HIS FATHER, MY MATE

“You love playing with fire, little one,” she heard a voice say from behind her as she dragged the shawl she used to cover up away from her naked body. She heard a sharp inhale of breath, followed by a groan. “You are killing me here,” Aria let out a loud giggle, followed by a sharp intake of breath. She was dreaming. The emotion, the spark, it all sounded like her mate, but also, why did the voice resemble that of her Alpha? *** Aria's wolf growled, baring its teeth, urging her to attack. But Aria's human side hesitated, her mind racing with questions. How could Kael do this to her? They were mates, bound by the sacred pack laws. Didn't that mean anything to him? Kael's expression was unapologetic, his eyes cold and distant. "Aria, I—" "Don't even try to explain!" Aria's voice rose, her anger boiling over. "You've made your choice. You've broken our bond." Lyra smirked, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "You were always too soft on him, Aria. He needed someone like me. You never made a move on him. I don’t understand why you are so angry." Aria's wolf snarled, wanting to lunge at Lyra, but Aria restrained herself. She wouldn't let her sister provoke her into a fight. Not yet. As for their past, Aria had believed their future was set. All her life was planned. Meet her mate, get accepted, get marked, and be with him forever. She was the daughter of the beta, so she knew she could never be a mate to some loser. She had high hopes that they would solidify their bond, become a mated pair, and eventually take on leadership roles within the Nightfang pack. But now, Kael's betrayal shattered those dreams. Everything wasn’t supposed to be black and white, but somehow, for Aria, it was. She needed a way to get back at Kael, and the universe heard her cry.