Rose's POV

"Rose... Rose... wake up." Dorothy's voice came softly as she gently tapped my back.

My eyes were heavy, still swollen from the flood of tears I'd cried last night. The morning sunlight spilled through the window, casting a golden hue across the room, warm and uninvited.

After sobbing in the woods like a wounded animal, I'd somehow dragged myself back to the palace. I couldn't even recall walking to my room, I just remembered collapsing on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Numb. Empty.

My thoughts were a tangled mess. Alpha Jackson's words echoed in my mind, each one a dagger. Tears slipped from the corners of my eyes again, uninvited but relentless. I had always believed meeting my mate would finally bring joy into my life, that everything would change for the better. But it hadn't. It was the opposite. The worst version of a dream turned into a nightmare.

I'd never known love. Not truly. From the moment I could remember, it had been painful.

Before I came to this Pack, my foster father nearly killed me,if not by his fists, then by starvation. While he gorged himself, I got the crumbs. He never missed a chance to curse me, to remind me that I wasn't wanted. He always said he wished I'd never been born.

The only blessing was that he was barely ever home, always chasing some business deal. That gave me time to sneak into the kitchen and steal just enough food to survive.

But everything fell apart the day he sold me.

Traders came, paid a few coins, and just like that, I was property. A slave to this Pack. He said I was a burden. That getting rid of me would give him peace.

I was told my parents died when I was just a pup. Maybe that's why the villagers always looked at me like I was dirt. Like I didn't belong.

My mate had been my last hope. But instead of saving me, he crushed me.

Rhea, my wolf, had gone silent. Of course she had. She was heartbroken. And I didn't know how to comfort her, how to comfort either of us. The pain sat like a stone in my chest.

At some point, sleep pulled me under, my sorrow dragging me into unconsciousness.

Now, Dorothy's voice cut through the fog. "How are you doing, dear?" Her palm was soft and warm against my cheek. Concern filled her eyes. "And why does your face look so swollen?"

I didn't want to relive last night, not even in conversation. My heart was still too raw, and the pain was too close to the surface.

Stretching with a fake yawn, I tried to steer the moment elsewhere. "I was just really tired yesterday from all the chores around the Pack," I said lightly. "I made some pasta before bed, you know how fast that is to cook."

It was a lie.

But I hoped she'd believe it. Pasta was high in sodium. Maybe that would explain the puffiness.

Because the truth? The truth was far more devastating than a late-night meal.

"Hmm..." Dorothy said, pursing her lips thoughtfully.

"I see... Maybe that's why your eyes are swollen too."

She stood up, adjusting her dress as she prepared to leave. "I'll make a cold compress for you. It'll help reduce the swelling."

A small, grateful smile crept onto my lips. For once, someone cared, genuinely cared.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock at the door.

"I'll get it," Dorothy said, heading over.

A maid stood outside, her posture stiff. "Mistress Diva sent me to fetch Rose. She demands her presence immediately."

Dorothy and I exchanged puzzled glances. Her brow furrowed, mine raised. What could Diva possibly want with me?

Diva? The one betrothed to Alpha Jackson?

What business could she possibly have with a commoner like me? And how did she even know my name?

Maybe... maybe she just wanted to assign me some task. Or perhaps she wanted to make me her handmaiden.

Or maybe, I was just overthinking.

"I'll see you later, Dorothy," I said with a faint smile, wrapping her in a warm hug before following the maid, who led the way in silence.

Over fifteen minutes passed, yet we were still walking. My legs ached, my feet dragging beneath me. What confused me even more was that we had left the palace grounds entirely.

Why?

Curiosity gnawed at my insides. My head pounded, my vision blurred from hunger, I hadn't eaten since yesterday. Still, I couldn't afford to collapse now. I just needed to hear what Diva had to say, then I could go back and rest.

Thank the goddess Dorothy was on my side. At least I had someone. But nothing could have prepared me for what came next.

The place we arrived at was completely foreign, isolated and eerie. Not a soul in sight, rats scurried across the filthy ground. Skulls and bones littered the corners like some forgotten burial site. Was this... a cave?

It didn't feel real. I'd only seen places like this in horror movies.

Without warning, the lights dimmed.

Cold sweat broke out across my skin. My heart raced wildly in my chest.

Was this a joke?

Then I heard it. A soft, feminine chortle echoing through the silence, light, mocking, bone-chilling.

