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CHAPTER 5
Huling Na-update:
2025-02-09 06:57:34Between 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.
Kaugnay na kabanata
TORN BETWEEN MATES XANDER’S COLDNESS
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,”
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-19TORN BETWEEN MATES LUNA’S SECRET
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
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-19TORN BETWEEN MATES DAMIAN’S OBSESSION
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
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-20TORN BETWEEN MATES A DANGEROUS PROPOSAL
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
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-21TORN BETWEEN MATES PROPHECY UNVEILED
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
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-22TORN BETWEEN MATES PACK TENSIONS RISE
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
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-23TORN BETWEEN MATES XANDER’S HIDDEN FEELING
Aria's POVI hear footsteps behind me as I stand by the forest edge, watching the sunset. It's him, I can tell without looking back, I can sense him. Lately, he's become aloof, avoiding me and keeping his thoughts to himself. But Now, It feels different... So does his approach for some reason"Aria," Xander says in a calm, unexpectedly chill voice.My heart starts to beat loudly in my chest as I turn to face him. He looked... odd. Something I can't quite replace. Perhaps vulnerability?"What is it?" I cross my arms and ask. I can't let him in too close, Not after everything he's done.Xander takes a step closer, concentrating his gaze on me. "I must speak with you, about us.”My breath catches, US? Why US? Not after the way he handled me, the frigid detachment, the manipulation, and the prophecy that looms over us."I never wanted a mate." He continues "I resisted it. I struggled with this bond between us. However, you have gone over the possibility.”I blink, stunned. "What do you
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-23TORN BETWEEN MATES LUNA’S GUILT
Theme: Regret and ForgivenessAria's POVThe dark clouds spinning menacingly above represent the weight I've carried in my heart for a long time, and the sky is dismal. It's quieter than usual in the pack home, and I'm buried in thoughts as I walk the corridors, then I see her—Luna. Her head is lowered and her shoulders are slumped as if the whole world is weighing down on her as she sits alone on the porch. I stand there transfixed for a minute. In the past, Luna meant everything to me. I trusted her with my most sensitive secrets, but she disappointed me when I needed her most. As I watch her, my chest clenched, trapped between the memories of our relationship and the anguish of her treachery. Her eyes abruptly meet mine as she glances up. Her face is loaded with misery and anguish, and I can't help but notice it. She appears worn and pale, like she was carrying a heavy weight. The calm between us is so dense that it feels like it may break at any minute, and for a time none of us
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-24
Pinakabagong kabanata
TORN BETWEEN MATES THE LIGHT WITHIN
Aria’s POVThe world shook beneath us. My father, now a spinning storm of darkness, floated above the broken battlefield. His form was no longer human—he was a mass of dark and rage, eyes shining like dying stars. The air was thick with despair, and the ground cracked under the weight of his power. I stood amidst the confusion, my body aching, my magic nearly spent. Xander was asleep beside me, his breaths weak. Ryder knelt a few feet away, his hands glowing slightly as he tried to shield us from the storm. Around us, the remains of our friends lay spread, some hurt, some gone. I felt a rush of anger and sadness. This was not the world I had envisioned. This was not the future I wanted. But I realized then that fate was not a road set in stone—it was a choice. I rose to my feet, summoning the last of my strength. The golden light within me flickered, then flared, brighter than ever before. I looked up at the storm that was once my father and shouted, "I will not let you destr
TORN BETWEEN MATES THE FINAL RECKONING
Aria’s POV "Hello, my daughter. Did you miss me?"He asked and his voice crawled over my skin like ice. The man in the red robe stepped closer, his golden eyes burning like twin suns in the dark. My knees nearly buckled. Because I remembered him from my dreams. From the dreams... From the stories, my mother never finished. He was the one who left her. He was the one who cursed me. He was the one who started everything. My real father. The final piece of the vision. Xander growled beside me, his body tense, ready to attack. Ryder held my arm, still weak but alert. The forest was silent like it was holding its breath. Even the wind had stopped. "You're dead," I whispered. He smirked. "Everyone says that. Yet here I am." "Why are you here now?" "Because it's time," he said simply. "The world is ready for change. And you, Aria, are the key." I clenched my hands. "I won't help you." He sighed, like a parent unhappy with a stubborn child. "You don't know what you're refusing. Y
TORN BETWEEN MATES RISE OF THE ALPHA SEER
Aria’s POVThe night was cold, but my blood burned hot. Surrounded. Outnumbered. Wounded. But not afraid. Not anymore.I stepped forward, slowly, my glowing mark lighting the dark forest. Xander stood beside me, limping but fierce. My mother, Evelyn, stood on the other side, her silver hair glinting under the moonlight.Behind us, Ryder lay unconscious. I could still feel his heart. He was alive…for now. But the cloaked figures before us? They came to kill us.“The Council has made its decision,” the lead Shadow Walker said, stepping out from the line. His eyes were like ice. “The child of prophecy must die. ” I’m not a child anymore,” I said, lifting my head. “And I’m done running.”The golden glow on my wrist pulsed harder…brighter. Power surged through my veins like fire. It was mine now. No longer something to fear. I wasn’t just a mix of bloodlines.I was something new. Something greater. “A Seer with Alpha blood…” another one of them sneered. “Abomination.”I raised my voice. “Y
