**Aria POV"Just one more session and you should be good as new," I said cheerfully.I had just finished giving Chris another dose of aconite and redressing his wound, which seemed to be healing nicely."Thank you, I really appreciate all your help," Chris said with a smile. "You've saved my life.""It's my job," I reminded him. "You paid me, remember?""True," Chris said with a chuckle, "but I get the sense that you're not just doing this for the money. You find purpose in saving lives, and it brings you joy and relief knowing that you do."I didn't reply as I packed up my things. The way Chris looked at me so intently made me feel as though he was looking into my very soul and reading all of its contents.I did not want to linger for too long. Luckily, I didn't have to travel all the way to the lower city for the appointment this time. I had met up with Chris at an apartment building in the middle district. It was not as affluent as the upper city, but it was much mo
**Aria POV"I think I'm going to need some time to think about your offer," I told Chris. "Everything you told me is a lot to process."I decided that not giving him a definitive answer was the best way to safely leave the situation. I would have to lay low for a while to avoid unwanted attention from the Hansens."I was hoping for an answer today," Chris said with a shrug, "But it is understandable that you properly want to weigh the options. But just so you know, my Alpha looks after those in his pack. Under his protection, you wouldn't have to worry about money ever again."Chris paid for the meal and the two of us left the diner.Walking next to him in the street, my mind wandered foolishly. Was this what a real date was supposed to be like? Besides the business deals and warring packs, of course.I briefly touched the wedding ring that I had hidden in my pocket, the illusion spell of my new identity tied to it, and wondered if I would have the time to leisurely walk th
**Aria POV"Tony?" Noah said, enraged. "You ran into that little scoundrel today and you said nothing to me or anyone in the pack! How the hell am I supposed to trust you if you're hiding information like that?""Hey, I'm not part of your little pack war, alright?" I fumed. "And I don't work for you, I work for Henry! Stop thinking that you can order me around."I was getting tired of this. Healers were not supposed to entangle themselves in pack politics; we were just supposed to heal the injured and sick without getting caught up in social issues. But now I was in the thick of it, all because I wanted a fast track out of the slums."Just one problem, 'Arianna,' you're officially the Luna to the Bergmann pack whether your marriage to my father is a sham or not!" Noah exclaimed angrily. "You can't play the middle ground and change your role as you please! If they call you again, you either ignore it or you tell me where they are.""You don't control me, Noah!" I snapped at hi
**Aria POVFeeling as though I would throw up, I violently pushed Noah away from me, knocking him into the wall.Noah looked at me in shock. A look of hurt crossed his face at the realization that I had just rejected him after tempting him, after I had kissed him back and encouraged him. A look of confusion was there as well—confusion that I shared."I'm sorry!" I managed to get out before needing to contain another wave of nausea."Sorry?" Noah echoed. "Just being sorry is not going to cut it when I am constantly being pulled toward you and then pushed away! Do you want me or not? Do you desire me, or do you despise me? Because I am having a hard time deciphering which is which."I didn't know the answer. It had been clear to me only moments ago, but now every inch of my body wanted to be as far away from Noah as possible. It was the complete opposite of how my body had been responding to him ever since we met.When I didn't give him an answer, Noah advanced on me again
**Aria POV"It's unprofessional to contact me directly," I said calmly into the phone, keeping my tone as neutral and businesslike as possible. "We work through brokers for a reason.""I know, I know," Chris's voice chimed though, charming and playful as usual. "I just thought that you and I were practically friends now, so a personal call wouldn't do much harm.""Still," I said, "it's not what I'm used to. But if we're talking now, to what do I owe the pleasure?""Well, my wound is healed completely but there's still a dull ache that's rather bothersome," he explained. "I could go to a clinic, but…I must say I've rather fallen in love with your workmanship."He wanted to discuss the offer he made me in person, luring me in under the pretense of healing him. I knew it was a trick…but why was I so tempted to say yes? I should tell Noah about this. Keeping it from him would only strain things between us again."I'll have to get back to you on that, Chris," I deflected. "I
**Aria POVTen million credits!He had to be joking; there was no way he'd offer a joining fee like that to someone from the slums. I'd been around the block enough to see that the look in his eye and his entire demeanor just screamed 'scheming type.'But strangely enough, a part of me wanted so badly to trust him—no—was begging me to trust him, to go along with whatever he suggested simply because it would make him happy.What the hell was wrong with me?"That is a tempting offer," I said, clearing my throat, "but where I'm from, an offer like that is not without a catch."Chris chuckled. "Yes, I have noticed that residents of the lower city