Between Two
Theme: Divided Loyalties
Aria's POV
My skull whirl-turned. Everything feels surreal. One minute, Damian, the only mate I had ever considered, rejected and embarrassed me in front of the whole pack. And Xander has claimed me now. A second mate link? It feels impossible, like some twisted dream I can’t wake up from.
My knee pulled to my chest; I sat at the edge of the woodland. The sky is grey, clouds full of rain, and the breeze feels cool on my skin. Still, the cold is little compared to the uncertainty whirl-around inside me.
“How can this be real?” I whisper to myself. My voice cracks, my heart aching. “How can I have two mates?”
It’s a question I can’t answer, one that feels like it will split me apart if I think too hard about it. I don’t know Xander. He’s a stranger. He’s frightening and powerful, and yet… there’s a pull between us, just like there was with Damian. The bond. I can feel it, but I’m too terrified to embrace it.
Luna appears alongside me, sitting down calmly. She’s been my rock through all of this, but even she appears lost for words. She’s never seen anything like this either.
“You’re stronger than you think, Aria,” Luna adds quietly, her eyes full of concern. “But you need to decide what you want.”
“What do I want?” I chuckle cruelly. “I don’t even know who I am anymore. How am I expected to pick between them?”
Aria’s POV
Later that day, I returned to the pack. The tension is palpable, and I know something is coming. As I walk near the center of the area, I notice Damian charging across the grass. His face is a mask of hatred, his eyes burning with fury. And then I see Xander, standing there, calm as ever, his eyes following my every move.
My heart skips a beat. The relationship between Xander and me is apparent, but Damian… the ache at his rejection is still raw. How could he turn his back on me so casually, and now, why does he appear so furious?
“Damian,” I murmur, my voice shaking as he storms up to Xander. I can feel the wrath radiating off him like he’s barely holding it together.
“You can’t just take her!” Damian snarls, his fists clutched at his sides.
Xander doesn’t even flinch. His serenity in the face of Damian’s wrath only appears to make matters worse. “You rejected her, didn’t you?” Xander’s voice is smooth, controlled, and his eyes flash with a menacing glimmer.
Damian growls low in his throat. “That’s not the point! You can’t simply walk in here and claim her like she’s some prize!”
“I don’t play by your rules,” Xander responds coldly, his eyes never leaving mine. “You threw her away. Now she’s mine.”
I take a step back, my heart thumping in my chest. The intensity between them is suffocating. I don’t know what to say, what to do. Damian rejected me, certainly, but the tie between us hasn’t faded. I can still feel it tugging at my heart, even though I wish it would stop.
“Damian, please,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper, but it’s like he doesn’t hear me.
Damian turns to me, his eyes filled with something I can’t place—regret? Anger? Desperation? “Aria, you don’t belong with him. He’s dangerous.”
I look at Xander, who’s still studying me with his intense, impenetrable gaze. Part of me is terrified of him, but there’s something more too, something I can’t understand. I feel drawn to him, much like I felt drawn to Damian when we first met.
“I… I don’t know what to do,” I admit, my voice breaking.
Xander steps forward, his voice low but forceful. “You don’t have to decide now. But know this—I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”
The way he says it sends a chill down my spine, and I don’t know whether to be reassured or afraid.
Aria’s POV
Word of Xander’s claim has spread like wildfire among the pack. Everywhere I go, I feel eyes on me. Whispers follow me, and I can sense the split. Some are faithful to Damian, their leader, and consider me as nothing more than a complication. Others are interested in Xander, about this unique second mate link. But no one knows what to do with me.
I’m torn.
One moment, I’m thinking about Damian, about the sorrow of his rejection and the relationship we shared. The next, I’m thinking about Xander, the mysterious, deadly man who stepped in when no one else would.
“Why is this happening to me?” I grumble under my breath, pacing back and forth outside my cabin. My hands are shaking, my mind racing with questions I don’t have answers to. I’ve always been the weakest one, the one everyone neglected. And now, I’m in the thick of this disaster, caught between two powerful men who may destroy each other if this goes any further.
Luna comes, her eyes warm with sympathy. “You’re stronger than you realize, Aria. You’ve survived so much already.”
I shake my head, frustration boiling up inside me. “But this? This is different. I don’t know what I’m meant to do. Damian rejected me, but now he’s acting like he cares. And Xander… he’s a stranger, but I can feel the bond. It’s real.”
Luna nods slowly. “It’s not easy, but you’ll figure it out. Just trust your instincts.”
My instincts? I don’t even know what they’re saying to me anymore. All I know is that my heart is being pushed in two separate directions, and I’m frightened of making the wrong choice.
As the sun sets, I sit alone, staring out into the horizon. The breeze is chilly, yet I scarcely feel it. My mind is too busy, my heart too heavy.
