Chapter 2

Aria's POV

"You look terrible."

Kade stood in the doorway of the small apartment I shared with Mira. He looked perfect, of course. His golden hair messy in that way that usually made girls swoon me included—not anymore, and his hazel eyes that I used to get lost in were bright.

He didn't look like a man who had cheated on his girlfriend yesterday.

I tightened the scarf around my neck. Underneath it, there were thick layers of herbal paste and a heavy bandage that hid the bite mark.

I had bathed in the scent-masking wash three times to the extent that I smelled like nothing. Just chemicals and soap. I hate this smell but I have no other choice.

"Go away, Kade," I said, trying to push the door shut.

He blocked it with his foot. "Aria, come on. You’ve been gone all night. Dad’s… well, my stepdad’s memorial service is coming up and you have to be there."

"I don't have to do anything with you," I said. "We're done. Remember? You, Sarah… the bed and me being nothing but a safe choice."

Kade rolled his eyes.. he actually rolled his eyes. The audacity of this man. "Babe, you're overreacting. It was just stress relief. You know how much pressure I’m under with Damon breathing down my neck. I swear, it didn't mean anything."

"It meant something to me," I said, my voice shaking. "I broke the bond, Kade. We’re over"

He laughed. A short, disbelief-filled sound. "You can't just break a bond, Aria. You're emotional and you’ll get over it. You always do. You need me because who else is going to look out for you? You have no family."

The words stung, and sounded so cruel. He knew exactly where to hit.

"I'm not going with you," I said firmly.

"You are," he retorted, his voice dropping. The charm evaporated. "You’re making me look bad. People are talking. They’re saying I can’t control my own woman. Get your shoes."

He reached out and grabbed my wrist. His grip was tight, annoying but it was nothing like the hands I had felt last night.

Last night. Damon.

Just thinking of his name made my heart skip.

My wolf stirred, whining, wanting to find him but I shoved the feeling down. I have to get her under control.

"Let go of me," I snapped.

"Aria!" A deep voice boomed from the hallway behind Kade.

We both froze. Kade’s face paled slightly and he dropped my wrist and turned around.

Damon was walking toward us.

He was massive and in the narrow hallway of the apartment complex, he looked like a giant.

He was wearing a black tactical shirt that hugged every muscle, his face set in a scowl. His eyes—those ice-blue eyes were scanning everything.

He stopped three feet away.

"Damon," Kade said, putting on his smile. "Just having a little discussion with Aria. She’s being... difficult."

Damon didn't look at Kade. He looked straight at me.

I stopped breathing. Could he tell? Could he smell me through the blockers? Through the paste?

His gaze traveled over my face, down to my neck where the scarf was wrapped tight and he frowned, then he took a step closer and sniffed the air.

I prayed to the Moon Goddess. Please. Don’t let him know.

Damon’s brow furrowed and he looked confused. "You smell like chemicals."

"I... I spilled cleaning fluid," I lied. My voice sounded tiny. "At work.”

"She’s clumsy," Kade added, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. I flinched, but I didn't pull away. If I pulled away, Damon might look too closely. "Aren't you, babe?"

Damon’s eyes narrowed at Kade’s arm. A low rumble started in his chest. He looked at Kade’s hand, then back to my face.

"You were missing this morning," Damon said to me. It wasn't a question.

"I was here," I said quickly. "With Mira."

"There were rogues near the border last night," Damon said. His voice was tight, like he was holding back a scream. "We found tracks. Did you see anything?"

"No," I whispered.

He stared at me for a long second. His eyes were searching, desperate. He looked like a man who had lost something vital.

"I met someone," he said, his voice unusually raw. "In the woods."

Kade laughed. "You? Meeting someone? A rogue?"

"A mate… my mate," Damon said.

The word hung in the air.

Kade choked on his laugh. "What? You found your mate? Who?”

"I don't know," Damon said as his fists clenched at his sides. "She ran. She smells like rain."

He looked at me again, then he inhaled deeply and I held my breath. Please.

"Nothing," he muttered to himself, looking disappointed but I could hear him. "Just chemicals."

He didn't recognize me. The blockers were working and the scarf was hiding the mark.

He had no idea the woman he was looking for was standing right in front of him, wrapped in the arm of his brother.

"Well, congrats, big bro," Kade said, sounding jealous. "Did you mark her?"

Damon’s jaw ticked. "Yes."

Kade whistled. "And she ran? Must have been bad in the sack."

"Watch your mouth, Kade," Damon growled. "Or I will shut it for you."

Kade put his hands up in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Chill. We were just leaving. Aria has shift work, right?"

"Right," I retorted. I need to get away. "I have to go."

"I'll walk you," Kade said.

"No," Damon objected.

We both looked at him.

"I need to speak to Kade," he looked at me, "alone. Pack business."

Kade groaned. "Seriously? Now?"

"Now.” He looked at me one last time and for a moment, his eyes softened. "Be careful, Aria. The rogues are still out there."

"I will,"

I turned and walked away as fast as I could without running. I didn't look back. I couldn't even if I tried.

As I turned the corner, I heard Damon’s voice, “if you ever cheat on her again, Kade, I will throw you in the cells and torture you myself. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, yeah," Kade muttered. "I get it."

I leaned against the brick wall around the corner, my hand over my heart.

Damon was defending me and he was looking for me, I on the other hand was lying to his face.

This was going to destroy us. I knew it, but I couldn't stop. I touched the scarf again.

"I'm sorry, Damon," I whispered into the empty street.