~ARIA~Eliara's eyes glinted with a deliberate mischief as she called me “Anna,” but I could see through her little game. She knew exactly who I was; her smug expression made that clear. She wanted to see if I’d take the bait, get flustered, or show some sign of feeling intimidated. Well, I wasn’t about to give her that satisfaction.Instead, I forced a cool, polite smile and looked her straight in the eyes. “It’s actually Aria. Nice to meet you, Erica,” I replied smoothly, watching her face stiffen just slightly. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to know I’d gotten under her skin, if only a little. Two could play this game, and I wasn’t about to let her intimidate me. “It’s Eliara,” she corrected. I pretended to think about it, as if her name wasn’t worth the effort of remembering. “Oh, right, Ella. My mistake.”For a brief second, our gazes clashed, a silent battle in which neither of us wanted to look away first. But then, just as I thought we’d continue glaring at each other, Ka
~ARIA~“Thank you, Elena,” I said, purposely using the wrong name again. “I’ll keep that in mind.”For a moment, her mask slipped, and I saw something raw and sharp flash in her eyes. It was clear she wasn’t used to being challenged, especially by someone she thought was beneath her.Without another word, she turned on her heel and left, her footsteps echoing down the hallway. Lena let out a quiet sigh of relief once she was gone, her shoulders relaxing.“Thank you, Lena,” I said, grateful for her presence. “I think I’ll be fine on my own now.”Lena nodded, giving me a small smile before she excused herself. Finally alone, I allowed myself a moment to breathe, absorbing everything that had happened.I stared out the window, watching as the mist settled over the forest. I could feel the weight of this place pressing down on me, and for a moment, I wondered if I’d ever be able to fit into a world as twisted and intense as Kael’s. But then, a quiet resolve filled me. I wasn’t here to fit
~KAEL~“She doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone,” I argued firmly, my voice echoing through the room. “The gods chose her, and that’s enough.”But Elder Thorne raised a hand, silencing the murmurs. “Alpha Kael, the role of Luna is not just about standing by your side. It’s a symbol of strength. Your mate must show the pack that she has the will to fight for her place. They doubt her because she appears… fragile.” He paused, his gaze steady. “This challenge is a tradition, though one we have avoided in recent years. However, in this case, it may be necessary.”I clenched my jaw, the thought of putting Aria in any form of trial already unsettling me. “This isn’t just some tradition we can pick up at our convenience,” I responded sharply. “She may not look the way you want her to, but that doesn’t make her any less worthy.”Elder Bran, undeterred, leaned forward. “Alpha, this will not be a fight to the death or even to victory. She only has to prove that she can hold her ground. She
~ARIA~For a split second, I almost told him the truth. I almost blurted it out, desperate for him to understand, to see why this was impossible. But then I remembered who I was talking to—Kael, the cold, unyielding Alpha who wouldn’t hesitate to use my weakness against me.So I swallowed my fear and forced myself to look him in the eye. “No,” I lied, my voice barely more than a whisper. “There’s nothing.”He stared at me for a moment, his gaze intense and searching, as if he could see right through me. I held my breath, praying he wouldn’t push any further. But finally, he seemed to accept my answer. “Fine,” he said, his tone colder than ever. “Get a good night’s rest, Aria. You’ll need it.” He turned and left without another word, leaving me alone with my heart pounding uncontrollably.As soon as he was gone, I sank onto the edge of the bed, my mind racing. What was I supposed to do? How could I possibly fight without my wolf?For a brief, desperate moment, I thought of Luca. Despi
~ARIA~I spun around, heart racing, as a woman entered the arena—a woman who looked strikingly like Kael. She was tall, her posture regal, exuding an air of elegance and power. Her tailored suit spoke of wealth, but it was the way she commanded the space with a mere glance that made everyone fall silent. Recognition dawned. During the house tour, Lena had shown me a portrait of a woman in one of the grand halls, a woman with the same intensity in her eyes. Although I hadn’t learned her name then, it was clear who she was now. Kael’s face shifted as he looked at her. His usual cold, hard expression softened, his eyes filling with an unfamiliar warmth.“Mother,” he said, his voice low and reverent.She held up a hand, and he instantly fell silent, his gaze on the floor like a child caught in wrongdoing. I couldn’t believe it. Kael, the ruthless Alpha, stood there as if her disapproval had stripped away all his power. He looked vulnerable, almost humbled. And the way he obeyed her comm
“It is canceled” he said and I couldn't help but exhale. A wave of relief washed over me, so intense I nearly sank to my knees. I met Nessa’s furious stare, her eyes blazing with hatred, but I didn’t care. Lady Seraphine had saved me, and the sharp glare Nessa shot my way was nothing compared to the safety I felt with Lady Seraphine’s protection.Lady Seraphine gave him a small nod, his response, before she looked back at me, she seemed like she wanted to say something but she stopped herself.She then turned to Kael, her tone firm. “Come. We have much to discuss. It seems some in the pack are intent on undermining any progress we have made.” Her eyes lingered on Elder Thorne, a final warning etched in her gaze.Kael nodded, falling into step beside her, though he cast one last lingering look at me. I couldn’t quite read his expression—there was regret there, maybe even a touch of something else—but it left a strange ache in my chest as I watched him follow her. The crowd erupted i
