ARIA“…We’ve been searching for her all these years.”My brows knitted together in confusion. “Did you just say… royal?”Maren let out a bitter laugh, her voice dripping with scorn. “Don’t play dumb. That girl is dead. She’s never coming back.”My heart pounded. That girl? Who was she talking about? Who had they been searching for all these years? Before I could demand answers, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from outside the door.Relief flooded me. Finally! Someone was coming to save me. I sucked in a breath and screamed with all my strength. “Help! I’m in here!”But instead of a rescuer’s voice, Maren’s wordscame through.“She’s inside.”The realization hit me. Whoever was outside that door wasn’t here to help me—they were part of the trap.I pressed my ear against the wooden surface, desperate to hear more. Silence stretched between Maren and the newcomer. Then, a deep voice broke through the stillness.“That’s good. Keep her there until I’ve contacted Alpha Darius.”My
ARIA“I’m here to make you an offer.” “What?” “If you agree to reject all others and be mine and mine alone, I’ll make sure no one ever treats you like this again.” I swallowed. It sounded like a good offer. “I want a peaceful society,” he continued. “That’s what I’m advocating for.” His gaze bore into mine. “As the next Alpha of Alphas.” I froze. Alpha of Alphas. It was glaringly obvious what this was all about. I shook my head. “I won’t be an object,” I murmured. “Not even for you.” I half expected those words to make him leave, but instead, his grip tightened slightly as if he had anticipated that answer. “Well,” he murmured. “That just makes you even more interesting, doesn’t it?” It really does… I swallowed hard, feeling my pulse hammer against my ribs. Do something! My mind screamed frantically. Anything! But the weight of his hand on my wrist was unbearable, fucking painful… It held me in place like steel. “Let me go, you piece of shit.” I cussed in my mind. None of my
ARIAThe silence stretched so long that I almost convinced myself the other person had left.But then—“Is… is someone there?” I asked hesitantly.“Shut up.”I blinked. My heart, which had momentarily settled, lurched into my throat. So he is still here.“Why are you doing this?” My voice came out rough, strained from exhaustion. “I’ve never harmed anyone.”A soft, humorless chuckle echoed in the darkness. For a moment, I swore the person was standing right behind me.“You ask why I’m doing this?” There was something dangerous about his voice—an edge of barely restrained emotion. He sounded angry that I had even asked, yet… utterly indifferent to my suffering. “Because I follow orders, rogue.”That word again. Rogue.I sucked in a breath, pushing myself upright on weak, trembling arms. “I’m not a rogue,” I gritted out.The man snorted. “Of course you’re not. You’re special, aren’t you? Different?”A shadow moved in the dim light filtering through the barred window. I squinted, trying
LUCIANThe whiskey burned its way down my throat, leaving a fiery trail that numbed everything—everything except the one thing I needed gone the most.Aria.Her name throbbed in my skull like a fucking curse. Why the hell couldn’t I block out her scent? It was maddening, wrapping around me even when she wasn’t here.I rolled the glass between my fingers, exhaling slowly through my nose, but it didn’t help. Nothing did. I could still smell her. It clung to my skin, curled into my lungs like a drug, saturating the space between my ribs until my entire body hummed with restless energy.Fuck.I slammed the glass down a little too hard, the amber liquid inside sloshing dangerously close to the rim. This was ridiculous. I shouldn’t be thinking about her. Shouldn’t be craving her. I had been through hours of this shit already, and it wasn’t letting up.My fingers curled into my palm. If I was still feeling like this, then self-control was a fucking myth.I wasn’t drunk. Not yet.But I was bu
LUCIAN"Because if you don’t tell me right now, I swear to the goddess, you’ll never see your family again.” Her eyes widened in terror. “I—I swear…” Before she could stammer another lie, the silence of the night was shattered. “The Beta of the Bloodfang Pack is back…” I glanced at the clock. 4:00 AM. Was it dawn already? Suddenly, a blast of trumpet echoed through the air, cutting through the peace of my office. The fucker was back. And he had to be dramatic. I turned to Maren just in time to see a strange expression flash across her face. Wait. Was that… relief? Suddenly, she turned on her heels, bolting for the door like the fucking coward she was. I snapped out of my chair so fast it nearly tipped over. "You little shit!" I roared, lunging after her. "Get your ass back here and tell me why the fuck you smell like Aria!" She didn’t stop. Her footsteps pounded against the wooden floors as she flew down the hallway, and I was right behind her, fucking boiling. How dare she
LUCIAN“Even at that, Maren!” Tobias scolded impatiently. “You of all people should have dissuaded her the moment she came to you.” I barely spared them a glance. My patience had already worn thin. Without another word, I broke into a jog, heading straight for the training grounds. “And to you, Lucian!” Tobias called, quickly following. “What the fuck is going on? Why wasn’t this rogue put to death? Why is she so fucking important?” A slow smile curled on my lips. “When you see her,” I said, almost amused by his questioning. “you’ll understand.” Suddenly a bloodcurdling scream reached my ears. Who could that be…? My chest clenched as the recognition hit me. If it was coming from the training grounds…Aria. I could only imagine the horror she was going through. I didn't think of stopping one bit as I ran. My legs pushed forward with brutal force, and my heartbeat thundering in my ears.What was going on down there?I squinted but all I could see was the empty yard. Where the fuck w
