Aria's POV
He doesn’t return again and I end up crying myself to sleep. When I open my eyes, I’m in bed properly. Wrapped up in the blankets, the door closed and Ryan was nowhere to be seen. Hung on the outside of the wardrobe was a long black dress. With thin spaghetti straps and a plunging neckline with a leg slit that probably went as high as my panty line.
It wasn’t anything that she would have chosen for herself, it was far too revealing for me and yet I couldn’t help but run my hands over it. The material was silky smooth as it grazed over my skin.
“It’s yours to wear tonight” his voice makes me jump.
“I’m not going” I whisper as I reach out and touch the dress again. It was far fancier than anything I had ever worn.
“You will be there, it’s not a request, it is an order.”
I catch his gaze in the mirror, it was the first time he had really looked at me and I felt it, the twisting knot in my stomach, the one I had felt in the dungeons. Why did it have my stomach turning this way?
Until it was time to get ready, Ryan didn't let me out of his sight, keeping his eyes on me the entire time.
“You don’t have to do this Ryan!”
“I have told you why I am hosting this Moon Ball Aria. It is for one purpose and one purpose only!”
Ryan makes sure I eat and even watches me when I shower. He had seen me naked before so there was no point trying to hide myself from him. As I am about to pull some panties on, he tells me not to because he wants a flawless look. Instead holding the dress out to me and helping me slip into it.
The material was soft against my skin, but as I look in the mirror, I am disgusted by what I see. The bruise on my neck was hideous, the purple had already turned to a sickly shade of green.
Ryan holds out a long thin piece of black material that matches the dress, he loops it around my neck and lets the ends drape down over my back, hiding the bruising.
Kneeling down in his black suit, Ryan fastens the straps of the shoes around my ankles. Any other time, it would have been quite romantic but all I wanted to do was knee him in the face.
He stands in front of me, for a moment it looked like he was admiring me before holding out his arm. Reluctantly, I take it, wobbling slightly as I find my balance. An odd tingle spreads down my arm, one that I had never felt before and I quickly tug my arm away. I briefly wonder if Ryan had felt the same but as I looked at him, I just knew that he hadn’t.
Annoyed, Ryan pulls me towards him, reminding me to be on my best behaviour unless I want to be punished. I gulp as his scent hits me hard. It wasn’t like before, it was different, more like a sweet vanilla teasing my senses.
Ryans eyes were straight ahead as he led me down the hallway. His hand gripped mine, stopping me from unlinking with his arm. The air of the Alpha dominance was strong as people stepped back to let them pass.
The glares were horrible, I could feel how everyone looked at me, it was as if they all hated me. Most of the stares were coming from those who were trying to flutter their eyelashes at Ryan.
I was getting more and more annoyed and a part of me wanted to attack them, warn them away from Ryan. Why was I feeling like this?
As we walked I hoped my gut feeling was wrong and that it couldn’t be true and for a moment, I am distracted.
Seren’s arm was linked with the Beta, she had been busy laughing along with him, her high-pitched laugh that could be heard anywhere. Seren’s arm immediately drops when Ryan stops us in front of them and starts speaking to Anton.
My sister stares at me, pure jealousy written on her face as her nostrils begin to flare.
Ryan lets Seren pull me aside, easily letting me go which seemed odd. Especially considering how he had his grip on me.
“Stay away from the Alpha Aria, I’m warning you” she mutters beneath her breath.
“Trust me, I am trying” Deep down I was pissed. She had her mate and now she was trying to take someone else's.
Her lip curls up at me, pure disgust on her face as her eyes run over me.
“I may be mated to Anton, but trust me, the Alpha is mine!” Seren turns her head slightly, winking at her mate and shooting a smile in Ryans direction.
“You can have him Seren, if that is what you really want, just leave me alone” I shove my sister away, but I didn’t intend for Seren to lose her footing so easily and let out a laugh, much to Ryan and Anton’s dismay.
I fall silent as I watch Antons eyes glaze over and turn to see Ryans eyes are glazed too. When their eyes return to a normal colour, Anton hurries Seren away.