~Aria~I stared at the ceiling, lost in the silence of my room. The pale white patterns blurred into nothingness, just like the thoughts racing through my mind. Last night still haunted me. I had stumbled upon Lady Seraphine when I was having a late night chat with Lena, her cold eyes locking onto mine like she knew every secret I was trying to hide. And now, she has summoned me. The word alone made my stomach churn. What did she want? Did she know? My hands trembled just thinking about it. I sat up, the room spinning slightly. I had barely eaten, barely slept, yet I felt too heavy to move. My phone lay untouched on the nightstand. Social media had been my escape, but now I couldn’t bear to open it. I forced myself to swing my legs over the edge of the bed. The floor was cold under my feet. Standing up made me feel even weaker. One step at a time, I told myself. Wobbling slightly, I made my way to the bathroom. The mirror didn’t lie. My reflection showed a girl I barely recognized
~ARIA~"I… understand," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. They had to know. There was no other reason I would be here. This was it—my secret was finally out. "I’ll explain everything," I blurted out, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. My hands trembled as I clutched the edge of the table.Lady Seraphine’s eyebrows lifted slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her cold, composed face. It vanished as quickly as it appeared. Her smile tightened, sharp and unreadable. "Smart girl," she said, her voice calm but cutting. “So you're already aware of what this lunch is about. Tell me about yourself" I blinked, confusion swirling inside me. "What…?" My voice faltered, my mind racing. She leaned back, her eyes never leaving mine. "This is just lunch, Aria. A family meal." Her tone was almost gentle, but the intensity in her gaze pinned me in place. "I wanted to learn more about you. After all, you’re part of our family now." Family? The word echoed in my mind, leav
~ARIA~The kiss was fierce, possessive but passionate. His mouth moved against mine with a desperate intensity that stole my breath. His fingers slid to the small of my back, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. The heat of his body seeped into mine, burning away my resistance.My heart pounded wildly and my lips refused to respond. His lips were relentless, coaxing and claiming, as if he was trying to erase every doubt, every fear. A soft moan escaped me, and he seized it, deepening the kiss. I kissed him back before I realized what I was doing.A warmth I hadn’t known in so long spread through me, washing over the cracks in my heart. His grip tightened, his fingers pressing into my skin like he was afraid I’d disappear.But then reality crashed down on me.What am I doing?I quickly pushed Kael, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The way I was breathing,it was as if I had engaged in a marathon. My lips burned, tingling with the ghost of his kiss. Kael’s eyes b
~ARIA~I turned and left Kael’s chambers without a word. My heart pounded painfully against my ribs. The moment I stepped into the hallway, the cold air brushed against my skin, but it did nothing to ease the tension I was feeling.As I walked, I saw Eliara leaning casually against the wall, her arms crossed. Her golden hair gleamed under the sunlight streaming in from the tall windows. Why was she always around whenever I feel frustrated? She looked me up and down, her eyes gleaming with disdain.“Well, look who finally crawled out of the dungeon,” she sneered. “Did Kael finally get bored of punishing you, or did you beg for mercy?”How did she know? Did Kael tell her?I clenched my fists, but I didn’t have the energy to argue. My whole body ached, and my soul felt bruised. I decided to ignore her and kept walking, my eyes fixed straight ahead. Eliara’s laughter followed me, mocking and cold. “Silent treatment? Oh, Aria, you’re even more pathetic than I thought.”I wanted to snap ba
ARIA~The sound of keys jingling woke me up. I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the exhaustion. Damon stood at the door, his face calm as always."Kael says you can come out now," he said quietly.I nodded and stood up, my legs shaky from the cold, hard bed. Damon’s eyes softened just a little."For your own good, try not to make Kael angrier," he said. "It’ll only make things worse. And… watch what you say."I knew Damon didn’t talk much, so those words meant he was trying to help me. I swallowed hard and followed him out of the small, stone room. The door closed behind me with a heavy thud, and I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.We walked back through the garden, gravel crunching under our feet. The sun was up now. We entered Kael’s mansion through the back door to avoid anyone seeing me like this. My cheeks burned with shame, but I kept my head high.Damon led me straight to Kael’s chambers. We stopped in his private guest room, which was beautiful and full of expen
