Chapter 71

AUBREY'S POV The full moon hung like a silver disc above us as Knox and I approached the Moonlight Pool. Its surface was mirror-smooth, reflecting the stars above with perfect clarity. Pack members lined the clearing in concentric circles, their faces solemn in the ethereal light. The air thrummed with anticipation and ancient magic. Knox's hand was warm in mine as we stepped toward the pool's edge. His ceremonial robes mirrored my own—pure white fabric that seemed to glow in the moonlight. The water lapped gently at the shore, beckoning us forward. As we waded into the cool water, the first attack hit me. Jax's voice flooded my mind, no longer a whisper but a roar. Destroy it! Sabotage the ritual! Remember who saved you! Pain exploded behind my eyes, so intense I nearly stumbled. Nightmarish images flashed through my mind—blood-soaked battlefields, screaming children, Moon River Pack's final moments. The water around me seemed to turn red with remembered violence. You owe me your life