Chapter 5: A Dangerous Game

Aria could barely focus the next day. Her mind replayed every moment from the clearing—the way Kian’s fingers had brushed hers, the heat in his voice, the way he had seen her in a way no one else ever had. She tried to push the memories aside, but the pull between them lingered, a thread tying her to him no matter how much she resisted.

Training with Cedric that morning didn’t help. His smug confidence grated on her nerves more than usual.

“You’re distracted,” Cedric said, blocking her strike with ease and stepping closer to press his advantage. His blade hovered close to her throat as he smirked. “If you’re going to lead this pack one day, Aria, you’ll need to do better than that.”

She clenched her jaw, shoving him back with more force than necessary. “I’m fine.”

Cedric chuckled, lowering his blade. “If you say so. But I’d hate for you to embarrass yourself at the Gathering next month. All the packs will be watching, after all.”

Aria ignored him, turning her attention back to the training dummies. But her wolf growled softly in her mind, annoyed by Cedric’s condescension and the weight of his expectations. She couldn’t shake the thought of how different Kian was—how he didn’t try to control her or tell her who she was supposed to be.

By the time the sun set, Aria was itching to get away. She made her way to the edge of the pack’s territory under the guise of going for a run, her heart racing as she ventured back into the woods.

When she reached the clearing, he was there again, waiting for her.

“You’re making a habit of this,” Kian said with a crooked smile, his green eyes glinting in the moonlight.

“So are you,” Aria shot back, though her tone lacked any real bite.

He stepped closer, his presence filling the space between them. “You’re here because you want to be. Just like me.”

Aria crossed her arms, trying to steady herself. “This is dangerous, Kian. If my father finds out—”

“Then don’t let him find out,” Kian interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. “We’re not hurting anyone by being here, Aria. The only danger is you fighting what you already know is real.”

Her resolve wavered as he moved closer, the tension between them crackling like a live wire. She hated how easily he unraveled her defenses, how every word he spoke seemed to cut straight to the heart of her doubts and fears.

“I don’t know what this is,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

Kian’s expression softened, and he reached out, his fingers brushing against hers. “You don’t have to know. You just have to let yourself feel it.”

The warmth of his touch sent a shiver down her spine, and her wolf stirred beneath the surface, urging her closer. For a moment, she let herself forget about her father, Cedric, and the weight of her responsibilities. She let herself feel.

“You scare me,” she confessed, her voice trembling.

“Why?” he asked, his tone gentle.

“Because you make me want something I can’t have,” she said, her eyes meeting his.

Kian’s hand slid up to cup her cheek, his touch feather-light but grounding all the same. “Who says you can’t have it?”

Aria’s breath caught, and for a moment, the world seemed to fall away. She leaned into his touch, her heart pounding in her chest as she closed the distance between them.

Their lips met in a slow, tentative kiss, and the connection between them ignited like fire. Her wolf howled in approval, the bond she had tried so hard to deny snapping into place with undeniable force.

When they finally pulled apart, Kian rested his forehead against hers, his breath warm against her skin.

“You can have this, Aria,” he murmured. “You just have to choose it.”

Her heart ached at his words, torn between the impossible choice before her. She wanted him—wanted this—but the consequences loomed large in her mind.

“I don’t know how,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

“You’ll figure it out,” Kian said, his thumb brushing gently across her cheek. “I’m not going anywhere.”

The sound of a snapping branch shattered the moment, and Aria’s head whipped around, her senses on high alert.

Kian’s expression darkened, his body tensing as he stepped in front of her protectively.

“We’re not alone,” he said, his voice low and serious.

Aria’s heart sank as the scent of another wolf reached her nose—a scent she recognized all too well.

“Cedric,” she breathed, dread pooling in her stomach.

Kian’s jaw tightened, his stance shifting as Cedric stepped into the clearing, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene before him.

“Well, well,” Cedric drawled, his tone cold and mocking. “What do we have here?”

Aria’s pulse raced as she stepped forward, trying to shield Kian from Cedric’s wrath.

“It’s not what you think,” she said quickly, though she knew the words sounded hollow even to her own ears.

Cedric’s gaze flicked between her and Kian, his expression hardening. “It doesn’t matter what I think,” he said, his voice laced with menace. “The Alpha will decide what to do with him.”

Aria’s blood ran cold as Cedric turned to leave, no doubt heading straight for her father.

“Kian, go,” she said urgently, her voice trembling. “Now.”

“I’m not leaving you,” Kian said, his voice steady despite the tension in his posture.

“You have to,” she insisted, her eyes pleading with him. “If he tells my father—”

“I can handle your father,” Kian said, his green eyes blazing with determination.

“No, you can’t,” Aria said, her voice breaking. “Please, just go.”

Kian hesitated for a moment before nodding, his jaw tight. “This isn’t over,” he said, his voice firm.

With one last look, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Aria standing alone in the clearing. Her heart felt like it was being torn in two as Cedric’s scent faded into the distance, a silent promise of the storm that was about to come.