ARIAโโฆWeโve been searching for her all these years.โMy brows knitted together in confusion. โDid you just sayโฆ royal?โMaren let out a bitter laugh, her voice dripping with scorn. โDonโt play dumb. That girl is dead. Sheโs never coming back.โMy heart pounded. That girl? Who was she talking about? Who had they been searching for all these years? Before I could demand answers, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from outside the door.Relief flooded me. Finally! Someone was coming to save me. I sucked in a breath and screamed with all my strength. โHelp! Iโm in here!โBut instead of a rescuerโs voice, Marenโs wordscame through.โSheโs inside.โThe realization hit me. Whoever was outside that door wasnโt here to help meโthey were part of the trap.I pressed my ear against the wooden surface, desperate to hear more. Silence stretched between Maren and the newcomer. Then, a deep voice broke through the stillness.โThatโs good. Keep her there until Iโve contacted Alpha Darius.โMy
ARIAโIโm here to make you an offer.โ โWhat?โ โIf you agree to reject all others and be mine and mine alone, Iโll make sure no one ever treats you like this again.โ I swallowed. It sounded like a good offer. โI want a peaceful society,โ he continued. โThatโs what Iโm advocating for.โ His gaze bore into mine. โAs the next Alpha of Alphas.โ I froze. Alpha of Alphas. It was glaringly obvious what this was all about. I shook my head. โI wonโt be an object,โ I murmured. โNot even for you.โ I half expected those words to make him leave, but instead, his grip tightened slightly as if he had anticipated that answer. โWell,โ he murmured. โThat just makes you even more interesting, doesnโt it?โ It really doesโฆ I swallowed hard, feeling my pulse hammer against my ribs. Do something! My mind screamed frantically. Anything! But the weight of his hand on my wrist was unbearable, fucking painfulโฆ It held me in place like steel. โLet me go, you piece of shit.โ I cussed in my mind. None of my
ARIAThe silence stretched so long that I almost convinced myself the other person had left.But thenโโIsโฆ is someone there?โ I asked hesitantly.โShut up.โI blinked. My heart, which had momentarily settled, lurched into my throat. So he is still here.โWhy are you doing this?โ My voice came out rough, strained from exhaustion. โIโve never harmed anyone.โA soft, humorless chuckle echoed in the darkness. For a moment, I swore the person was standing right behind me.โYou ask why Iโm doing this?โ There was something dangerous about his voiceโan edge of barely restrained emotion. He sounded angry that I had even asked, yetโฆ utterly indifferent to my suffering. โBecause I follow orders, rogue.โThat word again. Rogue.I sucked in a breath, pushing myself upright on weak, trembling arms. โIโm not a rogue,โ I gritted out.The man snorted. โOf course youโre not. Youโre special, arenโt you? Different?โA shadow moved in the dim light filtering through the barred window. I squinted, trying
LUCIANThe whiskey burned its way down my throat, leaving a fiery trail that numbed everythingโeverything except the one thing I needed gone the most.Aria.Her name throbbed in my skull like a fucking curse. Why the hell couldnโt I block out her scent? It was maddening, wrapping around me even when she wasnโt here.I rolled the glass between my fingers, exhaling slowly through my nose, but it didnโt help. Nothing did. I could still smell her. It clung to my skin, curled into my lungs like a drug, saturating the space between my ribs until my entire body hummed with restless energy.Fuck.I slammed the glass down a little too hard, the amber liquid inside sloshing dangerously close to the rim. This was ridiculous. I shouldnโt be thinking about her. Shouldnโt be craving her. I had been through hours of this shit already, and it wasnโt letting up.My fingers curled into my palm. If I was still feeling like this, then self-control was a fucking myth.I wasnโt drunk. Not yet.But I was bu
