Aria I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what just happened. I was almost done cleaning Sebastian’s room when he came in. It doesn’t take nearly as long as it did when I’d first started cleaning it, and now, I can do the whole thing in less than three hours. But since he was sitting there, I decided to re-clean some of the places I’d already cleaned.The next thing I know, he’s coming out the bathroom door, and we collide. His arms are around me, he’s holding me close, and then… we kiss. More than once, actually. I don't know what to do. I don’t know what to think….I can’t tell Mim about this. In my gut, I get the feeling that I shouldn’t tell her. I’m not sure why. It seems silly. She’s my best friend, after

Sebastian Running doesn’t do anything to make me feel better about the situation with Aria, but I do it anyway, not only because my father has asked us to make sure that our borders are secure, but because I am trying to keep my mind off of the beautiful woman I am bound to run into again tomorrow, perhaps literally and purposely, and I am struggling to keep my thoughts from flooding with everything there is to think about her.I feel the leaves, the dirt, the rocks beneath my paws. It has snowed recently, and the ground is moist, though the snow is mostly melted except for in the shaded areas of forest beneath the larger trees. I smell the deep scent of the woods. It coats my lungs and reminds me that I am a wild animal, at least in my wolf form. It makes me feel feral and free. It makes me forget about all things human, at least f

Sebastian I am moving so quickly down the hallway toward the room where the maids keep their cleaning supplies, if I happen to run into anyone, I’m sure I will knock them clean through the wall. Seeing Aria cry and knowing it was at the hand of some worthless maids has my own heart aching. I can’t get to the closet soon enough.I hear them before I see them and know exactly who it is. Two of my mother’s maids, Helena and Gertrude, two old ladies who have far too much time on their hands cleaning a room that it would only take one person a few hours to clean. They’ve been here forever, since they were young enough to have to wear a uniform like the one Aria is forced to wear now, the one they are calling her names because of.I slow down before I reach them because I wan

Aria My eyes linger on the door where Sebastian has just disappeared. I am trying to process what just happened, but it’s not something mere thoughts can translate. All I can think about is how badly I wanted him when he was standing here, and now that he’s gone, how badly I want him still.He’s gone now, though. Only the scent of the deep woods and rain lingers in the air to remind me that he was there. That, and the feel of his warm touch on my skin. I can still feel all of the places where he touched me, where he kissed me, where I wanted him to touch me.If he had been able to stay, if he had asked me, I would’ve given myself to him completely just now, like a moth pulled to a flame, knowing she will get burned, she will be consumed, but completely unable to say no

Aria I am sitting on my bed, rereading the last few letters I’ve received from my parents. It’s been a few days since I’ve gotten one. I hope I get another one soon. Mim comes out of the shower, drying her hair with a towel. I look up at her out of habit but quickly avert my eyes. I’m still not sure what to think about her reaction to Leah earlier. Part of me feels sorry for her because she’s had to switch partners again so quickly, but the rest of me is suspicious about how she feels about me.Mim sits down on her bed and starts brushing through her hair, humming a song. I suppose she must feel better, but I don’t say anything to her. I haven’t told her about what happened between Sebastian and I this afternoon, and now that she’s acting so different, I am pretty sure my original instinct n