What am I going to do now?
I can’t continue like this forever, stuck between two mates, two worlds. Eventually, I’ll have to make a choice. But right now, I don’t know whether I can.
Theme: Emotional DistanceAria's POV The ride to Xander’s pack feels like a haze. One minute, I was standing in my territory, surrounded by the wolves I’ve known all my life, and the next, I was being whisked away by a man who rarely talked to me. We arrive in his pack area just as the sun dips below the horizon. The sky is painted in tones of purple and orange, but it does nothing to soothe the knot in my gut. Xander rushes ahead, barely glancing back at me. His posture is tight, his look unreadable. I trudge behind him, feeling like I don’t belong, that I’ve been forced here against my will. We enter a massive, stone-built home that must be his pack headquarters. Wolves mill around, eyeing our way with an interested, watchful gaze. Their stares make me feel small like I’m some sort of outsider. And maybe I am. Once inside, Xander doesn’t slow down. He walks straight down the halls, his huge strides making it hard for me to keep up. I eventually get the guts to speak. “Xander,”
Theme: Betrayal by a FriendAria's POV Even though I'm just here for a short time, it feels weird to be back in the territory of my former pack. The training grounds, the trees, and the familiar faces all appear the same, yet nothing feels the same. I feel as though I no longer belong here. Since Xander Claimed me.In an attempt to get some solace from my best friend, I make my way to Luna's tiny cabin. No matter what, she is the one person I can rely on. But something doesn't feel right, Luna is standing outside with her back to me, gazing into the woods... "Luna?" I growl, taking a step forward.When she turns around and sees me, her face brightens. Her expression, however, shifts almost as fast, as if she were concealing something. Though it's subtle, I can see it. I'm too familiar with Luna not to notice. "Aria," she says as she approaches me. She gives me a momentary embrace, but it seems aloof as if she isn't there. "Why are you here? I assumed you and Xander would be togethe
Theme: Manipulation and ControlAria's POVI should’ve known Damian wouldn’t leave me alone for long. Ever since the relationship with Xander became evident, I’ve felt his eyes on me. It’s like he’s always watching, waiting for the proper opportunity to strike. Today is no different.I’m sitting on a bench near the pack training grounds, trying to clear my head, Suddenly, Damian is standing in front of me, his black eyes locked on mine. His presence is suffocating.“Aria,” he murmurs, his voice low and focused.I don’t look at him. I can’t. After everything he’s done, the last thing I want is to hear whatever
Theme: Impossible ChoicesAria's POV The tension in the air is high, almost stifling. I’m standing just outside the council chamber, concealed in the darkness, yet I can hear everything. Xander’s voice is calm and commanding as he makes plans with his pack's council. “We need to move quickly,” Xander says, his tone leaving no room for debate. “If we don’t, they’ll strike first, and we’ll be at a disadvantage.” My heart races. What is he talking about? Who’s going to strike first? I lean closer, my thoughts swirling as I attempt to make sense of the discourse. Then, I hear something that makes my blood run cold. “Aria’s old pack is weak,” one of the council members says... “They won’t be able to resist an attack. We can conquer their territory and safeguard the northern borders.” I freeze. My pack? Are they going to assault my former pack? No… this can’t be happening. My chest tightens as I listen, hoping for Xander to stop them and say something that suggests he won’t go throug
Aria's POVAs Marcus walks closer with piercing eyes and a piece of parchment that appears to be ancient, the air feels dense. His stare pounds heavily on me, making my heart race. Why he's looking at me that way is beyond me. What will he say next? Marcus starts by declaring, "You're the one, Aria," in a calm yet very anxious tone. "Xander and you are the beginning of something greater than any of us." My stomach flips when I blink. "What are you discussing?" Between us on the table, Marcus unfolds the parchment. The writing appears to be older than time itself, with symbols and lines in a language I cannot make out. He taps the paper and says, "The prophecy." "A wolf born from two rival packs was predicted long ago to either bring them together or destroy them." The remarks were like a kick to the stomach. Bring them together, or destroy them? I step back and shake my head. "This isn't possible." Marcus never takes his eyes off mine. "Aria, it's true. Two rival groups were yo
Pack Tensions RiseAria's POVAlmost immediately as Marcus presented the prophecy, the murmuring began. As I walk across the pack grounds, I can feel the weight of their gaze. Some curious, while some glared at me with mistrust and suspicion. The air is tense.As I walk by, I can hear one of them whispering to another "She's only loyal to Xander now."I tried to ignore the stinging pain in my chest, gritting my teeth. This is not what I wanted. The whispers become more hostile, more louder, as though they're waiting for me to make a mistake so they would attack."Like they said, she will betray us all."I don't want to dwell on how badly the insults wound me. Betray them? They assumed that I had betrayed them after I had spent my entire life in my prior pack. I sense that my people, with whom I grew up, are now perceiving me as an adversary. I feel as though I have no place here, in Xander's territory. I seem to be caught between two realities, neither of which wants me.I'm headed ba