LUCIAN"Because if you donโt tell me right now, I swear to the goddess, youโll never see your family again.โ Her eyes widened in terror. โIโI swearโฆโ Before she could stammer another lie, the silence of the night was shattered. โThe Beta of the Bloodfang Pack is backโฆโ I glanced at the clock. 4:00 AM. Was it dawn already? Suddenly, a blast of trumpet echoed through the air, cutting through the peace of my office. The fucker was back. And he had to be dramatic. I turned to Maren just in time to see a strange expression flash across her face. Wait. Was thatโฆ relief? Suddenly, she turned on her heels, bolting for the door like the fucking coward she was. I snapped out of my chair so fast it nearly tipped over. "You little shit!" I roared, lunging after her. "Get your ass back here and tell me why the fuck you smell like Aria!" She didnโt stop. Her footsteps pounded against the wooden floors as she flew down the hallway, and I was right behind her, fucking boiling. How dare she
LUCIANโEven at that, Maren!โ Tobias scolded impatiently. โYou of all people should have dissuaded her the moment she came to you.โ I barely spared them a glance. My patience had already worn thin. Without another word, I broke into a jog, heading straight for the training grounds. โAnd to you, Lucian!โ Tobias called, quickly following. โWhat the fuck is going on? Why wasnโt this rogue put to death? Why is she so fucking important?โ A slow smile curled on my lips. โWhen you see her,โ I said, almost amused by his questioning. โyouโll understand.โ Suddenly a bloodcurdling scream reached my ears. Who could that beโฆ? My chest clenched as the recognition hit me. If it was coming from the training groundsโฆAria. I could only imagine the horror she was going through. I didn't think of stopping one bit as I ran. My legs pushed forward with brutal force, and my heartbeat thundering in my ears.What was going on down there?I squinted but all I could see was the empty yard. Where the fuck w
LUCIAN He didnโt like the scent of that bastardโs blood. โLucian, Iโm fine,โ Aria said, her soft voice wrapping around me like silk. โBut your eyesโฆโ she trailed off, staring at me in confusion. I quickly turned my gaze to the window in front of me. My reflection stared back. Shit. My eyes were red again. It was the urge to rip that bastard apart that clawed at my chest. Control, Lucian, control. Then, I shot a glare at Maren. She jumped, dropping her gaze. I should have slapped some sense into her but there was no time for that. I turned away and walked back to Aria. She was still curled up with frail arms wrapped tightly around herself. Her torn clothes barely covered her trembling form. I crouched down, brushing my fingers against her shoulder. When she flinched, a sharp ache ran through my chest. It was hard not to look at her pale neck. The sight of it called to me, an unspoken invitation. But for the sake of her dignity, I ignored it. Instead, I silentl
ARIA Being manhandled like this should terrify me. The sheer force behind his gripโฆ he didnโt hesitate to slam that bastardโs head into the floorโit should make me fear him. But I didnโt. I should be trembling, but all I felt was satisfaction. A sick kind of gratification at his definition of punishmentโ at the blood that dropped from his knucklesโฆ It shouldnโt make heat pool low between my thighs. Why was his anger so intoxicating? Why did the violence in his hands feel like justice? Goddess, Aria, what the hell is wrong with you? This was toxicโevery thought, every thrill that shot down my spine. And yet, I couldn't stop. Before long, Lucian began to sniff the air hungrily. I froze. Could it be thatโฆ he sensed my arousal? Then, to my absolute horror, a low, knowing chuckle rumbled from his chest. He knew. I squeezed my eyes shut, desperate to vanish into thin air. But Lucian wasnโt done. โI didnโt think youโd enjoy the spank that much,โ he murmured wi
