THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN VOWS

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM

Chapter Two

The Distance Between Them

Aria woke up the next morning with one thought running through her mind.

Stay away from him.

It should have been easy.

After all, Adrian Blackwood had practically ordered her to.

Yet somehow, the moment Aria opened her eyes, she remembered the way he had looked at her in the forest.

Not like an Alpha looking at a member of his pack.

Not like a stranger.

Like someone fighting a battle she couldn't see.

She groaned and buried her face in her pillow.

"This is ridiculous."

A knock sounded against her bedroom door.

"Aria!"

She recognized Lila's voice.

"Come in."

The door opened.

Lila walked inside carrying two plates of breakfast.

"You look terrible."

Aria sat up.

"Good morning to you too."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

Lila placed the plates on the small table beside the bed.

"You were awake all night, weren't you?"

"No."

"You were."

"I slept."

"For how long?"

Aria hesitated.

"Enough."

Lila crossed her arms.

"Aria."

"Fine. Maybe I didn't sleep much."

"I knew it."

Lila sat beside her.

"Is this about the Alpha?"

Aria immediately looked away.

"No."

"That was the fastest lie I've ever heard."

"I'm not lying."

"You are absolutely lying."

Aria sighed.

She reached for the breakfast plate.

"Nothing happened."

Lila stared at her.

"Then why do you look like you've spent the entire night arguing with yourself?"

Aria didn't answer.

Because technically, she had.

She still couldn't understand what Adrian meant.

You're my weakness.

Those words had followed her into her dreams.

She had replayed them so many times that they no longer sounded real.

Lila leaned closer.

"Did he say something to you?"

Aria hesitated.

"Yes."

"What?"

"He told me to stay away from him."

Lila blinked.

"That's it?"

"No."

"What else?"

Aria looked down.

"He said I was his weakness."

Lila's mouth fell open.

For several seconds, she said nothing.

Then—

"WHAT?"

Aria quickly covered her mouth.

"Keep your voice down!"

"How am I supposed to keep my voice down after hearing that?"

"I don't know."

"Aria, that's not something an Alpha casually tells someone!"

"I know."

"Did you ask him what he meant?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"He wouldn't tell me."

Lila stared at her thoughtfully.

"Something is going on."

"Obviously."

"No, I mean something serious."

Aria looked toward the window.

The morning sunlight had finally replaced last night's storm.

"Maybe he just doesn't like me."

Lila shook her head.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I've seen Alpha Adrian dislike people."

"And?"

"He doesn't look at them the way he looked at you."

Aria's heart skipped.

She hated that her friend had noticed.

Because she had noticed too.

Across the pack territory, Adrian stood in his office.

He hadn't slept either.

A pile of reports sat untouched on his desk.

He wasn't interested in any of them.

His attention remained fixed on the forest beyond the window.

His Beta, Marcus, stood across from him.

"You've been staring out that window for an hour."

Adrian didn't answer.

Marcus sighed.

"Alpha."

"What?"

"You've been distracted since you returned."

"I'm fine."

Marcus gave him a skeptical look.

"That's what people say when they're definitely not fine."

Adrian finally turned around.

"Do you have something important to report?"

"Actually, yes."

Marcus placed a folder on the desk.

"The eastern border patrol found tracks."

Adrian's expression immediately changed.

"What kind?"

"Wolves."

"Rogues?"

"We don't know."

Adrian opened the folder.

Marcus watched him carefully.

Then he said,

"There is something else."

Adrian looked up.

"What?"

"Your father called."

Adrian's face hardened.

"What did he want?"

"He wants you at the council meeting tonight."

"No."

"That's what I told him you'd say."

"And?"

"He said it's not a request."

Adrian closed the folder.

"I'm the Alpha of Silvermoon. He doesn't command me."

Marcus nodded.

"I agree."

Adrian walked toward the window again.

Marcus hesitated.

Then he asked the question he'd been avoiding.

"Who is Aria Vale?"

Adrian went completely still.

"Why are you asking?"

"Because yesterday you looked at her like you'd been struck by lightning."

Adrian slowly turned.

"Choose your next words carefully."

Marcus raised both hands.

"I'm just asking."

"Don't."

Marcus studied him.

"Is she the reason you've been distracted?"

"No."

The answer came instantly.

Marcus smiled faintly.

"Interesting."

"What?"

"You didn't say no before."

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

"Marcus."

"Yes, Alpha."

"Leave."

Marcus laughed under his breath.

"Of course."

He reached the door.

Then he stopped.

"One more thing."

Adrian looked at him.

Marcus's expression became serious.

