ARIA'S POVLinda’s expression changed the moment she realized that I wasn’t going to back down. That mask of fragile innocence she wore cracked for just a second, but then, to my surprise, she started crying.“I’m sorry,” Linda suddenly said, her voice trembling as her eyes welled with tears. She looked around the crowd, her lower lip quivering in just the right way. “I’m so sorry, everyone. I don’t know what I’ve done to make Aria hate me so much. I…I’ve tried to be kind, but she just won’t stop harassing me!”The crowd murmured in confusion, their eyes darting between the two of us. My mouth fell open in shock, but Linda pressed on, her voice trembling with perfect fragility.“I really don’t know why she’s doing this,” she continued, wringing her hands. “I’ve tried so hard to stay out of her way, but she keeps accusing me of… awful things. And now she’s saying horrible things about my child… my unborn child. I just… I don’t know how much more I can take.” Her voice broke, and she bu
DANTE'S POV I couldn't wrap my head around what Aria was doing. From the moment she asked to speak with Linda, she had been relentless, accusing Linda of things that seemed so absurd.Claiming that Linda's child was fathered by a rogue wolf? The words were so ridiculous I almost laughed when I first heard them. Almost.Instead, I felt my patience wearing thin with every accusation, every raised voice. Aria wasn't like this. She was calm, collected, and never reckless. Tonight, though, she seemed agitated, lashing out like she was desperate for everyone to believe her. And yet, Finn...Finn wasn't the type to back wild accusations, and yet he had claimed to have proof. He said he had seen Linda go into the silver cell and kill Ralph. Murder. That word hung heavy in the air, causing my chest to tighten as I looked around the room. The air was thick with tension, whispers circulating through the crowd, spreading speculation and doubt. My eyes landed on Linda, standing not far from m
ARIA'S POV Linda’s sudden breakdown into tears left me frozen, the weight of her confession crashing over the room like a wave. Her emotional words rang in my ears, each one crafted perfectly to squeeze sympathy from Dante and the crowd. “I swear on the goddess, I did it to protect you, Dante!” she cried, holding onto his arm like a lifeline. “Ralph had threatened to kill you if I didn’t do what he wanted. Everything I said to him, everything I did… it was all to keep him calm, to deceive him. You have to believe me!” The room was filled with hushed whispers, and the crowd’s uneasiness grew with every word. I could see the doubt flickering in their eyes as they turned to one another, whispering under their breaths. “She looks scared… she must be telling the truth.” “Could Ralph really have been manipulating her?” My hands balled into fists as I stepped forward, my voice cutting through the noise. “I have heard enough!” I shouted, pointing at Linda. “Can’t you all see what she
ARIA'S POV The loud sound of the ambulance siren broke through the chaos, silencing the frantic murmurs of the crowd for a moment. Dante didn’t wait for the paramedics to take charge. With a sense of urgency I hadn’t seen in him before, he picked up Linda in his arms. Her pale, lifeless body looked even more fragile in the bright light of the ambulance as Dante climbed in, shouting for them to hurry. I watched him go, his desperation etched into every line of his face. His eyes never left Linda’s bloodied form as the ambulance doors slammed shut behind them. For a brief, fleeting second, I felt a pang of something close to pity. But it was quickly swallowed by a flood of bitterness as the whispers began. “This is all Aria’s fault,” someone muttered from the crowd, loud enough for me to hear. “Yes,” another voice chimed in, filled with hate. “If Linda’s baby dies, the pack won’t spare Aria. That child is the pack’s future heir.” The words hurt more than I cared to admit. My che
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 POV The loud sound of the ambulance siren broke through the chaos, silencing the frantic murmurs of the crowd for a moment. Dante didn’t wait for the paramedics to take charge. With a sense of urgency I hadn’t seen in him before, he picked up Linda in his arms. Her pale, lifeless body looked even more fragile in the bright light of the ambulance as Dante climbed in, shouting for them to hurry. I watched him go, his desperation etched into every line of his face. His eyes never left Linda’s bloodied form as the ambulance doors slammed shut behind them. For a brief, fleeting second, I felt a pang of something close to pity. But it was quickly swallowed by a flood of bitterness as the whispers began. “This is all Aria’s fault,” someone muttered from the crowd, loud enough for me to hear. “Yes,” another voice chimed in, filled with hate. “If Linda’s baby dies, the pack won’t spare Aria. That child is the pack’s future heir.” The words hurt more than I cared to admit. My che
ARIA'S POV Linda’s sudden breakdown into tears left me frozen, the weight of her confession crashing over the room like a wave. Her emotional words rang in my ears, each one crafted perfectly to squeeze sympathy from Dante and the crowd. “I swear on the goddess, I did it to protect you, Dante!” she cried, holding onto his arm like a lifeline. “Ralph had threatened to kill you if I didn’t do what he wanted. Everything I said to him, everything I did… it was all to keep him calm, to deceive him. You have to believe me!” The room was filled with hushed whispers, and the crowd’s uneasiness grew with every word. I could see the doubt flickering in their eyes as they turned to one another, whispering under their breaths. “She looks scared… she must be telling the truth.” “Could Ralph really have been manipulating her?” My hands balled into fists as I stepped forward, my voice cutting through the noise. “I have heard enough!” I shouted, pointing at Linda. “Can’t you all see what she
