Aria's POV
By morning, everyone knew.
Not the entire truth.
Not yet.
But enough.
Enough to whisper.
Enough to stare.
Enough to make the atmosphere inside Mooncrest feel different.
The silver mark beneath my collarbone had faded slightly overnight, but it had not disappeared.
Every time I thought about Damien, it warmed.
Every time he was near, it glowed.
And every wolf with enough strength could feel the energy surrounding us.
I sat beside my bedroom window, watching the pack members cross the square below.
Conversations stopped whenever my name was mentioned.
I heard pieces.
"The Alpha."
"Impossible."
"The Moon Goddess wouldn't—"
"Ethan's mate."
The words hurt.
Because even now, most of the pack still believed I belonged to Ethan.
And perhaps a part of me still strugg