Weakest of Them Theme: Insecurity and IsolationAria's POV The fresh breeze swirls around me as I stand at the edge of the training grounds, watching the others. They’re aggressive, fast, and full of force, everything I’m not. The sounds of growls, grunts, and thuds fill the air as they practice their combat methods, their bodies moving with an ease I can only dream of. My chest tightens. I want to be strong, but deep down, I know I don’t belong here. “Come on, Aria, you should train with us,” Luna shouts out, her voice bursting through my thoughts. She stands boldly in the center of the group, her golden hair shimmering under the midday sun. She’s everything I’m not brave, skilled, and full of energy. I shake my head, taking a step back. “I’m not like you, Luna,” I mutter. “I’ll just make a fool of myself.” Luna’s stare softens as she walks over to me. “You won’t get stronger if you keep hiding,” she adds, resting a hand on my shoulder. “You’re part of this pack, Ari
The Mate Bond Theme: Rejection and DisillusionmentAria's POV I sat on the edge of a large rock near the trees, staring blankly at the ground. Damian’s remarks from yesterday keep playing in my head, over and over. "Pathetic." He touched me. I know what I felt the tie between us, igniting to life the instant his hand brushed mine. But then he walked away, like I didn’t matter at all. How can someone just ignore something so strong? Something that feels so real? I pull my knees to my chest, embracing them tight. The others are practicing again, and I can hear their yells and laughing in the distance. Normally, I’d avoid them, but today, it’s different. It’s not only about my vulnerability anymore. It’s this peculiar draw toward Damian that’s messing with my head. Just thinking about him makes my heart ache. “Aria?” Luna’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. She approaches cautiously, her eyes full with anxiety. She’s been keeping a close eye on me ever since Damian
Pack Tensions RiseAria's POVAlmost immediately as Marcus presented the prophecy, the murmuring began. As I walk across the pack grounds, I can feel the weight of their gaze. Some curious, while some glared at me with mistrust and suspicion. The air is tense.As I walk by, I can hear one of them whispering to another "She's only loyal to Xander now."I tried to ignore the stinging pain in my chest, gritting my teeth. This is not what I wanted. The whispers become more hostile, more louder, as though they're waiting for me to make a mistake so they would attack."Like they said, she will betray us all."I don't want to dwell on how badly the insults wound me. Betray them? They assumed that I had betrayed them after I had spent my entire life in my prior pack. I sense that my people, with whom I grew up, are now perceiving me as an adversary. I feel as though I have no place here, in Xander's territory. I seem to be caught between two realities, neither of which wants me.I'm headed ba
Aria's POVAs Marcus walks closer with piercing eyes and a piece of parchment that appears to be ancient, the air feels dense. His stare pounds heavily on me, making my heart race. Why he's looking at me that way is beyond me. What will he say next? Marcus starts by declaring, "You're the one, Aria," in a calm yet very anxious tone. "Xander and you are the beginning of something greater than any of us." My stomach flips when I blink. "What are you discussing?" Between us on the table, Marcus unfolds the parchment. The writing appears to be older than time itself, with symbols and lines in a language I cannot make out. He taps the paper and says, "The prophecy." "A wolf born from two rival packs was predicted long ago to either bring them together or destroy them." The remarks were like a kick to the stomach. Bring them together, or destroy them? I step back and shake my head. "This isn't possible." Marcus never takes his eyes off mine. "Aria, it's true. Two rival groups were yo
Theme: Impossible ChoicesAria's POV The tension in the air is high, almost stifling. I’m standing just outside the council chamber, concealed in the darkness, yet I can hear everything. Xander’s voice is calm and commanding as he makes plans with his pack's council. “We need to move quickly,” Xander says, his tone leaving no room for debate. “If we don’t, they’ll strike first, and we’ll be at a disadvantage.” My heart races. What is he talking about? Who’s going to strike first? I lean closer, my thoughts swirling as I attempt to make sense of the discourse. Then, I hear something that makes my blood run cold. “Aria’s old pack is weak,” one of the council members says... “They won’t be able to resist an attack. We can conquer their territory and safeguard the northern borders.” I freeze. My pack? Are they going to assault my former pack? No… this can’t be happening. My chest tightens as I listen, hoping for Xander to stop them and say something that suggests he won’t go throug
