**Isabella**I paced the length of the room, my feet sinking into the plush carpet with each step, though the softness offered no comfort. The air felt heavy, thick with tension that wasn’t just in my mind but all around me. I could still feel Aiden’s presence lingering, even though he had stormed out hours ago. His anger, his disgust—it clung to the walls like a shadow, making it impossible to breathe.I wrapped my arms around myself, my thoughts a whirlwind. Mate. He’d called me his mate, and the word rattled in my brain like a loose, unwelcome stone. I didn’t understand any of it. How could I be bound to him, this cold, angry creature who hated me for reasons I couldn’t comprehend?I wanted answers, but I feared them just as much. The truth was often more terrifying than the unknown.A knock at the door startled me, the sound sharp in the otherwise quiet room. My heart jumped into my throat, but I forced myself to remain still.The door creaked open, revealing a tall man I hadn’t s
I sat on the floor for what felt like hours, my back pressed against the wall, knees drawn up to my chest. The tears had long since dried on my cheeks, leaving behind only the numb ache of helplessness. The world I had known—everything I had believed to be real—was shattered beyond recognition. I was bound to a creature of the night, to a man who despised me, and no amount of tears could change that.The room felt colder now, as though Aiden’s presence had sucked all the warmth from the air, leaving behind only shadows and silence. My mind kept replaying Marcus’s words over and over again.**Aiden is a werewolf. You are his mate. You are safe.**Safe. I didn’t feel safe. I felt like a caged bird, trapped in a world I didn’t understand, with no way out. My thoughts spiraled, grasping for answers, for a way to escape the bond that held me. But every time I tried to think of a solution, I came back to the same haunting reality: there was no escape. The bond was unbreakable, and I was tie
I stared at him, my heart pounding in my chest. “I’m not... a thing you can claim,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I’m a person.”Aiden’s jaw clenched, his eyes burning with fury, but beneath that fury, I caught a glimpse of something else. It was brief, a flicker of uncertainty, almost like he was fighting some internal battle that even he didn’t fully understand. His fists clenched tighter, and for a moment, I thought he might lash out, but he didn’t.Instead, he took a step back, his expression hardening once again. “You’re right,” he said through gritted teeth. “You’re not a thing. But the bond... it doesn’t care about what either of us wants.”I stayed silent, watching him closely, trying to understand the war raging inside him. Every word that left his mouth was filled with anger, with bitterness, but there was something else too. Something deeper that he refused to let me see.“And what does that mean?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. “What does the bond mean for me
The air in the mansion felt stifling, thick with tension that hadn’t dissipated since Aiden left the room hours ago. My heart still pounded in my chest, but it wasn’t just fear anymore. There was something else—something dark, dangerous, and undeniable—something that gnawed at the edges of my thoughts and refused to let me rest.I knew I couldn’t just sit here and wait for Aiden to storm back into my life whenever he pleased, throwing his anger at me like daggers. If this was my world now, I needed to understand it, and if there was one thing I’d learned from all of this, it was that Aiden was not the only force at play here.My skin itched with the need for answers. I needed to know what I was up against—who else might be lurking in the shadows of this mansion or watching me from the depths of the forest beyond.But before I could act, the door creaked open, and Marcus stepped inside once again. His expression was unreadable, though I could sense a quiet urgency in the way he moved.
I found him in his study, the door slightly ajar, a faint light spilling out into the dim corridor. I hesitated for a moment, my heart racing as I gathered my courage, then pushed the door open.Aiden was standing by the window, his back to me, his broad shoulders tense with the weight of his emotions. He didn’t turn when I entered, didn’t acknowledge my presence at all. The silence was thick, oppressive, but I forced myself to step inside, closing the door softly behind me.For a long moment, neither of us spoke. I could feel the tension radiating off him, the anger simmering just beneath the surface, but there was something else too—something darker, more complex.“I know you don’t want me here,” I said quietly, my voice trembling slightly despite my efforts to remain calm. “I know you hate this bond as much as I do.”Aiden’s shoulders tensed even more, but still, he didn’t turn to face me.“But we’re both stuck in this,” I continued, my voice growing stronger. “And we need to figur
It had been two days since the confrontation in Aiden's study, and I hadn’t seen him since. The mansion, which had once felt suffocating with Aiden’s presence, now felt eerily empty without him. His absence was a constant reminder of the tension between us, the unresolved pull of the bond that hung over everything like a storm cloud waiting to break.I hadn’t left my room much, not because I was afraid, but because I didn’t know what to do next. The weight of what Marcus had told me—about the bond, about Aiden’s past, and about the enemies who were watching—had kept me awake at night, tossing and turning in bed, trying to make sense of it all.There was a part of me that wanted to confront Aiden again, to force him to explain what was happening to us. But there was another part of me, the quieter, more fearful part, that didn’t want to poke the bear. Aiden was dangerous, and pushing him too far could have consequences I wasn’t prepared to face.Still, I couldn’t stay hidden away in th
