He thrust in with a force that snatched my breath for a minute. “Arghh!!!” I groaned out feeling my eyes burning with unshed tears. But I had to cool it off. I'm nothing but a collateral exchange for my dad. In exchange of favours, he hands me off to the new Alpha of our park. This has been my life for years. Not being able to change to a wolf since I came of age has hit my family hard, as the only child I feel I've let my family down which is why I deserve this type of treatment. “Yeah Aria!” He groaned, releasing inside of me. Feeling relieved that it's over, as Bale stood up, I quickly stood up and rushed to go out, Bale was once someone I thought was a friend before he inherited the Alpha title from his dad who died after they tried to attack another pack, my dad who's nothing but a coward fled and left the Alpha to his death. Walking through the forest to my house, the thought to run away crossed my mind for the 100th time. On getting home, everywhere was eerily quiet, I walked to my room and stopped in shock, seeing the broad back of a shirtless man, he turned towards me holding the dress I changed from yesterday, before I could blink he was already in my front, the pull I felt towards him was so strong and I couldn't tear my eyes away from his deep blue eyes. “Why do you smell like mine and at the same time smell like you've been with another man?” He barked out, anger covering his features. I whimpered and cowered in fear. “You're coming with me!” Was the last thing I heard before I lost consciousness.
View MoreAria's POV
I've never been more excited about a day, tomorrow is the day I'm to shift for the first time in my life, there have been minor signs that I'll be an incredible wolf, but showing of claws and having incredible sense of smell does not cut it.
The night before, I pranced around the pack telling anyone who cares to listen about my shift day which is also my birthday, then I met up with Bale who is a friend of mine but have shifted about 2 years ago when he clocked 18, his father is the Alpha of my park and my father is the Beta, automatically we became close.
“What's with the excitement Aria?” Bale asked with an uninterested look on his face. I entered the Alpha lodging area that's close to the Pack den,
“Tomorrow, I'll be clocking 18, and you know what that means?” I excitedly asked, jumping from one leg to the other.
With a raised brow, Bale looked at me, carefully taking in my appearance properly.
“Is that why you're this excited?” He asked.
“Urm… of course it is!” I exclaimed.
“If you're excited over that then you really don't know about what's been going on in the pack.”
“Enlighten me Bale and stop scaring me,” I said fidgeting.
“I'm not trying to scare you, I'm only trying to tell you about what's been going on, if you don't want to hear it then you can get out,” he said angrily.
“Why must you always be a douche bag and spoil my mood?” I asked him equally angry.
“Aren't you supposed to be my friend?” I asked.
“Friends? With you? That was when we were kids, grow up Aria, you're the pack weirdo and no one wants to be associated with you, I only talk to you because your dad is my dad's Beta and that's the least I can do for my dad.” He said with a smirk on his face.
I felt shitty and my mood dropped drastically, I turned around to leave, on getting to the door, I turned back towards Bale and said, “well Bale, you are nothing but a spoilt brat and I'm grateful you don't consider me a friend, stay away from me from now on, I refuse to deal with your disgusting behaviour,” turning on my heel and with a last glance at him, I walked out heading to my dad den.
The cool breeze blew on my face all the way back home, I felt like crying but I willed myself to be strong and I refuse to allow Bale’s rotten attitude spoil my mood, he has always been spoiled, even as a child.
On getting home, I walked straight to the kitchen, where I saw my parents in hush heated conversation which stopped immediately I entered.
“Mum, what's going on?”
“Nothing sweetie, where are you coming from?” She asked me trying to change the topic.
“From the Alpha den”
I looked at my dad and I noticed he's doing everything not to meet my gaze.
“Dad? What's wrong?” I asked him.
“What do you mean?” He retorted.
“You and mum are acting strange, that's why I'm asking”
“There's nothing wrong sweetie, why don't you go to bed early tonight?” My mum suggested, trying to force out a smile.
I looked between the both of them and decided to let it slide.
“Good night,” I called out to them as I made my way to my room.
I grew up in a fairly stable family, my parents were never mates, but they choose to be together and of recent they've been having some issues and they continually see me as a child and refuses to share it with me, it's really affecting me and I actually don't want my parents to separate, but I'm holding on to sheer luck that they would renew whatever feelings that brought them together in the first place.
I laid down on my bed, staring at the ceiling for a long time before sleep engulfed me.
