CHAPTER 117: CHAPTER 117: THE CALLING CIRCLE

ARIA POV

Another scream echoed in my mind, quieter this time. Zara was dying.

"Yes, we can." I grabbed my jacket. "We’re going to try something that’s never been done before."

The triplets followed me outside where the full moon hung bright and heavy in the sky. I could feel its pull stronger than ever, like it was calling me to do something significant.

"What are you planning?" Kael asked nervously.

"I’m going to connect with every Moon Alpha at once," I said. "If we all focus our power together, maybe we can help Zara from here."

"That’s impossible," Jaxon said. "Moon Alphas work alone. That’s how we’ve always done it."

"Maybe that’s why we’ve always been so weak," I answered. "The Goddess told me I need to join everyone. This is how we start."

I sat down in the middle of our yard and closed my eyes. The mark on my arm began to glow as I reached out with my power, looking for the other Moon Alphas I’d found over the past few months.

There was Zara in the north, her light flashing like a candle in the wind. Maya in the east, just waking to her powers. The mountain wolf, Raven, who still didn’t trust anyone. And six others spread across different territories.

"Found them," I whispered.

One by one, I touched each of their minds. Some refused at first - they weren’t used to sharing their power. But when they felt Zara’s pain through our link, they all agreed to help.

"Zara," I called out through the mental link. "We’re here. Hold on."

Her voice came back faint and scared. "Aria? How are you in my head?"

"Moon Alpha magic," I said. "We’re going to save you. But you have to trust us."

"I’m surrounded," she gasped. "Shadow creatures everywhere. I can’t fight them all."

"You don’t have to fight alone anymore," Maya’s voice joined the talk. She sounded amazed. "I can hear all of you!"

"This is incredible," Raven added, though she still sounded suspicious. "How is this possible?"

"Because we’re stronger together," I said. "Everyone, put your power on Zara. Send her your strength."

It was like nothing I’d ever felt before. Eight different streams of Moon Alpha power ran through me and toward Zara. The relationship between us blazed like a silver fire.

Through Zara’s eyes, I could see the shadow things backing away from her. Her power had increased eight times over.

"It’s working!" she cried out. "They’re running!"

But something else was happening too. The link between all of us wasn’t just temporary. I could feel permanent links building, like invisible threads tying us all together.

"Can anyone else feel that?" Maya asked.

"The network," I breathed. "We’re creating a permanent network."

Through our new connection, I could sense every Moon Alpha’s position. More than that - I could feel the packs they were guarding, the territories they watched over. For the first time in werewolf history, we had a way to communicate quickly across any distance.

"This changes everything," Raven said, and I could hear the wonder in her voice. "We can organize our defenses. Share ideas. Help each other."

"We can do more than that," I realized. "We can protect every pack at once."

I stood up, spreading my arms wide. Through our network, I could feel every werewolf in eight different regions. Thousands of wolves, all linked through the Moon Alphas who protected them.

"Everyone," I called out through the link. "Try to reach your pack members. See if you can extend the link."

One by one, the other Moon Alphas began linking with their own packs. The network expanded fast, spreading like ripples on a pond. Soon, I could feel wolves from all over the continent.

"Incredible," Lucien whispered beside me. He couldn’t hear the mental talks, but he could see the silver light pouring from my skin.

Through the network, pack masters began talking to each other directly for the first time. Alphas who had been enemies for generations were suddenly sharing information about shadow creature sightings.

"Aria," Zara’s voice cut through the talk. "There’s something you need to know. The ghost creatures weren’t random. They were looking for something specific."

"What do you mean?"

"They kept asking about a key," she said. "A metal key that belonged to the first Moon Alpha. They think one of us has it."

My blood turned cold. I knew exactly what key they meant - the one my mother had hidden, the one I’d been carrying since I found it in her secret room.

"Do any of you have this key?" I asked the group.

Seven voices said no. But I couldn’t bring myself to say I had it. If the shadow creatures were specifically looking for it, telling everyone would put them all in danger.

"Maybe they’re wrong," Maya offered. "Maybe the key doesn’t exist."

"Oh, it exists," a new voice joined our chat. A voice that shouldn’t have been able to enter our network.

Every Moon Alpha went silent with shock.

"Who is that?" Raven wanted.

"Someone who’s been waiting a very long time to speak with you," the voice answered. It was cold and ancient, filled with hatred. "My name is Valdric, and I am the leader of the Shadow Court."

Terror shot through the network as eight Moon Alphas realized our seemingly secure connection had been breached.

"How are you in our heads?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.

"Because one of your precious Moon Alphas isn’t quite what she seems," Valdric laughed. "Did you really think we wouldn’t plant a spy among you?"

"That’s impossible," Maya said. "Only true Moon Alphas can join the network."

"True," Valdric agreed. "But what if I told you that one of your Moon Alphas was turned by dark magic? What if she’s been giving me information this whole time?"

My heart stopped. One of the Moon Alphas was a spy. Someone I’d trusted fully had been working for the enemy.

"Who?" I whispered.

"That would spoil the fun," Valdric said. "But I’ll give you a hint. She’s the one who suggested you start this network in the first place."

I frantically thought back to our talks. Which Moon Alpha had pushed harder for us to work together?

"It was necessary," a familiar voice said sadly. "I’m sorry, Aria. I never wanted to hurt you."

My world fell as I recognized the speaker. It was Maya - sweet, innocent Maya who I’d saved from slavery. Maya who I’d raised and protected like a little sister.

"Why?" I asked, my voice breaking.

"Because they have my real sister," Maya said, and I could hear her crying. "They took her years ago. They said they’d kill her if I didn’t help them."

"Maya," I said frantically, "we can rescue her together. You don’t have to do this."

"It’s too late," she sobbed. "I already told them about the key. I told them you have it."

Through the network, I felt every Moon Alpha’s shock and betrayal. But worse than that, I felt the shadow things moving. Hundreds of them, all converging on my position.

"They’re coming for you," Maya whispered. "Run, Aria. Please run."

The network exploded with warnings as Moon Alphas across the continent spotted shadow creatures moving toward my territory. But it was too late. I could already see red eyes shining in the trees around our house.

"We’re surrounded," Kael said grimly, drawing his sword.

Through the network, I heard Valdric laughing. "Thank you for gathering all the Moon Alphas in one handy connection, Aria. It will make killing you all so much easier."

The silver threads connecting us started turning black as shadow magic invaded our network. One by one, I felt the other Moon Alphas’ screams as the corruption reached them.

"I have to cut the connection," I realized. "Before it kills everyone."

"But then we’ll be alone again," Raven argued.

"Better alone than dead," I said.

I reached for the power that held our network together, preparing to destroy the most important thing I’d ever made. But before I could move, Maya’s voice stopped me.

"Wait," she said. "There’s something else. Something Valdric doesn’t know I heard."

"What is it?"

"The key isn’t just what they want," she whispered anxiously. "It’s what they fear. It’s the only thing that can send them back to the dark realm forever."

The link went dead as shadow magic finally reached Maya. Her scream echoed in my mind as the darkness devoured her.

Around our house, a hundred pairs of red eyes stepped out of the bush.

The shadow creatures struck at dawn.

I was helping Zara practice her healing skills when the first scream came from the village. Then another. And another.

"What’s happening?" Zara asked, her face pale.

I closed my eyes and reached out through our Moon Alpha network. What I felt made my blood turn to ice. Seven different regions were under attack at the same time.

"It’s starting," I whispered. "The war Valdric promised."