FINN'S POVThe longer I thought about everything, the less sense any of it made. I really needed to find out the truth. I couldn’t let these suspicions eat away at me any longer.Without fully thinking it through, I decided to push a little further. "Doesn't it bother you that we're going to catch the driver?" I asked, keeping my voice casual but watching her reaction carefully.Linda paused, her hand still resting gently on Dante’s arm. She looked up at me, confusion flickering across her face. "What do you mean by that?"For a second, my heart raced in panic. Why did I say that?The question had slipped out, betraying the doubt that had been gnawing at me. I quickly backpedaled, trying to smooth over the tension."I'm sorry, that didn’t come out right," I said, offering an apologetic smile. "My head is a bit all over the place right now. Forgive me if that sounded… strange."She nodded slowly, though her eyes never left mine. There was a hint of suspicion behind her gaze now, and I
ADAM'S POVI had just picked up the call from Finn. I wasn’t expecting anything too serious; maybe a quick update on Dante or something about the text I had sent him.But as soon as I answered, I was met with silence. “Finn, any updates? Hello?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. Still, no one spoke.I was about to hang up when I heard a woman's voice on the other end. My body immediately tensed up because the voice sounded like Linda's. I leaned in closer, straining to listen.What was going on?I couldn’t make out everything at first, but the next words hit me loud and clear."Can you uhmm… can you take me with you?" Linda's voice was soft but insistent. “I want to see what he looks like too.”The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I knew I had to keep quiet, no matter how much I wanted to jump in and demand answers. I had to listen. I had to understand.I got lost in my thoughts for a moment, but then I heard Linda eagerly say, "Of course. I just want to help.”There
FINN'S POVI arrived at the warehouse, feeling the eerie silence settling over me like a cold blanket.It was completely still, almost too still. The kind of quiet that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.I looked around, turning slowly in a circle, trying to spot any sign of Adam or anyone else for that matter. But there was nothing—no sound, no movement.I was getting pissed. Why would Adam ask me to meet him here, only to be late or worse, not show up at all?I shifted on my feet, ready to storm out when my phone suddenly buzzed in my pocket.It was Adam.I swiped the screen, irritation bubbling up. "Where are you, Adam Griffith?""Relax, Finn." Adam's voice was calm, almost too calm. "I had to make sure you came alone.""Alone? Of course, I came alone!" I snapped, glancing around again. "You think I brought someone to a deserted warehouse for a cozy group chat?"Adam chuckled softly on the other end. “Come upstairs.”I frowned, but before I could respond, the line w
FINN'S POV“Yes, Finn. There's more,” Adam replied, calm and composed, as if what he had just revealed wasn’t tearing my world apart piece by piece. His nonchalance only made my anger bubble closer to the surface, but I held it back, barely.“Where did you get these pictures?” I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady, though it shook with the emotions I was trying to suppress. “And what exactly is your relationship with Linda?”Adam smirked, shaking the glass of whiskey in his hand as if he was savouring the moment. It infuriated me.“I told you earlier,” he said slowly, as though I hadn’t heard him the first time. “I started investigating Linda when Aria was first attacked. That was when I realized things weren’t adding up. Linda was always bullying Aria, pushing her buttons. So, I dug a little deeper and stumbled upon this... interesting situation.”I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. The thought of Linda bullying Aria wasn’t exactly news to me, but it didn’t expl
FINN'S POVI don’t remember how I made it back to the hospital from the warehouse. It was all a blur—the anger, the shock.My mind kept circling around the pictures Adam had shown me, the words he had said, and the revelations that left me feeling betrayed.The moment I walked through the entrance, Linda spotted me and hurried over. She grabbed my arm tightly, her eyes filled with concern. Her tone was almost pleading, almost desperate."Finn, where on earth have you been? You’ve been gone for so long. Mother was worried… I was worried," she said, her voice soft and anxious.Seeing Linda there, looking at me with that same troubled expression, brought everything back. It was almost surreal, watching her try to act like she was genuinely concerned for me after what I had just found out. I felt a pang of disgust, but I held it in.I moved her hands off my arm, letting her fingers slip away. I looked her squarely in the eye, searching her face, waiting for something… anything that would
ADAM'S POV“Adam!” Aria’s raspy voice cut through the room, surprising me so much that I nearly jumped out of my skin. I looked over at her, seeing her eyes wide with an intensity I hadn’t seen since before her accident.“Yes?” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, though my heart pounded in my chest. Something about her look told me she wasn’t asking just any casual question.“You’re not answering my question,” she said softly, her gaze steady and her head tilted in that usual way when she was trying to figure something out. “I asked if there’s something you're keeping from me. I feel like something is going with you, so please, tell me. What’s wrong?”I hesitated, not sure of what to say. Seeing her lying in that hospital bed, so fragile yet so determined, made me want to protect her all the more. She had endured so much already; I didn’t want to add to her pain–that was the last thing I wanted.I forced a smile, but it felt wrong even as I did it. “Aria, I don’t know what you’re
