All Chapters of Her Second Mate: Chapter 11 - Chapter 18

~Theo~ The message ticked to “delivered,” and the faint glow from the phone lit up his face in the dim room. I lay flat on my bed, one arm folded under my head, the other holding the phone above me . The words Sweet dreams, Aria stared back at me, almost glowing against the darkness. I chuckled softly to myself . I wasn’t supposed to text her tonight. Not really. I had just wanted to make sure the phone worked a simple check, that was all. But the moment she replied, something easy settled in me Her words had felt… light. Genuine. The kind of honesty that didn’t need effort. I tossed the phone gently onto the pillow beside me and stared at the ceiling. “You’re getting ahead of yourself, man,” I muttered. I could still see her face in my head, the way she’d smiled when she laughed, the way she’d tried to hide it behind her hair, and the way she’d said friends like she was convincing herself it was enough. Friends. I exhaled through my nose and sat up, resting my elbows

~Aria~If I’m being honest, the next day just… happened.Like, it started, and then it ended, and somewhere between breakfast and nightfall, I’m pretty sure I blinked for five minutes and suddenly the sun had relocated itself.I woke up to the smell of toast and eggs Lena’s I care but I don’t want you to know I care kind of breakfast. Lila was already at the table, her hair a wild mess, singing something off key while trying to butter toast that didn’t deserve it.“Morning, sleeping beauty,” she said with a mouthful.“Morning, chaos incarnate,” I replied, pouring juice.Lena shot us both a look over her mug. “If you two are done reenacting a sitcom, grab your food before I lose patience.”“Yes, mother,” Lila and I chorused.Theo didn’t show up that morning thank the Moon Goddess because I had no idea what I’d say if he did. ‘Hey, thanks for licking my ear last night, really appreciate the gesture’? Yeah, no thanks.The day went by peacefully enough. Lila and I helped clean up the por

~Aria~ Something was off. It started as a faint hum in my chest barely there at first. Then it spread, tingling beneath my skin like static before a storm. My wolf was restless. Pacing. Whispering things I couldn’t understand. I tried to ignore it. Finn and Lena were curled up on the couch beside me, half watching a movie, half lost in each other’s eyes. I sat on the other end of the sofa, pretending to be invested in the cheesy dialogue on screen. But my wolf wouldn’t calm down. Her energy was wild, unpredictable like she could sense something I couldn’t. Her heartbeat thrummed against mine, quick, impatient, alive. What’s wrong with you? I muttered in my head. She didn’t answer, but I could feel her excitement bubbling, almost trembling through me. Every sound in the house felt louder the ticking clock, the distant rustle of trees outside, even the steady breathing of Finn and Lena. I rubbed my arms, trying to shake off the strange electricity crawling over my

~ Theo~ We walked in silence for a while. The night air was cool, sharp a good contrast to the heat burning somewhere deep in my chest. Lila finally spoke. “You okay?” He chuckled softly, staring at the ground. “That’s a dangerous question.” “Because I already know the answer?” He smiled small, pained. “You always do.” Lila’s eyes softened. “I know how much you like her.” Theo exhaled slowly, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Yeah. But it doesn’t matter anymore, does it? She’s his.” Lila frowned. “Theo…” He gave her a weird smile sad, tired, but still genuine. “It’s okay. As long as she’s in good hands.” Then, quieter, almost to himself, he added, “Even if those hands aren’t mine.” ⸻ KAELEN’S POV Back inside, I sank into one of Finn’s ridiculously soft couches, watching Aria fidget with the hem of my shirt. My shirt. Lena leaned close to Finn and whispered something that made him grin. I didn’t bother asking. I already knew what they were thinking. Aria sat across f