Her heart thundered. If she stepped back now, she might save herself. If she didn’t, she’d fall into him completely.And then—he leaned closer.Her palm slid over his bare chest to steady him, and she froze. His skin burned under her touch, muscles trembling with the strain of holding himself upright. Instead of pulling back, her body betrayed her. Her breath mingled with his, warm and shallow, and before she realized it, she was leaning closer, drawn to him like a moth to flame.His eyes darkened, lips hovering a heartbeat away from hers, and the world seemed to still, caught on the edge of something forbidden and devastating.She should’ve stepped back. She didn’t. She wanted this man in ways she shouldn’t.“Amelia,” his voice was a hoarse whisper, “I’m going to die of blood loss if you don’t help me…”The plea snapped her back to reality. She blinked, breath unsteady, and forced herself to nod.Dragging the first-aid kit closer, she tore through it with trembling hands. Antiseptic,
The moment Cassia reached her room, she shut the door and leaned back against it, her chest rising and falling in frantic rhythm. Her hand pressed against her heart as if to cage it inside. She could still see the pain in Aiden’s eyes when she’d told him she felt nothing for him and the memory alone sliced through her like a blade. Something inside her cracked, something she wasn’t ready to admit.Why do I even care? Why does his hurt feel like mine?She already knew the answer. Her wolf. That maddening, treacherous pull. Her wolf wanted him..craved him like air, like fire, like blood itself. He had awakened her, ignited the bond, and now every time he was near she couldn’t shut it out. His presence clung to her skin, seeped into her bones, making it impossible to stop thinking about him no matter how much she tried to bury it.She bit her lower lip hard, but it only made the memories flood back, the kiss in her office. The fire. The way his tongue slid into her mouth, not just kissin
Cassia moved to the window and peeked through the curtain. Her stomach dropped, it was truly Aiden’s car.Her brows knitted. What is he doing here? That man had nearly died only hours ago. If they hadn’t gotten him into the theatre room in time to remove the silver bullet before it melted into his bloodstream, he would have been gone.She hurried to the door, pulled it open, and stepped outside.Aiden climbed out of the car, his face etched with strain. He let out a low groan as he shut the door, his hand pressing hard against his stomach. His body stiffened as pain seared through him, but when his gaze lifted and locked onto hers, he forced himself upright, dropping his hand as if nothing was wrong.Cassia froze where she stood, speechless. Her wolf stirred inside her, excitement sparking like wildfire at the sight of him. She swallowed hard, pushing the feeling down, forcing herself to breathe.“Aiden…” Her voice was softer than she wanted it to be.His eyes softened instantly. “Ame
Cassia moved quietly around the dining room, clearing plates from the table. Arthur was already tucked into bed, sleeping peacefully, leaving her alone with the silence.Her hands paused mid-motion, a dish clutched against her chest. Memories of today's chaos crashed over her…her wolf awokening, Sofia’s escape, the brutal fight with Dante. Slowly, she sank into a chair, her body heavy, her mind spinning.She remembered the moment her wolf surged forward. The fire in her veins, her eyes glowing red, claws and fangs extending as if something ancient had awakened inside her. The sheer force of it terrified her. The strength of a true Alpha pulsed through her body.But that wasn’t possible.She wasn’t Alpha-blood. She was the daughter of a Beta, adopted by Seraphina. And yet, when her wolf returned, she carried the power of an Alpha…something she could neither explain nor deny.Her fingers dug into her hair as she exhaled shakily. Nothing made sense anymore.Her thoughts shifted, unbidden
Dante sat slumped on the couch, Sofia’s lifeless body sprawled across his lap. Her blood soaked into his clothes, the metallic scent clinging to his skin. His tears fell freely, streaking down his face as he rocked her gently.He had killed her.The woman he loved. The only one he thought he could still call his, was gone by his own hand. The guilt gnawed through him, hollowing his chest.Why couldn’t I stop? Why couldn’t I control myself?Her voice still echoed in his skull, sharp and relentless, every cruel word stoking the fire of his rage until it consumed him. He had begged her to stop, pleaded for her to just be silent. But she hadn’t. And when he thought they might have been a family again… he had destroyed everything.“I saved you,” he whispered, shaking her limp shoulders as if the words alone could pull her back. “I saved you only to kill you. How do I explain this to Ethan? What do I tell my son? Our son!”His growl tore through the silence as he clutched her, desperate for
Meanwhile, Cassia had gone back home with Arthur after picking him up from school. James, however, returned to the hospital to check on Aiden.He entered the ward where Aiden had been transferred. The Alpha lay on the bed, his eyes fixed on the ceiling as if lost in a place far away. His skin was still pale, but the harsh strain on his face from earlier was lessened.“Aiden…” James called softly.Aiden turned his head toward him, his expression sharpening. His gaze flickered immediately to the door, as though expecting someone else.“How are you feeling?” James asked, pulling up a chair.Aiden ignored the question. “Where’s Amelia?”James exhaled. “She went home with Arthur.”Aiden bolted upright, glaring. “What? You let her go alone? It’s not safe, James! Sofia and Dante are still out there…they could go after her at any moment.”“They won’t,” James said firmly. “I’ve got eyes and ears everywhere. If they make a move, we’ll know before they even get close.”Aiden let out a sharp brea