Xander's POV:“We have enough warriors to find everything out in a few seconds, man,” Caine smiled.“We’re finally going to get rid of that bastard. For good this time,” Russell rested his hands on the table.We’re currently in a meeting discussing how we would kill Victor, but little did they know, I don't want him dead. I have other things in mind. Killing him that easily doesn't seem right to me.Someone as awful as Victor doesn’t deserve a death that simple. Plus, I have a lot of questions to ask him.“What do we do with the body after?” Jacob asks from the other end of the table, and I raise my head to stare at him.“I don’t care, as long as he’s out of the picture. That’s enough for me,” Caine says, taking another sip of his drink.“I agree with that,” Russell spoke. He and Caine burst into a fit of laughter, fist-bumping each other in the process.I shake my head in distaste. I can’t believe these two fools are alphas. They always try to turn any situation into a joke.“We’ll
Xander's POVI know Jackson tends to be a prick and leaves more than enough missed calls and voicemails for any inconvenience just to bug me, but Lucas never calls. When he does, it’s always one or two missed calls, but this time, he left like ten missed calls and a few weird texts, I stared at them for a long but couldn’t get what he was trying to say."Can you guys give me a sec?" I say, excusing myself from the room. I didn’t stop until I was outside.I tap on Lucas's name on the screen to dial his number, I watch as the phone rings a few times, but there was no answer from him. I try dialing his number again. After what feels like forever, I try a few more times, but he doesn’t pick up. Something is definitely wrong. The few times I’ve called Lucas, he always picks up after two rings.I feel a twitch in my heart; I need to know what the heck is going on. I dial Jackson’s number, and after a few rings, he picks up.“Alpha,” his voice is a bit breathy and heavy. Confirming my specul
Xander’s POVIt was his turn to be surprised. “How was I supposed to know? She barely smells like a mated wolf.” I’ve been trying to understand why she doesn’t smell so much like a mated wolf at first I thought the issue was from or maybe it was nose or something. “I know. I didn’t find out from her scent. I had to run tests after I found her.” He passes me a paper.“It’s the test result,” he clarifies.I stare at it, and there it was—she was, in fact, pregnant. I read the results a few more times to be sure.The anger that had consumed me was nowhere to be found as excitement took over. I’m going to be a father. I feel my wolf pacing with joy within me.I’ve always dreamt of becoming a family man with a lot of kids. I’ve always had this affinity for kids; they’ve always loved me.I’m finally going to become a father. The thought alone made a smile creep up on my face.“She is pregnant,” I whisper, staring at the test results once more.“But you didn’t notice any changes from her?” L
Aria's POV"Eight months," I whisper-yell the words, causing my head to throb."Fuck," I mutter, placing my hand on my head to subside the pain."Easy," Xander smiles, placing his hand on mine squaring it in a comforting manner. "Are you sure it’s been eight months? It shouldn’t have been that long. Does that mean they’ve gone along with the plan with the poison I made? So I wasted days of my life making it just for them not to use it because I was out.""Sunshine, I was just joking," he must’ve noticed the horror expression on my face. I took a deep breath."Are you sure?" I inquire. He could be lying just to get me to calm down. What if I lost the chance to avenge my parents? What if he didn’t get to kill v victor, what if he survived and his currently an enemy to the pack. What’s if it has been years not months, and Xander is just trying to calm me down?But he still looks the same, hasn’t been a major change in his looks. I take a deep breath, my head throbbing hard. "Look over
The second time I'm glad to be back home, it doesn’t smell like disinfectant, herbs, or anything nauseating. But for the past two days we've been back, Xander has been a little too overprotective and a bit cranky. He gets mad at me for trying to do anything other than sleeping, taking a bath, or eating. For some weird reason, he keeps asking me if I have something to tell him. When I say no, he simply nods and looks a bit disappointed, then goes back to doing what he was doing before.Each time I try to bring up the poison or anything associated with the plan on Victor, he dismisses it or tells me we'll talk about it later.I know I'm supposed to be a little glad he's been home for two days straight, but I wish he'd go busy himself with work like he always does, but he isn't. He's been all up around me for the two whole days; the only times I get to be alone is in the bathroom.But something about the way he’s been treating me nuts doesn’t seem right to me and I plan on uncovering t
Arias povThe little discussion with Xander almost turned into a fight, I tried to make him understand. If where to be pregnant I’ll be the first to know not some Lucas who might’ve mess the result with someone else’s. “I can’t believe you’re making us do this” i say shaking my head with a little smirk. “Making us do what” Xander flashed a smirk of his own. “Making us, go back to the healers, I know I’m not pregnant because I don’t feel pregnant” I laugh. “Well… only time will tell, wait until after the test then we can tell you aren’t pregnant” his eyes were focused on the road this time. “Aren’t. I know I’m not” i cross my arms on my chest staring out the window. Poor Xander is going to be disappointed, I don’t what possessed Lucas to come up with a test result like that. The rest of the drive to the healers was silent. I stared out the window while Xander focused his attention on the road. “Do you have any murder tendencies?” I ask when he opens the car door for me. He arch
