Aria's POV "Why aren't you saying anything?" He asked seeing how I wasn't saying a thing. I stared at him unable to give him an answer. This is what I've always wanted as I stayed in that pack, to be back in the place with more humans and less of my kind. Now that I'm here, why do I feel sad that he's abandoning me. This was bound to happen anyways. It's not as if I wasn't expecting this but I don't understand how I feel now. Why do I feel so sad knowing that he's leaving me all alone here? If that's the case, I don't think I need to get anything from him. I've always gotten help from him but I don't think I have done much than save his life. Our debts to each other have being paid and I still have enough to get a small place to stay and also find a job as a doctor. I'm not going to take all of this from him. If we're going to be detached from each other, we might as well fully do it or nothing at all. I should tell him the truth that I'm going to reject thisโ"What exactly is go
Aria's POV "You're going to start a pack war? What is going on with you? When has violence ever solved anything than bring more trouble to everyone?" I fired at him. I completely forgot about the conversation we had earlier, and the only thing I could think about was the pack war. If they brought me back here so that they could go to war with other packs, then it only means that they are either looking down on me or just trying to protect me.How can I even be at ease when this is going to begin because of me? Should I say thank you to them and be happy because they are fighting other people and losing their chances of having allies because of me?"I never said we were going to war. It's just because of the situation that is going on now and not because of you. Did you forget what happened the last time? You're not the only one getting attacked by those enemy warriors. We still don't know who they are and where they come from, but we know that by the time we find out, we would have
Xeros's POV Teasing her is just fun sometimes but what's more fun is the fact that she's so beautiful tonight. I couldn't believe it was her when she came down. She didn't put in much effort to be seen but I could see that she tried her best to look beautiful tonight. Yet, she keeps rejecting my advances to be with her. "W-what are you talking about?" I could see her cheeks turning red as she asked this. Of course what I said might sound vulgar to her but she's supposed to be mine and I don't see anything wrong with flirting with her. "I said... We are mating tonight and you should prepare yourself for it because you're making it so hard for me to concentrate in that dress. Did you choose this dress specifically because you wanted me to see you in it?" I questioned her. She scoffed, trying to push me away but of course I didn't let go of her. I would be an idiot if I did. Looking at her gets me and my wolf excited. It's hard not to be that way when she's right in front of us like
Alexander's POV Getting Aria out of the way seemed to do a lot of help for us because if she were here, we would be worried about protecting her all the time. Itโs not my fault that I think that way, but sometimes she is just too weak to handle. I donโt really have anything against her, and I donโt know if apologizing to her would be the best. Since she is trying to break our bond, itโs not exactly my fault that I have a bias against her. Weโve been betrayed way too much, and I canโt stand another person who seems to be a threat now coming between us again. The fact that my brother seems to believe her right from the beginning says a lot about his way of trusting people.โAre you finally regretting that you agreed to let our brother take her away, and now you donโt think itโs good enough?โ Carlo asked, breaking into my room without knocking.โI was actually thinking itโs a good thing that he has taken her away. That way, we will have no one in our way and wonโt have to worry about pr
Aria's POV I blinked rapidly at his request again. Isn't that a sugar-coated way of saying he wants my body? Why does he say it like that when he could have literally just asked me directly andโWait a damn minute! Since when is he allowed to ask me that and why am I even planning on giving him an opportunity to do that when it's clearly not what I'm planning for. We haven't even decided that we're going to be mates yet because they haven't accepted me and I've not accepted them either. Why is he suddenly making the decisions to take things so fast than I can actually think of. "What do you think about my suggestion darling?" He whispered the question in my ears, sending shivers down my spine. I thought I was dreaming for a moment but I felt my lower body react to his touch. I've never even had sex with any man before and my body is reacting like this? What is wrong with me? Shouldn't I have some sort of self discipline or something? Why is my spasm going crazy? I looked at him a
Aria's POV A kiss when he was supposed to have an emergency wasn't something I was expecting at all. I thought he was done when he pulled away from me but I was wrong. He pulled me and gave me another kiss again before reluctantly letting go. This made me question if things were okay with him or not. He just got an emergency from home which I haven't even had the opportunity to ask him about and now he's kissing me instead of going to address this. That's a bit crazy and weird. He smiled, "I know you're thinking I'm crazy, but there's nothing to be worried about. I'm not. This is just a goodbye kiss for now."I looked at him in shock, he even knows what I'm thinking about but that's not the main issue here. The main issue is the fact that there's an emergency and I feel like he's trying to hide this away from me and stop me from knowing what is going on. "What happened? Are you going back to the pack? What does a goodbye kiss mean? You're going to leave me here?" I asked all at t
