***************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
***************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 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 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
***************~Damon’s POV~Damon didn’t move, didn’t flinch, as I closed the distance between us. My heart pounded, each beat a whisper of hesitation, of something I didn’t fully understand.“C-Can I?” I asked softly, barely above a whisper. My hand hovered in the space between us, close but not touching.He didn’t respond right away. His dark eyes locked onto mine, searching—maybe for my intent, maybe for something else. Then, after what felt like forever, he gave a small nod.I exhaled shakily and reached out. My fingertips grazed his skin, featherlight as they brushed over the bruise on his ribs. Damon tensed under my touch but didn’t pull away.Gently, I traced the edges of each mark, my fingers gliding over the discolored patches of skin on his abdomen, the faint scars on his chest. My touch was careful, reverent, as if I could erase the pain they carried by simply being soft with him."Do they still hurt?" I murmured.Damon shook his head. “Physically, no,” he admitted. His v
*****************CHAPTER 68~Damon’s POV~I swallowed past the lump in my throat, my fingers twitching at my sides. My anger had burned out like a candle in the wind, leaving only this—raw, aching silence between us.Slowly, almost hesitantly, I took a step forward. Then another.Damon didn’t move, didn’t flinch, as I closed the distance between us. My heart pounded, each beat a whisper of hesitation, of something I didn’t fully understand.“C-Can I?” I asked softly, barely above a whisper. My hand hovered in the space between us, close but not touching.He didn’t respond right away. His dark eyes locked onto mine, searching—maybe for my intent, maybe for something else. Then, after what felt like forever, he gave a small nod.I exhaled shakily and reached out. My fingertips grazed his skin, featherlight as they brushed over the bruise on his ribs. Damon tensed under my touch but didn’t pull away.Gently, I traced the edges of each mark, my fingers gliding over the discolored patches
*****************CHAPTER 67~Arianna’s POV~I followed Damon through the dense trees, my legs aching with every step. My body was still weak from the brutal training, but curiosity kept me moving.“Where’s this place?” I asked, scanning the area as we emerged into a clearing.The air here was heavier, filled with something unspoken. The ground was packed dirt, uneven and scarred, as if countless battles had taken place here. Wooden dummies, worn and splintered, stood in a jagged row. Rusted chains dangled from a thick iron post, the metal stained a dark crimson. Against the farthest wall, an array of weapons hung—knives, whips, staffs, and even crude spiked bats.“This was where I used to train when I was young…” Damon’s voice was quiet, almost distant. “With my father.”I froze. Damon barely talked about his father. Hearing him mention the man so casually made my stomach twist. I turned to look at him, but he wasn’t looking at me. His gaze was fixed on something only he could see—s
*****************CHAPTER 67~Arianna’s POV~I followed Damon through the dense trees, my legs aching with every step. My body was still weak from the brutal training, but curiosity kept me moving.“Where’s this place?” I asked, scanning the area as we emerged into a clearing.The air here was heavier, filled with something unspoken. The ground was packed dirt, uneven and scarred, as if countless battles had taken place here. Wooden dummies, worn and splintered, stood in a jagged row. Rusted chains dangled from a thick iron post, the metal stained a dark crimson. Against the farthest wall, an array of weapons hung—knives, whips, staffs, and even crude spiked bats.“This was where I used to train when I was young…” Damon’s voice was quiet, almost distant. “With my father.”I froze. Damon barely talked about his father. Hearing him mention the man so casually made my stomach twist. I turned to look at him, but he wasn’t looking at me. His gaze was fixed on something only he could see—s
*****************CHAPTER 66~Sterling’s POV~The dimly lit room reeked of aged wood and power—a private lounge reserved only for the elites of the werewolf world. I leaned back in the leather armchair, swirling a glass of blood-red wine in my hand, my lips curving into a slow smile.