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
Aria’s POVHis eyes were locked on me.Like he wasn’t sure if I was real.I wanted to look away. I should look away.But I didn’t.I couldn’t.The air between us stretched, thick and suffocating. Then, I heard his voice. “Aria.”Luca’s voice. Low. Rough. Saying my name like it was something fragile.And just like that—Everything I had been trying to bury came roaring back.I walked past him and to the castle. The second I stepped inside, the past hit me like a knife to the gut.I swallowed hard. Luca was still at the entrance. I could feel it. His presence was like a weight pressing down on the back of my neck. But I didn't stop for once to look back at him, I just continued.And then—My room.The door was already open, waiting.I stepped inside, breath hitching.Everything was exactly the same.The bed, the thick blankets, the furniture, like I had never left. I stood by the bed, my eyes scanning the room, and I saw the scratches I had left behind—marks from the night I had
Aria’s POVMorning slammed into me like a goddamn freight train.One second, I was staring at the ceiling, brain spinning like a broken record, looping last night’s mess on repeat. The next, the sun was in my face, streaming through the curtains. My body felt wrecked, not from fighting, not from running—just from existing. Like I was being crushed under the weight of too much shit all at once.But I couldn’t stay here.I had a meeting.With Luca.A sharp, bitter taste rose in my throat, but I swallowed it down. Pushed it deep, deep where I wouldn’t have to deal with it. I forced myself up, legs like stone as I dragged my ass to the bathroom.Splash. Cold water, sharp against my skin. A second of clarity. My reflection stared back at me, hollow-eyed, exhausted, like it was asking me what the hell are you doing?I had no idea.But something in me—some twisted, stubborn part—needed this. Needed to prove something. To him. To me. To this whole damn world that still saw me as nothing but
Aria's POVI clenched the vial tighter, my fingers cold, my pulse loud in my ears. Luca was watching. Waiting. Not saying a damn thing, but I could feel it, the weight of his eyes, the expectation thick in the air.I took a breath. Then another.The magic was there, under my skin, like a slow-burning ache, twisting in my veins. Not calm, not smooth like his—wild, barely held together, like a storm waiting to crack open.Focus.I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to find that pull, that thing deep in my chest that always felt just out of reach. And then—There.It flared up, sharp and sudden, a heat rushing through my fingers, curling around the glass, pulsing against my skin.But it was wrong.Too much, too fast, twisting out in jagged, flickering waves, like it didn’t know what the hell it was doing. My grip faltered. The vial shook.“Shit—” I hissed through my teeth, trying to hold it, trying to make it listen.The glow sputtered, flickered, barely holding. Luca shifted closer, not tou
Luca’s POV I woke up fucking wrecked. Like I hadn’t really slept, just shut down for a few hours, body drained but my mind still running itself into the ground.And fuck, the second I opened my eyes, she was there. Everywhere.My skin still burned from her touch—her hands, her nails, the way she clawed at me like she couldn’t get close enough. The way she gasped my name, breathless and wrecked, her body tight around mine, pulling me under, dragging me deeper, until I didn’t know where she ended and I began. Until nothing else fucking existed.Jesus.I ran a hand over my face, exhaling hard, but it didn’t do a damn thing. She was still there, still in my blood, still in my fucking bones, and I didn’t want her out. I wanted more. I wanted last night all over again—her legs around me, her mouth on mine, her body under me, against me, losing herself in me the way I was losing myself in her.But I couldn’t. Not now.I forced myself up, shoving my shirt on, dragging myself out of that room
