LINDA'S POVThe banquet hall buzzed with the usual chatter, as the low hum of voices mixed with the soft clink of crystal glasses and silverware.This was no ordinary gathering — it was the follow-up to the charity auction that had sparked so much attention a few weeks ago. However, tonight’s banquet wasn’t about collecting donations; it was about deciding how those funds would be used, about planning future relief efforts.I had, of course, been invited. As one of the central figures in Dante’s life and a member of the family, I was expected to attend, to smile and play the part of the supportive partner.I actually wore my mask well, but the truth was, these events bored me. Everyone pretends to care about charity, when in reality, they were just here to flaunt their wealth, power, and status… and well, I was no exception.After all, what is a pack event without flaunting your most expensive designer wear or jewelry?But tonight… tonight, something was different. I felt it in the ai
ARIA'S POVAgatha’s tone was low, deadly, filled with the kind of authority she expected everyone to bow to. She had always had this way about her, this iron grip over every room she stepped into. And for years, I had been one of the ones who cowered, who bowed my head and accepted whatever scorn or disdain she threw my way.But not anymore.The old me—the woman who had once been Dante’s obedient wife, walking on eggshells around his family, bending under their expectations—was gone. I wasn’t that woman anymore, and I wasn’t going to let Agatha treat me like I was… a… a piece of garbage.I felt the intensity of her gaze, sharp as daggers, pressing down on me, trying to force me into submission. But I stood my ground.I was done being the doormat, done letting Dante's family walk all over me.“I am not leaving,” I said, my voice louder than I intended, but I didn’t care. I squared my shoulders and met her gaze head-on, refusing to be intimidated. “And you do not have the right to tell
ARIA'S POVGasps spread through the crowd. I couldn't believe my ears. Did Dante really just stand up to his mother? And for me?Agatha's face turned an alarming shade of red. "How dare you speak to me like that?" she hissed. "I am your mother!”"And I'm a grown man," Dante shot back. "I can make my own decisions about who I want in my life."I felt… a bit of relief, but it was quickly overshadowed by the whispers that started up around me."Look at her, causing trouble in the family.""She must have bewitched him somehow."“How pathetic.”“But why is he even defending her?”As they picked me apart with their judgement, a rush of humiliation and frustration welled up inside me, burning in my chest.I wanted to scream, to tell them to stop looking at me like I was nothing, to tell them they didn’t know the whole truth. But my throat felt tight. I just stood there, feeling helpless, as the whispers grew louder.Just when I thought I couldn’t stand it any longer, Finn stepped forward.Da
DANTE'S POVFinn's expression was annoyingly calm. "I'm just having a conversation with Aria, Dante. Last time I checked, that wasn't a crime."He had always been the easygoing brother, someone who would go out of his way to avoid conflict at all costs. But in that moment, he didn't look like he wanted to avoid anything.My eyes narrowed as I watched him, trying to figure out what was going through his head."Don't play dumb with me," I snapped. "You know exactly what I mean."Aria looked between us, her eyes wide. "Dante, is there a problem?"I ignored her, keeping my focus on Finn. "Answer me, brother. What the hell are you up to?”"You really don't have the right to be angry, Dante,” he said calmly, almost too calmly, like he wasn't talking to me at all. Like I wasn't his Alpha.I stared at him, completely thrown off. “What did you just say?”“Come on brother. You heard me.” He didn't flinch. If anything, he looked at me like I was the one out of line. “You should take a deep breat
ARIA'S POVI saw the hurt flash across Finn's face, and something in me snapped. Without thinking, I flung open the car door and rushed towards them."Stop it!" I suddenly shouted, my voice cracking with emotion. "Both of you, just stop!”But they were both too far gone to listen to me."You've always been jealous of me," Dante snapped, landing a kick to Finn's ribs.Finn grunted in pain. “Me? Jealous?" he laughed bitterly. "Of what? Your arrogance? Your inability to stand up to our mother?""At least I have a place in this pack," Dante spat. "What are you? The spare? The backup?"In that moment, I didn’t think, I just acted.I positioned myself directly in front of Finn, my back to him, my arms outstretched as if I could physically shield him from Dante’s anger.Dante’s eyes, still burning with anger, shifted from Finn to me. And just like that, his expression darkened even more. His jaw tightened, the muscle in his cheek twitching with barely controlled rage.“Aria, get out of my wa
ARIA'S POVFor a moment, Finn didn’t say anything. His jaw was set, his eyes fixed on his mother’s, and I could almost feel the tension radiating off him. But then, his shoulders relaxed, and he took a deep breath, his voice steady and calm in a way I hadn’t expected."No, Mother," he said. "I'm not mad. I'm perfectly fine. In fact, I've never been clearer about anything in my life." He paused and took a deep breath. "I've found love, Mother. Real, honest love. And I'm not going to let anyone, not even you, stand in the way of that.”The words echoed in the silence that followed, hanging in the air like a thunderclap. For a second, the world seemed to stop.I stared at him, utterly stunned. Did he really just say that? Was he being serious? Love? But… when did that happen? And why was my heart suddenly racing at the thought?Agatha’s eyes widened in shock, her face drained of colour. She tried to speak, but no sound came out, and then just like that her eyes rolled back in her head an
