.
A face. Hard. cruel. Roman. He touched me. His tone was icy and piercing.
"I own you."
My skin crawled as the words replayed in my mind. My eyes opened, my heart racing.
Now I remembered. The ritual. The coerced connection. The terror.
I had been a prize. A tool. Something to be utilized.
I had sprinted. I had hid. I had made an effort to forget.
However, I was unable to. The past held me down like a cold, heavy chain.
I pulled my legs up to my chest and sat on the ground. I was shattered. Broken.
However, there was also something else. Anger flashed. A glimmer of power.
I gazed up at the dazzling, high moon. It was round, full, and strong.
similar to me.
I got to my feet, trembling. Not out of fear. but out of anger.
I would no longer be broken. I wouldn't be a prize.
I'd have freedom.
I moved confidently, keeping my gaze focused on the road ahead. I had no idea where I was heading. I knew, however, that I would not quit.
I saw a light in the distance as the woods became thinner. Nestled in a clearing is a little home.
With my heart racing, I approached it. Someone may be able to assist. Perhaps someone recognized me.
My hand was hesitating over the door as I arrived at the home. It had a little window, was wooden, and was ancient.
I rapped my knuckles on the wood as I knocked.
A lady was standing there when the door opened. old. Her eyes were sad and her face was lined. Her eyes were strong, however.
"Aria?" she said in a quiet voice.
My throat tightened each breath. "Who are you?" My voice trembled as I asked.
She gave a soft, melancholy grin. "Your mother is me."
My whole world swayed. Mommy? However, she had left. Dead.
"How?" My voice was almost heard as I whispered.
She stood aside, signaling for me to come in. "Enter. I'll clarify.
I stepped inside the home, my eyes wide. Though little, it was warm. The air smelled of something sweet and herbs.
We sat down when she showed me to a table.
"I struck a deal," she murmured softly. "With the Goddess of the Moon."
My eyes got big. "A bargain?"
"To keep you safe," she replied, sadness shining in her eyes. From Roman. from his connection. from his brutality.
"How, though?" My voice trembled as I asked.
Her voice was shaking as she replied, "I gave her something." "My voice. My magic. My existence.
My throat tightened each breath. For me, she sacrificed everything.
"The deal was," she said, "that your heat would be suppressed. Your wolf would be asleep. till the connection was severed.
"But… it's broken now," I murmured, my voice filled with bewilderment.
She gave a nod. Indeed. However, the magic altered you. You become something greater as a result. Something strong.
"Who am I?" With little more than a whisper, I asked.
She exclaimed, "Moon-Blessed," with wonder in her eyes. An offspring of the moon. a natural force.
My mind whirled. It was excessive. Too weird.
"What kept you from telling me?" With wrath in my voice, I questioned.
"I couldn't," she answered in a painful voice. "The Goddess... She believed what I said. She stole my memories. All I could do was observe. Keep you safe from a distance.
Tears flooded my eyes as I gazed at her. She had endured a great deal. For me.
"I apologize," I said, my voice trembling.
She put her hand out and cupped my face. "Avoid becoming. You are now at liberty. You have strength.
"But what should I do?" With horror in my voice, I asked.
With power in her eyes, she continued, "You have a choice." "You decide on your own course. Your future is up to you to decide.
She got up and moved to a chest in the corner of the room's corner. She took out a little silver knife and opened it.
"This," she handed it to me and said. Moon Severance is here. Any connection may be broken by it. Any curse?
With shaking fingers, I accepted the knife. It was strong, frigid, and piercing.
"However..." My voice trembled as I spoke. "It has a cost, doesn't it?"
She gave a nod. "Yes, it does. You have to make a sacrifice. a priceless sacrifice.
My heart was racing as I gazed at the knife. What would I be sacrificing?
"You must give up a significant memory. One that molds your identity. The more thorough the severance, the larger the memory.
With sorrow in her eyes, my mother said. "And once it's gone, it's gone forever."
My breath caught. A recollection? However, which one?
Then I realized.
Darius's memory.
The touch he left behind. His gaze. His remarks.
And the thought of the one guy who had ever given me a good glance.
Tears flooded my eyes as I gazed at my mother. "I'm unable to," I muttered.
Her eyes were full of comprehension as she nodded. "I understand. Aria, you have to make a decision. Freedom or a recollection.
With my fingers shaking, I gazed at the knife. I made the decision.
Then there was a huge crash outside the home. Wolves' voices were rough as they growled.
My mom's eyes became wide. "They discovered us," she said in a terrified tone.
Then, with stern and ruthless gaze, Roman entered through the shattered door. Darius loomed behind him, his face a mask of betrayal and rage.
"Aria," Roman said in a chilly tone. "You're returning home."