1. Aria Harper

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 banging... Gods, the banging. It felt like a sledgehammer against her temple.

She turned her head with effort. An old man stood outside her car, his expression distorted, worry was painted all over his face.

Aria staggered out of the wreck, her legs barely holding her weight, the ground swaying beneath her like the world itself had lost its balance. But the old man helped her stand still.

Her vision blurred, but the moment she looked up, it hit her.

Cars were crushed into unrecognizable heaps of metal. It was a nightmare, not a highway.

She hadn’t even begun to comprehend the scale of the destruction when...

“Help! Please—SOMEONE HELP! Help me save this child!”

The scream cut through everything. Her head snapped toward the sound, and her heart seized.

A man covered in his own blood with broken arms was kneeling beside an overturned car, clawing helplessly.

Through the jagged glass, Aria saw the small form inside. A child, barely moving and pinned beneath the wreckage.

Something deep and fierce awakened inside her. She didn’t think. She didn’t hesitate. She pushed the old man beside her and ran.

Adrenaline drowned out the pain as she dropped to the ground beside the injured man, crying for help. She gripped the bent door with everything she had, determined to save the little girl.

The child whimpered, a tiny, broken sound that shattered Aria’s heart. Without a second thought, she reached in, arms trembling, and pulled the little girl into her embrace.

“I’ve got you,” she whispered, voice frayed, breathless. “You’re safe now, sweetheart. I’ve got you.”

As soon as Aria had the child in her arms, she dropped to her knees, shaking all over. Her body felt weak and heavy.

“You saved her,” the man said, his voice full of emotion. “Thank you… Oh God, thank you!”

The paramedics finally arrived. One of them reached her just in time as she started to fall to the side. Everything around her started to blur as they gently lifted her onto a stretcher.

Even as the paramedics lifted her, Aria couldn’t take her eyes off the little girl.

Something about the child’s face pulled at her heart, stirred something deep inside her.

She kept watching, holding her breath, until the girl was finally inside the ambulance—safe.

**********

In Titan Spire Building, Crimson Claw Pack Territory...

A tall man with sharp black hair stood at the head of a long table, where a group of top executives sat, eyes locked on him, hanging onto his every word.

“Our team will continue to follow up on the progress of the negotiations—”

His phone suddenly rang, cutting him off.

He glanced at the screen. An unknown number. Annoyed, he declined it.

It rang again, same number. Then again and again.

With an irritated sigh, he finally answered. “What?”

[I’m a Federal Guardian,] the man on the other end said quickly. [I’m looking for Alpha Elliot Riggs of the Crimson Claw Pack. He’s listed as the husband of Aria Harper.]

Elliot’s expression darkened. “This is him. What do you want?”

[There was a major accident on Crimson Ridge Highway. We found your contact listed in her totally wrecked car, she's not there, or at least her number. However, when we checked the CCTV, she left the scene. We couldn’t tell where she went or if someone took her.]

Elliot let out a long, heavy sigh. He didn’t ask any more questions.

“I’ll text you her number. I’m busy. Don't call me again!” he said bluntly and hung up before the man could reply.

Without missing a beat, he forwarded Aria's number, turned back to the table, and continued the meeting as if nothing had happened.

**********

The hospital was crowded. People were being treated everywhere. Blood, bruises, panic in the air. It turned out that a truck lost its brakes, causing a massive crash on Crimson Ridge Highway. Many cars were hit. Many were hurt.

Aria had been lucky.

She had been driving a Volvo S90, known for being strong and safe. The car was totally destroyed, but it had done its job. It kept her alive.

Now, she sat quietly on a hospital bed in the emergency room. A doctor was bandaging the cut on her forehead while a nurse held her still.

She spotted the little girl she had rescued being rushed into surgery. That sight finally allowed her to breathe. 'Oh, thank you, Goddess!' she thought.

The child was safe now, and that was all that mattered.

Her injuries weren’t serious—just cuts and a minor concussion. But as a safety measure, the doctors insisted on a full-body CT scan.

While waiting, she reached into the pocket of her suit jacket and pulled out her phone. Somehow, it had survived the crash. She borrowed a charger from one of the nurses and plugged it into the wall outlet.

When it turned on, she saw several missed calls from unknown numbers. Then a text popped up.

It was from Alpha Elliot Riggs, her husband.

[Why the fuck did you run away from the accident? Are you an idiot? Now, the federal guardians kept calling me.]

That was it.

No “Are you okay?”

No “Where are you?”

Not even a single hint of concern.

Aria stared at the screen in disbelief. Her heart ached... Not from the accident, but from the cold words of the man who was supposed to care for her.

She typed back, fingers trembling slightly.

[I didn’t run away. I was injured. The paramedics brought me to the hospital.]

The message was delivered. Then it showed as seen.

But no reply came.

Nothing.

A quiet, empty silence that hurt more than the crash ever did.

When the CT results came in clean, she was cleared to go—just a mild concussion, some bruises, nothing life-threatening.

When Aria came home, a bandage was still wrapped around her head with a bit of blood and an antiseptic mark. She found Elliot sitting at the dining table, enjoying a delicious dinner.

Their eyes met for a brief moment.

Then he looked away, like nothing had happened. No words. No concern. Just another bite of food.

Aria slowly walked closer, her body still sore. “I’m sorry I couldn’t let you know sooner,” she said softly. “My phone died… I was hurt and taken to the hospital right away. I only managed to charge it after I was treated.”

Elliot didn’t even glance at her. He kept eating, clearly annoyed.

Still, Aria tried again. “I’m sorry if I made you worry. I didn’t know the federal guardian would call you. But I’m okay now—nothing serious.”

Elliot finally set his fork down and wiped his mouth with a napkin. Then he let out a long, irritated sigh.

“Enough yapping. You’re giving me a headache. I’m tired from the meeting—the one you didn’t show up for.”

He stood, tossed the napkin onto the table, and walked past her like she wasn’t even there.

“From now on, keep your phone charged. I don’t want your drama screwing up my work again.”

As he headed upstairs, he added over his shoulder, “I lost my appetite. Eat alone. The food’s cold—have an omega heat it up.”

Aria stood there in silence, her head lowered as he passed.

Then she looked up, her eyes following him, watching until he disappeared completely.

And in that quiet space, she felt something in her chest—something that had been brewing for years.

It wasn't pain. It was heavier. Sharper. More dangerous.

Something inside her snapped. It was a shift!

Then her phone buzzed.

A message. From an unknown number.