The sun hadn’t even risen yet when Aiden knocked on my door. The faint light from the hallway barely filtered into the room, casting long shadows across the floor. I hadn’t slept much, nerves keeping me awake. My mind had been racing since our conversation the day before, trying to process what was coming next."Let’s go," Aiden said flatly, not waiting for a response before turning and walking down the hall.I stared at the empty doorway for a moment, steeling myself. This was what I had asked for—an opportunity to fight back, to stop being the liability he claimed I was. I couldn’t let fear hold me back, not now.Throwing on a pair of worn sneakers and a jacket, I hurried after him. The mansion was quiet, still blanketed in early morning shadows as we made our way through the winding corridors. Aiden said nothing, his pace fast, his body tense as if he was barely holding back a storm inside him.When we reached the main entrance, Aiden opened the heavy door, and the cold morning air
The next morning, I woke to the dull ache of bruises scattered across my body. Every muscle screamed in protest as I dragged myself out of bed, my mind replaying the brutal training session with Aiden. The fire in his eyes, the harshness of his words—they’d left a mark as deep as the bruises, but I wasn’t backing down. I couldn’t. Not after everything.By the time I made my way outside to the clearing, Aiden was already there, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed, watching the forest like a predator waiting for prey. The air was crisp, the sky still shrouded in early morning mist, and the chill seeped into my bones, though it did little to quell the fire of determination burning inside me.“Late,” Aiden muttered without looking at me, his voice clipped and cold.“I’m here, aren’t I?” I shot back, squaring my shoulders as I approached him.He finally turned to face me, his eyes narrowing as he took in my appearance. The bruises on my arms and legs, the dark circles under my eye
As the sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the orphanage in hues of orange and pink, my mother stood in the doorway, her expression a mix of hesitancy and determination. “Will you both stay for dinner?” she asked, her voice carrying a hopeful note that tugged at my heart.I glanced at Aiden, expecting resistance. He was a man of particular habits, unaccustomed to impromptu changes or the chaotic warmth of my past life. But to my surprise, he nodded. “We’d love to,” he said, his voice calm and reassuring.My mother’s smile lit up her face, and something inside me unfurled—a tension I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Wonderful,” she said. “I’ll set up the dining hall.”As she turned to make preparations, I felt Aiden’s hand squeeze mine briefly. “Are you happy?” he whispered, his eyes searching mine for any sign of distress.“Yes,” I replied, more to convince myself than him. “It’ll be good to catch up with everyone.”He nodded, his gaze lingering on me a moment longer before he releas
Aiden’s hand was firm around mine, grounding me when my legs threatened to buckle under the weight of anticipation. The creak of the iron gates of the orphanage echoed through my chest, rattling my nerves. Each step felt like walking through molasses, my body betraying me despite my mind’s desperate commands to move forward.“Relax, Isabella, or you’re going to scare them,” Aiden said softly, his voice like a warm breeze cutting through the storm inside me. His lips curved into a slight smile, though I could see the undercurrent of concern in his gaze.I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded, clutching his arm as if letting go would pull me back into the void of uncertainty. Aiden took the first step inside, and I followed, my breath hitching with every inch closer to the truth.The orphanage hadn’t changed much, at least not from what I remembered in fragments—peeling paint on the walls, the faint scent of lavender detergent that lingered in the air, and the distant sound of chi
As spring began to thaw the chill of winter, the team found a temporary respite from their relentless battle against the Black Sun. The fortress in the Pyrenees had been dismantled, and the immediate threat of The Ascendancy had been averted. However, the remnants of the dark network remained a persistent threat, and the team’s mission was far from complete. In their base, the atmosphere was a mix of cautious optimism and ongoing vigilance. The team had succeeded in disrupting the Black Sun’s most recent plans, but their influence was still widespread. The remnants continued to operate in the shadows, their intentions shrouded in secrecy. Isabella, Clyde, Elise, Alessandro, and Marta gathered in the war room, reviewing their latest intelligence. The walls were covered with maps, photographs, and documents detailing the Black Sun’s remaining operatives and activities. Elise, looking over a set of decrypted messages, spoke with concern. “We’ve uncovered several new locations tied to
