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
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
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
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
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.