All Chapters of TORN BETWEEN MATES: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Theme: Insecurity and Jealousy Aria's POV The duel is over. Even though the pack is dispersing, I can still hear their whispers and their eyes. Despite winning the fight, I didn't feel like I had won. Even though my entire body suffers, the suffering inside of me is worse. I check with the other pack members to see how they are responding. Do they find it impressive? Or do they think Selene was accurate and are judging me? Because I lack the strength to support Xander? Xander walks next to me, massaging my arm. I flinch from his warm, soothing touch. I'm helpless to stop it. My mind is a complete mess and is going out of hand. "You did well," Xander says gently, pride beaming in his eyes. "You've proven your strength. Why do you still have self-doubt?” Unable to look at him, I shake my head. "Because I still feel like an outsider no matter what I do," I confess, my voice hardly audible above a whisper. Xander scowls and steps in front of me to make me look into his eyes. "Y

Theme: Love Triangle Aria's POV I have a nagging suspicion that something is amiss. Since the rogues' attack, Xander has remained aloof, and now Selene is back at it, causing havoc. She comes toward him, her grin too lovely, too calculating, as I observe from the other side of the packhouse. Their conversation is too quiet for me to hear, but I don't need to hear the words, and it makes my heart sink to see them conversing. She's still trying to get under his skin, and I can see it in her eyes. I make myself stay put by clenching my hands, but the jealousy consumes me like a raging flame. Xander has a tight jaw and tense shoulders. Despite his evident frustration, he doesn't leave. Why doesn't he leave? Selene looks at me abruptly, her eyes piercing and perceptive. Her shoes click against the stone floor as she approaches me. She radiates pridefulness that makes my stomach turn. "You are aware of his distance from you, aren't you?" Selene voice is silky, tinged with fake wor

Theme: Risk and Sacrifice Aria's POV The stress remains thick in the air. It’s been days since the pack last rested, and the rogue strikes are constant. Every bark in the distance sends shivers down my spine. I thought things couldn’t get worse, but I was wrong. I’m standing by the edge of the forest when a wolf I don’t recognize approaches. His eyes are dark and full of hate, but his body language isn’t. He stops a few feet away from me, a twisted sneer on his face. "Aria," he whispers, his voice low and frightening. "I bring a message from my Alpha." I stay silent, my heart thumping in my chest. "You leave Xander, and we’ll stop the attacks on your pack," the rogue adds, taking a step closer. "That’s the deal. Walk away from him, and no more blood will be spilled." I clench my hands at my sides, I can feel my pulse in my ears, the world spinning around me. Leave Xander? The thought of it rips my heart in two, but... if I stay, more of my pack will die. "Leave,"

Theme: Trust and Betrayal Aria's POV I feel like I'm carrying a burden from the decision to face the wild wolves. As we approach the pack, Xander and I stand side by side, his hand firmly clutching mine. Even while our link shows how strong he is, it doesn't stop the doubts from racing through my head. "We can’t face them alone," Xander replies in a firm yet calm voice. "We need help, and Selene’s pack has offered a temporary alliance." Selene's backpack. I get a chill from the words. After everything that has transpired, I no longer have faith in her. But, Xander thinks this is our best chance. I look at him; his eyes are flaming with resolve, and his jaw is set. I must have faith in him. Selene takes a step forward and meets Xander's eyes. Her eyes sparkle with something I can't quite put my finger on….perhaps a calculation….and her silver hair falls down her shoulders, making her as stunning as ever. Manipulation? She continues, "You can trust me this time," in a silky

Theme: Guilt and Love (Aria's POV) The air was still thick with loss and suffering even after the war was over. My pack was either hurt or attempting to heal those who were hurt everywhere I looked. The ground was full of blood, and the air was heavy with the smell of panic. As I kneeled next to Marcus, my heart ached. His wounds were more severe than I had anticipated. He had a pale face and shallow respiration. I applied pressure to his wounds, but it didn't appear to help. "This is all my fault," I said in a tremulous murmur. "I should have protected him." Xander knelt next to me and put his hand on my shoulder. "You did everything you could, Aria." I shook my head, my chest heaving under the weight of remorse. "No, I ought to have moved more quickly. More powerful. I ought to have supported him and everyone else.” Xander turned to face him, and his look softened. "You are not held accountable. No one fought as hard as you did. Today, you saved lives.” His words wer