Aria’s POV
The man stepped out from the trees. “Have you seen me before?” he asked Kael calmly, standing just a few feet from us.
My heart started beating fast. Behind us, more rogue wolves began to appear one by one. They surrounded us. The man speaking was clearly their leader.
Kael didn’t move. He stood tall, facing the man.
“No,” Kael said. “But I heard your voice the day I was kidn*pped. You told me to sign a book.”
The man smiled slowly. “Yes. That was me. You remember.”
His voice was deep and cold, like someone used to giving commands.
“I told you to sign the book, and maybe if you had, you wouldn’t be in this mess.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed. “Mess?” he repeated. “I don’t think I’m in a mess.”
I admired how brave he sounded, but I could feel my body shaking. I tried to stand ta
