Chapter Five

Aria's Pov

I'd never hated anyone the way I hate myself right now.

I’d hated myself since the war broke out between the Rogues and the Werewolves. 

Since that day, everything I looked at became a blur of blood, smoke and pain in my vision. 

Everything hurt.

I struggled to wave them off — the agony, the panic, and at some point I did but not everything faded as I'd hope they would.

There was worst was one I couldn't shake off — Xavier.

His strength,

His determination, 

His power,

I watched it all break right in front of me and I did nothing.

He had fought like a demon to protect me,

He had killed for me,

And he didn't stop till his body was bloodied and bruised.

I remember him yelling admist blood and tears that he'd do whatever it took to keep me safe even if it meant dying.

My breath came in ragged gasps as I woke from the nightmare for the umpteenth time that week.

I shuddered and pulled my knees to my chest.

I knew what happened the day of the battle. Xavier …

He didn't keep his promise.

He couldn't.

Because he fell.

From the raging beast, he was reduced to a wounded beast — his chest battered, his arm broken, his strength slipping away. 

I had tried to reach him. 

I had tried to run to him but I was pulled away Tristian. I was torn from Xavier before I could reach him.

I had fought. 

I had screamed. 

I had begged Tristian to let me go back to him but he had been relentless in pulling me away.

I wasn't his to protect. I was his to control and he made sure of that.

And when the rogues were forced to retreat, leaving Xavier badly injured, I was taken back to the RedBlood Pack.

I had a father to thank for that. I despised Tristian for that.  

Every second, every minute that passed with me trapped in this hell felt like torture.

And that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was… I could still felt the mate bond. 

Despite the distance…

Despite the days slipping into weeks, and weeks into months, I could still feel Xavier. 

I could literally feel his presence.

I could feel his pain and his emotions. His heartbeats — slow and steady but weakening with each passing day. 

I wanted to scream. 

I wanted to beg for him to come save me. 

But there was nothing I could do.

He was out there, somewhere, and I was stuck here in this cold, suffocating cafe of my own making. 

3 months later,

The sound of horses hooving echoed in the courtyard.

I stood by bedroom window, pressing my hand against the cool glass as I stared out in the distance.

I told myself that if I focused hard enough, I could feel the pull from but it was faint. Our bond was growing thinner and thinner with each passing day.

“Aria.”

I stiffened. 

It was Lady Maria's voice. She always seemed to appear when I was lost as if to tell me that there was no way to escape this nightmare.

I turned back to face her. “Yes, mother?” 

She stood in the doorway, staring at me with a sharp of disapproval. “Stop staring at the window. It's time.”

I knew what that meant. It alwyas meant the same thing.

Time to meet Tristian.

Tristian Drakos, my supposed mate. The man my family had promised me to since I was a child. 

My love was supposed to be about choice but I'd never been give one.

I squeezed the fabric of my wedding gown. “Please…” 

If never begged her for anything my entire life but this time I abandoned all pride and pleaded. 

“Mother,” I'd never called her that but … “I don't want to marry him.”

Her lips curled into a cruel smile. “This isn't about you, honey. It's about what's best for the pack and come on, Tristian is such a darling. He'd make a good. No. He'd make an excellent husband.”

It's about what's best for the pack?

Tristian would make an excellent husband?

Don't make me laugh. 

I nearly said.

Nothing she and father said or did was best for me. They only cared for what I could give. And now, it was clear what I could give was an alliance. What better to get that than to marry your only daughter away to an old cow to strengthen their power. 

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

“I want Xavier. I want to be with him. I don't care about the pack.” I said quietly. 

Her eyes narrowed. “Don't be foolish, Aria. Xavier is dead. And if you're wise, you'll forget him.”

I flinched at her words.

No.

Xavier — my mate couldn't be dead.

But the bitterness in her voice, the way she said it, left time with no other choice than to pretend to be the compliant daughter.

I was trapped again

I have no choice but to obey. 

A few hours later, I found myself sitting in a carriage.

I was being escorted to the CrescentMoon pack's territory. 

My heart pounded in my chest, and all I could think about was Xavier, his fading presence, the way our bond had grown weaker, his feelings of despair, and my own inability to help him.

How could I just… let go that easily when he fought and bled for me?

I told I had no other choice but was I pulling the coward card?  

Was I really choosing the easy way out?

“We're here!” The coachman announced.

I was helped down the carriage and led into the grand hall of the CrescentMoon pack where Tristian was probably waiting for me. 

He stood with his back to me, his blonde braid falling his shoulders and framed by the light pouring in from the windows. 

Tristian was an imposing figure, a man who had never once been kind to me, but who was now my fate. 

I had no choice but to marry him.

I had no choice but to accept my fate.

“Tristian,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He turned to face me and his face brightened and it made my stomach churn. 

“Ah. You've finally come to your senses, darling,” He said, raking his beady amber eyes over my body. “You looked ravishing in that wedding gown.”

I wanted to scream.

I wanted to break down and tell him I haven't nearly come to my senses. 

I wanted to say that the only thing on my mind and the only thing that mattered was Xavier. 

But I didn't.

Because I had no right.

I didn't say anything because I couldn't.

After all, the bond was slipping away, the pull from Xavier was growing weaker and I was losing him.