All Chapters of Soulbond to the Alpha: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Aarya“Sleep is the best meditation.” When the Dalai Lama said this, he knew the truth in those words. And I couldn’t agree more. However, fate had a different plan for me as I was born into a family of extremely early risers. And, like clockwork...“Aarya beta (my child), get up!” My mother, Mithali's voice, rang out from the kitchen. And there it was - the inevitable morning wake-up call. With a reluctant sigh, I peeled myself out of bed, holding my mischievous brothers responsible for the endless laughter and late-night conversations that kept me up. Their mission seemed clear: induce stomach aches with uncontrollable laughter, and they excelled at it. Understanding their reluctance to see me leave, I let their antics slide.I’m Aarya Verma, 22 years old, and the daughter of a prominent figure in our community - my father, Ram. He is a well-respected person in our community. He is the best friend and adviser of the chief of the village, and we also own a few farms. Those farms and

Aarya Phew! After enduring a grueling 20-hour flight, I finally touched down at the airport. The exhaustion weighed heavily on my back, reminding me that such long flights weren't friendly to one's back. Anxiety bubbled within me, but I wore a mask of composure, remembering the adage, "fake it till you make it," that echoed through my mind. Stepping out of the plane into the frigid weather, I was grateful for having the foresight to wear a jacket.Amidst the hustle of finishing immigration formalities and retrieving my bags, I found a moment of quiet reflection. Standing there, waiting for my cab, I felt conflicted. Hauling my bags out, I spotted my Uber and embarked on the beginning of my adventure in this foreign land. As I navigated the unfamiliar city, crowds of strangers rushed around me, a stark contrast to the quaint village I had left behind. Tears welled in my eyes as I thought of my family and the life I had known.Summoning a deep breath, I decided to video call my parents.

AaryaTime had flown by, and I had already spent over a month in the United States. Adjusting to a new educational system and way of life was quite the challenge, but having Steven, Lea, and Nyx by my side made it much easier. They had become my pillars of support, helping me cope with the homesickness and the cultural differences.When the festival of Diwali arrived, homesickness struck me hard. In response, the trio of my newfound friends took me to a nearby Indian restaurant. The food might not have matched my mother’s culinary magic, but the taste still carried a slice of home. Following dinner, we embarked on a lazy drive in Steven’s car, culminating in a night spent by the beach. It was in those moments that I realized they had grown into more than just friends; they were my chosen family, my confidants, and the people I instinctively trusted.Presently, I found myself sitting through one of my less engaging classes, my mind wandering through the events that had unfolded over the

Aarya The anticipation and nervousness in the air were palpable as I stood in Lea’s room, facing a fashion dilemma that was just not my cup of tea. “There’s no way I’m wearing that. It’s freaking cold outside. If I wear that, I’m almost certain to die from hypothermia,” I protested, wrinkling my nose at the red short dress that Lea was enthusiastically holding up. Lea’s patience seemed to wear thin as she snapped, “Ahh... You’re a pain to deal with. I’ve shown you around 20 outfits, and you don’t seem to like any of them. Get your ass up and look for yourself.” With a sigh that seemed to carry my resignation, I mumbled, “Fine,” and turned my attention to the vast expanse of Lea’s wardrobe. The sheer volume of clothes before me was enough to make my own modest closet feel like a mere cubby. I sifted through a few outfits, feeling increasingly like a fish out of water in this world of fashion. Amidst the array of colors and styles, a black dress caught my attention. Its elegance and

Aarya The night was filled with animated conversations and laughter as Xander and I shared stories with each other. After a few moments of awkwardness, it was remarkable how quickly a sense of comfort developed between us, making it feel like we had known each other far longer than just a few hours. “Oh, come on, it can’t be true!” Xander snorted at one of my stories, his eyes dancing with amusement. We laughed so hard that our fits drew the attention of those around us. “Oh, it’s true. Atul had silver teeth for almost a week after that. That Holi was one of my best.” I gave him a smug grin. Xander raised an eyebrow, a mixture of curiosity and disbelief on his face. “How many days were you grounded for after that?” My smirk matched his curiosity. “Ah, I just gave my parents my cute puppy dog eyes, and viola, no punishment.” That grin he gave me made me feel so satisfied. “You’re an evil genius,” he chuckled, taking a sip of his bourbon. “I know,” I responded with mock arrogance,