ARIA
Three days later, everyone in the pack knew about my upcoming marriage and our alliance with the Blood Shadow Pack. Everyone was eagerly awaiting that day, everyone except for me. My frustration grew by the minute. Blaze set a few wolves to follow wherever I went. He wanted to make sure that I wouldn't try to escape before the wedding. I couldn't even go pee without some bastard mind-linking Blaze about it.
As three more days went by, my surveillance turned almost into a house arrest. But just when I thought that all chances for my plan to succeed were gone, my friends, Damara and Nessa, showed up. Damara and I were in the same class in high school. She was this sexy blond vamp type with blue eyes. She had always been aware that she was attractive, and she made fair use of it, changing her boyfriends every two months. Nessa was a short, brown-haired cutie-pie with cat-like green and grey eyes. Despite her innocent look, Nessa loved to party, drink, and seduce boys. Damara and I met Nessa in a downtown café two years ago, where she made a fatal judgment in choosing her date. I knocked him down, and she called me her personal hero. We had been friends ever since.
"I'm surprised that Blaze let you in," I admitted as they walked into my room.
Nessa threw her hands around my neck and started sobbing. "I'm so happy for you! My friend is going to marry an Alpha!"
Seriously... She seemed genuinely and naively happy. What could I say? Nessa had never been the smartest she-wolf in the pack. I wanted to tell her how I felt about this marriage, but then Damara joined...
"I know that you may not be happy about this marriage, but Aria, you are doing this for the pack," she said, patting my shoulder. Nessa nodded, proving that she completely agreed with Damara's statement.
My jaw dropped. I thought that those two were supposed to be on my side! Didn't they see that it was wrong?!
"I keep hearing that this is for the pack, but I wanted to find my mate," I claimed, frustration filling the sound of my voice. "I wanted to fall in love and wanted to be loved in return. I don't want—"
"Love is overrated." Damara brushed off my feelings with a nonchalant wave of her hand. "Think how powerful you'll become! You will become a Luna! That's the highest position a woman can have!" Her exaggerated enthusiasm did everything but help me improve my mood.
My heart was literally breaking apart. My closest friends were against me. I wanted to argue and tell them how wrong they were, but in all my despair, something completely opposite fell out of my mouth as I opened it...
"You are right. I should be happy." I made the worst false smile ever. "I am simply overwhelmed because it is all happening so fast... and the fact that I will become the Luna of the Blood Shadow Pack…"
Liar. I was the worst liar ever, and the fact that none of my friends cared to notice it broke my heart even more.
"You will be the most beautiful bride ever!" Nessa squealed, jumping and waving her hands like an excited child.
I stretched my lips into a thin smile.
"Today we will help you find the most gorgeous dress and sexy lingerie!" Nessa continued.
My smile turned into an awkward grimace. "Guys, please, just stop—"
"And tomorrow we are taking you to your bachelorette party at the Silver Mist Club!" she exclaimed.
I laughed nervously. "That will never happen. Blaze would never let me go to a club and—"
"He already agreed," Damara said as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"We told him that it would be your final day as a single girl in the pack and that he has to let you go," Nessa explained and then whispered, winking at me, "We told him that it would be a girls-only night, but that is not entirely true..."
My eyes opened wide, and the corners of my lips curled into a bright grin. A party at the club where wolves from other packs were coming, and without Blaze's strict surveillance?! This could be my only chance!
"So, Aria, what do you say?" Damara smirked.
I chuckled, feeling hopeful for the first time in six days. "I'm all in."
***
An hour later, we went to the finest shopping street in Silverville to buy my wedding dress. I couldn't care less about the gown I never planned to wear, but I did my best to pretend that I was excited. We went to the most expensive boutiques, where Damara and Nessa made me try dress after dress, commenting on each one. It felt like a nightmare. The plastered smile I kept on my face was getting more and more uncomfortable. I needed to stop this process before I entered too deep into a state of panic.
"Guys!" I called out after taking off my hundred-and-one dress. "I don't care about the freaking lace and gems! Just bring me something simple!"
Nessa blinked her eyes as if she needed time to process my words. "You are right! Your silver hair will shine more than any glittering stones!" she giggled and ran off to find me another gown.
"I disagree." Damara looked me up and down and crossed her arms over her chest. "You are the pack's precious princess, and that will be your final day in our pack. You should shine the best way you can."
"Precious princess, my ass..." I muttered angrily.
I wanted this whole shopping spree to be over already. I grabbed another gown that Nessa brought for me and prayed that it was the last one. Once I put it on me, it didn't seem that bad. It was a simple, silk dress with a deep neckline and a trumpet-shaped skirt.
