Aria paced the bedroom like a caged animal, bare feet silent against the polished floorboards. Her hands twisted in the towel wrapped around her, one she assumed Kieran had recently used as his scent clung to the fabric, heady, inescapable. She hated how it calmed her even as it burned, reminding her of the claim on her skin.She couldn’t stay here. Not after what he’d done. But who could she turn too. Not Lena or Nyah, they would be on Kieran’s side with this, so would Mira, the whole pack would be. She was completely alone. And then, a thought struck her. There was one person who had tried to warn her.The girl everyone dismissed as unstable. The girl who had slipped into her room, all whispers and wild eyes. Selene.Maybe she wasn’t crazy. Or maybe she was, but at least she might choose Aria’s side. Lena had told Aria that Selene wanted Kieran for herself, that she was obsessed with him. Maybe she just wanted to get Aria out of the pack and away from Kieran. That was enough.Aria p
The moment her body gave way, he moved. So fast she didn’t realize what was happening until she was on the ground, flat on her back, Kieran’s massive frame covering hers. His cock pressed against her belly, thick and throbbing.She hated herself for how much she wanted him.His mouth devoured hers, then dragged down her neck, sucking, biting. His hand fisted in the neckline of her dress and ripped it open in one brutal motion. Fabric tore like paper.She gasped, trying to cover herself. “Kieran!”His growl was feral. He pulled her hands away, pinning her wrists to the dirt. “I want to see what’s mine.”His mouth closed over her breast, hot and demanding, his tongue teasing her nipple
Aria slammed the bedroom door shut behind her, her chest heaving. She paced across the room, back and forth, her bare feet whispering against the rug. Her mind was spinning.Someone had died.And Kieran wanted to send more of his men out, knowing they could meet the same fate. She couldn’t watch that happen. She couldn’t be the reason for it. It was madness. He was madness.Fear clamped down on her ribs. She was terrified of him. Terrified he would come storming back through that door any second.But at the same time, her traitorous body wanted him to. She wanted him to chase her, to hold her, to prove that even through the storm he wouldn’t let her go. The choice was ripped from her a moment later. The door flew open, crashing against the wall. Kieran
Aria’s mouth moved before she thought better of it. “I agree with Rafe.”The silence that followed was deafening. Kieran’s eyes snapped to her, molten and volatile.She pressed on quickly, even though fear clawed at her throat. “The pack shouldn’t be put at risk for my sake.”Kieran’s rage surged. His jaw clenched, his chest heaving, the gold in his eyes flashing like fire.Before his fury could break, Thorne did something rare, he spoke to her directly. His deep voice was steady, respectful. “You are the Luna. The pack would give their lives to protect the Alpha and the Luna. As you would for them.”Aria shook her head, her voice cracking. “But they shouldn&rs
The next day the pack was alive with movement and noise. Kieran spent the morning commanding his men, reinforcing the defenses, arranging patrols, and overseeing the plans to rebuild the houses lost to fire. He was a storm moving through his people, decisive and relentless, his authority felt in every order given.Aria worked with Lena and Nyah, rolling up her sleeves and doing what she could to help restore normality. The three of them sorted through what was left of the charred homes, salvaging whatever belongings could be saved. Later, she organized the donations that were pouring in, food, clothing, bedding, for the victims, the pack had been so generous. It was exhausting, but it grounded her. For the first time, she felt like she was part of something larger than herself. Almost as though she belonged.But as the afternoon wore on, something s
By the time Aria had changed into her silky nightdress, thin straps skimming her shoulders, no bra beneath, just a pair of delicate lace panties, brushed her teeth, washed her face, and combed through her hair, Kieran was already in bed. He lay against the headboard in just his boxers, the low light casting warm shadows across the ridges of his chest and the ink that wound over his arms.She hesitated only a moment before giving in to the pull she felt toward him. Crossing the room, she climbed onto the bed and straddled his lap, the cool silk of her nightdress whispering against his heated skin.The shift in his eyes was instant, molten gold threading through the deep blue, and she felt the answering press of his growing arousal against her, separated from her only by the thin cotton of his boxers. Her lips curved in a faint smile.