The next day which is my birthday and the full moon would be coming out this night, some people have clocked eighteen years but they would have to wait till the full moon, but I feel lucky and special considering the day the full moon comes out is the same day I clock eighteen.
I spent the day with my parents, I didn't really see the need to go out, because I was nervous about the shift that would happen at night.
“Aria!” I heard my name, I jumped off my bed, and headed downstairs, knowing who that person could be, I entered the sitting room just in time to see my best friend smiling and conversing with my mum.
“Rita…” I called out.
“Happy birthday Ari!” She said while she threw her hands around me, with a smile I hugged her back.
“You must be all nervous about tonight, don't worry yourself, you've got it, I wish I can come with you,” she said.
“No it's fine,” I said, trying to smile without seeming nervous.
“I'm very certain that prick head would be there, just because he is the Alpha son,” she said with a bit of anger,
“Stop calling him names, he's my friend.” I retorted.
“Friend? You call that pompous jerk a friend, he does not see you as one, so I suggest you don't waste your time.” Rita said, rolling her eyes. I just laughed in response.
We talked and laughed about everything. She narrated her experience for the third time, when she shifted during the last two full moons, when it became late, she had to leave.
She hugged me and wished me goodluck before she left.
By, 11pm I stood up and quickly got ready, I made sure all my essentials and additional clothes are in my backpack, I have been tutored my whole life about this day and I really can't wait to shift for the first time, those in my school that have shifted kept on saying how painful it is but I really can't wait to experience it for myself.
After a while, I hurriedly went downstairs, where I saw my mum sitting in the living room.
Immediately she saw me, she stood up and hurried to the door, “let's go, Tim is waiting outside”
“Why is dad waiting outside?” I asked.
“Don’t worry about it” was her response.
When we got to the forest, some other family and their children were waiting there, also Alpha Taylor and Bale, I stood together with the younglings that are here to experience their first shift.
“I believe you all already know the instructions, considering you've been preparing for this moment for most of your life” Alpha Taylor addressed us.
“If you want to take off your clothes you can do so, if you want to remain dressed that's also fine, but I want you all to space out and then take up the stance you've been taught to.”
We were only six younglings, so there is enough space for everyone of us, I decided to remain clothed, I don't mind ripping it off in the cause of shifting, two people took off their clothes, among everyone here, I know only three and I'm not particularly close to them aside from Bale who's probably here because his dad is the alpha.
Immediately the full moon hit it's peak, I started hearing groaning and tearing of clothes, I put in the pressure and force I've been taught to do, but nothing happened, I tried over and over again but I couldn't shift.
I looked around me and noticed all the younglings with me have shifted aside from me.
I decided to take off my clothes and try again, but it was futile.
I started panting, terror and shame was written all over my face.
“Calm yourself down, you just need to try it again, breath in and out” my mum said. I tried it and only my claw came out, nothing else.
“Aria stand aside, the other new wolf would need to take their first race,” the alpha instructed me.
I quickly wore my clothes and walked quickly to the other side, filled with shame and embarrassment.
“Does that mean you can't shift?” My dad asked, aggravated. Shaking, I couldn't respond.
“Answer me!” He bellowed.
“Do not raise your voice at her,” my mother responded to him.
“Are you so certain this girl here is my daughter? Are you?”
With a shocked look I looked at my dad “wha..t do.. do you mean?” I stuttered, looking between my mum and dad.
“Why don't you ask your mum? A
sk her who was the person she slept with days after our marital rites?”
