***************CHAPTER 46~Arianna’s POV~The Phone StoreThe drive was uneventful, Xander humming to himself while I stared out the window. He didn’t push me to talk, which I appreciated, but his daunting presence was still hard to ignore.When we arrived at the phone store, he opened my door with an exaggerated flourish. “After you, princess.”I ignored the nickname, stepping into the sleek, modern shop. An attendant walked up to meet us, bowing before Xander before gesturing to the rows of phones they had. "This way, Miss. Do you have any particular phone in mind?"My smile and slightly confused look were all I could give her as she immediately got the hint. She smiled and nodded. "Come."Rows of glittering phones lined the walls, each one more expensive than the last.“Pick whichever one you want,” Xander said, leaning casually against a display counter.I hesitated. “They’re all so... extravagant.”“That’s the point,” he said with a grin. “Damon doesn’t do anything halfway.”Wi
***************CHAPTER 47~Arianna’s POV~I was still fuming by the time Xander and I returned to the estate. The encounter with Trisha had left me seething, but if I was honest with myself, the smug satisfaction of having put her in her place warmed my heart.When we entered, I ignored Damon entirely. My hand gripped the new phone in my pocket—a stark reminder of the circumstances that kept me tethered to him.“Arianna,” Damon called as I moved toward the corridor leading to my room. His tone was casual but commanding, the kind of voice that demanded attention even when you didn’t want to give it.“What?” I turned to him, irritation leaking into my words.“No thanks for the phone?” he asked, leaning casually against the back of the couch, his smirk infuriatingly charming.I rolled my eyes. “Thanks.”“Ah,” he said, standing straighter. “That’s not how I accept gratitude.”I crossed my arms. “What do you want, Damon? What do you want with my body?” The words came out more venomous than
***************CHAPTER 48~Arianna’s POV~The drive to Henry’s house was suffocatingly quiet. My fingers drummed against the door handle, my thoughts racing with every mile that passed. What was I expecting to find? Henry, apologetic and full of excuses? Martha, hiding in shame?The closer we got, the hotter the anger burnt inside me. I wasn’t sure who I was more furious with—Henry for betraying me or Martha for being the knife in my back.As the car slowed to a stop in front of Henry’s small but neat house, I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.“You’ll be fine,” I muttered before stepping out of the car.The driver lingered by the car, clearly waiting for me to signal if I needed anything. I didn’t bother to acknowledge him as I marched up to the front door, the anger bubbling under my skin ready to spill over.The curtains were drawn, but a faint glow of light seeped through, enough for me to make out two figures inside. And what they were doing. Still, I found it hard to b
***************CHAPTER 49~Damon’s POV~After Arianna went out, I left Xander and decided to bury myself in work to get things fixed and done. My study was dimly lit, as I always loved it. Ignoring the ambience, I made my way to my chair and propped my feet on top of my table. So many thoughts filled my mind and Mars was liking her. He was a great fan of our mate even though her stubbornness would land her in trouble.I leaned back in my chair, my fingers drumming against the edge of my desk and my thoughts, as they often did, drifted to Arianna. The fire in her eyes when she left earlier stirred something in me—something that refused to be ignored.Mars had been restless all evening. “She’s starting to see, Damon. Let her anger burn. It’ll lead her to where she belongs.”“Or it’ll push her away.” I shook my head.The sharp chime of my laptop broke the silence. A new email.I leaned forward, my fingers gliding over the keyboard as I opened the message. It was from the council of pac
***************CHAPTER 50~Arianna’s POV~The tension from my confrontation with Henry and Martha lingered in my mind. It had taken everything in me not to lose control completely when I confronted them. Especially Henry. I wanted to destroy his generation before it began like Damon would have but I held back.Entering the penthouse, I made my way to my room and discarded my clothes. I needed a hot shower to wash away the resentment and betrayal that had been there for a while.Steam filled the bathroom as the warm water poured over me. My mind raced as I tried to make sense of everything. Seeing Henry and Martha together had been a knife to the gut, but deep down, I realized something that shook me even more. I wasn’t as devastated as I thought I’d be.I wiped a hand over my face, exhaling shakily. That revelation brought more confusion than comfort. And just as I was about to lose myself in my thoughts again, a flicker of movement caught my eye.A shadow.I turned sharply, my voic
***************CHAPTER 51~Ariann's POV~As I sat on the edge of my bed, Damon’s words replayed in my mind. He was relentless, but his approach tonight was different. It wasn’t his usual domineering attitude; it was softer, almost... vulnerable.