Chapter 22: Truth and Blood
ARIA POV
I put myself between Lucien and Jaxon’s dangerous attack and put out my hands. "Stop!"
A bright silver light shot out of my fingers and knocked Jaxon backwards. He hit a tree and for a split second, his red eyes went back to normal.
"What was that?" Kael whispered and looked at my hands as if they were snakes.
I looked at my hands. They were glowing with dim silver marks—marks that looked like tiny moons.
"It’s happening," Lucien said, grabbing my wrist to study the marks. "The true Alpha power is waking up in you."
Jaxon fought whatever dark force had taken over him as he tried to get up. A cut on his forehead was dripping blood. "Kill... me..." he managed to say through tightened teeth. "Before... I hurt... someone..."
"No," I said strongly. "Nobody’s dying today."
The moon peeked through the storm clouds overhead, soaking us in pale light. As it touched my skin, the marks on my hands grew brighter.
"We need to get him to the healer’s hut," I told Lucien. "Can you help me?"
Kael stepped forward. "I’ll carry him." Our eyes met, and I saw something new there—respect.