ARIAMaren knew. Oh, hell. The realization slammed into my chest as her suspicious gaze swept over me. Then her lips curled into a smirk. "Wow. It is true.โ Her nose wrinkled slightly. "You reek of him." The heat that shot up my neck burned hotter than the sun. "What?" โYou forget we are wolves honeyโฆโ She cocked her head. "Lucian. I can smell him all over you." Her amused eyes flicked to my mouth, and they sparkled. "And judging by your lips? Yeah. He definitely didn't just give you a friendly peck." Blood rushed so fast to my face, I was convinced I had turned into a walking tomato. Unfortunately, I wasn't like other wolves.I could only perceive the normal. Not the fact that I'd been fucked. "Shut up," I muttered, dragging my hand over my mouth as if I could wipe away the evidence. Maren chuckled. "No can do. You look like you just got thoroughly ruined, and Iโm dying for details." The mortification doubled. My entire body was on fire, and I wanted the ground to s
LUCIAN I could still see itโKillianโs hand on her face, his mouth on hers, the way his fingers had grabbed herโ A growl built in my throat. And before I could stop myselfโฆI grabbed her face and slammed my lips against hers. Aria gasped. I didnโt care. I didnโt kiss her like a man with patience. I didnโt kiss her like a man with control. I kissed her like a man who had been starving for too fucking long. A man who had spent years resisting the one thing he wanted more than anything. I kissed her in the most sinful way, dragging my tongue into her mouth, tasting, claiming, devouring. She shuddered. Trembled. I swallowed every fucking sound she made, my grip tightening as I tilted her head back, forcing her to take itโto take me. My body was on fire. My mind? Fucked. I wanted her. I fucking needed her. Here. Now. Against the wall, against the floor, against every goddamn surface in this room. She melted against me, soft and submissive, and I felt her hands curl
LUCIAN โIf you came all this way, Stormwood, then I assume you have something to say.โ Killian chuckled, leaning forward slightly. โOh, I do.โ His eyes flickered toward Aria again. โI came to bring her home.โ Aria sucked in a breath. And my fingers curled into fists.No. I forced my fingers to uncurl. Killian wasnโt worth losing control overโnot yet. I took a slow breath, then met his gaze with the same blank calmness I used on men who mistook my patience for weakness.โSheโs free to go.โ The words left my mouth evenly, without hesitation, and yet, the moment they did, something twisted deep in my chest.Aria paled, the blood draining from her face so quickly that for a second, I thought she might collapse. I shouldnโt have noticed. I shouldnโt have cared.But I did. And the sharp ache in my gut was the price of pretending I didnโt.Killianโs smirk widened. โWell,โ he drawled, โthatโs interesting.โI ignored him. โItโs up to her,โ I continued. โIf she wants to go with you, she
LUCIAN Iโd saved her.Again.Killian Stormwood was a cunning bastard, and dealing with men like him required patienceโnot frowning. So, I didnโt. When his men walked into the pack house, most of my staff scattered.There was no need for introductions. Everyone knew exactly who had arrived. Killianโs gammas stood out in their usual black overalls and heavy dragon-age boots that looked like they could crush bone without effort.Seriously, overalls?And then there were the worst kindโthe ones who walked in smiling.Killian was one of them. A fucking clown.So, when I stepped out of the grand pack house and found him standing on the pathway like he owned the damn place, his men pretending to be calmโlike they werenโt about to forcefully drag Aria awayโI smirked. Not the polite, political kind I reserved for allies. No, this was the one I gave to predatorsโmen like me.Pleasantries? Nah. The moment he walked out of the waiting room in search of Aria, all pleasantries ended. The real conve
ARIAKillianโs smirk deepened. โOh, little mate. Time is the one thing I have plenty of.โMaren shifted. โTake one more step, and Iโll slit your fucking throat.โBold.That was fucking bold, and it made Killian finally look at her. The sheer disinterest on his face made me understand we were losing.โI have no business with you, Beta,โ he murmured. Then, to my horror, he turned back to me. His expression softened, something almostโฆ fond in his gaze.โI came for her.โI couldnโt move.โYou donโt belong here, Aria. I am your mateโone of your mates.โ He cooed gently, but it didn't comfort me one bit. โYou know that, donโt you?โA sick feeling coiled in my stomach.โYouโฆโ Maren tensed. โAria, he is yourโฆholy shit.โBut Killian was right.I didnโt belong here.I never had. And when he took another step. I forced my feet to stay planted.Donโt react. Donโt let him see you tremble.But my hands curled into fists. The way heโd held out his hand and told me I could have everything if I just st
