ARIAWith feet pounding against the wet earth, I sprinted through the dense underbrush, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The cold mud clung to my soles, and the puddles left behind by last night’s rain splashed water up my legs as I pushed forward. I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.The sharp thorns from wild brambles tore into my skin, snagging on the silk of my nightgown, but I barely noticed. Pain didn’t matter. Fear didn’t matter. All that mattered was survival—putting as much distance as possible between me and the rogues hunting me down. Their snarls and heavy footfalls echoed too close for comfort. They wanted my life.How did it come to this? My twentieth birthday should have been a celebration, not a nightmare. Instead of laughter and cake, I found myself running through the dark woods, desperate to escape the murderous intruders who shattered my world in the dead of night.The Ashen Pack was supposed to be untouchable, its defenses impenetrable. Everyone said so. Rogues couldn’t h
ARIAFaint voices and muffled conversations gently roused me from my unconscious state. My senses slowly returned, but my head felt heavy, and the world around me seemed blurry and distant. As I struggled to focus, I finally opened my eyes. What I saw was unexpected—a young man standing beside me, his face unfamiliar and filled with concern. My mind scrambled to piece things together. I had fallen from the cliff, and then—nothing. I’d heard voices just before I lost consciousness. Had someone found me? Had they decided to spare my life and bring me somewhere safe?The young man’s voice broke through my thoughts. “How do you feel?” he asked, his eyes scanning my face with genuine concern. “It’s nothing short of a miracle that you survived that fall.”I blinked, trying to focus on his words. My throat felt dry, and I instinctively licked my lips, trying to find moisture. Slowly, I attempted to sit up, but dizziness hit me, and I faltered. Immediately, the young man reached out, his ha
LUCIANWhen my men reported that they had found a rogue near the cliff border—possibly having fallen from the edge which is Ashen pack—I immediately gave the order to eliminate her and dispose of it’s body in the woods. I wanted to make a clear message to any rogue who might wander into Bloodfang territory: this pack does not tolerate rogues, whether they come here by design or mistake.But then Aaron mentioned something that made me pause. He said the rogue was a woman, and she had a star-shaped imprint on her inner thigh. That detail stopped me in my tracks and I knew I had to see her for myself. When I arrived and confirmed his words, I made a different decision. Instead of killing her, I chose to spare her life. She could provide valuable information, and I needed to know if she was really the one I had been looking for all this time.“You think that’s Whitee?” Aaron asked as he entered my office, his brows knitted and his voice unsure. “She doesn’t act like her, but she sure loo
ARIA“It’s strange…” I murmured, my gaze fixed on the wall of photographs.A soft creak pulled my attention toward the door as it swung open, carrying with it the sterile scent of antiseptic mixed with something earthier—herbs, maybe.The pack doctor stepped inside, a tray of food balanced in one hand. What was his name again?Aaron. Right.His brow lifted slightly as he set the tray down on the small table beside my bed. “Strange?” He followed my line of sight to the pictures.I hadn’t expected him to hear me.The photos were lined up in precise rows, too neat—too intentional. Someone had taken the time to frame and arrange them with care. The images showed men and women in hospital gowns, their expressions frozen in forced smiles. Yet, it wasn’t them my eyes kept returning to.It was him.The same man. Over and over again.Lucian Draven.In every photo, he stood in the center, shaking hands, offering warm embraces, smiling that unreadable smile. Was it genuine? Or carefully practice
ARIAHe said it so casually, like it was just some boring, everyday threat. “Are you serious?” I hissed.“As a heart attack.” Aaron’s smile didn’t slip, but the corner of his mouth twitched—like even he knew how ridiculous this sounded. “So for my sake, just stay here, okay?”He even threw in a little pout for effect. My gut twisted with suspicion. Why did this feel too convenient? Could this be a part of some plan no one bothered to tell me about?But with no other option, I bobbed my head. “Fine.”“No way in hell!”The voice exploded right behind us, and my soul nearly left my body. Aaron and I spun around just as a woman stormed toward us. The second Aaron saw her, his whole body stiffened.“Shit,” he muttered under his breath. “Maren…” He dragged her name out like it was bitter. “You’re not supposed to be here,” he said, stepping in front of me. “These are the Alpha’s private quarters.”I expected that to slow her down but it didn't. Not even a little. “Neither is she.” Maren’s
ARIA“It’s not yours anymore.” Shit. “But…” Maren’s mouth opened and closed, her face turning redder by the second.All this… over a room? Seriously?“Lucian, you promised—” Lucian didn’t even glance her way. “Aaron.” Aaron straightened instantly. “Yes, Alpha?” “Take your hands off her.” Aaron’s hands practically flew off me. “Of course. I’ll… uh… get back to work.” He grabbed Maren’s arm instead. “Let’s go.”“No, I still need to—” Her protest died on her tongue. Aaron didn’t give her the chance, already pulling her down the hall, until they disappeared—leaving only awkwardness between me and Lucian.Except Lucian wasn’t watching them leave. He was still looking at me. Not my face. My wrist. The exact spot where Aaron’s hands had been. “You did that on purpose,” I said softly— just loud enough for him to hear. I couldn’t stand his gaze. It burned straight through me, scratching over every inch, every nerve, every vein Aaron had touched.Why? Why act so damn weird?“I did.” L