ADAM'S POVThe voice behind me made my blood run cold. I turned slowly, already knowing what I would find but praying I was wrong.There stood Aria, gripping her IV stand for support, her face as white as her hospital gown. Her lips had lost all colour, and her eyes… her eyes were red and fixed on my phone with an intensity that scared me.I quickly looked away not knowing what to say or do."Adam..."Slowly, I looked up, still startled, and saw her swaying, looking like she could collapse at any second.Without hesitation, I rushed forward, reaching out just in time to catch her before she fell. She leaned into me, her weight heavy, fragile, like she had been barely holding on.Her voice was rough, raw, like she had swallowed sand. She struggled to get the words out, each one strained and painful. "Adam...was it Dante who saved me that night?"My heart dropped. There it was. The question I had hoped she would never ask, the one that had haunted me ever since the night Dante threw him
ARIA'S POVAdam’s words kept on echoing in my mind, ripping open memories I had buried. Suddenly, it was as if I were back in that car, overwhelmed by the smell of smoke and burnt metal.The day of the accident... I remembered the rogue slamming into my car. Then, in bits and pieces, like flashes from a bad dream, I felt the fire, the intense heat. I was trapped, tangled in the wreckage, feeling my skin burn as everything faded to a blur.I placed a hand on my head, trying to sort it out, to push the pieces into place. "I… I remember being pulled out. Someone was there," I whispered, almost to myself, but Adam was watching, his eyes guarded.In the confusion, I remembered a voice, calling my name. "I heard… I think I heard his voice. He was calling out to me, wasn’t he?" I looked at Adam, hoping he would deny it, hoping he would tell me it was just my mind playing tricks.But Adam’s face was serious, his silence speaking louder than any words."Oh my goodness! I thought it was just a
ARIA'S POV A day later, the verdict for Linda was announced, quick and final. Exile. The word echoed in my mind as I stood by the open window of my room, watching the morning sun rising through the clouds. Linda’s punishment felt like the closing of a chapter, one filled with betrayal, pain, and chaos. Her exile was the beginning of a new order.I had heard the details from Adam earlier that morning. His voice had been calm but firm as he explained it.“Her and her family have been stripped of her title and banished permanently," Adam said, pacing in front of me. His broad shoulders seemed even broader with the weight of leadership on them. "Her pack is no more. It is now part of the Blood Moon Pack, under the Griffith Alpha.”I nodded, taking in his words, though I felt a flicker of sadness. Not for Linda, but for what could have been. She had ruined her own life, blinded by ambition and greed.“Did she say anything?” I asked softly, curious despite myself.Adam stopped pacing an
DANTE'S POV Standing in the middle of the room, my mouth fell open, and I froze. My entire body went stiff as I stared in shock.Outside the window, the sky changed like a living painting, its colours swirling and intensifying. It was mesmerizing and terrifying all at once. The pale blue of daytime changed into shades of red and gold, enveloping the hospital room in an eerie crimson light.“What… what’s happening?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.A loud, bone-chilling howl cut through the silence, making the hair on my arms stand on end. My eyes quickly snapped back to Aria.She wasn’t just lying in bed anymore. No. Her body was changing. Her limbs stretched, her frame twisted, and a silvery light surrounded her like a shield. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched in awe and fear.“Aria…” I breathed, taking a hesitant step forward.Her body shook violently, her skin glowing faintly under the changing light. Then, with one final shudder, she transformed. Where Aria had b
DANTE'S POV Before I could answer Adam's question, Aria’s soft voice broke the silence in the hospital room. It wasn’t loud, but it pierced through the stillness like a sharp blade.“Everything that happened, it's all because of you,” she said.Her words hit me harder than I expected. My chest tightened, and for a moment, I couldn’t even breathe. The air in the room grew heavy, suffocating, and I felt the weight of her accusation settling deep in my gut. She wasn’t wrong. It was truly my fault, no matter how much I tried to explain or justify it to myself.I looked at her, but she didn’t turn away or soften. Her eyes, even in her weakened state, held anger. Hurt. Maybe even fear.“I know,” I said quietly. My voice sounded strange in my own ears, low and heavy with guilt. I didn’t even try to argue because I knew it wouldn’t matter. Words wouldn’t undo what had happened. I had let this happen to her. I nodded, lowering my gaze. “I know, Aria.”It suddenly felt like my throat was mad
