***************CHAPTER 10~Trisha’s POV~I sat back in the plush leather chair, eyes closed as the stylist worked on my hair. The faint hum of the dryer and the scent of perfume mixed with hairspray filled the salon, a soothing routine I usually enjoyed. But my calm was short-lived as my phone buzzed on the counter beside me. I reached for it, answering without checking the caller ID, expecting it to be my P.A. with updates for the day.“Miss Trisha,” came a hesitant voice—a familiar one from Damon’s house staff. “I thought you’d want to know... Mr. Dark brought in a new guest.”My grip tightened around the phone. “A guest?” I repeated, feigning indifference. “What kind of guest?”“A woman,” the staff member replied, her voice lowering as if to keep the conversation discreet. “He brought her in from Arthdal Strike. She’s… an exclusive, apparently.”My jaw clenched, but I forced my tone to remain neutral. “Did he now?” I murmured, a slight tremor betraying my restraint. “This exclus
***************CHAPTER 11~Arianna’s POV~As much as I didn’t want to eavesdrop, I did. His tone changed with every sentence that left his lips, his irritation becoming more evident than before. Damon’s cold dismissal replayed in my mind as I lay in bed that night. After sending me to my room without so much as an explanation, he’d locked himself away, leaving me alone with nothing but my thoughts and the unsettling memories of the day. Until now, I had no phone, nothing connecting me to the world outside his estate. And it was becoming boring.I had a boyfriend and a close friend and I know by now they'd be wondering where I was and if I was okay. Just thinking about it made my heart ache. I am sure they'll have tried reaching me through my uncle but…I shook my head. All this was just because of Damon and my Uncle.There was no escaping the way his presence invaded every part of my mind. Everything about him demanded control, even in his silence.The next morning came with an ea
***************CHAPTER 12~Damon’s POV~The moment I heard the gasp, Mars stirred in my mind, his low growl vibrating with urgency. “Our mate is here,” he alerted me, his voice sharp and clear.I spun, my eyes catching sight of Arianna at the cracked door before she disappeared, her shadow slipping back up the stairs. I barely heard the guards behind me—Mars was seething, pushing forward with a fury that made my skin tingle. After a cold nod to my men, instructing them to continue, I left the room, taking slow, steady steps towards the entrance of the underground house.When I reached Arianna’s room, I saw Xander standing far too close to her, his hand tilted under her chin, his smirk too easy, too familiar. Mars growled in my mind, ready to devour our friend for daring to touch what was ours. A flash of possessiveness surged through me, and before I knew it, I’d crossed the space between us.“What the hell are you doing with my m—” I caught myself, clenching my jaw before the wo
***************CHAPTER 13~Arianna’s POV~I stood in front of the mirror, reluctantly smoothing down the shimmering navy-blue gown Damon had picked. The fabric hugged my curves, clinging to my skin with a snugness that felt both foreign and oddly electric. The gown stopped daringly above my mid-thigh, its sleeveless neckline dipping just low enough to leave me uneasy. With a final tug, I took a steadying breath, prepared to walk out and face him.But just as I reached for the door, my gaze landed on the open window, and an idea took root—a reckless, dangerous idea.During the earlier stroll with Damon, I’d noticed there were fewer guards than usual around the estate. Now, with him waiting in my room and assuming I’d obey his every whim, this could be my only chance to slip away. And after he’d claimed I belonged to him, the urge to break free pulsed through me, stronger than anything else.Suddenly I heard his displeased voice and froze when I got to the window. “Arianna, are you
***************CHAPTER 14~Trisha’s POV~The plane touched down with a gentle bump, and as it taxied to the gate, I checked my reflection in the small mirror inside my compact. Fresh, composed, and more than ready for what lay ahead. It had been two years since I last visited Thania, and as much as I hated the chaos of this city, today was different. Today, I was here with a purpose.Stepping out of the gate and into the arrivals lounge, I spotted my brother, Matteo, standing near the escalators, his tall frame cutting a formidable figure among the crowd. He met my gaze with a grin that held both amusement and a touch of exasperation. Even as he waved me over, I could tell he wasn’t thrilled to see me here—not under these circumstances.“Well, look who’s decided to grace us with her presence,” he said, his tone teasing as he pulled me into a quick hug.“Don’t start,” I replied, rolling my eyes. “This isn’t exactly a pleasure trip.”Matteo chuckled as he grabbed my bag, guiding me t
***************CHAPTER 15~Trisha’s POV~The streets of Thania sped by in a blur as we made our way across the city. Matteo sat next to me, his eyes fixed on the road, but I could feel his unease radiating in waves. Good. He knew this wasn’t a social call, and Luca Tadeo wasn’t exactly the type you visited without cause.As we pulled up to the lavish but dark façade of Luca’s mansion, two guards approached, eyeing us warily. Matteo rolled down his window and flashed them his ID, a quick display of who we were. They nodded, then stepped aside, allowing us to drive through the towering iron gates.Inside, Luca was waiting in his luxurious sitting room, lounging on a sofa. He glanced up as we entered and a smile spread across his face.