جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 20

~~ ARIA ~~ “Are you trying to seduce me?” He smirks. His voice is low and sharp when he asks that. And His eyes… they move slowly over me, not shy or apologetic at all. If anything, he looks thrilled. I scoff and pull away from him immediately. Standing up.He gets up, too, his eyes never leaving mine. “Seduce you?” I answer him, folding my arms. “Oh, please.” I can’t believe he would even think that.My cheeks are still warm from earlier, from the accidental fall, from the kiss that should not have happened.But seduce him?No. I have too much pride for that. “I have dignity, Thorne,” I say firmly. “I would never chase after a man who does not want me. If a man does not want me, I will accept another man who does.” The moment the words leave my mouth, I see his face change. His jaw tightens, and His eyes darken.The calm expression he has been wearing disappears completely. “You won’t dare,” he says. His voice is colder and more Controlled now. But I can hear the warning u

~~ ARIA ~~ After Mira informs me that there is someone here to see me, her words confuse me immediately. I frown without meaning to, and so does Thorne. Someone here to see me? I look at Thorne immediately, and he rolls his eyes. “Don’t give me that look,” he tells me. “I told you that you're safe with me and I'll protect you. I nod. “Whoever it is, it defibitoeybwont be your brother or Alpha Magnus,” he adds. I open my mouth to ask Mira who it is, but Thorne speaks before I can. “Who is it?” he asks. His voice is calm, but I know him well enough to hear the sharpness underneath. Mira lowers her head slightly in respect before answering. “The lady claims to be Aria’s friend.” Friend. The word sounds strange in my head and almost laughable. I never had friends. Not when I was younger or when everyone believed I was useless. A wolfless girl had no value in the pack, so no one wanted to associate with someone like me. They avoided and ignored me. Not just that,

~~ ARIA ~~ “Always make sure to read every line of a contract before signing it,” Thorne smirks evilly, making my heart stop for a moment.“Why,” I ask him, pretending to be unaffected.“Because if you did, you would have suggested I change most of the clauses in it. But you didn’t he answer, with a sly smile now. “Therefore, I can punish you. That is why I am going to punish you for siding with a total stranger who may very well be sent to spy on us.” I scoff immediately, the sound coming out before I can stop it.Afterward, I search his face, waiting for him to admit he is joking. But he doesn't. His eyes stay dark and serious, and something about that makes my chest tighten because I don’t want to believe he means it. “You are joking,” I say. My voice sounds weaker than I want, and I hate that he can hear it. He shakes his head slowly, and that single movement makes my heart pound harder because he truly isn't joking.He meant every word he said, and I don’t know if I should

~~ ARIA ~~ The note read, “Alpha Magnus is going to kill my mom if I don’t bring you back to him. Please, you have to help me. My mom is all I have left. I’m a useless omega in his pack, and I’m wolfless just like you. Surely you can understand what it means. You can call me for us to talk more,” the note reads. My eyes widen more, and my breath catches after reading the note. I feel a shiver run through me as I realize how desperate Annabel is, and her words hit me harder than I expected. Another wolfless woman, helpless and trapped in a pack that will use her as they please. I can feel a knot forming in my chest. I know exactly what that kind of fear feels like, even though when I was younger, Thorne would always tell me to act untouchable. I sink back onto my bed, clutching the note, trying to think even though my stupid thoughts keep drifting to Thorne, though. Even after he left, his presence still lingers in the room. His lips, his hands, the epic way he hovered

~~ THORNE ~~ “And who do you think you are to give me a condition? I need my sister returned to me before nightfall, Thorne,” Alec snaps. I lean back in my chair slowly, holding the phone firmly against my ear as his angry voice echoes through it. His words are filled with authority, but I can hear the fear beneath them. He is not as calm as he wants me to believe. That realization makes a faint smile form on my lips because it means I still have the upper hand. “I guess you are not ready to see your sister then,” I say calmly. I make sure my voice stays steady and smirk, knowing he cannot see it.In my mind, I imagine his face twisting in anger and helplessness.Alec is used to being in control and making demands, but now he is the one forced to listen, and this gives me a dark sense of satisfaction.Silence follows my words, and I can hear his heavy breathing on the other end of the line.He is trying to calm himself, trying not to lose control completely.As I wait, my finger