Aria’s world returned in pieces, like shattered glass slowly pulling itself back together.The first thing she felt was... wetness. Sticky. Warm. A strange, metallic smell.Blood!!!Her blood…She shifted slightly, her head resting against the airbag—her arms still wrapped around it like she was holding on for dear life.Everything hurt. Every inch of her body screamed in pain.But she was alive.Barely....*Beep. Beep. Beep*Her enhanced hearing, once a gift, now cursed her. The relentless honking of vehicles drilled into her brain, each echo threatening her skull to split into two. Sirens howling in the distance, voices rising in panic, the sharp crackle of broken glass shifting around her. And worse, the low, maddening buzzing that seemed to come from inside her ears, like static crawling beneath her skin.She moaned. Then–*Bang. Bang. Bang*The sudden pounding on her window jolted her back to the surface.“Miss? Can you hear me? Are you alright?”The voice was deep, urgent. But
The moment Aria's phone buzzed, she snatched it up without hesitation. Her heart skipped a beat, and her breath caught in her throat.A faint, almost invisible smile flickered on her lips, but it didn’t reach her eyes.[Aria! This is Mom. It’s my friend’s number... mine’s in the car. I was out and heard from someone that you got into an accident. Are you okay? I’m so worried!]Aria’s fingers trembled slightly as she typed her reply, forcing calm into each word.“I’m alright, Mom. I just got home. Just some bruises, nothing serious. The car Dad gave me… it protected me. It saved me.”[Oh, thank goodness! Forget the car, we’ll send you another one, a bigger one! We love you, sweetheart!]Her mother’s words warmed her chest for a moment—a spark of love in a cold, quiet night.Aria belonged to the Ironhide Pack, second in power only to the Sovereign Pack–The Lycan Alpha King’s Pack.Her adoptive parents, the philanthropists adored across the territory, had raised her like royalty. From the
When Aria’s eyes fluttered open, the sunlight had already spilled across the marble floors like molten gold. The air was still, but her mind immediately spun into motion.She bolted upright and grabbed her laptop. As the screen lit up, a cascade of new emails poured in—updates, schedules, today’s agenda. She skimmed through them quickly, completely missing the one email from last night, marked URGENT, buried beneath the rest.Her eyes dropped to the bottom right corner of the screen—and her stomach dropped with it.8:00 AM.Her heart stuttered. “Oh, no. No, no—damn it!” she hissed, springing from the bed like the floor was on fire.Today wasn’t just another workday.This was the day.The day Crimson Claw Enterprises was set to seal a deal that would catapult their pack to second in the Alliance rankings—just one step below the Silver Moon Pack itself. The final phase of the project she'd bled herself dry for. Endless nights spent revising proposals, calling in favors, humbling hersel
*SLAM!*All heads whipped toward the entrance.Several men in black suits entered, dragging a man behind them—a man barely clothed, wearing nothing but a damp towel wrapped around his waist. His chest was bare, his hair was wet, his skin still glistening from a shower abruptly interrupted.A wave of gasps rippled through the room once again.The man’s eyes darted around until they landed on Aria. His expression immediately softened into something desperate and dramatic. He tried to bolt toward her, arms wide for an embrace, but several members of Aria’s team stepped forward protectively, forming a human shield between him and her.Rejected, he opted for chaos instead.“Aria, baby! What’s going on?!” he cried out, loud enough for everyone to hear. “You told me to get ready this morning! I was about to step into the shower when these lunatics stormed in and dragged me here like some criminal!”The entire room held its breath.“We’re going to miss our flight to Hawaii,” he whined. “You s
“Are you sure you want to do this alone?” Aria’s assistant asked worriedly as she peered through the half-open car window.“I’ll be fine,” Aria replied with a faint smile, but her eyes betrayed no warmth. “Just return the car, go home, and pack your things. I’ll message you tomorrow. My mom will send someone to pick us up and take us back to Ironhide Pack.”The omega nodded, hesitant, then drove off. As the car disappeared down the road, Aria turned to face the glittering tower of The Noctis Palace, its mirrored glass reflecting the dying light of the evening.‘What floor was that bar again?’ she mused, pulling out her phone. Just then, an alarm blared... her fertility meds. Prescribed by Crimson Claw Pack’s top doctor. A bitter smile played on her lips as she pulled the bottle from her bag, then, without hesitation, tossed it into a trash bin.“I don’t need that anymore,” she whispered to herself.She found the exclusive bar on the 108th floor and made her way inside. The staff welco
Aria bolted from the bedroom, the adrenaline of bad news still roaring in her veins, so frantic she forgot all about the torn state of her dress. Just as she reached for the suite door, it swung open, and standing there was a man she recognized instantly, because of his injured arm still bound in a cast.For a heartbeat, they both froze, locked in a moment of stunned silence, the tension crackling like a live wire between them.Then, a commanding voice cut through the heavy air."You’re right on time, Julian. I assume that paper bag you’re holding has the dress I asked for?" Mason's deep voice rolled through the room with effortless authority.Aria and Julian both jerked their attention toward him. Aria instinctively clutched at the torn fabric of her dress, desperate to maintain a shred of dignity."Ah... yes," Julian stammered, blinking rapidly as he tore his gaze away from her. "I wasn’t sure which one to pick, so I just took the saleslady’s recommendation."Mason’s smirk was almos
