(Sarah's POV)The silence in the car was heavy. My hands gripped the steering wheel, fingers twitching as my claws threatened to extend. Aria sat beside me, her head leaning back against the seat. She was pale, her violet eyes half-closed as though the weight of our earlier conversation had drained her completely.The Shadow King. Night Color Hotel. The terrifying implications of his obsession with her played on a loop in my head.I tightened my grip on the wheel, the leather creaking under the pressure.“Next time we see him,” I said, my voice low but seething, “we’re bringing wolfsbane weapons. And we’re not going unprepared.”Aria shifted, the heaviness in her gaze lifting slightly as she turned her head to look at me. She didn’t speak right away, and for a moment, I thought she might agree.Instead, she let out a soft sigh and said, “Sarah, focus on driving. Your wolf’s anger is too strong right now. You’re holding the wheel like it’s a Hunter Pack wolf.”Her tone was calm,
(Aria's POV)The afternoon sunlight poured into my apartment, softening the harsh edges of reality for the briefest moment. Sarah’s laughter filled the small kitchen as she unpacked yet another bag of honeymoon souvenirs. Her joy felt infectious, a bright counter to the constant storm inside me.But even her happiness couldn’t push away the weight of what I had to say.Every breath I took felt heavier, my heart pounding painfully in my chest.I had kept too much from Sarah, my closest friend, for far too long. I knew I couldn’t hide anymore. Not after everything that had happened—or could happen again."Sarah," I started, my voice barely above a whisper.She glanced up, her cheerful grin faltering as soon as her warm brown eyes met mine."Aria?" she asked, setting down the jar of herbs she was holding. "What’s wrong?"The concern in her tone nearly broke me. My hands trembled as I reached for the edge of the table, grounding myself as the memories surged forward like an unstopp
(Aria’s POV)Sarah’s beaming smile cut through some of the lingering fog in my mind. Her happiness was genuine, and for her sake, I tried to push my worries into the background.She clutched a shopping bag tightly, her cheeks flushed from excitement. “Jason’s coming back tonight!” she said. “Do you know how hard it’s been not seeing him? Honeymoon bliss spoiled by him running errands, honestly." Her laugh echoed brightly as we walked down the pack’s busy shopping district.I forced a smile. “That’s great. You must be excited.”She nodded vigorously. “I know it’s been a mess, but he’s worth it.” Her eyes softened as she spoke of her mate. “He’s sweet and thoughtful. Did I tell you his parents sent more wolfsbane honey as another gift for us? They don’t want me to feel out of place at their family dinners when we eventually visit.”“Eventually?” I tilted my head, my curiosity surfacing despite myself. A part of me had always thought it strange that Sarah had never been to Jason’s pa
(Aria's POV)I stared down at the screen of my phone, rereading the latest message from the Shadow King for what must have been the tenth time. Each word practically dripped with venomous insinuations.*"How many times has he taken you?"*My fingers tightened around the sleek device as I fought the urge to throw it across the room.The fact that Derek—or rather, the Shadow King—knew about my recent interactions with Alexander wasn’t surprising. Nothing stayed hidden from a figure as powerful and cunning as him.But his words. His accusation. How dare he?My chest burned with a mixture of shame and anger. Shouldn’t he be preparing for his marking ceremony, serenading Natalie with promises of love and future glory? Why did he care about Alexander? Why did he care about *me*?A bitter laugh escaped my lips, though it lacked any humor. Whatever reasons he had, they didn’t matter now.Not anymore.I exhaled sharply, forcing the mix of emotions down, suppressing the hurt and anger t
(Alexander's POV)The office was unusually quiet, save for the ticking clock on the far wall. James had just left, and though he was my most trusted beta, his repeated evasive answers left a jagged frustration clawing at my insides.I leaned back in my chair, the leather creaking slightly beneath me. The warm light streaming through the tall windows did little to soothe my restless mind. Every lead I had chased about my past ended in dead ends or tightly sealed lips.The official records didn't align. Witnesses from the critical time either conveniently disappeared or were too loyal to the elders to speak the truth. Everything felt deliberately obscured, designed to keep me in the dark.That left only one clear source remaining—Aria.She was the one thread I couldn’t unravel.Every interaction with her triggered memories that danced just out of reach—fragments of laughter, silver hair shimmering in moonlight, warmth I couldn’t explain. Yet when I pressed her, she shut herself off
