[Ayla’s POV]It had been a while since the last time that I saw the elders, but they were the same as I remembered. Three ancient-looking men with looks of annoyance and judgmental eyes that take me in as if I’m the most irritating thing on earth stare at me as I enter the room.As I close the door, they continue to watch, and even when I make my way to the middle of the room, they continue until it becomes too much. Shouldn’t they at least say something?No, of course they didn’t need to. They were the elders, the most powerful wolves to exist in our world, yet they hid in this damned temple when things were happening beyond their walls.It was safe to say that I hated them, but I couldn’t voice that hatred, and I couldn’t go against them since, in the end, they determined my fate.Swallowing down the unease I feel, I continue to move until I reach a chair that sits in the middle of the room, which I’m sure has been set there for me. Once I reach it, I plop down and throw one leg ove
[Aera’s POV]"Does it matter why we are together?" I ask before Ayla can respond. "Is that any of your business?"I didn’t know what the hell I was doing jumping in, but I couldn’t ignore the hostility that was beginning to form on Celia’s face."As her family, it is," Celia responds slowly.It was no surprise that she would be like this toward me, especially given what I said to her before she came running to the capitol to hide. She knew that I knew she was behind that damn bet, and I was sure she didn’t expect me to tell Ayla about it. That was most likely why she was so surprised to see us together."Family," I scoff, unable to hide my disgust toward her using that word. "Some family you are.""Aera," Ayla murmurs, reaching out and touching my arm. "I can handle this.""Are you sure?" I ask, giving her a look of concern. "Even in your condition?""Yeah," she responds simply. "Celia, why weren’t you honest with me from the beginning?"A look of shock crosses Celia’s face at Ayla’s
[Aera's POV]I stare down at Ayla's pain-filled expression while trying not to count every fucking minute that has passed. Where the hell were the elders, and why were they taking so long? Was this intentional on their part because they too, like everyone else, wanted Ayla gone?As this thought hits, the urge to go find the bastards myself flares, but before I can act on it, the door behind me opens, and they appear with impassive looks on their faces."About time," I growl, moving aside while they come to surround Ayla."We came as soon as we heard," Elder Tyson responds calmly."As soon as you heard," I huff, knowing damn well they didn't. "Of course."This was the thing I despised the most about the elders. If it didn't benefit them in some way, they didn't particularly care. I understood that our world was one where only the strongest survived, but as the ones who are supposed to lead us the safety of their own should be the greatest priority.No one bothers responding to my remar
[Aera’s POV]I can’t make sense of what is happening, and before I can truly begin to question it, the coppery taste of blood is dripping onto my tongue."Wai…" I gasp, trying to stop Ayla from whatever she is doing. "Why?""I said before, just drink," Ayla snaps.Her features are pale, and there is a fear that I can’t quite understand shining in her eyes. It’s almost as if she is expecting something horrible to happen, and I can’t really grasp why."Aera," she says sternly. "Do as I say before it’s too late."Although I don’t know exactly why she is insisting on me drinking her blood, I oblige, swallowing a few drops and then more until I can feel the fire in me beginning to calm.What the hell? What was this? Was her blood doing this?As these thoughts begin to swarm my mind, she pulls her wrist away and rips a piece of her shirt off, then wraps it around the wound."Feel better?" she asks while looking ready to bolt at any moment.For a moment, I don’t speak as I do an internal exa
[Aera's POV]The next day, I woke up early to wait for Alphonze's arrival, even though I had barely slept the night before.When he arrives, he is accompanied by Christian, Silas' beta, and Trixie. They busied themselves setting up his wheelchair and then helping him out.As they begin to roll him forward, another car pulls up and parks. More men exit and start to unpack Alphonze's machines so that they can be taken to our room."Aera!" Alphonze calls when he spots me. "You didn't have to wait for me.""Of course I did," I counter, giving a small smile. "You're my brother."I keep my smile in place as Alphonze examines me curiously. I’m sure from the look in his eyes that there is something he wants to ask, but he refrains."That’s cute," Trixie giggles, breaking the silence. "You’re such a devoted little brother. I remember when you were just a kid and attached to his hip."As she speaks, images of the past begin to appear, causing a pang of pain to shoot through me."Trixie," Christ
[Aera’s POV]Once I’m out of the room, I extend my senses until I can feel Ayla. Although I had noticed that something was off about her the day before, just how weak her aura felt confirmed that there was something serious going on.Unable to stop the worry that suddenly flares, I move, heading in the direction that I feel her, while those who roam around the temple watch me. Their gazes take me in as if I’m some sort of foreign object, given the fact that outsiders are usually not allowed in this place.Despite wanting to tell them off for their blatant actions, I force myself to ignore them. Right now, the biggest concern is getting to Ayla. However, before I reach, a hand reaches out, wraps around my arm, and pulls, sending me crashing into a small broom closet."What the hell?" I hiss, looking around until my eyes came to rest on Celia. "What are you doing?" I continue, going on full alert."I wanted to talk to you," she responds, her face remaining calm."Talk," I repeat, raisin
[Ayla's POV]When I woke up this morning, I decided I would sit down and have a long chat with Aera. I knew that I had overreacted a little too much the night before, and I figured since we both had time to cool down and collect our thoughts, we would be able to discuss things like actual adults.At least, that was what I had planned, but somehow I walked right into something that could be straight out of a fucking drama.What's worse, I seemed to be the tragic heroine, and Aera was the hero who was being portrayed as the villain by the villain herself."Ayla," Celia murmurs, drawing my attention away from Aera, who was staring at me with an unspoken question in his eyes.Do you truly believe I would do that?He didn't have to say it for me to know that was what he was thinking, but I couldn't possibly react. Instead, I kept my expression as cold as I possibly could, for his sake and mine."Celia," I sigh, untangling the talented actress herself from around me. "Let go.""Ayla!" She g
[Ayla's POV]I stare down at the hand that is held out to me and find myself wondering if it would truly be okay to take it. If I said that I didn't feel a pull toward Aera, I'd be lying, but the fear of him turning on me remains.Would it be alright for me to trust this man in front of me, or would I come to regret it?Immediately, images of his reaction toward learning what my blood could do appear, and my wall begins to go back up, but I stop it before it can slam completely into place.Sure, he may have reacted like he did, but he was making an effort to make up for it, and I needed to keep that in mind."Well?" Aera pushes. "Are you going to make me beg?""Begging doesn't sound half bad," I admit with a giggle. "I wouldn't mind seeing that.""Then, mon avenir, will you please give me a chance to make up for all my crimes against you by worshipping you like the goddess you are?"A blush begins to creep up my cheeks, and I feel my heart do a somersault. Shit, this man was smooth. H