~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
~ARIA~ Tonight was the night I had waited for—my Luna ceremony, where I’d be introduced as Alpha Luca’s mate. Cora, my maid, hummed softly as she fastened the delicate lace of my dress. “You look perfect, Aria,” Cora said with a warm smile, adjusting the silver necklace around my neck. My heart fluttered. My skin, smooth and fair shone even in my silver dress. I couldn’t wait to see the pride in Luca’s eyes when he saw me. He was the one light in all the darkness of my life, and though he hadn’t been perfect, he’d been kind to me. I've loved him ever since. My silver dress fitted perfectly, hugging my curves and cascading elegantly to the floor. My long, dark hair flowed in waves, framing my pale face. I couldn’t deny I looked beautiful. My cheeks glowed with anticipation as I imagined standing beside Alpha Luca, becoming his Luna. The ceremony would solidify everything our families had wanted for us. “Thank you, Cora. I just want everything to be perfect,” I said, biting my l
His words chilled me to the bone, and I could barely breathe. My mother’s death… my father’s disappearance… what did he know? What was he keeping from me? “But…” My voice was barely audible, trembling with fear and desperation. “Please… just tell me…”He straightened, the cruel smile still playing on his lips. “No. I think I’ve said enough.” He turned away, dismissing me without another word.I stood there, frozen, as the last remnants of hope shattered inside me. The weight of his threats crushed what little strength I had left. There was no way out. Not anymore.Tears welled up again, but I held them back. I couldn’t cry in front of him, couldn’t let him see me break. I turned on my heel and left the room. As I reached my room, I collapsed onto the bed, sobbing into the pillow. The happiness I’d felt earlier was a distant memory now, replaced by an overwhelming emptiness.I lay on the bed, numb, staring at the ceiling as tears rolled silently down my cheeks. This was supposed to b
Indie’s laughter rang out, high-pitched and mocking. “Oh, poor Aria. Did you really think this was your night? Don’t kid yourself. You’re just here to fill a space, nothing more.” Before I could respond, Luca tightened his grip on both our hands, pulling us forward. The three of us walked toward the entrance, with me on one side like an unwanted accessory, while Luca and Indie walked with pride and confidence. I felt small, like a shadow beside them, completely overshadowed by their presence. As we stepped into the hall, the whispers started immediately, a low murmur that quickly spread through the crowd. I could hear bits and pieces of what they were saying. “Isn’t she the one with the tragic family history?” “They say her mother’s death was… suspicious.” “I heard her father ran away after it happened. What a disgrace.” My heart ached with every word, each whisper like a dagger slicing through my already fragile composure. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from crying, clin
Gasps echoed through the hall, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was the girl in front of me, staring at me with a mixture of shock and disbelief.Luca’s eyes blazed with fury as he stepped closer, his chest puffing out like he could intimidate me. “You can’t just barge in here and—”Before he could finish, I grabbed him by the collar and yanked him toward me, showing him exactly who held the power. “I don’t ask,” I snarled, my voice dropping to a deadly whisper. “She’s mine by fate, and nothing you say or do will change that.”I released him with a shove, watching with satisfaction as he stumbled back, fury and frustration visible in his expression. A girl with matching outfits clung to his arm, her face pale as she glanced between us.But my focus wasn’t on them anymore. It was on Aria. I was waiting for the signs, the trembling knees, the uncontrollable urge to get closer but none of them showed on her. It was strange. The mate bond should’ve consumed her like it does for every
His words sent a chill down my spine, and I realized with horrifying clarity that this was my new reality. I had no choice—Kael had decided, and there was no turning back. Even Luca knew he couldn’t stand against him. But despite everything, I couldn’t stop the ache in my chest when I thought of Luca. He was a liar and a cheat, but he was the one I thought I could depend on. How did it all end up like this?Why does it feel as if I'm cursed? As I got into the car, I felt trapped. The dark secret I’d been hiding—the real reason I was willing to marry Luca, even after everything—would have to stay buried, at least for now. Kael couldn’t know, or it would destroy everything. But the danger that secret carried felt distant compared to the nightmare I was being dragged into now. Even if Luca was a coward, at least I knew what to expect from him. Kael? He was a whole different beast, a force that could shatter everything I had left.The car sped away from the chaotic hall, and I couldn’t h
~KAEL~I woke up to the sound of my phone buzzing nonstop. I grabbed it, already feeling the weight of the notifications before even looking at them. The headlines flooding the screen were worse than I expected:*Kael claims an unknown mate—who is Aria?* *Kael steals Luca’s fated mate! Has he gone too far?* *With Eliara by his side, why would Kael choose this nobody?*I stared at the screen, feeling the anger rise in my chest.The comments were relentless, picking apart every decision I had made. Aria wasn’t supposed to be in this mess. She was Luca’s fated mate, promised to him. And I had taken her. Stolen her right out from under him. It didn’t help that Eliara, my top concubine, was still in the picture, and everyone was wondering why I didn’t just make her my Luna.*Eliara’s been loyal for years. Why pick some weak girl?* The anger was boiling over now. They didn’t know her, didn’t know me. They thought I’d gone mad, like I’d just thrown my entire future away for nothing. I
~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