Ryder's POV I gripped my steering wheel tight as I kept my eyes on the road. I could hear the slow and calm breathing of the omega behind me. I looked at her face through the rear view mirror and my heart softened as they landed on her frail body. They really did her badly back at her pack. 'Is that affection I see you having there, Ryder?' Otis said to me and I growled. 'It's not affection, Otis, and you know it,' I answered him as I turned my eyes from the rear view mirror and brought it down on the road in front of me. 'I only care for her as every normal person with a heart would. Do not mistake my kindheartedness for love and affection.' 'Okay?' Otis tsked. 'From my view though, that's not what I see. You do know that I cannot only see what you see but I can also read your mind. So, I know--' "Shut up," I said out loudly, my mind-linking slipping out of my lips. Aria grunted in her sleep and I stilled. I looked at her through the rear view mirror again and sighed after watchi
Aria's POVI felt a light tap on my shoulder and my eyes fluttered open. I looked around, dazed for a few seconds as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. I almost began to panic after seeing that I was in a car when a somewhat familiar voice said my name."We've arrived, Aria," the voice said and I turned towards it. I felt my heart almost beat out of my chest when I suddenly came face to face with my new mate, the Lycan King Ryder. "You should get your things and come with me," he added as he turned and began walking away. As I watched him retreat into the mansion that was behind him, all events that had just happened suddenly came rushing back. The ceremony, the arguments, Ryder finally choosing me as a mate; a smile tugged at my lips as I grabbed my small bag and crawled out of the car.My breath left my lips and my eyes widened in awe as they came upon the huge mansion in front of me. Huge pillars adorned the entrance of the building, holding up the three stories above it th
Aria's POVThe long hallway I and Ma Levine walked through expanded until they reached the end where it opened into a vast room, one that was filled with different doors that led to other rooms and more hallways. I presumed the large room that we had entered to be a dinner hall as stacks of seats and rows of tables lined each sides of the spacious hall. A large painting hung on the wall, one that had so much abstraction to it that I could not make heads or tails of what it meant. "It's a painting bought from an auction that Ryder attended last two years," Ma Levine said after noticing my constant squinching as I stared at the picture."I don't... I don't really understand it though," I muttered as I turned to face Ma Levine. "How does one take this to be... art?""Ryder's father loved art when he was alive and found in them what others couldn't," Ma Levine said with a sigh as she smiled. Her smile slowly faded to a saddened frown as her eyes stayed on the painting. "I guess Ryder pi
Aria's POVAs I stepped in the room, I couldn't help but awe at what was going to be my room. My breath caught at the sight before me and I couldn't help but laugh incredulously as I immediately became wonderstruck.The moonlight filtered through the draped window, casting a bright gleam on the big bed a few feet away from me. Huge chandeliers hung down from the ceiling like stalactites, a brilliant radiance that made the whole room feel alive. The walls of the room was adorned with different abstract paintings and pictures, all adding to the life that the room had. Different tapestries, all of colors matching the calm tone of the room, hung across the wall at different locations and velvet sheer curtains hung over the large bed. Two plush cushions say neatly at the foot of the bed and a study chair and table, a lit lamp on top, stood at the end of the room, right beside the window."This place is... it's really beautiful," I muttered, more to myself than to Ma Levine as I slowly wal
Aria's POVI shot my eyes open with a loud gasp. The maids that were bathing me were no longer there. "W-where am I?"Cold wind blew against my skin, causing my body to shudder and my lips to quiver. I managed to sit up on the ground, the small rocks beneath me stabbing at my skin as I moved. I felt one dig into my flesh and I winced in pain. I brought my left arm to my face and grunted as I sighted a bead of blood trickling down my elbow. My lips had suddenly become dry and withered and I licked it after feeling a stinging pain on it. It had become so dry that it was starting to break. The cold wind that whipped against me did nothing to soothe the pain and instead worsened it. I wiped the dust particles that had covered my face from the blowing wind. Some got into my eyes and I had to blink multiple times to get them off. When I felt better, I decided to make sense of my surrounding. My heart began to palpitate as I studied where I was. The more I did so, the more it dawned on m
Aria's POV I turned to the voice, my body trembling with fear. From the sound of the voice, I half-expected to see a large creature, fur coated and long fanged with eyes that gleamed ominously with a fiery glow but I was met with something way more different. A large wolf, it's massive form possessing the aura of majestic grace, stood in front of me. His fur shone like silver and his eyes gave out a strong amber glow, one that held wisdom of the ancient and secrets kept for ages. His silver fur danced in the cold breeze, following the rhythm of the wind. His regal posture exuded strength and a tangible force that I knew should never be reckoned with. My eyes quivered as I stared with reverence at the entity in front of me. He looked down upon me and the moment our eyes met, I felt a deep connection almost immediately. At that instant, the realization of who he was dawned upon me even without him saying his name. "Welcome to the spirit world, Luna Aria," the large wolf said as a s
Aria's POVI couldn't breathe...I shot up from the bathtub, my heart racing as oxygen finally began filling my lungs. Water dripped from my soaked hair, down my face and back into the bathtub. I ran my hands over my face, wiping the water that had now momentarily blinded me. How long have I been in there?...I turned around, taking in short raspy breaths as I eyed my environment. I was still in the bathroom and everywhere looked the same. But deep down, I knew something felt off. "The maids," I mumbled to myself as I began recollecting all that had happened. Even though I had just finished looking around, I turned quickly to my side, where I recalled them standing last, but didn't find anyone there. I really was alone."What did they do to me?" I muttered as I relaxed back on the bathtub. I placed my hands on my aching head as I tried remembering all that had happened. I could remember the three girls and the words that they were mumbling to me. Confusion and curiosity came over
Aria's POV "Who... who has come to meet me?" I asked Ma Levine as my brows knotted into a frown. "The guardians," Ma Levine said as her eyes widened, curiosity displayed in her stare. "They gave appeared to you, haven't they?" "Guardians?" I mumbled before shaking my head. "I don't think the maids you sent to me are people that you can describe to be guardians." "Maids? But I didn't send any maids, Luna Aria," Ma Levine said as her lips stretched into a warm smile, glee replacing the look of curiosity in her eyes. "You didn't send in any maid to help me with my washing?" I asked her as I tried to understand what she was saying. Shaking her head, Ma Levine replied, "no, I didn't. Why would I send you maids when you can wash yourself?" "Th-that was what I thought until they told me that it was part of a ritual used to welcome me officially as the Luna of the pack," I said to Ma Levine as my heart rate began increasing. Fear filled my whole being as I began asking myself differe