"I love this one!" I exclaimed after carefully correcting my smile. "I think it looks gorgeous."
Nessa narrowed her eyes, examining the gown as I made a slow turn, and then gave me a wry smile. "Well... I don't know. Maybe it's a little too simple."
I forced myself to widen my grin. "This is the one I want!"
After arguing for another ten minutes, Damara and Nessa finally let me leave the boutique with the simplest dress this shop had to offer. I sighed in relief, thinking the torture was over, but I was wrong…
"The lingerie shop is over there!" Nessa called out merrily, pointing at another boutique at the end of the block.
"Goddess have mercy..." I mumbled in frustration.
Damara chuckled and grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the shop. "Let's go, bride-to-be. You need something sexy to wear for your wedding night."
I flinched at the mere thought of being touched by a man who was nearly three times my age. But then I thought that I actually should buy new lingerie; I would need it for the night I was going to lose my virginity.
I kept my confidence until I saw all the lace bras and panties that consisted of a few straps and a hole in the middle. Ninety percent of the collection screamed, "I'm a slut." I wasn't a prude, but even the thought of wearing anything like that made me uncomfortable.
"Here, try this. It would wrap your big boobs nicely." Nessa stepped toward me and pressed a red lace bra to my shirt.
I held it against my chest and looked into the mirror. It was see-through with delicate rose flowers in the nipple areas. I kept staring at my reflection while Nessa and Damara became busy looking for the new sets for themselves. I definitely was the only one who felt out of place there. I sighed heavily and turned my head toward the window. There was a gas station across the street with a red pickup truck parked by the dispenser. I couldn't tell why, but I walked closer to the window, staring at the car. A minute later, three tall and strong-built guys walked out of the gas station store and stopped by that truck. My heart started to race. They were definitely not from our pack, and all three of them looked sexy as hell!
The tallest one had long straight brown hair tied in a ponytail. He had a fierce look, emphasized by thick eyebrows and a sharply shaved beard. The second one was blond-haired and blue-eyed with a boyish look. He seemed cute, but my eyes locked on the third one—the ultimate level of sex-on-legs.
The way he combed his brown hair with his fingers made my heart skip a beat. Everything about him, from his dark-chocolate irises, sharp jaw, and defined cheekbones to each chiseled muscle, perfectly visibly underlined by the tight T-shirt he was wearing, was like the very definition of hot. The sight of him was absolutely mouthwatering. I was staring at him, watching him standing by the pickup and discussing something with those two other guys he came with. He had the most delicious and heart-stoppingly dangerous aura around him. It literally screamed "Alpha" and made me uncontrollably clench my thighs. Goddess! My wolf started to whimper as she saw him, and I could hardly restrain my urge to do the same.
Suddenly, he stopped talking with his friends, and his eyes shifted my way. I froze and might have stopped breathing. He was looking straight into my eyes while his lips produced the smuggest smile I had ever seen. I needed to swallow the excess saliva; my mouth was watering way too fast. Then his eyes went to my chest and the smile turned into a wide grin. Only when I followed his line of sight did I realize that I was still holding the damn red lace bra pressed to my chest! I blushed and hurriedly tossed it away.
"I thought I would buy that bra. It would really look good on you." I heard Nessa's voice behind my back.
I turned around, smiling nervously, and picked up the lace lingerie from the floor. "I-I think I will buy it," I said.
"You should." She grinned happily and went to the counter to pay for the few items she picked for herself.
I turned back around, looking for Mr. Irresistible, but he was already gone, and so was the red pickup truck. I sighed heavily, foolishly hoping that I would find a guy looking just as hot at my bachelorette party...
