ARIA'S POVThe auction hall was buzzing with excitement as I quietly made my way into the shadows, feeling both excited and nervous.It was finally the day of the auction, and the room was packed with all the faces I had expected and some I hadn’t.The tension in the atmosphere was thick. Everyone was here for one thing, and one thing only: the Tears of the Moonstone.From my corner, I watched them all. They were gathered in small clusters, speaking quietly but with intensity, discussing in hushed whispers about the artefact.There was a sense of desperation, almost greed, that filled the room, as if the Tears of the Moonstone was more than just a piece of jewelry. To them, it was power, magic, something that could change everything."I heard it enhances the speed of werewolves," one man murmured to another, his voice barely audible but filled with certainty. He was tall, with silver-streaked hair and a suit that screamed old money. "Stronger too. The kind of strength you don’t get fr
DANTE'S POVI furrowed my brow as I looked around the hall.Go through the catalogue? I thought they were beginning already. Why the unnecessary waste of time?Confused, I looked around the hall and surprisingly I saw Aria stepping out of the shadows. She moved with purpose, her chin held high, dressed in a sleek, dark green dress that hugged her figure and sparkled under the lights.Her presence commanded the room's attention, and she got it — all eyes were on her, including mine. My breath caught in my throat, and I couldn’t look away.However, not everyone was as captivated as I was.“Look who finally decided to crawl out from her hiding place after weeks of silence,” my mother sneered beside me, her voice filled with contempt. Her eyes followed Aria with a look that could kill. “Aria, the outcast of the Crescent Moon pack. Rejected, abandoned, and still hasn’t learned her place.”I winced at her words, my chest tightening with discomfort.“Honestly, it’s so pathetic,” my mother co
DANTE'S POVI eventually looked away from Aria as I glanced down at the seat numbers on the invite in my hand, trying to make sense of the row and seat assignments.They had arranged the seating based on net worth, a clear, unspoken hierarchy on display for everyone to see.“Looks like we are in the front row,” Arnold said next to me, nudging me with his elbow. He was grinning, as if sitting in the front row was some great achievement. “Right up there where the big players sit.”I nodded, trying to muster some excitement, but my thoughts were elsewhere.The front row seats didn’t impress me much. They were just a reminder of the expectations placed on people like us, and the pressure to always be seen and never make a mistake.Yet, Arnold, my oldest friend, was thoroughly enjoying himself. He thrived on the attention and the validation that came with being seated at the top of the pecking order.We settled into our seats, the velvet cushions plush and ridiculously comfortable. I leane
ARIA'S POVThe moment I sat down, the whispers started. Some giggles could be heard from the rows in front of me, barely hidden behind raised hands and fake coughs.Just then, a burst of laughter spread through the nearby crowd. I felt my cheeks burn but kept my chin high.A woman with a bird-like face and too much jewelry leaned in my direction. "Oh, honey," she said, her voice filled with false sympathy. "Are you sure you want to sit there? It's awfully far from the action."I met her gaze calmly. "I'm quite comfortable, thank you."Another woman, younger but with the same predatory look in her eye, added. "Guess she didn’t win the favour of Griffith’s eldest son after all.”Her friend laughed and glanced back at me with a mocking smile. “Or maybe she’s just fallen out of favour.”More giggles broke out, but I clenched my fists in my lap, willing myself to stay calm."Come on now," an older gentleman chuckled. "Let's not be too hard on the girl. Maybe she's just here to serve drinks
ARIA'S POVA collective murmur spread through the crowd, and I saw heads turning, necks stretching, and people leaning forward in their seats as the object was wheeled out onto the stage.The Moonstone itself was breathtaking — a large, translucent stone set in the handle of a beautifully carved cane, with a design so delicate that it seemed almost unreal.There were gasps of admiration as the cane came into full view, its surface shining under the auction hall lights. The Moonstone gave off a pale blue glow that seemed to shift and change as the light hit it, almost as if it were alive.It was mesmerizing, and I could see that I wasn’t the only one who thought so. The room was utterly captivated.“It is absolutely perfect for the distinguished gentleman or lady,” the auctioneer continued, “or perhaps for someone who understands the deeper power it holds.”That last part — those words about power — hung in the air. They all knew the rumours about the Moonstone’s mystical properties. B
LINDA'S POVA necklace, huh?The moment I laid eyes on the necklace being wheeled out on a velvet-covered tray, my mouth fell open in shock.As soon as I saw the necklace being wheeled out on a velvet-covered tray, my jaw dropped.No, no, no. It couldn’t be.But there it was, Aria's necklace.I stood up so fast that my chair made a loud scraping noise against the floor.My mouth was hanging open, my eyes wide with disbelief. “Damn it!! I specifically told Mother not to bring it here because Dante would be coming. So why… why is it here?” I whispered under my breath, my thoughts tangled in shock.When I glanced across the room, I saw Dante glaring at me. His expression was filled with rage, his jaw clenched so tight I thought he might shatter his teeth.I turned and practically bolted from the auction hall, with my mother rushing after me. The moment we were outside, where the cool night air slapped me in the face, I turned around to face her.“Why did you bring it here, Mother?" I sna
LINDA'S POVI felt like the walls were closing in around me with every word from him tightening the noose.My thoughts raced in a thousand different directions, searching for something, anything, to say.Then, suddenly, I saw her.Aria stood up from her seat, her posture calm and confident, as if she had no worries at all. It looked like she was about to step out, maybe to take a phone call.I watched the way she moved with that irritating grace, her head held high. I suddenly felt a flash of anger flare up inside me.How dare she look so calm, so sure of herself when everything around me was falling apart? How could she walk around with that self-assured smile, as if she owned the world?And in that moment, I knew what I had to do.“I know why the necklace is here,” I blurted out, turning back to Dante, who was still glaring at me, waiting for an answer.His eyes narrowed as he spoke in a low and dangerous tone. “Then go on,” he snapped, “explain it to me, Linda.”I hesitated for a m
ARIA'S POV"I will show you why you shouldn't mess with me anymore," I replied, my words steady but I felt uneasy. Linda had always been unpredictable, but today... today she felt dangerous.Linda's smile widened, her eyes flashing with amusement. "Oh, is that so?" she said, tilting her head like she was considering something. "Let's find out who shouldn't mess with who."Before I could even process what she meant, she held the bracelet tighter and, in one quick motion, began dragging it across her own wrist.I watched in horror as the delicate metal cut into her skin and a thin line of red came out almost immediately."Linda!" I gasped, my eyes wide. "What on earth are you doing?"She smiled a wicked, satisfied smile that chilled me to my bones. "What do you think it looks like?" she taunted, her voice calm, almost cheerful.And then, just like that, she started screaming. Loud, piercing screams filled with pain and panic. "Stop it, Aria! Please!" she wailed, holding her wrist dramat