**Aria's POV** I opened my eyes to an amused yet smiling Xander. I followed his gaze to the screen and saw something like a tiny bean displayed; it was the baby, very small. "There is the baby," Lucas said, motioning to the screen. My cheeks heated up a little, embarrassed for doubting the test results for the first time. After a few minutes of checking, Lucas wrote down some things in his notepad before turning off the machine and gave me a tissue to wipe off the cold gel from my stomach. "We'll get you a few pictures of the ultrasound to take home," he said before excusing himself from the room. "Hey," Xander started, "are you okay?" Concern covered his face. I didn't know my eyes were tearing up until I felt a stray tear roll down my cheek. "I'm fine," I quickly wiped the tear away from my face. I don't know what to feel; finding out I'm pregnant is still a little shocking to me. How the heck was it possible? I should've been the first person to know I was pregnant, so how
Aria’s POVIt's less than a month to Victor's wedding, and Xander still hasn't said a word about the plan or how everything is going to go off.And I know why he’s doing it; he’s trying to keep me away from everything since I’m pregnant that’s is the only reasonable option I could come up with. But I want to be in on it, want to go to the meetings, and I want to be involved every step of the way. Plus Victor caused more than enough damage to me. He killed my parents and I feel like his blood should be mine to spill. I run my fingers through my hair when I feel a wave of frustration. I take a deep breath to calm my nerves. I’ve been feeling so uneasy for the past few days. I don’t know if it is because of hormones or if something bad might be happening soon. I stare into the mirror at my wannabe bump, patting a hand on it. My T-shirt is doing a good job of showing it. I pull my hair into a messy bun before heading down the stairs for my second or third lunch o don’t even know, it’s
ARIA'S POV When I was sure Albert was dead, I dragged what was left of his body to the mud pit at the far end of the clearing. My hands were trembling, and my breathing was uneven, but I had no time to dwell on it.The chaos from the ceremony was still ringing in my ears, and I needed to get back. After wiping my hands on the damp earth, I made my way back to the gathering. But when I arrived, what greeted me was utter destruction.People were running in all directions, panic clear on their faces. Shattered decorations and overturned chairs littered the ground. Fires burned in scattered patches, and the air smelled of blood and smoke.I searched the area for Marcus, but he was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Xander. My heart pounded in my chest as I scanned the chaos. The only person I could make out was Russel, who was helping people escape from the premises.Where’s Victor? I thought to myself, my anxiety growing.Pushing through the chaos, I kept searching until I finally caught s
ARIA’S POV““Hello, Berta. I knew we’d meet again, but I didn’t expect it to be this soon,” I said with a smirk, watching the fear flicker in her eyes. It was clear she hadn’t anticipated this confrontation, and the sight of her trembling filled me with satisfaction.“A-Aria... What are you doing here? And you...” She paused, sniffing the air cautiously. “You smell different.”“We’re not friends or long lost allies, Berta, so what I smell like should be none of your business,” I replied coldly, taking a deliberate step toward her.She stepped back instinctively, and for every step I took, she retreated further, her back finally pressing against the rough bark of a tree.In a sudden, desperate move, she pulled out a knife and plunged it into her stomach. Warm blood splattered onto my hand, and for a moment, I froze in shock.“Berta!” I shouted, my voice rising with disbelief. “What the heck did you just do?”She slumped to the ground, clutching her self inflicted wound, her breaths com
ARIA'S POV From the corner of my eye, I spotted a familiar figure a woman with grey hair tied in her usual thin plaits, wearing the same plain dress I'd seen her in countless times before.Her scent hit me before her identity fully registered, and with it came a rush of emotions I couldn’t suppress. Anger, grief, and hatred all mixed into a bitter concoction I’d been forced to swallow over the years.How could I ever forget that scent?For a moment, I hesitated. I wanted to stay and savour the view before me Victor, the man who orchestrated so much of my suffering, unknowingly sipping from his poisoned glass of wine. But this wasn’t just about revenge. It was about justice, and justice demanded answers.I turned on my heel and followed her, keeping my distance. She walked briskly, her movements deliberate, as though she were on a mission. My instincts screamed that this could be a trap, but curiosity won. Whatever this was, I needed to know.My hand brushed the weapon strapped to my
