Luca’s POVThe office was quiet. Too fucking quiet.It had been a day. A fucking day.Aria was gone. I let her go.The right choice. The rational choice. The fucking logical choice.Then why the fuck did it feel like my chest was being hollowed out with a dull knife? She wanted to go, didn’t she?Or did she want me to stop her?I exhaled hard, rubbing my face, trying to drown out the noise, the regret, the fucking ache that had been clawing at me since the second she walked away. Since I let her.A knock. Sharp. Clipped.Didn’t answer. Didn’t fucking care.The door swung open anyway.Elena.Her eyes found mine like she already knew. Like she had been waiting for this.I stiffened, forcing the mask back on. Shoving all the fucking wreckage deep, deep, deeper.“What do you want?” I muttered, reaching for the half-empty bottle of whiskey on my desk.She stepped inside, shut the door behind her. Crossed her arms. That sharp, knowing fucking look in her eyes.“You look like shit.”I snorte
Aria’s POV I thought coming back to the human world would help.That being back in my own bed, in my mother’s home, surrounded by normalcy, would make everything feel… lighter.That maybe—just maybe—the weight of him would fade.But it didn’t. Far from it. It clung to me like a second skin.Not physically, but in my head, in my bones, in my goddamn soul.The rejection was supposed to set me free.It didn’t.It just left a wound that wouldn’t close.A slow, rotting ache in my chest that I couldn’t shake, no matter how much I tried to drown it out with distractions, with sleep, with pretending.And the worst part?I couldn’t stop wondering.What if?What if things had been different?What if he had fought for me?What if I had stayed?What if I had never met him at all?Would I be happier? Would I still feel this raw, broken, hollow?The thoughts were relentless, circling, suffocating.I hadn’t even been back for long, and already my mother was worried.Jasmine too."You’re miserable
Aria’s POVI stood, forcing my limbs to move. “Thanks for tonight, Cole.”He just sighed. “Anytime.” I could see the disappointment on his face. Elijah was already moving.Already leading me away. And I followed carefully behind him till we reached the car.I waited till we entered the car, and then I snapped.“What the fuck was that, Elijah?” Elijah didn’t even look at me. He just turned the key, started the car, and pulled away from the curb like he hadn’t just dragged me away from my fucking date.Like he hadn’t just walked in, sat down, and ripped me out of that restaurant like I was a fucking child.Like I didn’t have a say.Like I didn’t fucking matter.“Elijah,” I snarled, voice sharp and shaking. “What the fuck was that?”Still, nothing.“You think you can just come in and do whatever the hell you want? You think you can just—just fucking control me?”Silence. “Elijah!” I exploded, slamming my palm against the dashboard. “I am not his anymore! Do you understand that? I’m
Aria’s POVThere was nothing better for me right now, than a clear mind running a few shifts at mom's restaurant. I stepped into the restaurant for the first time in months and then that familiar scent hit me. The fresh and warm scent of Mom's famous spaghetti source and her freshly baked bread. Except it didn’t feel like home.Not anymore.It had changed. Modernized. New furniture, new workers, a fresh coat of paint used on the walls.I was happy for mom, but deep down, it ached my heart to know it was from money Luca paid me off with. I barely made it two steps inside before my mom turned, froze, her hand gripping the counter like she needed it to steady herself."Aria," she breathed. Then she moved. Fast. Pulled me into her arms like she was afraid I’d disappear again.I stood there, stiff for a second. Then I sank into her warmth. When she pulled back, her hands cupped my face, searching me."I'm sorry, I'm just still missing you alot, you know?" It came out like a question.
