Theme: Loyalty and Betrayal Aria's POV The tension in the pack has been building for days, and I can feel it in every look, every whispered discussion that ends as soon as I go by. The rogue attacks are increasing more regularly, and with every strike, the pack’s faith in Xander begins to erode. But it’s not just him they’re losing faith in... it’s me. I stand outside the packhouse, watching as the wolves congregate in tiny groups, their voices low yet agitated. I can hear bits and parts of their talks, and none of it is good. "She’s the reason things are falling apart," one of the wolves says, his look flickering toward me. "Ever since she came here, everything’s been going downhill." I feel a searing sting in my chest. It’s not the first time I’ve heard anything like this, but it doesn’t hurt any less. I never wanted to be a source of dissension in the pack. All I wanted was to belong. Before I can move away, a wolf I barely know steps in front of me, his eyes brimmi
Theme: Risk and Sacrifice Aria's POV The stress remains thick in the air. It’s been days since the pack last rested, and the rogue strikes are constant. Every bark in the distance sends shivers down my spine. I thought things couldn’t get worse, but I was wrong. I’m standing by the edge of the forest when a wolf I don’t recognize approaches. His eyes are dark and full of hate, but his body language isn’t. He stops a few feet away from me, a twisted sneer on his face. "Aria," he whispers, his voice low and frightening. "I bring a message from my Alpha." I stay silent, my heart thumping in my chest. "You leave Xander, and we’ll stop the attacks on your pack," the rogue adds, taking a step closer. "That’s the deal. Walk away from him, and no more blood will be spilled." I clench my hands at my sides, I can feel my pulse in my ears, the world spinning around me. Leave Xander? The thought of it rips my heart in two, but... if I stay, more of my pack will die. "Leave,"
Theme: Secrets and Lies Aria's POV As I return to the pack's territory. My head is a complete mess, and my heart is pounding. I'm aware that I can no longer hide the truth from Xander. But, I'm afraid of seeing the pain in his eyes. Xander is waiting for me as soon as I go into the house. When he sees the look on my face, his eyes instantly narrow with worry. He continues, "Aria," in a calm, low voice, but I can sense the fear in it. "Where have you been?" My mouth opens, but nothing comes out. How can I even begin to describe what has transpired? Threats from the renegade, the agreement, and the awful reality that the pack wouldn't even be saved if they left? "Aria?" Xander's voice has become more piercing. He moves in closer, looking into my eyes. "What’s going on?" "I..." Fear tightens my chest as I choke on the words. But, I can no longer hide it from him. "I met with the rogue leader." His whole body tenses and his face hardens instantly. "You did what?" "They..
Theme: Trust and Betrayal Aria's POV I feel like I'm carrying a burden from the decision to face the wild wolves. As we approach the pack, Xander and I stand side by side, his hand firmly clutching mine. Even while our link shows how strong he is, it doesn't stop the doubts from racing through my head. "We can’t face them alone," Xander replies in a firm yet calm voice. "We need help, and Selene’s pack has offered a temporary alliance." Selene's backpack. I get a chill from the words. After everything that has transpired, I no longer have faith in her. But, Xander thinks this is our best chance. I look at him; his eyes are flaming with resolve, and his jaw is set. I must have faith in him. Selene takes a step forward and meets Xander's eyes. Her eyes sparkle with something I can't quite put my finger on….perhaps a calculation….and her silver hair falls down her shoulders, making her as stunning as ever. Manipulation? She continues, "You can trust me this time," in a silky
Theme: War and Sacrifice Aria's POV The sky is dark, the air thick with tension as we stand at the edge of the forest, waiting. My heart pounds in my chest, my body trembling with both fear and determination. Xander is beside me, his eyes scanning the horizon. He’s ready and strong, but even he understands what’s coming will be the biggest war we’ve ever faced. The rogue wolves are coming. And they’re coming for blood. "Stay close to me," Xander says, his hand caressing me. There’s something frantic about his touch, a nonverbal cry for me to be secure. I nod, my eyes meeting his. "I will." A howl cuts through the air, and in the distance, shadows begin to stir. The rogues. Their numbers are tremendous, more than I expected, more than we were prepared for. My heart drops, but there’s no time for worry. The struggle has begun. "They’re here," Xander growls, his body transforming into his wolf form, sleek and muscular. I follow suit, my wolf surging forward, adrenaline rush
Theme: Guilt and Love (Aria's POV) The air was still thick with loss and suffering even after the war was over. My pack was either hurt or attempting to heal those who were hurt everywhere I looked. The ground was full of blood, and the air was heavy with the smell of panic. As I kneeled next to Marcus, my heart ached. His wounds were more severe than I had anticipated. He had a pale face and shallow respiration. I applied pressure to his wounds, but it didn't appear to help. "This is all my fault," I said in a tremulous murmur. "I should have protected him." Xander knelt next to me and put his hand on my shoulder. "You did everything you could, Aria." I shook my head, my chest heaving under the weight of remorse. "No, I ought to have moved more quickly. More powerful. I ought to have supported him and everyone else.” Xander turned to face him, and his look softened. "You are not held accountable. No one fought as hard as you did. Today, you saved lives.” His words wer
Theme: Sacrifice and Jealousy (Aria’s POV) Marcus's health wasn't getting better. He was breathing shallowly and had a pale face. The guilt weighed more heavily on me each time I sat at his side. I inflicted his injuries as I lacked the strength to keep him safe. I couldn't leave him in this fashion. Not until his health improved. I wiped a strand of hair off Marcus's forehead and murmured, "Hang in there, Marcus." His body was too motionless. I clutched his hand in the hopes that he would feel my presence and maybe even know it deep within. Hours passed by without my leaving his side. I scarcely noticed the other members of the pack coming and departing to check how he and I were doing. All I could think about was Marcus. I didn't glance up until I felt a familiar presence. Xander was standing in the doorway, staring at Marcus and me. I had never observed anything like it in his eyes before. "Xander." My voice trailed off as I started. His inscrutable look prompted my
Theme: Emotional Turmoil (Aria's POV) I am confused between two possibilities, and my heart feels heavy. My spouse and real love, Xander, supports me, but Marcus... I am also a part of Marcus. The connection between us tugs at my soul no matter how hard I want to deny it, leaving me feeling miserable and puzzled. To obtain clarity, I sit by the window and stare up at the moonlit sky. As the wind rustles my skin, my mind is racing with thoughts of the moments I've spent with them both. "Why does my heart feel like it’s being pulled in two different directions?" I mumble something to myself. I shut my eyes in the hopes that the silence would soothe my inner tempest. But it doesn't. I feel bad about holding Marcus close when I should be with Xander. I can tell without looking that it's Xander when the door behind me creaks open. Every time I wander, his presence brings me back to him like gravity. My heart skips a beat as I hear Xander utter, "Aria," in a sweet but firm
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.