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
ARIA'S POV"Aria!"Dante's voice cut through my thoughts, snapping me back to reality. I blinked and focused on his face."I asked you what you did to Linda!" he repeated, his voice low and dangerous.I straightened my back and met his glare with a calmness I didn't quite feel. My heart was racing, but I would be damned if I'd let him see that."Nothing," I replied simply, my voice steady.Dante's nostrils flared, his anger visibly rising. "Nothing?" he repeated, his voice rising. "So you're just going to stand there and claim innocence? You're not even going to defend yourself?"I shrugged, pretending not to care. "It's a waste of time defending myself if no one is going to believe a word I say.”"Cut the crap!" he snapped, taking a step closer. "Did you or did you not do something to hurt her?”I could see the doubt in his eyes, the way he wavered between wanting to believe me and already believing the worst. And honestly, it made something in me snap.For crying out loud, I was so
ARIA'S POVMy words seemed to cut through the silence. I saw Dante’s face tighten, his mouth opening as if to say something, but no words came out.He looked… stunned. And it was not just him – everyone around us seemed momentarily speechless.And then, before Dante could move, Arnold pushed his way through the crowd and rushed to my side. I felt his warm hands as he quickly wrapped a handkerchief around my hand, trying to stop the blood.“Aria,” Arnold muttered, his voice urgent, filled with concern, “We need to get you to a hospital.”Dante remained where he was, and I just stared at him, searching his face for any hint of the Dante I knew before all this… before Linda. But all I saw was a stranger.Arnold’s hand was firm around mine. “Come on, Aria,” he insisted, “Let’s get you out of here.”I barely heard him. I was too focused on Dante, on the way he looked torn between doing something and doing nothing at all.The feeling of disappointment settled in my chest like a stone. I tho
DANTE'S POVThe little girl looked up at me, her eyes wide, innocent, but sure. “I saw her—” she pointed again at Linda, “she was hurting herself. She used that bracelet on her own hand. And the other lady, the one who left, she told her to stop. But she wouldn’t listen.”I felt the blood drain from my face. Linda… had hurt herself?My eyes shifted to Linda, who now looked pale, her face tight with fear. “What?” she squeaked, trying to sound angry but failing miserably. “Good grief! What is this child talking about?”The little girl continued, her expression serious, “She took the bracelet from the other lady, and then she cut her own hand. I saw it.”I stared at Linda, feeling a cold fury building inside me, my fists clenching unconsciously. “Is this true?” I asked, my voice low, almost a growl. “Did you really do this to yourself, Linda?”She looked like a trapped animal, her eyes darting around. “She’s lying,” Linda said quickly, pointing at the little girl. Her voice was high-pitc
LINDA'S POV“She will be okay,” the doctor said, his voice calm and reassuring as he finished cleaning my cut and checking my vitals. “The cut isn’t that deep, so she’ll be fine. She just got overwhelmed and fainted.”My mother let out a deep sigh, a look of relief washing over her face as she thanked him profusely. “Thank you, Doctor, thank you so much,” she said, squeezing my hand in hers.I gave him a grateful smile and murmured a soft, “Thank you.” But before he left, he looked at me with a stern expression.“Make sure you get plenty of rest,” he said, his voice taking on a more serious tone. “Especially for the sake of your child.” I nodded obediently, and watched as he left the room. The moment the door clicked shut, Luna Agatha moved closer and her hands wrapped warmly around mine. Her eyes were soft, filled with worry as she spoke. “Oh, Linda, I’m so sorry, my dear,” she murmured, her voice thick with sympathy. “You’ve been through so much today, especially in your condition
DANTE'S POVAfter a long and boring drive, I finally reached my house. My footsteps felt heavy, almost as if they were sinking into the ground. The house seemed colder than usual, emptier.I poured myself a drink and sat down, staring at the amber liquid swirl in the glass. I could still feel the tension in my shoulders, the anger simmering just beneath the surface. But now, alone in the dim light of my study, I felt something else creeping in — a sense of guilt that I couldn’t shake off.I took a deep drink, feeling the burn of the alcohol spread through my chest, trying to numb the thoughts crowding my mind.Aria’s face appeared in my mind, her eyes filled with hurt. I couldn’t ignore the feeling that I had indeed done her wrong. I had believed Linda’s lies, doubted Aria when I should’ve stood by her.I slammed the glass down on the table, feeling the anger rising again, this time directed at myself.How could I have been so stupid, so blind?I poured myself another drink, thinking