ARIAThat day finally came. It was it, the day of my bachelorette party. It was my last day of freedom. I had to lose my virginity during that party no matter what. Unfortunately, it didn't seem like I was getting any closer to my goal...I thought that going to the Silver Mist Club would be perfect to make my plan work. The club belonged to our pack but was on the far outskirts of the pack's territory. It welcomed wolves from other packs and humans as well. Before I walked in, I was mentally prepared for a one-night stand, but my strong determination left me once I was inside, giving in to doubts and hesitation.Now I was sitting in a throne-like chair, wearing a pink veil with a glittered pink crown, and wondering what the hell I was doing. I was drinking my fifth sweet drink with a tiny umbrella, pretending that I was having a good time and forcefully smiling at my friends. My eyes had already scanned ninety-nine percent of the male specimens within the club without finding anyone
ARIAThis was insanity. I was insane. I knew nothing about the man I was with, but I trusted him. Did it make any sense? The way he held me in his arms felt amazing. I felt safe as if I had always belonged there.His tongue quickly found its way into my mouth. He caressed me gently before deepening the kiss and forcing a soft moan out of my throat. His arms traveled up my back, finding the long zipper of my dress. I hardly registered when he pulled it down and his fingers began to explore my naked skin. He ripped my thin shoulder straps with one swift move and made my pink dress fall to the floor. I didn't wear a bra since the bodice held my boobs well enough, but I instantly regretted it. Perhaps I shouldn't have problems with nudity while being a wolf who ends up naked after every shift, but this made me feel completely vulnerable…"Don't hide from me," he ordered when my hands went to cover my breasts.I looked into his eyes and gasped. I could swear that his irises were burning, a
ARIAThe man I had slept with was no longer there. I missed his warmth. I missed him. Was it strange? I didn't even know his name; I hadn't asked for it. I thought I was prepared for everything that came with a one-night stand. It went according to my plan. I was no longer a virgin. So why did it feel like there was a hole in my heart?The time I spent in his arms was the most amazing moment of my life. No words could describe how I felt. I had been cherished and spoiled by the pleasure he had given me. It wasn't anything I expected; it was a thousand times better, but as he left, I felt incomplete."Snap out of it, Aria!" I scolded myself, slapping my cheeks. "He was just a hot guy! A human!"I knew I had to get my head straight. I did it. I would not become the wife of some old man, and one day I would find my true mate and be happy. I giggled dreamily at that thought, but my laughter died quickly as I tried to get out of bed.I found out the new meaning of the word "soreness." I co
*TRIGGER WARNING* To sensitive readers, please mind that this and the following chapter contain descriptions of violence, physical abuse, and humiliation.ARIAThe members of my pack were still standing in a circle, silently looking at Alpha Kestrel with fear in their eyes. It became obvious that most of them were forced to come here and watch my punishment, and it wasn't my brother who had given that command. Of course, the Blood Shadow Alpha didn't come alone. Kestrel took his own warriors, more than twenty of them. They stood in two lines on standby. I bet that each of those hulk-like men could take down more than twenty of ours. Let's face it, if Alpha Kestrel decided to skin me alive, no one would have the power to stop him. If Alpha Kestrel wanted to take over our pack, he would only have to snap his fingers.The man standing in front of me formed his mouth into a disgusting grin. His eyes, heavy-coated with madness, wandered up and down my body. I was standing before him barefo
ARIAIt had been a week, a week of endless suffering. All the rogue wolves in the prison cells had died, and I wasn't certain if I was still alive either. Perhaps I had died and entered the worst kind of hell, where my process of dying was locked up in a loop, and I was forced to relive it over and over again. I stopped caring about my nudity. I couldn't even imagine what vicious kind of pain my body would experience if the cuts on my back, arms, and shoulders were suddenly covered with a piece of dirty cloth.My wolf turned silent, and yet she kept lending me her healing powers, preparing me for the next day of torture even against my will. I want this to end. I knew that she was trying to keep me alive, fighting for both of us, but I had already surrendered.My brother stopped coming to watch me being tortured. Other pack members also decided to stay as far away as possible from Alpha Kestrel and his new favorite toy. I guess they figured that it wasn't their problem."She deserved
TYRIONI dreamed about her again. The past week had been a constant madness, and yet she could silence everything around me and fill my thoughts with nothing but her image. My mate. I had never wanted to have one. Having someone to care about felt bothersome, especially for an Alpha King. The very thought of love and all that crap was making me want to puke, but now I was genuinely considering claiming her—my silver-haired angel.This was all so fucked up. Only a week ago, my father was still alive and was as fucking annoying and useless as a king as usual. Now, I was about to become the next King and the Alpha of the Moon Blade Pack. I dreamed of this day. I was ready for it. But I had fucking never wanted to take over due to my father's being assassinated.Two weeks ago, I learned about Silver Blood Pack's drug business, but when I told my father about it, he refused to investigate it. I got seriously pissed. I took two of my men, Felix and Zane, and we went undercover to get eviden
