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 evident beneath the tailored black shirt he wore.
His presence radiated power and authority, but there was warmth in his dark eyes as they landed on Aria.
“Aria,” he called out, his voice deep and steady, “Welcome back to the pack.”
He descended the staircase with grace that only an alpha could possess, each step purposeful, calculated. As soon as he reached her, he pulled her into a firm, reassuring embrace.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured near her ear. “I only learned of everything that happened to you late last night. And let me make one thing very clear... I don’t believe a single word of Elliot’s accusations. That bastard made the biggest mistake of his life.”
Aria’s chest tightened as she stepped back. She felt a flicker of safety. Someone believed her. Someone powerful.
“Thank you, Alpha,” she said, her voice strained yet steady. “I’m sorry for bringing shame to the pack, but I swear on everything I have left, I will clear my name. I will expose the truth. They have no idea what I’m capable of.”
A slow, proud smile spread across Hugo’s face. “That’s the Aria I know. That’s the fire they underestimated.”
“But… that’s not why I came,” she continued, her tone shifting as her resolve cracked. “It’s my parents. I know you must have heard. Please, Alpha Hugo… help them. They don’t deserve this.”
Hugo’s expression turned serious. He looked toward Cecil for a moment... assessing... calculating.
Aria understood his gesture and spoke first. “It’s alright. Cecil is my assistant and best friend. Her parents have served mine for decades. I trust her with my life.”
Hugo gave a slight nod, then turned and gestured down the hall. “Alright then. Let’s talk in my office.”
He glanced toward a maid who stood silently by the corridor. “Coffee and orange juice for three. And tell the others I’m not to be disturbed.”
As the three of them made their way into his private study, Aria felt her heartbeat quicken. This wasn’t just a conversation. It was a declaration of war.
Hugo led them into his home office. Aria perched on the edge of the leather sofa, her eyes never leaving Hugo’s as he settled on the opposite.
“Alright,” he said, voice low and deliberate. “Let’s talk. What exactly do you know about your parents’ situation?”
Aria exhaled sharply. “Not much. My mother was at a charity gala with my Aunt Katarina when she was arrested. As for my dad, no one really knows. The FBI sealed the foundation’s entire headquarters. They said the IRS requested it. Even the executives have no idea what’s really going on.”
Hugo’s jaw clenched slightly. “Then I suppose I have no choice but to tell you the truth—the part no one else knows. If we’re going to help your parents, you need the whole picture.”
Aria’s heart skipped. A chill ran down her spine. “What do you mean?”
He leaned forward, his voice darkening. “Your parents and I… we’ve been working behind the scenes on a major business alliance with the White Crescent Pack, the fourth-ranked pack in the Federation. The goal? To fortify our second-place position while helping White Crescent surpass Elliot’s pack and knock him off the third spot.”
Aria’s eyes widened, breath catching. Hugo continued, “And yes, we know about your project — the one you started before everything crumbled. It had power. Vision. And if it succeeded, it would’ve elevated Crimson Claw into a new league. We couldn’t let that happen. So we struck first with White Crescent.”
Aria dragged her hands down her face, overwhelmed. Her mind reeled. Was this her fault? Did her own ambition paint a target on her parents’ backs?
Hugo didn’t slow down. “Your parents decided to attend a charity gala in Frostveil Pack as a diversion in case someone was watching their moves. They were on their way to the White Crescent Pack, and as soon as they entered the highway, just on the border, the federal police arrested them.
According to your Aunt Katarina, it happened so fast. However, that’s outside our pack’s territory, I couldn’t get them or just simply go to them to ask for more information. Security around them is tight.
I only learned about the other details, like the time and location, after inquiring with the Federal Investigation Bureau. Their arrest was carried out so secretly and swiftly, it feels very suspicious. The area where they were arrested lacks lamp posts and cameras.
Whoever planned this struck at the exact moment that would dismantle everything. That business deal and meeting were confidential; that’s why the two parties decided to drop by a charity gala to mask the true purpose."
“I don’t understand,” Aria whispered, trembling. “So what... you’re saying this isn’t about fraud or money laundering at all?”
Hugo’s eyes hardened, and for the first time, a flicker of real fear crossed his features. “No, Aria. This is war disguised as justice. Just like what happened to you. The timing, the precision...
It’s all too calculated. Someone orchestrated this to prevent our alliance. Someone with reach, resources, and a long-standing grudge.”
Aria’s thoughts burned. One name thundered through her skull.
'Elliot.'
Of course, it was him. The disgrace. The traitor. He hadn’t just thrown her away, he had set fire to everything she held dear.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Hugo said, reading the fire in her eyes. “But be careful. We’re dealing with something... or someone... far more dangerous than we thought. This wasn’t a spontaneous act. It was years in the making.”
He stood, pacing slowly, calculating his next words. “My hands are tied, Aria. If I make the wrong move, the Ironhide Pack could fall. The enemy is ahead of us by a mile. Charging in blindly would only destroy us all.”
“Then what are we supposed to do?” Aria asked, her voice raw. “We can’t just wait while they rot in Ravenhold!”
“There’s one person,” Hugo said after a beat. “One person who may still have the influence and intelligence network we need. If anyone can help us navigate this without losing everything, it’s him.”
Aria stood slowly, eyes sharp. “Who?”
Hugo’s lips curled into something between a grimace and a grin.