Xeros's POV "What do you mean she's gone?" I couldn't believe what I was listening to on my phone. I only got back not too long ago and I'm still trying to figure out what is going on with my brother's and now I'm getting news that Aria is nowhere to be found? How could she began when the place is heavily guarded and is supposed to be a strong source of protection for her. There is no way anyone would easily go into that place to hurt her and no one actually knows we have a property like that, so what is going on?"We don't know what is happening Alpha. We tried to check the security footage but we can't see things clearly. However is it show that she sneaked out by herself." The head of security explained. "You're not explaining things clearly! You all are useless and you better find her in the next few hours or I'm going to have your heads!" I threatened and cut off the call. How is it even possible that she sneak out by herself? I clearly told her to wait for me there and she
Aria's POV โAria! Is that really you?โ I heard the familiar voice ask me. Iโm shocked to see that the Alphas could find me so fast before I could even get to them. How did they manage to find me easily when Iโve been hiding myself from them so I can sneak into the pack? This is so overwhelming and I donโt want to think too much about it. They moved closer towards me and they looked like they were also worried about me. In fact, Iโm kinda confused about this situation because arenโt they supposed to let me suffer so I can learn a lesson? Iโve been walking around the woods in fear even though Iโve been consoling myself that I would get there soon and I didnโt have to worry about whatever was going to happen. But I was more worried that I could get caught by Lucas and his evil men before I got there. I donโt mind being captured by people who donโt know who I am. Iโd rather die than go back there to be their hunting game. I thought it was them coming towards me since I was around thei
Ariaโs POVThe past few days at the hospital have been better than I ever expected.I donโt know how to describe the feeling, but itโs peaceful. For the first time in a long while, Iโm walking through these halls without hearing rude comments or seeing annoyed faces. The nurses now greet me. The doctors nod when I pass. Some even smile. It feels strangeโฆ but in a good way.Maybe itโs because of what happened last week when I stood up for myself. Or maybe they finally realized Iโm not someone they can just mistreat. Either way, Iโm glad. It makes my work easier.Today I was helping a young girl with a deep wound on her shoulder. She kept thanking me, even though I told her to rest. โYouโre kind,โ she said softly. โNot like the others.โ That sentence stayed with me.Itโs nice to feel appreciated. To be treated like I belong here.And when I go home, I talk with the brothers like everything is normal. Even though I can tell theyโre all busy and stressed out, they still try to act like th
Carloโs POVKissing her felt like the best thing I had done in a long time.I didnโt even care that it was a short kiss. It still meant something to me. Aria didnโt push me away, and that was all I needed. Her lips were soft, and the way she blushed right after made my heart twist in the best way. I couldnโt stop smiling the whole time I walked her back to her room.She looked happy too, and I held her hand until we got to the door. She didnโt say much, just gave me a shy smile before going inside. That smile stayed in my head even after I left. I kept thinking about how warm her hand felt in mine.Iโve been trying to get her to see me differently, not just as one of the three brothers sheโs tied to. I wanted her to look at me and see someone she could trust, someone she could laugh with, kiss, love. I didnโt want to push too hard, but I also didnโt want to stay back and watch her get taken away by my brothers either.I made my way down the hallway to check on Xeros. He wasnโt in his
Ariaโs POV The sunlight peeked through the long curtains and fell softly on my face. I opened my eyes slowly and blinked a few times. For a second, I forgot where I was. Then I rememberedโฆ I was in Xerosโs room. His scent was still strong in the room, that familiar mix of clean soap and something dark that always made me feel strange inside.I turned quickly to the side. His bed was empty. I sat up straight. The sheets were cold, meaning he had left for a while. I ran my fingers through my hair and got out of bed. I was still in the same clothes from yesterday. Everything that happened kept playing in my headโSage, my grandmother, Alexander, Lucasโฆ and Xeros saving us.Where did he go so early?I left the room, thinking Iโd check outside, maybe the training field. On my way back down the hallway, I bumped into someone. I stumbled a little and looked up.โCarlo?โHe gave a small smirk and crossed his arms. โWell, you look surprised to see me.โโI didnโt expect you here.โHe tilted his
Ariaโs POVI turned around an indeed my guess was right. It was Xeros who came to rescue us. He looked powerful, standing tall in his dark clothes, his eyes glowing like fire. But I noticed somethingโhis arm was bleeding. He was holding his side tightly. He was hurt. Badly hurt. But he didnโt show it on his face.My heart jumped in my chest the moment I saw him. โXerosโฆโHe looked at me and gave a small smile, even though I could see the pain behind it. How did he even manage to find us and how did he get hurt again? Lucas stepped back in shock. โYouโฆ youโre supposed to be dead.โXeros smirked. โYouโll have to try harder next time.โI saw the way Lucas looked at him. His face twisted in confusion and fear. He didnโt expect Xeros to survive. He looked like he had just seen a ghost.Xeros slowly walked forward, the wolves surrounding us like a protective wall. โYou tried to kill me,โ he said, his voice low and dangerous. โBut now Iโm aliveโฆ and I promise, Lucas, you will pay for it.
