CHAPTER 2

Aria trudged along the road, her feet heavy with the weight of her shattered heart. She felt lost and defeated, like she was wandering through a dark forest with no direction. Tears streamed down her face, and she didn't bother to wipe them away.

As she approached her uncle's house, where she lived, Aria quickly cleaned her eyes and put on a mask of calmness. She pretended that all was fine, that her heart wasn't breaking into a million pieces.

She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and pushed open the front door. She stepped inside, trying to compose herself, trying to hide the pain that threatened to consume her.

Aria walked into her room, shutting the door behind her. She collapsed onto the bed, laying on her back as she stared blankly at the ceiling. The tears she had held back earlier began to fall freely, streaming down her face like a river.

Aria let out a sob, feeling the weight of her heartache crushing her. She wondered why the Moon Goddess, whom she had always worshipped and revered, would let her suffer this way. Had she not been faithful enough? Had she not offered enough prayers?

Or was it her own foolishness that had led to this? Had she been blind to Ryker's true nature? Had she ignored the warning signs, too caught up in her own feelings to see the truth?

Aria's tears fell harder, her body shaking with sobs. She felt lost and alone, abandoned by the goddess she had trusted and by the boy she had loved.

Aria's sobs echoed through her room, her heart heavy with grief and regret. She couldn't forgive herself for being so foolish, for believing Ryker's lies and deceits. She had given him her heart, her trust, and he had crushed her.

"Why was I so stupid?" Aria whispered to herself, her voice shaking with tears. "Why did I believe him?"

She thought back to all the signs, all the red flags she had ignored. Ryker's charm, his good looks, his smooth words - she had fallen for it all, hook, line, and sinker.

Aria's anger turned inward, her self-loathing growing with each passing moment. She felt like she had failed herself, like she had let herself down.

"I'm so sorry, Aria," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'm so sorry for being so blind, so foolish."

As the tears continued to fall, Aria felt like she was drowning in her own regret, her own sorrow. She didn't know how she was going to move on, how she was going to forgive herself for being so deceived in love.

Aria's tears slowed, replaced by a deep sadness. She felt a presence stir within her, her wolf sensing her distress.

"I'm sorry," Aria whispered, speaking to her wolf. "I'm sorry for putting us in this situation. I was so blind, so foolish."

Her wolf stirred again, its presence comforting. Aria felt a surge of love and loyalty from her wolf, and she knew that her wolf was trying to comfort her.

"It's okay," Aria said, speaking to her wolf again. "I know you warned me. I know you sensed something was off. But I didn't listen."

Aria's wolf growled softly, its presence rising to the surface. Aria felt a surge of anger and protectiveness from her wolf, and she knew that her wolf was angry on her behalf.

"I know," Aria said, her voice soothing. "I know he hurt us. But we'll get through this. We'll heal, and we'll move on."

Aria's wolf settled back down, its presence still comforting.

Aria woke up with a start, her body drenched in cold water. She was disoriented and in shock, her movements uncoordinated as she tried to sit up. She wondered when she fell asleep and how long and deep she must have slept to not have heard them come in.

“Why did you do this?” Aria asked as she was still startled, trying to wipe her face.

She was met with a barrage of angry words from Angela, her uncle's daughter, who was younger than her by two years.

"How dare you question me!" Angela spat, her face twisted in a scowl. "Didn't you hear my father calling you? And what audacity do you have to be using my room, you bitch? You belong in the basement, not here!"

Aria wiped the water from her face, her eyes stinging from the cold. She tried to process Angela's words, but they were laced with so much venom that she felt like she'd been punched in the gut.

"Next time I see you in here, it would be boiling water," Angela threatened, her eyes glinting with malice. "Stupid girl! You are as useless as your parents, who were damned to death! Witch! I'm sure you were the one who burned them to ashes, bastard!"

Aria felt a surge of anger and hurt at Angela's words. She knew that Angela had always resented her, but she had never expected her to be so cruel. She tried to defend herself, but Angela's words cut deep, and she felt like she was drowning in a sea of pain and anger.

Aria slowly got up from the bed, still reeling from Angela's harsh words. She made her way to the living room, where her uncle was waiting for her.

"Why are the firewoods not yet divided?" her uncle asked, his voice firm and demanding.

Aria hesitated, unsure of what to say. But before she could respond, her uncle continued, "Break them into smaller pieces and weed the backyard down to the roadside. And don't forget to fill up all the water cans and drums. Also, make sure to feed the cattle before nightfall."

Aria felt a wave of weakness wash over her. The chores seemed daunting, especially in the scorching hot afternoon. But she knew that she couldn't complain if she didn't want to starve that day. With a heavy sigh, she nodded and headed out to begin her tasks.

Aria's hands moved mechanically as she broke the firewoods into smaller pieces. Her mind was still reeling from the events of the day, and the physical labor was a welcome distraction.

Just as she was starting to get into a rhythm, Angela's scream pierced the air from inside the house. Aria's head jerked up, her heart racing with concern.

Her uncle, who had been reclining in his chair under the shade, sat up straight and shouted, "What happened?"

Angela ran out of the house, a paper clutched in her hands, her face pale with shock and disbelief. "Father!" she shouted, running towards him.

"What is it?" her uncle questioned, his voice firm but laced with concern, as Angela continued to shout and wail.

"Will you answer me?" her father asked again, his patience wearing thin, as Angela's cries grew louder and more hysterical.

But Angela just shook her head, her eyes wild with emotion, as she handed the paper over to her father. Her hand trembled violently as she let go of the paper, and her father's eyes widened in shock as he took it from her.

"And what is this?" her father asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as he stared at the paper in his hand. "Where did you find this?"

Angela's cries grew louder, more anguished, as she stumbled backward, her eyes fixed on her father's face. "May the moon goddess strike me dead if I ever bring such shame to this family!" she exclaimed, her voice cracking with emotion. "May my dead mother never be ashamed to call me her own!"

Her father's face was a picture of shock and disbelief as he stared at Angela, his eyes wide with horror. He looked like he had been punched in the gut, and Aria could sense the tension in the air, the weight of whatever was on that paper hanging like a sword of Damocles over their heads.

But Aria was too tired, too pained, to care. She just ignored them, continuing her work as she broke the firewoods into smaller pieces. Her hands moved mechanically, her mind numb with exhaustion and emotion. She didn't have the energy to worry about whatever drama was unfolding before her eyes. She just wanted to finish her chores, crawl into bed, and forget the events of the day.

"My friend, will you tell me what this is?" her uncle continued, his voice laced with a mix of confusion and concern.

"That bastard is pregnant!" Angela exclaimed, her voice dripping with venom.

Aria's heart skipped a beat as she heard the words. A chill ran down her spine, and her hands froze, still clutching the firewood.

Tension filled the air, thick and heavy, like a physical presence. Fear clouded Aria's heart, making her breath come in short gasps.

"What?" Her uncle exclaimed in shock, his hands shaking violently as he held the paper. His face turned pale, and his eyes widened in horror. Aria's hand trembled, and her whole body began to shake in fear. Her heart racing, she felt like she was going to collapse. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think. All

she could do was stand there, frozen in terror, as the world around her seemed to crumble.