“Trisha Don Mars. What a surprise,” he drawled, standing to greet me with a gaze that lingered just a little too long. “I didn’t think the esteemed family would show up at my door. To what do I owe the pleasure?”I smiled tightly, taking a seat across f
***************CHAPTER 16~Arianna’s POV~I spent the rest of the evening in a daze, replaying the events from the afternoon in my mind. My skin still prickled from Damon’s touch, his unsettling gaze, and the strange sensation of both fear and something else that had bloomed between us.I hated how the memory lingered, how his words replayed long after he’d left. I sighed, but before I could make of the footsteps nearing my room, the door suddenly shot open, pulling me out of my thoughts.Damon entered with his usual cold expression, his tone steely as his eyes bore into me. “Come with me. We are going out.”“Enh...” He cut me off before I could find the words. "Get... you’re already dressed. We’re leaving now.”“Where are we going?” I found my voice after what felt like an eternity. “You don’t need to know. All you are to do is follow me.”I crossed my arms in front of my chest. “I’m not going.” Anger flashed in his eyes as he crossed the distance to where I stood. “I don’t want t
***************CHAPTER 17~Damon’s POV~I should have known. The moment they insisted Arianna bring the briefcase, suspicion crept in, warning me that this was a set-up. I wanted Jet to bring the briefcase because I trusted his abilities, but they had already requested Arianna. Mars was on edge, his instincts sharp, but we’d been outmanoeuvred, and I knew the moment I flipped the lid of the briefcase.The artefact inside was a cheap plastic fake. My stomach twisted with irritation as I spun the briefcase around, barely biting back a growl. Just as I was about to speak, Arianna’s voice cut through, but her warning was too late.The man across from me had two guns trained at my head, his gaze cold. But my problem wasn’t him—it was sending Arianna straight into the hyenas’s den that bothered Mars and I. Just as I’d feared, one of them had a gun pressed against her temple, his other hand wrapped tightly around her neck, ready to end her in two quick moves.A calm settled over me as I
*****************CHAPTER 61~Arianna’s POV~I barely registered the murmurs and laughter behind me as I stormed out of the event hall. My vision was blurred with frustration, my heart pounding so loudly it drowned out the music and chatter.Damon.I was going to kill him.How could he just stand there and declare to an entire room of wolves that I would shift in two weeks? Two freaking weeks?! I hadn’t even felt my wolf, let alone communicated with her properly. She was only out in times of extreme danger and… I shoved open the doors to the ballroom and stepped out into the cool night air. My heels clicked angrily against the pavement as I stalked toward the black car waiting for us.I needed to get out of here.“Arianna.”I ignored him.His footsteps were fast and before I could reach for the car door, a strong hand gripped my wrist and yanked me back.“Let me go, Damon,” I snapped, twisting my arm but to no avail; Damon would not let go. Fuck this!“No,” he said simply, turning m
*****************CHAPTER 60~Damon’s POV~”Then let her shift,” Sterling ordered. Arianna was frozen.Her breathing had turned shallow, her hands clenching at the fabric of her dress. I could feel the confusion radiating off her, the silent ‘What the hell did you just say?‘ burning behind those wide eyes.But there was no time to explain.The moment the words left my mouth, the room had shifted. Tension filled the air. Sharp expectant hunger filled eyes were all fixated on Arianna, waiting, anticipating.I knew these wolves. They smelled blood in the water. And everyone was ready to pounce. Everyone was ready to take my throne as ruling Alpha of Thania, from me.Sterling took a slow sip of his champagne, his amusement evident at our predicament. “Well, Lady Arianna?” he said smoothly. “You heard them. If you’re truly one of us, there should be no problem shifting.”Arianna swallowed hard. I saw the faint tremble in her fingers as she whispered under her breath, “Damon… what are you d
***************CHAPTER 59~Damon’s POV~That voice always seemed to haunt me at times when I wanted to avoid trouble. I turned my head slowly, my eyes locking onto Trisha.“No one asked for your input,” I informed her, keeping my voice cold and clipped.Trisha smiled, the type of smile that was meant to cut. She twirled the champagne in her glass lazily, her gaze locked onto Arianna like a predator savouring a wounded prey.“But Lord Sterling did,” she said sweetly, tilting her head. “And I was simply helping.”My jaw clenched.Lord Sterling’s sharp gaze shifted to Arianna, assessing, calculating. “I see. Lady Arianna, you are from which pack?”Arianna hesitated. I felt it—the way her breath caught slightly, the way her fingers twitched at her side.What Arianna does not know is that Lord Sterling is no ordinary noble—he is a representative of The High Council of Elders, the ruling body overseeing supernatural factions, including werewolves, vampires, and warlocks. His appearance si
****************CHAPTER 58~Arianna’s POV~The morning of the dinner came far too quickly.I barely had time to process everything from the past few days—learning I was adopted, Iris’s cryptic warning, Damon’s frustrating ability to kiss me speechless—before I was thrown into yet another event in his world.A world I still wasn’t sure I belonged to.Damon had been distant since last night. Not cold, but restrained, like he was holding something back. And for some reason, that annoyed me more than his usual arrogance.I was still angry at him. But even as I tried to hold onto that anger, it was slipping through my fingers.Damn him.I stood in my room, staring at the expensive gown laid out on my bed. It was a deep, shimmering navy blue with delicate lace sleeves—undeniably beautiful, undeniably expensive, and undoubtedly handpicked by Damon.A soft knock at my door snapped me from my thoughts.