The Weight of Choices

Aria POV

 

No matter how hard I try, I still could not understand what exactly the moon wanted from me. Just when I thought I could actually make a threat and make him believe that his words were not going to move me in any way, he suddenly claims he loves me fierce that way. He smiled at me one more time before leaving the room.

 

I stood up feeling frustrated, not knowing what to do. Was this how everything was going to turn out? Everything was happening so fast I couldn't even explain anything. I couldn't understand a thing. But I knew that everything will be settled as soon as possible.

 

I went back to my bed, trying to give a sign of relief, trying to calm myself down. I should stop overthinking things. I should try to calm down, calm my nerves. Things are not always supposed to be this difficult for me. Just at that moment, flags, memories came back.

 

I remembered my childhood, the foster homes, every messy memory. How I fought so hard to belong in a place that I couldn't be. I tried to make every family accept me, try to be that perfect daughter they all wanted. Because I was not ready to be alone, to lose everything. But I couldn't. No matter how hard I tried, I still couldn't.

 

At that moment, the door opened as he stepped in with a glass of water.

 

“Are you parched?” he asked.

 

“I am not thirsty. You can keep it. And besides, I don't know why you are acting this nice to me. You know it's not going to change anything. I'm still repeating it to you. Not because you assume we are mates. It's going to change a thing and it makes no sense. I can't be your mate. It doesn't even align,” I said to him as he laughed before taking his seat.

 

“Aria,” he muttered. “I know we are not so close. Neither are we friends. But I remember you. I remember saving your life years ago.”

 

I scoffed at his words. “You don't have to remember everything from Marcus, Hitman. Do you remember you took a bullet for me?”

 

“I remembered everything and then I realized why I needed to save you. Do you even know why I am telling you all of this?” he questioned.

 

I shrugged, clearly curious to know more.

 

“Because I owe you my life. You might not want it, neither might you find it important in any way, but I really do owe you everything and more. And besides, I tried to pay you back for what you did to me. When I met you again at Marco's wedding, I was the best man and you were the bride. Do you even know how that felt? It was unbelievable. I was too surprised to even realize what was going on. I know that I always try to prove to you that I was stubborn and everything, but I am not. I'm not at all. I am so sorry. But please, everything is going to be okay.”

 

I stuttered to him as he shrugged.

 

“Whatever. I just want you to be safe in every possible way. I… I want to always keep you safe. And for that to happen, we have to understand each other. You are no longer with Marcus again. You are now with me. Yes, you are my enemies and you might see me as—”

 

I laughed. “My donor, my kidnapper, my mate.”

 

“Anyways, it's going to be okay. I will keep you safe. Besides, you called me your mate, right? And as your kidnapper, I am meant to keep you safe right before troubles happen. Besides, assassins have started. They clearly are rebelling against the both of us and they don't want us to do anything with each other. So we should at least support each other, right?” he said.

 

I stood up immediately and went straight to the door, opening it.

 

“I know I am being kidnapped at this point, but can you actually leave? Give me my own privacy, kidnapper,” I mocked him.

 

“Wow. So confident,” he teased, about to make his way out of the room when one of the guys walked toward us with a serious expression.

 

“Has the war been settled?” he questioned the guard.

 

“No, it has not been settled. In short, the councils are not ready to ease the chaos. They want you to take her back. And we got a mysterious letter from a messenger. We tried to question him to get who exactly sent it, but no. He was so fast, so swift and well trained,” he said and then handed it to me.

 

I looked at it, and he also seemed curious to know who it was. He then slowly opened it.

 

“Sign over shares or I will expose your mother.”

 

“What?” he looked at me. “This is Marcus, right? He is the one threatening you this way. Please tell me he is not the one. He is okay. Besides, I don't know what to do. I don't know why he still wants me to sign over my shares. I will not do that. I will never. He should expose whatever he wants. I don't care.”

 

He quickly helped to my shoulder, staring straight into my eyes.

 

“Let me buy the shares from you. Maybe if I do, you will understand that he has no leverage over you when he sees you have nothing. Let me secure it for you. Keep it safe and he won't have the chance to threaten you anymore.”

 

I smiled. Should I really accept his offer? I thought. Of course I have to. Besides, where am I going to go? Marcus is going to find me anywhere in the world.

 

“Why do you want my shares? Why do you even want it?” I asked.

 

“Because you have something important that I want.”he muttered, so he wanted something from me after all.