"If you're trying to stay away from her, you'd better do it quickly."

Adrian frowned.

"Why?"

"Because she's coming here."

Adrian's entire body stiffened.

"Why?"

Marcus shrugged.

"The council assigned her to help with the pack archives."

Adrian stared at him.

"When?"

"Starting today."

Marcus left before Adrian could respond.

Adrian closed his eyes.

Of all the things fate could have done...

It had placed Aria directly inside his territory.

Inside his home.

Where he would have to see her every day.

His wolf stirred.

Mate.

Adrian clenched his fists.

"Be quiet."

The wolf growled inside him.

Protect her.

"I said be quiet."

But Adrian knew it wouldn't be that simple.

The Pack Archives

Aria stood outside the enormous stone building that housed Silvermoon Pack's historical records.

She looked up at the tall windows.

"Why did they have to put me here?"

Lila stood beside her.

"Because you're good with old documents."

"I could have been good somewhere else."

"Such as?"

"Anywhere that doesn't involve the Alpha."

Lila smiled.

"You're thinking about him again."

"I'm thinking about my job."

"Of course."

Aria rolled her eyes.

Before she could respond, the doors opened.

An elderly woman stepped outside.

"Aria Vale?"

"Yes."

"I'm Mrs. Elara. The head archivist."

"Nice to meet you."

Mrs. Elara smiled.

"Come inside."

Aria followed her.

The building was larger than she'd expected.

Shelves stretched from the floor to the ceiling, filled with books, documents and ancient records.

"Your job is simple," Mrs. Elara explained. "You'll be helping organize the historical records from the old Alpha families."

Aria nodded.

"Okay."

"You'll also be responsible for cataloguing the private collection."

"Private collection?"

Mrs. Elara stopped.

"Yes."

She lowered her voice.

"Records belonging to the Blackwood family."

Aria's stomach tightened.

Of course.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes."

Mrs. Elara smiled.

"You seem nervous."

"I'm not."

The older woman chuckled.

"Young people always think they're good at hiding things."

Aria smiled awkwardly.

"Where do I start?"

Mrs. Elara pointed toward a table.

"Those boxes."

Aria walked over.

She opened the first box.

Old documents.

The second contained photographs.

The third contained letters.

She picked one up carefully.

The handwriting was elegant.

She was about to read the name on the envelope when—

"Don't touch that."

Aria froze.

She knew that voice.

Slowly, she turned around.

Adrian stood in the doorway.

His expression was unreadable.

Aria held the envelope.

"What?"

"Put it down."

She frowned.

"Why?"

"Because I said so."

"Again with the Alpha orders."

His jaw tightened.

"This isn't a game."

"I didn't say it was."

"You don't understand what you're holding."

"Then explain it to me."

Adrian walked toward her.

"Aria."

She didn't move.

"What's inside?"

"Nothing you need to know."

"Then why are you so worried about it?"

He stopped in front of her.

For a moment, neither spoke.

The strange pull between them returned.

Aria's heart began beating faster.

Adrian noticed.

His eyes flickered toward her face.

Then he stepped backward.

"Just leave the letter."

Aria looked at it.

"Fine."

She placed it back inside the box.

Adrian seemed relieved.

She noticed.

And that made her curious.

"Why do you care so much about one old letter?"

"Because some things are better left in the past."

Aria looked at him.

"That's what people say when the past contains something they don't want anyone to find."

His eyes met hers.

"You're very curious."

"And you're very secretive."

"Maybe that's why you should stay away from me."

Aria's expression softened.

"You keep saying that."

"Because you keep getting closer."

She swallowed.

"I didn't come here because of you."

"I know."

"Then why are you acting like I did?"

Adrian didn't answer.

Aria stepped closer.

"You said I was your weakness."

His expression hardened.

"Forget I said that."

"I can't."

"You need to."

"Why?"

He looked directly into her eyes.

"Because I meant it."

Aria's heart stopped.

Adrian looked away first.

Then he turned toward the door.

"Stay out of the private records."

"Adrian."

He stopped.

It was the first time she'd called him by his name.

He slowly looked back.

Aria's voice softened.

"Why are you afraid of me?"

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then—

"I'm not afraid of you."

"Then what are you afraid of?"

His gaze held hers.

"Of what happens when I stop trying to stay away."

And before Aria could respond, he walked out.

She remained frozen in place.

Her heart was racing.

Her mind was spinning.

And for the first time, Aria began to wonder whether Adrian Blackwood's vow had anything to do with her.

Because whatever he was hiding...

It was clear that he wasn't running from her.

He was running from himself.

And neither of them knew how long he could keep running.