Our hearts beat in unison, a wild rhythm that filled the room, loud enough that I was sure Aiden could feel mine through the thin fabric separating us. His chest was pressed so tightly against mine, his breaths heavy and ragged. It wasn’t just my own heartbeat that I could feel; it was his too, the pulse of his body echoing the intensity that had taken over both of us. I had never seen him like this before—so raw, so unrestrained. His forehead was resting against mine, our breaths mingling in the small space between us, his gaze dark and heavy with a hunger that threatened to consume everything. With every swipe of his tongue, every graze of his lips against mine, the line between us was fraying—shredding slowly, piece by piece. His body, tense with the effort of control, betrayed his desire, just as mine did. The fire between us crackled, dangerously close to igniting into an uncontrollable blaze. His grip on me tightened, possessive and firm, as if he was afraid to let go. His voi
**Aiden’s pov** My head was spinning, the scent of her filling every corner of my mind, making it harder and harder to think straight. Every instinct I had screamed at me to stop, to pull back before I lost control completely. But it was too late. The moment Isabella wrapped her arms around me, the moment she whispered those words—*Then don’t*—I knew there was no going back. She was in my arms, her body pressed so tightly against mine, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts as her lips moved against mine. I couldn’t stop it. I didn’t *want* to stop it. The line I had been so careful to maintain, the restraint I had clung to—it was gone, shattered the moment she leaned into me instead of pulling away. I felt her fingers tangle in my hair, tugging me closer, as if she couldn’t get enough, as if the flames between us weren’t already raging out of control. Her touch sent fire coursing through my veins, making it impossible to focus on anything other than the way she felt in my arms,
**Isabella's POV** His breath was hot against my skin, the weight of his body pressing me firmly against the wall, his hands gripping me like I was the only thing anchoring him to this world. Every inch of me was burning under his touch, every nerve alive and sparking with electricity. My thoughts were muddled, caught in the whirlwind of the moment, and I could barely catch my breath. His lips moved with a purpose, setting me on fire in ways I hadn’t even known were possible. His grip on me was strong, possessive, as if he was holding onto me not just with his hands but with something deeper, something darker. His forehead rested against mine, our breaths mingling in the small space between us. I could feel the weight of his words hanging in the air as he whispered in my ear, his voice low and dangerous, "You asked for it." The moment the words left his lips, something shifted. The tenderness, the heat, the desire—it all transformed into something darker, something primal. Aiden’s l
I shifted slowly, the weight of my body feeling heavy and unsteady, as if I had been lying still for an eternity. My muscles protested with every movement, and a sharp pain shot up from my neck as I tried to turn. My eyes fluttered open, squinting at the light streaming through the window. Everything felt hazy, as though my mind was still trying to make sense of what had happened. Something was wrapped tightly around my neck, restricting my movements. My hands instinctively reached up, fingers brushing against soft bandages. A dull ache throbbed beneath them. The comforter was neatly tucked around me, almost too neat, as if someone had tidied it up moments before I awoke. Cautiously, I sat up, my body stiff, careful not to jolt the wound that seemed to pulse with every breath I took. My mind was blank as I tried to piece together the fragmented memories of what had happened. *What happened to me?* I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, standing on wobbly feet. The room seemed t
His eyes... they weren’t the same anymore. The moment I questioned him, the moment I asked why he had done this to me, something shifted in his gaze. A flicker of emotion danced in his eyes—something raw, something I couldn’t quite place—but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. He stepped forward, his movements slow, calculated, and I instinctively backed away. The distance between us evaporated within seconds, and soon, he was standing right behind me. I didn’t turn to face him, but I could see his reflection in the mirror—tall, imposing, his eyes dark with something I could only describe as dangerous. He was staring at the bite mark on my neck, the very one he had placed there with such intensity that it sent shivers down my spine. His lips parted, and he spoke, his voice low, almost a growl. “You don’t know?” he asked, his words barely above a whisper. Confusion washed over me. *Know what?* Was I supposed to understand why he had done this? His fingertips brushed the bite
**Aiden's POV** I closed the door behind me with more force than necessary, the soft click louder than it should have been in the otherwise silent hallway. My breathing was ragged, uneven, and my heart pounded in my chest like it was trying to escape. I leaned against the wall for a moment, closing my eyes and willing myself to calm down. *What was I thinking of doing to her?* The tension in my body was unbearable, every muscle taut, every instinct screaming at me to go back into that room. But I couldn’t. Not now. Not after I had barely held myself back. She didn’t realize the gravity of what had just happened, didn’t know the storm that was brewing beneath the surface. But I did. I had marked her. The beast within me roared, hungry for more. The bond had been sealed, and with it came a connection stronger than anything I had ever felt before. It clawed at me, demanding more, pushing me to take her, to make her truly mine in every way. But that wasn’t why I had walked out. I
**Isabella's POV** The warm water cascaded down my skin, washing away the grime and the pain of the last few days, though it couldn’t erase the marks left beneath the surface. I let the steam envelop me, the heat soothing my sore muscles and loosening the tightness in my chest. Every part of me ached, not just from the physical wounds but from the emotional weight of it all. Aiden's bite still throbbed, a constant reminder of the bond we now shared. I closed my eyes, leaning my head back against the edge of the tub. The silence in the room was comforting, but my thoughts were anything but. They swirled and twisted, a tangled mess of confusion, anger, and something else I wasn’t ready to confront yet. The heat wrapped around me like a protective blanket, and I allowed myself to sink further into the water, wishing it could wash away the heaviness that clung to my heart. But no amount of warmth could erase what had happened between Aiden and me, no amount of water could cleanse the b
He had said he would wait for me outside. But as I glanced at the clock, I realized it had been almost two hours. There was no way he would still be there. An alpha like him, waiting for me? The thought seemed absurd. I took a deep breath, steeling myself before I turned the knob and opened the door. And then I froze. There, leaning against the wall just outside my door, was Aiden. His broad shoulders were pressed against the wooden frame, his arms crossed over his chest, and his eyes—those intense, amber eyes—were trained on me the moment the door opened. He hadn’t moved. He hadn’t left. He had been waiting this whole time. My breath caught in my throat, my heart skipping a beat as our eyes locked. He looked… different. There was a quiet intensity about him, something more controlled but no less dangerous. The air between us felt heavy, charged with an unspoken tension that neither of us acknowledged but both of us felt. I swallowed hard, trying to push down the wave of emo
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 r
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