Aria was beyond horrified—she was utterly petrified now that the fog of intoxication had lifted. Ravenhold Bastille wasn’t just a prison—it was a nightmare located near the border of their country, buried deep in the forsaken wilderness of Brawley County. It was popularly known as a wretched wasteland.However, there was a rumor before that a certain pack had bought it, but she never had any interest in knowing which pack. Who would even want a desolate and dangerous place like that?An abandoned scar on the map where only the worst criminals were sent to rot, where shadows walked freely, and where the desperate and the damned hid from the world. Very few dared to venture there, and even fewer returned.Without sparing a single glance behind her, driven by pure panic, Aria fumbled for her phone with shaking fingers and dove into Cecil’s car. Mason was left baffled by what was going on. The only thing he could do was watch her leave in an almost hysterical state.Aria's heart thundere
By the time Aria and Cecil reached the Harper Mansion, the sun had already dipped below the horizon. The city traffic had delayed them for hours, but even exhaustion couldn’t numb the dread curling in Aria’s chest.As they pulled into the estate’s long driveway, Aria’s eyes immediately locked onto the unfamiliar sight before them—a fleet of luxury cars lined up like a procession of vultures waiting to feast. None of them belonged to her parents.Her heartbeat quickened.She barely waited for the engine to stop before she stepped out and hurried toward the front door, Cecil close behind.Jennifer, the head maid, greeted them at the entrance, her expression strained with unease as she helped them with their coats.Aria’s voice came out sharper than intended. “Jennifer… whose cars are those? They’re not my parents'.”Jennifer hesitated before answering, then lowered her voice. “They belong to the executives of the Harper Foundation. Mr. and Mrs. Lambert summoned them here for an emergenc
Hugo’s gaze darkened as he leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping the edge of the table. “There’s only one man who can help us now… though he’s the last person any of us would want to owe.”Aria lifted her head slowly. Her pulse quickened at the tension in Hugo’s voice. “Who?”“Mason Larkin,” Hugo said grimly. “Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack… and the Chairman of the Federation.”Cecil visibly tensed beside her, her eyes widening. “Mason Larkin? Are you serious? He’s—”“I know exactly who he is,” Hugo cut her off. “And yes, I’m serious.”Aria’s breath caught in her throat. Not because of the things she had heard about, but because she had met him and it was an intimate encounter...Everyone in the federation knew Mason Larkin. A man who rose to power faster than any Alpha in history. At twenty-nine, he ruled over the most brutal, cold-blooded pack in the region—and chaired the very organization that now had the power to silence her parents forever.“He has no direct connection to
The next morning came too quickly.Aria hadn’t slept, not truly. Her body had rested, but her mind had been in a storm. Every time she closed her eyes, flashes of her parents behind cold iron bars haunted her. When the sun finally peeked through the curtains, she forced herself to get up.By the time breakfast was done, Aria and Cecil were already on the road, heading straight to the mansion of Alpha Hugo Miller.The gates of the estate opened with a low mechanical groan, revealing a sprawling mansion nestled between dense woods and fortified by a wall of stone and steel. It was intimidating, yet noble... Much like the man who ruled it.As they stepped into the grand foyer, the sound of deliberate, powerful footsteps echoed down the marble staircase.Alpha Hugo appeared at the top of the stairs, commanding, confident, and unnervingly calm.He was middle-aged by birth, but looked no older than thirty. His skin was smooth and bronzed from training under the sun, his athletic build evide
By the time Aria and Cecil reached the Harper Mansion, the sun had already dipped below the horizon. The city traffic had delayed them for hours, but even exhaustion couldn’t numb the dread curling in Aria’s chest.As they pulled into the estate’s long driveway, Aria’s eyes immediately locked onto the unfamiliar sight before them—a fleet of luxury cars lined up like a procession of vultures waiting to feast. None of them belonged to her parents.Her heartbeat quickened.She barely waited for the engine to stop before she stepped out and hurried toward the front door, Cecil close behind.Jennifer, the head maid, greeted them at the entrance, her expression strained with unease as she helped them with their coats.Aria’s voice came out sharper than intended. “Jennifer… whose cars are those? They’re not my parents'.”Jennifer hesitated before answering, then lowered her voice. “They belong to the executives of the Harper Foundation. Mr. and Mrs. Lambert summoned them here for an emergenc
