~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
~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 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~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 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 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
~KAEL~I stared at Damon for a long moment after he broke the news. “Luca is at the hotel,” he said again, his tone almost cautious, like he was gauging my reaction. I didn’t flinch, didn’t let anything show. Instead, I leaned back and folded my arms across my chest, the memory of Aria’s kiss still fresh on my lips. “And?” I said, my voice flat. Damon hesitated, then added, “He brought Indie with him.. At least that can ease your mind.” At that, I couldn’t help the low growl that escaped me. “Ease my mind?” I repeated, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “By flaunting the woman he betrayed Aria with? Does he think that makes me feel better about anything?” Damon sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You don’t need to worry about him. If anything, this works in your favor. It’ll only remind Aria why she doesn’t belong to him.” I clenched my jaw, forcing myself not to nod. He wasn’t wrong, but the thought of Luca being anywhere near Aria still irritated me. If not that t
~ARIA~ I straightened my shoulders, refusing to let her see how her words stung. “And here we have the desperate mistress,” I shot back with a cold smile on my lips. Indie’s eyes widened slightly, clearly caught off guard. She hadn’t expected me to fight back. Her mouth opened to retort, but before she could, Kael gently placed his hand on my waist. “We’re done here. Let’s go,” he said authoritatively, guiding me away before Indie could say another word. For a moment, I was stunned. Kael’s touch was firm but not forceful. I followed him without protest, too surprised to argue. But then again I wanted to argue, to tell him I didn’t need his help, but deep down, I was grateful. Not that I’d ever admit it out loud. “Was that really necessary?” I asked, glancing up at him. Kael’s dark eyes met mine, unbothered. “I don’t waste time on people who don’t matter.” I raised an eyebrow. “So why do you waste time on me?” His lips curved into a small, almost teasing smile. “Who s
~KAEL~ I couldn't stop thinking in my room in Red Haven Pack, with so much frustration. Ever since my father’s death and I became Alpha of Silver Moon Pack, my mother had stopped living there. Instead, she traveled the world seeking distractions from grief, popping in occasionally to offer advice—or more often, to pester me about settling down and taking a Luna. “Kael, it’s time for a strong she-wolf by your side,” she’d say. “An Alpha without a Luna is incomplete.” Her visits were rare, and I’d tolerated her constant absence. But now, she was collapsing from stress, worn out by her relentless tourism. She wasn’t young anymore. Traveling like she was still a youthful wolf wasn’t good for her health. I had to convince her to stay in Silver Moon Pack. It wouldn't be easy, but I needed to convince her that home was where she belonged, not gallivanting across borders. No more unnecessary trips. I rubbed my temples, considering how to approach it. The sharp ring of my phone c
~ARIA~ I guess I would have to apologize later to Damon for my overreaction. I went into my room. I did my simple skincare routine. I stood by the mirror, debating if makeup was necessary. My pale skin still showed hints of redness from the heated exchange with Damon earlier, and my lips were slightly swollen from biting them in frustration. “No makeup today" I muttered. Then I stood in front of my closet and decided to keep things simple. I chose a comfortable outfit: a fitted white t-shirt tucked into a pair of high waisted jeans. I paired it with simple sandals and pulled my hair into a loose ponytail, a few stray strands framing my face. Light makeup was still tempting, but I shook my head and decided against it. Satisfied, I took a deep breath before stepping out of my room. My footsteps echoed softly as I made my way to the dining room. But instead of heading straight to the dining room, an idea sparked in my mind—I’d cook something since Kael wasn't around. Back in N
~ARIA~ The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, and I blinked against the brightness. My head throbbed slightly as memories of the previous night came rushing down to my mind. Luca’s stupid face and words, Kael’s interference, the near kiss we almost shared—it all played on a loop in my mind. Then came Damon’s sudden interruption, his voice carrying the devastating news about Kael’s mother, Lady Seraphine, collapsing. The tension in Kael's face visible at first but it suddenly became cold as he left without another word. Damon had spoken to the ball hosts last night, apologizing and explaining that something urgent had come up. The tension between us all was thick as we left, and no one spoke a word during the ride back. My head swirled with different emotions. I kept sneaking glances at Kael, but his face remained cold, as though he felt nothing. I hated that about him—how easily he shut off his emotions, while mine were a storm I couldn’t control. When we arrive
~ARIA~ He was standing there smiling, his lips curving in that familiar way. “You haven't stopped being pathetic Aria. Immediately you saw Kael with Eliara, you ran out. You just realized that you didn't stand a chance” Luca said with that same stupid smile plastered on his stupid face. “What are you doing here?” I asked with visible annoyance. He smirked, his gaze sweeping over me. “I could ask you the same thing again. But I won’t because you look...” He paused, his eyes lingering for a moment. “Beautiful.” My heart betrayed me, fluttering at his words. But I quickly pushed the feeling away. I wasn’t going to let him affect me. Not after everything. I folded my arms and frowned at him. “Save your compliments for someone who cares," I shot back. "Flattery won’t work on me, Luca.” “Oh, I think it does,” he said with a confident grin, stepping closer. “You can deny it all you want, Aria, but I know you’re still in love with me and you know what? The feeling is mutual.”
~ARIA~ I straightened my shoulders, refusing to let her see how her words stung. “And here we have the desperate mistress,” I shot back with a cold smile on my lips. Indie’s eyes widened slightly, clearly caught off guard. She hadn’t expected me to fight back. Her mouth opened to retort, but before she could, Kael gently placed his hand on my waist. “We’re done here. Let’s go,” he said authoritatively, guiding me away before Indie could say another word. For a moment, I was stunned. Kael’s touch was firm but not forceful. I followed him without protest, too surprised to argue. But then again I wanted to argue, to tell him I didn’t need his help, but deep down, I was grateful. Not that I’d ever admit it out loud. “Was that really necessary?” I asked, glancing up at him. Kael’s dark eyes met mine, unbothered. “I don’t waste time on people who don’t matter.” I raised an eyebrow. “So why do you waste time on me?” His lips curved into a small, almost teasing smile. “Who s
~KAEL~I stared at Damon for a long moment after he broke the news. “Luca is at the hotel,” he said again, his tone almost cautious, like he was gauging my reaction. I didn’t flinch, didn’t let anything show. Instead, I leaned back and folded my arms across my chest, the memory of Aria’s kiss still fresh on my lips. “And?” I said, my voice flat. Damon hesitated, then added, “He brought Indie with him.. At least that can ease your mind.” At that, I couldn’t help the low growl that escaped me. “Ease my mind?” I repeated, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “By flaunting the woman he betrayed Aria with? Does he think that makes me feel better about anything?” Damon sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You don’t need to worry about him. If anything, this works in your favor. It’ll only remind Aria why she doesn’t belong to him.” I clenched my jaw, forcing myself not to nod. He wasn’t wrong, but the thought of Luca being anywhere near Aria still irritated me. If not that t
~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