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
Aria's POV The pack was busier than usual. Following Alpha Luke's proclamation of the forthcoming battle against Rojo La Luna, everyone prepared their shelters or weapons. While I just stood on the balcony of my room, watching each shifter's panic rise. I am not afraid of the conflict, but I am concerned about the lives of the defenseless. Children lack the strength to fight. The secret lair had not yet been completed. Even the laser monitor on the frontier has yet to be reattached. Once the fight is pushed through, both sides will suffer a setback. 'You already did your part, Aria,' Kaia utters. It wasn't enough. I wasn't able to convince Mysha. She doesn't want mom and dad to face the problem that they made. She wants to involve everyone. It’s not right. I sighed, hands on the rails and eyes on the sky. The blue canvas was still tranquil as ever, while life on Earth was fraught with violence and chaos. Werewolves were meant to support their kind, unlike what is occurring now tha
Aria's POV "You're nothing but a disease on this pack," mom yelled. She was so out of character. Her once elegant and controlled demeanor flipped into the very opposite of each adjective combined. She downgraded. "Not really," I scoffed. "I am a cure to your madness." The slap didn't stop me. It didn't intimidate me at all. If not for the fire in my heart to help the citizen in Crescentius, I wouldn't waste my time dealing with them. If Mysha won't make a cruel solution — then I have to give it a shot. Regardless of the little chance, it was still better to try. "You brat!" she growled. "Just sacrifice both of yourself to Milan to stop this chaos. Isn't that what you often did before to the omegas'?" I insist. Mom shook her head in disappointment, unwilling to give in to my suggestion, and neither was dad. "I should have aborted you when you were still in my stomach." Her words were like a newly sharpened knife stabbing my chest. It was too harsh— cutting the deepest part of
Aria's POVThe earth was covered in a thick white veil, with grey smoke outlining the horizon. The winter snow was in full burst following the hailstorm last night, which consoled me from all the hot turmoil of the day. Amidst the peaceful afternoon, a loud siren blast and resonates over the entire place.It was an attack alarm.The enemy must have crossed the border. And they'll surely be in the packhouse any minute now.Yet, I remained perched on the balcony, watching the male and she-wolves make their way to the northern border, where the alarm was wailing.I leisurely sipped my coffee while witnessing Alpha Luke and some of the officials follow the trails of the previous warrior. They are in a hurry. But I doubt Milan will deal with them. With Calixta inside the pack, disguising herself as a Crescentius member, she'll be the first to carry the plan.'Are you going to help them?' Kaia wondered.I will.The teacup made its way to the glass table, followed by the clicking of bones an