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Chapter twelve: taste of temptation
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The rogue heir’s redemption Chapter thirteen: interruptions
Aria's POV"Aria? Is that you?" Jackson says as he stood by the front door. I never thought, in my wildest dreams, that he would recognize me, at least not so quickly."Jackson, right?" I say, amused."Why are you back here again?" Xander asks. "How many times do I have to tell you to knock before coming in?" My mate tells Jackson through gritted teeth, standing in front of me with my legs still wrapped around his waist."I did knock this time; you were just too busy to hear it," Jackson says with a little smirk.My cheeks heat up with embarrassment. I tried unwrapping my legs from Xander's waist but he uses his hands to keep me in place."Let me go," I whisper into his ear. But he doesn't. "Please?" I try again.Almost instantly, he lets me go."Why are you here?" Xander asks him. He was clearly irritated."Oh, come on, Xander. I didn't know you guys were getting steamy out here on the kitchen counter, man, but I have really important things to share with you. I'll wait for you in th
The rogue heir’s redemption Chapter fourteen: healing hearts
Aria’s POVXander hadn't said a word to me since we entered the room. I had expected an explanation after the little jealousy stunt he pulled earlier."You should get some rest. Lucas wants to start your withdrawal treatment tomorrow," he told me."Is that a question or an order?" I asked him placing a hand on my hip. He stared at me for a brief moment, then raked his hand through his curls, appearing frustrated. I wondered what it would feel like to touch those soft locks. But I quickly pushed the thought away."Your health is my top priority, and I won't sit around watching you slowly get ill when there's a cure," he said.I rolled my eyes at his apparent concern, crossing my arms and leaning against the wall. I could sense my wolf's disapproval with my attitude."You need to get some sleep. I have some work to finish up in my office," he said before making his way out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I took a deep breath, acknowledging that he was right. I needed as
The rogue heir’s redemption Chapter fifteen : silent reverie
Aria's POVThe withdrawal process was nothing as I imagined. Healer Lucas, along with another named Rose, prepared a detoxifying tonic. From the smell, I knew it wouldn't taste like candies or fruits.Xander had left for something urgent, I told him to go. Despite wishing he stayed, being an alpha, he had pack duties.I hesitated before taking a sip; it tasted worse than any herbal tonic I’ve ever had.“It doesn’t have the best taste, but if you take three big gulps, it’s quite manageable,” Healer Rose advised.I nodded and downed the remnants of the tonic with my eyes closed, following her suggestion.When I finished, I passed Lucas's empty cup to him. Our eyes met; concern etched on his face. "Aria, you need to take a walk, let the detoxification tonic work its magic. Move around a bit," he urged.Appreciating the advice, I began pacing the hallway, feeling the coolness of the stone floor beneath my feet. Uncomfortable with the curious glances, I decided to explore elsewhere.Rose's
The rogue heir’s redemption Chapter sixteen: unspoken fury
Aria’s POVOne week later.So, I didn't die. I don't know if I should thank the heavens for letting me live or if I should curse the heavens, Lucas, and Xander.In that case, I think I should hate the heavens for making me go through what I experienced—the suffocation, the pain, and the helplessness. I felt as helpless as I did years ago under the bed. Just thinking about those memories makes my brain and heart ache.And Lucas, for detecting the ketamine and then forcing me to consume that weird-ass tonic with the bland and awful stench, which made my body glitch.Poor Lucas. I vividly remember how disoriented he looked when he saw me lying in Xander's arms, resembling a blow-up doll. I use the term "blow-up doll" because, in that moment, the only difference between me and one was the fact that I had blood and flesh, and my eyes were blinking. Lucas seemed a bit scared, trying to figure out where he went wrong, he thought my body was reacting perfectly to the tonic. But clearly, not s
The rogue heir’s redemption Chapter seventeen: muted truths