Theme: Manipulation and ControlAria's POVI should’ve known Damian wouldn’t leave me alone for long. Ever since the relationship with Xander became evident, I’ve felt his eyes on me. It’s like he’s always watching, waiting for the proper opportunity to strike. Today is no different.I’m sitting on a bench near the pack training grounds, trying to clear my head, Suddenly, Damian is standing in front of me, his black eyes locked on mine. His presence is suffocating.“Aria,” he murmurs, his voice low and focused.I don’t look at him. I can’t. After everything he’s done, the last thing I want is to hear whatever
Theme: Betrayal by a FriendAria's POV Even though I'm just here for a short time, it feels weird to be back in the territory of my former pack. The training grounds, the trees, and the familiar faces all appear the same, yet nothing feels the same. I feel as though I no longer belong here. Since Xander Claimed me.In an attempt to get some solace from my best friend, I make my way to Luna's tiny cabin. No matter what, she is the one person I can rely on. But something doesn't feel right, Luna is standing outside with her back to me, gazing into the woods... "Luna?" I growl, taking a step forward.When she turns around and sees me, her face brightens. Her expression, however, shifts almost as fast, as if she were concealing something. Though it's subtle, I can see it. I'm too familiar with Luna not to notice. "Aria," she says as she approaches me. She gives me a momentary embrace, but it seems aloof as if she isn't there. "Why are you here? I assumed you and Xander would be togethe
Theme: Emotional DistanceAria's POV The ride to Xander’s pack feels like a haze. One minute, I was standing in my territory, surrounded by the wolves I’ve known all my life, and the next, I was being whisked away by a man who rarely talked to me. We arrive in his pack area just as the sun dips below the horizon. The sky is painted in tones of purple and orange, but it does nothing to soothe the knot in my gut. Xander rushes ahead, barely glancing back at me. His posture is tight, his look unreadable. I trudge behind him, feeling like I don’t belong, that I’ve been forced here against my will. We enter a massive, stone-built home that must be his pack headquarters. Wolves mill around, eyeing our way with an interested, watchful gaze. Their stares make me feel small like I’m some sort of outsider. And maybe I am. Once inside, Xander doesn’t slow down. He walks straight down the halls, his huge strides making it hard for me to keep up. I eventually get the guts to speak. “Xander,”
Between Two Theme: Divided LoyaltiesAria's POVMy skull whirl-turned. Everything feels surreal. One minute, Damian, the only mate I had ever considered, rejected and embarrassed me in front of the whole pack. And Xander has claimed me now. A second mate link? It feels impossible, like some twisted dream I can’t wake up from. My knee pulled to my chest; I sat at the edge of the woodland. The sky is grey, clouds full of rain, and the breeze feels cool on my skin. Still, the cold is little compared to the uncertainty whirl-around inside me.“How can this be real?” I whisper to myself. My voice cracks, my heart aching. “How can I have two mates?” It’s a question I can’t answer, one that feels like it will split me apart if I think too hard about it. I don’t know Xander. He’s a stranger. He’s frightening and powerful, and yet… there’s a pull between us, just like there was with Damian. The bond. I can feel it, but I’m too terrified to embrace it. Luna appears alongside me, sit
The StrangerTheme: Unexpected ConnectionsAria’ POVIt's almost too silent in the forest. I need to get the rejection out of my head, I need to take a walk... Even if Damian's comments remain fresh, I can't allow them to rule me indefinitely.When I notice activity in the distance, I'm deep in meditation. As I concentrate on the figure, my eyes narrow. Even from a distance, his height commands notice. There's something about him that chills me.As if he owns the place, he advances and crosses the boundary into our pack's domain. His motions are fluid, deliberate, and... menacing. His features, a strong jawline, dark hair, and piercing eyes that seem to see right through me become more apparent as he approaches.Who is he? My feet refuse to move as I freeze, despite my instincts telling me to go. I can't take my eyes off this stranger, as if I'm stuck to the earth.He pauses a few steps away from me and looks directly into my eyes. My heart races because his eyes are so piercing and
DisapprovalTheme: Public HumiliationAria's POVAs the pack assembles around the meeting grounds, tension is in the air. I try to blend in by standing at the perimeter of the circle in the hopes that nobody will notice me. The pain of Damian's words is still raw in my memory, and my heart is pounding in my chest. In private, he rejected me, but that hurt was nothing in comparison to what was coming.I turn to look at him, proudly standing in the middle of the crowd. He looks around the throng with his icy blue eyes, but he doesn't turn to face me. I'm not even acknowledged by him.I'm aware of what's coming. In the pit of my stomach, I sense it. I try to steady my breathing as my hands shake. Don't let it be what I believe it to be, please.However, my darkest nightmares come true.With a voice that commands everyone's attention, Damian takes a step ahead. He says in a harsh, impersonal tone, "I have an announcement to make."The entire pack is watching and waiting for him. I can fee