“What game are you playing, Damon Dark?” I whispered to myself.For years, I’d built walls so high no one could scale them, least of all someone like Damon because I had that douchebag, Henry. Yet, here he was, chipping away at them bit by bit. It wasn’t just his words or his actions—it was the pull. That maddening, magnetic connection that left me breathless and questioning everything I thought I knew.My wolf stirred again and this time, strongly. “He’s right. You’re running.”“I’m not,” I whispered fiercely, shaking my head. But even as I said it, the doubt lingered. Was I?I stood abruptly, pacing the room when a thought crossed my mind. “Wait. Why not vcome out and let’s talk. There’s a lot I do not know.” I waited fro her response but
***************CHAPTER 52~Damon’s POV~The next morning, I found myself standing outside Arianna’s door. Knocking softly, I waited as the muffled sound of movement inside reached my ears. When the door opened, she stood there, dressed in a bit of corporate wear. A lemon gown that hugged her frame and made her look so breathtakingly sexy. Her expression was neutral, though I could see the hints of curiosity in her eyes.“We’re going out,” I said simply.Her brows furrowed. “To work?”“Not today,” I replied. “Get ready. I’ll explain on the way.”“Damon,” she began, but I cut her off with a small smirk.“Trust me. You’ll want to see this.”She hesitated for a moment before sighing and retreating into her room. Fifteen minutes later, she emerged, dressed casually in jeans and a loose sweater, her hair pulled into a messy bun.I loved the previous outfit, though. Had I known she’d be changing, I wouldn’t have let her go back in. Too bad we were already late as it was and we needed to mo
***************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
****************The moment I saw the picture, my blood boiled. Kaia was with Shawn. And not just anywhere—at a fucking restaurant.The image was clear. Shawn was kneeling, his expression desperate, while Kaia stood in front of him, looking down with an unreadable expression.Crystal’s message followed right after.Crystal: Looks like wifey’s been busy. I thought you should see this, cousin.I clenched my jaw, my grip tightening around the phone as irritation curled in my chest.What the hell was she doing meeting with him?After everything, after all the shit we had been through—why the fuck was she entertaining that bastard?The worst part? I shouldn’t have cared. I shouldn’t have felt this tight pressure in my chest, this irrational need to grab my keys, track her down, and drag her back where she belonged.But I did. And I hated it. I tossed my phone onto the table, pacing the living room.Kaia would have to explain herself. And God help her if she lied to me.****************Late
**************~Kaia’s POV~The next morning, I stretched lazily in bed, my body unusually warm and relaxed. I blinked drowsily, my mind still foggy with sleep—until my gaze landed on my phone.A notification.I reached for it, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I unlocked the screen.And then—I saw it.The picture.Blaze. Kissing. Shyne.My stomach dropped.I sat up abruptly, my heartbeat hammering against my ribs as I zoomed in on the image, my fingers tightening around the phone.The angle was perfect. Shyne’s hands were on Blaze’s shoulders, her lips pressed against his. It looked… intimate. Familiar.A cold wave of jealousy curled inside me before I could stop it.I gritted my teeth. No. No, I wasn’t going to do this.I wasn’t going to let myself feel this way. Blaze wasn’t mine.He never was.I sucked in a sharp breath and forced myself to think rationally.Would Blaze really kiss her? Just like that?I thought about last night—about how he held me. How he pulled me against him i
*****************~Arianna’s POV~My breath was ragged, my pulse thundering in my ears. My entire body trembled—not from exhaustion, not from pain, but from the sheer weight of what I had just seen.My past. My parents. My real identity.I yanked my hand away from Iris, my heart slamming against my ribs as I stared at her in disbelief.“You,” I spat, the single word laced with betrayal, fury, and shock.Iris didn’t flinch. Instead, she grabbed my wrist again, tighter this time.Before I could react, the world around me shifted—sucked into nothingness.I blinked, completely disoriented. One second, we were in the dimly lit cabin, surrounded by flickering candles. The next, I stood in a vast, endless white space, floating between reality and the unknown.Iris stood before me, her black dress flowing unnaturally, her eyes glowing with ethereal power.“I know,” she said, her voice eerily calm. “I left them. But there was nothing I could do.”My hands clenched. My wolf stirred, a low growl
*****************~Arianna’s POV~A strange whisper brushed against my mind, soft yet insistent, like a breeze carrying a secret only I could hear.I stiffened.I turned sharply to Iris, my heart hammering against my ribs, ignoring whether or not I’ll startle Damon. “You… you just mind-linked me.”Iris’s lips curled into that familiar smirk. “Of course I did.”My jaw tightened. I wasn’t stupid—witches didn’t just reach into someone’s mind for fun.She wanted something.I tried to hold back the urge not to fold my arms across my chest. “What do you want?” I asked in my mind.Her voice was light, almost playful, but beneath it lay something deadly serious. “Remember, you owe me a favour.”I narrowed my eyes. “You want it now?”Iris shook her head. “It is a promise.”A beat of silence stretched between us, thick and heavy. I knew Damon wondered what was going on but I just smiled and beckoned him to lead the way.Then she said it, mind-linking me.