ARIA'S POV The room was heavy with silence after Kieran finished his story. The air felt thick, like it was holding onto the weight of his words. I just sat there, staring at him, my thoughts racing. The massacre, the betrayal, the loss of his family—how had he survived all of it? The Kieran sitting before me now, with his calm demeanor and sharp wit, seemed so far removed from the boy who had run for his life.I couldn’t imagine the pain, the guilt, or the fear he must have carried with him all these years. My heart ached for him, and I couldn’t stop myself from whispering, “I’m so sorry, Kieran.”He looked up at me then, his eyes soft but guarded. “Don’t be,” he said simply. “I don’t need pity.”“It’s not pity,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “It’s… it’s just that I can’t believe you’ve carried this alone for so long. You’ve been through so much, and yet you’re still… you.”His lips twitched into a faint smile. “And who is that?”“Someone who tries to make everyone else feel oka
ARIA'S POV My heart raced as I watched Kieran walking towards the shadowy figure standing in the doorway. His movements were slow and deliberate, his muscles tensed as if ready to spring into action.“I asked you a question, who are you?” Kieran asked again, his voice low but firm.Whoever it was didn’t say a word, and for a moment, the silence was suffocating. I tightened my grip on the blanket and felt my breath catch in my throat.Then, suddenly, the figure rushed forward. I gasped, instinctively pulling the blanket higher. But instead of attacking, the figure dropped to their knees and grabbed onto Kieran’s pant leg.“Prince Kieran,” they said, their voice trembling with emotion. “It’s really you! You’re alive!”Kieran froze, his body going stiff. I could see the shock in his eyes as he looked down at the person kneeling in front of him.“What?” he said, his voice barely audible.In that moment, something about the atmosphere felt strange, almost surreal. My instincts told me to
ARIA'S POV I stared at him, not sure of how to respond. Part of me wanted to brush it off with humor or sarcasm—it’s how I always dealt with uncomfortable moments. But another part of me felt like this was important, that he deserved a real answer.Well, trust me to listen to the first part of me.Without thinking, I smiled awkwardly and said, “I saw that the nurse was pretty excited earlier. Isn’t this giving you both a chance to be alone?”The words were out before I could stop them, and I immediately regretted it. Kieran’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at me.“What?” he asked, his voice filled with both confusion and disbelief.I shrugged, trying to keep my tone light. “I mean, she seemed really… passionate about you. Maybe this is your chance to rekindle something?”“Rekindle something?” Kieran’s expression didn’t change. If anything, he looked more annoyed. “The nurse and I are just former classmates from medical school,” he said slowly, as if explain
ARIA'S POV The moment Kieran told me to stay back, I knew that something wasn’t right. His tone was sharp, his body tense, as though bracing for something… dangerous. My stomach churned with unease, and I sat up on the bed, clutching the blanket tightly.“Kieran,” I called softly, hoping he would turn and give me some reassurance. “What’s going on? Who is it? Please, talk to me.”He didn’t answer. He didn’t even glance back at me.The silence felt heavy, like it was pressing down on my chest. I swallowed hard, the stillness making my nerves feel like they were on fire. Why wasn’t he saying anything? Why wasn’t he moving? The longer he stood there, frozen in place, the more my anxiety grew.“Kieran,” I tried again, this time louder, my voice shaking slightly. “I feel fine now. I don’t need to stay here anymore. Let’s just go. Please.”Still, no response. He was so focused on whoever was at the door, it was as if I didn’t exist. I shifted uncomfortably, glancing around the room as i
KIERAN'S POV When Aria left the room and the door closed softly behind her, an eerie silence settled in. The kind of silence that pressed down on your chest, making it difficult to breathe. For a moment, I didn’t move. I couldn’t. My hands were tightly clenched at my sides, my breath shallow as I stared at the floor.This was my first real confrontation with the professor in three years. Three years of running. Three years of hiding. And now, here he was, standing before me, the man who had once been a constant in my life—a teacher, a mentor, someone I had trusted.“Kieran,” he said softly. “How have you been? Are you okay?”I didn’t look at him right away. I couldn’t bring myself to. Instead, I let my gaze wander to the window, where faint streaks of light filtered through the blinds. His voice sounded older, weaker than I remembered. The strength that had once defined him was gone, replaced by something… fragile.When I finally turned my head to really look at him, the sight shoc
ARIA'S POVI leaned against the wall outside Kieran’s hospital room, my arms crossed tightly over my chest. The hallway was quieter now, but it wasn’t calm. There was a certain unease that seemed to hang in the air, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to happen.The faint hum of the hospital’s fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, blending with the occasional sound of pages flipping or the scratch of pens at the nurses’ station nearby.Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a few of the nurses glancing my way, their whispers carrying just far enough for me to hear my name. Some of them giggled, while others seemed more curious, their eyes darting between me and the closed door of Kieran’s room.However, one of them, the nurse who had burst into my room earlier, was different. She was standing at the edge of the nurses’ station, holding a clipboard tightly to her chest. Her eyes briefly glanced in my direction before she quickly looked away, as though she was afraid