The drive to the orphanage was quiet. The mood we had woken up with had been ruined, leaving a tension thick enough to slice through. I could see Aiden’s jaw tightening every few seconds, a telltale sign of his internal struggle. He was controlling himself—for me, I knew that much. It was his way. Always measured, always holding back. The world outside the window blurred past, a mix of early autumn trees and gray skies, but I couldn’t focus on any of it. My chest felt heavy, guilt coiling tight around my ribs. After fifteen minutes of silence, the tension became unbearable. I glanced over at him and then back at the passing scenery, forcing myself to speak. “I’m sorry,” I said softly, my voice barely breaking the stillness. Aiden’s eyes flicked toward me, his expression unreadable. His gaze returned to the road almost instantly. “For what?” he asked, his tone polite but distant, as though he were forcing himself to remain calm. I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “For putting you in
“Isabella,” he said, his tone low and firm, “you make the rules here. You break them. No one is superior to you—not Marcus, not me, not anyone in this pack.” The weight of his words settled over me, heavy and unfamiliar. “But… the rules exist for a reason,” I argued weakly, my voice wavering. “And sometimes,” he said, glancing at me briefly, “those rules don’t account for the unique situations we face. That’s why you’re the Luna. To lead. To make the hard calls. The pack looks to you for guidance, not to follow every rule blindly.” I shook my head, my chest tight. “I don’t feel like a Luna,” I admitted. “I don’t feel like someone they should look up to.” Aiden’s hand tightened slightly on my thigh, his warmth seeping through the fabric of my jeans. “That’s because you keep doubting yourself,” he said, his voice softer now. “You’re still thinking like an outsider. But you’re not anymore. You’re one of us, Isabella. More than that, you’re the luna, my mate. It’s time you start actin
The drive to the orphanage was quiet. The mood we had woken up with had been ruined, leaving a tension thick enough to slice through. I could see Aiden’s jaw tightening every few seconds, a telltale sign of his internal struggle. He was controlling himself—for me, I knew that much. It was his way. Always measured, always holding back.The world outside the window blurred past, a mix of early autumn trees and gray skies, but I couldn’t focus on any of it. My chest felt heavy, guilt coiling tight around my ribs. After fifteen minutes of silence, the tension became unbearable. I glanced over at him and then back at the passing scenery, forcing myself to speak.“I’m sorry,” I said softly, my voice barely breaking the stillness.Aiden’s eyes flicked toward me, his expression unreadable. His gaze returned to the road almost instantly. “For what?” he asked, his tone polite but distant, as though he were forcing himself to remain calm.I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “For putting you in a ti
Just as we were about to leave the table, Marcus entered the room. The first thing his eyes caught was our intertwined fingers. I instinctively tried to pull my hand back, but Aiden tightened his grip, his fingers pressing firmly against mine as though silently daring me to let go.Marcus raised a brow, his lips curving into a knowing smirk as he cleared his throat. “Someone is clearly in a good mood after whipping everyone’s ass,” he drawled.Aiden rolled his eyes, the action subtle but unmistakable. “Oh, please,” he muttered, his tone dripping with irritation.We both knew what Marcus was referring to. Aiden had spent the better part of past two weeks commanding everyone on how to deal with Darius. The tension between him and Darius was palpable, almost suffocating at times. I had told him countless times to forget about the man, to let it go, but Aiden had been resolute. I could still remember the dangerous glint in his eyes as he’d said, “I would never forgive anyone for touching
“Do you remember what day it is today?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, but I could feel the weight of my words lingering in the quietness.Aiden’s response was slow, deliberate. He raised one brow in that way he did, and just that one look made my heart skip a beat. If it was a sin to look this handsome first thing in the morning, then he was, without a doubt, the greatest sinner of them all. I found myself stuttering, nerves dancing through me as I tried to find the courage to bring up the topic I’d been holding onto.“You said you’d take me to the orphanage,” I said, my voice hesitant, unsure if this was the right time. Would he remember? Would he care as much as I did?For a moment, he didn’t say anything. Silence crept in, and with it, a growing sense of unease. My mind spiraled, convinced I’d messed everything up. Just as the words started to rise in my throat, desperate to cover up the silence, Aiden leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss on my cheek. His arms wrapp
As the first soft light of dawn seeped through the edges of the curtains, I blinked awake, the warmth of the bed and the weight of Aiden’s arm draped possessively across my waist grounding me in a blissful haze. For a moment, I lay still, letting my gaze trace the familiar curve of his shoulders, the way his dark hair fell messily over his brow, and the quiet, even rise and fall of his chest. The memory of last night washed over me, a heady mix of intensity, passion, and the feeling of being wholly consumed by him.My cheeks flushed, and a shy smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I recalled the way his voice had sounded—low and rough—whispering my name, claiming me with every touch. I felt the ghost of his hands on my skin, the possessive strength in his hold, the way he had looked at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered. Everything about last night felt surreal, yet the weight of his arm, his warmth beside me, grounded it as real.Careful not to wake him, I sh