Chapter Five

**Aria's POV**

The kiss was fire and demand, nothing like the gentle mark he'd given me. His hands tangled in my hair as he pressed me against the terrace railing, and through our bond, I felt his hunger, raw and overwhelming.

When he pulled back, we were both breathing hard.

"That wasn't part of our agreement," I whispered.

"No, it wasn't." He stepped back, running a hand through his hair. "I apologize."

"Do you?"

His eyes met mine, still silver. "No."

Before I could respond, James appeared. "Sir, there's a situation."

Dimitri immediately shifted into business mode. "What kind?"

"The Blackthornes. They've filed a formal challenge."

"To our marriage?"

"To you, sir. Personal combat. Winner takes pack rights."

I gasped. "They can't—"

"They can," Dimitri said grimly. "It's old law, but valid."

"You don't have to accept," James said.

"If I don't, we lose all standing in pack territory." He looked at me. "Including protection for your family."

"Marcus is a skilled fighter," I warned.

"It's not Marcus." James handed him a tablet. "It's Alpha Blackthorne himself."

My blood ran cold. Alpha Blackthorne was massive, brutal, and had never lost a challenge.

"When?" Dimitri asked.

"Three days. Full moon."

"Dimitri, no," I said. "This is suicide."

"It's necessary." He turned to James. "Accept the challenge."

"Sir—"

"Do it."

James left reluctantly. I grabbed Dimitri's arm.

"You can't fight him. He'll kill you."

"You have so little faith in me?"

"I've seen him fight. He's a monster."

"So am I." His expression was calm. "Just a different kind."

"This is my fault. If we hadn't—"

"This was always going to happen," he interrupted. "The moment I marked you, we declared war on their ambitions."

"Then break the bond. Divorce me. Save yourself."

He moved closer, backing me against the wall. "Is that what you want?"

"I want you alive!"

"Why?" His eyes searched mine. "We barely know each other. This is just a business arrangement."

"Is it?" The words escaped before I could stop them.

He went very still. Through our bond, I felt his emotions spike - surprise, desire, and something else...

"Aria—"

"There you are!" Celeste's voice shattered the moment. She stood in the doorway, perfectly dressed, smiling like a snake. "I was hoping we could talk."

"We have nothing to discuss," I said.

"Oh, but we do." She sauntered over. "You see, Daddy's challenge? It can be withdrawn."

"At what price?" Dimitri asked.

"Simple. Divorce her. Leave the territory. Never come back."

"No."

"Daddy will kill you."

"He can try."

Celeste's smile widened. "You really think you can beat him? You're strong for a Lycan, but Daddy's been Alpha for thirty years."

"Celeste, why do you care?" I asked. "You have Marcus."

Her mask slipped slightly. "Marcus was always second choice. We both know that."

"You chose his brother," Dimitri said coldly.

"A mistake." She moved closer to him. "One I've regretted."

"Too bad."

She turned to me. "He's going to die for you. How does that feel?"

"Like something you'll never understand," I shot back. "Actual loyalty."

Her face twisted. "You think you've won? You're just his revenge plot. Once he's done humiliating me and Marcus, you'll be discarded."

"If that's true, why are you so threatened?"

She slapped me. Or tried to. Dimitri caught her wrist before her hand connected.

"Touch my wife again," he said quietly, "and your father won't get his chance to challenge me."

She yanked free. "Three days, Dimitri. Enjoy them."

After she left, I touched my cheek where she'd tried to hit me.

"You defended me," I said.

"You're my wife."

"Temporarily."

"Still mine to protect." He tilted my chin up. "That won't change."

"Even in three days?"

"Especially then."

The next morning, I found Dimitri in his private gym, already training. He moved like water, all deadly grace and controlled power.

"How long have you been up?"

"Few hours." He didn't stop moving. "Couldn't sleep."

"Nervous?"

"Excited." He executed a perfect spin kick. "It's been years since I had a real challenge."

"This isn't a game."

"No, it's not." He finally stopped, sweat glistening on his chest. "It's justice."

"For your brother?"

"For Elena. For you. For everyone the Blackthornes have crushed."

I threw him a towel. "I don't need avenging."

"Don't you?" He caught the towel, moving closer. "They terrorized your family, tried to force you into slavery."

"And you forced me into marriage."

"Did I?" He was close enough now that I could feel his heat. "You had a choice."

"Not much of one."

"There's always a choice." His hand came up to trace the mark on my neck. "You chose this. Chose me."

"To save my father."

"Only that?"

My breath caught. "What else would there be?"

"You tell me." His thumb stroked over my pulse. "What do you feel right now?"

Through our bond, I could sense his emotions - desire, yes, but also something deeper. Something that terrified me.

"I feel..." I started.

The gym door burst open. James rushed in, pale.

"Sir, we have a problem."

"What now?"

"Your ex-sister-in-law is here."

Dimitri went rigid. "Celeste?"

"No, sir. Elena's sister. Natasha."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop. Dimitri's expression became stone.

"Send her away."

"She says she has information about the challenge. About Alpha Blackthorne's weakness."

"There is no weakness," Dimitri said flatly.

"She says there is. But she'll only tell you directly."

I felt Dimitri's turmoil through our bond. "I'll talk to her," I said.

Both men looked at me in shock.

"Aria, no," Dimitri said.

"If she has information that could save your life, we need it."

"You don't understand. Natasha blames me for Elena's death. This is a trap."

"Maybe. But we're running out of options."

He grabbed my shoulders. "I won't risk you."

"But you'll risk yourself?"

"That's different."

"Why?"

"Because I—" He stopped, jaw clenching.

"Bring her up," I told James. "We'll both see her."

James looked at Dimitri, who finally nodded.

Minutes later, a woman entered who looked eerily like the photos I'd glimpsed of Elena. But where Elena had been soft, Natasha was sharp edges and barely contained rage.

"Dimitri," she said coldly. Then her eyes found me. "And the new Mrs. Volkov. How nice."

"What do you want?" Dimitri asked.

"To watch you suffer, ideally." She smiled without warmth. "But I'll settle for watching Blackthorne destroy you."

"Then why are you here?"

"Because I want to be the one to destroy you. Not him." She pulled out a flash drive. "Everything you need to know about Blackthorne's weakness. His illegal dealings, his pressure points, and yes, how to beat him in combat."

"What's the price?" I asked.

Her eyes snapped to me. "When this is over, when you've won, you divorce him. Publicly. Humiliate him like he humiliated my sister."

"No deal," Dimitri said immediately.

"I wasn't asking you." She stared at me. "I'm asking her. The woman who's going to watch you die in three days unless she agrees to my terms."

"Aria—" Dimitri started.

"I'll do it," I said.