“My oldest rival… and the most unpredictable bastard I know.”
Mason claimed Aria’s lips with an urgency that ignited fire between them, raw, hungry, and unstoppable. His kiss wasn’t just passion, it was desperation, like a man starved for air finally tasting oxygen. He devoured her mouth, exploring her with a fervent intensity that stole her breath and left her trembling.His tongue swept into hers, tasting every sigh she released, every moan she couldn’t suppress. And still, it wasn’t enough. He wanted more, he needed more.His hands moved across her body like he was mapping sacred ground, memorizing every curve, every quiver of her skin under his fingertips. He was lost in her, completely and willingly.Aria clung to him just as fiercely, her hands roaming over his chest, his back, holding him as if he were the only anchor in a world spinning too fast. The heat between them was undeniable, burning wildly, consuming every inch of space that dared separate them.Mason finally tore his lips from hers, only to trail hot, open-mouthed kisses down
It was the second night since Shaman Orun had been summoned back to the city to assist Mason and Julian, leaving Aria in the care of his apprentices. Though the young shamans followed his ritual to the letter, the process was slower—less refined—and far more draining. Each session left Aria’s limbs trembling, her body sore, and her spirit cracked open a little wider than before. But it gave the same result, so she was fine with it.Still, she kept to her routine. After every cleansing, no matter how weak she felt, she would drag herself to Nina’s room. That quiet ritual, reading a book under the warm glow of the bedside lamp, Nina tucked into her little cocoon of blankets, was the only thing that felt right and gave her peace in her life right now.But tonight, as she returned to the guest villa, weariness clinging to her like a second skin, she was met with the sound of laughter. Cecil and Samantha were sprawled on the sofa, faces lit up by the flickering screen, the echoes of a com
Aria stared down at the flowers in her hands—fresh, fragrant, and unexpected. Her fingers tightened around the stems as a storm of emotions twisted in her chest. Confusion. Gratitude. And something far more dangerous… hope.She wasn’t ready for hope. It was not the right time for matters of the heart. Her life is a mess right now, and she wants to fix that part first. No time for distractions, even if that distraction is Mason.“Well, well, what’s this?” Sam’s voice cut through the moment like a blade, mischievous and direct. She plopped down across from Aria, a sly grin tugging at her lips. “What’s really going on between you and my cousin?”The question jerked Aria from her trance. She glanced at Sam, blinking. “I… he’s helping with my parents’ case. And I’m helping him look after Nina and her trauma from the accident. That’s all.”Sam tilted her head, her blonde waves catching the light as her teasing gaze narrowed. “Just that? So… why the flowers? Is he thanking you for breathing
Cecil stood frozen, her entire body rigid with shock. Her wide eyes locked onto Jacob’s. Everyone around them held their breath, waiting for her reaction.Then, Jacob stepped forward, his expression raw with longing. He pulled her tightly into his chest in a sudden, possessive embrace. “Please,” he murmured. “Say something… my mate.”“No!”Cecil’s voice rang out like a whipcrack.With a powerful shove, she hurled Jacob backward with enough force to knock him off his feet and send him crashing into the sand. She didn’t wait to see the aftermath—she turned and bolted toward the guest villa.“Cecil!” Aria shouted after her. Without hesitation, she spun to Matilda. “I’m sorry, I need to go after her. I’ll see you at dinner!” she called, already sprinting after her best friend.Jacob sat dazed in the sand, his breath knocked out of him—not from the fall, but from the shock. He could only watch as Cecil disappeared from view, her scent still lingering in the salt-laced breeze.Standing near
The sun is preparing to dip lower on the horizon in the beach house, but the battle has only begun.Aria adjusted the wrappings around her knuckles as Cecil rolled her shoulders, already barefoot in the sand, her eyes glinting with mischief and experience. “You sure you’re ready for this, Miss I’m-Still-Recovering?” Cecil teased, circling slowly.Aria grinned, her stance steady. “Try me. Just don’t go crying to Matilda if I land a hit.”From the sidelines, Nina was perched on a towel with her nanny Maria and Matilda, who sipped tea under the shade of a huge old tree. Nina’s tiny fists were in the air, full of glee. “Go, Auntie Aria! Go, Teacher Cecil! Fight! Fight!”With a mock growl, Cecil lunged first, a blur of motion honed from years of combat training. Aria barely dodged, pivoting to the side just in time, her body responding faster than it had in weeks or perhaps years, ever since Elliot started poisoning her. Her wolf stirred beneath her skin, alert, eager.“You’re getting fast
Mason’s eyes flared, his fists clenched at his sides. A growl vibrated in his chest—low, guttural, barely restrained.But Julian couldn't control his fist from flying to Jude's face once again.“Who is it?” he demanded, his voice now a sharp snarl. “Who’s behind all of this?”Jude leaned forward as far as the chains would allow, the silver sizzling against his neck. His voice dropped to a whisper, venomous and cold.“They’re already watching you, Chairman. And they’re not afraid of your Lycan blood.”Mason’s fury rose like a tide—but beneath it, a dark realization twisted in his gut.This went far deeper than Elliot. And if Jude was right, they were all standing at the edge of a war they couldn’t see coming.And before Mason could hurl another question, Jude’s head snapped back, and a shrill, guttural laugh erupted from his throat. It echoed off the walls like a death knell. Then—A sickening sound split the air—something snapping inside his mouth.Foam burst from his lips.His body c