**Aria POV"Tony?" Noah said, enraged. "You ran into that little scoundrel today and you said nothing to me or anyone in the pack! How the hell am I supposed to trust you if you're hiding information like that?""Hey, I'm not part of your little pack war, alright?" I fumed. "And I don't work for you, I work for Henry! Stop thinking that you can order me around."I was getting tired of this. Healers were not supposed to entangle themselves in pack politics; we were just supposed to heal the injured and sick without getting caught up in social issues. But now I was in the thick of it, all because I wanted a fast track out of the slums."Just one problem, 'Arianna,' you're officially the Luna to the Bergmann pack whether your marriage to my father is a sham or not!" Noah exclaimed angrily. "You can't play the middle ground and change your role as you please! If they call you again, you either ignore it or you tell me where they are.""You don't control me, Noah!" I snapped at hi
**Aria POVFeeling as though I would throw up, I violently pushed Noah away from me, knocking him into the wall.Noah looked at me in shock. A look of hurt crossed his face at the realization that I had just rejected him after tempting him, after I had kissed him back and encouraged him. A look of confusion was there as well—confusion that I shared."I'm sorry!" I managed to get out before needing to contain another wave of nausea."Sorry?" Noah echoed. "Just being sorry is not going to cut it when I am constantly being pulled toward you and then pushed away! Do you want me or not? Do you desire me, or do you despise me? Because I am having a hard time deciphering which is which."I didn't know the answer. It had been clear to me only moments ago, but now every inch of my body wanted to be as far away from Noah as possible. It was the complete opposite of how my body had been responding to him ever since we met.When I didn't give him an answer, Noah advanced on me again
**Aria POV"It's unprofessional to contact me directly," I said calmly into the phone, keeping my tone as neutral and businesslike as possible. "We work through brokers for a reason.""I know, I know," Chris's voice chimed though, charming and playful as usual. "I just thought that you and I were practically friends now, so a personal call wouldn't do much harm.""Still," I said, "it's not what I'm used to. But if we're talking now, to what do I owe the pleasure?""Well, my wound is healed completely but there's still a dull ache that's rather bothersome," he explained. "I could go to a clinic, but…I must say I've rather fallen in love with your workmanship."He wanted to discuss the offer he made me in person, luring me in under the pretense of healing him. I knew it was a trick…but why was I so tempted to say yes? I should tell Noah about this. Keeping it from him would only strain things between us again."I'll have to get back to you on that, Chris," I deflected. "I
**Aria POVTen million credits!He had to be joking; there was no way he'd offer a joining fee like that to someone from the slums. I'd been around the block enough to see that the look in his eye and his entire demeanor just screamed 'scheming type.'But strangely enough, a part of me wanted so badly to trust him—no—was begging me to trust him, to go along with whatever he suggested simply because it would make him happy.What the hell was wrong with me?"That is a tempting offer," I said, clearing my throat, "but where I'm from, an offer like that is not without a catch."Chris chuckled. "Yes, I have noticed that residents of the lower city districts are far more skeptical than the folk you'll find up here," he said jovially."But believe me when I say that there is no catch; I see your potential membership as an invaluable asset to my pack, not to mention that you'll be able to practice without fear of the law.""But I still won't be licensed, because then you can't
**Noah POVLeaping from the roof of the mansion, I landed on my feet and dashed toward the woods. It was the weak point in the estate's defenses, so it was the place that Chris and his pack had chosen to attack from.Howls and screams echoed as the Hansen wolves walked straight into the traps we had placed all throughout the forest.My fellow pack members joined me at the treeline. There were ninety of us present at the moment; the others had been stationed all around the estate, as well as with my father down in the tunnels.The wolves with me were itching to transform and attack the intruders."Hold the line!" I yelled. "Don't engage until we see them! If you run in there blind you could head into a trap or an ambush!"More howls echoed through the woods, screams both of pain and rage followed by growls as the enemy transformed. The thundering of a hundred wolf paws could be heard hurtling across the forest floor."Hold!" I yelled.They were getting closer."Hold
I stared in awe and fear at the sight before me.Chris Hansen, whose skin was charred beyond recognition, whose blood now oozed out of the dark cracks, whose scent was lost beneath the stench of burnt flesh, was walking towards us and talking as though being burned to a crisp was merely an inconvenience.Noah pushed me behind him and growled at the walking corpse before us. Even Tony looked shocked at the sight of his brother."What the hell is this?" Noah growled. "How are you still alive?""Whatever do you mean?" Chris asked with mock sincerity. "Was I in some sort of accident?""Get out of here, quickly!" Noah hissed at me."I'm not going anywhere without you!" I said firmly, taking my place beside him. "Answer the question!" I directed at Chris. "Nothing should have survived that blast."Chris's eyes, now freshly reformed, narrowed in on me. Recognition entered his eyes and he laughed."Oh, I should have known," he exclaimed. "The esteemed Arianna Lupa Avaroux and t
**Aria POVThe Hansens' raid on the Bergmann estate had been thwarted. We had suffered very few casualties and those with major injuries were being treated at high care medical facilities. The damage to the estate was being repaired and the forest restored.Everything was going back to a semblance of normality. The house staff had returned and were going about their duties as usual.Yet for some reason, it felt like the victory was hollow. We were left with more worries and concerns, and the thought of Chris being a more dangerous adversary than anticipated kept me awake at night.He knew who I was now; how long before he discovered Henry's illness? How long before he exposed me as impersonating an aristocrat and practicing medicine illegally?And somehow he was unable to die. Some power had kept him alive, and I felt lost in the dark trying to figure out what it was.Most wolves were magically inclined to some degree, but the magic we could perform was limited to healing a
**Aria POV"My son seems to have grown fond of you," Henry said one night.I was administering his treatment and collecting blood samples for further investigation into his disease."Does it seem that way?" I asked, trying to pass as clueless.Henry could see right through me, of course, and laughed."There is no need for secrecy, Aria," he chuckled. "You and I are not really married, seeing as how the certificate states that I am married to Arianna Avaroux. However, I must implore you to be careful; this charade must still be maintained for a while longer.""I'll keep my guard up," I assured him, seeing no reason to lie anymore.I packed up my things and bid him goodnight. Exiting the room, I ran into Noah, who was waiting in the hallway."You know you can go in and see him from time to time," I said to him, making my way back to my office.Noah shrugged as he walked with me. "Dad and I have never had a close relationship; it's always been business between us," he ex