CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - WHO WILL BE LEFT STANDING?

Chaos erupted in the wake of Viktor's escape. Aria rushed to her mother's side, cradling Elena's head in her lap. "Mom! Mom, can you hear me?" Aria's voice cracked with desperation. Elena's eyes fluttered open, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "Aria... my sweet girl... I'm so sorry..." Lucas stood frozen, his mind reeling from the revelations. The mate bond pulsed with conflicting emotions: anger, confusion, and a deep, aching pain. "We need to get her to a healer," Aria pleaded, looking up at Lucas with tear-filled eyes. For a moment, their gazes locked, and Lucas felt a flicker of doubt. But then the image of his father's lifeless body flashed before him, and his expression hardened. "Take her back to the pack," he growled, his voice cold. "But you're not staying. I can't trust you, Aria. Not now." Aria felt as if she'd been struck. "Lucas, please. You heard the truth. I had nothing to do with this!" But Lucas had already turned away, shifting into his massive black wolf fo