districts are far more skeptical than the folk you'll find up here," he said jovially."But believe me when I say that there is no catch; I see your potential membership as an invaluable asset to my pack, not to mention that you'll be able to practice without fear of the law.""But I still won't be licensed, because then you can't
**Noah POVLeaping from the roof of the mansion, I landed on my feet and dashed toward the woods. It was the weak point in the estate's defenses, so it was the place that Chris and his pack had chosen to attack from.Howls and screams echoed as the Hansen wolves walked straight into the traps we had placed all throughout the forest.My fellow pack members joined me at the treeline. There were ninety of us present at the moment; the others had been stationed all around the estate, as well as with my father down in the tunnels.The wolves with me were itching to transform and attack the intruders."Hold the line!" I yelled. "Don't engage until we see them! If you run in there blind you could head into a trap or an ambush!"More howls echoed through the woods, screams both of pain and rage followed by growls as the enemy transformed. The thundering of a hundred wolf paws could be heard hurtling across the forest floor."Hold!" I yelled.They were getting closer."Hold
I stared in awe and fear at the sight before me.Chris Hansen, whose skin was charred beyond recognition, whose blood now oozed out of the dark cracks, whose scent was lost beneath the stench of burnt flesh, was walking towards us and talking as though being burned to a crisp was merely an inconvenience.Noah pushed me behind him and growled at the walking corpse before us. Even Tony looked shocked at the sight of his brother."What the hell is this?" Noah growled. "How are you still alive?""Whatever do you mean?" Chris asked with mock sincerity. "Was I in some sort of accident?""Get out of here, quickly!" Noah hissed at me."I'm not going anywhere without you!" I said firmly, taking my place beside him. "Answer the question!" I directed at Chris. "Nothing should have survived that blast."Chris's eyes, now freshly reformed, narrowed in on me. Recognition entered his eyes and he laughed."Oh, I should have known," he exclaimed. "The esteemed Arianna Lupa Avaroux and t
"What happened to that thing?" Noah asked in panic when he regained consciousness, grabbing his gun and pointing it at where Silas had been standing."It's alright," I said gently, placing a calming hand on his arm and allowing healing energy to flow through him. "He and Selene came to...an agreement. He's gone for the time being."I thought about what Selene had said—that my life would ensure everyone's safety. Maybe this had been my calling all along.Shaking my head to clear it, I helped Noah up and hugged him tightly. "Come on, love, let's get out of here.""Wait," he said before we started to exit the damaged chamber. "Chris's body. We need to bring it with us to prove to his pack that he is dead. They might attack us if it looks like we just left."I had hoped to just leave Chris and the entire memory of the situation down here in this cavern, but Noah was right. I sighed and nodded.The two of us heaved Chris's body over our shoulders and carried him back to the surf
Chris lay before us, virtually turned to stone.Was that it? Had we finally won? It seemed so surreal that it was actually over. I helped Noah to his feet, giving him support while his wound healed. It did not seem to be that serious, so there was no reason for me to intervene."I should make sure that he's dead," Noah said. "We don't want any more surprises."I nodded in agreement. We stumbled slowly towards Chris's body. Noah tried to kneel down, but was unable to in his current state."I'll do it," I said gently, leaning him against one of the pillars before making my way to Chris.I knelt next to him and placed my fingers on his neck. His body was warm, but there was no pulse. I touched his back and felt no intake of breath. All evidence pointed to him being dead as a doorknob."He's really dead," I sighed, my eyes lingering on Chris, refusing to relax or look away.Noah seemed to still be on edge as well. "Does something not feel quite right to you?" he asked caut
The two packs met on the fields of the conservation land. Weapons were raised and wolves transformed, gnashing their fangs and growling at one another.The Hansen pack's front lines blocked the entrance to the ritual site; it looked like we were going to have to fight our way through to get to Chris, who seemed to not be present amongst his wolves."Chris is probably down in the tunnels already," I said. "We need to get past his vanguard somehow.""Well, we can't exactly open fire," Noah replied. He stepped forward and addressed the Hansen wolves in a clear and commanding voice. "I have no intention to harm any of you!" he said loudly. "I am only here for your Alpha. Let us pass."A young, ashen-haired Hansen pack member stepped forward. "Our Alpha has given us instructions to only let the woman named Aria through," he hollered.I was about to tell Noah that it was fine, that he should just stay here to make sure the Hansen pack didn't cause any problems. But he guessed my in
