Chapter 7: Frostmoon Trials
1821 Words
“Mmmmh," Aria moaned as heat pulled low in her stomach. His hands, impossibly strong, traced her curves as he nibbled on the skin on her shoulder. She arched her back instinctively, hands in his disheveled hair, her naked n*****s brushing his bare chest, which earned a stifled grunt from him.
“Rowan…” she gasped desperately as he fondled her left breast, softly rolling the n*****s while his mouth worked on the other with soft flicks from his tongue.
He pressed her down with his weight, grinding his hard erection on her soaked panties in slow, rhythmic motion.
“You're mine, Aria…” he grunted, breath ragged, his lips leaving her breast to claim hers with suppressed hunger, as he sucked, bit, then repeated—
“Aria! Wake up, it's almost time!" Liana's voice echoed through the hallway, bringing Aria back to consciousness.
She scrambled upright, trembling hands gripping the sheets, sweat clung to her forehead, her breath was uneven, and her underwear was very much soaked.
Everything came rushing to her: the symbol on her window, the rumor, and now, added to her list. Her wet dreams.
Rowan's hands.
His mouth, his touch, and thrusts. His voice, rough and low, against her skin.
It felt too real, too vivid, and the worst part was that she didn't even know when the dream started. Only that she was suddenly pressed against him, his bare body pinning hers with an intensity that set her nerves on fire, his breath at her throat, his lips brushing—
No. No. Absolutely not.
She refused to think about that. She refused to think about the way his hands slid down her waist and into her silk shorts, how his mouth traced the hollow of her collarbone, how she arched into him…
She shut her eyes tightly.
This is ridiculous. Stop.
But pieces of the dream still clung to her body like fingerprints she couldn't wash off. Aria dragged her hands over her face, mortified.
This was the worst possible time for her brain to become a traitor. Between the rune, the whispers, and Rowan saying she was a “problem," she didn't need erotic hallucinations on top of everything.
She forced herself to breathe, to stand and move. She had to distract herself and pretend everything was normal and not let anyone know about the window. No more being a problem to anyone.
By the time she met Liana outside the pack house, she'd almost convinced herself she was fine.
Almost.
“Ready for the Frostmoon Trials?" Liana asked, linking her arms with a huge grin on her face.
“I guess," Aria murmured, fingers fidgeting with the hem of her coat.
Liana didn't notice, her eyes fixed on the street that are already packed with energy. Snow swirled lazily, the sky shone brightly, a beautiful shade of blue, free of any storm, like an approval of today's event.
Everyone was in groups of two or more, laughter and cheers echoing against the trees. She looked back at Liana who was busy on her phone.
This was her chance. A harmless question. Casual. Not suspicious.
“Hey Liana," she tried lightly, “you ever heard anything about… um… symbols? Like carved ones? Maybe used for tracking or something?”
" Tracking?” Liana blinked. " Like hunter runes?”
" I don't know,” Aria lied quickly. " Just… curious."
“Hmm." Liana tapped her chin. “Well—"
A sudden roar of excitement tore through the crowd.
Liana squealed, “Oh! Oh, they're coming!"
Aria turned back to the open field filled with bare-chested males, up to 10 of them. Some flexed and showed off their muscles to the girls. None of that caught her attention, not until he stepped into the clearing.
Bare-chested, snow dusting his shoulders, her eyes traced the lines of his hard muscles, stopping at his low V shape where his trousers hung loosely.
She swallowed, pushing back the images from her dream, “Why are they all shirtless?" She nudged Liana, trying to gain her attention.
“I forgot you don't attend these events. It makes shifting easier since this trial is all about hunting races, strength, and endurance tests.” She replied casually.
" And your dad must join? I mean he's the Alpha.” She questions again, trying to sound less interested.
" Oh, don't mind him. He's just there to loosen up tension from work.”
They both looked back at the contestants, then his eyes found her.
No hesitation, no flicker of distraction from the other women trying to gain his attention.
Aria's chest tightened, she tucked a curl behind her ears, breaking eye contact as heat flushed her face.
“Oh goddess, look, Alpha Rowan is looking at her again." Someone whispered.
"Well, that ain't good. Not for someone like her.”