West POV I descended the staircase, my footsteps echoing through the room. Ragnar stood up to greet me, but I signaled for him to sit back down as I took my own seat. "I would go to the Crescent pack, together with some of our warriors," I told him, my voice firm and resolute.Ragnar's eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed in concern. "Alpha, is that the best course of action?" he asked, his voice laced with caution. I met his gaze, my eyes blazing with fury and determination. The loss of my brother still felt like a raw wound, and I could feel the urge to lash out, to tear down anything that stood in my way.But I had been taught to be strong, to put the needs of the pack above my own. I had done it before, when my daughter and father were brutally killed. I could do it again. "What exactly do you propose we do?" I asked Ragnar, my voice cold and detached.Ragnar's expression was thoughtful, his eyes calculating. "I'm not saying we wouldn't attack, but if we do attack with the grief that
Aria POV The silence between us was oppressive, a heavy blanket that suffocated the room. I stared blankly at Beatrice, my mind numb and my heart heavy with grief. "How's the baby?" I asked, the words tumbling out of my mouth before I could stop them. Beatrice's eyes widened in surprise, and she laughed nervously. "Uhmm... baby is fine. In the next two moons, I'll be ready to pop."Her words felt like a betrayal, a cruel reminder that life went on, even in the face of unimaginable pain. I felt like I was being disloyal to Rio's memory, like I was supposed to be consumed by rage and vengeance, not engaging in idle chit-chat. My mind was a maelstrom of emotions, but one thing was clear: I would make them pay for what they did to Rio. Brutally."Tell me exactly what happened to Rio, how was he killed?" I demanded, my voice cold and detached. "Word for word, Beatrice." I needed to fuel the fire that burned within me, to feed the rage that threatened to consume me whole. I couldn't let it
Beatrice POV The pain of losing Rio still lingered, a raw wound that refused to heal. But it wasn't just Rio's passing that weighed heavily on my mind; it was Aria, too. The vibrant and charming Luna who had once lit up the pack with her presence was now a shadow of her former self. I'd barely seen her since Rio's death, and each time I did, it felt like a knife to the heart. She is becoming distant as the day goes by, refusing the Alpha's help, more or less any other person.Memories of that fateful night still haunted me. I'd been sleeping in Aria's former room, while Rio, Liam, and some of Ragnar's men kept watch outside. The sudden attack had caught us off guard, and the sound of clashing steel still echoed in my mind. Rio's bravery had saved me, and I'd never forget the debt I owed him.As I sat with Ragnar, lost in thought, he noticed my distant expression. "What are you thinking about?" he asked, his voice gentle. I forced a smile, trying to hide the truth. "Nothing really, ju
West POV The weight of grief hung heavy in the air, suffocating the room with its oppressive presence. Sage's voice was laced with strain, a testament to the toll that Rio's death had taken on all of us. But despite the somber atmosphere, I couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration. It had been two weeks since my brother's passing, and the anger and rage still simmered beneath my surface.I'd channeled my emotions into leading the pack, trying to keep our people safe and united in the face of adversity. But Aria had taken a different path. Her actions had been erratic, almost feral, since Rio's death. She'd beheaded the Beta of the Crescent pack without hesitation, showing no remorse or guilt. It was as if she'd become a different person, one driven by a singular focus that left me both concerned and intimidated.Her days were filled with grueling training sessions, pushing herself and the warriors to their limits. Most of them couldn't keep up with her pace, and those who tried
Aria POV As I slowly regained consciousness, a searing pain throbbed in my head, accompanied by a whirring sound and a blinding light that forced me to squint. I looked around, disoriented, and realized I was in the Alpha's room, well our room as it may be. West sat beside me, his head bowed, his face a mask of solemnity. I called out to him, my voice barely above a whisper. "West...West." He looked up, his eyes locking onto mine, and I signaled for water. His expression remained stoic as he handed me a cup, his movements economical and precise.But as I took a sip of the cool liquid, memories came flooding back. Rio. The pain and shock of his condition came rushing back, and I sat up with a jolt. The pain in my head was intense, but I didn't care. I had to see Rio. "Rio, West, where is Rio?" I asked, my voice laced with desperation. I threw off the covers and stood up, determined to rush to Rio's room. West tried to stop me, but a fierce determination burned within me, and I pushed
Aria POV A sense of foreboding washed over me, like a dark cloud casting a shadow over my thoughts. Something felt off, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something had gone terribly wrong. The anxiety was palpable, and I could sense West's tension radiating through the bond we shared. It was barely dawn, and the world was still shrouded in a soft, gray light. Yet, none of us had slept, our bodies fueled by adrenaline and worry.Without a word, we shifted into our wolf forms, our senses heightened as we continued on our journey. The trees blurred together as we ran, West leading the pack with a fierce determination. Kristoff was right behind me, his presence a comforting reminder that Ragnar had instructed him to protect us at all costs.But despite the speed and efficiency of our travel, the feeling of dread only intensified. It was like a weight pressing down on my chest, making it hard to breathe. West's voice cut through my thoughts, his mental tone calm and reassuring. "Calm
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