Time hung frozen like a picture. Everyone stood unmoving except for Aria and the mysterious figure who claimed to be the Moon's first child.
"Your friends are safe for now," the ancient being said, his starlight eyes soft. "But we don't have long. The spell will restart soon."
Aria's heart hammered against her ribs. "Are you really my father?"
"In a way, yes. Every Moon Wolf carries a piece of my soul. But you, little star, are special. You're the last of your kind because you're the first of something new."
Before Aria could ask what he meant, the world snapped back to normal.
The countdown restarted. The silver chains blazed brighter.
"Five seconds!" Elder Thompson gasped.
But something had changed. The ancient being's brief presence had left Aria with new information.
She knew exactly what to do. Instead of releasing her full power, she grabbed the silver chains tying the triplets. The magic burned her hands like acid, but she held on.
"Aria, no!" Caleb shouted.
