Aria's POVI couldn't persuade my mate to put me down, but I managed to convince him to take me to his house with a few tears."I told you we don't have to go back to the healer's quarters," I said."We have to go; we need to get your wounds cleaned," he responded.Instead of nagging him as I had earlier, I burst into tears, making him stop in his tracks. "Are you sure you're my mate?" I sobbed."What do you mean by that?" he asked."I told you I don't want to go back to the healers, and you keep insisting on going? It's hard enough for me as it is already. What kind of mate are you?" I cried."I told you it's going to heal with or without going to the healers. Why can't you just listen to me?" I said.I could have sworn I saw a smile cross his face for a very quick second, but he only bit his lip. "Can you please stop crying?" he said.But I didn't. I kept on sobbing, each sob louder than the last. He released a breath. "Fine, fine, we won't go to the healers. We'll go home instead."

Aria’s POVXander hadn't said a word to me since we entered the room. I had expected an explanation after the little jealousy stunt he pulled earlier."You should get some rest. Lucas wants to start your withdrawal treatment tomorrow," he told me."Is that a question or an order?" I asked him placing a hand on my hip. He stared at me for a brief moment, then raked his hand through his curls, appearing frustrated. I wondered what it would feel like to touch those soft locks. But I quickly pushed the thought away."Your health is my top priority, and I won't sit around watching you slowly get ill when there's a cure," he said.I rolled my eyes at his apparent concern, crossing my arms and leaning against the wall. I could sense my wolf's disapproval with my attitude."You need to get some sleep. I have some work to finish up in my office," he said before making his way out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I took a deep breath, acknowledging that he was right. I needed as

Aria’s POVOne week later.So, I didn't die. I don't know if I should thank the heavens for letting me live or if I should curse the heavens, Lucas, and Xander.In that case, I think I should hate the heavens for making me go through what I experienced—the suffocation, the pain, and the helplessness. I felt as helpless as I did years ago under the bed. Just thinking about those memories makes my brain and heart ache.And Lucas, for detecting the ketamine and then forcing me to consume that weird-ass tonic with the bland and awful stench, which made my body glitch.Poor Lucas. I vividly remember how disoriented he looked when he saw me lying in Xander's arms, resembling a blow-up doll. I use the term "blow-up doll" because, in that moment, the only difference between me and one was the fact that I had blood and flesh, and my eyes were blinking. Lucas seemed a bit scared, trying to figure out where he went wrong, he thought my body was reacting perfectly to the tonic. But clearly, not s

Aria’s pov It has been three days of silence hung between us, making the house feel smaller. Xander's presence was there, but he kept to his study, and when we crossed paths in the kitchen, he'd just stare and vanish into his study.He stopped cooking for me. Jackson brought food, and the fridge was stacked with microwaveable dinners. I hadn't gone back to the healers, Lucas only visited once and told us my case is complicated but I’ll try to find some solution soon. I’m currently seating on Xander's bed, wearing a white tank top and one of his sweatpants—the only wardrobe I had since leaving the healers. Then, a crash from Xander's study broke the silence. He'd been so quiet lately, and oddly enough, I found myself missing him.I missed those soft forehead kisses, his warmth, and even our nightly arguments that weirdly felt like home. The silence became too much, so I decided to face him. I made my way to his study. Jogging down the stairs, I sensed he must've heard me from the

Aria’s POVI feel like my soul is placed in the body of a different person. Everything about my body feels strange, but in a good way. I tried sitting up, but I can't."Oh, my heavens, she's awake. She's finally awake," Rose says. I don't know if she was screaming, or my hearing seems to have sharpened, but I could hear everything Rose was saying in my ears like a very loud drum.I feel her steps coming closer; she props me up, placing pillows behind me. "Aria! How are you feeling?" Rose says like she has been waiting for me to wake up for a thousand years.I part my lips to tell her I feel like shit, but nothing comes out, so I only smile. "It's official, Aria. I think you're related to Sleeping Beauty," she smiles, sitting on the seat next to my bed and holding both my hands."Do you know how worried I've been? I thought you were planning on staying in that bed for another week-""Who are you talking to?" Lucas asks as he opens the door."Dear heavens, she's awake?" he asks, surpris