Aria's POV
Run!
Drake's scream snapped me out of my shock.
The arrow stuck out of his chest, blood spreading across his shirt. But he was still standing, still fighting.
He slammed into the nearest attacker, buying me precious seconds.
I ran.
Morgana's voice echoed behind me. After her! Don't let the Lycan escape!
My feet pounded against the stone floor. I had to find Kade. Had to warn him. Had to
I burst into Kade's room without knocking.
He was on his feet instantly, eyes flashing gold. Aria? What
Morgana, I gasped. She's here. She tried to take me. Drake he saved me but they shot him. Marcus is working with her. They're planning to capture me tonight!
Kade's expression turned deadly. Felix! he roared.
Within minutes, his warriors poured into the room, weapons ready.
We're leaving, Kade commanded. Now. Grab everything essential. We have maybe five minutes before they realize she got away.
We moved fast. I had nothing to pack except the dress on my back. Kade grabbed weapons. Felix organized the warriors.
The south exit, Felix said. It's least guarded.
We made it halfway down the hallway before alarms shrieked through the lodge.
The Lycan is escaping! Marcus's voice boomed from everywhere. Stop her! Kill anyone who helps her!
Mercenaries poured into the hallway ahead of us.
Shift! Kade ordered.
I didn't hesitate. The transformation ripped through me. My Lycan form erupted, filling the narrow hallway with silver light.
Kade shifted into his massive black wolf beside me.
The mercenaries attacked.
I'd never fought like this before not for real, not for my life. But my Lycan knew what to do. She was savage and precise.
I took down three men with my claws. Another two with my jaws. The hallway became a battlefield.
This way! Kade's voice in my mind.
We fought through the mercenaries and burst out into the night. The forest loomed ahead dark and promising escape.
But footsteps thundered behind us. At least twenty wolves in pursuit.
Split up! Kade shifted back to human long enough to shout. Felix, take half north! We'll go south!
Felix and his warriors peeled off, drawing some pursuers with them.
The rest of us ran south.
My Lycan form was faster than I'd ever been. The forest blurred past. But the wolves behind us were fast too.
And they were herding us.
I realized too late.
We burst into a clearing and skidded to a stop.
Wolves surrounded us. At least thirty of them, forming a perfect circle.
We were trapped.
Marcus stepped out from the trees, Morgana at his side.
Did you really think you could escape? Marcus smiled. I've been planning this for weeks.
Kade shifted to human and positioned himself in front of me. I shifted back too, my body aching.
You'll have to go through me, Kade said, his voice deadly calm.
That can be arranged. Marcus gestured and his wolves tensed, ready to attack.
The first wolf lunged.
Then everything froze.
Literally froze. Ice spread across the ground, up the wolves' legs, holding everyone in place.
What Marcus started.
I don't think so. A new voice cut through the clearing. Cold. Commanding. Aristocratic.
A man walked out from the shadows on the far side of the clearing. He was tall and elegant, with platinum blonde hair that caught the moonlight. His eyes were the palest ice-blue I'd ever seen.
Power radiated from him like winter itself.
His gaze swept the frozen wolves, then landed on me.
And everything stopped.
It felt like lightning striking my chest. Like coming home and falling off a cliff at the same time. The mate bond that electric pull I'd felt with Kade snapped into place again.
But this time with this stranger.
His eyes went wide. Impossible.
Zander Frost, Kade growled. What are you doing here?
The man Zander couldn't seem to look away from me. I felt... something. I was passing through the territory when I sensed... He shook his head. You're a Lycan.
And my mate, Kade snarled. Back off, Frost.
But Zander's expression had gone from shock to wonder. No. She's MY mate too. I can feel the bond.
Two mates?
Morgana's laughter cut through the tension. Two down, one to go! This is perfect!
The ice holding the wolves began to crack.
We don't have time for this, I said urgently. They're breaking free!
Zander seemed to snap back to reality. Right. Escape now, explanations later. He gestured and more ice erupted, reinforcing the prison. Run. This won't hold them long.
We ran.
Kade on one side of me, Zander on the other, both moving with predatory grace. Behind us, the ice shattered and pursuit began again.
There! Zander pointed. The ridge!
We were almost there when arrows started flying.
Not from behind us. From ahead.
We were trapped again.
I spun, ready to shift and fight, when a voice called out from above.
Anyone who wants to live, follow me!
A man stood on a rocky outcrop above us. He was rough-looking, dangerous, with dark brown hair, green eyes, and tattoos visible on his arms. He moved like a wolf even in human form.
Everything in me went still.
Our eyes met across the distance.
And the third bond snapped into place.
This one hit different than the others wilder, freer, but just as powerful. My Lycan roared inside me, recognizing him.
The man's eyes widened. Then he grinned fierce and delighted. Well, this just got interesting! He threw down ropes. Come on, princess! Unless you want to stay and chat with the crazy witch?
Who the hell are you? Kade demanded.
Theron Wilde. Alpha of the Rogue Coalition. And apparently, another one of her mates. He winked at me. We can discuss it later. Move!
More arrows flew silver-tipped, aimed at the pursuing wolves. Theron's rogues were covering us from above.
Climb! Zander ordered.
I grabbed a rope and hauled myself up. My arms burned but I didn't stop. Kade climbed beside me, his face thunderous. Zander used his ice powers to slow the wolves below.
We reached the top of the ridge. Theron's rogues at least twenty of them stood ready with bows.
Fall back! Theron commanded. Cover the retreat!
Below, Marcus's scream of rage echoed through the forest. Find them! Search every inch of this territory! I want that Lycan!
But we were already disappearing into the night, Theron's rogues guiding us through hidden paths.
I ran between three Alphas Kade, Zander, and Theron. All three radiated different kinds of power. All three were connected to me through bonds I didn't understand.
Three mates.
Morgana had said it. But I hadn't believed it until now.
Where are we going? I asked Theron.
Somewhere safe. Somewhere Marcus will never find you.
And where's that?
Theron's grin was wild. My territory. The Rogue Coalition doesn't answer to pack law. You'll be safe there.
Like hell, Kade growled. She's coming back to Shadow Fang
She's not going anywhere until we figure this out, Zander interrupted. Three mate bonds? That's
Impossible for regular wolves, I finished. But I'm not a regular wolf.
They all looked at me.
I'm a Lycan, I said. And apparently, Lycans can have three mates. I stopped walking and faced them. But right now, I don't care about mate bonds. Morgana wants to kill all three of you. There's a ritual. A lunar eclipse in four weeks. She needs my blood and your deaths to complete it.
Silence.
Then we have four weeks, Theron said finally, to figure out how to kill a dark witch and a murderous Alpha. Together.
Together? Kade looked like he wanted to punch someone.
Do we have a choice? Zander's voice was ice. We're all bonded to her. Which means we're all targets. We work together or we die separately.
Theron looked at me. Your choice, princess. What do you want to do?
I thought about Marcus. About Morgana. About Drake bleeding on the floor trying to save me.
I want to survive, I said. And then I want revenge.
Theron's grin turned feral. Now you're speaking my language.
We started moving again. Behind us, the sounds of pursuit faded.
But I knew this was just the beginning.
I had three mates I barely knew.
A witch who wanted my blood.
An uncle who wanted me dead.
And four weeks until the lunar eclipse.
Four weeks to learn how to fight back.
Four weeks to survive.