ARIA'S POV The sudden voice echoed through the hall, silencing the witches and stopping their chanting in the middle of a verse.My breath caught in my throat as I slowly turned to see who had interrupted.Standing there, tall and commanding, was Adam. His piercing eyes scanned the room, and his presence was like a beacon of hope in the midst of my despair. Behind him stood Finn and a dozen elite soldiers, their expressions hard and ready for a fight.In that moment, my legs moved before I could think. I managed to break free from Mason’s grip, my heart racing as I ran towards Adam. “Adam!” I cried, my voice cracking. “You’re here!”Adam caught me, his strong arms wrapping around me protectively. “Aria,” he said softly, his voice filled with concern. He pulled back slightly to look at me, his eyes scanning my face as if checking for injuries. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”I shook my head quickly, tears brimming in my eyes. “No, I’m fine. I’m just so glad you’re here. I thought…”
ARIA'S POV At that moment, the guards surrounding us suddenly shifted into their wolf forms too, their eyes glowing with anger, teeth bared and ready to attack. My heart sank as I realized we were completely trapped. Meanwhile Kieran didn't back down. His wolf form stood tall and powerful, his fur standing on end as he snarled back at them. I really thought he might stand a chance.He attacked the first wolf, his claws cutting through the air. The wolf yelped as Kieran struck and tumbled backward.The other wolves didn't hesitate. They leapt at him all at once, their jaws snapping and claws tearing into him."You are going to kill him!" I screamed, struggling against the guards holding me.Kieran's powerful jaws clamped down on one wolf's neck and tossed it aside like it weighed nothing. But for every wolf he took down, another quickly took its place.Suddenly , the designer and I were grabbed from behind, our arms restrained. I struggled, but it was no use.“Kieran!” I cried, wa
ARIA'S POV My heart was racing as I stood still. I gripped Kieran’s sleeve so tightly that my fingers hurt, trying to come up with the right answer to Alpha Mason's question.“I…I guess…it is,” I stuttered, feeling overwhelmed with fear.“Well, then,” Alpha Mason said, his voice calm. “Why don't we put an end to this nonsense, huh?” His eyes glinted with smug satisfaction as he spoke. “Come on, Princess. Don’t struggle needlessly. I'll take you just as you wish, so let’s go.” Mason’s words sent a shiver down my spine. I knew I had told him to take me, but I just thought that maybe he would call my bluff. Just maybe.I was terrified. Very terrified.He spoke as if he had already won, as if there was no point in resisting him. My mind screamed at me to fight, to say something, but the words caught in my throat.I glanced at Kieran, my heart pounding. His jaw was tight, his body coiled like a spring ready to snap. I could feel the barely contained anger simmering just beneath the surf
ARIA'S POV I really couldn't believe that we were completely surrounded. I was hoping that, maybe I was just imagining things.But I wasn't.The soldiers continued to walk closer with their weapons drawn, their eyes cold and unflinching. Kieran stood in front of me, his body tense and defensive, his gun pointed at the soldier in the front.I could feel the fear in my chest, but I couldn't let it take over.The leading soldier stepped closer, his weapon raised. The glint of the blade in the evening light sent a chill down my spine."Stay back!" Kieran barked, his voice strong and sharp. He didn't lower his gun. "Don't come any closer."The soldier didn't stop. Instead, he just kept walking toward us as if Kieran hadn't said a word."I said, stop!" Kieran yelled again.The designer, Elena, stood beside him, her voice filled with panic. "You need to back off! Don't you dare come any closer!"But it was like the soldiers were deaf. They ignored every word, their steps slow but deliberate