DANTE'S POV The drive to the hospital was a blur. My hands were holding the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I glanced over at Aria again and again. She was silent, curled up in the passenger seat, staring ahead with a blank expression. Her face was pale, and her body shook with every bump in the road."Aria," I said softly, my voice breaking. "Are you okay? Please, say something. Anything at all."She didn’t respond, only closing her eyes tightly as if she were trying to block out the world. My chest tightened, guilt suffocating me. This was my fault. Every tear, every tremble, it was all because of me.When we finally reached the hospital, I didn’t waste a second. I jumped out of the car, ran to her side, and lifted her into my arms. She didn’t resist but held onto me weakly. I burst through the hospital doors, my voice loud."I need help! Someone help her now!"A nurse rushed forward, her eyes wide. "What happened?""She’s been through… something terrib
ARIA'S POVThe three men had their filthy hands all over me, laughing as though they had just won a lottery.“Look at her,” one of them sneered, his eyes scanning me like I was some kind of prize. “This one is going to make us famous. Just wait till the camera gets this.”Another man chuckled as he adjusted the camera on the tripod. “Don’t rush, man. We’ve got all night. Let’s make this a show they’ll never forget.”My heart pounded as I struggled to move, to do anything, but my body wouldn’t cooperate. “Please,” I whimpered, tears streaming down my face. “Please, don’t do this. I’ll give you money, houses, cars. Anything. Just let me go. My family is rich.”“Money?” the tallest one scoffed, kneeling beside me. “What’s the fun in that? Nah, sweetheart, we’re here for something better.” He leaned closer, his disgusting breath hot against my face. “And you? You’re… so perfect and beautiful. I just can't wait to see what you got down there.”The third man smirked, crossing his arms as he
ARIA'S POV One of them smirked, his gaze raking over me like I was a piece of meat. “She’s pretty enough,” he said, his voice rough and cold. “We could have some fun with her.”My blood ran cold. My breath hitched as I stared at Linda, disbelief and terror washing over me. “Linda, no,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “Please, don’t do this.”She looked at me, her smile sharp and venomous. “Why not? You’ve ruined my life. Why shouldn’t I ruin yours?”Tears streamed down my face now, and I couldn’t stop them. “Linda, please. I didn’t do anything. I swear. Just let me go.”She squatted again, her face inches from mine. “You don’t get it, do you?” she said softly. “This isn’t just about today. This is about everything. Every time you smiled at him, every time he talked about you, every time I had to wonder if he was thinking about you instead of me. You took him from me, Aria. And now, I’m taking everything from you.”Her words cut deeper than any knife. I wanted to scream, to fight back,
ARIA'S POV I woke up to the sound of my phone buzzing. Over and over, it wouldn’t stop. At first, I thought it was just my alarm, but when I opened my eyes, it wasn’t the usual beep. It was vibrating like crazy on the nightstand.Rubbing my eyes, I reached for it, still half-asleep. Messages lit up the screen. Missed calls too. I squinted, trying to focus. The first message I saw was from Adam: "Are you with Dante?"My heart jumped a little. Why would Adam ask me that? And why on earth would I be with Dante?I typed back slowly, still confused: "No, I’m at home sleeping. Why?"I hadn’t even hit send when Finn’s name popped up on the screen. He was calling. I swiped to answer, still lying in bed.“Finn?” My voice cracked.“Aria!” Finn’s voice was sharp, loud, and panicked. “Dante is gone! He ran away from the wedding!”“What?” I sat up so fast my blanket fell off me. “What do you mean he ran away? Where would he go?”“That’s what I’m asking you!” Finn snapped. “Are you with him? Di
LINDA'S POV The entire mansion was filled with a lot of activity. My mother, friends, and even the servants were all around me, moving around quickly like moths drawn to a warm light.The air smelled of lavender and sage, and the faint sound of chants could be heard from the ceremonial grounds outside. It was finally my wedding day, the moment I had waited for my entire life, and I couldn’t stop smiling.I was marrying the man I had always loved. Dante.“Hold still, Linda,” my mother said sharply, adjusting my veil for the hundredth time. “You don’t want to look like a mess walking down the aisle, do you?”I rolled my eyes but stayed still. “I’m fine, Mother. It’s perfect.”She stepped back and looked at me with a rare softness in her eyes. “You’ve finally gotten what you wanted,” she said, her voice quiet, almost emotional. “You’re about to marry the man you love. I hope you’re happy.”“I am, Mother,” I said, my voice steady but full of excitement. “I couldn’t be happier.”Her lips
ARIA'S POV I tried so much to look calm, though my heart felt uneasy. Dante hesitated, his eyes scanning the room before landing back on me. To my surprise, he asked softly, “Can we go outside? Maybe to the balcony?”I glanced at him, skeptical. Part of me wanted to say no and walk away, but his tone wasn’t demanding. It felt... vulnerable. After a moment of hesitation, I nodded and followed him.The balcony was quiet, with only the faint hum of voices from the banquet hall in the background. The night air was cool, and the moon hung low, creating a soft light over everything. Dante leaned on the railing, looking down at his hands as if trying to find the right words.For a moment, he didn’t say anything.I tilted my head, waiting for him to speak. When he finally did, his words caught me off guard.“Aria... do you still like the colour blue?”I blinked, not sure how to respond. “Blue?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow.He nodded quickly, almost nervously. “Yeah, blue. It used to be