LeviBlack. All things suddenly turn black and I can’t stop myself spiraling into the void. I stumble back and collide against someone but I don’t care anymore.The only thing I can see is her smiling face and the way that the man beside her is looking at her full of love.It’s been so long since I’ve seen her. I’ve been beating myself up thinking of her.Arya was never dead. She is indeed the one that the Rogues have seen, the young woman who was washed on the banks of that river that night and saved by the Lycans.For the past nights I have allowed myself to imagine a good meeting between us. I imagined her distraught and not treated well, taking kindly to me saving her. I know that that is such a bad thought but I allowed myself to hope.And now that she is here. . . .Daniel is saying something to me and Theo is also speaking, but their voices are drowned when the King speaks again and the people clap and cheer.“Escorting her is our very own warrior, Arthur Basset, her beloved an
LeviMy whole body freezes and lights on fire at the same time. The moment her eyes meet mine, the world around us disappears. It feels like there’s only two of us now, just looking at each other like it’s the first time.That’s when it occurs to me that I shouldn’t leave. I shouldn’t run away this time.I should go up there and tell everyone that she is not betrothed to anybody. That she has a mate and that’s me.With my newfound courage, I start to make my way towards the stage again, this time trying to go from the side angle. Daniel and Theo both jump in front of me.“What the hell are you doing?” Daniel hisses. “Are you trying to embarrass our pack? Can’t you just wait until Arya comes to see us?”I want to scream at him and tell him that waiting would be no use and this is urgent, but I just shake off his hand from my shoulder. “Will you please just leave me alone?”Theo is the one who steps in next, pushing me back and away from the stage. “Alpha, Daniel has a point. There’s no
Levi"Come out, now."I look up at the guard and try to gather my bearings until what he said finally clicked with me.The princess, he said.The princess wants to come see me. And by that he meant Arya.My heart fills up with joy instantly. I scamper to my feet and dust myself down to at least look presentable. The guard gives me a strange look and just beckons me forward, removing my handcuffs and then staring at me seriously."Please do conduct yourself properly this time," he tells me. "I don't know what the princess wants with you, but rest assured that we will not take any bad behavior gracefully. If you do one fuck up, you're gone. And we won't hesitate to throw you out of the palace. Do you understand?""Yes," I say, and with that he gives me one more scowl before escorting me out of the prison.As we pass by the hallway, I can't help but notice that there are still sounds that remind me of a party echoing around the space.I can't help but think of what could have happened if
LeviDaniel steps away from me as though I just admitted to carrying a deadly disease. "What?""She's my mate," I repeat, louder this time.The King and Queen look at each other. Their faces are full of shock. Arthur looks like he's been punched between the eyes, but it doesn't take long for his expression to turn into disappointment and anger.Meanwhile, Arya's face have gone white. She looks like she might pass out any moment.I know that I just dropped some sort of a bomb by saying that, but I find myself relieved that I finally managed to get it out of my chest. It's been weighing on me for a long time and it just feels good to let it go.But Arya is shaking her head. "Levi, please, don't say any more--""Why not?" I turn around to face her. "Are you just going to ignore that simple fact? You know we're mates. You know we're meant to be together and that's just how fate works--"She shakes her head again and lets out a humorless laugh. "Levi . . . Can you hear yourself? You're the
AryaLevi is here and he almost ruined my coronation.I expected to see him here, don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t like that came as a surprise. I knew he would be here the moment I saw the invitation, but seeing him in person, in the flesh, hearing him speak and having him look at me. . . .That brought back so many memories that I can hardly breathe.I was on the stage when I first saw him and I swear I almost collapsed right then and there. It seemed so long. I know it’s only been a few months but it feels like ten years. He still looks the same. Still the same intense eyes and handsome face, still the same serious stance and sharp moves.Still so good-looking. Still so heartbreakingly beautiful.And as much as I hate it, what remained of our mate bond still responds to him. My heart beat so fast when our eyes met at the stage. Something inside me was telling me to come to him, but the call thankfully felt weaker. I tried to contact Iris then and she immediately responded.“You have t
Levi“Levi, I’m rejecting you as my mate.”The words escape Arya’s mouth but they don’t land on me like they should. They seem to be floating midair, whirling around my head and refusing to get registered in my brain.I just . . . refuse to accept that.“What?” I whisper. My voice is barely there. I don’t think I can speak any louder. I feel like I’m withering inside and denial is the only thing that can stop it, or at least slow it down for now. “What did you say?”Arya sighs and stares at me. Her eyes are bright and patient, and I can’t see any trace of negative feelings in there. All I can see is acceptance and the willingness to let go.“I can’t continue doing this with you,” she says, her voice soft and mellow. “For months I thought about when we would meet each other again, and early on, I thought I would crawl back to you and ask you to take me back. But now I realize that I’m happy. And I wouldn’t have been happy if you didn’t break my heart that night. I want to thank you.”N
Arya“Are you okay?” Arthur asks me as we leave. “I know that was a heavy thing to go through and if you need anything, I’m here. . . .”I nod and squeeze his hand, sighing in contentment. “I know, and I’m glad you are here.”“Maybe the party will take your mind off things, my dear,” Mom tells me softly, touching my cheek. “Don’t worry about a thing, okay?”“I won’t,” I say, and with that, we head to the ballroom where the party is in full buzz.“Why didn’t anyone else from the pack come here?” I ask, thinking about my parents there.Daniel seems to know immediately what I’m talking about because he says, “Well, mom and dad haven’t been exactly the same since you were gone. I think part of them want to blame themselves about it and I don’t think they have recovered yet.”Sadness fills me up but I just nod. “I understand.”“Maybe you can come visit sometime,” Theo offers with a small smile. “I know everyone will be delighted to see you. And everyone would definitely be impressed that y
AryaFor a second, I hold my breath to stop the tears from coming, but they all just come flowing out like a geyser. Pressure is pressing against my chest and suddenly I can’t breathe, but I just sigh and . . . let go.Levi is still my mate, and I know I have a long way to go to erase our bond.I know I would still have to go through so many things to reconcile with myself and what I did. I know it would be a long journey and it’s stupid to expect myself to move on from it easily.But I just feel like it’s not going to go away and I feel horrible about that.With a sigh, I bury my face in my palms. Suddenly, I feel Iris stirring in my head.“What happened?” she asks me. “What are you so upset about?”When I stay silent, she lets out a huff and a growl. “You do know that when you’re upset, I get disturbed up here, right? It’s not exactly a paradise here now. I can feel your emotions but I can’t read your thoughts very well, especially when you block me out like that.”“I’m sorry.” I si