Tension
Mandy’s eyes blazed as she stepped closer, her fingers tightening around the edge of Aria’s dress. “You think you can just… have him?” she hissed, voice low but sharp. “I’ve loved Dante for years, and now you waltz in and claim him like it’s nothing. If you don’t make him reject you —if you don’t ask him to turn away from you —I swear, Aria, I’ll tell everyone what happened that night. Every kiss, every touch… the pack deserves to know what kind of woman you are.”
Aria’s heart hammered in her chest. She had never seen her sister so desperate, so fierce. “Mandy, don’t… I can’t bear to see Damien hurt. He’s already broken with the fact that we aren’t mates. And as for what happened between Dante and me… it was a mistake.” Her eyes pleaded with her sister.
“How about me? Did you think about how hurt I am?” Mandy snapped, her voice cracking. “You know how much I wanted to be Dante’s mate.”
“It’s not my fault, Mandy,” Aria whispered. “The Moon Goddess chose this fate, not me.”
“No one’s saying it’s your fault,” Mandy said, stepping closer, leaning in until Aria could feel her breath. “Just tell Dante to reject me—it’s simple. Do it, or I’ll ruin everything you’ve worked for.”
Aria’s phone buzzed, breaking the tension. A message from Damien appeared: Let’s meet… at my place.
She typed a quick reply: Okay.
“Where to, Aria?” her mother’s voice called from the hall.
“Um… I want to see Lila. I’ll be back soon,” she lied, keeping her nerves in check.
“Be back on time. The Blackwoods will be expecting you today—you don’t want to keep them waiting,” her mother reminded her.
Aria hesitated at the door of Damien’s home, her fingers lingering on the frame as if it could steady the storm inside her. Every step toward him felt heavy, weighted by guilt, longing, and the unrelenting pull of the bond she could not ignore. Damien stood in the living room, tall and impossibly still, his silver eyes scanning her like he could see straight into her soul. Relief flickered in them when he saw her—but beneath it lingered hurt, and her chest tightened.
“Aria…” His voice was low, cautious, filled with longing that made her breath catch. She swallowed, unable to respond. Memories of their past—laughter, late-night talks, stolen touches, plans for a future she had imagined—flooded her, making tears prick at her eyes. She stepped forward, pulling him into a tight hug, her body trembling.
“Are you okay?” Damien asked, hands gently checking her face.
“I… I’m fine,” she whispered, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her. Her heart ached as she looked at him—the boy she had loved since childhood, the man who had always stood by her. And yet, Dante’s silver eyes haunted her, the pull of their mating bond threading through her like wildfire.
Damien stepped closer, closing the distance between them, cupping her face with both hands, his thumbs brushing her cheeks. “Aria,” he said, voice breaking. “I love you. I’ll always love you. And I won’t let the fact that she—Dante—is your mate take you away from me. You’re mine, Aria. I’m yours.” He pressed his forehead to hers, grounding her.
Her breath hitched as he leaned forward. Before she could stop herself, their lips met. The kiss was soft at first, hesitant—a tentative bridge between the love they had shared and the chaos threatening them. But the moment lingered, and desire, longing, and heartbreak surged between them. Aria felt her knees weaken, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.
Damien’s hands tightened around her waist, pulling her impossibly close, erasing the distance the world had imposed. The kiss deepened, desperate and tender at once, speaking volumes of what they felt but couldn’t fully say. Every heartbeat, every shiver, every fleeting touch screamed of a love that refused to die, even when circumstances demanded it.
When they finally pulled apart, breaths ragged and hearts racing, Damien rested his forehead against hers, silver eyes glimmering with unshed tears. “You’re mine, Aria. Always,” he whispered, voice fierce and vulnerable all at once.
Aria closed her eyes, tears spilling freely. Torn between Damien’s unwavering love and the force of Dante’s bond, her heart ached. Choosing between them was no longer just a matter of love—it was a choice that would change everything.