"Who's there?" I whispered, my voice shaky as I turned in all directions, trying to locate the sound. The laughter stopped, the room fell deathly silent.

My chest rose and fell rapidly, my eyes widened in terror. And then, I saw her.

Diva.

She stood just a few meters away, strutting forward with deliberate grace, hips swaying like she was on a runway. Her maids trailed behind her silently like shadows.

She began clapping slowly, her expression twisted into one of mock admiration.

"Well, well, well... You little succubus," she sneered. "So this is how you seduce men above your station?"

Her voice oozed contempt, each word slicing through the air like a blade.

"Do you know," she hissed, voice rising to a scream, "I could ruin your pathetic life in a second?!"

Her neck tensed with rage, green and red veins bulging grotesquely.

"I'm Diva," she spat. "Alpha Jackson's betrothed. Your future Luna."

She folded her arms, hands resting on her waist like a queen passing judgment.

"How dare you try to seduce my fiancé?" she demanded, her tone dropping to a venomous whisper.

Her eyes narrowed as she stalked closer, voice low but saturated with bitterness.

I stared at her, stunned, mouth parted in confusion.

I didn't understand what she was talking about, what any of this was.

"Don't you dare act like you don't know what I'm talking about," she scoffed, eyes blazing.

Of course, I knew who she was, Diva. The infamous fiancée of Alpha Jackson.

But did she know that Jackson was my mate?

And how dare she accuse me of seducing him? If only she knew how much Jackson despised me... If only she knew the coldness in his eyes every time he looked at me, she'd choke on her own words.

"No... I was asked to,"

I didn't even get to finish before she snapped, her voice like a crack of thunder, "Get me the chain whip!"

Chain whip?

My heart stuttered. What in the goddess's name did she plan to use that for?

One of her maids rushed forward and handed it to her.

My breath caught in my throat.

The whip was the most terrifying weapon I had ever seen. Forged from steel, it had jagged, serrated blades along its coils, carved like the body of a snake. Its massive, spiked tip gleamed under the dim light, and just the sight of it made my knees buckle.

"By the time I'm done with you," she said with a wicked grin, flicking the whip through the air with a sharp crack, "you'll regret the day you were born."

Without hesitation, she raised her arm, and the first strike landed.

The pain was instant. More than agonizing.

The steel blades tore through my flesh, sending electric shocks of pain through my entire body. I screamed. My voice shattered the silence, but no one came. No one stopped her.

Strike after strike came, relentless, blood splattered across the walls and floor. My skin ripped open with each lash. My eyes, nose, ears, every inch of me burned and bled.

She was no longer a woman, she was a demon wielding pain like a weapon.

I wanted to die. I begged the gods silently for death to come. Anything to make it stop.

But it didn't.

"This," she hissed, her breath ragged, "is just the tip of the iceberg. Don't ever get close to my man again... or next time, you won't be leaving here alive."

And with that, she turned and stormed out, the echo of her heels clicking against the stone floor as the room fell back into silence.

I tried to move, tried to lift myself from the bloodied ground, but collapsed again. My body was broken.

Pain didn't even begin to describe what I felt. It was as if every bone had been crushed, every nerve shredded. 

Blood and something thicker leaked from my wounds. The metallic tang of it filled my mouth. My skin was slick with it. Warm, wet and endless.

Still, somehow, I pushed myself up, groaning in agony. My limbs trembled. My vision blurred. It felt like I was carrying the weight of a thousand stones.

One step and another..

Each movement sent stabbing pain radiating through my limbs. Blood dripped from me with every limp forward. I was dizzy, thirsty, my throat dry and cracked.

My head pounded violently. The world spun, I couldn't do it.

I couldn't take another step.

And just as I felt myself slipping, collapsing into the void, a strong, muscular arm caught me.

My vision dimmed, the world growing quieter... colder... And then. . .Darkness.

Complete and consuming darkness.

Aiden's POV

I was done searching for my mate. Truly done. This time, I meant it. Maybe the Moon Goddess was dead, or worse, maybe she had forgotten me. That was the only explanation for why I was still mateless.

My father, Lycan Denzel, had sent me to represent him at the Black moon Pack's coronation. I took the opportunity to expand the trip into something else entirely, a desperate, final search for my mate. 

