Aria
I didn’t sleep that night.
After Matthew’s cruel words and Elias standing up for me—again—I just sat on the edge of my narrow bed, heart hammering, mind burning. The bond inside me wasn’t quiet anymore. It was a wildfire, scorching every part of me that I still hoped. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Matthew’s face, twisted in jealousy… and then disgust.
Why are you such a pick-me?
The words played on a loop. I hated how much they hurt. How much they mattered.
But the worst part? It wasn’t hate I felt toward him. Not really. It was everything else. The raw ache of our bond. The way my body still knew his even when my mind screamed at me to run.
And then there was Elias.
Kind. Gentle. Honest. He didn’t make my heart race like Matthew did—but he made it feel safe. And in a world like this, maybe that was more valuable than fire.
By late morning, I snuck away from the Pack House. The bonfire smoke still clung to the air, but most of the pack was busy training or doing chores. I followed a trail I’d learned early on, one that curved down past the eastern border to a quiet riverbend that split Blue Stone territory from the open forest.
The water shimmered under the light, and for the first time in days, I could breathe. I took off my boots, dipped my feet into the cool stream, and let my shoulders relax. I didn’t hear him approach until I heard a voice behind me.
“Mind if I join you?”
Elias.
He didn’t wait for an answer, just sat a few feet away on the flat stone beside me. We were both quiet for a long time. The kind of silence that wasn’t awkward, just… heavy.
Finally, he spoke. “I should’ve punched him.”
I let out a breathy laugh, soft and sad. “Wouldn’t have helped.”
He looked over at me. “You don’t deserve to be looked at like that, Aria. Not by him. Not by anyone.”
“I’m his mate,” I whispered. “Whether he likes it or not.”
Elias tilted his head, studying me. “And does that mean he gets to treat you like dirt for the rest of your life just because of a bond?”
“No,” I whispered. “But I don’t know how to stop wanting him to want me back.”
His jaw clenched. “If you weren’t his, Aria…” He paused, eyes burning into mine. “I’d have already marked you.”
My breath caught.
“And maybe,” he added, voice rougher, “even if you are… I still might.”
Silence. It was loud. It was terrifying. I looked at him, searching for any hint of humor, anything that said he didn’t mean it. But there was nothing but truth in his eyes. I couldn’t answer. My throat was tight. My chest is heavier than ever.
I turned back to the water, blinking fast.
“What if the Moon Goddess got it wrong?” I asked so quietly I wasn’t sure he heard. “What if this bond is some cruel joke?”
He didn’t reply. He just placed his hand gently beside mine on the stone—close, not touching. Just there.
That evening, the sun dipped low behind the trees, casting the Pack House in gold. I stayed on the edge of the courtyard, near the training ring, pretending to sort herbs from the healer’s garden. Really, I was just hiding again.
But then I heard voices. Two men.
Matthew and Ryle.
They were standing near the open hall, just far enough for their words to carry, just close enough that they didn’t see me crouched behind the rose hedges.
“She’s making you weak,” Ryle snarled, voice like gravel. “You hesitate in battle. You snap at your warriors. Since she arrived, your judgment has been clouded.”
“She’s my mate,” Matthew said, tone low but tight.
“Then claim her,” Ryle barked. “Or banish her.”
Silence. The kind that made my stomach twist.
“You think I haven’t noticed the way the others talk? They don’t respect her. They don’t respect you. Do you want to lose this pack because of one soft girl and a pretty mark?”
I couldn’t breathe. My ears rang. And then—Matthew looked up. He saw me. Our eyes locked across the courtyard.
And for the first time… he didn’t look angry. He didn’t look disgusted. He looked torn. Lost. Like maybe—just maybe—he was choosing something. Or someone.
Before I could move, he stormed toward me. His steps were sharp, fast. My heart thundered.
He reached me in seconds, his hand wrapping around my arm—not too hard, but firm. He leaned close.
And then he said it, voice like thunder—
“Come with me. Now.”