Marked by the past
1077 Words
Chapter Six: Marked by the Past
The scent of pine and fire lingered long after Kael stormed out of the room. Aria sat frozen on the edge of the bed, fists clenched in her lap, staring at the door he’d slammed shut. Her heart beat a traitorous rhythm against her ribs — not out of fear. Out of anger. Out of grief. Out of something far more dangerous.
She had come here with a plan. To survive. To hide. But now… her emotions were spiraling, pulling her toward something she couldn’t escape.
Kael.
His presence haunted her like a curse she couldn’t shake. She had tried to bury the past, to forget the pain. But it refused to stay buried.
Aria stood and walked to the small window, pushing it open to let in the cold night air. The forest stretched out below, silent and dark. Somewhere out there, Kael was pacing, no doubt fuming, trying to make sense of what she’d said.
“I’m not yours anymore.” She had spat the words like venom, but they hadn’t felt like the truth.
She wrapped her arms around herself, biting down hard on her bottom lip. How could he stand there and act like he didn’t remember? Like he hadn’t broken her heart and torn her world apart?
A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts.
Aria stiffened. “What?”
“It’s me,” said a voice — female, soft, cautious.
The door creaked open. Selene, the pack’s healer, stepped inside. She was older, her silver-streaked hair tied in a low braid, and her gentle eyes held the weight of knowledge and pain.
“I thought you could use something warm,” Selene said, holding out a steaming mug.
Aria took it silently, murmuring a quiet, “Thank you.”
Selene studied her face, eyes narrowing slightly. “You’ve changed since the last time I saw you. Stronger. But also… wounded.”
Aria looked away. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“You don’t have to. But the past has a way of clawing its way back, no matter how deep you bury it.”
Silence fell.
“I’ve known Kael a long time,” Selene continued gently. “And I’ve never seen him like this. You matter to him — even if he doesn’t know how to show it.”
Aria scoffed. “He rejected me.”
“And yet here you are, in his pack again.”
“It wasn’t by choice.”
Selene smiled faintly. “Fate rarely asks for permission.”
Before Aria could reply, a wave of heat surged through her chest — sudden, sharp, and burning. She gasped, stumbling back, nearly dropping the mug.
Selene’s eyes widened. “What’s wrong?”
Aria clutched her side. “It’s… nothing. Just a cramp.”
But it wasn’t a cramp. It was the bond.
Somehow, it was stirring again.
That night, sleep did not come. Aria lay awake, haunted by memories. By dreams of blood and fire, of Kael’s voice whispering her name in the darkness.
And then… a scream tore through the night.
Aria bolted upright.
It came again — a high, panicked shriek.
She threw off the covers and ran for the door, heart pounding. Outside, wolves were already gathering, eyes wide, fur bristling. The scream had come from the west edge of the forest.
Kael was already there, shirtless and furious, barking orders.
“Fan out! Check the perimeter! No one goes alone!”
Aria froze at the edge of the group, unnoticed in the chaos. Then she saw the girl — a pack member, no older than sixteen — being carried into the center by two guards. Her clothes were torn, her skin scraped and bloody, eyes wide with horror.
“What happened?” Kael demanded.
The girl trembled. “He… he came out of the woods. Tall… pale… red eyes.”
Kael’s body went rigid.
“Did he hurt you?”
She nodded. “He said… he was looking for her.”
Everyone turned.
And their eyes landed on Aria.
Kael stepped forward. “Aria, come with me. Now.”
He didn’t wait for her to respond. Just grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the crowd.
They stormed into the pack house, silence falling behind them like a blanket. Aria yanked her arm free.
“You think this is my fault?”
“I know it’s not a coincidence.”
Aria glared at him. “What do you want me to say? That I’m being hunted? That the thing I ran from five years ago is back?”
Kael stared at her. “You know who it is.”
She didn’t answer.
He stepped closer, his voice dropping. “Tell me, Aria. Now.”
Tears burned behind her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
“He’s not just a rogue,” she whispered. “He’s worse. He’s not even a wolf anymore.”
Kael’s jaw clenched. “Explain.”
Aria inhaled slowly. “His name is Eryx. He was once my father’s Beta. He went mad after the m******e… tried to claim me as his own.”
Kael’s fists curled.
“He said I was meant to be his queen. That my blood — my lineage — was powerful. When I refused… he tried to force the bond. I barely escaped.”
Kael’s breathing turned ragged.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, voice thick.
“Because I didn’t trust you. Because you rejected me.”
Kael reached out, brushing a lock of hair from her face, and for the first time in years, she didn’t pull away.
“You’re not alone anymore,” he said quietly.
For a moment, their eyes locked — past pain, future danger, and present longing swirling between them.
But before either could speak, a loud crash echoed from downstairs.
Kael shoved open the door and ran.
Aria followed — only to find the front of the pack house in shambles. Broken glass. A bloody trail.
And on the wall, scrawled in what looked like ash and blood, were the words:
“Return what belongs to me.”
Kael’s wolf was already at the surface. His eyes blazed as he turned to Aria.
“He wants you.”
Aria nodded slowly, her voice steady for the first time that night.
“Then he’s going to have to fight for me.”
- Writer
