Aria looked at the locked drawer in her dad's study with shaky hands. The moonlight coming in through the dirty window made everything look like it was made of ghosts. She doesn't belong here. Markus would be very angry if he saw her looking through his personal things.
She did need answers, though. It was getting worse to dream about Elena. Every night, she saw her sister's face under the dark water, heard her screams repeating in her mind. That terrible day ten years ago wasn't right in any way.
The drawer wouldn't move. Aria got a letter opener off the desk and used it to open the door. It finally opened after a few tries.
Inside were yellowed papers tied with a worn ribbon. Her heart pounded as she untied the knot with shaky fingers. The first letter made her blood freeze.
Marcus,
The child is safe. As promised, no one will ever know what really happened that night. Elena Thorn legally drowned in Moonstone Lake. But we both know the truth, don't we?
Keep your mouth shut, and she stays alive. Cross me, and I'll make sure Aria pays the price.
M.L.
Aria's knees gave out. She dropped into her father's chair, holding the letter. Elena was alive? Her sister hadn't drowned?
The next letter was even worse.
Marcus,
Stop asking about Elena. She's exactly where she needs to be. The spell is working perfectly - she remembers nothing of her old life. To her, Aria is the enemy who tried to kill her.
Your precious girl thinks she's a murderer. How wonderful.
Keep it that way.
M.L.
The room spun around Aria. M.L. - Mara Lune. The witch had taken Elena. Saved her only to twist her mind with lies. All these years, Aria had lived with the heavy guilt of causing her sister's death. But Elena was alive.
And she'd been made to hate Aria.
"Oh god," Aria whispered, tears running down her face. "Elena, I'm so sorry."
More letters exposed the horrible truth. Mara had planned everything. The "accident" at the lake. Elena's disappearance. Even Marcus's rage toward Aria - all part of some sick plan.
The last letter was written just three months ago.
Marcus,
Phase two starts soon. Your daughter Aria is eighteen now. Her mate bond with the Blackthorn boy is exactly what I need. When I break that link, her power will be mine.
Elena gets stronger every day. Soon she'll return to take what's hers. Make sure Aria is properly broken by then. A broken heart makes the spell so much easier.
The Moonstone genes will serve me well.
M.L.
Aria shot to her feet, the letters scattering to the floor. This was all a plan. Rowan's rejection, her father's hate, Elena's supposed death - everything was planned by Mara Lune.
She had to tell Rowan immediately. He needed to know about the witch's plan. Together they could figure out how to save Elena and stop Mara.
Aria raced through the halls of the Nightfall stronghold. Her bare feet slapped against the cold stone as she looked for Rowan. The pack house was mostly quiet - everyone was either asleep or out on watch.
She burst through the doors leading to the gardens, expecting to find Rowan in his usual thinking spot by the pond. Instead, she froze.
Rowan stood under the old oak tree, his arms wrapped around Lyra. The redhead's hands twisted in his dark hair as their lips moved together in a passionate kiss. Moonlight made them look like some perfect fairy tale pair.
Aria's heart broke into a million pieces.
She watched Rowan pull Lyra closer, heard him whisper something that made the other woman laugh softly. This wasn't just a casual kiss. This was love. Real, deep, overwhelming love.
Everything she'd just learned about Mara's manipulation suddenly didn't matter. Even if the witch had cursed their bond, Rowan clearly wanted Lyra more than he'd ever wanted his fated mate.
"I love you," Rowan whispered against Lyra's lips. "Tomorrow I'll make it official. The pack will know you as my Luna."
Lyra smiled cruelly. "What about your little loser mate? Won't she cause problems?"
"Aria?" Rowan's voice was cold. "She's nothing. A broken girl who can't even shift. The Moon Goddess made a mistake putting me with her."
Each word was like a knife to Aria's chest. She pressed her hand over her mouth to keep from crying out. The letters crumpled in her other hand.
"Good," Lyra purred. "Because I won't share you with anyone. Especially not some pathetic rogue who killed her own sister."
They kissed again, and Aria couldn't watch anymore. She stumbled backward, her eyes blurry with tears. The truth about Elena burned in her throat, but what was the point? Rowan had made his choice.
She turned and ran.
Back in her room, Aria threw clothes into a bag with shaking hands. She couldn't stay here. Not when Rowan looked at her like she was nothing. Not when Lyra would soon be Luna.
But she wouldn't run away like before. This time, she had a goal.
Elena was living. Somewhere out there, her sister was stuck under Mara's spell, believing lies about the past. Maybe Rowan didn't want to help save her, but Aria would do it alone.
She pulled on her boots and grabbed her jacket. The letters went into her pocket - proof of everything Mara had done. As she headed for the window, footsteps sounded in the hallway outside her door.
"Aria?" Caleb's voice was soft with worry. "Are you alright? I saw you running through the gardens."
Her hand froze on the window latch. Caleb had always been kind to her. Maybe she should tell him about the letters, about Elena. But then she remembered how he'd looked at her lately - like she was something fragile that might break.
No. This was her fight.
"I'm fine," she called out, making her voice steadier. "Just tired."
His footsteps moved away, but she could feel him hesitating in the hall. When silence finally returned, Aria slipped out the window and dropped to the ground below.
The forest stretched forever before her, dark and full of unknown dangers. Somewhere in those shadows, Mara Lune waited with Elena. The witch thought she'd broken Aria completely.
She was wrong.
Aria started walking toward the treeline, her jaw set with purpose. She'd find her sister. She'd break Mara's spell. And she'd make everyone who'd hurt them pay.
Behind her, a twig snapped. Aria spun around, her heart racing. A figure stepped out from behind the pack house, moving with predatory grace.
"Going somewhere, little wolf?"
The voice was familiar, but wrong somehow. Older. Colder.
As the figure moved into the moonlight, Aria's blood turned to ice.
It was Elena. But not the seven-year-old sister from her memories. This Elena looked seventeen, with long blonde hair and eyes that glowed with unnatural light. She was beautiful and terrible and completely living.
"Hello, sister," Elena said, her smile sharp as a blade. "We need to talk."