TORN BETWEEN MATES THE MARK OF TRUTH
Aria's POVThe cave was cooler now, even though the fire still burned in the corner. My heart pounded so loud I could barely hear anything else. Xander’s hand was tight around mine, but his eyes were locked on the mark shining on my wrist...golden, dancing, and alive. It wasn’t just a mark. It was a warning. A promise. A truth I had tried to forget. “What is that?” he asked in a whisper like speaking too loudly would break something between us. I swallowed hard. “It’s… the mark of truth.”Xander raised a brow. “Truth?” I nodded. “Only someone born of two powerful bloodlines can carry it. It shows lies… and binds people to fate.” His face changed… confusion mixing with something else. Fear, maybe. Or understanding.“You mean, the lies people tell… it shows you?” “Yes,” I whispered. “And sometimes, it shows them to me in flashes. Pieces of their past… or the future they hide.”His grip on my hand relaxed. “And you have this now?” I looked down at the glowing mark. “It appeared whe
TORN BETWEEN MATES SHADES OF THE PAST
Aria’s POVThe glow of the flame flashed against the tense faces around it. Aria stood there, her heart heavy from being lied to. Thalos, who she used to trust, had admitted to helping Lyria. It was hard to breathe because of how heavy his words were in the air."Why, Thalos?" Aria's voice was shaking. "After everything we've been through." Thalos looked down, and his eyes showed that he felt ashamed. "I thought I could keep you safe. Lyria offered safety if I gave her information." Kael stepped forward, his hand on his sword. "And you believed her? You risked everyone." "I didn't know she'd attack," Thalos defended. "I thought I could control it." Aria turned away, tears running down her face. The pain of lying cut deep. She had trusted Thalos and leaned on him during their darkest times. Elara approached her sister, relaxing her hand on her shoulder. "We need to decide what to do next," she said. Kael nodded. "We can't stay here. Lyria knows our home." Aria wiped her tears, p
TORN BETWEEN MATES THE SHATTERED BOND
Aria’s POV"You thought betraying our pack would keep us safe?" Aria’s voice trembled; her hands clenched at her sides. "You’ve been working with her all this time?"Thalos shook his head quickly. "No! Not all this time. Just…just lately. After your first fight with her. She stretched out to me. She stated she could help me protect you... That she wouldn’t harm you if I cooperated." "So you told her where we were hiding?" Kael took a threatening step forward. "You led her right to us." "I didn’t know she’d bring an army!" Thalos yelled. "I didn’t know she’d hurt Elara or kill anybody! I swear!" "You knew what she was capable of." Aria's voice sounded like ice now. "You watched her try to kill me. You knew." A deep quiet fell. Elara arrived behind Aria, still pale and weak, but her look was full of wonder. “You betrayed us... after everything?” Thalos sank to his knees, unwilling to face any of them in the eye. “I tho
TORN BETWEEN MATES BLOODLINES AND BETRAYALS
Aria’s POVThe mark on my chest glows once again as I move forward and raise my hands. Through the gloom, a ray of light emerges into the sky. It all stops for a second. Lyria freezes, too. Hissing at the light, the shadows contort and contract. The air grows warm like the dawn is breaking. Then a scream…no, a howl…cuts through the silence. Callum. He stumbles out from behind the battlefield, injured but he’s still alive, and I turn around just in time to see it. Even though his skin is scraped and bruised and his clothing is ripped, he fixes his intensely determined gaze on mine. He yells, "Aria!" and I dash to him, disregarding everything else. Our bodies collide, his arms encircling me firmly. He inhales, "I thought I'd lost you," "I thought you were gone," I gasped, clutching to him. But our reunion is cut short. A burst of black fire smashes the ground beside us, sending us flying apart. With a gasp, I hit the ground and rolled over to see Lyria stomping toward us.
TORN BETWEEN MATES ECHOES OF THE PAST
Aria’s POVThe smell of blood and burning hung in the air as Aria stood in the middle of the ruined pack house. A glaring reminder of Lyria's fury, the once-vibrant center of their village now lay in ruins. Her heart hurt for Callum, whose fate was still unknown, for her pack, and for the lives lost. Thalos stepped forward, his face solemn. "We have to move quickly. The more time that goes by, the more powerful Lyria becomes. Aria nodded, her features stiffening with determination. "We need to find Callum and stop her before more lives are lost." With fear and determination imprinted on their faces, the remaining pack members assembled. They listened carefully as Aria explained their strategy: to find out where Lyria was going, to get Callum back, and to face the evil that was endangering their world. Aria took comfort in the forest's silence while preparations got underway. She was filled with both painful and consoling memories of her mother. She thought back to
TORN BETWEEN MATES THE GUARDIAN’S REVELATION
Aria’s POV Xander moved protectively in front of her, but Lyria raised a hand. With a flick of her fingers, he was thrown backward into the lake. “Don’t worry, he’s not hurt. But you… Aria, you’ve made a mess. And now you’re too close to the truth.” Aria took a shaky step forward. “You’re the one who blocked Callum’s memories. You’re working with them…the shadows.” Lyria smiled. “Oh, darling… I’m not working with them.” Her smile faded into a cold sneer. “I created them.” Aria’s breath caught. Her knees nearly gave out. “You… you were my mother’s sister.” “And she was a fool,” Lyria spat. “She wasted her power. Gave it all to a weak child who doesn’t even know how to use it.” “You killed her?” Aria whispered, tears forming in her eyes. “I did what I had to. And now I’ll finish what I started.” She raised her hand again, shadows dancing around her fingers. The water around Aria started to churn violently. She screamed for Xander, but he was still unconscious.
