CHAPTER ONE: THE BOND THAT SHOULD’NT BE
The moon hung low in the night sky, its pale glow spilling across the forest like a veil of secrets. Aria’s breath fogged in the cool air as she tightened the shawl around her shoulders, standing at the edge of the pack’s territory. The towering pines whispered in the breeze, as if they knew what she was about to face. Tonight was supposed to be a celebration.
Instead, it felt like a test.
“Aria!”
Her name carried through the trees, sharp and commanding. She turned to see Ethan striding toward her, his broad shoulders cutting an imposing figure against the moonlight. He always walked like he owned the earth beneath his feet, but tonight, his confident gait made her stomach twist.
She tried to steady her breathing as he reached her. His hand cupped her elbow, his touch firm but not unkind.
“What are you doing out here?” he asked, his voice low, a hint of annoyance threading through the concern. “The ceremony starts in less than an hour. Everyone’s waiting for you.”
“I needed air,” Aria murmured, looking past him to the trees. The truth was, she felt suffocated. The weight of the mate ceremony, the eyes of the pack elders, Ethan’s unyielding gaze—all of it pressed down on her like a storm she couldn’t escape.
Ethan studied her for a moment, his expression softening. “I know it’s overwhelming,” he said. “But you’ll get through it. We’re stronger together, Aria. You know that.”
She nodded, but the words felt hollow. Stronger together? She wasn’t so sure anymore.
Ethan’s fingers brushed her chin, tilting her face up to meet his eyes. “You look beautiful,” he said, his voice dropping.
Aria managed a small smile. Ethan was handsome—impossibly so—with his chiseled jaw and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see everything. The pack adored him, their confident alpha. And he had chosen her, claimed her. She should feel lucky, honored.
But something inside her ached.
The sound of a branch snapping in the distance broke the moment. Aria turned toward the noise, her heart skipping. The shadows seemed to shift between the trees, and for a fleeting second, she felt a presence—intense, magnetic, and utterly unfamiliar.
“Is someone there?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ethan stiffened, his alpha instincts kicking in. “Stay here.” He moved ahead, his body tense as he scanned the darkness.
Aria’s breath caught as the presence drew closer, the sensation stronger now, like a low hum vibrating through her. It wasn’t threatening—it was… something else.
Then he stepped into the light.
The man was tall, his dark hair tousled as if the wind had claimed it. His eyes, a stormy gray, locked onto hers with a force that stole the air from her lungs. He looked like Ethan—but rougher, rawer. His presence was both a warning and an invitation, and the moment their eyes met, the world tilted.
“Liam.” Ethan’s voice was ice.
Aria blinked, her heart pounding as Ethan stepped between her and the stranger. Liam. She knew the name, of course. Ethan’s brother. The one who had disappeared years ago, shrouded in rumors of betrayal and disgrace.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Ethan said, his tone sharp.
Liam’s gaze didn’t waver. “I’m not here for you.” His voice was deep, rough, and it sent a shiver down Aria’s spine. “I’m here for the pack. For her.”
The words hit her like a physical blow. Her? What could he possibly mean?
Ethan’s shoulders squared, his stance protective. “Aria is my mate. You’ve lost your place here, Liam. Leave.”
Liam’s eyes flicked to Ethan, then back to Aria. The weight of his stare was unbearable, as if he could see straight into her soul. And that’s when she felt it—the bond.
It snapped into place with a force so sudden, so consuming, that she stumbled back a step. The air between them shimmered, alive with an invisible energy that seemed to coil around her, drawing her toward him.
“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. This couldn’t be happening.
But Liam’s gaze softened, a hint of pain flickering in his stormy eyes. He felt it too.
“What’s wrong?” Ethan asked, turning to her. His hand was on her arm again, steadying her, but it felt wrong—foreign.
“I…” Aria tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat. She couldn’t explain what was happening, couldn’t put into words the way her body and soul seemed to reach for Liam against her will.
“I shouldn’t have come,” Liam said, his voice low. He turned as if to leave, but the bond pulled at him too, keeping him rooted to the spot.
Ethan growled, stepping closer to his brother. “You’ve done enough damage, Liam. Don’t think you can just walk back into this pack and—”
“I’m not here to fight you,” Liam interrupted, his tone calm but unyielding. “But the truth will come out eventually.”
Ethan bristled. “What truth?”
Liam’s gaze flicked to Aria again, and her heart stopped. She could see the unspoken words in his eyes, the ones he didn’t dare say aloud.
“The bond,” she whispered, barely able to believe it herself.
Ethan froze, his hand tightening on her arm. “What?”
Liam took a step closer, his voice soft but firm. “She’s not just yours, Ethan. She’s mine too.”
The world seemed to tilt as the weight of his words settled over them. Ethan’s grip on her arm loosened, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Aria felt like she was drowning, caught between the two of them, the truth tearing through her like a storm.
And then the howl came.
It echoed through the forest, sharp and haunting. A warning.
“Klaus,” Ethan said, his voice grim.
Aria’s blood ran cold. The rival alpha. His presence loomed like a shadow over the pack, a constant threat. And now, with tensions rising between Ethan and Liam, she knew this was just the beginning.
But as the moonlight bathed the clearing, its glow brighter than ever, she felt something stir deep within her. The Moon Goddess was watching, waiting, as if this moment had been fated all along.
And Aria knew, with chilling certainty, that her life was about to change forever.
To be continued…..