My Beta, Fred, traveled with me as we moved from pack to pack, clinging to the hope that I might feel that spark somewhere. But every search ended the same way, they ended in disappointment.

Eventually, my hopes shattered completely. I was running out of options, out of excuses, and there was only one path left open to me. .  .Cassandra.

Cassandra, the daughter of the Shadowborn Pack's Alpha. Our families had always been close, and from childhood, everyone assumed we would end up together. Mated and married. It was what our parents wanted. But I didn't.

Even if she claimed I was her mate, and she did often but I never believed her. I didn't feel that bond, I didn't feel that pull. There was no connection. How could I commit to someone I didn't love, or someone I didn't want?

Cassandra was known for her pride and arrogance.

The only reason she was kind to my family was because she loved me, or thought she did, and wanted the title of Luna. That was the truth no one wanted to say out loud.

Because of how close our families were, my mother, Luna Eva, had even invited Cassandra to stay in our pack for a while. She thought it might help us "reconnect," that maybe I would change my mind with time

But I hadn't.

I never loved Cassandra and I never will. She was just a friend, nothing more.

And yet. . . since fate hadn't granted me a true mate, maybe it was time to surrender. Maybe it was time to settle.

"But we can't. We've come too far to give up now," my wolf, Wyatt, growled inside me.

He had always held onto hope. Always believed she was out there, waiting to be found. But even he was starting to falter.

Still, hearing him now, so stubborn and so certain made something in me hesitate.

Were we really not destined to have a mate?

Or was she still out there, just beyond our reach?

"Can't you see for yourself? It's pointless to keep searching when there is no hope!" I snapped through the mind link.

Wyatt went silent.

I knew I had hurt him by dismissing his optimism so harshly, and I didn't like seeing him withdrawn or upset. I would make it up to him, but not now.

"Aiden, are you there?" Fred's voice broke through my thoughts, laced with concern. I had not even realized he had been speaking. I must have been too lost in my own head.

"Let's head to the Black moon Pack," I responded flatly, unwilling to engage further in conversation.

I urged the horse forward, and we resumed our journey.

As we approached the outskirts of the Black moon Pack territory, I abruptly pulled the reins, bringing my horse to a stop. A figure had caught my attention, specifically, the retreating form of a lone she-wolf moving along the edge of the woods. I tilted my head, listening. A faint sound, sounding like labored breathing, perhaps, carried from her direction. As a Lycan, my hearing was acute, and the sound raised immediate suspicion.

"Is everything okay, Aiden?" Fred asked, noticing the shift in my expression. "Come on, you can't keep sulking. . . "

"Follow me," I ordered as I dismounted. Fred complied immediately.

Just as I issued the command, I inhaled a scent unlike any I had ever encountered. It was sweet and sharp, lemon and blueberry, mingled in a way that struck something primal within me. I could have followed that scent forever.

Wyatt, who had been silent since our earlier exchange, stirred suddenly in my mind. "Something is about to happen," he said, pacing excitedly. "I can feel it. I can't wait. . ."

"Shut up and let me concentrate," I muttered internally.

As we proceeded on foot, a narrow trail of blood became visible on the forest floor. It stretched forward in a straight line, and the scent grew stronger with each step.

"Aiden, let's not go any further," Fred said, placing a hand on my shoulder.

I glared at him with anger and continued ahead.

Then I saw her. A she-wolf, she is barely standing, she appears to be severely injured, and bleeding from multiple cuts, was limping through the brush. Blood ran freely down her body, her face muddied by it. She looked like she had been attacked violently and was on the verge of collapsing.

"Mate!" Wyatt howled in my head. "There she is. . . Oh my goddess, this is real. . ."

She stumbled forward one last time before collapsing. I rushed to her side and caught her before she hit the ground.

I had never felt anything like this before. Even through the blood, her features stood out, delicate, symmetrical, undeniably beautiful. A round face, thick eyelashes, and lips that seemed carefully sculpted.

She was slipping away fast.

"Get the horses!" I barked at Fred, kneeling beside her.

Blood was now flowing from her eyes, nose, and mouth. Her complexion was turning pale, her lips tinged blue, signs that looked like oxygen deprivation. She was losing consciousness. I could feel the panic rising in my chest, but I had to stay focused.

I couldn't lose her now. Not after everything I have been through to find her.

Fred rushed off to get the horses, terror wide in his eyes.

