95. Let's meet Noah Aria sat across from Daisy around a table laden with pots with soil and seeds. The kitchen gardening class was going in full swing, everyone enjoying it. Except Daisy sat lost in her thoughts as she lazily wavered her hand in the pot of soil.Aria noticed her and sighed, "The soil is for the seeds to plant, Daisy! Not for you to play with it. Look, you've made a mess."After Daisy reverted to the present, she flinched and apologized for spilling soil out of the pot on the table and around. She was sulking after her fight with Kai. Also afraid that he might just go back to screwing around with random girls."You shouldn't have instigated it if you care about it so much." Aria said.Aria had tried to avoid her friend and focus on the activity. It would have been more immersing if Jake was here. He liked growing edible plants and they were hoping to make a little one on the rooftop of Aria's house. He's promised to work on it with her after taking classes today.Now
96. Deceitful mate Jake! I miss you so much. I wish you were here." Happiness bloomed in her chest, replacing every trace of distress."So do I, baby. But I'm stuck here with Kai. He's annoying me now.""I am rowing through the same problem." She sighed and heard Jake sigh too."He's pissing me off a lot I'm telling you." Jake spoke. "He's worried that he's crossed his limits and that Daisy might reject him."Aria's eyes widened in surprise, "The situation is the same here. Daisy is scared because she thinks Kai will reject her. She's already crying like a lost baby.""I have a plan." Jake offered.With her shoulders relaxing, Aria asked, "To end their fight? If yes, please tell me quickly. I can't tolerate Daisy and her drama.""So you agree she's dramatic?" Jake chuckled on the link."Just tell me, Jake!""Okay, I'll coax Kai into apologizing to Daisy. I'll also try to make him get her a sorry present.""I'll see if I can get Daisy to follow suit.""Yes please, let's reunite these
97. Jake complex! The week was progressing pretty smoothly and full of elation much to Aria's anticipation. She reveled in exercising every activity that followed the next day and the other days with Jake. Horse riding was intimidating. The horse she got was grumpy and would not move. Thanks to Jake and his friendliness, he not only got her horse moving but also discovered that he had a bruised hoof that made him grumpy and unmoving. She relished the view of him helping the groom tend to the horse's hoof. He seemed so fucking kissable when he gave her a satisfying smile after he had returned. "Want to ride my horse with me?" He had asked so lovingly that there was no way Aria would say no. She had melted into the warmth of his chest. His naughty hands sometimes caressed her waist, or the side of her legs as they moved around on the horse. Since there was no sign of her father returning anytime soon, Jake and Aria spent another night in his house, making love and beautiful memories
98. Don't rush Aria went straight to her house, not waiting for Jake to pick her up as promised. She was too aggravated, too anguished, and too sick of Noah's cunning behavior that she wanted some time alone to clean her head.Also because she wanted time to clean herself off Noah's scent he left lingering in all the wrong places. And though Jake was an understanding boyfriend, she was not sure how he would react to the realization of having Aria cocooned in her mate's fragrance.She took a shower and wore her old baggy clothes. One that would conceal her figure and give her some relief. She was sick being called with names. Being judged as greedy just because she was dating the future alpha."Do I really give such vibes to people? That I am with Jake for his money and the luxurious life he enjoys." She whispered to her reflection in the mirror while drying her hair.Aria noticed the dark red line alongside her lower lashes. It seemed as if she cried nights and days. But the truth wa
99. I thought you loved me"Aria," Realizing the wrong purpose his words may have sounded to give, he went to fetch her hands.Aria moved far away and raised a hand to stop him. Her face exhibited the pain that emerged inside of her from that statement. Cursing himself, Jake rose from the couch."Aria, I am sorry if I sound weird, but it's a mate-bond you're talking about breaking. I have heard from my parents how painful it is. I want you to think wisely bef—""Leave me alone, Jake.""Aria," Feeling weighed down by remorse, Jake hesitantly grazed her shoulders.A jerk was expected, and what followed was a burst of heavy cloud of fury as she pushed him toward the door."Go at once, Jake. I don't want to talk to you.""Aria, you're taking it the wrong way. I meant..." He froze three steps from the door and pulled her in his arms. "I meant for you to take your time. Rejecting Noah may feel like the right thing now, but I don't want to be the cause for it.""The moment you came into my l
100. Bully boyfriend! Aria's POVI stormed to my room and disposed of myself in the small space between the bed and the wall. It brought back all the memories when I used to seek a console in this small-- now tight space for my grown body. Back then I would hide here and cry for hours for being treated like trash by my father.This is where I spent most of my childhood, remembering my mother, and begging the moon goddess to raise me up to heaven in her embrace.The tight feeling in my chest was pretty much the same. The reason, regardless, is different. I was happy that it was not caused by my father. But the awareness that it was caused by one whom I handed over myself to made my bones burn from the force of rushing agony in my body.'Control yourself, Aria.' Melody's words cracked as she said that.She was also heartbroken and taken by surprise. Jake has carved out his place in our hearts. He didn't do anything to impress us, yet every move made, every word he spoke, every smile he
