DANTE'S POVThe flames surrounded the car quickly, licking up the sides like they were hungry for more. I stood frozen, staring at the scene in front of me, my mind spinning.The night air was thick with the sharp stench of burning rubber and metal, and there was something about the way the flames curled around the wreckage that sent a chill crawling down my spine.I wanted to go over, to see what had happened, but the darkness around the crash felt thick, heavy with danger.It was too quiet, too still, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wasn’t supposed to be here. Everything about this scene screamed to stay away.My hands tightened on the steering wheel, and I thought about driving off, leaving this mess behind.A car explosion in an empty area like this? It was suspicious, to say the least. No one would blame me for getting out while I still could. It was none of my business.But then it hit me—PAIN. It was sharp and sudden.A searing bolt of pain shot through my chest, like m
DANTE'S POVThe thought echoed in my mind, louder than the crackling flames.I looked again, squinting through the thick smoke, and that was when I saw the sparkle—the familiar sparkle from the diamond bracelet I had given her. It kept on catching the light from the flames, flashing like a warning, and my breath caught in my throat.It had to be Aria. It was really her.“Aria!” I shouted, my voice rough, but there was no answer. My pulse spiked as panic clawed its way up my chest. I couldn’t waste any more time.Without even thinking for more than a second, I rushed into the flames, my body moving on instinct.The intense heat was suffocating, the smoke thick enough to choke me, but I didn’t care. My mind was a blur, my only thought to get to her. To save her.The fire had not reached the front of the car yet, and I thanked the goddess for whatever safety features had kept the flames at bay. The driver’s seat was still intact, though the rest of the car was a twisted mess of metal and
ARIA'S POVWhen I woke up, it felt like my entire body was wrapped in a fog. I blinked slowly, trying to focus, but everything around me was a blur.The sterile smell of antiseptic and the faint beeping of machines were the first things that registered. And then, the pain hit.A dull, throbbing ache spread throughout my body, and I realized I couldn’t move. My limbs felt heavy, weighed down by something tight.As I glanced down, I saw that I was wrapped in bandages—so many bandages. My body looked like it had been mummified.Where am I?I tried to speak, but the moment I opened my mouth, a sharp, intense pain tore through my throat. I swallowed, wincing as the dryness scratched at my voice box. No sound came out. I felt helpless and confused.My heart pounded as I took in my surroundings—the room was empty, and I was alone.How did I even get here?I racked my brain, trying to remember, but everything was hazy. Bits and pieces of the night flashed before my eyes—the accident, the expl
ARIA'S POVMy father’s question hung heavy in the room. “Aria,” he repeated, his voice firm but filled with concern, “how did this happen? Who dared to do this to you?”I tried to form words, tried to explain, but my throat wouldn't let me, it felt like it was on fire, raw and swollen from the smoke and the injuries. I just couldn’t speak.I shifted slightly in the bed, desperate to give him some kind of answer… anything at all, but the pain in my chest and ribs stopped me cold.He asked his question again, his voice cutting through the fog in my brain. I flinched, startled by the intensity of his tone.I understood that he was just scared, but I couldn’t ignore the guilt that was starting to consume me. I really wanted to explain, to tell him everything, but I was trapped in my own silence.Before I could even try to make a sound, there was a knock on the door, and it swung open almost immediately.Adam barged in, not bothering to acknowledge our parents. His eyes locked on me, his e
ARIA'S POVSuddenly, a phone began to ring. It was my father's, so he quickly excused himself and walked out of the room.The thoughts and questions in my mind were overwhelming, so I didn't even pay him much attention.My mind kept going back to the moment I lost consciousness, the instant the car slammed into me.I was very much aware that the rogue had wanted me dead. He should have immediately fled the scene and left me to burn alive in that car. That was what should have happened, but it didn’t.I was still here, with only burns and some fractured bones—alive.Someone had pulled me from the wreck. Someone had saved me, risking their own life.I turned to look at my mother, her face still stained with tears. She was watching me closely, her hand holding mine tightly. I squeezed her hand, feeling the desperation in my chest.I needed to know who saved me. But the moment I tried to speak, the familiar pain in my throat flared up, my voice refusing to cooperate. No sound came out, ju
ADAM'S POVAfter walking out of Aria’s hospital room, the weight of everything that had happened slammed into me like a ton of bricks.My legs felt weak as I hurried down the hallway, pushing open the bathroom door. As soon as I was inside, I leaned against the cold tiles, sliding down to the floor with my back pressed against the wall.My mind was spinning, replaying the nightmare over and over. I couldn’t bear to think about it, couldn’t bring myself to face what had happened that night.Aria…I buried my face in my hands, trying to shake the images from my mind, but they clung to me. I could still hear my mother’s voice, urgent and filled with fear.That night was supposed to be uneventful. After Aria had gone to the store, I figured I would try to get some sleep, though something about her being outside felt off. There was this nagging feeling in my gut that wouldn’t go away, but I brushed it off, trying to convince myself that she was fine.Aria is a grown woman, after all. She’s
ADAM'S POVA sudden noise outside the bathroom jolted me out of the whirlwind of memories that had been dragging me under.My body tensed, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe, still trapped in the terrifying images of Aria’s accident and Dante’s burned body. I shivered slightly, realizing I had been clenching my fists so hard my knuckles had turned white.With a deep breath, I stood up, trying to shake off the remnants of that horrible night. I splashed cold water on my face, the icy shock helping me regain some clarity.The water ran down my face, soaking into my collar, but I didn’t care. I just needed to clear my head. The tension was still there, a dull throb at the back of my head, but at least I could breathe again.Leaning against the sink, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes looked hollow, tired—like I hadn’t slept in days. I hadn’t, really. Not since the night Aria almost died.And Dante… the image of him lying there behind Aria, his body burned and motionless,
FINN'S POVThe day it happened, I was lounging on the couch at home, flipping through TV channels with my mother and Linda.My mind wasn’t really on the show playing, though. I was half-listening to Linda talk about some gossip she had picked up at the pack gathering earlier, but my thoughts were elsewhere.That was when my phone rang.I glanced at the screen, frowning at the unfamiliar number. “Hello?”“Is this Finn Hayden of the Crescent Moon pack? This is General Hospital. We need to inform you that your brother, Alpha Dante, has been brought in with severe burns. He’s in a critical condition.”Time stopped. The words didn’t make sense. My stomach dropped, and I froze, staring blankly at the TV as the room around me seemed to blur.“Dante… is what?” I breathed, my voice barely a whisper.The voice on the other end continued, explaining that Dante had suffered extensive burns and was receiving emergency treatment. But it still didn’t register.All I could think of was my brother, ly