LUCIAN He didn’t like the scent of that bastard’s blood. “Lucian, I’m fine,” Aria said, her soft voice wrapping around me like silk. “But your eyes…” she trailed off, staring at me in confusion. I quickly turned my gaze to the window in front of me. My reflection stared back. Shit. My eyes were red again. It was the urge to rip that bastard apart that clawed at my chest. Control, Lucian, control. Then, I shot a glare at Maren. She jumped, dropping her gaze. I should have slapped some sense into her but there was no time for that. I turned away and walked back to Aria. She was still curled up with frail arms wrapped tightly around herself. Her torn clothes barely covered her trembling form. I crouched down, brushing my fingers against her shoulder. When she flinched, a sharp ache ran through my chest. It was hard not to look at her pale neck. The sight of it called to me, an unspoken invitation. But for the sake of her dignity, I ignored it. Instead, I silentl
ARIA Being manhandled like this should terrify me. The sheer force behind his grip… he didn’t hesitate to slam that bastard’s head into the floor—it should make me fear him. But I didn’t. I should be trembling, but all I felt was satisfaction. A sick kind of gratification at his definition of punishment— at the blood that dropped from his knuckles… It shouldn’t make heat pool low between my thighs. Why was his anger so intoxicating? Why did the violence in his hands feel like justice? Goddess, Aria, what the hell is wrong with you? This was toxic—every thought, every thrill that shot down my spine. And yet, I couldn't stop. Before long, Lucian began to sniff the air hungrily. I froze. Could it be that… he sensed my arousal? Then, to my absolute horror, a low, knowing chuckle rumbled from his chest. He knew. I squeezed my eyes shut, desperate to vanish into thin air. But Lucian wasn’t done. “I didn’t think you’d enjoy the spank that much,” he murmured wi
ARIA I was trying to keep my nerves in check when Tobias suddenly stopped walking. I nearly bumped into his back. “What pack are you from?” His voice was low, but I could feel the responsibility behind the question. Why would he ask that? I thought they made their research… I hesitated, my palms growing clammy. There was no reason to lie, not about this. “Ashen Pack.” Tobias groaned, long and deep, like I had just told him I was carrying the plague. He rubbed a hand down his face. “Of course you are,” he muttered. I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Tobias stopped walking and turned to face me fully with his arms crossed. Whatever he was thinking was beyond me. “It means you came from a pack that doesn’t take lightly to runaways and rogues.” His amused eyes studied my face gauging my reaction. “They will kill you if we hand you over.” My stomach recoiled. “You know that, right?” He accused, daring me to deny it. I swallowed hard. “I know.” “
ARIA "It was tortured out of Theo," Tobias said flatly. I swallowed. Of course. I didn’t even have to ask who Theo was. I knew. "Tobias?" His gaze flickered to mine. “What?” "Can I tell you a secret?" He narrowed his eyes, but after a moment, he gave a slow nod. Great. I pushed up on my toes, just slightly, leaning in—so close that my lips almost brushed his ear. Then I whispered. Tobias’s entire body went rigid. His eyes widened. I took a step back, taking in more of his reaction. His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to speak. But for a long, stretched-out second, he didn’t. He just stared at me. "You’re fucking with me.” I shook my head. I wasn't. “Then we need to tell Lucian right away.” What did I tell Tobias? That I had three mates, and none of them rejected me, which meant at some point, they would storm this pack and tear it to the ground. I had no idea if that was actually true, but it sounded convincing enough to keep Tobias from
ARIA "I—I was just…” "Oh, save it," she scoffed. "You’re lucky I found you before the head maid or Lady Maren did.” Before I knew it, she yanked me through a doorway and shoved me into a bustling kitchen. The scent of food, spices, and onions filled the air, curling into my nose. Something was burning. I grimaced. The place was even more chaotic—pots clanged, and servants rushed around in a frenzy. “I swear to the goddess, Xena, if that food burns, that will be your dinner for ten weeks!” a deep voice thundered. I shuddered. Ten weeks? My gaze snapped to the source of the threat. Fucking hell. A plump woman with a grease-stained apron stood in the middle of it all, barking orders. Her sleeves were rolled up, her thick arms covered in flour and sweat, and her hair was tied up in a messy bun. She held a wooden spoon in one hand and a half-eaten piece of bread in the other. The moment she turned, her sharp eyes landed on us. "Clara!" she bellowed. "Who the f
