Page 162 of Moonlit Fate

Her gaze held mine, unwavering. “Atticus, listen to me. You know the way forward.”

I nodded, my mind racing with the possibilities of where my heart might lead.

“Trust in that,” she said firmly. “Your path... it’s the right one when it safeguards the vulnerable and those you love. That’s the compass you follow.”

“Protecting them is all I want to do.”

“Good.” A soft smile spread on her lips. “Don’t complicate things. Keep it simple. Your heart won’t steer you wrong.”

I absorbed her words. “I won’t forget.”

Just like that, the light that was my mother faded, plunging the room into shadows. She was gone, leaving me with a clear purpose and a heart full of her enduring presence.

I knew the moment Aria stepped into the den and left my room to meet her. Her silver eyes caught mine, and she walked into my open arms.

“I saw my mother,” I whispered against her hair.

“I sensed it,” she said softly. “Your surprise, sadness... longing. Atticus, what can I do?”

“Nothing.” I hugged her tighter. “Just be here with me.”

She nodded but didn’t press further. Aria understood that simply being there for someone was sometimes more powerful than any action.

“Tea?” I asked, needing to do something, anything.

“Please,” she responded with a small smile.

While the water heated, she settled on the couch, the dim light catching her silver hair. Once the tea had steeped long enough, I poured it and handed her a cup. “How’s the manor? With most of the pack there?”

“It was all quiet when I left,” Aria said as she blew on the tea. “But I’m keeping away from the elders, of course.”

Those damn elders always thought they could control everything.

“They’re not happy with what happened. I’ve heard whispers and rumors from the people staying at the manor. I don’t have anything I can confront the elders with, but I’m sure they’re planning something. It makes me sick.”

I bit back a curse. The elders weren’t good news, and now they were making Aria uneasy. I wanted to tear into whoever had put that look on her face.

“Don’t worry about them,” I said, trying to sound convincing. “You’ve got enough on your plate.”

“I know.” She sighed as she leaned her head on my shoulder.

The weight of her calmed me. We sat in silence, just existing together. Moments like these were so rare.

“I have an idea,” I said after a while. “Something to keep those creeps out of your head.”

Aria looked up at me, her face full of questions and a spark of interest. “What do you mean?”

“The mental shields I talked about before,” I explained. I needed to protect her, and when I couldn’t, I could help her protect herself.

She set down her tea, her posture straightening. “Show me.”

I twisted to face her, my mind shifting into instructor mode. “It’s about creating a barrier,” I said. “Not just to protect yourself from outside influences, but to give you space, a sanctuary within your own mind.”

“Like walls?” she asked, trying to grasp the concept.

“Exactly. Walls that no one else can breach without your permission.”

“How do I start?”

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