LOGINAlpha Aiden's POVThe sun was very hot as I stood in the middle of the big arena. The ground was made of hard dirt and small rocks that dug into the bottoms of my feet.I had been training for hours, and my body felt very heavy and sore but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop, the first test was about strength, and I had to be the strongest man here.I walked over to a pile of massive gray rocks. Each one was as big as a man’s chest. I bent my knees and gripped the rough sides of the stone.My muscles felt tight and hot as I pulled the weight up. I could feel the sweat running down my back and stinging my eyes, but I kept going. I lifted the rock over my head and held it there. My arms were shaking, but I didn't let it fall.After the rocks, I practiced my fighting. I shifted into my wolf form. My fur felt thick and warm, and my claws scratched the dirt.I moved fast, jumping and biting at the wooden posts the trainers had set up. My wolf was restless. He wanted to hunt, he wanted to show
Aria's PovThe next morning, the palace felt different.When I opened my eyes, I didn't see Danielle first. I saw two tall men standing by my door. They were wearing new uniforms with gold armor that looked very heavy. They were much bigger than the guards I had before."Who are you?" I asked. I sat up and pulled the silk blanket to my chest."We are your new personal guards, Princess," the one on the left said. He didn't smile, his face looked like it was made of stone. "The King says you need more protection. Especially now that the Games are starting."I felt a cold sinking feeling in my stomach. That was just a nice word for a cage.Everywhere I went that day, they were right behind me. When I went to the bathroom, they stood right outside the door.When I sat down to eat, they stood behind my chair. I could hear their heavy boots clicking on the floor every time I took a step. It made my head hurt."I want to go to the garden," I told them after lunch.They didn't say anything. T
Aria's POVThe Great Hall was very bright. Hundreds of candles were lit, and the smell of roasted meat filled the air.I was wearing a blue dress that was very beautiful, but the silk felt cold against my skin. I sat at the head table next to the King. To my other side were my brothers.All around the room, important Alphas from different packs were eating and talking. I saw Aiden sitting at a table further back.He was wearing a dark suit that made him look very strong. Every time I looked at him, I felt a little bit better, but I had to be careful. I didn't want the King to see me staring.As the dinner went on, I felt a strange warmth in my chest. It wasn't the heat of the room. It was my power. It felt like it was waking up and stretching. It felt very heavy and strong, like it was waiting for me to use it.An Alpha sitting near the front stood up. He was a big man with a loud voice and a mean face. He raised his glass to the King."King Essak, we are all very happy to be here for
Alpha Aiden's POVThe note from Aria was folded into a tiny square. When I read the words, my heart jumped very hard against my ribs. I felt a big rush of joy go from my chest all the way to my toes. I was going to be a father. I had a child growing inside the woman I loved. My wolf felt very strong and ready to protect. He wanted to growl and show everyone that we had a family now.I spent the whole evening waiting. I watched the clock on the wall and listened to the guards walking past my door. I knew the shifts changed late at night. That was my only chance. When the palace went quiet, I slipped out of my room. I moved fast through the dark hallways. I knew which way to go to reach Aria’s room.I reached her door and scratched on the wood very lightly. It was our signal. A second later, the lock clicked. The door opened just a little bit, and I stepped inside. Aria was there. She locked the door quickly behind me.She looked at me, and I saw that her eyes were wet. She was crying,
Aria's POVI woke up before the sun was fully in the sky. As soon as I opened my eyes, I felt a very bad feeling in my stomach. It was like a heavy weight was sitting right in my tummy, making me feel like I was going to be sick. I rolled over and put my feet on the cold floor. My head felt a bit dizzy, and I had to sit very still for a few minutes.I touched my belly through my nightgown. It was still flat, but it felt different. It felt warmer than the rest of my skin. I thought about the times I had been with Aiden. I thought about the night we spent together before everything changed."Aria?"I looked up. Danielle was standing by the door. She looked worried. She saw me holding my stomach and ran over to the bed."Are you okay, Princess? Your face looks very pale," she said. She put her hand on my forehead to see if I had a fever."I feel sick in my tummy, Danielle," I whispered. I looked at the door to make sure the guards were not looking through the keyhole. "I think... I think
Aria's PovDanielle walked into my room carrying a very thick book. It had a heavy leather cover and gold writing on the front. She looked very nervous as she set it down on the small table near my bed.“What is that, Danielle?” I asked. I was sitting by the window, looking out at the gardens.“The King told me to bring this to you, Princess,” she said. She wiped her hands on her apron. “It is the Book of Laws for the Royal Games. He says you need to know exactly how the winner will be chosen.”I stood up and walked over to the table. I didn't want to touch the book. It felt like a bad thing. But I opened it anyway. The pages were old and smelled like dust. As I started to read, my hands began to shake.The rules were very strict. The Alphas had to pass three tests. The first was a hunt to show their strength and how they could track. The second was a test of the mind, like a puzzle or a game of strategy. The third was a fight to show they could protect the Kingdom.One rule made me s
Alpha Aiden's POV “ You need to be careful,” Aria said. Her eyes softened, and even if she was trying to smile, I could see the worry in her expression. I raised my hand and let my knuckles run over her soft cheeks. “ You'll be safe here. I will be back as soon as I can. Keep the phone I gave you
Aria's POV“ You were on the phone with me, and you didn't tell me you where coming here?” Rasmus’ voice rang in the air after he barged into the living room of Aunt Adessa’s room.“ Maybe because I didn't trust you.” Aiden rose from his seat next to me and turned to face him.“ And yet you're in
Aria's POV“ Why Emmaline?” Aiden asked him right away.He didn't even greet him.“Finally, you asked! Now, make sure you don't fucking drop the phone on me while I'm trying to explain.” Rasmus was talking to fast.I understood him because whenever he called and attempted to speak to Aiden , Aide
Aria's POV “ I just need to figure out who's messing up our lives.” Aiden said, and I tried to make sense of his words. Our lives? Or did he mean my life? Did I understand him correctly? I was sure someone was trying to sabotage mine, but him? I was still conversing with myself when he grabbed m