“You shouldn’t have done that Aria!” He tugs my hand and locks it against his arm as he guides me down the stairs. We walk in the direction of the music, Ryan slowing his pace so that I can keep up in these stupid shoes.
The room was packed, wolves everywhere, some had already found their mates and were all over each other. Some moved around, desperate to find their partner, and a few were drunk already. I watch as Ryans eyes glance over the crowd.
“I want you to move around the room Aria. See if you attract any attention!” He pulls my hand away from his arm, stepping away from me. Sitting on a chair that was clearly designated for him.
There were so many people and anxiety floods through me. The noise was deafening and I wondered how anyone could hear anything. I look back to Ryan and he shoos me with his hands. Maybe this would be my chance to escape!
I quietly step away, trying to follow my nose. Though the further I moved, the weaker the scent was getting. I greeted a few men in passing, their eyes instantly running over me. Rolling my eyes, I was grateful that they were not my mate!
Losing my balance in these stupid shoes, I fall forward and thankfully someone grabs me, stopping me from hitting the floor.
“Are you okay?”
I nod my head, taken by surprise at the brilliant blue eyes shining at me.
“Thanks” I mutter with a smile, straightening myself up.
“It’s not a problem” he smiles at me and turns back to the man at the bar.
His scent hits me, that sweet vanilla and I turn to see him standing right behind me.
“Is he your mate?”
“Who? I ask confused as Ryan’s scent washes over me and dread sets in.
“The guy that you were speaking to?”
“No, he just helped me when I tripped!” I turn to point him out, but the guy is gone and I hear a low rumble coming from Ryan.
He grabs hold of my hand, an instant tingle making me stumble. It just couldn’t be true, it just couldn’t.
Ryan really was my mate!
Aria's POV My heartbeat speeds as I realise that the very man I had come to hate was my mate. Tears spring to my eyes and I blink them back, worried that they are going to ruin everything. “Who was he Aria?” Ryan asks me again. I feel a lump in my throat because honestly, I didn’t know. The stranger had just stopped me from hitting the ground face first. I back away from Ryan, a stupid mistake but I didn’t know what else to do. I couldn’t accept him as my mate, not after everything. “Stop!” he growls at me, but I find myself steadily backing away. He was purposely keeping his voice low. Not wanting to attract attention and I’m grateful when people step in between us, ignoring me and trying to talk to Ryan. Escaping from everyone, I quickly hurried out into the hallway, eagerly pulling off the shoes I could barely walk in. I tried to breathe deeply, as I realised that everything was now a hundred times worse. Running through the hallways, I receive odd looks from those standing
Aria's POV It happened every night for the next week. The vivid dreams of Ryan and I. Somehow a part of me enjoyed it while the other part of me hated it. At least Ryan was sleeping elsewhere! They always woke me at the same point though. With Ryan saying he thought I was a good girl. I didn’t know what that meant, I had no control over my dreams. When he unlocks the door, he seems different. Happier almost. Today I notice that he hasn’t brought me breakfast. “Come Aria, we are having breakfast downstairs today?” I was surprised and even more confused when he smiled. The smile was genuine, there was no force behind it like the other times. Nodding my head, I followed him out the room. Over the last week, I had learnt that it was better not to say anything, not to give him any clues about how I was feeling. He didn’t need to know that I had practised shifting every night. He certainly didn’t need to know that it was getting harder and harder for me to not act on the mate bond.