Aria was beyond horrified—she was utterly petrified now that the fog of intoxication had lifted. Ravenhold Bastille wasn’t just a prison—it was a nightmare located near the border of their country, buried deep in the forsaken wilderness of Brawley County. It was popularly known as a wretched wasteland.However, there was a rumor before that a certain pack had bought it, but she never had any interest in knowing which pack. Who would even want a desolate and dangerous place like that?An abandoned scar on the map where only the worst criminals were sent to rot, where shadows walked freely, and where the desperate and the damned hid from the world. Very few dared to venture there, and even fewer returned.Without sparing a single glance behind her, driven by pure panic, Aria fumbled for her phone with shaking fingers and dove into Cecil’s car. Mason was left baffled by what was going on. The only thing he could do was watch her leave in an almost hysterical state.Aria's heart thundere
Aria bolted from the bedroom, the adrenaline of bad news still roaring in her veins, so frantic she forgot all about the torn state of her dress. Just as she reached for the suite door, it swung open, and standing there was a man she recognized instantly, because of his injured arm still bound in a cast.For a heartbeat, they both froze, locked in a moment of stunned silence, the tension crackling like a live wire between them.Then, a commanding voice cut through the heavy air."You’re right on time, Julian. I assume that paper bag you’re holding has the dress I asked for?" Mason's deep voice rolled through the room with effortless authority.Aria and Julian both jerked their attention toward him. Aria instinctively clutched at the torn fabric of her dress, desperate to maintain a shred of dignity."Ah... yes," Julian stammered, blinking rapidly as he tore his gaze away from her. "I wasn’t sure which one to pick, so I just took the saleslady’s recommendation."Mason’s smirk was almos
“Are you sure you want to do this alone?” Aria’s assistant asked worriedly as she peered through the half-open car window.“I’ll be fine,” Aria replied with a faint smile, but her eyes betrayed no warmth. “Just return the car, go home, and pack your things. I’ll message you tomorrow. My mom will send someone to pick us up and take us back to Ironhide Pack.”The omega nodded, hesitant, then drove off. As the car disappeared down the road, Aria turned to face the glittering tower of The Noctis Palace, its mirrored glass reflecting the dying light of the evening.‘What floor was that bar again?’ she mused, pulling out her phone. Just then, an alarm blared... her fertility meds. Prescribed by Crimson Claw Pack’s top doctor. A bitter smile played on her lips as she pulled the bottle from her bag, then, without hesitation, tossed it into a trash bin.“I don’t need that anymore,” she whispered to herself.She found the exclusive bar on the 108th floor and made her way inside. The staff welco
*SLAM!*All heads whipped toward the entrance.Several men in black suits entered, dragging a man behind them—a man barely clothed, wearing nothing but a damp towel wrapped around his waist. His chest was bare, his hair was wet, his skin still glistening from a shower abruptly interrupted.A wave of gasps rippled through the room once again.The man’s eyes darted around until they landed on Aria. His expression immediately softened into something desperate and dramatic. He tried to bolt toward her, arms wide for an embrace, but several members of Aria’s team stepped forward protectively, forming a human shield between him and her.Rejected, he opted for chaos instead.“Aria, baby! What’s going on?!” he cried out, loud enough for everyone to hear. “You told me to get ready this morning! I was about to step into the shower when these lunatics stormed in and dragged me here like some criminal!”The entire room held its breath.“We’re going to miss our flight to Hawaii,” he whined. “You s
When Aria’s eyes fluttered open, the sunlight had already spilled across the marble floors like molten gold. The air was still, but her mind immediately spun into motion.She bolted upright and grabbed her laptop. As the screen lit up, a cascade of new emails poured in—updates, schedules, today’s agenda. She skimmed through them quickly, completely missing the one email from last night, marked URGENT, buried beneath the rest.Her eyes dropped to the bottom right corner of the screen—and her stomach dropped with it.8:00 AM.Her heart stuttered. “Oh, no. No, no—damn it!” she hissed, springing from the bed like the floor was on fire.Today wasn’t just another workday.This was the day.The day Crimson Claw Enterprises was set to seal a deal that would catapult their pack to second in the Alliance rankings—just one step below the Silver Moon Pack itself. The final phase of the project she'd bled herself dry for. Endless nights spent revising proposals, calling in favors, humbling hersel
The moment Aria's phone buzzed, she snatched it up without hesitation. Her heart skipped a beat, and her breath caught in her throat.A faint, almost invisible smile flickered on her lips, but it didn’t reach her eyes.[Aria! This is Mom. It’s my friend’s number... mine’s in the car. I was out and heard from someone that you got into an accident. Are you okay? I’m so worried!]Aria’s fingers trembled slightly as she typed her reply, forcing calm into each word.“I’m alright, Mom. I just got home. Just some bruises, nothing serious. The car Dad gave me… it protected me. It saved me.”[Oh, thank goodness! Forget the car, we’ll send you another one, a bigger one! We love you, sweetheart!]Her mother’s words warmed her chest for a moment—a spark of love in a cold, quiet night.Aria belonged to the Ironhide Pack, second in power only to the Sovereign Pack–The Lycan Alpha King’s Pack.Her adoptive parents, the philanthropists adored across the territory, had raised her like royalty. From the