Ara’s POV A surge of energy starts from within me, causing the cavern to quiver. The siren's arrogant look disappears. And Xander…something else flickers in his blackened eyes for the first time. Recognition. Pain surges through me as I breathe and grab my chest. The threads of the mating link are breaking one by one, and it's barely hanging on. "Xander," I speak, my voice shaking. "Fight it." His brows knit together as he flinches. He makes fists out of his hands. His body falters as though it were torn between two opposing forces. The eyes of the siren narrow. "Don’t listen to her," she growls, taking a step closer. "You are mine, Xander." His gaze flickers to bewilderment as he turns to face her. "I… I don’t..." "Yes, you do," she interrupts abruptly in a strong voice. "You chose me." He becomes motionless. His already-black eyes get much darker. My heart tightens. No. With the shackles digging into my wrists, I leap forward. "Please, Xander! Do not forget us! Recall how
Aria’s POV His presence causes the cavern to quake. Unfazed, the figure observes him. "At last, the Alpha has woken up." Xander makes a lunge. The ground trembles from the collision. As waves of energy travel through the air from the power of their collision, I strike the cavern floor. As Xander and the figure battle, their power meeting in a burst of light and darkness, dust and debris swirl about me. My heart is pounding. The force holding me down is too great for me to move. Then a voice. Inside my mind. You have to make a decision. I went cold. "What?" It's an old, multi-layered voice that sounds like a thousand souls speaking simultaneously. The power or the link. You can't have both. My breath catches. Xander, the mate bond, or whatever this power is. A decision. A sacrifice. With a thundering heart, I grasp my chest. No. There must be an alternative. Xander snarls, his wolf battling with all of his might. However, the figure isn't even worn out. He is teasing him
Aria’s POV Once more, darkness engulfs me. I am unable to see or breathe. I feel as though my body is weightless and I'm floating through space. However, things are different this time. Something strange is in the air, dense and heavy. A deep, frightening voice whispers in my ear. "You belong to me now." My heart is thumping as I shudder. "No... I don't.” The blackness changes abruptly, encircling me like living smoke. Then I reached solid ground as fast as I had fallen. Gasping for air, I collapse as my knees give way. I make myself gaze up even though my head is spinning. I'm in a weird area with brilliant red symbols engraved into the stone and tall black walls all around me. It's cold, but not in a natural way. I feel weak as it creeps into my bones. Then I spot him. The man whose eyes were red. He watches me with a spooky smile from a few feet away. He says, "You resisted the vision last time," with ease. "But this time, you will see the truth." My fists clench. "What y
Aria’s POV When everything went Silence, Darkness. I feel as though I am weightless and floating in a limitless emptiness. My body isn't hurting. My thoughts seem oddly at ease. But I am aware of a problem. Something took place. Then it all rushes back like a wave smashing over me. The conflict. The darkness. The voice of Xander. The man with the red eyes. The intense glow emanated from my chest. My heart is thumping. I must awaken. My body isn't cooperating when I try to move. I feel a weird warmth that is alive and throbbing. It's a different feeling. More powerful. "Wake up, Aria." It's not my voice. It echoes in my thoughts, soft but strong. "You can’t stay here." I make an effort to talk. "Who are you?" Like a giggle, the voice hums. "You already know." The darkness breaks before I can ask more questions. My body jerks as I come back to consciousness, gasping. I am blinded by the light. I make myself concentrate even if my vision is blurry. I'm resting on a bed or so
Aria’s POV There is silence as Xander leaves through the door. Something feels like it's breaking inside my chest. I want to find him and tell him what's happening to me, but how can I do that when I don't even understand it myself? Lena frowns deeply as she watches the door. She murmurs, "Okay, so that was bad," "Really bad." I take a deep breath. "He thinks I betrayed him." Lena pushes a hand through her hair and sighs. "Can you blame him? You just informed him that you previously chose a different man. I flinch. "I didn’t mean to" "I know that." Lena looks at me intently. However, Xander? He’s barely hanging on, Aria. He has been losing it ever since you passed out. You’re his match. To him, you are everything. My throat tightens. I am aware. I am aware. I squeeze my hands into fists. "I need to talk to him." Lena nods. "Good idea. Fix this before it gets worse." I toss the blanket off me and push myself to stand only for my legs to buckle. Lena lunges forward, grasping
Aria's POV I'm left still as Xander leaves. His accusation…his question…remains afloat. Are you in love with him? Like a razor, the words sliced through me. I'm trying to take it all in, and my heart is racing. The man with the red eyes. His statements were vague. Xander's expression suggested that I had already deceived him. Lena crosses her arms and shifts next to me. "Well, that was a disaster." My throat is dry as I swallow hard. "This is not what I intended to happen. That man isn't even someone I know." Lena rubs her temples and lets out a breath. "Yeah, well, Xander doesn’t see it that way." My chest hurts as I turn to face the door. "I need to speak with him. I must make this right. "Aria, wait..." I don't. I quickly leave the room, disregarding the weakness that is still there in my limbs. I push forward even though my legs feel unsteady. Xander must not depart in this manner. Not in this manner. My heart pounding, I make it to the hallway. He has already arrived a
Aria's POV The figure of Xander walking away fades into the hallway, leaving a heavy silence behind him. It makes my mind go crazy as I look at the empty doorway. The sadness, deception, and pain in his eyes were too much for him to bear. It makes no sense to me, so I want to run after him and tell him the same thing. But my feet feel stuck on the ground. Lena sharply breathes out next to me, her arms crossed tightly. "Well, that went worse than I expected." I wrap my arms around myself and try to keep my hands from shaking. "I did not do something wrong." That man was someone I didn't even know. "Doesn’t matter." Lena shakes her head. "Xander doesn’t think with logic when it comes to you. He thinks with his heart, and right now, that heart is hurting." I swallow hard, guilt clawing at my chest. "I need to fix this." "Then go after him." I take a deep breath and push past my reluctance. My legs still feel weak from everything I’ve been through, but I force myself to move
Aria's POVLong after Xander vanishes once more, I stand motionless.His footsteps no longer reverberate in the quiet. My mind is still racing, and my hands are still shaking. I want to yell. Weep. Toss something. However, I don't do any of those things. I simply remain motionless, gazing at the deserted corridor as if it may provide me with answers.Lena touches my shoulder tenderly. "Are you alright?"I slowly shake my head. "No. I doubt that I will ever be alright again.The vision—the memory—continues to flood across my head. I felt as though I was in love with him because of the way he caressed my wrist, the warmth that radiated through me, and the way I laughed during that vision. The man with the red eyes. It felt very real, even though I didn't even know his name.Next to me, Lena sighs. "Come on. Before he decides to show up again, let's leave. Shadow creepers are not someone I trust.I let her lead me back to our room and nod. Every step feels more burdensome than the last.
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.