ARIA'S POV“Kieran!” I suddenly shouted, “For goodness' sake, they are almost here!”But he didn’t move. He didn’t even flinch. His eyes were locked on me, and they were full of something… something that made my heart squeeze. Guilt? Anger? Fear? Maybe all of it at once.The heavy sound of boots thundered closer, with the soldiers’ shouts echoing down the hallway. My pulse hammered in my ears. Kieran didn’t have time. They were coming.Before I could say anything else, the hospital room door burst open, and the professor surprisingly rushed out. His face was pale, and his breathing was laboured, but there was a fierce determination in his eyes.“Get out of here! Both of you!” the professor yelled, positioning himself protectively behind me. His body was thin compared to Kieran’s, but there was no hesitation in his movements. “Kieran, take her and get out of here! Now!”“Professor, no!” Kieran shouted, his voice breaking with raw emotion. “You don't have to do this. We can all leave
ARIA'S POV The moment the soldiers charged towards me, my body froze in fear. My injured arm throbbed painfully, but I instinctively pressed it against my side, trying to protect it as I stumbled back. The sharp smell of blood mixed with the sterile hospital air, making my head spin."Don't move!" the leading soldier barked, his voice harsh and commanding.I didn't have much of a choice. My legs felt weak, and the room spun as adrenaline coursed through me.Before I could react, the lead soldier pushed me aside with so much force that I fell to the ground, landing hard on my already aching arm.I winced, biting my lip to keep from crying out. The soldier paid no attention to me. He rushed to the window, leaning out and peering out below."Damn it," he growled under his breath. "Where is he?"The other soldiers crowded behind him, their boots thudding against the floor as they scrambled to get a look."Do you see him?" one of them asked, his voice tight with urgency.The leader didn
ARIA'S POV Just when I thought that I was done answering unexpected questions, someone else suddenly stood up, his pen ready over his notepad. “Ms. Aria,” he began, “you mentioned your identity as the Griffith princess earlier. Why did you keep your identity hidden for so long?”The whispers started again, but I took a deep breath. “My identity wasn’t something I intentionally hid,” I replied. “It was just not relevant to my work. I wanted to build a career based on my talent, not my name.”The whispers grew louder, and another reporter quickly followed up. “Did your family know about this? Were they supportive of your decision to stay under the radar?”I hesitated for a moment before answering. “My family has always supported me in their own way. They understood that I needed to find my path independently.”A woman in the crowd raised her hand, her tone sharp. “Does that mean the Griffith Alpha approved of you working as a designer instead of taking on more... traditional duties as
ARIA'S POV Standing on the stage, with the lights shining down on me, I could feel the weight of every pair of eyes in the room. The air was filled with whispers, astonishment spreading through the crowd like a wave.“Wait, is that really Aria?” one woman gasped, her voice loud enough to carry across the hall.“It can’t be,” another muttered. “The same Aria? The former Luna without a wolf? Alpha Dante's ex-wife?”A man beside them leaned in, his tone filled with disbelief. “She designed this jewelry? This masterpiece?”I held my head high, feeling my heart race in my chest as I looked out at the crowd. I didn’t need to see Linda to know she was somewhere in the crowd, her lips likely pressed into a tight line as she tried to keep her composure. The memory of her mockery earlier hurt, but now it only fueled my determination.In the midst of the whispers, I lifted the microphone, and the room slowly fell quiet, except for the occasional hushed remark.“Good evening, everyone,” I began
ARIA'S POVThe day of the launch had finally come. My heart raced as I stood in the waiting area, taking deep breaths to calm myself. Evelyn had already gone ahead to the venue full of energy as she prepared to impress the guests. I told her I would follow shortly. This was my first public appearance, and I needed a moment alone to gather myself.I adjusted the green satin dress Evelyn had chosen for me, its fabric cool against my skin. I felt a strange mix of excitement and fear. What if they don’t like my work? What if I mess up? My thoughts spiraled, but I shook my head. “No, Aria, you’ve worked too hard for this. You belong here,” I whispered to myself.As I smoothed my dress and prepared to walk into the venue, my phone buzzed in my clutch. For a moment, I considered ignoring it, thinking it might be Evelyn or some last minute update about the launch. But when I glanced at the screen, I saw “Mother” flashing, and my heart softened.I swiped to answer, holding the phone to my