Aria's POV:“I’ve set the date for our mating ceremony,” Xander says, setting me down on the couch.“You did what?” I bark, standing up from the couch. I have been trying to irritate him, make him hate me, and maybe even kick me out of the pack or something. But hearing him tell me he has set the date for our mating ceremony? I can’t let that happen; mating with him means tying myself to him, in other words, staying in this pack forever.“It’s high time you meet the pack members. The healers haven’t said anything, but the patients going in and out the bay have been curious. We can’t have any rumors going around about your identity,” he states.I can’t have that ceremony or whatever it is happen. It can’t.“So? Rumors don’t kill, you know. They can say whatever they want,” I tell him.“That shouldn’t be a reason for you to set the date without my consent. Oh my God, Xander! Why are you so inconsiderate?” I yell.“Rumors or no rumors, we’re supposed to have mated and marked each other b
The rogue heir’s redemption Chapter eighteen: mall moments
Aria’s pov It has been three days of silence hung between us, making the house feel smaller. Xander's presence was there, but he kept to his study, and when we crossed paths in the kitchen, he'd just stare and vanish into his study.He stopped cooking for me. Jackson brought food, and the fridge was stacked with microwaveable dinners. I hadn't gone back to the healers, Lucas only visited once and told us my case is complicated but I’ll try to find some solution soon. I’m currently seating on Xander's bed, wearing a white tank top and one of his sweatpants—the only wardrobe I had since leaving the healers. Then, a crash from Xander's study broke the silence. He'd been so quiet lately, and oddly enough, I found myself missing him.I missed those soft forehead kisses, his warmth, and even our nightly arguments that weirdly felt like home. The silence became too much, so I decided to face him. I made my way to his study. Jogging down the stairs, I sensed he must've heard me from the
The rogue heir’s redemption Chapter nineteen: silent sins
Aria's pov:Things have been going great between Xander and me. He's back to being the old Xander, even better than before.Being around him feels so right. I left content as I nestled on the couch with Xander, wrapped up in the soft glow of the movie. His tongue explored every inch of my mouth as our kiss wove into the background noise of the film, creating a private world within its scenes. Suddenly, Xander's phone buzzed persistently in his pocket, shattering our tranquility. I gently pulled away, suggesting, "You might want to pick that up."Xander let out a reluctant groan as he retrieved his phone and answered the call with a serious demeanor. He excused himself to answer the call.When he returned, a weighty expression lingered on his face. "We gotta go to the healers," he announced, leaving me slightly taken aback."Right now?" I questioned, the surprise evident in my voice.Xander nodded, urgency etched in his eyes.“Okay,” I told him. It must be something important if Lucas
The rogue heir’s redemption Chapter twenty: shifting realities
Aria’s POVI feel like my soul is placed in the body of a different person. Everything about my body feels strange, but in a good way. I tried sitting up, but I can't."Oh, my heavens, she's awake. She's finally awake," Rose says. I don't know if she was screaming, or my hearing seems to have sharpened, but I could hear everything Rose was saying in my ears like a very loud drum.I feel her steps coming closer; she props me up, placing pillows behind me. "Aria! How are you feeling?" Rose says like she has been waiting for me to wake up for a thousand years.I part my lips to tell her I feel like shit, but nothing comes out, so I only smile. "It's official, Aria. I think you're related to Sleeping Beauty," she smiles, sitting on the seat next to my bed and holding both my hands."Do you know how worried I've been? I thought you were planning on staying in that bed for another week-""Who are you talking to?" Lucas asks as he opens the door."Dear heavens, she's awake?" he asks, surpris
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The rogue heir’s redemption chapter ninety eight: reunions and new threats
XANDER'S POV“I’m fine,” Aria groans in my arms as I carry her.Aria was discharged two days after being admitted to the healer’s. She recovered faster than expected, but I still insisted on carrying her. I wanted to hold her close. As we walked to the lake, I thought she would want to go straight home, but instead, she asked to stop here.“Xander?”“Yes, Sunshine?”“You can put me down here,” she says with a small smile. “We’re at the lake.”“Are you sure?” I tease.“Yes,” she laughs, playfully slapping my chest.“Let’s sit over there,” she points to some large rocks near the water. I carry her all the way and sit on one of the rocks, her arms still around my shoulders.“Okay, mister clingy,” she chuckles, leaning into me.“Xander,” she says softly after a few moments of silence.“You’ve been avoiding this,” she begins. “Every time I try to apologize, you brush it off. Xander, it’s my fault what happened. You shouldn’t blame yourself. I made a mistake, and I—”I cut her off with a ki
The rogue heir’s redemption chapter ninety seven: a week without her.