Ariaโs POVI stared straight at Sage.She was sitting on the floor, tied up and weak, but when I said those words, her eyes widened like sheโd seen a ghost.โWhy did you try to kill Xeros?โ I asked again, slowly this time.For a moment, she didnโt say anything. Just kept blinking like she couldnโt believe Iโd asked her that. Then her mouth opened.โWhat?โ Her voice was high and sharp. โYou think I tried to kill him? Are you out of your mind?!โI didnโt answer. I just kept looking at her. Her face looked pale, but her eyes had that usual fire. The fire she always used to cover up her lies.She started shaking her head fast. โNo! No! That wasnโt me! I didnโtโ I would neverโโBut I wasnโt sure I believed her. Maybe she was telling the truth. Maybe she was just scared, and it really wasnโt her.But my heartโฆ it wasnโt ready to trust her. Not after everything.I took a deep breath and looked down. My hands were shaking a little, but I clenched them. โYou knew he was getting close to the tr
Ariaโs POVI followed Alexander quietly, staying close enough to not lose him, and also so he wouldn't lose me. My heart was beating so fast in my chest. I didnโt know what exactly I would find, but something inside me kept warning me that I was going to see something painful.The night air was cold. I felt a lot of Goosebumps trying to walk around. My feet made soft sounds as I stepped on dry leaves, but I didnโt stop moving. I just needed to know what was going on. I needed to see it with my own eyes.We passed through some bushes and took a sharp turn. That was when I saw it. This wasn't where we're supposed to stopped but what am I looking at?My legs froze on the spot. My breath stopped.There, in the middle of the quiet garden behind the old houseโฆ was my grandmother. She was lying down on a wooden bench with a thin cloth over her. She wasnโt moving. Her skin looked pale and dry. Her lips were cracked.And standing beside herโฆ was Sage.My heart burned with so much anger that I
Aria's POV I knew Alexander was up to something, but I didnโt quite know what he wanted to do. I was trying to figure it out, so I pretended to have gone back to my room. I knew he was watching me, and the only way he could be sure was if I was settled down in my room. Now, I needed to follow him to find out. I know they asked me to sit down and stop being nosy, but I just canโt stop myself. If heโs going to put himself in danger because of me, I donโt think Iโll be able to sleep at all.And just like I thought, he was going out of the pack without anyone. More like he was sneaking out because he didnโt want the guards to see him or follow him, because he might attract attention, which is something heโs probably trying to hide from me. Letโs say this is something he and Xeros planned.I carefully followed him out, and I saw he was going in the direction of my pack. I was so scared and didnโt know what to do because I was too worried to go into that place alone. And most importantly,
Alexanderโs POVI walked quietly into Xerosโs room, the door clicking shut behind me. He was sitting up now, the covers pulled to his waist, a glass of water in his hand. The pale sunlight spilling from the window made him look even more fragile than I remembered. His body was still weak, but his eyes were sharpโtoo sharp for someone who just survived poison.Aria was sitting beside him, holding his hand and whispering something I couldnโt hear. When she noticed me standing at the door, she turned to look at me with a faint smile.โIโll give you both some space,โ she said softly and stood up.โNo,โ I said quickly. โI actually need to speak with my brother. Alone.โHer eyes narrowed slightly. She hesitated, like she didnโt want to leave, but she gave Xeros a gentle pat on the shoulder and left the room without saying another word. I waited until the door clicked shut behind her. I even walked over to make sure she wasnโt standing behind it like last time.Xeros raised an eyebrow. โYouโ
Xeros's POVThe soft glow of morning light streamed through the curtains, touching my face with warmth. It was gentle, yet it made my eyes flutter open slowly. My whole body felt heavy like I had been carrying a mountain through my dreams. But the weight on my chestโฆ it wasnโt just pain. It was the memory of everything that happened.The arrow. The poison. The argument with Edgar. The darkness I fell into.I blinked a few times and turned my head. Sitting by my bed was someone I didnโt expect right awayโCarlo. His arms were crossed, and he looked tired, like he hadnโt slept much. But when he saw me move, his eyes widened and he leaned forward.โHeyโฆ Xeros?โ His voice sounded cautious, like he wasnโt sure if I was fully awake or just imagining things.I cleared my throat. โYeahโฆ Iโm awake.โCarlo let out a shaky breath and ran his hand through his hair. โYou scared the hell out of all of us. I thought we were going to lose you.โI tried to sit up, but pain stabbed through my side, maki