LUCIAN I released a slow breath, forcing my fists to unclench. Now, it wasn’t exhilarating. Now, it felt… empty. The rage that once fueled me now left me drained. The fear in their eyes no longer thrilled me—it exhausted me. I had built this new Bloodfang Pack to be different, to be more than what it once was. But moments like this, when my control slipped, I realized how close I still was to becoming that same monster again. I had promised myself I wouldn’t go back. Tonight, I had come dangerously close. “Hm.” Tobias hummed beside me, his gray eyes studying me. He had seen it too. The hesitation. “Lost in thought, Alpha?” he mused, tilting his head. I shot him a dry glare, but he only chuckled. “You hesitated,” he noted. “That’s not like you.” I ran a hand down my face. “Shut up, Tobias.” His smirk widened, but he didn’t push further. He had always known how far to go before I snapped. I glanced at the door where Aaron had taken the man awa
LUCIAN Let their voices be the bitter soundtrack to his impending doom. “Alph…” The man tried to speak, but his voice broke, cracking under the weight of fear. "I… I couldn’t help it… It wasn’t supposed to go this far." He stammered, shaking. "I needed the money… My daughter’s school fees, Alpha… I overheard some merchants talking about a bounty on a girl’s head." Oh. Where was the man who spited my authority? I jerked my head towards his family in warning. “Continue.” His voice shook, and his eyes filled with desperation. "I stole the poster from the merchants... I thought… I thought I could make some money off another pack. But when I saw her picture…" He gulped, trying to catch his breath. "She looked just like her. And they said she was a rogue, that she could penetrate packs and kill thousands. I—I thought I had no choice." “Who the fuck is ‘they?’” “The merchant…” “You are lying.” I didn’t let his words sink in immediately. I was still watching his mate’s h
LUCIANMy knuckles ached from the repeated impact. The bastard’s face was barely recognizable—swollen, bloodied, and twisted in a sickening form… yet he was still laughing. He was a fool.“Just kill me already.” His grin widened, and a trickle of blood slipped down his chin. “Why does it matter? You’re going to kill me anyway.” I tightened my grip. “You still have a chance to die quickly.” The man coughed, spitting more blood onto the cold floor. “Quickly? You must be going soft, Alpha.” His chuckle was hoarse, and his breath reeked of iron. “I’ll say this much—I did what I did because I could. Because someone let me.” His swollen eyes gleamed. “But you already know that, don’t you?” My jaw tensed. Maren. But before I could ask if she was the one, the door behind me creaked open. Tobias stepped in, his expression blank, but I knew him too well. His eyes were narrowed on the man. He had been listening. “Are we done playing?” Tobias drawled, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Or
ARIAAaron’s eyes were still locked on the doorway behind me. Dread crawled up my spine. Slowly, I turned.Oh, shit.Lucian stood there, just inside the room. His expression was unreadable, his eyes dark and unblinking. Wh–when did he get in here? Why were his footsteps so light?Tobias was right behind him, frozen as the realization sank in. His face darkened. “You fucking bitch…”Lucian raised a hand to his lips, silencing him. “Did you reject him?” he asked me. His voice was different. It wasn’t the usual gruffness or dry irritation. This time, there was something hollow underneath—judging, accusing…why did I feel disappointed? I gripped the edge of the bed. I didn’t want to answer.I didn’t want to hear myself say it.Lucian’s gaze never wavered. “Aria.”I swallowed, forcing myself to meet his eyes. Then, in the calmest voice I could manage, I said, “Get out.”Aaron’s head snapped toward me. “What?”I didn’t look at him. I didn’t look at anyone but Lucian.Tobias snarled. “What th
LUCIAN “Did you see the mark?” I stayed silent. Tobias’s nostrils flared. “Did. You. See. The. Mark?” My jaw clenched. Tobias cursed under his breath, stepping back like I had physically struck him. He turned his gaze to the ceiling, breathing heavily. “Shit. Fuck. We are so screwed.” I flexed my fingers, keeping my expression neutral. “Not necessarily.” Tobias frowned. “Not necessarily?” He pointed toward the door. “Lucian, that girl… your prisoner, the one you so conveniently refuse to let go—isn’t just some rogue. She’s—” “I know.” Tobias froze, his anger twisting into curiosity. “Then what the hell are you planning to do?” I didn’t answer. Because, for the first time in my life… I didn’t fucking know. ________________Tobias was losing his mind. He ran a hand through his already disheveled hair, pacing in frantic strides. His boots thudded against the stone floor of the hallway as he muttered more curses under his breath.Every few steps, he would stop, clen
ARIAI just smiled, amused at his reaction but not entirely relaxed yet. To be honest, I couldn’t stop replaying Tobias’s reaction in my head. I tilted my head slightly. “Who was that guy?” Aaron blinked. “Who?” “The guy with gray eyes,” I clarified. “The one who nearly choked on his own breath before dragging Lucian away.” Aaron raised an eyebrow. “What?” A sigh escaped my lips. I wasn't trying to be funny—that was the only way I could describe him. “The guy…” “Oh.” Aaron’s glare softened. He shrugged, already reaching for a bottle of antiseptic. “That’s Tobias Hale, Beta of the Bloodfang Pack and Lucian’s best friend.” He paused. “The last part’s important, but don’t tell anyone I said that.” I raised a brow. “Why?” Aaron just shook his head dramatically. “You didn’t hear it from me.” Oh. I couldn’t help it—the thought of grumpy, brooding, permanently irritated Lucian having a best friend—one who seemed capable of panicking, no less—was ridiculous. The guy looked like he h