XANDER'S POV"i'm in" Marcus says the desperation in his tone clear as day.“This isn’t the place to talk about these things,” I say, my voice steady but firm. I glance at him, trying to figure out what Aria must have said to him. Something has clearly changed because, out of nowhere, he’s full of determination to join the plan.I still can’t wrap my head around it. The last time we spoke, he made it very clear he had no interest in this event, let alone helping with anything related to it.In fact, he outright told me he wasn’t coming.“That’s exactly why we need to do this now,” he says. His tone is calm but urgent as he pulls a small pocket knife out of his jacket. Before I can even react, he slices his palm without hesitation. Blood seeps from the cut, and he holds out his hand toward me, silently urging me to shake it.For a moment, I’m stunned. I blink, trying to process what just happened. Amusement and shock mix inside me.“Do you even know what you’re doing right now?” I ask,
ARIA’S POV“Oh, hey Marc,” I say, smiling as Marcus steps up beside me from behind.“Hey, Marc,” Kristie echoes, wiping her mouth with a napkin.“Hi,” Marcus responds with a polite nod.“I’m Kristie,” she introduces herself, offering him a hand to shake before I even get the chance to introduce them.“Nice to meet you, Kristie. I’m Marcus,” he says, shaking her hand firmly.We both chuckle at their exchange, though my mind is elsewhere.We need to get out of Xander’s reach, I tell Marcus through the mind link.I haven’t looked back since Kristie and I walked away, but I can feel Xander’s eyes boring into my back, hot and heavy like a burning flame.“He’s just being a good mate, as he should be, Aria,” Marcus replies.“You call making me uncomfortable being a good mate?” I retort.“Well, if it were me…” He pauses for a moment, scratching the back of his neck. “If my mate were still here, I’d probably be staring at her like a lovesick stalker twenty-four hours a day if she wasn’t next t
ARIA'S POV “Gentlemen,” Xander says, his voice shifting to a more casual tone as we approach the group. “Meet my mate.”I force a small smile, trying to appear calm despite the uneasiness in my chest.“Meet my brothers, sunshine,” he says to me, his tone softening just a little.“This is Jacob,” he adds, motioning toward the man in the black suit and tie. Jacob simply nods at me, his expression unreadable.“And you’ve already met Caine.”I glance at Caine, but he’s too lost in his own thoughts to even notice that we’re talking about him.“And over there is Russel and his mate, Kristie,” Xander finishes.“Hey, I’m Aria,” I say to Kristie, offering her a polite smile.“It’s nice to meet you, Aria,” Kristie replies warmly, unlinking her arm from Russel’s and stepping forward to give me a hug.For some reason, despite just meeting her, I feel an odd sense of familiarity. It’s as if I’ve known her forever.“Do you want to head to the food stand?” she asks, a playful gleam in her eyes. “Th
ARIA'S POV “If you so much as let another man hold you, I will make sure they don’t spend another second on this earth,” Xander says, his voice low and threatening. He closes the gap between us, his intense gaze pinning me in place. Then, without warning, he captures my lips in a firm, possessive kiss.For a moment, I melt into it, my anger and resistance fading. I hate how much I miss this how much I miss him. As much as I want to stay in this moment forever, I know I can’t.The memories of yesterday flood back like a tidal wave, and I feel a sharp, massive pain shoot through my neck. The betrayal, the hurt it’s all too much.“No!” I manage to say between breaths, breaking away from the kiss.“I am not yours,” I bite out, my voice shaking with emotion.I try to push past him, desperate to get back to the crowd where I can breathe again, but Xander grabs my arm and pulls me back against the wall. His touch is firm but not forceful, though it leaves me no room to escape.He takes a d
ARIA'S POVVictor’s smirk falters for a split second but quickly returns, his usual confident demeanor sliding back into place. “Ah, Alpha Xander,” he says smoothly, his tone dripping with mock politeness. “Always swooping in at the last minute. How charming.”Xander doesn’t reply. Instead, he keeps his firm hold on me, his silver eyes blazing with quiet intensity. The look sends shivers down my spine, making my heart race, even though I’m furious at him for what he did to me yesterday in the woods.Victor’s gaze shifts between us, his lips curling into a faint smile that reeks of amusement. He finally steps back but not before giving me one last lingering look. “Enjoy your evening,” he says, his voice calm yet loaded with meaning.Without a word, Xander pulls me away from where Marcus and I were standing. He doesn’t stop until we’re in a quieter spot, far away from the crowd and behind the tall fence that encloses the area.“What were you thinking?” Xander hisses, leaning closer so o
ARIA'S POV. “Now, you stay close to me at all times unless you plan on staying by your mate’s side,” Marcus said in a low voice, his tone serious. “The people here are dangerous.”I didn’t need him to warn me about that. The tension in the air was enough to tell me everything I needed to know. The powerful auras surrounding us were suffocating, and my instincts were on high alert. There were too many strong wolves gathered in one place.And when has having so many powerful wolves in one gathering ever been a good idea?The chances of this ending peacefully were slim to none. Something always goes wrong in situations like this.“Are you even listening to me?” Marcus whispered sharply in my ear.“Of course I am,” I lied smoothly, giving him a quick glance.The truth? I hadn’t heard a single word he said. My mind was elsewhere, already bracing for the chaos I was sure would erupt before the night was over.“Great,” he muttered, clearly unconvinced. “When we see my dad, let me know immed