Aria's POV The rest of the day passed by in a blur. Ryan reluctantly agrees with the doctor that I take a course of pain medication. The medication doesn’t agree with me or maybe it was the whisky that Ryan gave me. It has me slurring my words and fighting against Ryan as he tries to keep me in bed. I try hurling things at him, but they never make it any further than a few feet, not even close to hitting him. At first he laughed at me, making jokes about how I was too weak to do anything, but that just angered me more. I was fed up with being the weak one. “Aria, get into bed!” “Make me!” I snap back at him as I stumble around the bedroom. Was this what it was like to be drunk? It wasn’t a nice feeling. I hear the growl. Instead of backing down, I turn to face him, dropping into a defensive stance. He seems surprised when I growl back. Throwing his hands up in the air as he rolls his eyes at me and walks out. “Where are you going?” I call out down the hallway but he keeps walking
Ryans POV I know what I saw, I don’t care if she wants to deny it. She has her wolf. She has met her mate. He was at the Moon Ball and I had let him leave. There is pure fear in her green eyes as she peers up at me. Her body was trembling, I hadn’t seen her this way before, even when I punished her. She was truly scared. Aria drove me mad. I don’t know why, but she did, I wanted to punish her and care for her at the same time. Here in this moment, she really thought she was telling me the truth. Reaching down I grab her hand. There were no marks, no signs that she had shifted before, but she definitely had claws. To be able to partially shift, she needed to have fully shifted.. “I will ask you once more, Aria. Did you meet your mate at the Moon Ball?” She shakes her head, her dark hair fanning out as she bites on to her bottom lip. I wasn’t going to get answers from her, not now. Not why she was refusing to tell me anything.. Rolling my eyes, I drop her hand, and walk to the bat
Aria’s POV He leaves me standing alone, as he hurries from the room. I was gobsmacked, not only was Ryan my mate, but he was hiding something from me. Wolves couldn’t heal other wolves, it was just impossible. So how had he done it? I take a moment to look in the mirror, confused by how easily I had healed. Thin pink lines sat on my skin which were quickly fading. Rummaging through Ryan’s closet, I pull out one of his t-shirts, and hastily yank it on. It was big on me, almost reaching my knees, but it did the job. I had to get out of here! Hammering on the door, no one answers, not immediately. I start screaming for help when I hear a female voice on the other side, a voice that I recognised. “Please stop Aria, you will make it worse” “Bea?” I didn’t understand, the Doctor had told me that Kyle had gotten away with Bea. How was my best friend here?. “Yes, please just keep your voice down!” “I thought you escaped with Kyle” I whisper through the locked door. “I did, but they fo
Ryan’s POV I try my hardest to move us away from the rocks but the current was strong and was quickly dragging us along. It’s Aria that hits the rocks instead of me. Her head colliding with them with a massive bang and a large gash appears on her forehead. Blood spills quickly, the red bleeding into the clear water. Her body stills instantly, her head falling to one side as she slips under the water. Struggling to keep her afloat as well as pull her towards the river bank, I let my wolf take over. Strength surges through me as I shift, but I finally manage to get us out. Hauling our bodies out, Aria remains still, her chest unmoving. Quickly shifting back, I start compressions, begging that she makes it through. Now was not the time for her to die. As water spurts from her mouth, she takes a deep breath, one that makes her whole body shudder as she coughs and splutters. I could not believe how stupid she had been, but I still sigh with relief as she breathes. “Fuck Aria, why would
Aria’s POV Glaring at Ryan, I was annoyed that he had decided that now should be the time to talk. “So you are finally going to tell me? Explain why you killed my parents, why you disappeared in the night, why you whipped me?” I snap at him, my arms folding across my chest as I feel my heartbeat quicken. I was confused and annoyed by his sudden change of interest, his sudden need to talk to me. “Your father fucked up!” “What?” “I am just trying to tell you what happened!” “My father did no such thing. He was a good man, he let you stay, you’re the one that screwed him over!” I wasn’t listening to this, my father was a good man who would do anything for his pack. “Aria, the Blood Oath, it isn’t what you think it is!”. “What are you trying to say Ryan?” my foot was now tapping on the floor. I couldn’t bring myself to look at him, otherwise I may just attack him. “The Blood Oath your father made me take, it wasn’t what you thought it would be, it was one where I was forced t