One hour was enough for me to get a quick shower and freshen up a little. But, I still couldn't shake off the vision. Talking with the white wolf. And then it says I'm a white wolf too.‘You are a White Wolf, Aria.And whether you accept it or not—your destiny is already in motion.’ The words were still fresh in my mind. It was all too overwhelming for me… But, for now all that has to wait. I had to see Jasmine. And try to explain and make sense of what happened. I grabbed my jacket and pushed the door open. But, moment I stepped outside, I knew.Something was watching me. I just had that tingle. It wasn’t just paranoia. It was something thick and heavy in the air, curling around me like a warning.I ignored it.“Taxi!!” I yelled standing on the sidewalk. The can drove to me and I slid into the backseat, rattled off the address Jasmine sent me, and tried to shake the feeling.Didn’t work.The entire ride, I felt it. A weight pressing into my back. Every streetlight we passed
Elijah’s POVI sat in the dim hotel room, staring at the chipped coffee cup in my hands. The coffee was cold. Had been for hours. But I wasn’t drinking it. Just gripping it like it had answers.Waiting.For her.For Aria.And that was the problem.She wasn’t back.She should’ve been back.Where the fuck was she?Then came the knock.Too hard. Too fast. Urgent.I was already moving before I even thought about it, the chair scraping against the floor, my body coiled tight like a goddamn wire about to snap.The soldier outside the door looked like he had been running.“She’s been gone too long.”My chest went tight.“How long?” My voice was flat. Cold.“Hours.” A sharp inhale. “She hasn’t returned.”My fingers curled into fists.Fuck.I grabbed my coat, shoved past him. The drive to her house was a blur. The moment I got there, I knew.The door was unlocked.Bad. Bad fucking sign.I stepped in, ears sharp, eyes scanning.Her scent was here. Fresh. But fading fast.My stomach knotted.I
Aria POVI woke up to an intense pain. Everywhere. It felt like my brain wanted to bulge out of my own head.I cracked my eyes open. My room. My bed. Safe. But I didn’t feel safe.I felt wrong.Like my skin wasn’t mine. I forced myself up from my bed, exhaling sharply. What the hell happened?And then it hit me.Memories rushed in—fast, violent, suffocating.The club. The drinks. Jasmine laughing. The air too thick, the music too loud, the world spinning.Then the cold night air. The sidewalk. Stumbling. The ground unsteady beneath me.And then—him.The rogue. The glowing red eyes. The stench of blood. The way he moved—fast, predatory, like I was prey.I had tried to run. Useless. Weak. Slow.He had pinned me down, claws slicing into my skin.I should have died.I would have died.But I screamed. And something inside me answered.A burst of light, white-hot and blinding. An explosion that sent him flying.And then—the shift.I gasped, gripping my arms, my whole body shaking.I ha
Aria’s POVIt was almost midnight when I finally reached our apartment. I dragged myself to my room like a corpse, feet heavy, mind a twisted mess. Everything felt wrong. I slammed the door shut behind me. I was a white wolf.A fucking white wolf. This wasn’t supposed to happen. This wasn’t my life. I was human—no, worse—I was a rejected mate, tossed aside like I was nothing. But now, I wasn’t nothing.I was something.Something that could rip a rogue to shreds.I couldn’t stop seeing it.The rogue.His eyes had widened. His whole body had gone rigid, his mouth parting like he couldn’t even process what was in front of him. His stance had changed—hesitation.Fear.He had seen a white wolf standing where a pathetic, fragile human had been.And in that split second—he knew he was going to die.A shudder rolled through me.And he had.I had killed him.I should have felt something.Guilt. Horror.But all I had felt was power.That scared me more than anything.I curled my knees to m
Luca’s POVThe throne room was colder than usual. Maybe it was just my mood. I sat hunched on the edge of the throne, hands laced, jaw clenched, eyes burning into the marbled floor. Elijah stood by the far window, arms folded, eyes scanning the trees beyond the walls as if danger still lingered out there. Maybe it did.“No new attacks?” I asked, my voice cutting through the thick silence.Elijah shook his head. “None. Not a damn thing since the last wave.” He turned to face me, his expression unreadable. “It’s too quiet. Like they’re waiting.”I nodded once, slowly. “They’ll try again. That last hit wasn’t a warning, it was a test. They wanted to see how close they could get without getting their heads ripped off.”Elijah walked closer, his boots thudding against the stone. “And they got close, Luca. Too close.”I looked up at him, at the slight bruising still faint on his temple. His shoulders were stiff—tension coiled under every breath he took. “How’re you holding up?” I asked, sof
Julian’s POVI didn’t knock. I never did. The throne room doors slammed open so hard the guards flinched. Victor looked up lazily from where he sat—draped over his cursed black stone throne like the world owed him a nap.“You sent them after Aria and Elijah?” I barked, voice echoing off the high vaulted ceilings.Victor barely moved. “I did.”“You fool,” I snarled, stalking across the floor. “That wasn’t the deal. You were supposed to give me time, not light the damn match under them.”He waved a hand, dismissive. “A message had to be sent. They needed to feel pressure—get pulled thin. That’s what distractions are for.”“You pulled the wrong string,” I growled. “Now they’re regrouping faster. Elijah’s alive, Aria’s rattled—but not broken. Luca’s more focused than ever.”Victor straightened slowly, eyes narrowing. “You forget who you’re speaking to, Julian.”I ignored the warning and kept going. “You’re burning the house down before we’ve even stepped through the front door. I need to
ARIA'S POVThe walk back to the packhouse was heavy. I couldn't just get my mind off what just happened. The hair behind my neck was still up, I couldn't help but feel danger was close by. Elijah kept a steady pace beside me, but his silence made the air thicker, heavier. He hadn’t said much since the fight. I wasn’t ready to hear whatever dark thoughts he had swirling in his head about what was coming.But my thoughts were just as tangled.The fight. The attack. The message. They weren’t just random, meaningless acts of violence. They were calculated—designed to get our attention, to prove a point. And Victor… Julian… they were only just beginning.I rubbed my still-aching shoulder. It hurt. The burn of the bite was still fresh, but it was nothing compared to what was waiting for us. That feeling, that dread, settled deep in my gut.By the time we reached the packhouse, I was almost certain Luca would already know what had happened. If he didn’t, I’d make sure he did.I didn’t wai
