The Golden Eyes

Chapter 1

Aria's POV

"Get your shit and get out. I need the place cleared by noon."

The landlord stood on the porch with his arms crossed, watching us like we were trash he couldn't wait to throw away. My mother was crying quietly, her hands shaking as she tried to tape up another box. My father just stood there staring at the pile of our belongings on the floor, furniture, clothes, kitchen stuff all thrown together like garbage.

We had nowhere to go.

Two months ago my parents lost their jobs at the Ashford Estate. Fake theft charges that everyone knew were bullshit but no one would fight. The Ashford name carried weight. When they accused you of stealing, you were guilty. No investigation. No chance to defend yourself. Just fired and blacklisted.

Their savings ran out last week.

Now we were being evicted.

My father looked ten years older than he had three months ago. His shoulders were slumped, defeat written all over him. My mother couldn't stop crying. I wanted to comfort her but I didn't know what to say. This was my fault. All of it.

Suddenly, a black car pulled up and my stomach instantly dropped.

The door opened and Caden Ashford stepped out. He looked perfect like he always did, expensive clothes, styled hair, that confident smile that made me want to punch him. He leaned against his car and watched us with obvious amusement.

"Who are you?" My father asked him.

Caden ignored him completely, his eyes on me.

"This is sad," he said, looking around at our stuff on the sidewalk. "Really sad and it didn't have to be this way."

"Get the fuck out of here," I growled.

Caden's smile widened. "All you had to do was say yes, Aria. One word. Accept the mate bond and I would have fixed all of this. Your parents would still have their jobs. You'd still have a home, but you have to be stubborn, don't you?"

My mother looked at me with desperate, confused eyes. She didn't understand what was happening. Why was this rich boy offering to help us? Why wouldn't I take it?

I walked toward Caden. I was exhausted and broken, but I still had enough fight left to spit in his face one more time.

"I will never accept the bond. I'd rather die than belong to you."

Caden's smile dropped. His eyes flashed gold for a second, his wolf pushing at the surface. Then he got control and the cold mask came back.

"Then you just made your choice."

With that, he got back in his car and drove away without looking back.

"What was that about?" my father asked. "What bond?"

I couldn't answer. How could I explain that Caden Ashford believed I was his fated mate? That he'd destroyed our lives because I rejected him? That I'd just thrown away our last chance at salvation because I refused to be owned by a psychopath?

I'd fucked us all.

We packed what would fit in our old car. The plan was to drive to my mother's distant relatives in another state and beg for a place to stay. It was humiliating but we had no other options.

I sat in the back seat as my father started the engine. My mother was silent in the passenger seat, staring out the window with empty eyes. The mood was heavy and no one spoke.

I stared out the window and thought about the past three months.

It started at a party. A stupid back-to-school thing at a bar near campus. Caden cornered me and asked me to be his mate. I said no. I thought that would be the end of it.

I was wrong.

Caden didn't take rejection well. Within a week he started spreading rumors about me. Called me a slut. Said I threw myself at guys for attention. Got his friends to harass me. Made my life at Lunar Ridge University hell.

Then he went after my parents.

Equipment started going missing from the maintenance department at the Ashford Estate where they worked. Every time something disappeared, my father was on shift. It was too convenient and obvious, but Caden had connections and my parents were nobody. When the estate accused my father of theft, he was fired immediately. My mother also got fired the next day for "association."

No one would hire them after that. The Ashford name made sure of it.

We burned through savings trying to survive. I picked up extra shifts at the campus coffee shop but it wasn't enough. Nothing was enough.

And now we were here. Homeless. Desperate. Running.

The drive was quiet. My father focused on the road. My mother cried silently. I sat in the back and felt the weight of my choices crushing me.

Maybe I should have just said yes. Accepted the mate bond. Let Caden have what he wanted.

No.

I'd rather die than be his.

The mountain road was winding and narrow. Trees pressed in on both sides and it was getting dark.

My father pressed the brakes going into a sharp curve but nothing happened.

He pressed harder, still the car didn't slow.

"David?" my mother's voice called with fear.

"The brakes..." My father pumped the pedal desperately. "They're not working."

Panic flooded his face. The car was speeding up, the curve coming too fast.

My mother screamed.

I grabbed the back of her seat, bracing myself, but it was useless.

The car went off the road. For a horrible moment we were flying through the air. Then we crashed down the slope, rolling and smashing against rocks and trees. Metal screamed, glass shattered, everything was happening too fast.

When the car finally stopped, my whole body hurt.

I was trapped in the back seat, unable to move. Something was pinning my legs. I tried to shift but agony shot through me. I looked at the front seat.

My mother's head was at a wrong angle. Her eyes were open but empty, staring at nothing.

"Mom?" .

She didn't respond.

My father was slumped over the wheel. Blood was everywhere on the dashboard, dripping down his face, and pooling in his lap.

"Dad?"

No answer.

I tried to reach for them but I couldn't move. Pain radiated from my chest. I couldn't feel my legs. When I looked down I saw blood soaking through my shirt. Too much blood.

This was it. This was how I died.

Eighteen years old. Poor. Hated. Broken.

My vision was blurring. I thought about Caden's smile when he drove away. Did he do this? Did he cut the brakes? Or was this just bad luck? Just the universe finishing what it started?

I should feel more. Should be screaming or crying or something. But mostly I just felt tired.

My mother's hand was inches away but I couldn't reach it. I wanted to hold her hand one more time. Tell her I was sorry. Sorry for rejecting Caden. Sorry for being too stubborn to save them. Sorry for everything.

The cold was spreading through me, replacing the pain. My eyes were getting heavy.

Maybe dying wasn't so bad. At least it would be over.

As my eyes closed, and everything faded to black, I suddenly heard someone calling my name from far away.

"Aria? Aria?"

The voice was familiar but I couldn't quite place it.

My eyes slowly opened.

I wasn't in the car.

I was lying on something soft. Music pounded around me. People were talking and laughing. Someone was tapping my shoulder.

"Aria, wake up."

I blinked, disoriented. I knew that voice.

I looked up and saw Caden face looking down at me, expression annoyed.

"Caden?”