101. Listen to me, Aria. Jake's POVWhen I saw Aria walking out of the door in that apron and flour dust on her forehead, my first thought was to pull her in my arms and eat her lips hungrily. She really made me crazy last night with her outburst. I hadn't realized she would get so pissed for she looked like your timid, baby dear, that would jump at the sight of humans.As I observed her now, a desire to possess her crossed my head. Her lips were set tight in a thin line, eyes glaring at me narrowly while her hands folded before her chest. I felt like I saw a hint of need in her eyes too. But she was quick enough to shake it away before I noticed it.I walked toward her, "Why didn't you tell me when you left home?" She moved away as I sought to take hold of her waist.My teeth clenched together, watching her act differently again. I was not used to this Aria. She annoyed me. The one I was obsessed with was equally invested in me as I was in her. She made me feel like her world revolv
102. A stubborn boyfriendIt took everything in Aria to not slam the door angrily as she came walking back into the bakery."What happened? You look very stressed and... Infuriated." Harry blocked her path and gave her a look that indicated he was on her side if she needed help."I'm okay. Thanks for asking." Aria forced out with a grin and darted toward the door behind the counter to resume her baking classes.She was mad and having someone to listen to her rants would have made her feel good. Harry was not the person though. He was cute and adorable. But not her confidante. He could never be even if he gave her positive vibes.Aria entered the baking room again. She was about to take her position behind the slab she was working on when her ears rang with Jake's voice. Indignation rolled through her. She was being nice because she cared about his public image and the rules and regulations of this bakery.However, she could not suppress her rising turmoil when Jake was being ridiculous
123Jake's POV The last time I felt humiliated in my life was when— I clearly remember that day like it happened yesterday— I was an eight year old child and in a summer camp. My father had accompanied me as it was a condition of the camp to have at least one parent coming with their child.Mom was usually committed to pre-scheduled parties with other Lunas and was too stubborn to cancel them for a camp which she stated would be too boring for her. But I wanted to go as all my friends were going. That's when dad canceled some of his meetings, which as an alpha he shouldn't have, and came with me.The part where I felt utterly humiliated was when I was reciting the poem I've written for my father. It was a task given to all the children. We were asked to write either an essay or a poem for our parents. I wanted to outshine other kids and show that I was a future alpha, and hence, I chose to write a rhyming poem while everyone else stuck with writing an essay.And as I was extremely eag
122. "My father only loves his reputation and power. Don't worry about him. He would hardly feel bad if I left." I remarked with no expression. "But he's your father. How could you—" "You can't convince me to stay, Harry. I've made up my mind. I'm going to take them down, no matter what it costs." "Uncle Zavier will not appreciate this. I don't think he would like it if he knows you're joining the war he himself is staying away from." Harry shook his head clearly indicating that he wasn't going to take me along. It made my anger worse. I seethed and grabbed the front of his shirt. "I'm not a child anymore. I'm a warrior and this is my fight. Don't try to take that away from me, Harry. If dad wants to stay away then it is his choice. I can't leave my family to thrive alone when I know I have the ability to and I can help them win."Harry remained firm on his words but the need to get away from this pack and its people made me try harder to convince him. "You don't know what it's
121The addition she made regarding Jake made my eyes burn. I felt my limbs quivering. That all-encompassing feeling of pain washed over me again and I found myself staring at Harry, who was watching me have a battle with my wolf. "It's okay if you don't believe me, Aria. But maybe this will help you know I am not making up stories." He said as he passed his phone to me. I took it with shaking hands and played the video that was on pause. A corrosive pain shot up my spine and burst forth in my entire body. My knees gave way, and I fell on the floor. My agonized sobs bounced off the walls as I cried my heart out. I desperately wished it wasn’t true, but like every other cruel reality I’ve faced, the video was undeniably real.Jake was talking about me in the video with Kai and Neil. They were teasing him by taking my name and he rolled his eyes. They asked if it was genuine this time but Jake laughed out loud and said he wouldn't be tolerating me if I wasn't my father's daughter.I