ARIA'S POVThe question filled me with panic, and I couldn’t help but laugh—too loudly, too awkwardly. It was the kind of laugh that didn’t feel natural, the kind you give when you're caught off guard and scrambling for some control.“What?” I blurted, quickly glancing at him before focusing back on the road, my heart racing. “I wasn’t staring at you. Seriously.”Finn raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Uh-huh.”I could feel the heat creeping up my neck, and I hurriedly tried to defend myself, desperate to cover up the fact that he had caught me again. “No, really! I wasn’t staring. Why on earth would I be staring at you?”He chuckled again, the sound light but teasing. “That’s what I would like to know.”I tried to come up with something, anything that didn’t make me sound like a complete idiot. “I was… uh… I was looking at the trees outside. Yeah, the trees. They’re really nice, you know?”Finn just stared at me, his lips curving into a small, knowing smile. He didn’t believe a word
ARIA'S POVMy hand hovered over the door handle as my mind raced to come up with a response. I really wasn’t ready to confront this, not now, not after everything that had happened tonight.I felt Finn’s gaze burning into my back, waiting for an answer. But instead of acknowledging his question, I forced a bright, fake smile and raised my voice. “Come on, Finn! Let’s go see how your mother is doing, shall we?”I didn’t wait for him to respond. I turned quickly and started walking toward the hospital entrance, my steps faster than they needed to be, my mind a mess of conflicting emotions. I could hear Finn’s footsteps behind me, slower, more hesitant, but he followed without saying another word.Inside, the sterile scent of antiseptic and the quiet hum of hospital machinery greeted us. We walked up to the front desk, where a nurse smiled politely, her fingers tapping at her computer as she looked up at us.“Hi, excuse me,” Finn said, his voice sounding steadier now, more composed. “We'
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
KIERAN'S POV I paced back and forth in the shadows of the old inn, my mind spinning in every direction. How could this happen?Just hours ago, I had been racking my brain for a way to rescue Aria, but nothing made sense. Then, out of nowhere, I heard the strangest news: Alpha Mason was getting married. At first, I ignored it. I didn’t care about his ridiculous celebrations. What did a wedding have to do with me? But then I heard something else. The bride was the Griffith princess of the Blood Moon Pack.I froze the second I heard it. The Blood Moon Pack was legendary, one of the largest and most powerful families among werewolves. Their influence stretched far and wide. If Mason was marrying into that family, it meant one thing: power.But then another thought hit me. Aria.Could it be?I shook my head at first. No, there was no way. I had spent days trying to figure out where they took Aria. There was no mention of a mate or a wedding before now. It didn’t add up. Yet, deep down,
ARIA'S POV I sat on the edge of the massive bed, staring at the walls around me. The room was far too big, far too fancy, and yet it felt like a prison. My mind was a tangled mess, with my thoughts crashing into one another like waves during a storm. What should I do? How do I get out of here?Pacing the room restlessly, I clenched my hands together. My body ached from all the struggling earlier, but I couldn't bring myself to sit still.I instinctively reached for my phone, driven by desperation. My heart dropped when I realized it was missing.Had the soldiers taken it from me when they dragged me here? I let out a frustrated sigh and ran a hand through my tangled hair. “Of course,” I muttered to myself bitterly. “Why wouldn’t they?”The silence of the room was unbearable. I rushed to the door, banging my fist against it. “Hello? Is anyone there?” My voice was loud, shaking slightly, but no one answered.I banged harder. “I know you’re out there! Don’t pretend you can’t hear me!”
ARIA'S POV The man stood at the far end of the room, his tall figure casting a long shadow under the dim golden light. His face was unforgettable, not because of its strength but because of the scar. A jagged line started at his forehead and ran down to his mouth, pulling one corner of his lips into a permanent sneer. He looked terrifying, like someone who had lived through a war and walked out more dangerous than ever.I swallowed hard as his piercing eyes locked onto mine. His stare felt like a weight pressing down on my chest. Slowly, he began to move, each step measured, like a predator closing in on prey. My breathing quickened, but I forced myself to stay calm.“You’re the princess of the Griffith Pack?” His voice was rough, broken, like every word scraped his throat raw.I froze, the words catching in my throat. Could he tell I was scared? I tried to keep my voice steady. “Yes,” I said, barely above a whisper.His gaze narrowed, suspicion flashing across his scarred face. “P
ARIA'S POV I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My mind was blank. Completely blank.What could I say? My thoughts were a mess, tumbling over one another in a rush of panic. Should I just tell them what my father looked like? No, what if that wasn’t enough? Should I say something about my family? But what if I said something I made a mistake? Would they shoot me on the spot?“I… I don’t know,” I finally stammered, my voice weak and shaky. “I need more time to think…”“Time?” the man sneered, cutting me off. His eyes narrowed, and he stepped closer, the gun still in his hand. “You think we have time to play games? Tell me something now, or I’ll just assume that you’re lying.”“I’m not lying!” I yelled, panic creeping into my voice. “I swear, I’m not! Just give me a second!”The man’s face darkened. His grip on the gun tightened, and my pulse raced.“Think, Aria, think!” I screamed at myself in my head. But what could I say? What would the Griffith princess know that no one els
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“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 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