Emma's thoughts의 작품

Denderick's POVI had just finished the council meeting, but my mind was already at home. The moment I stepped out of the room, I felt the familiar pull toward Aria. It was always there, but today, it seemed stronger-almost like a force urging me to get back to her."Off in such a hurry, Denderick?" Alpha Kieran voice called from behind.I turned to see him standing with Alpha Callum and Alpha Harris. They were grinning, clearly amused by my haste. I chuckled, shaking my head."Yes, yes, I am," I said, grinning back. "I've got a beautiful wife waiting for me."Alpha Harris laughed and clapped me on the shoulder. "Lucky man. Go on, then. Don't keep her waiting.""Tell Aria we said hello," Alpha Callum added with a smirk.I waved them off and headed for the carriage waiting outside. The ride back to the pack house was peaceful, but I could feel the excitement building in my chest. The past one year had been everything I could have hoped for. I was ruling the largest territory in the ar

Aria's POV"You fetched a good price," he continued, then pointed at Denderick. "I remember selling you to him. And now look at you, all dressed up and proper. Must be nice to live in luxury after being sold like cattle, huh?"I stood up, my chair scraping against the wooden floor as I pushed it back. My pulse raced as I took a step closer to him. I could feel Denderick's presence at my back, but this moment wasn't about him. It was about me, and the man who had once stolen my freedom."Do you have any idea what I went through after what you did?"The slave master laughed. "Oh, don't play the victim card with me, girl. I've heard it all before. You're free now, aren't you? You got lucky. Some of the others... well, you know better than anyone how they end up.""Lucky?" I hissed. "You call what happened to me lucky? Do you think any of these people-" I gestured toward the chained slaves outside the room, "-are lucky? You don't care about any of them, do you?"The man merely leaned back

Aria's POVI wanted to charge forward, to confront the man who had sold me into slavery all those years ago. My feet itched to move. I wanted to storm the platform and make him look me in the eye. But just as I was about to step forward, Denderick caught my arm."Not yet, my love." he growled in my ear. "Patience."I swallowed my frustration, though every instinct screamed at me to move, to act. The longer we waited, the more I felt like the opportunity would slip through my fingers, like I would lose my chance to confront the man who had torn my life apart. But Denderick was right-this wasn't the time to rush. Not with so many eyes on us.So, we waited.The crowd slowly began to thin out, buyers leading their new slaves away like they were leading cattle to slaughter. One by one, the slaves were purchased and taken off the platform, until only the slave master remained, standing triumphantly on the raised wooden structure and counting his gold coins. His greedy eyes scanned the la

CHAPTER 109Aria's POVThe next morning found me standing in front of the pack house, waiting. The crisp air of dawn hung around me, and I shivered, though it wasn't from the cold. Today would be the beginning of something-something I had to face, no matter how much dread sat heavy in my chest. I had left Edward with one of the maids I trusted in the pack house. I couldn't take him along, not to where we were going. There were too many questions, too many ghosts that needed to be confronted without distraction.A gentle hand brushed my shoulder, and I turned to find Denderick standing beside me, his eyes warm and reassuring. The sunlight caught his blonde hair in such a way that it shimmered like gold, and for a fleeting moment, I thought about how lucky I was to be mated to someone so strikingly handsome. But it wasn't just his looks. It was the strength behind his kindness that always steadied me, especially when I felt on the verge of unraveling."Are you ready?" he asked.I nodde

Aria's POVThe room had emptied.However, I remained seated, my eyes fixed on the wooden table in front of me. The sound of footsteps and voices faded into the distance, and soon, it was just me and my thoughts. The Council meeting had ended, and with it, the reign of terror that had haunted my life. Logan was gone-forever. I had never thought I would feel this kind of... peace.Deep inside, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. It was finally over. The nightmare that had tormented me for so long was now behind me, and for the first time in years, I could breathe freely. I could look at my son without the constant fear of Logan's shadow looming over us. I could love Denderick fully, without any hindrance.But as much as I felt relieved, there was still a part of me that couldn't relax completely. There were too many unanswered questions, too many loose threads that had to be tied up.I had to have answers.I was lost in these thoughts when I felt a pair of hands gently rest on my s

Aria's POVI sat among them in silence. The Alphas gathered around me in the meeting hall. Their murmurs were low, but I knew they were talking about me. Their eyes flickered toward me every other second, and when they thought I wasn't looking, they whispered behind their hands.I could feel their eyes on me-sizing me up, judging me, and silently wondering how I survived what I did. I didn't need to hear their words to know what they were thinking. After all, what happened at the treehouse wasn't something easily forgotten. Word had spread, carried on swift winds, and everyone in the room knew exactly what had transpired.Still, I sat up straight, clutching Edward tightly to my chest, my back rigid with confidence. I would not show them any weakness. Not today, not ever. They could stare all they wanted, but I didn't care for their gossip. I had endured far worse than their judgmental glances, and today, all I cared about was one thing: Denderick.He had left home that morning without