Victor POVThe room was dark, dimly lit only by the flickering lights of two torches. I leaned back on the iron throne, boots heavy on the floor. It was a very successful mission, from the the way I see it. We tore through the village killing everyone in sight and I was sure that bastard Luca would have gotten my message. And today was the first step in my ultimate goal to get the white wolf, Aria by my side. And I would kill anybody who stands in my way. Just then I heard a knock.Sharp. Impatient."Enter," I said, voice low, cold.Julian stepped in like he owned the shadows, cloak dragging slightly as he moved toward me. He didn’t bow. He never did. That’s why I tolerated him. Because unlike the sniveling fools who kiss my boots, Julian at least knew how to speak in teeth and venom.“It wasn’t enough,” he said, without preamble.I stared at him, lips curling. “The screams carried far enough. The flames licked the sky.”He shook his head. “It was a ripple. Not a wave. Luca didn’
Luca POVThe Moon was hanging low, the night had already fallen. I raised my hand up to signal the end of training for today. Aria’s breaths were heavy, her skin covered with sweat, and Elijah stood nearby with his arms crossed, nodding slightly in approval. She'd held her own today, better than ever. Controlled, precise. Her instincts were finally beginning to cut through the fog of hesitation. But there was still something buried in her, something pulling her back. I could see it in the way her eyes shifted, always scanning, always alert.“That's enough for today,” I said, stepping forward, my voice steady but not cold. “You did well.”She nodded, not quite meeting my eyes, and turned to walk back toward the house. I watched her go for a second too long, the curve of her shoulders telling me more than her words ever would. She was still carrying something. And whatever it was—it was starting to weigh her down.Elijah glanced at me. “You saw it too?”I nodded once. “Yeah.”“She’s
Chapter 56Aria's POV My eyes fluttered open to bright morning light streaming through my curtains. My bones ached a little from yesterday's training, but also Julian’s threat still clawed at the back of my mind. But I can't focus on that.Today, I train.I rolled out of bed, my muscles stretching and tightening as I threw on simple clothes: black leggings, a grey tunic, boots I didn’t bother to lace too tightly. My fingers lingered briefly over the necklace Luca had returned to me weeks ago. I left it behind. I needed to be bare for this.The air outside was sharp with morning. I crossed the grounds briskly, eyes narrowing against the sun. My wolf was restless under my skin, pacing in circles, ears flicking forward with anticipation. Something about today felt different.And then I saw them.Luca and Elijah stood at the edge of the field. Luca, arms crossed, that dark stormy look painted on his face like war paint. Elijah had his usual calm smirk, but his hands were already flexi
Elena's POVThe morning came in sharp. Too sharp. Like glass slicing across her thoughts.I was up before the sun, just... waiting. My room felt too small, too quiet. Every creak in the walls made my skin crawl. I kept thinking of Luca, of his promise to send me back—back to the human world. And part of me hated how much I wanted that. The escape. The quiet. The safety.So when the knock came, I jumped like my bones were wired wrong.I opened the door, heart stuck in my throat—and there he was. Luca. His face as cold and unreadable as always, but his eyes... something flickered there."I'm not sending you back," he said. Just like that. No warning. No build-up. Like it was a fact carved into stone.“What?” It slipped out, weak and breathless.“I changed my mind. It’s safer if you stay. With me.”The relief hit me so fast it was almost shameful. I shouldn't have wanted to stay. Not after everything. Not with Julian still breathing the same air. But I did. I did want to stay. Not for th
Aria's POV He barged in like a storm. No knock, no warning—just fury in his eyes, in his breath, in every single step he took. I jumped up from the edge of my bed, heart slamming against my ribs like it knew something I didn’t yet.“Luca—?”“No.” His voice was stone. Cold. Final. “Pack your things.”What?“What?”“I need to send you back.” He didn’t flinch. “You and Elena. You’re leaving. Today.”My stomach dropped, heart skipped a beat. “What the hell are you talking about?”He shut the door behind him like he was sealing me in. “It’s not safe here. Julian’s made his move. You and Elena—you’re targets.”I stepped toward him, voice cracking. “You’re just going to send us away?! After everything?”“I’m not asking,” he snapped, eyes hard. “He’s with Victor. He wants the pack destroyed from the inside and you’re both leverage. He warned me. You die if I step out of line.”I couldn’t breathe. “So what—you send us away and hope he doesn’t follow?”“I’m keeping you alive,” he shouted back,
Aria's POV The day dragged. Everything moved like it was underwater—slow, muffled, distant. People talked to me, smiled at me, even asked if I wanted to spar or take a walk. I smiled back. I nodded. I lied.I was present, but I wasn’t there. I couldn’t be. Not with Julian’s words still slicing through my skull like knives.I checked in on Elena again. She was sitting up now, finally talking, eating. It warmed something in my chest, but even that couldn’t anchor me fully. Not when I knew he’d rip it all apart the second I misstepped.By late afternoon, I was walking the halls aimlessly, trying to clear the weight off my chest, when I felt it—him.Luca.He was leaning by the council corridor, arms crossed, eyes distant. But the moment he spotted me, they sharpened.And then he walked up.Slow. Measured. Watching me closely. “Hey,” he said, casual but not. “You got a minute?”I swallowed. “Yeah, of course.”We walked side by side, no destination, just movement. His shoulder brushed min