Aria's POVThey are sex buddies.Instead of quelling my curiosity, Matthew's response bothered me even more. I rolled over on my bed, trying to forget everything, but every word he uttered echoed in the back of my mind like a broken cassette. I buried my face into the pillow and clenched my teeth in irritation.A hundred visions of Nicholas and Natasha doing the deed flood my mind, some nasty, others fueling my rage on the highest level. I've been preserving my dignity for the past two decades while he's humping and sprouting his libido to another woman. He didn't even keep himself clean. It disgusts me. 'He's a man, Aria,' Kaia commented. 'Don't be so petty.'I growled and tossed the pillow up to the ceiling. It should be fair. If I keep myself holy, he should too.I wanted to go for a run.My wolf became thrilled after reading my thoughts. She hasn't shifted in a long time. I can't even remember the last time I let her take control of my body. Kaia deserves to embrace freedom once
Aria's POV Natasha and Nicholas lost a baby. I'm not sure what hurts me more: them being a sex buddy or nearly having a child. I am his mate but will never be his first in everything. It's a painful fact that I must acknowledge. All of my childhood fantasies were nothing more than a delusion. Mating bonds are but a curse. It's only a suggestion, not an obligation, because, in the end, the decision is yours to make. Tears unconsciously fell from my eyes as my heart splintered into a million pieces. I devour my words. I fell for him despite my vow not to. Nicholas is like a thorn in a rose; the more I hold to him, the more wounded I become. "Hey!" I kept my head low despite the poke on my shoulder. I know it was Matthew. He was always the one who came whenever I was down. Sometimes the one who makes me down. "Are you crying?" I could sense the concern in his voice, but I didn't respond. He and his brother are just the same. They are deceitful. In their kindness lies their malici
Aria's POV "What are you doing?" Nicholas placed handcuffs on both of my hands. Then he hauled me out of my room, clueless about where he was taking me. His grip on my wrist was so firm that I thought my bones would snap. He was a beast. We entered an unfamiliar building and walked along a dark corridor until we came to a room. Nicholas stopped, so I stopped walking as well. He pushed the key to the knob, and after successfully opening the door, he shoved me in shortly. The room was gloomy, there was no light, and the ceiling was covered with cobwebs. This place must be a warehouse. "You're not going anywhere," he asserted emphatically. "You'll be staying here from now on." Nicholas shut the door before I could respond. "NOOOOO!" I cried, screaming at the top of my lungs. "Open the door! Nicholas, open the door!" My voice resonates in all four corners, but it's useless. It doesn't matter how loud I yell since this room is soundproof: even if my vocal cords give out and stop m
Aria's POV"I'll bend my rules for you..." his eyes fixed on mine, "...just stay." Nicholas had been saying the same thing for the past couple of hours. It wasn't his nature to plead, but oddly he does. However, I have already fixed my decision. I've never been this sure of leaving...of rejecting him. "Whatever you say! I'm leaving!" I had already prepared my things. Mysha was likewise outside waiting for me. I won't back down from my word. Not now, not ever. "Aria, please," Nicholas hold my hand lightly. I shrugged it off. "I won't do it again." Begging doesn't suit him. I know behind his gentle facade lies the danger, like what happened last time. And I doubt he won't repeat the action. He put handcuffs on my hand so effortlessly; I'm sure it will happen again. "I was wrong, Aria," he said meekly. "I was blinded by rage because you always wanted to leave me when you had the chance." His reason is too shallow. You can't just handcuff your mate and lock her in a room filled wit
Aria's POVHow did Calixta become Lilibeth?Everything moved swiftly. Barely a week ago, I was tormented and whipped in Milan's cell. Calixta was even there to assist me in healing my wound, albeit some scars remain on my thighs and stomach. Now she's here, one of the she-wolves my sister is training without realizing she's an enemy."How long has Lilibeth been staying here?"I'm a little torn. I know that if I revealed the girl's actual identity to Mysha, she would be tortured, not by my sister, but by the pack officials.My parents had already done something terrible to her family, and I couldn't bear the thought of her going through the same thing. What I'm about to do may constitute a betrayal to Crescentius, but I couldn't bring myself to expose her. I need to clear things up with Calixta before working on something. She needs some explaining to do."She's been here for about five days...I believe, and she's a great warrior."My sister sounded proud when she told me about the g
Aria's POV"Don't you really want to be a she-wolf trainer?" Mysha inquired.We had made it a habit of going to the arena every afternoon to check everyone's daily progress. It's also my way of keeping an eye on Calixta, given that I let her off the hook and approved her sinister scheme."Twinkle is an excellent trainer, Mysha," I said. "She would be upset if I took her place."Going into someone else's nose is the last thing I want to do with my life. I'm trying to keep everything as low-key as possible. Getting engaged in other people's lives, especially making enemies, is exhausting. I've had enough of those in the past."Anyway, I'd want to ask you a question."I shifted my gaze to Mysha. "Hmm, what is it?""I saw your scar in the stomach the other day by chance," she said, "where did you get that?"I froze on my post, and my chest heaved with panic. I'm at a loss for words. Mysha's question was so random that it almost drove me to leave. I'm not yet ready to confess what I have b
The rising tension in the room grew stronger with each passing second because of a particular crisis. And in front of the pack leader of Rojo La Luna was a man kneeling with a desperate plea for answers."How come you let her go?" His baritone voice echoes in every corner of the room. While the leader, with a grave countenance, glowered at him without humor. No one should ever challenge his decision. "I can't keep something that wants to leave, Kairo," the chief quickly said, and as his hand waved in the wind, signaling the dismissal of the case, two men approached, each holding Kairo's arm, preparing to take him out."What about my sister? What will happen to Calixta if Aria finds out?" Kairo yelled as he was carried out of the office. The chief took his lighter from his pocket, lighted a cigar, and began spewing smoke like there was no tomorrow. His eyes were as icy and black as the night, veins visible in every movement of his hand.The woman's face, solely carved in his memory,
Aria's POV Three hours have passed since I chose to stay at the peak. When Calixta returned home a while ago, she announced that she would help Lolita in the kitchen because the packhouse would soon be hosting a visitor, something I was unaware of. Mysha missed to notify me of it. Perhaps she was preoccupied with something. Though, it doesn't really concern me. I don't play a particular role in this bundle. Thanks to Mysha, I hardly qualify as an occupier. Out of the blue, Calixta's earlier query reappeared in my mind. I didn't respond when she asked why Nicholas and I weren't together. It wasn't because the question was difficult but because I had no idea how to respond to her. Our law prohibits us from rejecting our mate. Nobody will tolerate such behavior unless an Alpha turns down his mate for legitimate grounds. And whoever breached the moon goddess' fated link shall be punished. If Calixta finds out what I did, she could do the same. It isn't good. "Aria." My attention wa