“Come in,” I called reluctantly.The door opened, and there he was. Why was I not surprised
***************CHAPTER 57~Trisha’s POV~Seated in the luxurious study of my father’s estate, I swirled the amber liquid in my glass, my eyes fixed on the documents spread across the mahogany desk. They were detailed profiles, each page carefully outlining Arianna’s background—or at least what little there was to know.I leaned back in the velvet chair, a slow smirk curling across my lips. Damon Dark’s pet project wasn’t as untouchable as she thought. Adopted. A mystery even to herself. A wolf that barely stirred. Arianna was as vulnerable as a deer in a den of wolves, and the thought sent a thrill of satisfaction through me.The sound of the door creaking open broke my concentration. My brother, Matteo, sauntered in in his impeccable. He raised an eyebrow at the mess of papers before settling into the chair opposite me.“You’re still obsessing over her,” he drawled, reaching for the decanter of whiskey on the table. “This Arianna girl.”I took a sip of my drink, the liquid burning
***************CHAPTER 56~Arianna’s POV~The knock on my door was sharp and insistent, jolting me out of my thoughts. I didn’t bother responding. I was in no mood for more confrontations, especially if it was Damon.But, of course, it was Damon.He didn’t wait for an invitation. The door swung open, and there he was, filling the doorway with his presence, his stormy gaze locking onto me.“Do you ever knock and wait for an answer?” I snapped, standing up from the edge of my bed where I’d been sitting.His eyes narrowed, and he stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. “We need to talk.”“Do we?” I folded my arms across my chest, trying to ignore the way my pulse quickened at his tone. “Because I’ve had enough revelations for one day, Damon. Unless you have another bombshell to drop, I’d really like to be left alone.”He didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he crossed the room in a few long strides, stopping just short of me. My heart skipped a beat, I must say. His gaze was intens
***************CHAPTER 55~Damon’s POV~The shooting range echoed with the sharp, rhythmic cracks of gunfire. I adjusted my stance, raised the handgun, and fired again, the recoil snapping against my grip. Another direct hit to the center of the target.But I didn’t feel any satisfaction.The truth was, my mind wasn’t on the target. It was on Arianna.No matter how many bullets I unloaded, I couldn’t shake the image of her—her fiery eyes, the way she glared at me, and the way her lips had trembled after our kiss. She was chaos wrapped in beauty, a storm I couldn’t control but couldn’t walk away from either.Mars growled in my mind, his voice gruff and impatient. “She’s ours. Stop playing around and claim her already.”“She doesn’t want to be claimed,” I muttered under my breath, ignoring the exasperation radiating from my wolf.“She doesn’t know what she wants,” Mars countered. “But she will.”I lowered the gun, rubbing the back of my neck. My thoughts swirled like a maelstrom, and I
***************CHAPTER 54~Arianna’s POV~The ride back to the penthouse was steeped in silence, the kind that felt loud and unbearable. My thoughts were a whirl of questions, fears, and anger. Damon didn’t say a word, his grip firm on the steering wheel, his jaw clenched tightly.As soon as the car pulled to a stop, I threw the door open and marched toward the elevator, barely waiting for him to catch up. The ride to the top floor was a blur, and the moment the doors slid open, I stormed straight to my room.“Arianna,” Damon called, his voice sharp as he followed me.I ignored him, my hand already on the door handle when he grabbed my arm and turned me to face him.“What?” I snapped, yanking my arm free.“You can’t just storm off like this,” he said, his tone calm but laced with frustration.“Why not?” I shot back, the anger bubbling over. “Everything I thought I knew about my life—about who I am—has been turned upside down in the span of a single day!”Damon took a step closer, h
***************CHAPTER 53~Arianna’s POV~Iris led us to her house, a quaint, ivy-covered building tucked away on the outskirts of the city. It had an air of mystery, with its creaking wooden door and the faint scent of herbs and magic lingering in the air.As we stepped inside, the interior was just as enigmatic as the exterior—shelves lined with jars of strange powders and liquids, books stacked haphazardly, and crystals glowing faintly in the dim light.“Sit,” Iris instructed, motioning to a round table in the center of the room. Damon and I exchanged a glance before obeying.Iris busied herself, gathering items from the shelves as if she already knew what she’d need. Finally, she turned to me, her piercing gaze locking onto mine.“Do you remember anything about where you come from? Your past?” she asked.I frowned, shaking my head. “No. I mean, I remember my childhood, but... nothing that stands out as unusual. Just... normal.”I glanced at Damon, who was sitting silently beside