Aria's POV
"Nicholas Sainthood."I swiftly pushed Nicholas away after hearing a woman's voice. Someone is calling him. And then, out of nowhere, Kaia appeared, her face contorted with curiosity."You should go before someone sees us here," I suggest.However, he merely glared at me, and instead of following my words, he snaked his arms around my waist, drawing me closer to him. Our situation was so uncomfortable that I almost couldn't breathe."What are you doing?" I said, my jaws clenched."Holding what's mine, isn't it obvious?""I've already told you a million times that I'm not yours," I insisted. He is my mate. But I am not his possession and will never be as long as he hasn't claimed me."Whatever you believe, Aria."We were in the midst of an argument when the door swung open, and a woman in a red dress entered. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw us, and she lingered in the doorway for a while, apparently absorbing the situation. And, strangely, her hazel orbs flashed with wrath as she gazed down at Nicholas' hand on my waist.In response, I fought to free myself from Nicholas' grip, but he was unquestionably powerful."Who is she, Nicholas?" the woman asked, walking in our direction. Her jealous aura is reaching me, and my wolf is not pleased with it. Kaia's possessiveness grew and our emotions became entwined."My woman," he answered coldly, standing beside me unbothered.The woman halted just a few inches from us, eyes sending daggers toward mine — and I generously returned the favor. I'm not some girl she can easily intimidate with a glare.Who does she think she is?"You're what, Nikko?" she asked again.Her stupidity is apparent that even her crimson lipstick couldn't conceal it. Indeed, this woman had no shame left on her body to even place her finger on Nicholas's arms without his consent."What are you doing, Natasha?"Nicholas's grasp on my waist weakened as he fought to break Natasha's grip."I did this every time I came home, and you never complained; what's the sudden change?" Natasha whined, glancing at me.My attention was diverted to Nicholas' grip on Natasha, and a pang of pain ran through my chest. I felt a surge of emotion. It was stifling and nasty. And seeing Natasha's smug look made me want to shatter her bones into pieces.I exhaled deeply and raced out of the room. The more I witness their interaction, the more enraged I felt.'Are we just going to leave them there?' Kaia wondered. I nodded in between my steps. There's no reason for us to stay inside. It will only hurt us.The open-air was already dark when I exited the building. There were also just a few shifters around, monitoring the packhouse. Once again, the bitter feeling threaded inside me, urging me to clear my head and use this opportunity to flee.And I did.I was able to leave the pack without being caught, even though there was no apparent path to take. I just ran till I reached a well-lit area that appeared to be a little hamlet with different lights hanging from each house.What place could this be?My eyes stuck to the little signs before passing through the entrance. Unlike Red Moon, this place is bustling with activity even when the stars and moon have risen. A combination of shouting, dancing, and singing echoes in all corners. By the look of it, they seem to be celebrating.Anxiety erupted in my chest, along with a thousand thoughts, as I started my pace. These folks have never met me, and I have never met them. The possibility of them being a hunter made me pause.Fear began to engulf me, and a change of heart occurred seconds after weighing everything. And just as I was ready to exit, a cold hand held mine. Shit!"What the heck!"I glanced over to see who was holding me, and shock seized my system rather than panic. Despite being in a dimly lit spot, I could easily see who was in front of me. His face was irritated as he massaged the area where my fist had landed."Matthew?"What is he doing here?"Great punch," he sarcastically uttered as he turned to face me. "But what are you doing here?"I bit my lower lip, not knowing what to say. I never expected to see him here. Oddly, Matthew always appears every time I escape. He's like a shadow lurking in my light, rising whenever he wants. It isn't delightful."Nothing," I lied. "I came here just to unwind."His eyes were skeptical, but he didn't press the issue further. "Come with me. I'll show you something," Matt stated as he grabbed my wrist and pulled me somewhere.We walked into the woods, and the only sounds heard were the broken twigs we stomped on and a variety of forest animals. The place was utterly dark that even the moon failed to penetrate his light within."Where are you taking me?"Matthew did not respond to my question. He continued tugging me till we arrived at our destination. Unlike before, the moon's light permeated the branches, giving us faint illumination.As my eyes roamed around, I noticed something. In the center of the woods is a peaceful haven where I can see the moon's reflection. It was a blue lagoon with waterfalls next to it."Do you like it?"I nodded in response. Like is an understatement; I love the view. The gentle sound of the water soothes my ears. It's lulling me, calming my racing thoughts, and giving me a chance to breathe."I'm happy that you like it," he uttered.At one point, this setting reminds me of something. It reminds me of home. Unexpectedly, the longing sensation began to fill me again. Squeezing every emotion I've hidden inside of me.A day had passed without my parents, and the missing portion of me craved their presence, but I knew they didn't feel the same way."Hey," Matthew approached me with a troubled gaze. "Why are you crying?"Oh!I immediately wiped my tears, laughed my sorrow away, and cracked a simple joke. "I'm just glad you