Damon's POV.

I stood there, frozen in shock, as the weight of Aria's words settled upon me. The daughter of an alpha, subjected to such cruelty and pain by her own father. It was unthinkable. And yet, it was all too real.

As I stood there, my mind wandered back to the day I bought her. She had looked so cold, so detached. I had thought it was just because of how she was being sold like a piece of property, but now I realized it was more than that. She had never had a real father-daughter relationship with her father. There was no love, no affection. Just pain and fear.

A scream tore me from my thoughts. "Damon!" Aria's voice was laced with pain, with fear. My feet moved as fast as my heart to run toward the bathroom. I heard a thud, followed by silence.

"Aria, are you okay?" I knocked but didn't get any response, so I tried the handle. The door swung open. Aria lay unconscious on the floor.

My heart sank, and the wave of panic washed over me. I sprang into action, calling for the maids and guards. "We have to get her to the hospital now!"

The guards burst in, and we laid Aria onto a stretcher together. The maids covered her, and we rushed her to the hospital. I felt my heart beating fast while moving; what if she didn't make it? What if she had internal injuries?

We finally arrived at the hospital and the guards whisked her away to the emergency room. I was right behind her, my mind preoccupied with Aria's condition.

The healers were already inside, awaiting our arrival. They didn't waste any time, inspecting Aria and then starting her treatment.

I stood helplessly while the healers worked on her. For what was all this happening? Why did Aria's father have to be so cruel to her, and why now?

Those questions swam in my head, but deep inside, I knew I wasn't going to find any answer until Aria woke up. I just pray that she did, and soon.

One of the healers, an older woman with gentle eyes, came forward. "Damon, we're doing all we can. But we really do need to run some tests to find out just how bad she's injured."

I nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. At least Aria was in good hands. "Do whatever it takes," I said. "I just want her to be okay."

He nodded and smiled. "We'll do our best, Damon. I promise."

I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards the healer. I knew Aria was in good hands. Now all I could do was wait.

Hours later, the doctor came back, his face grave. At once, I could tell something was wrong. My heart sank, with my mind racing through the worst possible case scenarios.

"What is it?" I asked firmly.

The doctor stammered before speaking. "Damon, Aria's case is worse than we thought. She's fragile, you see-physically and mentally. Her mind is shattered by some trauma she went through earlier in life."

In an instant, a wave of understanding washed over me. It was the trauma inflicted on her by her father: the cruelty, the pain, the fear-it had all taken its toll on her. I couldn't help but wonder what she had endured, what horrors she had faced. The thought sent a shiver down my spine.

"What does she need?" I asked, the tone firm, as a sudden resolve washed over me. I was going to do everything humanly possible for Aria's healing.

"She needs time, Damon," the doctor replied, "and emotional support. She needs to be able to feel safe, feel loved. It is the only way she is going to recover."

I nodded, a resolute wash over me. I would give her that. I'd give her a haven, a place to heal.

I went to Aria's ward with my heart full of anxiety. The first thing that greeted me as I entered the room was a sight that made my blood run cold: Aria laid unconscious, but her skin was turning blue, and she was very cold to the touch.

My heart was racing. What was happening with her? Suddenly, a feeling of panic went through me and almost overwhelmed my worst fears. I raised an alarm immediately. The doctors entered, but as the minutes ticked over, they also did not get any closer to what happened.

It was then that I realized I needed to transfer Aria's treatment to the palace, where she would receive the best attention, as I knew the palace could well afford it. I ordered that the sorceress be summoned, hoping her expertise would help us understand what was happening to Aria.

I could think of all the worst that might happen as I sat here waiting for this sorceress to arrive: What if Aria doesn't make it? What if she's too far gone? Despair crept in, almost overwhelming me, as those thoughts played over in my head.

Finally, the sorceress arrived, a wave of relief washed over me. Maybe she could help save Aria. And with that, the sorceress began to study Aria, her eyes traveling up and down her body. But minutes went by, and she didn't utter a word. I grew anxious, concerned for Aria's safety growing in my heart.

"What is it?" I asked, trying to sound firm but full of concern. "What's happening to her?"

But the sorceress did nothing but keep her gaze on Aria and maintain her silence. I could feel my patience thinning, inner fears threatening to overwhelm me.

"What's going on?" I asked again.

Minutes dragged on and on, me just standing there and waiting for something to happen on the sorceress's part. Anxiety mounted with every passing minute and took precedence in my mind-the concern for Aria's safety.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the sorceress spoke. In a low, mysterious voice, she sent shivers down my spine.

"Aria is being plagued by a blood tie," she said, her eyes fixed on Aria's unconscious form.

I stood rooted to the floor confused. "A blood tie? What do you mean?"

Her eyes locked with mine, and for a moment, with sadness in them. "Aria's mate, the one who rejected her in the past, has refused to break the bond."