LUCIAN No. Saying I am royally fucked is an understatement.Where the hell is Tobias?As if summoned by my thoughts, a knock echoed through the room. Then came the familiar sound of measured footsteps. Tobias. He walked in, assuming a casual posture, but the temperature in the room dipped noticeably.Something was wrong.โAlpha.โ His voice carried a tone that made my stomach fall. When I finally met his gaze, the grim look on his face didnโt match the unhurried way he moved.I raised an eyebrow. โWhat?โTobias didnโt hesitate. โKillian Stormwood is here.โThe name barely registered. Killian Stormwood? Who the hell isโI froze.One of Ariaโs mates. Heโd found her.My gaze dropped to the scattered documents on my desk. For three nights, I hadnโt been able to shake the reality of itโpowerful alphas, just like me, chasing after Aria. But theyโd come before me.Did I even stand a chance?Barely.Killian Stormwoodโthe Sunshine Prince. Thatโs what they called him. Charismatic, diplomatic, a
ARIA"Really sorry. I mean it," Maren continued. "And for the record, I donโtโฆ like Lucian like that, okay?" "Couldโve fooled me." I clicked my tongue, sarcasm dripping from my voice. "The Alpha is a fucking grumpy bastard who talks like he has a stick up his ass. You think I want to deal with that all day? Hell no. Iโm pretty sure he hasnโt smiled since birth. He looks at people like heโs considering throwing them off a cliff. And donโt get me started on his condescending bullshitโ" What theโฆ A snort escaped me. Maren blinked. Then, before I could stop it, laughter bubbled up from my chest. I turned away, covering my mouth, but the damage was done. Maren gave me a look. "See? You fucking agree." I wiped my cheeks roughly, sniffing. "Maybe a little." "Ha." She looked vaguely smug before her expression softened. "Actuallyโฆ Lucian decided that the best way to punish me was to send me to look after you." My eyes widened. "What?" "Yeah." Maren rolled her eyes, but her to
ARIA We walked in silence for a long time. I kept my eyes ahead, my arms crossed tightly over my chest as Maren led me away from the omegaโs hut, away from the gathering, away from the mess she had thrown me into. Finally, she spoke. "That was quite the show back there." I scoffed, adjusting the tunic draped over my shoulders. "Glad you enjoyed it." She hummed. "Iโve seen worse." "Comforting." Another silence. "You must be wondering why I helped you." I turned my head slightly, narrowing my eyes. "You mean aside from scaring the shit out of everyone?" Marenโs lips quivered, but there was no humor in her eyes. "Aside from that, yes." I hesitated before asking, "Are youโฆ not an omega?" Her pace didnโt change. "No." My frown deepened. "Then what the hell are you?" "Beta." I stopped walking. Maren took a few more steps before realizing. She turned slightly, raising a brow. I stared at her. "Beta?" "Yes." "Arenโt betas supposed toโฆ I donโt know, help the
ARIASome hesitated, shifting awkwardly, while others nodded, whispering in agreement.A lump formed in my throat, but I forced it down. I had no right to feel anything.This was the way things were."Enough," Clara said, her voice harder now. "I brought Aria here. And I decide who stays."Adriana scoffed. "Youโre really pulling rank on me? Remember, youโre just a lowly pack maid."Jeez. If it was bad out there, it wasnโt much better in here either."If I have to," Clara snapped. "The Alpha asked me to take care of her. Us. Technically, I answer to the Alpha, which makes me important."I exhaled sharply, surprised. It was funny how so many of them wanted to associate with Lucian. Just the mention of his name made them tremble, yet a simple greeting or acknowledgment from him suddenly made them feel superior?That was ridiculous.It was the same everywhere."Sure that isnโt a lie, Clara?" Adriana loomed over us, her voice low so only Clara and I could hear.I swallowed hard."Because t