Aria The soft strains of the orchestra filled the grand ballroom as William led me gracefully into a dance, his hand resting on my lower back. We began to chat about various topics, everything from my own questions about the modeling world to pointing out interesting masks around the room. But i
But at the same time, dancing with him felt… right. Just as right as that strange scent I had briefly encountered. And I wasn’t moving to walk away, even though I felt bad for William. “Darren,” I suddenly said, unable to hold it in, “I… I think I picked up your scent just now.” His eyebrows sho
Darren I watched Aria dart away, disappearing into the crowd with her gown trailing behind her like a fleeting shadow. My heart pounded in my chest, a tornado of emotions swirling around inside of me. What the hell had I just done? Again? “Dammit,” I muttered under my breath, raking a hand thr
Aria The picture on the screen felt like a knife to the gut. As if tonight wasn’t already confusing enough, images of our kiss—complete with my face on full display—were circulating the internet. I stood there, stunning into silence, just staring at the phone. “No,” I repeated. “No, this can’t b
“So, breakfast?” she asked, her grin a little too eager. “Sure,” I said with a shrug. I was honestly craving some diner coffee and a big stack of waffles. We ended up at the diner down the street a little while later, a cozy little spot with red vinyl booths and the smell of sizzling bacon in th
Aria My heart stopped the moment I saw the pictures on the screen. It was the image from the masquerade—the dip, the kiss, followed by my mad dash with no mask on. And it became clear to me, in that moment, that everyone in the office had seen it. Everyone. Which only meant one thing. “How b
He paused, letting his words sink in. “I hope this clears up any misunderstandings. If anyone has further concerns, my door is always open.” With that, the meeting was over. People filed out slowly, some looking reassured, others still casting curious glances in my direction. I stayed seated, unab
Aria & Third Person Aria The week dragged on like an eternity, each day blending into the next. Darren and I spoke only when necessary—quick exchanges about work tasks or brief updates about Lucas. Nothing personal, nothing meaningful. He kept his distance, and I let him, burying myself in my
As I spoke, I became aware of a strange silence falling over the scene. Not just Darren, but everyone seemed affected by my words. The officers had lowered their weapons slightly. The crowd had gone still, quiet… calm.My voice seemed to carry farther than it should, resonating with a power that fel
AriaI couldn’t breathe. The white fog permeated everything—my clothes, my skin, my lungs. It burned with each inhale, making my wolf howl inside of me. The tincture couldn’t have prepared us for this. Not entirely.But most terrifying of all was the absence of Darren by my side.“Darren!” I shouted
But as we turned onto the main avenue, the counter-protesters grew bolder. They followed alongside us, shouting slurs and insults.“Go back to the forest where you belong!” one man yelled.I kept my eyes forward, trying to project a calm I didn’t feel. Beside me, Darren was doing the same, although
AriaThe trek back to the portal was long and tiring, and by the time we arrived at the mysterious little elevator in the woods, the sun was beating on our backs and a fine coat of sweat had formed between my skin and my jacket. Darren, Liam, and the Lunar Labs gang and I stepped into the elevator f
Nodding, I hugged her again, tighter this time. “I promise.”Wendy approached next, her arms filled with flowers—wildflowers gathered from the meadows surrounding the village.“An old pack tradition,” she explained, placing a stem in my hand. “Carrying a piece of home with you for protection.”The f
AriaOur wedding was never meant to spark even more of a revolution, but somehow, it had. Over the following days, the videos Alfira had captured and shared with the world had gone viral.“Ten million views and counting,” Alfira said one morning as we were going over our plans for the upcoming march
He guided me onto the bed, the sheets cool against my back as I lay down. Darren settled above me, his body a warm, solid weight against mine as he braced himself on his forearms.Our eyes locked, and for a moment, we just breathed together, the air between us like static electricity. Then he kissed
AriaDarren kicked the bedroom door open with a swift nudge of his foot, the heavy wood banging against the wall before he stepped inside and closed it behind us with another kick. I giggled as he set me down gently on the hardwood floor. But then a flush crept up my neck, heating my cheeks.“Darren
Alfira, as per our request, was capturing it all on cameras that she’d surreptitiously placed throughout the space. “You’re trending already!” she announced gleefully, showing us her phone screen where thousands of comments poured in from supporters around the world. Humans and werewolves alike.“St