didn't bring me here to murder me."Matt creased his forehead and softly whacked my shoulder. "You're weird," he muttered as he walked to the lagoon. "Come on. Let's take a dip."I'd want to soak away my grief, but I'm not in the mood to do it at this hour, aside from the fact that swimming with Matthew is quite awkward. We've only known each other for a few days, and entirely trusting him isn't a brilliant idea. My intuition urges me to make a reservation."I'll just wait for you here," I said, resting on one of the large trunks.Matthew no longer responds as he dives straight toward the waterfalls. The roaring sound of the falls' must have distracted him. Because, in contrast to the lagoon, the waterfall next to it is rather noisy.'Are we going to return in Red Moon?' Kaia popped up. Her sudden appearance almost made me stumbled on my seat. But what piqued my attention was her swollen eyes and troubled expression.'Did you cry?'She shook her head and yawned. 'I just awoke.'Her response is convincing. That may be the case. Besides, crying over dogs isn't in Kaia's vocabulary unless it has been added.'So, are we going back?' she reiterated.Now that Matthew has caught us in the act, it would be challenging to fabricate another excuse merely to get away; he'd surely suspect my intention.'I have no idea, Kaia.'My wolf gave me a frustrated look before disappearing. She must have been quite unhappy with everything. It's not like I'm relishing all we've been through lately. These things are beyond my control."Don't you want to take a swim? The water is refreshing," Matthew suggested, standing in front of me.I instantly turn aside after noticing his nude torso. He was wearing only a boxer and no shirt, and the water streaming over his masculine body made him appear even sexier to the point that it felt like a sin to lay my eyes on him."No," I said, refusing. "I felt good just by seeing the place."There was a deafening silence after I responded. And, out of curiosity, I slowly turned my head to where he was standing, only to find him staring at me with an amused smirk on his face. This is the first time I've ever wished for the earth to swallow me entirely.Damn it!Matthew chuckled while looking at my embarrassed expression. He picked up his t-shirt beneath my feet and messed with my hair. "You look cute," he whispers before turning his back on me.Matthew's comment only worsens the situation. And my cheeks heated up twice out of embarrassment, and from the feel of it, I might look like a ripe tomato by now."Let's go," Matthew stated after he put on his clothing. I nodded sheepishly, cleared the dust off my clothes, and hopped out of the trunk. We were just a few steps away from the lagoon when a particular figure blocked our route. Fear gripped my body as intense golden eyes locked on mine."Aria Summersault."Aria's POV"I've been looking for you, and you're just here with my..."Nicholas paused and glanced at Matthew with a bloody expression. He seemed angry, yet despite how deadly he appeared, I couldn't help but admire his gorgeous golden eyes, shining fiercely like a sun in this poorly lit woodland."What are you two doing here at this hour?" he said interrogatively.I didn't respond.Matthew stared at me, his eyes seeking help, but I just shrugged my shoulder. He was the one who brought me here, so he may as well tell Nicholas the reason. "I just brought Aria here to relax," Matthew reasoned. "I swear I didn't do anything to her."It's funny how he sounded so cautious in choosing words before threading them into a sentence. As if Nicholas would hurt him if he did anything horrible to me. Though, I doubt that will happen. "Don't forget what we spoke about, Matt. I'm keeping an eye on you," Nicholas warned before snatching me away.Unlike Matthew, this bloke has always been rough on m
Aria's POV The guilt was lingering at the back of my mind, making me regret the words I had said to Matthew earlier. I knew he was merely concerned, but he saw I had a cut and kept asking whether I was okay. That's plain stupid. Even so, I should not have told him that.I sighed and returned my clothes to my luggage while preparing my cash and phone. My resolve to escape is already set, and whether or not I succeed, I will pursue it. Staying here with Natasha is like being in hell with the devil. I'd rather flee with no assurance than be victimized by that witch. The very thought of Nicholas defending her causes my blood to boil. And those judging gaze earlier, as if I had done something genuinely heinous to Natasha, are driving me to flare in a fury. 'Are you certain about this?' Kaia inquired, appearing. Her gaze was skeptical and judging. She must have a trust issue with me now, given our prior attempts, which frequently resulted in our return. 'Yes,' I replied. Her eyes flitte
Aria's POVI have never expected this thing to happen. My only aim was to get away from Nicholas. But now I'm in prison, with shackles on my wrists. If only I had known in advance that Calixta was a member of the rebel force, I wouldn't have come here. It's utterly my fault for throwing myself naively into the enemy's den. "Now you know what it's like to be a prisoner," Kairo noted cynically. I rolled my eyes and locked my gaze on him. "You're ungrateful; I let you out of that cell just for you to do the exact opposite to me?" I sneered. He was the rogue I freed a few weeks ago—the reason for my banishment and why I suffered so much. I violated my pack's rule to save him, only for him to throw me behind bars after he got the chance. "Uh-huh, don't ever question my gratitude," he smirked. "It's your naiveté that saves me." I wanted to slash his throat open. But the silver chains on my wrist had restrained me from doing it. Releasing this motherfucker was indeed a wrong decision.
