Aria's POV:"Are you expecting anyone? If not, I think someone just broke in," I tell Julia.When the front door shuts, a deep musky scent fills my nose, and my stance becomes more defensive."The guards were supposed to switch today. They always switch them daily," Julia cocks a brow."It must be the new guys," she adds.But my shoulders were still stiff. I tried taking deep breaths, but nope, they didn't seem to be working."I'll go and check," Julia must've noticed my expression."I'll go with you" I tell her. If my body tensed, then something might be wrong. Even if I weren't close with Julia, we were currently bonding, and I know we'll get closer soon; her guards will gradually fall and crumble soon.The slow walk to the living room came to an end, and Julia was right; it was the guards."How do you know they were guards?""I know them from their scent; it’s obvious." She shakes her head."Why are you being so dramatic?" she asks.I don't know if it is because I haven't been out
Xander’s POV With every passing second without Aria being close to me, my chest tightens, hard, squeezing my heart. A part of me wants to turn this car around and go back to her. But I can’t.Thanks to Simon contacting me in time, I would have lost her forever.I had to walk out of an important meeting with a potential alliance. But she comes before any alliance. I might have respected her wish years ago when her parents showed their disapproval. I had to fight an inner battle with my wolf every single day for letting her go.But never again. She is mine, and I’m never letting anything come between us ever again. I’d rather die than let Aria out of my sight, much less let her run into her death for some vengeance.Aria's parents were no saints; they were probably one of the worst sets of wolves to walk this planet, but Aria doesn’t have to know that.And I don’t blame her for trying to avenge their deaths; they met a tragic end I feel no wolf should go through.One thing is for sure,
Aria's POV:"Can you move aside?" I ask the guard standing in front of me with a mocking smile plastered on his face, his hazel eyes filled with mischief. "Well... I could, but the orders were to let you do everything and anything you want, but indoors," he says, hands stuffed in his pocket in an intimidating stance. Something about him tells me he's not just a guard."Well, it looks like we are breaking those rules today, because I'm going to walk out that door today," I tell him, placing my hand on my hip while using my free hand to point at the door behind him.I scan the room and, for some reason, he's the only guard in sight."I don't think you can," he smirks."Well, I am not asking you to go out. I'm telling you I'm going out now, move!" My tone a bit higher than before."Damn, Xander got a feisty one," the amusement in his tone evident.Did he just call him Xander? All my times here, the only person who's called Xander by his name was Jackson. They all call him alpha. So why
Aria’s POV:I've never seen Xander chuckle, much less burst into a fit of laughter. I felt like clown makeup had magically appeared on my face—I hated how I acted on impulse. It was definitely a stupid dream.“I should be grateful I'm having these weird dreams instead of those terrifying nightmares,” I muttered, trying to shake off the embarrassment."Can you stop now?" I frowned. As much as I loved seeing his laughter, the fact that he was laughing at me, not with me, made my blood boil."I'm sorry, but you really thought I was cheating on you because of a dream?" he spoke between breaths of laughter, making me feel like a child acting out based on some silly dream."Well then, if you weren't with another woman, why the heck did you leave me all alone for days without any words? So much for being an understanding mate," I added, the last two words dripping with mockery."Are you hiding something from me, Alexander?" I cocked a brow, suspecting there was more to the story.His body te
Aria's POV"I wouldn't say awful," Simon's voice was a little low when he said that."They weren't good people, but they changed when you came along they did their best to become better. They saw their death as a way to make up for all they had done in the past.""So… who was tracking them, and what did they do to that person or people?" The least he could do after shattering the good image of my parents that I had: is to tell me who killed them and why they did it."The alpha of Blood Moon pack was looking for your father because he felt your father betrayed him by abandoning his duties as the beta and going rogue with a woman when he could have rejected. Your father knew a lot of things that could end Alpha Lysander if they were leaked. To protect those dark secrets, he decided to hunt down your parents and end them. But then, your parents made a lot of enemies when they started working for Alpha Julius of Moon Waters pack. Like I said, I didn't know how they met him or what they di
Aria's POV"So?" I arch a brow at Simon.Does he think I'm afraid of biting the dust on the path of revenge? Death and I made peace ages ago, though now with Xander in the picture, I have a weakness—whether I like it or not.In the good old days, I'd charge into the fray solo, no hostages for my enemies. But with Xander in the mix, I can't shake the feeling that abandoning my revenge for a rendezvous with my mate would be the epitome of hypocrisy."What do you mean 'so'?" Worry took over the surprise on Simon's face."I always knew my parents' death wasn't a run-of-the-mill hit and run or a failed robbery. That's was why I delved into it, taking as much time as I could for the right moment. So, I knew exactly how dangerous it's going to be," I explain, my tone a mix of exasperation."It's worse than whatever you're thinking. These people are monsters," his voice came out a bit higher than normal."I'll make a mental note to enroll in 'Monster Takedown 101,'" I quip, aiming for a touch
Aria’s POVI stiffen when the door creaks open. I didn’t need to open my eyes to know who it was. From the cedar scent, I knew it was Xander. After days of staying in the pack house or wherever the heck he had been staying, he finally decided to crawl his way back into the room."Maybe he’s here to pick something up and leave," I thought to myself.With my eyes still tightly shut, I could feel his movement in the room. When the movements stopped, I felt the bed dip as he lied next to me, and I instinctively shifted. His hands curved around my hips and pulled me until there was no space between us.“I know you aren’t sleeping,” he whispers, his voice gravelly, deeper than it normally was.I keep quiet, still putting up the sleeping facade.I feel his nose in my neck, breathing in and out, causing jolts of electricity to shoot up to every part of my body that his skin touched.I don’t know what he’s trying to achieve with his sudden appearance and out-of-pocket intimacy. Every part of m
Aria’s POVI forgot the last time I slept peacefully. I slept all through the night without waking up in the middle of the night from a nightmare. I had a dream, but I forgot what happened. I don’t know if it was a nightmare or not and I’m happy I don’t remember. When it comes to my dreams, I’m cool not knowing what happened because I don’t remember the last time I had a dream that wasn’t a nightmare.I stretched my hands, releasing a yawn.“Good morning, sunshine,” a deep, groggy voice spoke. I flinched at the sound.I turned to the sound of the voice. It was freaking Xander. I was back in our room, Julia, that traitor! I mentally screamed. She must’ve opened the door even after what I told her. “Why am I here?” I asked.“Because it’s where you are supposed to be,” he smirked. I fought every single willpower not to slap that smirk off his face.“I thought I told you to leave me alone,” I spat. I really don’t know what is wrong with him at this point. Mate or not, he’s supposed to b
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