“Mom! Dad!” Aria burst into the room, her voice cracking with emotion. She didn’t walk, she ran, her heart pounding in her chest as if trying to reach them before she could.
She practically threw herself into their arms, wrapping both of her parents in a trembling embrace, clutching them as if afraid they might disappear again.
“Aria, sweetheart…” her mother, Emily Harper, whispered. She cupped Aria’s tear-streaked face with both hands, her own fingers trembling. “Oh, my darling girl… how are you?”
Aria shook her head, blinking through the tears. “It’s me who should be asking you that!”
She pulled back just enough to look at them c
After the party ended, Sam and Cecil’s parents retired to their rooms, worn from the long day. But Cecil stayed behind by the bonfire, barefoot in the sand, and a little too quiet.Waves whispered behind her, but none of it calmed the storm inside. She cracked open another can of beer and took a long pull, swallowing until it was half gone. The alcohol burned, but not enough to drown her thoughts.Her family was finally whole again… and yet she couldn't stop thinking of Aria. Of Aria's parents, still imprisoned, still suffering.“Wow,” came a voice from behind, smooth and teasing. “My mate can drink a lot like me, we will surely get along.”Cecil didn’t turn around. “Leave me alone, Jacob. I want to be alone tonight
Aria’s POVJust when I thought I was about to come undone, Mason stopped.His hands clamped down on my hips, grounding me. He leaned over, his bare chest pressing against my back, and kissed the nape of my neck. The heat of his breath and the slow drag of his lips sent shivers racing down my spine.“Listen,” he whispered with a husky voice. “I’m going to fuck you so hard you won’t be able to stand. And even after they’re gone… I won’t stop. So you better keep your voice down. Understood?”Gods.The threat in his voice, the promise—it made my thighs quiver. I could barely breathe. My ar
Aria’s POV Finding out Mason was my true mate awakened something wild in me. It wasn’t like what I felt with Elliot—that fake bond, the spell-driven haze. No… this was different and much more intense.I couldn’t stop looking at him. Couldn’t stop wanting him. The thought of him moving even a few feet away made my chest ache. I needed him close. I wanted him to mark me so I could feel him.The craving was too strong, clawing at me from the inside. I couldn’t hide it anymore. That’s why I tempted him earlier… by skinny dipping. And thank the Moon Goddess I did.So when he pulled out of me, frustration burned hot through me. But that irritation quickly gave way to curiosity.Now here we were—both naked, breathless, hiding in a dusty old tool shed. Pressed against the wall, peeking through a grime-covered window like a pair of misbehaving wolves.Outside, I spotted Cecil and Jacob stumbling near the cottage. Drunk. Loud. I had slipped away from the party to tuck Nina into bed, while Maso
Aria pushed off from Mason and glided through the water, laughter trailing behind her like a siren’s song. But he was faster. Stronger. Deadlier. And hers.With a low growl, Mason surged forward and caught her effortlessly, his hands locking around her waist. “Why run, little wolf,” he murmured, his lips brushing her jaw, “when you know I’ll catch you?”His mouth began its slow, possessive trail across her face—her cheek, her brow, the edge of her lips.Aria laughed, breathless, and looped her arms around his neck. “Because the chase excites me,” she whispered against his skin, before claiming his mouth in a kiss that was both wicked and sweet.“You’re still full of fire, I see…” Mason muttered, his voice thick with desire. With one fluid motion, he hoisted her, guiding her legs around his waist. The heat between them collided, sparking a storm beneath the surface.“I am,” she purred, eyes gleaming with mischief. “And do you know what I’ve been thinking about?”He arched a brow, pret
“I think Cecil’s idea might actually work,” Aria said, her voice calm but resolute. “She and I know that property like the backs of our hands. We grew up there—we could find our way around blindfolded. Getting to those documents won’t be a problem.”Mason’s reaction was immediate and fierce. “Absolutely not!” he barked, eyes flashing. “If you get caught, Aria, they won’t hesitate to throw you into a cell.”“Then we won’t get caught,” she replied, gaze steady. “Simple as that.”Tension crackled in the air like lightning about to strike—until Sam leaned forward, her tone suddenly light but cunning.“What if I caused a distraction?” he offered. “I’ve been living overseas since I was a kid. No one here knows me beyond close family. Hell, most of the guards probably wouldn’t even recognize my scent. They won’t link me to the Federation chairman.”Cecil’s eyes lit up. “That’s perfect. If you make a scene at the gate, the guards will zero in on you. Meanwhile, Aria and I slip inside undetect
Aria felt her breath punch out of her lungs, her heart stuttering in her chest at Mason’s last words. The weight of what he revealed weighs heavier than anything.But before she could speak—before the thousand questions forming in her mind could find a voice—Mason suddenly scooped a handful of water and poured it over her head playfully.“Ah!” she gasped, blinking as the warm water streamed down her face and soaked her hair.He chuckled, a playful grin flickering across his lips, masking the turmoil boiling beneath his calm exterior. “Let’s finish up. Nina and the others will start hunting us down if we don’t show up soon. We’re expected at that party.”Despite his smile, his eyes didn’t quite match the lightness of his tone.Because inside, Mason was a storm barely restrained. 'She’s not ready yet,' he told himself. 'I’ll tell her the truth… when the time is right. When she’s strong enough to face it.'They dried off quickly, but the silence between them buzzed with things left unsai