ARIAI heard my heart beating. My chest heaved and fell, responding to every breath I pulled into my lungs. I was alive. I opened my eyes slowly and instantly met the blinding light. As my sight adjusted, I realized that it was the sun rays coming from the window. I was lying on the bed, half-covered in sheets with a familiar scent, Harriet's scent. Tears immediately filled my eyes. Did she save me? But how? I thought I was going to die. I thought there was no one in this world who would help me...I tried to lift myself, but the sudden pain in my back squeezed the groan out of my throat."Thank goodness! You're finally awake!" I heard Harriet's warm voice."Harriet..." There were no words to express my gratitude."Don't force yourself. Your body isn't completely healed yet," she said, seeing me struggle to lift myself up. She grabbed my hand to help me sit and then sat next to me on the bed."How long… I was unconscious?" I asked, wondering how long it took for my body to heal."Two
Five years later.TYRIONI was half-sitting on my bed with my bent elbows supporting my upper body and my feet touching the floor. A naked blonde kneeled between my legs. She smiled at me before taking my cock into her hands and started to lick the tip. I watched her attempts to satisfy me, but her slightest touch was already pissing me off. Finally, she opened her mouth and took the head, already finding my size uncomfortable. Her gagged expression painted a cold smirk on my face. I glared at her, and she hurriedly jerked her head toward me, trying to push my cock deeper into her throat. An inch. That bitch took merely an inch more, and I could already see tears in her eyes.I ran out of patience. I grabbed her hair at the back of her head and thrust myself deeper, making her choke. Her eyes went up, looking at me pleadingly, but I didn't give a damn. I stood up and started to pound inside her, positioning her the way she could finally take it all. She whimpered, and her body tremble
TYRION Four months later I loved waking up while feeling the warmth of Aria's magnificent naked body. I could never restrain my fingers from tracing her curves while we were lying like this. I always looked forward to the soft gasps that broke through her plush lips each time my touch pleased her. This time was no different. A low growl left my throat as she shifted in her sleep, instinctively pushing her curvy butt toward my erection. I grabbed her hips and rubbed my hard cock against the sensitive skin between her thighs. She moaned. Her heart started to race, and the delicious scent of her arousal filled the air of our bedroom. My hands wandered to her breasts, feeling her nipples harden underneath the feather-like touch of my fingertips. Another moan left her lips when one of my hands slipped between her legs to tease her clit. "You're so bad for waking your Queen like this…" she breathed. "You love me when I'm bad," I purred before biting her neck. She turned around and pushe
ARIA Once the Moon Blade pierced my mate's chest, Gadreel looked at me in shock. Pain and fury twisted his expression. He curled his fingers on the silver blade and used the remains of his strength to pull it out. Too late. I might have been crying my eyes out, but my grip stayed as strong as it was at the moment I thrust the sword, ripping the flesh of my loved one. Suddenly, his body began convulsing as if he had been electrocuted. He roared viciously as his blazing eyes turned into black smoke. The overwhelming stink of sulfur hit my nostrils, making me lean back as more smoke evaporated through Tyrion's skin. I felt as if I was being led by the Moon Blade itself. It told me to withdraw the blade, and I obeyed. Once I did, Tyrion's body fell to the ground, and the sword began to shine brighter than before. Then the blade started sucking in the smoke. I could hear the shrieks of the dying demon as his essence sank in the glow of the Moon Blade until everything turned silent. I coll
ARIAMy eyes widened in terror as I saw the dark smoke surrounding Tyrion surge into his body. The demonic essence filled him in seconds, and I could only scream while watching it happen. Hespera was slowly regaining her strength. She got up to her knees, pulled out the remaining red crystal from the pocket of her robe, and squeezed it in her hand. Then her eyes shifted to Tyrion, and she welcomed the sight of him becoming possessed by the demon with a dark grin spreading her mouth.I yanked the silver rings, trying to loosen their anchorage in the rocks. My wrists were bleeding, but I couldn't care less about the physical pain. The only ache that became unbearable was my heart breaking at the sight of Felix's bloodied corpse and my mate, who was about to become someone else...Tyrion proudly straightened up his naked body, his blood-dirtied chest heaved and fell, emphasizing his defined muscles. When his eyes opened, I knew that he wasn't the one in control of this body. Tears floode