Ryan’s POV I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her as she leaves. I was confused that she hadn’t asked more questions about the news of me being a Hybrid. I was certain she would have more questions. She also hadn’t pushed the matter when it came to Bea, but I had no plans of letting them see each other, even if I did tell her that I would think about it. Remaining in the office, I think over our conversation. Aria was in complete denial over the news of her father. Yet she hadn’t really said much when I told her that I was a Hybrid and for some reason, it bothered me. It wasn’t like her, Aria liked to know the ins and outs of everything, so why had she been so quiet about my identity? After a few hours of no commotion, I head back to the bedroom with food for Aria, maybe I should have checked on her. Though I believed her when she told me that she would go back to the bedroom. Passing Bea who was carrying a pile of sheets, her head drops as soon as she sees me “Alpha” she quietly ackn
“You won’t, you will never do it!” Athena screams as I drag her across the ground. “Shut your fucking mouth.” I yell over her whimperings.“Then just kill me. I can't bare to see you fuck us over.”“No Athena. You will see what happens. You will watch as I take over the entire world and you will hear all of it.”“Please, just let me die.”“No fucking chance.” I threw her body into the dungeon where Aria had been locked away. Athena’s body hits the stone floor as she rolls across the ground.“Please, Atlas, please just let me…”“Alpha Atlas.” I mutter. She was a traitor, she wasn’t anything other than that.“Alpha Atlas, please just let me die.” She continues to beg.“No chance.”I slam the door of the dungeons shut. Slipping the key into the lock. She would never get to see any of the pack again. All she would ever get is the information of how the world was changing. How I was becoming the King that no one could stop. How I would be unstoppable,I walk down to the gates, waiting for
Atlas’s POVI couldn’t believe what I was hearing. How could Simon be mated to Athena? It didn’t seem possible. After all, he was gay. He had been married to a man.A man that he met at my ball! Ryan mutters. He sounded almost annoyed. “I can’t help it, Simon. The Moon Goddess obviously paired us together for a reason. It's not my fault.""There could have been a chance, but I can't protect you now!""You're not even going to try?"“Shut up. Just shut up you stupid woman!” Simon growls at her, obviously having enough of her shit.“I’m sorry that I am not what you wanted. Let me guess, you wanted someone with a dick!” Athena snaps back. "Well, I'm sorry about that, so suck it up!"“Whatever is going to happen between us doesn’t matter if Atlas kills you.”The sentence was perfect timing. Stepping into the small room. I see Athena sitting on the edge of a sofa. Her face in her hands. Her chocolate brown hair draped down over her. Simon had his back to me. His hands on his hips. A red t
Atlas’s POVSimon bursts into the room. I hadn’t even realised he had followed me. He stops in front of the empty crib. “Where is he, Atlas?” I couldn’t speak. I was in shock. How had I not felt it? How had I not known that he was in trouble?“ATLAS? Where the hell is he?”“She has him. She has taken my son.” I growl“FIND ATHENA!” I yell through a link to every single wolf and Lycan in the pack. “DO NOT LET HER OUT OF YOUR SIGHT. SHE HAS MY SON!”“I can help.” Simon offers.“How? How can someone like you help.”“He is okay. Hunter is okay. That’s why you couldn’t sense him being taken. His Aunty has him. If he feels danger. You will know. You will feel it”“How can you be certain? He is the first Lycan child.”“Because you feel it when he cries. You feel it in your heart when he is upset. Whatever Athena has done. She is keeping him safe and he trusts her. The question is, what does she want in return.”“I know what she wants. She wants Bethany dead.”“Me?” A small voice cries behin
Atlas’s POVAesha drops her head, keeping herself from looking at me. I wasn’t mad at her. I already had my suspicions. The way Athena looked at Bethany. The spite in her words. I had never known someone so jealous over a child.“Thank you, Aesha.”“You’re not mad at me?”“I’m not mad with you, no! You did the right thing.” I mull over her words. Frustrated that I couldn't get a break.“I told you Aesha. It was better to tell him than not.” Simon mumbles and nods at her, giving her a smile. I wondered how long this had been bugging her. Not once had we been alone today for her to tell me. Athena was always there, hovering or Bethany was at my side. Had Athena known Aesha had overheard her?“Did she know, Aesha? Did she know that you were listening in?”“I don’t… I don’t think so.”That sounds like a yes. If Athena had picked up her scent, then it would be obvious. It’s why Athena probably hovered at the funeral.“Things are getting more and more fucked up!” Simon mutters“Why are you