“Your little stunt worked perfectly,” I said, glancing at the woman across from me.Trisha Don Mars.She sat on the edge of the couch, her legs crossed, looking every bit the picture of confidence and poise. Her lips curled into that signature smirk of hers, one that dripped with malice and self-satisfaction.She was beautiful in her own selfish way, and I loved her for it. Most ladies hid under his naive look while masking their true colours but Trisha showed them. She was not afraid to be seen as selfish, wicked, and all that. I mean, it was all in us and the greed of men was insatiable. At least with this kind of ally, you know what drives them and makes them who they are, and if you can work with t
*****************The dimly lit room reeked of aged wood and power—a private lounge reserved only for the elites of the werewolf world. I leaned back in the leather armchair, swirling a glass of blood-red wine in my hand, my lips curving into a slow smile.“Your little stunt worked perfectly,” I said, glancing at the woman across from me.Trisha Don Mars.She sat on the edge of the couch, her legs crossed, looking every bit the picture of confidence and poise. Her lips curled into that signature smirk of hers, one that dripped with malice and self-satisfaction.“Of course it worked,” she replied, taking a sip of her own drink. “Arianna’s cracking, isn’t she?”I chuckled. “She’s human—what did you expect? Damon’s pushing her to the edge, and even he knows she won’t survive the Luna Trials. It’s just a matter of time before she breaks.”“And when she does,” Trisha said, her voice soft but venomous, “Damon will finally realize what a mistake it was to choose her.”Her fingers traced the
**************CHAPTER 73~Kaia’s POV~The house was quiet, eerily so. Blaze had left for work early in the morning, telling me to stay behind since his grandmother was still here. I had spent most of the morning in the living room, flipping through magazines and trying to keep my thoughts from drifting to the events of the past few days, especially this morning in the bathroom with him. Just that already brought thoughts of our intense fucking. Umm, well, lovemaking and even though Blaze could act like it was nothing or it didn’t happen. It did for me and might I say, it was the best I ever had.I sighed, my shoulders slouching. No matter how hard I tried, my curiosity kept tugging at me, leading me to one place: the room, Blaze’s secret room.I stood up and walked away. First to the kitchen and then to the swimming pool and then… I was so deep in my thoughts that I didn’t even realise where I was walking to.It wasn’t intentional, or so I told myself. My feet moved on their own,
*****************CHAPTER 63~Arianna’s POV~I did not bother arguing when Damon said we should train. All I wanted was a way to survive two weeks from now. If whatever he had planned for me could do it. Then, so be it. Damon led me down a long hallway, past some offices and through a heavy steel door at the back of the penthouse.The moment we stepped inside, my breath hitched.The room was massive—a full-blown training facility. Dim overhead lights cast long shadows over the walls, filled with rows of weapons. Silver daggers. Guns with silver bullets. Chains, cuffs, throwing stars, and even an entire wall of swords.I swallowed hard. This wasn’t just a training room.This felt like a war zone.Damon strode toward the center without a second glance at the weapons. “Your gear,” he said, tossing something at me.I caught it clumsily, looking down to find a pair of black leather trousers, a bralette, a tank top, and a simple hair tie.I arched a brow. “Seriously?”Damon smirked. “You’l
*****************CHAPTER 63~Arianna’s POV~I did not bother arguing when Damon said we should train. All I wanted was a way to survive two weeks from now. If whatever he had planned for me could do it. Then, so be it. Damon led me down a long hallway, past some offices and through a heavy steel door at the back of the penthouse.The moment we stepped inside, my breath hitched.The room was massive—a full-blown training facility. Dim overhead lights cast long shadows over the walls, filled with rows of weapons. Silver daggers. Guns with silver bullets. Chains, cuffs, throwing stars, and even an entire wall of swords.I swallowed hard. This wasn’t just a training room.This felt like a war zone.Damon strode toward the center without a second glance at the weapons. “Your gear,” he said, tossing something at me.I caught it clumsily, looking down to find a pair of black leather trousers, a bralette, a tank top, and a simple hair tie.I arched a brow. “Seriously?”Damon smirked. “You’l