The mating
Aria woke to the warmth of his arms draped loosely around her, the rise and fall of his chest steady in sleep. Sunlight filtered through the heavy velvet curtains, catching strands of his dark hair and making the silver in his eyes seem almost otherworldly. Even at rest, he looked impossibly powerful, dangerously handsome—a man who could command any room—or any heart—without a word.
But as her gaze fell on him, clarity hit like a sharp blade. The fire of last night surged through her mind—the kiss, the closeness, the reckless surrender. And with it came a crushing wave of guilt. Damien. Her loyalty. Her love. What have I done? Her stomach twisted, her pulse quickened, and the weight of her mistake pressed down on her like stone. Heart hammering, she slipped from Dante’s arms, careful not to wake him, and fled into the hall, desperate to escape the consequences that would surely follow.
Aria’s Home
A soft knock pulled her from spiraling thoughts.
“Aria? Damien’s been asking for you,” Mandy’s voice called gently as she stepped into the room, concern flickering across her features. Aria’s stomach tightened at the mention of his name, guilt coiling in her chest like a living thing. She hadn’t meant for last night to happen—not like this, not with Dante—but now every thought of Damien brought a sharp pang of shame.
“I—I’ll go find him,” she stammered, voice barely above a whisper, hating herself for the secret she carried.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Mandy asked, concern etched on her face.
“Of course,” Aria said, forcing a small smile.
“Oh, I can’t wait for tonight—the mate revealing! You should’ve seen the way Dante stared at me…” Mandy gushed. Aria said nothing, guilt piling higher. She hadn’t just betrayed Damien—she had slept with a man her sister secretly loved.
“What are you going to wear, Aria?” Mandy asked.
“Don’t know,” Aria replied quietly.
“You should,” Mandy said, rolling her eyes. “You’ll finally get to be with Damien. Even though Mum and Dad don’t accept him, we all know he’s your mate.”
Aria nodded slightly. Their parents had never approved of Damien, calling him an outcast, a weak omega, a man unfit for their world.
“That’s their problem,” Aria said softly. “Besides, the Moon Goddess made both of us for each other…”
“Of course she did,” Mandy said with a smirk before leaving the room.
Guilt gnawed at Aria like a relentless shadow as she watched her sister go. She replayed last night in her mind over and over—the fire in Dante’s eyes, the kiss that had stolen her reason. And with each flash, Damien’s face haunted her: his trust, his love, now a weight she had crushed beneath her own reckless choices. She wanted to scream, to vanish, to undo what she could not—but the truth pressed down like stone. She had crossed a line, betrayed the boy who had given her his heart, and no excuse could erase the sting of her actions.
⸻
The Ceremonial Hall
The full moon poured silver light across the hall, illuminating the gathered wolves and casting long shadows on the polished marble floor. Aria’s heart raced as she stepped into the circle, scanning for the one person who had always mattered most—Damien.
There he stood, tall and steady, eyes searching for hers, a familiar warmth radiating from him. Every memory, every shared laugh, every promise of their childhood seemed to swirl around her. Her chest swelled with hope; perhaps this was the moment the Moon Goddess had blessed them as mates. Trembling, she reached toward him—but the warmth that had always been his alone suddenly felt… wrong.
“Hey… you okay?” Damien asked, his hands gently cupping her cheeks.
Aria nodded, though guilt gnawed at her from the inside out.
Then, a pull unlike anything she had ever known gripped her chest, sharp and insistent. Silver light flickered before her eyes—and there he was. Dante.
He stepped forward, and the air shifted, thick with power and fire. The mating bond ignited instantly, a force that wrapped around her soul, claiming her as fiercely as it had claimed him. It was not the gentle tug she had felt with Damien, but a roaring blaze, magnetic and undeniable. Her hands hovered near Damien, torn, while Dante’s presence drew her forward with an impossible pull.
Guilt stabbed through her as tears pricked her eyes. Damien’s face mirrored hope, confusion, and pain she had no right to cause. Yet the bond could not be denied. It wrapped around her heart, mind, and body, whispering promises she could not resist. The choice was not hers to make—the moongoddess had spoken, and her destiny had chosen Dante.