CHAPTER FOURTEEN: ARIA

My eyelids felt impossibly heavy, like someone had weighted them down while I slept. The first thing I noticed was the antiseptic smell, sharp and clinical, nothing like the earthy scent of home or the floral fragrance that had filled the Crescent Pack's backyard.

White ceiling tiles came into focus as I blinked slowly, my vision still slightly blurry around the edges. I was back at the pack infirmar. The events of last night came flooding back in fragmented pieces. The welcome meeting, Chloe finding her mate, those strange inscriptions on those boardsand then... nothing.

Just a vague memory of piercing blue eyes and a deep voice calling my name before everything went black.

"You," I whispered, the word escaping before I could stop it.

Those eyes belonged to Alpha Kael, and he was sitting right there beside my bed like some kind of guardian angel. "You were the wolf on the balcony."The recognition hit me like a physical force.

Last night in the garden, when I'd felt those eyes on me and looked up to see that magnificent blue orbs, I was sure it had been him. Alpha Kael. And the way he looked at me now, with an intensity that made my heart race, confused me beyond measure.

He nodded, his expression unreadable as he handed me a cup of water with a sipping straw. I found myself studying his face in the morning light streaming through the infirmary windows. He looked tired, like he'd been sitting there all night, but even exhausted he was devastatingly handsome.

There was something almost ethereal about his features—the sharp angles of his cheekbones, the strong line of his jaw, those incredible blue eyes that seemed to see right through me.Why would an Alpha spend the night watching over me? I thought

"How are you feeling?" His voice was gentler than I'd expected from someone with his commanding presence, but there was an underlying concern that made my chest tighten with an emotion I couldn't name.

I tried to sit up, immediately regretting it as my head spun and a sharp pain shot through my temples. It felt like I'd been struck by lightning—every nerve ending was hypersensitive, and there was a strange buzzing sensation just beneath my skin.

"Like I stuck my finger in an electrical socket," I managed, attempting a weak smile to ease the worry I could see in his eyes.

"What happened? The last thing I remember was reading those inscriptions, and then..."

"You fainted," he said, his voice carefully controlled. "The boards you touched, they're connected to some very old magic. I think you absorbed more energy than your system was ready for."

Magic. The word hung in the air between us, heavy with implications I wasn't ready to face. I'd always known that as supernaturals, we had special abilities but magic? That suggested something far beyond the minor werewolf traits I'd attributed to having werewolf parents.

"Magic" I repeated slowly, testing the word on my tongue.

Yes" There was something in his tone, a formality that hadn't been there moments before and I realized I was staring at him like he was some kind of mythical creature instead of just a man. Albeit a man who could transform into a wolf and had apparently spent the night watching over a stranger, but still.

"Why are you here?" The question came out sharper than I'd intended, defensive.

"Shouldn't you be with your pack, or handling Alpha duties, or..." I gestured vaguely, trying to encompass all the important things an Alpha must have to do that didn't involve babysitting unconscious guests.

The real question burning in my throat was 'why me? Why would someone like him, someone powerful, gorgeous and commanding, waste his time sitting beside the bed of someone like me? Someone ordinary, human for all intents and purposes, with no pack status or particular importance to anyone except my family and friends.

His expression softened slightly and for a moment I thought I saw something deeper flicker in those blue eyes. Something that made my pulse quicken and my skin warm in ways that had nothing to do with whatever magical energy I'd absorbed.

"You were hurt," he said simply. "And you're a guest in my territory. That makes your wellbeing my responsibility."

Responsibility. The word stung more than it should have. Of course that's all this was. Duty, obligation, the kind of care any good Alpha would show to a guest who'd been injured on their land. I was being ridiculous, reading meaning into kind gestures and imagining connections that didn't exist, but then why did I feel so disappointed?

"Thank you," I said, forcing my voice to remain steady. "For taking care of me. But I should probably get back to my family. They'll be worried."

I started to push back the blanket, needing to get out of this sterile room and away from the confusing feelings that Alpha Kael's presence stirred up in me. The last thing I needed was to develop some kind of schoolgirl crush on an Alpha who was clearly way out of my league.

"Of course." He stood immediately, and I caught a flash of something that might have been disappointment cross his features before his expression returned to that carefully neutral mask.

"I'll have someone drive you home. And Aria?" The way he said my name sent shivers down my spine. Like it meant something, like it was precious.I looked up at him, trying to ignore the way my heart hammered against my ribs.

"If you experience any lingering effects from last night, headaches, dizziness, anything unusual, please don't hesitate to contact me. Magic can be unpredictable, especially for those not accustomed to it."

I nodded, not trusting my voice. There was something in his tone, an underlying concern that went beyond polite hospitality, but I was probably imagining it. I seemed to be doing a lot of that lately.

After he left, I sat in the sudden quiet of the infirmary, trying to process everything that had happened. The buzzing sensation under my skin was still there, like I was vibrating at a frequency slightly off from the rest of the world. When I touched the spot on my hand where I'd gripped the memorial boards, I could swear I felt a faint warmth, as if something had been permanently etched into my palm.

A nurse came in a few minutes later, she wasn't Molly but she was a kind-faced woman who introduced herself as Linda and proceeded to fuss over me like I was made of spun glass. She brought me water and some toast, checked my vitals, and asked me dozens of questions about how I was feeling. All normal, all perfectly standard medical care, but I couldn't shake the feeling that she was looking for something specific.

"Am I okay?" I finally asked when she paused in her examination. "I mean, really okay? Because everyone's acting like I might spontaneously combust or something."

Linda's expression grew thoughtful. "Your vitals are normal now, but when you first arrived..." She shook her head.

