Aria So, everything’s finally starting to fall into place. Me and Lucas are cool now, Mia and Damon are back together, and I’ve been giving Mark the cold shoulder ever since, which honestly feels great. Life should be perfect, right? Except for this damn dream I had last night. It felt so real, li
He reaches for my face, his hands cupping my cheeks so gently I almost forget how much this whole thing is messing with both of us. I want to argue, I want to tell him I’m not ready to let it go, but after what happened, knowing how hard he’s trying to keep me safe even when he’s barely got the stre
Aria My eyes flutter open real slow, and the first thing I feel is the cold. It's dark, the wind's biting, and for a second, I can’t figure out where the hell I am. I push myself upright and realize I’m sitting on the damn ground, outside, in the middle of the night. What the actual fuck? How t
And before I can even breathe properly, the voice comes again, sharper this time. “What are you waiting for? Go ahead. Go.” But I shake my head, staring at the ocean like it’s about to swallow me whole. “Go back where? There’s a whole ass ocean behind me, are you blind or what?” “Go back.” “I
Aria This isn’t right. This is fucking crazy. How the hell did that silver moon tattoo even show up on my neck? Is it real or am I just losing my damn mind? I’ve been pacing around in Lucas’s room like a crazy ass person while my friends sit there, arguing with each other like that’s gonna solve
“Aria!” Lucas panics. “Aria, baby, what’s wrong?” He’s already at my side, holding me, but I can’t even speak. My lips feel numb, heavy like they’ve been stitched shut, and my head’s about to split from all the noise crashing through it. I hear someone’s voice… maybe Mia, maybe Lily…I can’t tell. E
Lucas “So what’s going on, what the hell’s happening with Aria right now?” I ask the moment we step into the living room. Theo, Damon, Mia, and Lily are still in my room, while Aria’s still lying on the bed, out cold like nothing in the world can wake her. Mark’s sitting on my couch, slouched b
Lucas We finally pull up in front of this old-ass building, and Damon slams the brakes as the car jerks forward. I don’t waste a damn second. I swing the door open, step out into the freezing night, and hold Aria tighter against me. She’s still knocked out cold, not even a flinch. Mark’s car come
Lucas The second I hit the room, I just crash onto the bed like my body finally gave up. I yank the blanket over my face like that’s gonna block out the bullshit in my head. My skull feels like it’s about to explode, and my chest? Yeah, that shit’s not doing any better either. It’s like someone’s
But Lucas? Oh no. He’s not calming down one bit. “I can’t calm down, Aria. You need to say something right now. Tell this idiot you belong in Shadow Pang.” He’s practically barking it, and honestly, I’m about two seconds from losing it too. “Lucas,” I start, trying real hard to keep my voice soft a
Aria “Aria, I’m telling you, there’s nothing to be scared of. I mean, yeah, the Hollow sect are creepy as hell and all that, but Alpha Marcel’s got the resources. He’s got the people, the connections. You’re safe here,” Mark says the second we step into the living room, like he’s trying to sell me
Aria After I shower and get dressed, Lucas and I head downstairs for breakfast. Alpha Marcel’s not in the living room yet, and Mark... well, goddess knows where he is. Probably off being mysterious and annoying, as usual. We make our way to the dining room where the maid who called us is already
I turn to the side, my back pressed against his chest, and his arm slides around my waist like it belongs there. His body’s warm, grounding, and his scent…gosh it's so soothing. “Goodnight, baby,” he whispers, pressing a soft kiss to my shoulder. “Goodnight, baby,” I murmur back, letting my hand s
Aria “Oh yeah… they’re not here right now,” Alpha Marcel says, scratching his head like he’s trying to dig out the answer. “They went outta the country to visit a relative of my wife.” I nod, but honestly, it sounds like total bullshit. Like, really? In the middle of all this chaos? The pack’s cu
“Let me guess. He said, ‘Screw this fire crap’?” “Pretty much. Said it was barbaric and refused to keep sacrificing his people. And the moment he stopped? Curse hit us like a wrecking ball. No sunlight, no crops, no peace. Just rot and death. Now there’s some weird-ass illness spreading…werewolves
Aria Lola takes a deep breath, glancing over my shoulder like someone might be eavesdropping, then locks eyes with me. “Your mother... she was a beautiful and brave woman,” she says, and for a second, she looks like she’s about to cry or punch someone. “I used to wait on her.” Wait, what? “You did
Alpha Marcel groans like I just smacked him with nothing but facts duh. "You’re right," he mutters, rubbing his forehead. "I’m just, you know... skeptical. I’m scared because he grew up with his father, and I worry he’ll be like him." I shake my head and look straight at Lucas, feeling my heart do