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 everyone, drawing her to me, making her crave what’s destined. But Aria just stood there, stiff and almost…distant. I could sense her fear, but it wasn’t the kind of fear I was used to seeing in women. This one wasn’t about being caught by surprise; it was something different. She’s supposed to be mine, yet something feels off. It irked me, but it didn't matter. She’s mine, whether she likes it or not. Mate bond or no mate bond, I’ll make sure she knows who she belongs to. There’s no room for stubborness where I stand, and I’ll crush anything—or anyone—that tries to come between us. She’ll submit, eventually. They always do. I’ll tear down whatever loyalty she still clings to for that other fool, Luca. I’ve already taken her away from him; the rest is inevitable. ~ARIA~ Indie hurried over to Luca when he was shoved aside by Luca, panic etched across her face. “Luca, calm down. We can figure this out—” “Get out of my way!” Luca’s voice thundered as he roughly pushed Indie aside. My heart twisted with a dark sense of satisfaction at seeing her knocked off balance. The one who ruined everything was finally being put in her place. Luca’s eyes locked onto mine, blazing with anger. “Aria, enough games! You need to choose, right here, right now—who’s it going to be? Me or him?” My chest tightened as I stood there, torn between two Alphas. I’d loved Luca for years, even with his flaws. But after catching him with Indie on the day that was supposed to be my Luna ceremony, I couldn’t deny the cracks in our relationship. Yet, despite everything, I was still willing to go through with the marriage—anything to avoid the chaos that loomed over my life and I also loved him. But then there was Kael. Everyone knew his name, whispering in fear and awe. The stories about him—how he ruled with an iron fist and took whatever he wanted—were enough to chill anyone’s blood. He wasn’t just dominant; he was ruthless. And now, he claimed I was his mate. The idea terrified me. Before I could even open my mouth to speak, Kael was suddenly beside me. His grip tightened around my wrist, his touch cold and possessive. “You don’t get to choose,” he growled, his voice dripping with authority. “You’re mine, Aria. No one else lays a hand on you while I’m still breathing.” Luca took a furious step forward, his fists clenched. “You think you can just take her, Kael? She’s not some trophy to be won!” “Watch yourself, Luca,” Kael said with a dark smile, his voice low and menacing. “We both know you’re not in my league. You come from a different pack, and we both know you don’t stand a chance against me. So step back, before you end up regretting it.” Luca’s face twisted with frustration and desperation, but he didn’t move. The truth was obvious—he knew he couldn’t take Kael head-on. The tension in the air was suffocating, and I could feel eyes on us, the entire hall holding its breath, waiting for what would happen next. But Kael didn’t give anyone the chance to react. In one swift motion, he yanked me toward the exit, dragging me along like I was nothing more than his possession. “We’re leaving,” he said, his tone brooking no argument. “You’re coming with me, and I won’t hear another word about it.” I stumbled after him, barely keeping up as he pulled me through the crowd. My heart pounded in my chest, fear and confusion swirling inside me. I looked back over my shoulder to see Luca standing there, fury and helplessness etched across his face, but he didn’t dare follow. No one did. They all knew what Kael was capable of—the dark, twisted things he’d done to anyone who crossed him. He was notorious for his cruelty, leaving enemies broken and humiliated. No one was foolish enough to stand in his way. As we stepped outside into the cool night air, I finally found my voice. “Kael, what are you doing? Let go of me!” He barely spared me a glance as he continued leading me away. “You don’t get to tell me what to do, Aria. You’re mine now. I don’t care what plans you had, what life you thought you’d live—it’s over. From now on, you belong to me.” Tears pricked my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I wasn’t just scared—I was trapped. Kael was everything I feared in a man: controlling, domineering, and completely uncaring about what I wanted. But as much as I hated the thought of being with him, I couldn’t deny that a small, dark part of me felt some twisted relief. At least with Kael in the picture, Luca would be forced to see reasons which would lead to him fighting for me to come back to be with him. We reached the parking lot, where a sleek black car awaited us. Kael practically shoved me toward it. “Get in. We’re going to the hotel Luca arranged for tonight. I’m not wasting time with formalities.” I hesitated, I couldn't even move my legs. “Kael, you don’t even know me. Why are you doing this?” He leaned in close, his eyes dark with a possessive gleam. “I don’t need to know you, Aria. You’re my mate, and that’s the only reason I need. No one else is going to touch what’s mine. And if you try to run, if you think you can escape me, I’ll hunt you down. There’s nowhere you can hide from me.”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~ 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