Liana's arm slipped from hers. “I'll be right back."
" Liana…” She leaves before Aria can finish. She sighs, forcing herself to block out the whispers and focus on the Arena floor where warriors were warming up, but one of them, a tall, broad-shouldered male with a cocky grin, caught her eye.
He stepped too close. “Didn't know Alpha Rowan brought a new pretty to cheer," he said, voice casual, his hand raised, playing with Aria's loose curls. “You here for me sweetheart?"
Aria's jaw tightened, ready to snap back, but before she could, Rowan's presence fell over the man. No words, just a stillness so sharp it affected anyone around.
His grin faltered under the weight of Rowan's gaze, his confidence from earlier drained.
Aria's heartbeat quickened; she felt the subtle tension of Rowan's aura, cooking around her.
His eyes focused on the hand still twirling Aria's hair. “I don't think you'd be this confident after you fail the trial." He said quietly, a whisper meant only for the man. “ Now, leave." Every syllable is lethal, controlled, and impossibly dangerous.
The male stammered an apology and retreated, eyes wide.
Rowan turned to her then, silent, his hands brushing hers softly as he held her wrist pulling her behind a stone pillar.
“Rowan! People are watching." She whisper-yelled, her eyes darting around.
His jaw was tight, eyes dark, as he looked over her form. “Don't let another male touch you," he said softly, with his voice low, carrying the promise of consequences.
Aria lifted her chin defiantly, though the spike in her pulse betrayed her. “You have no claim on me."
His hand on her wrist tightened, a reminder, not a threat.
He leaned in, breath hot against her cheek, “Don't” he whispered darkly. "Don't make me prove you wrong.”
Her brows shot up, she tried to steady herself and to mask the heat that rose on her cheeks and between her thighs with every measured word, every dark glance.
Something in his expression fractured, almost vulnerable, and for a moment the world narrowed to just them.
“I almost shifted in front of everyone. Do you know how dangerous that is? For them? For you?”
Aria swallowed hard.
" Rowan…"
His voice dropped to a whisper. “I don't want to hurt you,"
And for a moment, just one moment she believed him.
The horn blew across the arena snapping him back to duty. His fingers still lingered on her wrist before he stepped back, squared his shoulders.
“Stay close to Liana," he said, voice free from tension a few minutes ago. Then he melted back into the crowd.
Aria let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, chest tingling and still aware of his presence. Now her problem was where to find Liana.
Later that evening, the trials were winding down. The arena now crowded, lanterns flickering gold in the winter air, Aria wandered to observe the displays of strength and magic. The air was cold, mixing in the smell of smoke and warm leather.
Laughter, shouts, hoots, and the distant hum of grunts from challengers on the field filled her ears.
She turned a corner and collided with someone wearing a cloak covering their face.
“Oh–sorry," she stammered, backing away. The figure didn't respond, disappearing into the crowd.
She shrugged, about to move when her eyes caught something on the ground. A folded piece of paper. She bent to pick it up.
No one was nearby, just the clamor from the trials.
Curiosity overcame caution as she unfolded the paper. The words in red made her stomach drop, and her blood ran cold:
WE FOUND YOU. HALF-BLOOD.
Panic exploded in her chest as the metallic smell of blood hit her nose. The paper trembled between her fingers. She staggered back, not even trying to regulate her breathing as she began looking around frantically.
Fear was very much visible on her face which caught the attention of people around her.
“No…” she whispered breathlessly, her breath half gone as unshed tears gathered under her lashes.
Rowan's eyes found her instantly, cutting through the crowd. Every motion froze as he realized the raw fear on her face. His control snapped as his focus was placed solely on her.
He moved quickly, leaving the arena in a blur. The trials paused as whispers buzzed like wildfire, and shock rippled through the pack.
Rowan reached her side in a heartbeat, voice tensed and almost unrecognizable.
“Who did this?"
Aria could barely speak. The note fell from her trembling hands as she looked up at him. A tear rolled down her cheek.
“They… they know.” She whispered, her voice small and raw.
He didn't answer, just simply pulled her close, scanning every movement, his presence promised protection and danger if anyone dared cross the line.
The crowd stared, waiting.
And somewhere in the darkened woods, someone had made their move.
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