120"Let me start from the start, Aria. That way you'll get a better idea of what I'm trying to tell you... Actually, our grandfather used to be one of the greatest and strongest Alphas of his time. He had a huge flourishing pack named Berrywood Pack. All of us were happy in our lives, and then, one day your father came to visit our pack to help us.""Rogues have always been a problem, Aria. They were a little more daring in the past than they are now. In the past, they would just pick up any she-wolf or girl child they liked and had their way with them. Or worse, pick an entire pack and threaten them to send a woman on a daily basis to them. And if their conditions weren't agreed with, they would declare war. That's why your father was invited by our grandfather to kill these rampant rogues and finish their terror forever."Harry's eyes gleamed as he went on, "None of us knew that your father would find his mate in our pack, and that it would be none other than the Alpha's Daughter,
119Aria's POVMy fingers twitched and my forearms numbed from the onset of overwhelming emotions that surged through my body. My face was tingling and my jaw had become stiff. I couldn't move my jaw, much less part it and breathe.I was desperately struggling to regain control but I felt as though I was pushed, head deep, in freezing water. And no matter how much I struggled to come back on the surface, it was futile.A point came when I fell on my side and ended up curling myself into a ball. I covered my head with my hands, my entire body buzzing with a tingling sensation.Was this death? Is this how it felt when your soul left your body?I won't know whether or not it was death because the moment I willingly closed my eyes to accept the end of my life— which I thought it was— I sensed warm arms lifting me up.My body teetered as someone held me close to a warm chest and began to walk. The foul smell of garbage began to drift away, indicating that I was being carried away to a bette
118Aria's POVAfter leaving my house and Kai and Daisy in it, I rushed into a dark alley to cry my heart out. I was in pain I couldn't narrate. My heart was hurting from Jake's ignorance while my body vibrated from the after-effects of my mate's force used on me. My life went from bright to dark overnight. I was made to pay for a mistake I didn't even commit. My wolf was howling for respite. We both needed some rest. All these hours we tolerated since the morning has taken a toll on her. However, we refused to relax. Not now. Not when our eyes were blazing with the fire of revenge. Melody and I have vowed to not sit quiet until we settled scores with Noah Rhodes. That bastard caught us off guard. He attacked me when I was not prepared. But now my veins were fueled with aggression, my limbs aching to fight back. My mind was compelling me to use all the tricks I have learned from my father through intense training. I moved in the darkness as I made my way to Noah's house in search o
117"How dare you play such a trick on me?" Noah's voice bounced off the walls. He picked up Aria from over the broken bed and clutched her hair tightly, making her wail. He pulled them in a merciless joke as his canines surfaced. His muscles convulsed in fury as he brought his face closer to Aria, "It was Jake's idea, wasn't it? He asked you to do this to trouble me.""Aah!" Aria's body was a huge ball of pain. She tapped on his wrist so he would let go. Alas, enraged like an uncontrollable bull, Noah tossed her across the room again. Aria fell on her weak study table, crushing it under her. She hissed with thick tears streaming out of her eyes as a pointed piece of wood pierce her inner thigh. Noah didn't show any pity as he raised her by her hair again. Her scalp ached as a thousands brightly blinking stars burst across her vision. "I detest Moon goddess for mating me with a gold digging whóre like you. You are despicable and..." His words faded out as Aria's senses spun into
116Aria walked on the quiet road on light feet. She was feeling cold and had to wrap her arms around herself. The winds were piercing into her skin and the dust it carried swirled around her. She shuffled her feet ahead with teary eyes as she wondered where to go.She just returned from the club she heard the girls mention in the library. It turned out that Jake left an hour before she reached there. Then she went to his home, the alpha mansion. Unfortunately, there were a dozen expensive cars lining outside the mansion. The alpha probably had visitors, and thus she couldn't gather up the courage to walk into that house while powerful people occupied it.There could be one, if not all, disliking her father. She was too frightened to appear in front of any such person who could take a dig at her to humiliate the most feared hunter in the pack. That being said, she left without meeting Jake.Now as she started her walk to nowhere, she reminiscenced the times she spent with Jake. He had
115. Truth out in front of Daisy "I hate her for hurting Lana, Kai. I will never forgive her."She banded her hands around his waist stiffly and wailed. "She not only cheated on Jake and my sister but on me too. I trusted and loved her just like Lana. Why did she have to do that? She was very well versed with the fact that Noah was dating my sister. But she still kissed him." Kai chewed the inside of his cheek agitatedly. He wished to tell her about Noah and Aria being each other's mate but he bit it down. It wasn't his place to tell her. But he definitely needed to make her see some sense and not entirely blame Aria for the kiss. "Do you realize this wouldn't have happened if Aria didn't go to the old age home with you?" "What are you insinuating, Kai Sinclair? Do you want to say that I influenced Aria to do that." Daisy's voice hardened ruthlessly. "All I'm saying is that Aria isn't the only one who you should condemn. Noah is equally—" "What's wrong with you, Kai?" Daisy pus