The silver light from Aria's wrist flooded the council arena.
For a moment, no one moved.
Every Alpha.
Every warrior.
All eyes were fixed on the glowing crescent mark.
The air felt heavy, like a storm was about to break.
Aria clenched her hand, trying to control the burning energy.
"Why is it doing this now?"
Beside her, Alpha Kael stepped forward protectively.
His voice dropped into a low warning growl.
"Everyone back away."
Several Alphas exchanged uneasy glances.
No one wanted to be the first to challenge Kael openly.
But in the center of the arena, Magnus only smiled wider.
He looked almost pleased.
"Beautiful."
Aria glared at him.
"This isn't a show."
Magnus tilted his head slightly.
"Oh, but it is."
He slowly began walking toward her.
Each step echoed across the stone arena.
The warriors around him moved aside instinctively.
Even the other Alphas seemed uneasy about stopping him.
Kael stepped forward immediately.
"You take one more step and I will break your spine."
Magnus stopped.
But his smile never faded.
"You can try."
Behind Aria, the slow tapping sound echoed again.
Tok.
Tok.
Ikechukwu rested both hands on his staff.
"Oga…"
Magnus glanced at him.
"Yes?"
Ikechukwu shrugged.
"You dey behave like person wey never hear 'no' before."
Several wolves nearby tried not to laugh.
Magnus didn't look offended.
If anything, he seemed amused.
"Perhaps."
Then he turned back to Aria.
"But tonight is not about jokes."
His red eyes burned with intensity.
"It's about destiny."
Aria crossed her arms.
"Funny."
She pointed at the glowing mark.
"Because this destiny thing keeps trying to burn my arm off."
Magnus chuckled quietly.
"That's because the bond is resisting."
Kael's eyes flashed dangerously.
"What bond?"
Magnus finally said it clearly.
"The claim."
The entire arena fell silent again.
Aria blinked.
"The what?"
Magnus spoke calmly.
"When the moon creates a vessel…"
He gestured toward her wrist.
"…it eventually binds that power to a dominant Alpha."
Kael growled.
"That's a lie."
Magnus shook his head slowly.
"No."
His red eyes returned to Aria.
"It's the truth."
A murmur spread across the council arena.
Several Alphas began whispering to each other.
Aria looked around.
"You can't be serious."
But then one of the older Alphas spoke from the crowd.
"There are legends…"
Another Alpha nodded slowly.
"The Moon Vessel must be claimed."
Aria's jaw dropped.
"Oh absolutely not."
Kael's voice thundered across the arena.
"No one is claiming her."
Magnus smirked.
"Then prove it."
Kael stepped forward.
"I will."
The tension in the arena snapped instantly.
Several warriors moved back, sensing what was about to happen.
Magnus rolled his shoulders slightly.
"Good."
His red eyes gleamed.
"Let's settle this like Alphas."
Aria stepped between them suddenly.
"Hold on!"
Both men stopped.
She pointed at Magnus.
"You don't get to turn me into a trophy."
Then she pointed at Kael.
"And you don't get to fight every problem with your fists."
Kael frowned slightly.
Magnus looked entertained.
Aria crossed her arms again.
"If there's some stupid ancient rule about claiming me…"
Her voice turned sharp.
"…then maybe I should decide something too."
Several Alphas looked surprised.
Magnus raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Aria lifted her glowing wrist.
The silver light pulsed again.
"If anyone is getting control of this power…"
Her eyes hardened.
"…it will be me."
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Ikechukwu nodded slowly.
"My sister don talk correct."
Aria glanced back at him.
"Thank you."
Magnus studied her carefully.
Then, slowly, he began to laugh.
Not mockingly.
But with genuine interest.
"Good."
His voice was quieter now.
"Very good."
Kael looked suspicious.
"What's funny?"
Magnus' red eyes never left Aria.
"Because the moon chose a fighter."
He took a slow step backward.
"And that makes the game far more interesting."
Aria frowned.
"Game?"
Magnus smiled darkly.
"Yes."
Then his voice dropped into a whisper only she could hear.
"The game of who will truly own the moon."
The crescent mark burned again.
And this time…
Aria felt something inside her answer it.