**Chris POVI groaned, gritting my teeth as my bones reformed for the thousandth time. My inner beast roared in anguish as it bore the weight of the most dangerous of all knowledge. I felt it pull on my soul, already trying to drag me down to the depths of hell for daring to peer into where mortals are forbidden.I got to my feet unsteadily, holding onto the ancient stone walls for balance. I could do with a rest…but I had no time to waste. The ritual needed to be completed now.I stumbled out of the chamber and called for a pack member who had stood guard outside."You there!" I called. "Ready everyone who is able to fight. We storm the Bergmann territory again; this time, our goal is the Nexus point."The wolf nodded and hurried off to spread the news to the others. I was done being careful, done playing the subtle games of espionage and stealing information. I could not afford to waste any more time trying to win over the territory for myself. That would have to come af
**Noah POV"You awake?" Aria asked softly.It was past midnight, and Aria had her head nestled on my chest. I was exhausted and my mind was numb…but I could not sleep. I guess she too was wracked with concern about the events to come."Yeah," I whispered, trailing my fingers through her dark hair. "It seems almost silly to sleep like there's nothing happening.""I know what you mean," she said thoughtfully. "Also, if I close my eyes I'm afraid my dreams will be hijacked by Selene again.""What's it like, to speak to a celestial being?" I asked, still barely able to believe such a thing was even possible."It's…unnerving and exhilarating at the same, like...like being chained to a shooting star," she whispered. "I thought it would be comforting, to have someone powerful watch over you, but it feels more like a target on my back than anything else."I kissed her forehead and rubbed her arm gently. So many times, I had vowed to her that I would protect her, stand by her—and
**Noah POV"Why did you keep all of this a secret from me?" I asked Atlas and my dad angrily.I was in bed, my body aching. Even though Aria had miraculously healed me, coming back from the dead still hurt like a b*tch. My father and Atlas had come to see me after Aria had filled them in on what had happened. She passed out in a deep sleep soon after.At first I was relieved. Then I became angry when I remembered what Aria had told me before Chris had used her to try to kill me."I am the Alpha," I fumed. "You can't just make decisions and then keep them from me!""No offense Noah, but you would have made Chris suspicious had you known what was going on," Atlas said calmly. "You're a pretty pathetic actor.""All of you shouldn't have even done anything! Chris was my battle to fight," I said."Yes, and it would have been a battle you would have lost before it even began," my father grunted. "Chris never had any intention of facing you in Damnatio Memoriae. Surely Aria expl
"Aria!" Noah yelled, rushing to my side."Don't" I screamed, pushing him away from me. "He's awake! He's going to make me kill you! You should go!""I'm not going anywhere!" Noah said firmly, coming to my aid once more.I screamed in pain as my fingers began to transform into claws against my will. I lunged forward to strike Noah across the face, but he caught my arm just in time."Noah, please," I cried, "either you run away or you have to kill me, because Chris is not going to stop and there's nothing that can break this spell."But Noah stayed, holding my claws at bay. His arms began to quiver and I felt his grip loosen. My arm broke free and was raised to attack again. I grabbed it with my own left hand, pulling it back with all my strength.Noah stumbled backward, looking slightly dazed, like he had been drugged. "What is happening?" he mumbled, swaying dangerously.My left hand began to transform as well. I felt Chris's spell strengthen, taking back control of my bo
**Aria POVI hurried away, fearing that I might attack Judy and tear her away from Noah without any mercy or regret. How dare she act so casually around him, knowing what she condemned me to, and having taken pleasure in my suffering?It was getting dark outside and the building had begun to empty. The corridors seemed almost deserted.This really was sick of Chris, to place me in such close proximity to Noah. He probably knew how Judith was cozying up to Noah, too, and that I'd have to watch."You there! Intern!" someone called dramatically. I wiped a single tear from my eye and turned around in surprise, only to see Atlas beckoning me. I approached, and he pulled me into an empty cleaning closet."Okay, so I was right!" he exclaimed excitedly. "The ritual site on Bergmann territory is a Nexus point for dark communion. I remember I sold an old map of Romulus to a collector a few years ago which marked all the ancient ritual sites in the area. That collector was Edmund Han
"Atlas, did you file the report on—" Noah paused when he saw me and Atlas. "I did not know you had company."Atlas and I were standing very close to each other as we whispered, so I did not look like just another colleague."Oh, this is not that sort of company," Atlas fumbled. "This is…""…Tessa from IT," I added quickly. Yet another name to add to my growing list. "Mr. Oasis was having some issues with his computer."Noah furrowed his brow. "Huh…I thought you were an expert with tech, Atlas," he said."I said I'm tech savvy," Atlas said. "That does not mean I'm an expert who's not in need of a real expert."As Noah took a casual step forward, his scent suddenly accosted me, wafting into the air, and I was once again ravaged by feelings of intense nausea. Chris's spell still seemed to affect my physical response to Noah's presence."You seem all set, Mr. Oasis," I said, trying not to double over with pain. "Send me those images of the issue just so I can log it in in cas