TYRIONEight hours earlierI almost lost it when I heard that Harriet was Hespera's sister and could have located her. We could have used that spell months ago and traced that bitch before she had begun her killing spree! Harriet tried to explain that she only found out recently, but that didn't lessen my fury."Alpha Tyrion, I beg you. Try to understand that for many years I was convinced that my sister died in a fire. Not until I saw her in the coven's castle did I know for certain—""Harriet, you suspected who the dark witch might be, but you haven't told anyone about it, not even Aria. Now Aria is in grave danger, and we could have avoided it if we had caught Hespera sooner. If anything happens to Aria, I will forever blame you for it." My tone was as sharp as the finest sword, but she should still be grateful that I used words instead of my claws.She stepped back cautiously and frowned. "You know that I would never do anything to hurt Aria."I slowly exhaled my anger. "Let's hop
ARIAI felt as if my body had been run over by a truck at least five times. At the same time, someone had installed hammer drills inside my head, and I could feel them piercing through my skull. I think I hated wolfsbane more than silver poisoning. And now the pain caused by the poison, mixed with the heartache caused by the betrayal of someone whom I trusted...A painful groan left my throat as I opened my eyes, and I was strangely grateful for not being blinded by light once I did. The place where I was looked like a cave filled with lit candles. I was lying on the hard, stone ground. I was cuffed in silver, and each of my hands was chained by a separate chain to a wall. The length of those chains allowed me to either lay on the ground or sit against the wall. I kept wondering why I was brought here. Should I be grateful for being still alive?"I can see that you're awake, she-wolf." Hespera's voice echoed in the cave's empty space.I turned my aching head toward the sound and saw h
TYRIONI was waiting in the side room attached to the auditorium, waiting for the ceremony to begin. It was supposed to start fifteen minutes ago. The audience had already filled their seats, and everyone was waiting for my mate to walk in and dazzle them with her beauty. Nova and Nessa stood next to me, and I could see they were more nervous by the second, just like I was.‘Alpha Tyrion, come to your office. This is deadly urgent!’ Aziz's sharp-edged voice sounded through the mind link.‘Aziz, you were supposed to be here. My wedding is about to start,’ I said, irritated.‘Where is Felix? Is he somewhere near you?’ Now I could sense panic in his voice.I leaned outside to check if he or Aria showed up, but there was no sign of either of them. ‘No. Felix is with Aria now,’ I replied.‘We need to find him and arrest him!’ he shouted frantically.‘What the fuck are you talking about?!’ I roared.‘Alpha, I've just received the remastered footage with a clear picture. The one who killed t
ARIA I had an odd and disturbing dream. It was nothing like my terrifying vision of Tyrion and me, but it still left my heart wildly pounding and my body tense. In my dream, I was merely an observer. I saw two little, smiling girls, and somehow I knew that it was Harriet and her sister. Harriet had her brown hair tied in a cute ponytail while her red-haired sister's hair was braided. They both wore similar dark-gray dresses with long sleeves, resembling the long robes the coven witches had. They were running through a flowery meadow. Then, they stopped to spin around among the flowers. At one moment, a butterfly sat on Harriet's finger. Harmony tried to touch it, but the butterfly flew away. Harriet picked up a red poppy flower and handed it to Harmony. "Harmony, look! Isn't it pretty?" she said. Harmony narrowed her deep-green eyes, and the flower dried in her hands. Then she gave Harriet a cold stare. "Don't call me Harmony. There is nothing harmonious about me," she hissed. Harr
ARIA My whole body hurt, but the dumb smile didn't leave my face. Was it what people call happiness? If so, then the hot embodiment of my happiness was lying next to me. His upper arm served as my pillow while his forearm uncontrollably caressed my back. Tyrion's other hand was lazily lying on my waist, giving him easy access to my naked buttocks. From the second I opened my eyes, I could enjoy his amazing features in a deep, peaceful sleep. I could never get enough of him. He had the amazing ability to disarm my fears, build my confidence and strength, fire up my senses, and overfill me with pleasure. Still, I knew that each day I would wake up in his arms, I would only ask for more. He was the cause of my insatiable thirst. "You're doing it again, angel." His deep purr sent a direct signal between my thighs. "I'm not doing anything… yet," I said hoarsely. He chuckled and pulled me close so I could feel every rigid inch of him. "You're aroused," he whispered as his hand stroked th
TYRIONI didn't want to leave Aria. Seeing her cowering, crying, and reluctant to accept my touch was unbearable. She said that she was going to be fine, but it sounded more like she didn't want to talk about it. I respected her choice, yet the image of my shivering mate stayed in my mind for the rest of the day, filling me with anxiety.It was hard to focus on my duties, but I had to. I called the royal council meeting. It was time they stopped demanding and started helping like they were supposed to. After I got rid of the pests, Aldo Lefebre was appointed a natural council's leader. I couldn't be more glad of that choice. The mood in the council seemed to change as well. I could sense no stink of hostility or fear as I entered the audience hall to sit with the council."I came to inform you of the current situation, and I demand your assistance and guidance," I started. "A few days ago, my Luna fought against the dark witch. We now know that her name is Hespera. Hespera attacked he