ARIA'S POV The tension in the room was thick, and my heart raced in my chest. Every sound, every breath felt louder, as if the very air in the room was pressing down on me.The designer didn't say anything to Kieran's question. Instead, she walked over to the door and locked it, the click of the lock sounding too loud in the quiet room. My heart raced as she turned to face us, a smirk playing on her lips.“What… what the hell are you doing?” I asked, my voice trembling.Kieran adjusted himself in front of me, his eyes narrowing at the woman. “You should stay back,” he warned, his voice firm.The designer didn’t answer right away. Instead, she took a cautious step forward, holding the gun at her side. Kieran and I took a step back, unconsciously mirroring her movement. My palms were sweaty, and my mind raced with questions.Then, out of nowhere, she spoke.“Your Highness,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “Don’t you recognize me?”I froze, blinking in shock. “What?” I managed
ARIA'S POV The room was quiet, but not the kind of peaceful quiet. It was the heavy, suffocating kind, filled with fear and uncertainty. I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the door, my heart racing. Every minute that passed brought me closer to the wedding I didn’t want.Kieran paced back and forth near the window, his face tight with concentration. He had been trying to come up with a plan for hours, but nothing seemed to work. “What if we create a distraction?” I asked, breaking the silence. My voice was shaky, but I tried to sound calm. “Something to draw the guards away, even for a few minutes?”Kieran stopped pacing and looked at me, his brows furrowed. “And what would the distraction be, Aria?”I hesitated, wringing my hands. “I… I don’t know. Maybe something with fire or smoke?”He shook his head. “Too risky. The guards would panic, and the entire place would go into lockdown. It would only make things worse.”I let out a frustrated sigh, burying my face in my hands. “
ADAM'S POV The airport was buzzing with activity when I arrived. The bright lights reflected off the polished floors, and the noise of people rushing to catch their flights was overwhelming. I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and glanced around, looking for Finn. A dozen bodyguards surrounded me, their presence heavy and serious, as if we were preparing for war.Just then, I saw Finn leaning against a pillar near the private jet terminal. He looked up as I approached, his expression unreadable.“You’re here,” he said simply, pushing off the pillar and walking towards me.“Of course I’m here,” I replied, my voice tight. “We don’t have time to waste.”Finn glanced at the group of bodyguards behind me and raised an eyebrow. “You really think you need all of them?”I gave him a sharp look. “I’m not taking any chances, Finn. If something’s happened to Aria, we might need them.”He didn’t argue, but his expression said enough. He thought I was being overly cautious, maybe even paranoid. But
ADAM'S POVI was sitting at my desk when the news hit me like a punch to the stomach. The words on the screen didn’t make sense at first, and I had to read them again. “Alpha Mason of the Astral Pack to marry Aria, the Griffith princess of the Blood Moon Pack tomorrow.”The Griffith princess? Aria? My sister?My heartbeat thundered in my ears as the weight of those words sank in. Aria was getting married? To Alpha Mason? “No way,” I muttered, leaning forward, my hands gripping the edge of the desk. My thoughts were racing so fast that I could barely keep up. Why would she agree to a marriage like this?I grabbed my phone and quickly searched for more information. There were already articles popping up, but they all said the same thing: Aria Griffith is set to marry Alpha Mason in the Astral Pack.“No,” I whispered under my breath, shaking my head. This couldn’t be right. I didn’t waste another second. My fingers flew over my phone as I tried to call her. I pressed her name, held
KIERAN'S POV The wedding was set for tomorrow. Tomorrow!The word echoed in my mind like a warning bell. I didn’t have more time. If I waited even a moment longer, it would be too late. Aria would be trapped forever tied to that monster of an Alpha. I couldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t let that happen.My plan was dangerous and messy, but it was all I had. Sitting outside the palace in the shadows, I watched carefully, observing everything—the guards, the maids, their routines.It was just after sunset when I spotted her. A young maid walking towards the side door of the palace. She was alone, carrying a tray. Perfect.I moved quickly, staying low, my steps silent. When she turned the corner, I was already behind her. Before she could scream, I grabbed her from behind, one arm around her mouth, the other holding her firmly in place. “Shh!” I hissed. “I don’t want to hurt you.”She kicked and squirmed, her tray clattering to the ground, but I tightened my grip. “Stop and liste