Aella Two days later, we find ourselves in a black Escalade, driving toward the restaurant where the meeting is to take place. Roman’s knuckles are white on the steering wheel, and Kaden has an air of alertness that borders on tension. Roman decided to meet Alpha Javier in his own territory as a sign of respect. Both Kaden and I hate this, but Roman was adamant it had to be done. The car is filled with the smell of Roman’s cologne, a woodsy aroma that usually comforts me, but today it seems to amplify the gravity of the situation. “We’ll be alright, Aella,” he says. “Trust me.” Kaden, sitting shotgun, looks over his shoulder and nods in agreement. “We’ve faced worse, right? A sit-down with another Alpha should be a cakewalk.” “I wouldn’t go that far,” Roman murmurs, pulling the Escalade into the valet area. “What are the odds that Javier is setting us up?” I can’t help but ask, breaking the silence that has enveloped the vehicle. “Low, but not non-existent,” Roman answers, ey
AellaAs we walk back to the car, the weight of the new revelations sinks in. “You were almost married off to Diego,” Roman says, his voice bordering on fury knowing I would have been someone else’s. “That fucker Leonardo truly is a snake, no offense, baby.”I shake my head. “And Lily… I can’t believe this is happening to her,” I murmur.“We’ll fix it,” Roman promises, his grip tightening around mine. “I’ll see if I can get her out of there. Fuck knows what’s she’s been through.”The moment we’re sealed inside the Escalade, I can feel the tension rise like steam from a boiling pot. Roman jams the key into the ignition, turning it so violently it’s a wonder the car starts at all. The engine roars to life, but instead of shifting into gear, Roman swivels his head to fix Kaden with an incredulous glare. The tension is palpable; you could cut it with a knife.“What the actual fuck, Kaden? You offer yourself up for marriage like it’s some sort of goddamn business deal? You could’ve at lea
AellaI have a date tonight with Roman and I’m feeling extremely anxious about it. He said that he never gets to spoil me, so here I am, nervous as he opens the Maserati’s door for me.I’m still trying to catch my breath as I slide into the plush leather seat of his car. My Alpha is a striking figure beside me, his blonde hair falling rebelliously over his forehead in that ‘Roman Way’, catching the dim light of the car’s interior. His green eyes meet mine for a moment, sparkling like emeralds, and my heart does a little flip. He looks impeccable in that fitted suit, every inch the powerful, confident Alpha he is.“Is this what I have to look forward to? You stealing all my attention by looking this drop-dead gorgeous?” Roman grins, starting the car with a soft roar that vibrates through the chassis.I chuckle, touched by his compliment. “And here I thought I was the lucky one, being chauffeured by a man as handsome as you.”“Ah, flattery,” he smirks, expertly maneuvering the car onto
AellaTwo weeks have passed since the meeting and Roman’s presence had been more contemplative, as if he were turning over a complex puzzle in his mind. We’re expecting Alpha Javier and his sister Elena. Kaden’s potential future wife.They’re visiting our territory, a return gesture of respect that Roman showed him. Elena was as much a mystery to us as a locked book. Today, that book would be opened, and we’d all take our first look.I know the fact that the meeting is here gives Roman a sense of control that he finds absent when dealing with unpredictable variables. The room is elegantly decorated, from the crystal chandeliers to the embroidered tablecloth—this may be a meeting of Alphas, but it’s also a show of power and tradition. The air smells of aged wood and subtle lavender, a scent designed to put anyone at ease. Still, Roman looks like he’s preparing for battle, his jaw set, eyes like a hawk. Kaden, too, stands tall and imposing, yet there’s an underlying spark of excitemen
RomanOne day until Kaden gets married, and I’m twisted into a fucking nervous pretzel.I’m in a hotel room with Aella, its elegance almost suffocating with the weight of tomorrow’s event. The window curtains are drawn shut, the dim light casting a soft, mellow glow and the king-sized bed, covered in silk sheets, looks inviting, but neither of us feels like sleeping just yet.Aella is standing at the window overlooking the city lights, her posture tense, her eyes clouded. I know her well enough to gauge the storm brewing in her mind. I smell it, too—the anxiety, the fear, clinging to her like a second skin. It’s an odor I can’t stand, and it’s not one that belongs to her. I know she’s terrified about the possibility of seeing Vasily again at the wedding celebration tomorrow. That bastard took her for whatever twisted plan he had, and the scars are still there. Emotional scars that I’d do anything to erase.I set my cell phone aside and walk over to her, wrapping my arms around her fr
AellaKaden and Elena’s wedding. The air is filled with a combination of excitement and nerves, creating an intense and thrilling atmosphere. Even Roman seems to have shelved his worries for now, replaced by an air of pride and fulfillment as he oversees the last-minute preparations on the pack grounds.We were going to have the wedding on our packlands, but Roman thought that would invite unsavory people here, so we’ve set up half between Alpha Javier’s territory and ours.Everything is gorgeous, right down to the reception hall. The altar, simple yet elegant, is adorned with flowers and draped in sheer fabrics that dance in the wind.Guests are arriving, dressed in their best. Our pack members look elegant in their finest clothing, but I can’t help catching the thrum of anxiety coursing through them. We’re aligning with one of our enemies, there’s a lot at stake.Invited Alphas and Betas from other packs are also in attendance, ones I recognise from my own wedding. Even they can’t
AellaHe leans against the door, his eyes raking over me in a way that makes my blood run cold. “Ah, Aella, alone at last.”Fear pumps through me, but I force myself to remain calm. “What do you want?”“What I’ve always wanted, my dear,” he sneers. “To see Roman suffer. And what better way than through you?”My heart pounds in my chest. I know I can’t overpower him physically, but maybe I can stall long enough for someone to notice I’m missing. I think of Roman, of the love and strength that have always anchored me, and it fuels my resolve. “You won’t get away with this,” I tell him. “Roman will—”“—What? Save you?” Vasily interrupts, pushing away from the door and taking a menacing step forward. “Oh, babygirl, this time we won’t be waiting for my little brother to come to us; I’m taking the fight to him."It happens so fast. One second Vasily is leaning against the bathroom countertop, the next, his hand is like iron around my wrist, yanking me out of the restroom. My heart is poundi
RomanThe second Vasily had his hands on Aella, my world went red. The ground beneath my feet might as well have been ripped away, because for a brief second, I’m free-falling into a chasm of self-doubt and gut-wrenching fear.I had to keep my wits about me. I had to be smart. Because this wasn’t just about me—this was about Aella, my pack, and a future that Vasily was hell-bent on destroying.“Is this what an Alpha looks like?” I can almost hear Vasily’s voice sneering in my head. “Can’t even protect his own mate?” And for a devastating moment, I almost agree with him.I’ve spent years trying to prove that I was worthy of the Alpha title, not just to my pack, but to myself. Yet here I am, watching the woman I love being tormented by my own flesh and blood. It’s a cruel mirror, reflecting my deepest insecurities, mocking my so-called ‘strength.’Aella’s face is pale, eyes widened in terror, but even from this distance, I can see a flicker of defiance in them. It fuels me, but it also