Bound to the Triplet Alphas

ARIA POV

I dove to the ground as blue fire burst over my head. The heat singed my hair as I rolled behind a rock, heart pounding in my chest.

"Aria!" Lucien’s voice crackled through the mind-link. "Are you hurt?"

"I’m fine," I answered, though my lungs burned from running. "Status report!"

Around me, the world was changing. Humans miles away were screaming as the tablet’s power reached them, causing painful half-shifts on those with even a drop of werewolf blood. I could feel their pain through the strange connection the ritual had made.

"The northern team is in position," Kael reported. "Jaxon has the children safely away from the battle zone."

I peeked around the rock. Elira stood at the mouth of the holy cave, her monstrous form glowing against the dawn sky. The tablet hummed in her hands, sending waves of power across the land.

"It’s now or never," I told my friends. "Remember the plan."

I closed my eyes, reaching deep inside for the silver light the Moon Goddess had blessed me with. It reacted instantly, flowing through my veins like liquid moonlight. When I opened my eyes, I could see the world differently – threads of energy linking every living thing.

With a deep breath, I stepped out from behind the rock.

"Elira!" I shouted. "This ends now!"