Aria’s POV
The walk back to the pack house was like a nightmare. Or a dream I couldn’t wake up from.
I was still in his arms—broad, unyielding, warm in a way that made me burn even more. The Alpha King carried me as though I weighed nothing, as though the forest and its dangers didn’t exist, only me.
Every eye followed us. Wolves parted to let him pass. Their gazes lingered on me, a mix of envy, disgust, curiosity, and fear. I wanted to disappear, to melt into his chest so no one could see my flushed cheeks or the way my body trembled.
Damien walked behind us, his rage an almost physical force. His wolf wanted blood—I could feel it—but he didn’t dare cross the King. Serena clung to his arm, whispering furiously, her eyes locked on me like daggers.
“This isn’t fair,” she hissed, her vo