Aria's POVEvery touch of the lash on my skin is like a fire, burning my body to ashes. Blood splashed on all four sides of the cell as Kairo whipped me while tears and sweat streamed down my cheeks. This was pure hell, but I tried not to howl in pain."Harder!" Kairo's whipping got more intense as it battered my flesh. He wasn't holding back; he was fulfilling Milan's orders, and every stroke was awful. And while I was being beaten, Milan was laughing in the background, finding my suffering entertaining."That's enough for now, Kairo," Milan ordered.After they unhooked my wrist from the chain, my body immediately dropped to the ground. My mind was formidable, but my physical strength was dwindling. I've lost so much blood that it will take days for the wound to heal and for my strength to replenish."All right, let's go."The screeching of the metal door marks their departure. And no matter how hard I tried to get up, I couldn't. I laid myself in a pool of blood, my strength waning
The golden sunlight engulfed the small village on the northern side of Rojo La Luna like a raging fire. In the midst of the solitude, the pack's leader of leaders arrived with his compeer. Each head bows in reverence, including their dreaded pack leader, Milan."What was my instruction, Milan?"Milan remained silent. He is well aware of what will happen if he responds. The chief has granted him the authority to administer the northern homestead, an extending pack of Rojo La Luna, with strict instructions not to go beyond the agreement. And he disobeyed the plan by hurting that woman. "Where's the woman?"Everyone began to shake with fear and anxiety, causing them to remain silent. The head asks again, this time with greater power, giving no one a chance to resist and merely answer."In the cell, my liege," Milan said quietly.The lord went straight to the cell while the rest of his cronies remained outside. The cell was filthy, dark, and suffocating. And it was where Aria had been se
Aria's POVI've been contemplating matters on the terrace for half an hour while looking over the place. The beauty on the horizon, engulfed by the orange color of the sun, fascinates me. And it somehow lightens the burden on my chest."Are you coming with my brother?"For a brief period, I cast a glimpse toward Matthew, who had just arrived. He sat next to me and glanced at the view I was admiring. When I didn't respond to his inquiry, he glanced at me again, waiting for an answer."I'm not sure, Matthew."Growing up, I never went to a werewolf anniversary party because my parents only had Mysha with them, and I grew to despise the concept over time. Now, I particularly don't want to go with Nicholas for fear of running into Mysha and Luke."Why not?" he asked again.I shrugged my shoulder. "I hate crowded places." It wasn't really the reason. But I don't want to tell them the truth yet. While they're still a stranger to me, I have to keep half of my identity to myself. It's the safe
Aria's POV Paxon Royal is indeed a luxurious place. Over two decades, this is the first time I have attended such a grand feast. The hall was embellished with a forest-like motif, including gigantic wolf sculptures at the entrance. The ambiance was exquisite, but because every face was unfamiliar, I felt neurotic. I clung on to Nicholas, not minding our current relationship status. He carefully ushered me to a particular table with two empty seats available, enough for the two of us. The chatter and background music, together with the sound of heels clicking on the floor, destroy any sense of tranquility. "Are you okay here?" I agreed by nodding. We had scarcely gotten into our chairs when someone approached us. The man was unfamiliar, but based on his aura, he had to be an Alpha too. Nicholas, who had just seated, rose again. He shook hands with the man and glanced at me for a second as if he was asking for permission to leave. My gut wanted him to stay, but it would be embarrass
Aria's POV"Who's your mate again?" Mysha's recycled query started to irritate me. She had asked this question for a hundredth time already. And until now, she did not seem to remember my responses. She's worse than a human with Alzheimer's. I'm not sure if it's because she's tense or because she's preoccupied with something."Nicholas Sainthood," I replied.The night is getting older. It's been two hours since we discussed particular issues that concern us. Somehow we managed to bridge the chasm and fill the gap caused by our separation."His name sound familiar," Mysha noted after a minute of silence. I'd mentioned his name a few times earlier, but she hadn't recognized it until now. Mysha seems to be in a dream, physically present but mentally absent. And she's never been more absent-minded than she is right now, which is strange.My conversation with Kairo from a few weeks ago eventually comes to mind. I was ready to question Mysha about their case when I realized I still didn't