And then the rain began, tiny drops at first, soft against her skin. I don't care about mine but we had to get out of here.

The Black moon Pack wasn't close enough to reach the pack doctor in time, and I wasn't even sure I remembered all the paths clearly. If I didn't act fast, she would bleed out before we made it anywhere.

My mind raced, chaos and desperation tangling together.

And then I remembered, back when I was younger, training to be a warrior, we were taught emergency survival techniques. Taylor, the Gamma of our pack and my father's most trusted warrior, had drilled into us the importance of recognizing healing herbs.

One of them, the aspilia leaf, could slow bleeding. If only I could find one right now.

Without hesitation, I darted into the underbrush and found a patch, thankfully. I ripped a handful from the stem, heart pounding as the rain picked up around me.

We needed shelter.

Lifting her carefully, I placed her limp body on my horse. Her skin was cold. The rain began to fall harder now, soaking us both. I swung up behind her and wrapped one arm tightly around her while grabbing the reins with the other.

I didn't know exactly where I was headed, just away from here, anywhere that could keep her safe.

Fred followed close behind on his horse, eyes scanning for shelter.

Frustration burned in my blood. I whipped the reins harder, urging the horse faster. My legs locked around its sides as my heart thundered with fear.

Through the storm, Fred suddenly called out, waving frantically. "There is. . . There is a shade over here!" His voice was barely audible through the downpour.

I yanked the reins, bringing the horse to a stop, and leapt down. Fred was already holding back branches to reveal an old wooden lean-to, half-covered in vines but sturdy enough for shelter.

I carried her into it.

Inside, I quickly pounded the aspilia leaves with a rock, crushing them into a paste. Then I spread them across her wounds, pressing gently.

She looked so pale. So still.

My heart cracked, watching her lie there like that, fragile and lifeless.

"She's your mate, right?" Fred asked quietly, his lips twitching into a solemn frown.

"Yes," I murmured, my voice low and ragged as I raked my hands through my soaked hair and over my face.

Fred exhaled and gave a small shake of his head, but he didn't say anything.

Usually, Fred and I filled the space between us with banter or easy rapport but it was different.

This was my mate. And she was dying.

My leg bounced anxiously, fists clenched so tight my knuckles turned white.

"What do you think happened to her?" Fred finally asked. "Was it rogues? Some kind of attack?"

I stared into the distance, eyes narrowing. My mind flashed back to the image of the retreating she-wolf I had seen earlier, her silhouette lingering in the shadows. Something about it... It had not felt right.

"I don't know who did this," I said darkly. "But someone's behind it, and when I find out who, they will pay."

Anger coiled like a storm inside me, tightening my chest because of the fact I cannot do anything else apart from what I have done.

Days passed. Then weeks. She still wasn't responding. But she was still breathing, that's a good thing.

"Fred..." I called out, my voice hoarse with exhaustion and grief.

"What am I going to do?" My hands trembled. "She's my life. . ."

I dropped to my knees, shoulders shaking. I couldn't take this anymore. I was falling apart. I was losing her, and myself along with her.

Fred placed a comforting hand on my back, but I could tell he didn't know what to say. There were no words that could fix this.

Then. . . 

Achoo.

I froze.

"Huh?" I looked up, unsure if I had imagined the sound.

Then again, louder this time: "Achoo. . . achoo. . ."

Fred and I both snapped upright, eyes wide.

"She's alive!" we shouted in unison. And the sense of relief just washed over me. I will live too!

Rose's Pov

I thought I would be dead by now. Honestly, that would have been better, at least then, I would be with my parents. What was the point of living after everything I had been through? Was the Moon Goddess playing some cruel joke on me? My life was already a mess.

I tried to open my eyes, but my temples throbbed relentlessly. I lifted a shaky hand to rub at them, wincing at the pain. Everything was quiet, too quiet.

"Rhea? Rhea?" I called out through the mindlink. No response.

Maybe she was still recovering... or resting. After what we went through, I wouldn't blame her. The trauma had been unbearable.

When my eyes finally fluttered open, two He-wolves were staring down at me.

Panic spiked through me like a jolt of electricity.

Had I been kidnapped again? Or worse, Sold off?

Why were they looking at me like that? Was this how I was going to die?

My chest tightened as fear wrapped its cold fingers around my ribs.

"What... what am I doing here?" I asked in a hoarse whisper.