“Promise me you will find the ones that
*****************~Arianna’s POV~My breath was ragged, my pulse thundering in my ears. My entire body trembled—not from exhaustion, not from pain, but from the sheer weight of what I had just seen.My past. My parents. My real identity.I yanked my hand away from Iris, my heart slamming against my ribs as I stared at her in disbelief.“You,” I spat, the single word laced with betrayal, fury, and shock.Iris didn’t flinch. Instead, she grabbed my wrist again, tighter this time.Before I could react, the world around me shifted—sucked into nothingness.I blinked, completely disoriented. One second, we were in the dimly lit cabin, surrounded by flickering candles. The next, I stood in a vast, endless white space, floating between reality and the unknown.Iris stood before me, her black dress flowing unnaturally, her eyes glowing with ethereal power.“I know,” she said, her voice eerily calm. “I left them. But there was nothing I could do.”My hands clenched. My wolf stirred, a low growl
*****************~Arianna’s POV~A strange whisper brushed against my mind, soft yet insistent, like a breeze carrying a secret only I could hear.I stiffened.I turned sharply to Iris, my heart hammering against my ribs, ignoring whether or not I’ll startle Damon. “You… you just mind-linked me.”Iris’s lips curled into that familiar smirk. “Of course I did.”My jaw tightened. I wasn’t stupid—witches didn’t just reach into someone’s mind for fun.She wanted something.I tried to hold back the urge not to fold my arms across my chest. “What do you want?” I asked in my mind.Her voice was light, almost playful, but beneath it lay something deadly serious. “Remember, you owe me a favour.”I narrowed my eyes. “You want it now?”Iris shook her head. “It is a promise.”A beat of silence stretched between us, thick and heavy. I knew Damon wondered what was going on but I just smiled and beckoned him to lead the way.Then she said it, mind-linking me.“Promise me you will find the ones that
*****************~Damon’s POV~Of course, she moved again. Witches were paranoid by nature, and Iris was no exception. If anything, she was worse. Always running, always hiding.I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Send me the location.”“Already did,” Xander replied. “But I should warn you—she’s not exactly thrilled about visitors. The last guy who tried to force his way into her place is still missing.”I smirked. “Good thing I’m not just anyone.”Xander let out a dry chuckle. “Yeah, yeah. Just don’t get cursed or something. See you soon.”The line went dead.I tucked my phone back into my pocket and turned toward the stairs. Arianna had disappeared into her room the moment we got back. I hesitated for half a second before pulling out my own phone and dialling her number.It rang twice before she answered. “Hello?”“Get ready,” I said. “We’re leaving in ten minutes.”There was a pause, then a quiet, “Already?”“Yes. We found Iris.”The call went silent as though Arianna was contemplat
*****************~Arianna’s POV~“Give me your hand, Arianna,” Iris commanded softly, her tone laced with authority and mystery. I hesitated, a chill creeping over me, before slowly extending my hand. The cool air of the cabin seemed to pulse with energy as Iris’s touch met mine, and she closed her eyes as if to summon forces beyond mortal ken.I watched, wide-eyed, as she began chanting in a language I couldn’t comprehend. Her voice rose and fell, a rhythmic incantation that vibrated through my very soul. Before I could steady my racing thoughts, a strange sensation washed over me. Then—suddenly—her eyes snapped open, glowing white.A startled breath escaped me. Before I could react, my own vision blurred, my body stiffening as a rush of overwhelming energy coursed through me. My fingers tightened around hers involuntarily, and then—The world around us disappeared.I saw a vision of my earliest days, a memory that felt both foreign and achingly familiar. I saw myself as a tiny inf
*****************~Arianna’s POV~A crystal ball sat atop a blackened silver stand between us, swirling with faint tendrils of mist inside. The moment Iris tapped her finger against the glass, it pulsed with a bright, ethereal glow. My breath hitched.“Give me your hand, Arianna,” Iris commanded softly, her tone laced with authority and mystery. I hesitated, a chill creeping over me, before slowly extending my hand. The cool air of the cabin seemed to pulse with energy as Iris’s touch met mine, and she closed her eyes as if to summon forces beyond mortal ken.I watched, wide-eyed, as she began chanting in a language I couldn’t comprehend. Her voice rose and fell, a rhythmic incantation that vibrated through my very soul. Before I could steady my racing thoughts, a strange sensation washed over me. Then—suddenly—her eyes snapped open, glowing white.A startled breath escaped me. Before I could react, my own vision blurred, my body stiffening as a rush of overwhelming energy coursed th