(Alexander's POV)The slight hum of the air conditioner in my office was the only sound breaking the quiet. My hands rested against the pristine surface of my desk, fingers twitching slightly as my golden eyes scanned the documents laid out before me.These weren’t just any documents. They were five-year-old medical records meticulously detailing my supposed memory loss after becoming the Black Wood heir.They looked perfect. Too perfect.Nothing in the records seemed amiss at first glance. Test results, notes from pack healers, timelines—all impeccably aligned in a way that made them nearly unassailable. But as my wolf stirred uneasily, I knew something was wrong.The timelines matched too perfectly with what Aria had said. The attacks, the confrontation at the Black Wood territory—this was too coincidental. And if there was one thing I knew about coincidences in pack politics, it was that they didn’t exist.I leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly as my jaw clenched. My head
(Aria's POV)The sound of the car engine hummed softly, an almost soothing background to the chaos in my mind. I stared blankly out the window, my hands tightly clasped in my lap. My swollen legs ached, but the pain was barely noticeable compared to the heavy weight in my chest.Derek's marking ceremony.The words echoed relentlessly in my mind, each syllable as sharp as a blade.He was finally marking Natalie.It shouldn't have surprised me. I had known this day would come. I’d repeated it to myself enough times that I thought I was prepared. But now, facing the reality, I realized just how deeply it cut.My mate.Marking another.I bit my lip sharply, trying to steady the tremor in my breath. The taste of iron spread across my tongue, grounding me momentarily."Aria?"Alexander’s deep voice pulled me from my spiraling thoughts.I turned my head slightly, meeting his concerned golden gaze through the rearview mirror."Are you alright?" he asked. His tone was calm, his brow
(Aria's POV)The warmth of Alexander’s arms, though firm, felt far away. My body trembled against him, my omega wolf whimpering quietly at the confusing rush of emotions overtaking me. Part of me wanted to surrender to his care, to allow myself the peace of being vulnerable. The other part recoiled, memories of betrayal wrapping around me tightly, refusing to let me forget.The sharp screech of tires shattering the stillness dragged me out of my thoughts. My head snapped toward the dark Mercedes that pulled in front of Alexander’s car, effectively blocking our path.The door opened, and Samuel Gray stepped out, his every movement precise, calculated. His cold expression morphed into mockery as he took in the scene before him. Alexander barely spared him a glance before shifting me slightly in his arms as if shielding me from sight."Quite attentive to your omega liaison, Black Wood heir," Samuel sneered, his words dripping with venom.I stiffened, shame prickling under my skin. Li
(Aria's POV)The breakfast spread Emma had prepared sat mostly untouched on the table between us. I tried to focus on the food—to eat something for the sake of appearances—but every bite felt like swallowing lead.My body was too fatigued, my swollen legs burning under the weight of my condition. I pushed the fork of eggs around my plate again, hoping Alexander wouldn’t notice the trembling in my hands.But of course, he noticed.“Is the food not to your liking?” His tone was even, but there was an edge of concern in it. His golden eyes were sharp, keenly observing every twitch of my fingers and the way I avoided his gaze.“No, it’s fine,” I muttered, glancing down at the plate. Lying under his scrutiny was impossible, but I tried anyway. “I’m just… not very hungry this morning.”He tapped his fingers against the edge of the table, his wolf clearly unsettled. The sound only added to the tension thickening in the room.“You’re not eating enough,” he said flatly. His authority cre