One of them stepped forward. "You almost died."

Yeah. I knew that already, and if I had, maybe it would've been a mercy. But that wasn't the answer I needed.

Then I noticed the other one. The one who hadn't said a word but kept staring. I hadn't seen him clearly at first, my vision had been too blurry, but now...

How could someone look like that?

He was... stunning. He was tall and muscular. His brown hair had that effortlessly tousled, classic look. But it was his eyes that held me still, dark, radiant, intense. And that nose, sharp and sculpted, like the Moon Goddess herself carved it with a delicate blade.

My gaze dropped to his lips, parted slightly as if he wanted to say something but couldn't. They looked. . . enticing. That was the only word I could think of.

He didn't look real.

He looked like he was crafted by divine hands, flawless, powerful. Even just by standing there, I could tell, he commanded the room. The other man had to be his subordinate.

I couldn't stop staring.

Butterflies churned in my stomach. Goddess, he was gorgeous.

Perfect, for any woman.

No. No. I needed to stop this.

Snap out of it, Rose. You're not that girl. Love was never meant for you...

Still, I wanted to say something. To break the awkward silence.

"Hello..." I said softly.

But he didn't respond. Just kept gaping at me like I was some ancient artifact he couldn't believe was real.

It was... awkward.

Pushing through the throbbing in my skull, I forced myself to sit up.

"What am I doing here? And who are you? Why are you even here?" My voice came out louder than I intended, shaky, and defensive.

The sharp movement sent a fresh wave of pain lancing through my head. I winced.

The beautiful stranger flinched like I had struck him.

"Oh... oh." He blinked rapidly, lifting his hands in surrender. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to"

"It's fine," I cut him off, narrowing my eyes.

I didn't trust this. Any of it.

The second man finally stepped in, clearing his throat.

"We saw you passed out," he explained. "So... we saved you."

Remembering what happened, my heart shattered all over again.

Diva had almost killed me.

She had accused me of seducing Alpha Jackson, an accusation I was completely innocent of. But that hadn't stopped her. She had made me suffer in ways I never imagined. She had truly gone the extra mile to see me destroyed.

If it hadn't been for these two men, I would be dead.

Even a living rat would have been in better shape than I was.

"Thank you so much for saving my life," I whispered, my voice trembling as tears rolled silently down my cheeks.

"You don't have to cry, okay?" the handsome one said gently, using his palm to brush away my tears.

The moment his skin touched mine, a strange surge rushed through me, like adrenaline, but deeper, right into my bones. His touch was so tender, so sincere, it startled something in me I thought had long died.

"I'm just grateful we got there in time," he added, his voice low. "I was honestly scared you wouldn't make it."

This was the first time in so long, maybe ever, that someone had shown me real kindness.

Okay, except for Dorothy. But even with her, I'd always believed good people were a myth, especially for someone like me. I never imagined I'd meet someone like him. Handsome... and caring? That combination felt unreal.

Before I could say anything, he reached beside him and brought over a cup of water.

"Here," he said, handing it to me. "You must be dehydrated."

I didn't argue. I took the cup with both hands and drank it all at once, the cool liquid soothing my throat and sending a tingle all the way to my ears.

He smiled faintly as I finished, and said, "You can call me Aiden."

He extended his hand toward me.

I hesitated for a second, then reached out. "Rose," I replied softly.

The moment our palms touched, I froze.

His hand was... soft. Much softer than mine. And I knew why my palms had been hardened by the constant struggle for survival. For a moment, I wondered if he noticed the difference. I pressed my lips together, embarrassed.

"I'm sorry for whatever you've been through these past few weeks," he said sincerely.

Wait.

"Weeks?" I blinked, turning to him. "How long have I been here?"

The two men exchanged a look.

"About two weeks and a few days," the other one finally answered.

My eyes widened. Two whole weeks?!

"Oh my goddess... I need to go," I muttered, already adjusting my dress as I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, ignoring the ache that rippled through my body.

I was still weak, but I didn't care.

I needed to get to the Palace.

Thank the Moon Goddess for my wolf's ability to heal quickly, most of my wounds had already sealed. Still, I couldn't waste another second.

The Coronation of Alpha Jackson and Diva was supposed to take place this week. The Palace would be buzzing with preparations. And if I wasn't there... if they found out I had gone missing... I would be dead meat for real.

But just as I stood, Aiden stepped forward sharply.