DANTE'S POV I couldn't wrap my head around what Aria was doing. From the moment she asked to speak with Linda, she had been relentless, accusing Linda of things that seemed so absurd.Claiming that Linda's child was fathered by a rogue wolf? The words were so ridiculous I almost laughed when I first heard them. Almost.Instead, I felt my patience wearing thin with every accusation, every raised voice. Aria wasn't like this. She was calm, collected, and never reckless. Tonight, though, she seemed agitated, lashing out like she was desperate for everyone to believe her. And yet, Finn...Finn wasn't the type to back wild accusations, and yet he had claimed to have proof. He said he had seen Linda go into the silver cell and kill Ralph. Murder. That word hung heavy in the air, causing my chest to tighten as I looked around the room. The air was thick with tension, whispers circulating through the crowd, spreading speculation and doubt. My eyes landed on Linda, standing not far from m
ARIA'S POVLinda’s expression changed the moment she realized that I wasn’t going to back down. That mask of fragile innocence she wore cracked for just a second, but then, to my surprise, she started crying.“I’m sorry,” Linda suddenly said, her voice trembling as her eyes welled with tears. She looked around the crowd, her lower lip quivering in just the right way. “I’m so sorry, everyone. I don’t know what I’ve done to make Aria hate me so much. I…I’ve tried to be kind, but she just won’t stop harassing me!”The crowd murmured in confusion, their eyes darting between the two of us. My mouth fell open in shock, but Linda pressed on, her voice trembling with perfect fragility.“I really don’t know why she’s doing this,” she continued, wringing her hands. “I’ve tried so hard to stay out of her way, but she keeps accusing me of… awful things. And now she’s saying horrible things about my child… my unborn child. I just… I don’t know how much more I can take.” Her voice broke, and she bu
ARIA'S POVLinda stood beside him, her hand resting on his arm, a smug look of confidence flickering across her face.That look—so composed, so sure of herself—ignited something hot and uncontainable inside me.After everything she had done, she could still stand there so calm, so unbothered, wearing that look of triumph? I felt the anger pulse through my veins, louder than the quiet hum of murmurs around us.Before I could stop myself, I took a step forward and grabbed her hand firmly, my words spilling out in a fierce, steady tone. “Didn’t you just kill someone? You killed Ralph, the father of the child in your womb!”The room went deathly silent. It was as if the entire crowd was holding its breath, their shocked expressions frozen in place, eyes wide and darting between Linda and me.I could actually hear my own heartbeat, the loud, insistent thud filling the quiet. The weight of my accusation seemed to hang heavy in the air, pressing down on everyone around us.Linda’s smug expre
ARIA'S POVThe grand hall was buzzing with laughter, clinking glasses, and the light murmur of people deep in conversation. But as Finn and I walked in, the weight of what had just happened sat like a stone in my chest.Ralph’s face, the betrayal, the way he had gasped his last breath—it was burned into my mind. I could barely breathe as I looked around the crowd, half-wondering if people could somehow sense the horror I was carrying with me.And then I saw the bitch.Linda was seated among the crowd, dressed in a fresh, elegant gown, her hair pinned perfectly in place, her eyes bright as she laughed with the people around her. She looked radiant, so carefree and untouched by what had just happened in the cell below.How could she act like nothing had happened? Like she hadn’t just murdered the man who loved her?I felt a rush of anger inside me, my heart pounding, and before I could even think, I was making my way across the room towards her.This wasn’t about Ralph—I didn’t care for
ARIA'S POVI swallowed nervously as I turned back to the screen.Linda was helping Ralph up now, her arm slipping around his shoulders, her movements steady, gentle. It was almost unsettling, seeing her this way.After everything that had just happened, the way she had looked ready to strangle him, here she was—guiding him carefully as if she genuinely cared.“Is she really going to just… walk him out?” I whispered, glancing over at Finn.Finn only shook his head slightly, his gaze unreadable, as if he were trying to solve a puzzle I couldn’t see. “Let’s just keep watching,” he muttered.I returned my focus back to the screen, heart pounding, my eyes glued to Linda and Ralph as they moved towards the door. Ralph had a hint of relief in his eyes as he leaned on Linda, trusting her to lead him to freedom.Then, just as they reached the cell door, Linda’s expression changed. It was a barely visible change, the kind of look only someone who knew her well would notice—a flash of something
ARIA'S POVI watched from the shadows as Linda confidently walked right into the silver cell, barely a flicker of hesitation in her steps.The guards hadn’t so much as glanced at her. Of course, being the ‘supposed’ future Luna had its perks.For a moment, I thought about following her inside. But the plan in my head fell apart as fast as it formed—Linda would see me in an instant, and even if she didn’t, the guards would. And then…well, that wasn’t exactly the way I wanted to die.I lingered just out of sight, wrestling with my options, trying to decide if I should risk it. I was just about to turn back when I felt a presence behind me.I immediately turned around, and a sharp gasp escaped me before a strong hand clamped over my mouth.Panic shot through me, and my heart hammered wildly against my ribs. But then I saw who it was.Finn’s gaze met mine, a glint of urgency in his eyes as he held a finger to his lips, signaling me to keep quiet.My pulse slowed, though only slightly, as
ARIA'S POVFinn’s voice rang out across the hall, loud and clear, cutting through the low hum of conversations and gasps that followed the gruesome video.The sight of Ralph—bloodied, battered, barely recognizable—lingered in my mind, his pain etched in every laboured breath, every ugly bruise.It didn’t make sense. Finn was ruthless, yes, but not reckless. And beating someone within an inch of their life? That wasn’t like him.I turned to Adam, leaning close so no one else could hear me. “Finn is setting a trap,” I whispered, keeping my gaze fixed on the screen where Ralph’s battered form still flickered. “He wants Linda to slip up, to implicate herself.”Adam raised an eyebrow, a small, amused smile spreading over his face. “Well, well, looks like my little sister has got some brains in that head of hers.”I rolled my eyes, nudging him sharply in the ribs. “Not little, thank you very much.” My tone was playful, but the tension was twisting in my gut. Something felt wrong.Adam chuck