Chapter 119

**ARIA**

The moment the last of them stepped into the apartment—Cassius with his quiet, protective stance, Leila close by his side, Fares and Alex looking like they’d come straight from a strategy room, and Sasha with his easy but perceptive smile—I knew this wasn’t going to be a normal meeting. Rosalie hovered near the windows, a storm behind her usually bright eyes. And then there were Adam and Austin, flanking me like two shadows, close enough to steady me, but smart enough to give me space.

The living room felt crowded, warm with the hum of unspoken tension. We hadn’t even started, and yet I could feel the pressure behind everyone’s carefully masked expressions. I shifted slightly on the couch, instinctively resting my hand over my belly. The twins hadn’t moved today. Or maybe I just hadn’t noticed. Worry clawed at me like a shadow I couldn’t shake.

"Okay," I said, breaking the silence, "someone start talking. Please."

It was Austin who nodded first. He stayed standing, arms crossed, but his tone was soft. "Rosalie had a vision. It wasn’t cryptic this time. She saw Alaric. He said—directly—that he’s on his way."

I turned my eyes to her. Rosalie gave me a solemn nod. "It was him, Aria. I saw his face. Sharp cheekbones, long white-blond hair, gray eyes like cold ash. He looked right at me. Like he knew I could see him. That’s never happened before."

I tried to keep my voice steady. "And who is Alaric exactly?"

"An elder," Adam said from beside me. "One of the few remaining vampires who predate most of the bloodlines we know. He was a zealot, even by their standards."

"And a purist," added Fares. "Believes in keeping the vampire line clean. To him, hybrids are abominations."

Great. Another one.

Leila moved closer to Cassius, touching his hand. "If he's coming, he knows something. The question is—how much does he know?"

"Enough to come here," Sasha muttered.

I glanced around, watching the flickers of worry etched in each of them. "Then we need a plan. Sitting around waiting for him to show up isn't an option."

Cassius leaned forward. "We should strengthen the perimeter. No one gets in or out without clearance."

"Already on it," said Alex. "Surveillance spells, sensor grids—I'll add a second perimeter and double the patrols."

Rosalie bit her lip. "We don’t know if he’s coming alone or if he’s bringing others. We should assume he’s not alone."

Austin nodded. "Then we prepare for a siege. No one walks this territory without us knowing."

Their words swirled around me, grounded in logic and practicality, but I couldn't shake the weight in my chest. I cleared my throat. "I want to fight. If he comes here for me—or the twins—I want to be ready."

Adam’s head turned sharply toward me. "Absolutely not."
I narrowed my eyes. "Excuse me?"

"Aria, you’re strong, but you’re still recovering. The transformation was just weeks ago. The babies—"

"Are mine," I said, sharper than I meant to. "And I’m not going to sit back while everyone else puts their lives on the line for me."

"We’re not asking you to do nothing," Austin said carefully. "But we are asking you to let us protect you."

"I know," I breathed out, lowering my eyes. "I just don’t want to feel like I’m not part of this."

Rosalie moved from the window and sat beside me. "Then be part of it. But smartly. There’s more than one way to lead."

I nodded. I knew she was right. I just hated the helplessness gnawing at me. The fear that I wouldn’t be enough. That I couldn’t protect them.

"We still don’t know how close he is," Fares said, dragging us back to strategy. "We need to keep Caedmon isolated. Alaric may reach out to him."

Adam added, "He already slipped once. Gave up the name of someone in the neighboring pack. We push harder, he’ll give us more."

Cassius rubbed his jaw. "Unless he’s already told Alaric everything."

"That’s a risk we have to consider," Sasha said. "But if he hasn't, we might still control the narrative."

Silence stretched for a beat. Then Leila whispered, "What if he’s not just coming for the prophecy? What if he wants the babies?"

My stomach twisted.

"Then he’ll have to go through all of us," Austin growled.

I swallowed hard and looked up. "We make a trap, right? That’s what we did with Caedmon. We lure him in."

"It’s riskier with Alaric," Adam warned. "He’s older. Smarter. Stronger."

"But not invincible," said Fares.

"Then we use everything we have," I said. "Magic. Strategy. We make sure he never leaves this place again."

The conversation went on for another hour, circling through defenses, patrol assignments, communication with allies. I offered my thoughts, but part of me stayed curled inward, feeling the pulse of the lives inside me. They were part of this now, too. Not a burden. Not a weakness. A reason to fight.

Eventually, everyone filtered out. Sasha and Rosalie lingered to hug me, and Cassius gave my hand a firm squeeze before disappearing with Leila. Fares and
Alex left with a promise to begin preparations immediately.

That left me with Adam and Austin, both silent, watching me.

"Are you okay?" Austin asked gently.

I hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. I just... I feel like things are moving fast. But I’m not scared anymore. Not of him. Not while I have you both."

Adam reached for my hand. "We’re going to keep you safe. All three of you."

I knew he meant it. They both did. And this time, I believed it.