XANDER'S POV It’s been a week without my mate. A week without her barging into my office, a week without her leaving snack wrappers all over the place.If I could go back to that day, I would’ve taken her to the car first and made sure someone took her with the others. But I didn’t. I thought I wouldn’t be able to catch Victor if I did, that he’d escape before I reached the car.If I had, she wouldn’t have risked her life to save mine. She wouldn’t have put herself and our baby in danger.Now, seeing her lying on this bed, with the relentless beeping of the monitor beside her, is the last thing I wanted. Even though she’s passed out before, this time is different. This time, I don’t know if she’ll make it.Lucas said her chances of waking up soon are slim.But just like she didn’t give up on me, even when my heart stopped, I won’t give up on her. She’s a fighter, and I know she’ll wake up.“You’ve got it in you, sunshine,” I whisper, gently squeezing her hand.Lucas said she used e
The rogue heir’s redemption chapter ninety six: nothing is working.
ARIA'S POV “Alexander, please, you have to wake up,” I said between sobs.My mind was completely blank. I didn’t know what to do or how to help him. All I could do was cry, holding his head on my lap.“You need to wake up,” I whispered, trying to connect with my wolf inside me.“We need to focus. We can save him,” I told her as I finally felt her presence.“No, we can’t,” she replied sadly. “He was stabbed with a silver knife, and it’s poisoned. Not just any poison, Aria it’s strong, and the blade went into his heart. We don’t even have anything to work with. You’ve already used up all the antidotes, and nothing is working. He’s not breathing, and his heartbeat is fading.”“Remember that time we healed a butterfly with just my hands?” I reminded her desperately.“That was ages ago, and it only worked once,” she countered. “Besides, Xander is not a butterfly.”“We have to try. I can’t forgive myself if anything happens to him. I don’t think I’d even be able to keep breathing without h
The rogue heir’s redemption chapter ninety five: if I can't have you... no one can.
ARIA'S POVXander stood firm, his icy gaze locked on Victor. The tension in the air was thick, and I stayed rooted to the rock he had placed me on, my thoughts swirling as Victor’s taunts rang in my ears."I have no idea what file you’re after, Xander, but you’re not getting it," Victor said with a smug grin, his stance oozing confidence.Xander’s fists clenched. "Hand over the files, Victor. Or else."Victor chuckled darkly, his laughter echoing through the clearing. "Or else what? You think I’m scared of you? You’ll never get the files, and you’ll never know what’s in them. I’d rather burn them than hand them over."Xander took a menacing step closer. "Then apologize. Apologize to Aria for killing her parents to satisfy your greed."The mention of my parents made my chest tighten. I felt like the ground beneath me was about to give way.victor raises a brow."apologize for killing the holloways" Xander growled, even though Victor had a hand in the fire Xander's family were in why is
The rogue heir’s redemption chapter ninety four: your lucky day.
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
The rogue heir’s redemption chapter ninety three: apologetic goodbye
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
The rogue heir’s redemption chapter ninety two: I am untouchable
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
The rogue heir’s redemption chapter ninety one: a new pack member
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,
The rogue heir’s redemption chapter ninety: whatever you're planning I'm in
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
