Theme: Obsession and RevengeAria’s POVIt's too quiet in the forest. I try to get my thoughts straight as I go over Xander's area, but I feel like I'm being crushed by the weight of it all. The mixture of Damian's obsession and Xander's declaration is too much. Even outside, the strain in the air makes it impossible for me to focus and breathe. Behind me, I hear a twig snap. I look around as my heart skips a beat, but nobody is there. The only sound coming from the woods is the wind. "Aria." His voice is like a dagger slashing through the calm. Damian. He's standing squarely in front of me before I can react, his eyes dark and filled with what I can only describe as madness. His hand rushes out and firmly grasps my arm. Too close. He says, "You're mine, Aria," and draws me close. "You were meant to be mine from the beginning." To break free, I jerk my arm back, but his hold is unbudging, I feel a pang of fear, but I push it aside, staring at him in the eye with all the courage
Theme: Self-DiscoveryAria’s POVAs I walk to the training area, the mood is tense. Every step feels like a memory of what transpired…Luna's deception, Damian's attack. Even if the sadness is still present, I can't let it destroy me. I've depended on Damian and Luna for far too long. I will no longer be weak.Marcus stands in the clearing, watching me, his arms folded. For weeks, he has been teaching me and pushing me more than I have ever experienced, but I'm up for the task. I must be. "You're late," Marcus says, with a gleam of worry in his eyes. I set my jaw and replied, "I needed time to think." But now I'm here. I'm prepared. His eyes go up. " what are you worried about?" I clench my hands and breathe deeply. "I must stop depending on other people. For myself, I must get stronger. I don't want to be under anyone's control ever again.” Marcus's face lowers, but his eyes still show pride. “Aria, you underestimate your strength.” I give a headshake. "It's not enough”He take
Theme: Love vs. Duty Aria's POV With his back to me and his eyes fixed on the horizon, I notice Xander standing at the edge of the opening. With his stiff shoulders, I can feel the storm building around him. Since that chat, when he warned me of the risks around us, he hasn't been himself. However, there is also another factor. Something more important. For days now, I've been noticing how he looks at me and how his voice goes soft when he talks to me, a barrier between us that he is unwilling to cross. I approach him and pause a few steps behind him. "Xander?" But he doesn't glance back. His voice, in a low growl, as he talks, almost to himself, as he is deep in focus. "I can't afford to show any weakness. Not now. Not Never." You could feel the tightness in his voice as his hands clenched at his sides. "But I also can't let her go." My heart skips a beat as I freeze. Does he mean me? He turns around and concentrates his stare on mine before I can answer. His feelings are fi
Theme: Betrayal and RetributionGrowls and screams abound throughout the evening. Heart pounding, I dash from the packhouse. Before me, the scene is completely disorganizing. Everywhere are wolves engaged in fierce fighting. My pulse speeds when I understand what is happening. Damian is here. At the center of the fight, Damian commands a group of renegade wolves with blazing angry eyes. His eyes contact mine, and a distorted smile develops on his face. He snarls, his voice echoing throughout the skies,"This is what you get for picking him over me, Aria." His words strike me like a punch, and I stand frozen for a second. He was never my choice. It was he who attempted to control me and betray me. He feels this is about choice. To Damian, It is power, it's always been about power. I clench my hands and take a step forward, my heart settling. "I never picked you, Damian!" I shout back, raising my voice. "That decision was yours." He snarls, displaying his teeth as his eyes darken.
Theme: Rebuilding Trust Aria’s POV The aftermath of the assault is greater than I imagined. The pack is in disarray. Blood covers the ground, and the air is filled with the moans of the wounded. Everywhere I turn, wolves are striving to rise, some still stuck in shock after Damian’s strike. I want to assist, to do something, but the heavy stillness that follows me around makes it clear—I’m still a stranger. As I approach a gathering of dogs, their eyes narrow. One moves forward, his voice quiet but full of rage. "She’s the reason Damian attacked," he adds, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Can we trust her?" My chest tightens, and I look around. Their eyes are all on me, some with suspicion, some with pure hostility. They don’t trust me, and I can’t blame them. Damian’s infatuation with me almost ruined the pack. I open my lips to speak, but another wolf moves forward, cutting me off. “If it weren’t for her, we wouldn’t be picking up the pieces right now. We’re weak because of h
Theme: Redemption and ReconciliationAria's POVLuna is standing in front of me, her eyes full of sadness. I can see how much this moment means to her since she is shaking and her speech is shaky. But, it's tough to view her in the same way after everything she's done. Luna clasps her hands together, "Please, Aria." "Give me another chance. I'll stop at nothing to put things right. I promise I had no idea how Damian would take things. He tricked me.” I try to keep my hardness by crossing my arms, but my heart melts somewhat. Damian's attack almost lost us everything, and Luna's deception still hurts. Even though it seems like she says too little, too late, her earnestness is obvious. With a cool yet icy tone, I reply, "I want to believe you." But now, Luna, it's not that simple. You failed the group as a whole, not just myself. How can I be sure you won't betray us once more?” Luna recoils, her eyes falling to the floor. "I am aware that I am unworthy of your trust. But, Damian to
Theme: Sacrifice Aria's POV Luna is prepared to depart as she stands at the camp's edge. Her face is hidden by the moonlight, making it difficult to interpret her genuine thoughts. Torn between my decision and the potential implications, I watch her with a mixture of hope and worry. Xander is standing next to me with his arms folded and his look fixated on me. "Are you certain of this?" Xander asks in a forceful yet hushed voice. "The pack may not survive if Luna betrays us once more." I inhale deeply, but it doesn't make me feel any better. I say, "I'm not sure about anything anymore." "But what does that make me if I don't give her a chance?" Xander gives a headshake. You become a leader as a result. Instead of risking their lives, a leader guards her flock, Aria. With the weight of his words pressing down on me, I bite my lip. But, I still hold onto the notion that people are capable of changing. Perhaps because I want to think I've changed as well. "I am aware of the
Theme: Facing Fear Aria’s POV Damian surrounds me, his eyes blazing with vicious determination. His huge wolf form looms over mine, muscles quivering beneath his dark fur. My heart races, but I steady myself. This is it. The moment I’ve been fearing and planning for. “You should’ve stayed weak, Aria,” Damian sneers, his words dripping with hate. “You don’t belong in this fight.” I clench my teeth, forcing back the terror that threatens to engulf me. “I’m stronger than you think” I growl back, meeting his eyes without flinching. He jumps at me, his claws flashing through the air. I duck, almost missing the strike, but the energy of his assault sends a wave of pressure on me. Damian is quick, but I can’t allow him to overthrow me. The battlefield around us is a whirl of movement—wolves battling, snarls and yelps filling the air. But my concentration is fully on Damian. He’s the one I have to stop. No one else matters right now. Damian comes at me again, but this t
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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.