LucianPoor little thing didn’t even know she was mine already.I could’ve told her. Could’ve whispered it right against her ear, let her feel every word. But I wanted her to figure it out herself. Slowly… helpless. That’s how you break a rogue. Except… fuck! That wasn’t it, was it? What the hell is wrong with you, Lucian? I didn’t want to break her. I wanted her soft in my bed… trembling, begging, breathless. But I needed her strong everywhere else. Damn strong enough to stand next to me when the pack watched. Strong enough to hold her ground when they questioned her. I wanted that awkward laugh, those clumsy steps… and those wide, innocent eyes looking at me like I was both dangerous and holy. That’s what made me hard. That’s what made me crazy. I should leave. I should get a drink, fuck someone… anyone… just to get this girl out of my bloodstream. But my feet didn’t move. They stayed right here, outside her door, like some psycho stalker. I could hear her breathing through
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. Then I stood, grabbed the nearest bottle of whiskey, and poured myself a drink. I was gonna need the whole damn bottle. _________________ ARIA“I reject you, Aria Moonstone, as my mate. This was never meant to be. You are not the one I need, and I am not the one you want. You’ll find your place, but it is not with me. You are weak, and I won’t be tied to that. My future lies with someone bigger. Do not seek me out again.” I gasped, my eyes snapping open. The same nightmare. Over and over again. Except it wasn’t just a nightmare—it was a memory. The one I had tucked away, hoping it would stay buried. But it didn't. Sweat trickled down my forehead as a sharp pain shot through my skull. It always happens. The same fucking nightmare, the same splitting headache. Since I had no wolf, the rejection didn’t just hurt emotionally. It came as a bloody migraine that refused to let go. It was impossible to go back to sleep now, and befor
ARIASome hesitated, shifting awkwardly, while others nodded, whispering in agreement.A lump formed in my throat, but I forced it down. I had no right to feel anything.This was the way things were."Enough," Clara said, her voice harder now. "I brought Aria here. And I decide who stays."Adriana scoffed. "You’re really pulling rank on me? Remember, you’re just a lowly pack maid."Jeez. If it was bad out there, it wasn’t much better in here either."If I have to," Clara snapped. "The Alpha asked me to take care of her. Us. Technically, I answer to the Alpha, which makes me important."I exhaled sharply, surprised. It was funny how so many of them wanted to associate with Lucian. Just the mention of his name made them tremble, yet a simple greeting or acknowledgment from him suddenly made them feel superior?That was ridiculous.It was the same everywhere."Sure that isn’t a lie, Clara?" Adriana loomed over us, her voice low so only Clara and I could hear.I swallowed hard."Because t
ARIA“No, I think omegas aren’t allowed to have a community.”Clara frowned, like I had said something deeply wrong. “That’s not how it works here.”I wanted to scream. Instead, I inhaled sharply. “So you don’t get punished? The higher ranks don’t interfere?”“We have our own structure. Our own hierarchy.”I scoffed. “Omegas have a hierarchy?”“Yes.”“Where’s the part where you get beaten for existing?”Clara winced. “That doesn’t happen.”I stared at her, waiting for her to admit she was lying. But she didn’t. I felt like I was going insane. “So,” I said, “you’re telling me omegas here have rights?”Clara hesitated before nodding.I exhaled slowly. “And… you believe that’s normal?”She gave me that look again. That pitying, soft-eyed look that made the bruises on my skin itch. “It is normal.”I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her. No, it’s not. It was a sick joke. A cruel illusion. If this was normal, then what the hell had my entire life been? A lie?A nightmare?I tur
ARIA“... but you dyed it black so we wouldn’t see.”My head snapped towards her. “What? I did no such thing…” My voice trailed off. No. I didn’t. It could only mean one thing—my stomach twisted. Who did this to me? Why…? What were they trying to hide?Did they forget to dye my brows and eyelashes or what?!“Yes,” Clara sang, clearly enjoying my misery.Yes to what?“Come on, let’s have some fun downstairs.” Then she turned on her heel, practically skipping down the hallway.I blinked, still feeling like I had just been sucker-punched. “Where exactly?”Clara shot me a wicked grin over her shoulder.“The Omega’s hut.”I narrowed my eyes. “The what now?”Clara was already leaving. And, against my better judgment, I followed.___________________The omega’s hut was not what I expected. No–it was nothing like what I expected. For one, it was a large compound that actually had walls. Well-built fences. And floors that weren’t dirt. There was no smell of damp blood and body odours. I had
