⸻Chapter Seventeen – The Stranger in My PlaceAria’s Point of ViewThe night was cold, but not colder than my heart.I stood in front of the big door for a long time, afraid to go inside.Afraid of what I would see.Afraid of what I already knew.Lucien hadn’t come after me when she kissed him.He hadn’t said a word.I waited. I stood in the dark like a fool.But no one came.No one stopped me.So I walked back into the house.And it felt different.Like I didn’t belong there anymore.I stepped into the hallway quietly, holding my breath. My fingers trembled as I pushed the door to the sitting room open—And then I saw them.Lucien was there.So was she.Elara.She was curled up on the couch beside him. Her legs under her, her head resting on his shoulder, her fingers playing with the end of his shirt like it was hers.She was laughing.Soft. Sweet. Familiar.Lucien smiled at something she said.He smiled.He hadn’t smiled like that at me.Not once.I froze by the door. They didn’t e
Chapter Thirteen - The Woman He ChooseAria’s PovI looked up at him.He had gone pale.His lips parted, but no words came out at first.Then he took a step forward.“Elara…”My world cracked at the sound of her name.Elara.The name that had haunted the silence between us. The one he never wanted to talk about.The woman he used to love.Elara’s eyes lit up when she saw him.“Lucien,” she breathed in and out.Then she ran to him.Right in front of me.She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight, her heels lifting off the ground.“I’m back,” she whispered. Loud enough for me to hear. “And I’m staying. For good. I am staying for us, I have heard that you missed me a lot, I know”She kissed his cheek. Then his jaw. Then his lips.And he didn’t stop her.He didn’t even move.He just stood there, letting her kiss him again and again like I wasn’t even there.Like I hadn’t just kissed him minutes ago. Like he hadn’t just told me he wanted me.I couldn’t move.My feet were heav
Chapter Fifteen – Just Us But Aria’s Point of ViewThe day started quiet.I didn’t expect anything special. I was still trying to get used to being back here… in a place that once felt like home but now felt like I had to tiptoe through every corner. I hadn’t seen Cara since she left my room, after trying to tear me down with her words. Her voice still echoed in my head, but I tried my best to shut it out.Lucien had been gentle since I returned. Watching me. Caring for me. But I knew something was on his mind.So when he knocked on my door with a small box in his hands, I felt my heart skip a beat.His voice was soft. “Can I come in?”I nodded and stepped aside.He looked at me for a moment, and then handed me the box. “I got this for you.”I opened it slowly—and gasped.It was a dress. A long, flowing one made of soft silk. Pale blue, the color of peace. The kind of color that makes you feel like maybe the world isn’t as cruel as you thought.I looked up at him with wide eyes. “Lu
Chapter Fourteen – I Won’t LeaveAria’s Point of ViewI was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor.My fingers were wrapped around the edge of the blanket, and my chest felt heavy… like something was pressing down on it.The room was quiet.Too quiet.I could still smell Lucien on the pillow. His scent… warm, strong, comforting. Just hours ago, he had held me. Just hours ago, he kissed me like I mattered.He looked at me like I was something soft. Something he didn’t want to break. And for the first time in a long time, I started to believe I still had a place in this world.A small smile touched my lips.But then…A soft knock echoed at the door.I didn’t answer.I thought maybe it was Lucien again.But the door opened slowly anyway.And when I turned…My heart dropped.It was Cara.She stood there in a tight dress, her arms folded across her chest. Her lips curled into a cold smile, and her eyes — they were full of something ugly.Hate.Bitterness.Jealousy.“Well, wel
Chapter Thirteen – The Reason I LeftAria’s Point of ViewThe wind outside whispered softly against the windows. The sky had gone a little grey, but inside the room, everything was still and warm.I was sitting by the window, curled under a blanket, watching the leaves fall from the tall trees. Everything outside looked peaceful… but inside me, it was chaos.I didn’t know what I was anymore. A runaway? A Luna? A broken girl holding a secret inside her body?The door opened quietly, and I didn’t turn. I didn’t have to. I could feel him. His scent filled the room before his footsteps did.Lucien.“Why didn’t you eat?” His voice was low. Not cold this time. Gentle.I shrugged, still staring at the trees. “I wasn’t hungry.”I heard the sound of the tray being set on the table. Then silence.I waited for him to say something cruel, something sharp like he used to… but it didn’t come.Instead, the bed dipped gently beside me.He sat close. Not touching me, but close enough that I could feel
Chapter 12 – The Pain That Broke MeAria’s POVI woke up to a soft blanket covering me and the faint scent of chamomile in the air. The world around me felt hazy, like I was caught between a dream and a nightmare.My body ached.My head throbbed.And my stomach… it felt empty. Hollow.Where was I?My eyes blinked open slowly, and I saw white walls, a clean room, and sunlight filtering through thin curtains. Everything looked quiet. Too quiet.Then the door creaked open.Lucien.He stepped in carefully, like he wasn’t sure if I’d scream or run. He didn’t say anything at first. He just looked at me.I turned my face away. I didn’t want him to see the tears already in my eyes.I remembered it all—the rogues, the blood, the pain… the baby.A sharp sob caught in my throat.Lucien moved closer. “Aria,” he whispered. “You’re safe now.”Safe.But I didn’t feel safe. I felt broken.I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t.Just then, the door opened again. It was the pack doctor—Maren. Her face was t