FINN'S POVI stepped through the heavy door and into the dim light of the silver cell. The air was heavy with the smell of cold metal, mixed with the lingering scents of sweat and fear.Ralph was seated against the wall, his wrists chained above his head, his arms stretched out tight, his body marked with fresh red welts that cut across his skin like dark, angry lines.The two warriors I had ordered to get him talking stood by, looking like they had just come from a fight themselves, their eyes hard but hesitant.One of them stepped forward, his voice low. “He refused to speak, Boss. Not a word, no matter how much we tried.”I nodded. “Leave us,” I ordered. They glanced at each other, then gave a quick bow before slipping out, shutting the door with a dull clang that echoed in the silence.Now, only Ralph and I remained in the cell.I took a step closer, letting the weight of my presence settle on him. He lifted his head slowly, and for a brief second, I saw a hint of defiance flashin
FINN'S POVThe grand hall sparkled with the kind of beauty and elegance that masked the dark purpose lurking beneath the surface that evening.I had arranged every detail carefully, from the golden chandeliers casting soft light over the tables, to the flowing drapes framing the room in deep shades of royal blue and emerald.The guests began to arrive slowly, each dressed in their finest, each carrying the same hesitant expression. After all, it wasn’t every day you celebrated a man’s recovery by gathering half the pack’s inner circle.Dante had given me a sceptical look when I first suggested it. “Are you sure, Finn? It seems… unnecessary.”But I only smiled, giving him a pat on the shoulder. “Trust me, Brother. Tonight's not just about celebrating your recovery. I have a little announcement planned. You’ll see.”That kept him quiet, though I could tell he wasn’t thrilled. Dante didn’t love being the centre of attention, and as Alpha, he rarely had the luxury to be. Yet, despite his
ARIA'S POVI ran through the foggy forest, feeling my heart pound in my chest. The damp leaves crunched under my feet as I pushed forward, desperate to put as much distance as possible between myself and the life I was leaving behind.Behind me, I could hear bone-chilling howls that made my blood run cold. Two gray wolves were on my tail, their large forms barely visible in the fog. I could hear their heavy breathing and the sound of their footsteps as they got closed in on me."Stop running, bitch!" one of the werewolves yelled, his voice harsh and threatening.I felt sick to my stomach, but I had to keep going. “Leave me alone!" I shouted back, my voice hoarse and breathless.The other let out a cruel laugh. "Leave you alone?? Dante, the man you claim to be your husband, he killed our parents, our family. And because of him, we were forced to become rogues. Now, we will make him pay by killing you!”My mind reeled. Alpha Dante, the Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack and my husband of t
ARIA'S POVAdam helped me out of the forest, his arm wrapped around me protectively as we made our way to his sleek black car.The drive to the hospital was a blur of streetlights and worried glances. I couldn't shake the feeling that my world had been turned upside down, again.We pulled up to the emergency entrance, and before I knew it, I was being whisked away in a wheelchair. Adam's voice boomed through the halls, demanding the best care, the top doctors.Soon after, I was in a comfortable bed in what looked more like a luxury hotel suite than a hospital room. Doctors and nurses bustled around me, checking my vitals and asking questions I could barely focus on answering."Adam," I whispered, reaching for his hand. "You really don't need to go through all this trouble. I'm fine."He squeezed my fingers gently. "Shh, little sister. Just let them take care of you."The head doctor, a kind-faced woman with salt-and-pepper hair, came over with a clipboard. "Well, you've been through q
ARIA'S POVThe phone slipped out of my fingers and landed on the bed. Dante's words echoed in my head, each one feeling like a knife twisting in my stomach.“...you are not allowed to get pregnant with my child. If you are, you better get rid of it. Immediately.”I sat there, numb, staring at nothing. How could he? How could he be so heartless?"Breathe, Aria," I whispered to myself, but the air felt thick, choking me.Minutes crawled by. Or was it hours? I couldn't tell.Suddenly, a loud buzz cut through the quiet.My phone.I glanced at it, feeling a mix of hope and dread. Maybe Dante had…With a shaky hand, I reached for the device. "Unknown number," the screen read.I let out a frustrated sigh. "Great. Just what I need. Some telemarketer trying to sell me crap I don't want."I almost tossed it aside, but something made me hesitate. Call it a woman's instinct or just plain curiosity, but I found myself opening the message.Just then, I gasped and quickly covered my mouth with my ha
ARIA'S POVHah! Happy? Dante was happy? While my world was crumbling around me, he was happy.I pressed myself against the wall, trying to make myself invisible. My heart was pounding so loud I was sure they could hear it."Linda," Dante's voice was gentle. "I promise you, I will do everything in my power to care for this child. I'll make sure that the little one grows up safe and loved. I will not let you both down.”He will not let them down? He was supposed to be making those promises to me, and not to Linda. What the hell was wrong with him?The room started to spin, and I felt like I might be sick right there in the hallway.I couldn't hold back the sob that escaped my lips. Quickly, I clapped a hand over my mouth, but it was too late."Did you hear something?" Linda asked.I heard footsteps approaching the door and panic surged through me. I couldn't let them see me like this - broken, pathetic, with tears streaming down my face. I was Aria, the princess of the Blood Moon Kingdo
ARIA'S POVI stood there, feeling my heart race, as I looked from Dante to Linda, then to Agatha, and finally back to Dante.The words were burning on the tip of my tongue, begging to be unleashed. I wanted so badly to scream. But as I opened my mouth, ready to let it all out, I saw Agatha's face.There was worry obvious in her expression, and the way she leaned on Linda for support. It was like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over me. The fight drained out of me in an instant.What good would it do to cause a scene? Especially with the servants hovering nearby, their curious eyes darting between us. I already felt humiliated enough, and I could see the way they looked at me as they walked by."I... I just needed some time alone," I said at last, the lie tasting bitter in my mouth. "I should have let you know. I'm sorry."Agatha's eyes narrowed slightly. "You needed some time alone?" she repeated, her voice laced with doubt. She shook her head, sighing heavily. "I don't have th
ARIA'S POVI stood in front of the mirror, smoothing down my plain blue dress. It wasn't fancy, but it was the nicest thing I owned.Three days had passed since Dante last spoke to me, and now here I was, getting ready for his mother's birthday celebration."It will only be for a few hours," I whispered to my reflection. "Just remember to smile and be polite."The moment I stepped into the grand hall of the Crescent Moon Pack's mansion, I felt out of place.Werewolves in designer clothes chatted and moved around, their laughter echoing off the high ceilings. I clutched my carefully wrapped gift tighter, searching the crowd for a familiar face.Out of nowhere, someone forcefully bumped into me. I stumbled, nearly dropping the gift."Watch where you're going!" a sharp voice snapped. I looked up to see a tall woman in a white dress glaring at me. "The help should know better than to get in the way."My cheeks burned. "I'm not-""Oh, let her be, Vivian," another woman cut in. "She's proba