~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
~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~ 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~ 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
~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~Just as we were about to leave, I turned to Damon “Hey, before we head out, do you think I should change my outfit?” I said, glancing down at my clothes.Damon raised an eyebrow at me, “You look just fine, Aria. No need to change" The way he said my name tickled me and I almost smiled before I caught myself. What the fuck! Focus Aria.I blinked hard, “But..""No buts" Damon interrupted gently. "You look good and more importantly you look comfortable.”“Okay, okay, I guess you're right.” I raised my hands as a way to surrender.Damon nodded, “You're perfect just the way you are."I paused. I wasn't expecting those words from Damon. I was about to say something but then he started moving towards the door. I followed him without saying another word. He led me outside to one of the cars. He opened the back door for me, and I smiled, thanking him. But then, to my surprise, I reached for the front seat instead.Damon’s voice floated in my ears. "You're not supposed to sit in the fr
~DAMON~ I couldn’t stop the smile from creeping across my face as I left Aria. The guards were keeping watch as usual, and I quickly gave them some instructions to ensure everything was in order. I trusted them to handle things, but there was always a part of me that remained vigilant. I entered into my car and drove away from Kael’s estate. The day had been... well, unexpected. I’d figured Aria might enjoy a change of pace, something simple to distract her from everything that had happened recently. But I hadn’t anticipated just how much fun it would be. Watching her interact with the kids at the orphanage, seeing the way she effortlessly connected with them, was a sight to see. She had a kind of warmth about her that radiated. It was easy to see why they took to her so quickly. And Dahlia—seeing her bond with Aria had been its own thing. The way Dahlia’s face lit up when Aria spoke to her. I had to admit it: Aria would make a fantastic mother someday. I shook my head as if tryin
~ARIA~“I need to apologize to you" Damon said. I stood up quickly, holding my hand up to stop him. “No, Damon, it’s not your fault.But Damon didn’t seem convinced. He shifted uncomfortably.“It’s not your fault, Damon,” I repeated. “Yesterday was... one of the best days of my life. I mean it.” Damon stiffened, his eyes avoiding mine, and before I could say anything more, he bowed. He turned and left the room. I couldn’t help but feel that the bond we had started forming was now broken.~The following weeks felt like a blur. My days were spent in a routine, waking up, getting ready, sometimes cooking, sometimes talking to Lena or the other maids. Lady Seraphine and I had become closer, due to the constant calls. It felt good to have an older friend. But Damon… He was distant, avoiding eye contact, keeping conversations short and professional. It was like we were back to where we started, where I was nothing more than Kael’s mate and he was just the stoic Beta.And yet, every time
~ARIA~ I stared at my phone screen, feeling my hands tremble as I scrolled through the comments. I let out a soft sob, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand, but it didn’t help. The tears kept coming, unstoppable.I cried for some minute but what felt like hours. There was a knock on my door. I heard Lena’s voice calling from the other side, soft and gentle, but I couldn’t bring myself to respond. I was tired of the constant pity. She didn’t say anything else, but I could tell she was still there, waiting for me to change my mind. But I didn’t. Instead, I picked up my phone again, scrolling through the endless stream of comments. Then my phone rang. I glanced at the screen, and saw that it was an unknown number. I frowned, wondering who it could be but I didn't pick up. It rang again, and I almost didn’t pick up. But something told me I should. Maybe it was Luca, maybe he wanted to check on me. I didn’t want to talk to him either, but I didn’t have the energy to ignore it anym
~DAMON~ I couldn’t stop the smile from creeping across my face as I left Aria. The guards were keeping watch as usual, and I quickly gave them some instructions to ensure everything was in order. I trusted them to handle things, but there was always a part of me that remained vigilant. I entered into my car and drove away from Kael’s estate. The day had been... well, unexpected. I’d figured Aria might enjoy a change of pace, something simple to distract her from everything that had happened recently. But I hadn’t anticipated just how much fun it would be. Watching her interact with the kids at the orphanage, seeing the way she effortlessly connected with them, was a sight to see. She had a kind of warmth about her that radiated. It was easy to see why they took to her so quickly. And Dahlia—seeing her bond with Aria had been its own thing. The way Dahlia’s face lit up when Aria spoke to her. I had to admit it: Aria would make a fantastic mother someday. I shook my head as if tryin
~ARIA~Just as we were about to leave, I turned to Damon “Hey, before we head out, do you think I should change my outfit?” I said, glancing down at my clothes.Damon raised an eyebrow at me, “You look just fine, Aria. No need to change" The way he said my name tickled me and I almost smiled before I caught myself. What the fuck! Focus Aria.I blinked hard, “But..""No buts" Damon interrupted gently. "You look good and more importantly you look comfortable.”“Okay, okay, I guess you're right.” I raised my hands as a way to surrender.Damon nodded, “You're perfect just the way you are."I paused. I wasn't expecting those words from Damon. I was about to say something but then he started moving towards the door. I followed him without saying another word. He led me outside to one of the cars. He opened the back door for me, and I smiled, thanking him. But then, to my surprise, I reached for the front seat instead.Damon’s voice floated in my ears. "You're not supposed to sit in the fr
~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