Atlas’s POVGetting Aria ready for her funeral hit me hard. It made me realise just how much I missed her. She had put me through my paces, testing my patience but at the end of the day, she was mine.I'm not ready.'I know, but it is time.'Just like Bethany had said, Aria looked as though she was sleeping. Her fresh clothes hid her fatal wound. Aesha was busy putting some sort of make up on Aria, giving her a bit of colour. She keeps her mouth shut, knowing that it was best not to speak.It had been a long time since I had sent someone back to the Moon Goddess and I wasn’t ready for this. I reach out to touch her cold skin. Hoping that by some miracle, she would wake up. That this was all just some nightmare.“Everyone’s ready.” Athena mutters. I see how she glances at Bethany, but she doesn’t say anything and Bethany is oblivious to it.I nod and she leaves, taking Aesha with her. Bethany remains behind with me. She had stayed with me ever since we went to the orphanage earlier. Sh
Atlas’s POVOver the course of the next few days, it was almost impossible to get anymore information out of Bethany. The moment she felt threatened, she would clam up. Hiding herself away, never leaving the house and refusing to speak to anyone. The only thing that would coax her out of her hiding spot was hot food. Today, it seemed like the smell of food wasn’t even working. I would have to go and find her when I was done.“Some great idea of yours.” I mutter as Aesha sits at the breakfast table with Athena and I.Athena cocks an eyebrow at me. She didn’t have a clue what I was talking about, but her gaze hit me hard. I had allowed Athena and Aesha to stay in the packhouse. In some ways it helped me feel close to Aria. Yet, it always seemed like they were watching my every move.“Is this about the funeral, Atlas? Because you can’t keep putting it off forever. Aria isn’t coming back.” I heard the undertone in her voice. She was trying to be assertive but she was grieving like the res
Atlas’s POVThe small girl remains asleep for hours. Whether it was shock or tiredness that was causing her to sleep so heavily, I couldn’t tell. Her blonde hair was dirty. There were blood stains around her finger nails. Her blood splattered clothes were too small for her, torn in places too. Her feet were bare and didn’t look like they had been cleaned in days, maybe weeks.Hunter stirs in my arms, making little noises and I watch as the girl's face screws up. Like my son's sounds were causing her some distress. Calling for Aesha, she comes into my office and takes Hunter from me, casting a glance over the young girl.“Still not woken?” She asks and I shake my head.“I think she might have needed it.”“Sleep? She was with humans, surely they were looking after her, she is just a kid. At least you haven't killed her. Does that mean you are going ahead with what I suggested?"I don't respond. But I had investigated the girls feet. The hardened skin, the old scars, the clothes that wer
Atlas’s POVEveryone stayed out of my way except for one. He never spoke but it wasn’t like I could get rid of him either. His constant looks of disapproval and tutting were starting to grind on me.‘Ryan, if you don’t start keeping your disapproving looks to yourself, I will take that concoction that I made for Aria and block you altogether.’You’re losing it!‘Fuck off!’You need to talk about her!‘Will you shut the fuck up!’No. I loved her too and now, now you are just shutting down. Do you even care how I feel!‘You didn't love her, not like I did.’ There, I had said it. The overwhelming ache of my heart was almost too much. ‘But you got what you wanted, didn’t you, Ryan?’He is quiet again, because he knew exactly what I was referring to. The day he attacked her family. The plan he had made with Aria's sister, Seren. He had got what he wanted all along. A child with the woman he was mated too.It’s not like that. I made a mistake. He mutters at me, but I could feel that I had h
Atlas’s POVHuman after human, I tear them apart. Promising myself that I would get my revenge for what happened to my mate.The scent of blood swirled in the air as the humans screamed begging for their lives. They should not have come to war if they were not prepared to dieYou have to stop. This isn’t going to bring her back! Ryan pleads with me.But this is what they came for. They came for us and I had no intention of letting them leave.Humans tried to run, trying to escape their deaths and yet the Lycans and wolves seemed to have a whole new reason to kill. They wanted revenge for Aria’s death as much as I did.As the remnants of the humans laid scattered across the grounds, I instructed my men to check that no one was hiding amongst them. The last thing I needed was a human that could escape to tell the tale.Shifting back to my human form, I go back to Aria’s lifeless body. Pain exploded through my chest all over again as I held her close. She had been taken away from me, fr