BANG BANG BANGThe deafening sound of pounding on the door echoed through the dimly lit room, shattering the silence of the night. My heart pounded in my chest, matching the rhythm of the harsh knocks. Fear chewed at me, threatening to consume me in its suffocating grip."Open this fucking door before I smash it into pieces! I know you're in there; I can sense your fear, little one, so open up!" The voice outside was loud and cold, sending shivers down my spine. I curled in the corner, clutching the worn-out teddy bear to my chest, trying to hide from the terror on the other side."No! Go away," I managed to whisper, my voice shaking with fear. Tears streamed down my cheeks like a waterfall , mingling with the sweat on my brow."I'm going to count to three, if you don't open up, I am going to break it open," the voice threatened, the agitation in its tone growing obvious."ONE..... TWO..." My breath jerked , and the room began to suffocate me, like the walls were closing in on me. I co
I trudged through the forest towards my secret garden, trying to clear my mind of the thoughts that plagued me. I desperately needed the comfort the garden provided.As I approached the familiar clearing, my mind couldn't help but drift to one individual who seemed to occupy every corner of my thoughts– the strange Jackson from the stairs. He seemed familiar but he looked nothing like anyone from this pack, he must be a guest maybe a friend of the alpha’s son. Just as I settled on the grass, trying to find some peace of mind, my mind drifted to Jackson once again. His warm smile, his gentle touch—it all reminded me of the little moment while ago. For some reason I can’t get him out of my mind which is weird if you ask me. A rustling nearby brought me back to reality, and Marcus appeared, with a knowing grin plastered on his face. "So, this is where you come to escape the world, huh?" he teased, plopping down beside me.I rolled my eyes. "Is it that obvious?"He chuckled. "Just a l
I slipped into a black dress that flowed gracefully around my form. As I fastened the intricate silver necklace my mother had given me before she passed away, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. She had been taken from me, and now it was my duty to seek justice for her, no matter the cost. My eyes fell on the old leather jacket hanging on the back of my bedroom door, a cherished memento of my father. It still carried his scent, a faint reminder of the warmth and protection he had always provided. Tonight, I needed that strength, that connection to him, as I delved into the unknown. The jacket, though slightly oversized, wrapped around me like a shield, and it I knew my father's spirit would be with me as I navigated the shadows of the past.Making my way downstairs, I found Marcus waiting for me at the entrance. He wore a crisp shirt and dark pants, his expression serious. Together, we stepped outside and joined the pack as they made their way to the bonfire site.The bonfire was a m
As the morning sun rose, casting a warm glow over my room, I awoke with an unsettling feeling that clung to me like a haunting presence. The events of the past played like a relentless loop in my mind, and the weight of grief and anger settled heavily upon my heart.Finishing my daily chores, I sought solace in the familiar routine of training. The rustling leaves and the gentle whispers of the wind should have brought me comfort, but today, they only heightened my unease. It was as if the forest itself sensed the wind turmoil within me.However, as I arrived at the training site, my heart sank at the sight of Simon.He was assigned as one of the instructors, and my instincts warned me to keep my guard up. The shewolf trainees looked uncomfortable, and I noticed his unsettling behavior, the way he found excuses to touch them while demonstrating archery techniques.Frustration and disgust filled me as I couldn't bear to watch him any longer. Deciding that I had seen enough of this ugly
Aria’s POV The walk back to the omega’s cottage was surprisingly short. I took a deep breath as the door to the cottage came into view.Twisting the knob, surprisingly the door wasn’t locked. I pushed the door open, and its creaking sound pierced the silence. The dim candlelit room showed the omega seated in an old rocking chair, her eyes closed while her back was leaned into an old wooden rocking chair. As the smell of apricot and cinnamon invaded my senses. Something about it reminded me of my home before the pack-house.“I thought we were done talking?” she said.She must have thought I was Simon so I didn’t reply to her. Her eyes snapped open after a few seconds later.“Aria? Is that you?” she said, squinting her eyes as if she couldn’t see me. I froze for a second, and her recognition caught me by surprise. The last time she saw me was when I was a pup. The scent suppressant hadn’t worn off yet, and I didn’t think she would be able to recognize my scent even if it hadn't.“You m
Aria’s POV "After my parents' death, I became a lone wolf in a pack known for its large number of members. I'd walk around the woods aimlessly with nothing but resentment and a fueled fire of vengeance in my heart.However, I found interest in the weird-looking herbs and plants that surrounded my house, despite the fact that I moved to the pack house. I used to go back to my old home, but for some reason, I've never had the courage to go inside the house.With the help of my instincts and the little animals from the woods, I found myself creating cures and poisons.After a series of failed experiments and practices, I was able to come up with a lot of cures and a few poisons due to the lack of some elements. I've read through all the healers' scriptures I could find in the pack library, but none of them had any valuable information on poisons, just some erroneous healing procedures which I found useless, because there aren’t healers in the pack, only modern doctors. However, putting
Aria’s POV Torture isn’t as bad as people say it is. Torturing others is said to be a bad thing, but after seeing Bertha, I’ll have to disagree.Growing up, my mother told me stories of violence and how bad people always end up with an awful end. My parents taught me to always resolve issues in a calm and responsible way no matter the circumstance.However, they forgot to tell me how good and easy it was. Seeing Bertha in pain; all her screams and whimpers felt like a sweet melody that I wanted to last forever.Despite the fact that there is a chance of her being innocent in my parents' death, it didn’t stop how seeing her roll around in pain was pleasing.If it turns out she had a hand in their death, I shall come back to this little cottage and make her scream her lungs out until she doesn’t have to anymore. I promise to be her angel of death in a dark cloak.I shall be the end of Bertha.Before all that, I must get Simon and his friends. Every single one of them must pay - with bl
Xander’s pov I always felt a whirlwind of emotions when I thought about her. I desperately needed a break from the stack of files demanding my attention. The place felt suffocating.I'd been confined here for over two long days. I yearned for the soothing embrace of the woods—a sanctuary from loneliness.The border, a place I cherished, where something intriguing often occurred. As I ventured deeper into the woods, the robust scent of the oak trees intermingled with the unique aroma of Lucas's mysterious plants, creating a tranquil atmosphere.The towering oak trees had always fascinated me, but today, for some unknown reason, I felt an irresistible urge to climb one of these ancient giants.So I did.***"Patience is a virtue, young Xander," my father's words echoed in my mind as I perched on a sturdy branch. It was a quote he frequently used, yet I had never truly embraced the concept of patience. I was anything but patient, especially when it came to the things I desired.But seven
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
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