ARIA The way things turned out, Lucian handed me over to Tobias, and Tobias, being the practical man he was, dumped me on Clara. Unlucky for her, she just happened to be at the Alpha’s quarters at the wrong time. Now, she was storming ahead of me, clutching a tray like it had personally offended her as she made a beeline for the kitchen—the same damn path she had dragged me through yesterday. “I can’t believe I’ve been saddled with the responsibility of taking care of a rogue,” Clara muttered furiously. “This has to be a fucking joke.” And there it was again. That fucking word. Rogue. The word was practically tattooed on my forehead at this point. No, scratch that. It was a damn brand slapped across my face. Every turn, every look, every whisper in this damn pack—I had heard it at least a hundred times since I got here, and each time, it got under my skin. Maybe the Bloodfang Pack wasn’t as kind as I thought. Maybe they needed someone like me to teach them that emotion
LUCIAN "I was supposed to be the one you trusted the most. I was supposed to be the one by your side, helping you make decisions, fixing things. And now, I feel like I don’t fucking matter anymore. You gave my room to a stranger. A fucking rogue." Aria. Her name is Aria… or Albena… fuck! I stared at Maren, my heart hammering against my ribs. She just admitted she wasn’t in love with me. All this time, I thought she harbored some twisted, possessive attachment to me, but it wasn’t that. It was fear. Fear of being replaced. Fear of losing whatever purpose she thought she had in my life. "You—!" Maren let out another sob, rubbing furiously at her face like she was pissed at herself for crying. "I didn’t mean to— I just thought if she wasn’t here, then things would go back to the way they were before." She let out a humorless laugh. "But I was stupid, wasn't I? Things were never going to be the same." "No," I admitted. "They weren’t." The moment my gamm
LUCIAN A muscle ticked in my jaw. Tobias was testing my patience. Again. I turned slightly, just enough to catch Tobias in my peripheral vision. He was breathing hard, his chest rising and falling in frustration. “Tobias, I appreciate the concern. I do. You’ve been my right hand for years, and I know you always have my back.” This was me being in control, and he wasn’t going to fuck this up for me. “But this isn’t about what people will fucking say. I just need to speak with Maren.” It was a lie. And we both knew it. He scoffed behind me. “Bullshit, Lucian. You don’t just want to speak to her. You’re pissed off, and when you get like this—” I ignored the rest. I didn’t have time for his warnings or his attempts to reason with me. My patience was already running on fumes, and I wasn’t about to waste the little I had left on a damn lecture. My footsteps echoed through the hall as I made my way to the room Tobias had supposedly locked her in. What the fuck was she doi
LUCIAN What was he getting at? Aria’s eyes fluttered open. Realizing the question was directed at her, she slowly nodded. There. She was hesitant. Thank the goddess. “What is the mating pull?” Aria asked instead. Tobias let out a heavy sigh. “It’s the connection that proves they’re your mate. It comes from within your soul… Come on, haven’t you been reading?” Aria just stared at him like he was the dumbest person alive. “She didn’t have time to read, you idiot!” I snapped, stepping between them to shield her from Tobias’s dagger-sharp glare. He really was an idiot for asking an omega from the Ashen Pack something like that. Finally, Aria lifted her head and looked up at me. Her eyes met mine, wide and doubtful, the green flecks in them catching the light like tiny leaves… My breath hitched. Why was she so beautiful? It wasn’t just her eyes, her plump lips, or the soft curls of her dark hair… it was an unexplainable feeling that made my tho
LUCIAN I barely registered Tobias sprinting like lightning. “What the hell is going on, Lucian?!” he yelled, his eyes darting around. “Are you planning to tear down the whole building?” Yeah, I was. I needed to find the intruder. Who dared to eavesdrop on my conversation? Who dared to act special, breaking the pack’s rules? I had to find them and destroy them. I didn’t know why I felt this inexplicable anger—at Aria’s expense. She was the one with the secrets. But I was the one who had asked her to play the game this way. If I hadn’t, that fool wouldn’t have heard. That was Aria’s secret. No one else had the right to know. And I swear to the Moon Goddess, whoever was responsible wouldn’t be spared. They would be executed. “Look, you’re scaring her. Just stop!” Tobias gestured toward Aria, who was still shivering, pressing herself as close to the ground as possible. I squeezed my eyes shut. Fuck. How could I have forgotten she was an omega? But her tolerance wa
ARIA “Fine.” I lifted my chin. “But you go first.” His lips twitched. “Clever.” I held my breath as he took a step closer, looming over me now. “Alright then,” he said. “Since you’re so eager, I’ll start.” I waited. But he held my gaze for a long time, looking really serious. “I’m from a royal bloodline,” he said softly. I almost didn't hear him. “What?” Lucian smiled lazily, like he hadn’t just dropped a fucking bomb. “That’s one of my secrets,” he murmured. “Now tell me yours.” My heart pounded. He was fucking with me. Right? I let out a breathy laugh. “Bullshit.” Lucian’s smirk remained. “Believe what you want, sweetheart.” No. No fucking way. I scanned his face, searching for any sign that he was joking, but he looked too damn serious. Holy shit. “Are you telling me this just so I’ll trust you?” I demanded. “Is this some kind of manipulation tactic?” Lucian chuckled. “You think too much, Aria.” My mind spun. A royal bloodline? What th