Luca’s POVThe lab smelled like sickness. Like rot and sweat and something else, something worse, something that made my stomach turn.Three wolves. Lined up. Barely breathing.Fuck.Elijah stood near the back, arms crossed, face blank. I stepped forward, fists tight, breath slow. The first wolf—he was barely upright, his skin pale and clammy, his chest rising in these shallow, wet gasps like his lungs were drowning. The second twitched every few seconds, his body fighting against something it couldn’t win. The third—shit—the third wasn’t even moving.Too late. I clenched my jaw. “Are they stable?” My voice came out rougher than I meant it to.Elijah didn’t blink. “For now. But not for long.”I exhaled hard through my nose. No more waiting. No more thinking.The vial felt heavy in my hand.Dark liquid. Thick. Almost pulsing under the light.This had to work.I dropped to my knees in front of the first wolf. His eyelids fluttered open. Not all the way. Not enough to see me.“Can you
Aria’s POVMorning slammed into me like a freight train. Eyes open, brain foggy, body still humming from the other night.I felt it everywhere. The heat, the weight, the way Luca’s hands had been on me like he was memorizing every inch. And I let him. No—I wanted him to. And now? Now I was stuck in this loop, replaying it over and over. I groaned, rolling onto my stomach, burying my face in the pillow. Like that would erase it. Like that would make my skin stop tingling or my pulse stop kicking up every time I thought about him.It didn’t.Damn it.I needed air.I shoved the covers off, grabbed the nearest hoodie, and practically threw myself out of the room before my thoughts could pull me under again.Cold air slapped me the second I stepped outside. Good. Maybe it would shock me out of this haze.The pack was already awake, moving, talking. Some training. Some just existing. My feet carried me forward before I even realized where I was going—until I saw them.Elijah. A few others.
Chapter 64Victor’s POVThe night was thick with silence, but I could feel it—everything was moving, tightening, snapping into place like the final pieces of a puzzle. The Elidor fight was set. A distraction for us. And soon, while eyes were locked on the battle in the field, I’d take what mattered most to Luca.Aria.And with her in my grasp… the Scarlet Moon pack would crumble.I sat by the window of my quarters, swirling dark liquor in a thick glass, the fire across the room crackling low. The flames reflected off the glass like red eyes staring back at me. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. The smirk pulling at my lips was slow, patient. Calculated.He really accepted it. The great Alpha Luca, falling for the oldest move in the book. Pride—such a predictable weakness.The Elidor fight would leave their forces scattered, their focus narrowed. The moment he stepped into that ring, all defenses would drop. The warriors would be spectators, not guards. The pack would ch
Luca's POVThe wind bit hard this morning. I was already in the fields no time to spare Elijah stood across from me, arms folded, eyes narrowed.We both knew why we were here.This wasn’t about staying in shape for the fight. About a fight that wasn’t supposed to happen at all. Julian's claim to the throne was long gone. “Again,” Elijah barked, voice cutting through the silence.I dropped into a low stance and lunged. He met me with force, forearm to mine, the impact crackling through my bones. We circled, moved in sync, traded blows like the old days.“Faster,” he snapped, catching my wrist mid-swing and twisting. I jerked back, rolled, sprang to my feet. “He may know your rhythm try to change it. Make him doubt the next move.”“I know how to fight,” I growled, launching a punch that Elijah barely ducked.“You know how to win when it’s clean.” He countered, sweeping my legs. I hit the dirt hard. “This isn’t clean, Luca. He’s coming to hurt you. Maybe worse.”I pushed off the grou
Aria’s POVThe cold wind of the night blew at me as I leaned against the railing of the balcony. The night had fallen on the pack, as the moon hung low in the sky. I hadn’t moved for a while. I couldn't, really. My arms were crossed tight over my chest, but it did nothing, just help me warm myself.Everything felt… wrong. I didn't know why, but for some reason I was at an unease. Then, I heard a knock echoed behind me. Soft, but firm.I didn't turn.The door creaked open anyway. I didn’t need to see who it was.Luca.His footsteps were soft and quiet. He walked up behind me, but he didn’t say anything at first.He just… stood there. Maybe he was watching me. I kept staring out at the trees, letting the silence between us stretch. “You seem to enjoy the moon,” he said his tone soft.“... Yeah, I do,” I muttered, my voice low. He exhaled slowly, stepping beside me. “I heard what happened at the council,” I said before he could speak. My voice was flat, distant. “They blamed me
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