"I've been a nurse for thirty years, honey, and I've never seen readings quite like yours. Your heart rate was through the roof, your temperature was fluctuating wildly, and there was this strange... energy... surrounding you. Like you were plugged into some kind of electrical current."

Great. So I wasn't imagining the weird sensations. Something had definitely happened when I touched those boards, something that had left me fundamentally changed in ways I couldn't begin to understand.

"But I'm fine now?" I pressed.

"As far as I can tell, yes. Though Alpha Kael was very specific about monitoring you for any unusual symptoms." She gave me a knowing look that made me flush.

"He seemed quite concerned about your welfare."

Before I could formulate a response to that loaded comment, Chloe burst through the infirmary door like a hurricane, her face pale and her eyes wide with worry.

"Aria! Oh my God, are you okay? I've been going crazy since Thane told me what happened. I wanted to come earlier but he said you needed to rest and Alpha Kael was with you and." She paused, taking in my appearance with the critical eye of someone who'd known me since childhood.

"You look terrible."

"Thanks," I said dryly. "Just what every girl wants to hear first thing in the morning."

"You know what I mean." She perched on the edge of the bed, grabbing my hands and examining them like she expected to see physical evidence of whatever had happened to me.

"Thane said you touched the memorial stones and just... collapsed. And that Alpha Kael carried you here personally."

Her eyebrows waggled suggestively. "In his arms. Like some kind of romantic hero."

"It wasn't romantic," I protested, even as my traitorous mind conjured up the image of being cradled against that broad chest. "I was unconscious. And injured. He was just being a good Alpha."

"Uh-huh." Chloe's expression clearly indicated she wasn't buying it. "And I suppose the fact that he spent the entire night sitting by your bed was also just good Alpha behavior?"

My heart did something complicated in my chest.

"He stayed all night?" I whispered.

"According to the nurse I charmed into giving me information, yes. Didn't leave once, even when Thane came to give him updates on pack business." Chloe leaned closer, her eyes bright with curiosity. "Aria, what aren't you telling me? Because there's something going on between you two, and don't even try to deny it. I saw the way he looked at you during the meeting, and the way you've been acting all dreamy and distracted..."

"There's nothing going on," I insisted, but even I could hear how unconvincing I sounded. "We barely know each other. And he's an Alpha, Chloe. I'm just some random girl from another pack who doesn't even know if she has a wolf." I whispered.

"You're not random," she said firmly. "And you're definitely not 'just' anything. You're special, Aria. You always have been, even if you can't see it yourself."

Before I could argue with her assessment, Linda returned with discharge papers and instructions for my care. Apparently I was free to go, with the caveat that I should take it easy for the next few days and call immediately if I experienced any concerning symptoms.

The drive back to the temporary housing Crescent Pack had provided for us passed in a blur of questions from Chloe about what I remembered, how I felt, and whether I thought Alpha Kael was as gorgeous as she did.

I deflected most of them, partly because I didn't have answers and partly because thinking about Alpha Kael made my chest tight with emotions I didn't want to examine too closely.

Ryder practically tackled me when I walked through the door, his enhanced werewolf senses probably having picked up my scent long before I was visible. Dad and Mom were more restrained but I know they were equally concerned and I found myself recounting the events of the previous night for what felt like the hundredth time.

"Memorial boards?" Mom frowned, exchanging a look with Dad that I didn't understand.

"What kind of inscriptions were on them?" She asked.

This was one of the extremely rare times Mum or Dad wanted to know something about me. I described what I could remember, the foreign words that had seemed strangely familiar on my tongue.

Ryder and both my parents went very still, and I caught them having one of those silent conversations they usually had when I anything about me was involved.

"What?" I whispered to Ryder. "What aren't you telling me?"

"Nothing, Aria," He said, but his smile felt forced. "We're just concerned about you. Magic can be... unpredictable."

There was that word again. Unpredictable. Like I was some kind of ticking time bomb that might go off at any moment.The rest of the day passed quietly. I slept a lot, my body apparently still recovering from whatever had happened to me. But even in sleep, I couldn't escape the memory of blue eyes and a deep voice calling my name.

Dreams blended with reality until I couldn't tell which was which, and through it all was that persistent buzzing sensation, like something inside me was trying to wake up. As evening approached, I found myself drawn to the small balcony of my bedroom. The view wasn't just as beautiful as the first time I moved in, something about the fresh air and the approaching darkness soothed my restless energy.That's when I saw him.

Alpha Kael stood at the edge of the tree line, partially hidden in shadow but unmistakable even at this distance. He was looking up at my balcony, and even though I knew he couldn't possibly see me clearly in the dim light, it felt like our eyes met across the space between us. My breath caught in my throat. Why was he here? Why was he watching my building? Before I could second-guess myself, I raised my hand in a small wave. He went very still for a moment, and then slowly returned the gesture. Even that simple exchange sent warmth spiraling through my chest and I found myself gripping the balcony railing to keep from doing something stupid like calling out to him.

He stayed there for several more minutes, a silent guardian in the gathering darkness, before finally melting back into the forest. But long after he'd disappeared, I remained on the balcony, staring at the spot where he'd been and wondering what was happening to me, because something was definitely happening.

The way I felt around him, the intensity of this attraction that seemed to defy logic, it wasn't normal. And given that I'd apparently absorbed magical energy the night before, I had to wonder if what I was feeling was even real or just some kind of supernatural side effect. As I finally went back inside and prepared for bed, one thing was crystal clear, Alpha Kael was becoming far more important to me than was safe or sensible and judging by the way he'd spent the night watching over me and now stood guard outside my house , I wasn't the only one feeling the pull of this inexplicable connection.

The question was, what were we going to do about it.