~ARIA~“I asked you a question" The voice became clearer this time. Relief hit me like a wave. It was Damon. My knees nearly gave out, my heart pounding so loud I could barely think. Damon’s expression was unreadable, his dark eyes giving away nothing. For a moment, hope flickered in my chest. Maybe he’d let me go.“Please,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Let me go. I can’t stay here. You know what he’s like.”His eyes met mine, cold and detached. He didn’t look angry or sympathetic — just indifferent. It was like he couldn’t care less about what I was doing or why. He didn’t move or say a word.“Damon, please,” I choked out. “I just want to be free.”But before he could answer, a shadow moved behind him. Kael. His eyes burned with a fury so intense, I felt like it might consume me. My stomach dropped, and I started sweating.I wanted to run, but my feet refused to move. Running would only make things worse, and besides, I wasn’t fast enough to outrun the both of them. I was trapp
~ARIA~ I closed the door to my room and leaned against it, letting out a shaky breath. I walked to my bed and sat down, my hands clenching the sheets. Escaping wasn’t going to be easy. Kael's estate was more like a prison. Guards patrolled every inch of the grounds, and cameras watched everything. But I was willing to risk it all. I took out a small notepad and started making a list. The first step was to stay calm and not draw attention to myself. The second was to get as much cash as I could. The money Kael had given me as an allowance was enough for me to survive for a while. The third step — the most important one — was to meet Lena tonight. She was the only person I trusted here. Once I got out, I’d call Luca. He would pick me up the next morning. I can even book a cheap hotel for a night to stay off Kael’s radar. After making the call, I’d switch off my phone so Kael couldn’t track me. A soft knock at the door startled me. “Aria?” came Lena’s whispered voice. Rel
~ARIA~I waited for Kael to say something, anything, my body tense and my heart pounding. But the silence dragged on. I opened my eyes, expecting anger or argument. Instead, he was smiling.But it wasn’t the kind of smile that brought comfort. It was dark, almost cruel. My stomach twisted in disbelief.“Did you hear me?” I asked, my voice wavering.His smile widened slightly, his eyes gleaming with something I couldn’t name. “I heard you the first time,” he said, his voice low and cold. “You’re delusional if you think I’d let you go back to Luca’s pack.”My lips parted, shock freezing me in place. He patted my head like I was a stupid child, and my hands clenched into fists. “When you’ve calmed down, you’ll realize how ridiculous you sound,” he said softly. And just like that, he turned and walked away, his footsteps fading into the distance.I stared at the closed door, anger bubbling under my skin. How dare he dismiss my decision like that? I meant what I said. I’d rather go back
~KAEL~My heart skipped a beat, a sudden tightening in my chest.I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, ready to stand, but Eliara’s hand shot out, pressing against my chest. “Kael, wait,” she said, her voice a soft purr, trying to hold me back.I looked at her, the disdain burned so hot inside me, I was surprised she didn’t feel it scald her skin. My wolf clawed at me, urging me to shake her off, to get away from her touch.I opened my mouth to say something—anything—but the words withered on my tongue. Her hands slid off me as if she sensed the shift. But then her lips twisted into a smirk. “You’re leaving because of her?” she asked, venom coating each word.Eliara stood, crossing her arms over her chest. “You’re pathetic,” she sneered. “Running after a weak girl like her.”I paused at first. Slowly, I turned to her, my eyes cold. “Get out.”Her smirk vanished. “Kael—”“I said get out.” My voice was low, but the threat in it was clear. She huffed, muttering under her breath an
Every word I had exchanged with Eliara was sharper than anything I’d ever said before. This wasn’t like me—not the me I knew. The old Aria would have taken her insults quietly, lowering her head and walking away.I clenched my fists as I stood in the empty sitting room, my mind racing.My legs felt unsteady, and I turned, ready to leave the room. I needed to get away, to think. But as I hurried toward the hallway, I nearly stumbled. “Careful.” Damon’s steady hands caught me before I hit the floor. I froze, feeling his grip on my arms as he straightened me. “I’m fine,” I muttered, brushing him off and avoiding his gaze. His dark eyes lingered on me for a moment, like he was searching for something. But I didn’t give him a chance to ask whatever question was hanging on the tip of his tongue. I turned and walked briskly to my room, my heart pounding with every step.Once inside, I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, letting out a shaky breath. I moved toward the mirr
~ARIA~ Damon was about to say something when his phone rang. He looked at his phone and switched it off. I waited patiently for him to answer my question. The hum of the car engine filled the heavy silence between Damon and me. Shadows from the passing trees flickered across his impassive face as he drove. I could feel the tension radiating off him. It was clear he wasn’t just a driver—his entire demeanor screamed vigilance, like he was always on edge, always watching. “You started to say something earlier,” I ventured, my voice breaking the quiet. “About secrets. What did you mean?” Damon’s hands tightened briefly on the wheel. “I said too much already,” he replied curtly, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. I leaned back in my seat, crossing my arms. “Well, you can’t just drop something cryptic like that and expect me to forget about it.” His jaw tightened, the only sign of his annoyance. “Sometimes it’s better not to know everything.” “That sounds like something someone