FAZER LOGINARIAI waited until it was completely dark before I left my dorm. My arm still hurt a little from the injury, but that wasn’t the reason my stomach felt tight and sick. I was going to meet Tristan. Every step toward the old storage room behind the gym felt heavier than the last. I hated this part. I hated lying. I hated pretending to be the person he wanted me to be. But if I wanted to protect Trenton, I had to keep playing this dangerous game.Tristan was already waiting inside when I arrived. The room was dimly lit by one small lamp in the corner. As soon as I walked in, he stood up with a big smile on his face. He pulled me into a tight hug right away.“There she is,” he said happily, squeezing me. “My clever little mate. I saw the pictures my friend sent. You and Trenton walking across campus together like a real couple. Good work, Aria. Really good work.”I forced myself to smile and hugged him back. “I told you I was making progress. He waited for me outside the infirmary this m
ARIAThe next morning, the doctor said I could go home. My arm still hurt a little but I felt much better. I got dressed slowly and walked out of the infirmary. When I stepped outside into the fresh air, I stopped in surprise. Trenton was already there waiting for me. He was leaning against a tree with his hands in his pockets. The sun was shining on his face and he looked strong and handsome."Trenton?" I said softly. "What are you doing here?"He stood up straight and walked over to me. "The doctor asked someone to make sure you get back safely. She said you shouldn't walk alone or carry anything heavy yet." His voice was calm but his eyes looked worried. "I told her I would do it."My heart felt warm. I smiled at him. "You didn't have to come. But... thank you."We started walking across campus together. It was the first time we had spent so much time alone without fighting or me chasing him. The path was quiet and peaceful. Birds were singing in the trees. For a while we didn't sa
ARIAI woke up slowly. My eyes opened and I blinked a few times. The ceiling above me was white and strange. This wasn't my dorm room. Where was I? My arm felt sore and tight with bandages. Pain was there but not too bad. Then I turned my head slowly to the side. My heart almost stopped.Trenton was sitting right there beside my bed.He was quietly reading a small book, but his eyes looked tired like he hadn't slept much. His big strong body looked out of place in the small chair. His silver eyes were focused on the pages but his face showed worry. When he noticed I was awake, he closed the book fast and sat up straight. We just looked at each other for a long moment. No words at first. Just quiet feelings hanging heavy in the air between us. My chest felt warm and tight at the same time."Trenton..." I finally whispered. My voice was small and a little shaky.He put the book down on the table and moved his chair closer. "You're awake. How do you feel?" His voice was gentle but a litt
TRENTON The university announced a big charity event. Students and hockey players had to work together to help the pack. When they read the teams, my name was next to Aria's. We were paired together. I wanted to say no, but everyone was watching. I couldn't make a scene. Aria looked surprised too, but she just smiled a little and nodded. My heart felt heavy as we started the day.I stayed cold and quiet the whole time. I didn't smile at her or talk much. I just did my job moving boxes and setting up tables. But I watched her. I couldn't stop watching. Aria worked with the little kids first. She sat on the floor with them and laughed when they made silly drawings. One small girl was scared of the big crowd. Aria hugged her gently and said, "It's okay, sweetie. I'm right here. Nothing bad will happen. Want to hold my hand?" The little girl smiled and held her hand tight. They stayed like that for a long time.I stood far away pretending to fix some chairs, but my eyes kept going back
TRENTON I decided to stop pushing Aria away. Instead, I started watching her from far away. After that night in the locker room, something in me changed. I needed to understand what she really wanted. So for the next few days, I followed her quietly around campus. I stayed in the shadows, behind trees or in empty classrooms, just watching. My heart felt heavy every time I saw her. Part of me still believed she might try to hurt me like in my bad dreams. But another part hoped she was different now.The first day I saw her near the library. She wasn't running after Tristan like she used to. In fact, when he walked by with his friends, she turned the other way fast. She even hid behind a wall until he was gone. That made me stop and think. Why was she avoiding him now?Later that afternoon, I watched her help a freshman boy. The poor kid had fallen and hurt his leg. His wolf hadn't woken up yet, so he was weak. Most people laughed at him, but Aria ran over and helped him up. "Are you
ARIAI walked into the old storage room behind the university gym. It was dark and dusty, the perfect secret place Tristan liked to use. My heart was beating fast but I made my face look calm and excited. This was the moment I had to be a really good liar. Tristan was already there, sitting on an old table with his legs swinging. He looked at me with those sharp silver eyes that always made me feel cold inside."Aria," he said with a small smile. "You're late. Did you do what I asked?"I walked closer and took out my phone. "Yes. I went to the locker room after the match like you wanted. I think I made real progress with Trenton this time." I held up the phone. "I recorded some of it. Listen."Tristan's eyes got bright. He took the phone from me and pressed play. The edited recording started. In it, Trenton's voice sounded soft and close. "You make me crazy, you know that?" Then my voice came, "Please don't push me away. I want you so much." There was the sound of us hugging and brea
Aria“Not today, Tristan,” I muttered once I stepped out of the locker room. “Your brother will not die in my hands again.”Looking around to make sure that the coast was clear, I reached for the poison inside my bra, twisted the lid open, and stared at the dark liquid. The sharp smell of herbs—bur
AriaThe first thing I noticed once I stepped inside the locker room wasn't his fake smile or his scheming eyes that hinted that he thought he had me wrapped around his tiny fingers.No.The first thing I noticed… was the mate bond between us. It was no longer as strong as it used to be.In my prev
Aria.“You… poisoned me…” I whispered, feeling a coil wrapping around me tightly, suffocating me.I slumped on the floor, blood already dripping down my mouth and nose.“Of course.” He laughed coldly, staring down at me like I was something unworthy. “You really believed that I was going to have so
Aria.“Trenton Lockwood!!!”The cheers of the students and the cheerleading squad echoed through Winterridge University’s hockey arena, pom-poms waving in the air.Trenton Lockwood, the golden son of Alpha Liam Lockwood, the future pack leader, my stepbrother, skated through the ice, every stride p