DANTE'S POVThe moment Aria left, her image stayed with me, as if burned into my mind. She had looked so elegant in that green dress, the satin flowing around her like ripples on a calm lake. Her skin had seemed even more radiant against the fabric, smooth and untouched by the world’s harshness. I clenched my fists at my sides, silently cursing myself. Months had passed since I last saw her, and not once had I tried to talk to her, not even to explain. What kind of man was I? I was always so… dumb.“Dante! Dante!”Linda’s voice cut through my thoughts, sharp and urgent. I turned to see her staring at me, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw something fierce in her eyes—a flash of anger or jealousy. But it disappeared just as quickly, making me wonder if I had imagined it.“Are you even listening to me?” she asked, her voice laced with annoyance.“Sorry,” I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. “What did you say?”“I said,” Linda began, her tone cold, “we need to find a suit fo
ARIA'S POV The boutique’s atmosphere suddenly felt suffocating, the air too thick to breathe. My hands clutched the fabric of the dress I was wearing, and my mind raced. The last time I had seen Linda and Dante was months ago, and back then, everything between us had been sharp edges and unspoken resentment. So why now, as they stood just a few feet away, did Linda smile warmly as if nothing had ever happened?I couldn’t move. My feet felt like they were glued to the floor as I stared at them. Time went by, and I suddenly realized that I must have been standing still for longer than I thought because, to my surprise, Linda was the one who came up to me."Aria, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost," Linda's voice was cheerful, her smile wide. “It’s been such a long time!”I blinked, trying to process what was actually happening. Was I imagining things? Friendly? Warm? Linda? The woman who once made it clear that she couldn’t stand me? The same Linda who was always ready
ARIA'S POV My day started with Evelyn arriving at my house. She barely let me finish my morning coffee before dragging me out the door.“Aria, we have two days until your big launch, and we have to find you the perfect outfit. Something bold, something unforgettable.”I rolled my eyes but let her pull me along. “Evelyn, it’s just a launch. I don’t need anything too extravagant.”“Just a launch?” She stopped in her tracks and turned to glare at me. “Aria, this isn’t just a launch. It’s your debut! Everyone will be looking at you. You need to look like the star you are.”Evelyn took me to D.M., the most luxurious boutique in the city. Even from the outside, the store screamed luxury. The glass doors sparkled, and the golden lettering of its name shone in the sunlight.“Evelyn,” I said hesitantly, “this place is... a bit much.”“Exactly,” she replied with a grin, grabbing my arm and pulling me inside.The moment we stepped in, staff members greeted us with warm smiles and excellent mann
ARIA'S POVThe next day, I thought Evelyn might have forgotten all about the idea of a launch. After all, she had a habit of getting overly excited about things and then moving on to her next big idea. But when we met up, I quickly realized I was wrong.Evelyn greeted me with an energy that could light up a room. “Aria, I’ve been thinking about it all night,” she said, sitting down across from me.“Thinking about what?” I asked cautiously, though I already had a sinking feeling.“The launch, of course!” she exclaimed, her smile widening. “It was all I could think about. We have to do this, Aria. It’s going to be incredible!”I sighed. “Evelyn, I thought you were just throwing the idea out there yesterday. I didn’t think you were serious.”“Aria, you can’t keep a piece like ‘Tears of the Mermaid’ hidden.”And just like that, I found myself cornered, her eagerness too overwhelming to ignore. “I really don’t know if I can do this,” I said, fiddling nervously with the edge of my notebook
ARIA'S POV The gentle hum of the plane engines was a soft background noise, and the dim cabin lights made it easy to drift into sleep.I leaned back against my seat, exhaustion weighing heavily on me. Everything from the past few days replayed in my mind—Kieran’s fierce battle, the feast, his final words as we parted.I wasn’t sure when I finally closed my eyes, but when I woke up, Adam was gently shaking my shoulder.“Aria, wake up. We are home,” he said softly.I blinked, trying to shake off the sleepiness. The sight outside the window confirmed his words: the familiar tarmac of home greeted me, and standing there were my parents and Ryan.The moment I stepped off the plane, my mother rushed forward and pulled me into a tight embrace. Her arms were warm and trembling slightly as she held me close.“You’re safe,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “You’re finally home.”Tears welled up in my eyes as I hugged her back. “I’m sorry, Mother. I didn’t mean to worry you. I prom
ARIA'S POV The palace was quiet now, but the air felt heavy with everything that had happened. Alpha Mason was gone, and the rebellion was finally over. Kieran was still standing on the grass where the final fight had ended, his shoulders straight, but his eyes distant. His victory was clear, but there was no celebration in his stance.Adam and Finn stood a little away from me, deep in conversation. They were talking about our return home. “We need to leave soon,” Adam said, his tone firm. “Aria has helped Kieran just as she wanted, so her mission is complete, and it’s time to go.”I heard Finn agree, but my attention wasn’t on their words.My gaze lingered on Kieran, and I felt a tug in my chest. He looked alone, even with so many of his people surrounding him.“I need a moment,” I said softly, walking away from Adam and Finn before they could stop me.“Kieran,” I called gently as I approached him.He turned, his expression softening when he saw me. “Aria,” he said, his voice low