All Chapters of Bound By The Shackles Of Fate: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

~ARIA~Luca’s hurt expression was like a punch to my chest, making me realize something painful and undeniable—I was still in love with him. Even after everything, even after he betrayed me with Indie, I couldn’t shake him from my heart. I was about to deny Kael’s outrageous claim—that we had slept together—when Kael grabbed my arm and yanked me toward the car, pulling me away before I could say a single word.“Let me go!” I hissed, struggling against his grip, but Kael didn’t even glance my way. He shoved me into the back seat, his jaw set and unyielding as he climbed in beside me. I looked back, catching one last glimpse of Luca standing there, frozen, a look of utter disbelief on his face. People were gathering around, whispering and recording everything with their phones, and I knew this would be all over the internet soon. But that was the least of my worries.The car started moving, speeding away from the penthouse, and my stomach twisted in anger and regret. I wanted to scream,

~ARIA~“Thank you, Elena,” I said, purposely using the wrong name again. “I’ll keep that in mind.”For a moment, her mask slipped, and I saw something raw and sharp flash in her eyes. It was clear she wasn’t used to being challenged, especially by someone she thought was beneath her.Without another word, she turned on her heel and left, her footsteps echoing down the hallway. Lena let out a quiet sigh of relief once she was gone, her shoulders relaxing.“Thank you, Lena,” I said, grateful for her presence. “I think I’ll be fine on my own now.”Lena nodded, giving me a small smile before she excused herself. Finally alone, I allowed myself a moment to breathe, absorbing everything that had happened.I stared out the window, watching as the mist settled over the forest. I could feel the weight of this place pressing down on me, and for a moment, I wondered if I’d ever be able to fit into a world as twisted and intense as Kael’s. But then, a quiet resolve filled me. I wasn’t here to fit

~ARIA~For a split second, I almost told him the truth. I almost blurted it out, desperate for him to understand, to see why this was impossible. But then I remembered who I was talking to—Kael, the cold, unyielding Alpha who wouldn’t hesitate to use my weakness against me.So I swallowed my fear and forced myself to look him in the eye. “No,” I lied, my voice barely more than a whisper. “There’s nothing.”He stared at me for a moment, his gaze intense and searching, as if he could see right through me. I held my breath, praying he wouldn’t push any further. But finally, he seemed to accept my answer. “Fine,” he said, his tone colder than ever. “Get a good night’s rest, Aria. You’ll need it.” He turned and left without another word, leaving me alone with my heart pounding uncontrollably.As soon as he was gone, I sank onto the edge of the bed, my mind racing. What was I supposed to do? How could I possibly fight without my wolf?For a brief, desperate moment, I thought of Luca. Despi

“It is canceled” he said and I couldn't help but exhale. A wave of relief washed over me, so intense I nearly sank to my knees. I met Nessa’s furious stare, her eyes blazing with hatred, but I didn’t care. Lady Seraphine had saved me, and the sharp glare Nessa shot my way was nothing compared to the safety I felt with Lady Seraphine’s protection.Lady Seraphine gave him a small nod, his response, before she looked back at me, she seemed like she wanted to say something but she stopped herself.She then turned to Kael, her tone firm. “Come. We have much to discuss. It seems some in the pack are intent on undermining any progress we have made.” Her eyes lingered on Elder Thorne, a final warning etched in her gaze.Kael nodded, falling into step beside her, though he cast one last lingering look at me. I couldn’t quite read his expression—there was regret there, maybe even a touch of something else—but it left a strange ache in my chest as I watched him follow her. The crowd erupted i

~ARIA~"I… understand," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. They had to know. There was no other reason I would be here. This was it—my secret was finally out. "I’ll explain everything," I blurted out, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. My hands trembled as I clutched the edge of the table.Lady Seraphine’s eyebrows lifted slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her cold, composed face. It vanished as quickly as it appeared. Her smile tightened, sharp and unreadable. "Smart girl," she said, her voice calm but cutting. “So you're already aware of what this lunch is about. Tell me about yourself" I blinked, confusion swirling inside me. "What…?" My voice faltered, my mind racing. She leaned back, her eyes never leaving mine. "This is just lunch, Aria. A family meal." Her tone was almost gentle, but the intensity in her gaze pinned me in place. "I wanted to learn more about you. After all, you’re part of our family now." Family? The word echoed in my mind, leav