"Where on earth do you think you're headed?" Xander inquired, disappointment and anger etched on his handsome face.With his hair secured in a low bun, he leaned casually against a tree. Clad in black pants and a white dress shirt neatly tucked into them, his tie hung loosely around his neck. He looked like he had just dashed from a swanky dinner, missing only a suit jacket to complete the ensemble.Memories of the previous night crashed over me, and a strange sensation churned in my stomach as I gazed at him. The urge to rush to his side and taste his lips battled within me.Attempting to push those tempting thoughts aside, I concentrated on plotting my next move. The last thing I wanted was to return to his pack willingly. I had a mission to accomplish, and I had come too far to back down now.Firmly gripping my backpack, I took stock of my surroundings. I found myself less than a mile away from the pack's border. If I sprinted with all my might, I might manage to escape Xander's ter
Aria's POVAs the words spilled from my lips, it was as if the fragile pieces of my heart were performing a tragic dance of destruction. Rejecting him was painful, yet I consoled myself with the belief that he deserved a second chance at a mate who could offer the love I couldn't muster. However, allowing him to wade into a sea of danger was not an option.Closing my eyes, tears traced a familiar path down my cheeks. "That's too bad," he responded, his eyes a shade darker. "Because I'll never let you go. You are mine, Aria, and mine only. Your rejection has been denied," he asserted with a solemnity that clashed amusingly with the absurdity of the situation.My eyes widened as the weight of his words settled in. "No!" I protested in disbelief."Yes," he smirked, his resolve unyielding. "You are stuck with me, Aria, and you will always be mine. If you think you can easily reject me and run free, think again. You can't push me away now or ever," he declared.Standing up, he effortlessl
:Aria’s POVThe pain from the silver chain seems to worsen with each tug.I pull my hand with all my strength, and the bed shakes; one more pull, and I might be able to break the headboard of the bed.One more pull, and I’m certain I’ll break it.With a growl, I pull but stop mid-way when the door creaks open, and Xander walks in.“Easy, tiger,” he speaks with a mocking smirk on his face.Different from last night, he is dressed in a grey t-shirt that hugs his body like a second skin with black cargo pants; his silky curls lay freely on his shoulder. The urge to run my hands through them is strong. But I push the thought to the back of my mind. I should be thinking of how to get out of this burning chains.“Help me out of this chain,” I say, expecting him to rush to my side and take the darn thing off. But he doesn’t; he only leans on the door frame.“Xander?” I try again, raising a brow. Couldn’t he see I’m in pain here? My wrist might detach from my arm any moment from now. The silv
Aria's POV:It's been three days, and Xander might have broken me off the chain, but I wasn't allowed outside. I may not be in chains, but it feels the same, just with less pain. I haven't seen Xander since he took me out of that strange room and brought me to his room. I'm currently held captive in his house, with not-so-nice guards everywhere and a cranky old woman for a cook. Her meals may be delicious, but we can't seem to have a ten-second conversation between us. I'm surprised she hasn't poisoned me to death already.She's just like Meredith, but the difference is I'm not trying to get along with this one. Meals have been served to the room on time every day. On the first day, when I refused to eat, Xander left a note with my dinner, just two words: "Eat - Xander." I guess staying in his office for days paid off because his handwriting was elegant. I could hear his voice in my head, ordering me to do so.I'm supposed to resent him and look for ways to break out of this house, b
Aria’s POVAs we strolled toward the dining area, Jackson cast a curious gaze my way."So, how are you really holding up, Aria?" He asks.I hesitated, debating how much to tell him."It's complicated. I miss the freedom, but being stuck in this house made me realize some things." I smile.Raising an eyebrow, Jackson asks, “Like what?""Like, nature is prettier than I thought it is." I say as we arrive at the dining table, where Julia has laid out a surprisingly elaborate spread. The aroma of the food triggers my appetite, a reminder that I haven't eaten much in the past few days.As we settle down, Jackson speaks up."This looks amazing. What's the occasion, Julia?""No occasion. Just felt like doing something nice for a change." Julia smiles politely, and my jaw almost drops to the floor. Julia was never nice; I’ve never seen her smile – all I have seen are her famous scowls."'Nice' is not a word I'd associate with you, Julia." I tease."Well… People can change. Enjoy your meal." Sh
Aria’s POVIt was a moonless night; Xander stood a few feet away from me with a girl. We were currently in the woods in Moon Waters Pack I recognised this place in a heartbeat because I’ve walked this woods for more than I can remember. But I don’t know how or when we got there. The last thing I could remember was being confined in Xander’s house. I ran towards Xander and the girl, “Xander!” I yelled, but he doesn’t seem to hear me. “Xander?” I called out, but no response.When I got to a few feet from where Xander and the girl were standing, Xander looked a bit younger, his hair, which had once flowed generously, was now trimmed in a mid-part haircut, displaying a shorter and neater style than before."I waved at him, but they were deep in conversation, not paying a single attention towards me.“I know we’re still young, but I can’t leave you here,” I heard Xander tell the girl whose face was still mysterious. All I could see was her back and blonde hair that fell to her mid-back.“
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 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