"No, you can't!" he said, his voice suddenly firmer, almost commanding.

The chill in his tone sent a shiver crawling up my spine.

"You're not fully recovered. Please," he pleaded, softening his voice again. "You can't go yet. You need rest."

Why did he care so much? Why was he so concerned about someone like me?

I shouldn't enjoy his concern, but something inside me melted at his words. No one had ever cared whether I stayed or left. Not really.

Still, I couldn't stay.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, pressing my palms together. "I can't stay. But thank you again, for everything."

Before he could respond, I turned and walked out.

Only when I stepped outside did I realize I had been holding my breath. I exhaled deeply, letting the cool evening air wrap around me.

My legs felt shaky, but I pushed on.

After a while of walking, guided by nothing but instinct, I began to hear it.

The distant hum of music.

Laughter, voices and celebration.  The Coronation Ceremony had already begun.

Of all the people to bump into, it had to be the imbecile I never wanted to see again, Alpha Jackson.

"Are you stalking me?" he growled, glaring at me like I had no right to breathe the same air.

"Ew. Stalk you?" I recoiled, curling my lip in disgust. "I'd never stoop so low."

His face twisted. "How dare you?" he snarled. "You should be begging me to accept you as my mistress."

Mistress?

Was this man insane?

The audacity, no, the delusion, he wore like a crown was unbearable. He needed to be put in his place. Right now.

I met his eyes, rage bubbling through my chest.

"You know what?" I spat, voice shaking but fierce. "I'd rather be mateless for the rest of my life than be tied to someone like you."

I could feel power rising in me, like the Moon Goddess herself was guiding my tongue.

"I, Rose Miller of the Black moon Pack, accept your rejection."

The words left me with a strange kind of freedom. I didn't know where the courage came from, but I had never felt lighter.

Jackson froze. His arrogant smirk faltered.

His eyes widened slightly. His mouth parted like he wanted to speak but couldn't find the words.

"You... uh-" he stuttered.

Then, just as quickly, his shock turned to a sneer.

"You better say your last prayers," he said coldly, his voice lowering to a dangerous tone. "Because the Lycan Prince is arriving today. And I'm handing you over to him."

He turned to leave but stopped just long enough to throw one final dagger:

"You know what that means..."

Then he was gone, leaving his venom to soak into my thoughts.

The Lycan Prince?

If Jackson was cruel and ruthless... the Lycan Prince was ten times worse.

The stories I had heard about him were the kind that haunted you in your sleep. He murdered countless people, some say with no remorse. He sexually abused she-wolves, even elders. There were rumors that he had even killed his own sister.

I had never once prayed to meet him.

And now... Jackson was giving me to him?

Was this the end?

I stumbled into the Coronation Hall, Jackson's words still echoing in my head like a death sentence. My legs felt heavy, and dread coiled tight in my chest. Every step reminded me that I was walking toward something I might never return from.

Then I saw her.

Diva.

The demon in a woman's skin. She wore a blood-red, curve-hugging gown with a slit that crept high up her thigh. Her hair cascaded down her back like black silk, and her lips painted a bold red stood out like a warning sign.

I won't lie. She looked stunning. Jackson stood beside her, his hand curled possessively around her waist as they walked to the center of the hall. The crowd clapped and cheered like they were royalty.

"To begin the ceremony," Jackson announced with a smug glance in my direction, "let's rise and welcome the Lycan Prince of Exousia."

Trumpets sounded. Guards formed two perfect columns, creating a path down the center of the hall.

My breath hitched. My heart began pounding in my chest, hard and fast, like a drum of doom.

The air in the hall grew cold, but sweat beaded on my forehead. My palms trembled uncontrollably. I couldn't explain it, but my body knew before my mind did.

Then he entered.

A man in a pristine white suit, tailored to perfection, every inch of him exuding command. He wore sleek black sunglasses, the kind that made him look untouchable. The crowd erupted in cheers, a few she-wolves gasping in awe.

Some even fainted.

He moved with grace, power, and control. And something else. Familiarity.

I frowned. Why did he seem so... familiar? He reached the center of the hall. Then, slowly, he removed his sunglasses.

The moment his eyes met mine, I froze.

My knees nearly gave out and my heart slammed hard against my ribs, and all the air left my lungs.

"It's him. . ." I whispered.

"It's Aiden."