LOGINDamon stepped out from the trees.Of course he did.He didn’t look surprised to see Lex. If anything, he looked like he had expected this exact moment. His expression was carved from something cold and controlled, but his eyes were sharper than usual, locked entirely on Lex like he was already calcu
Aria’s POVA note was slipped under my door just before dawn.No knock. No footsteps. No warning beyond the faint scrape of paper against wood that woke me from a shallow, restless sleep. I sat up immediately, my heart already racing before I even reached for it, because nothing in this pack ever ar
Aria’s POVHis lips crashed against mine and the kiss was rough, fiery and filled with immense passion. Damon’s lips moved against mine like he was still trying to merge with me. His hands fisting my waist and pulling me closer as he kissed me like his life depended on it, then he pulled away.“Ari
“You shouldn’t have been alone,” he said instead.“Oh, so now we’re back to that?” I snapped. “You being everywhere I go like I’m some kind of fragile possession?”His eyes darkened further.“That’s not what I said.”“No,” I said quietly, stepping closer until there was barely space between us now.
Aria’s POVDamon didn’t answer me, he just stood there in the clearing, the silence between us stretching so tightly it felt like it might snap at any second. Lex’s footsteps had already faded into the forest, but his words still lingered like smoke that refused to clear.When Damon finally moved, i
“What night?” I whispered.Neither of them answered. Damon took one slow step forward, his eyes pitch-black now. “You need to leave.”Lex’s gaze never left his. “Or what?”“I’ll finish what I should’ve done years ago.”For the first time, genuine anger crossed Lex’s face. “You already finished it,”
There it was.I met her gaze finally, and whatever she saw in my eyes made her smile falter for a fraction of a second but I did not rise to it.Reacting would mean admitting how deeply this cut. Reacting would give her exactly what she wanted—proof that I was unstable, jealous, dangerous.So I held
Aria’s POVThe river was too cold, it punched the breath out of me the second I hit the surface.The current yanked me under, rolled me against rocks, filled my mouth with silt and freezing water.I kicked wildly, arms flailing for anything solid.Mira’s hand found mine—slippery, desperate and we br
I nodded. “Yes, Beta.”Damon’s fork scraped his plate. He didn’t look at me.Kade put his arm around my shoulders. “She’s been very cooperative. Haven’t you, Aria?”I forced a smile. “Yes.”Lyra spoke up, voice sweet. “I’m sure the High Elders will clear everything. Damon and I are ready for the cer
Aria’s POVI stared at the note until the words blurred.Rain and vanilla. My own scent on the paper.Someone had touched something of mine and rubbed it on this sheet to scare me.The door was locked from the outside and I knew that it was Kade’s doing, but this was a matter of urgency. Mira was in







