ARIA’S POV

I gasped when I saw the Alpha authority seal hanging on a small peg in the corner of the dimly lit room. It was the same one Liam always wore, and I recognized it instantly.

It was a long rope made of fine golden threads, with silver hooks holding the ends together. Every part of it showed power, leadership, and royalty.

My head spun with memories. Sweat gathered on my forehead, and my lips trembled as I stared at the symbol that once meant everything to me.

Why was it here?

The sight of it tore open an old wound, a reminder of promises that were never kept.

Alpha Liam and I had once attended the same pack regulation classes as teen wolves at Silverfang Pack. We were taught about rules, boundaries, and how to master our wolf spirits.

That was when everything began.

He was respected by everyone, other trainees and even the instructors. But for me, it was more than respect. From helping him catch up on lessons, walking him home even though my house was in the opposite direction, to dusting his chair every morning before he arrived, love grew inside me before I could stop it.

No one expected it, but soon we became close. Conversations flowed naturally, and I truly believed we were meant for each other.

When we started dating secretly, it was his idea, he once showed me the Alpha seal. He placed it in my hands, letting me feel the soft silky threads. It had felt like a warm promise, a connection to his world.

Not everyone was allowed to touch the Alpha seal, only those bound to the Alpha family. But Liam let me. I thought that meant I belonged with him.

When I got pregnant and told him, he promised to take responsibility. I believed him. When the pregnancy stretched on longer than normal, he told me I would never be alone.

But I was wrong. My world fell apart soon after.

Now, staring at that same seal again, my chest ached with pain. Memories collided in my head, and my throat felt tight from the weight of everything I had lost.

I pictured him, Alpha Liam, in my mind: tall, strong, with the Alpha seal tied proudly around his waist, his dark curls perfectly styled, and that confident smile that once made my heart race.

Anger burned inside me. Every thought of him reminded me of broken promises, lost love, and a betrayal I could never forgive.

I wiped my tears quickly and looked around the room, trying to distract myself.

It was mostly empty.

A few candles flickered on tall stands, their light soft and golden. There was a large oak table cluttered with strange items, a bow, silver arrowheads, and papers scattered everywhere. A hammock sat in one corner, piled high with clothes.

My gaze returned to the table. I thought about leaving the tray on top of it. My wrists hurt, my head ached and my heart bled. More than anything, I suddenly wished to be alone, but I had to finish my errand.

My mind was made up. I walked up to the table. With one hand, I pushed back the content to create space for the tray.

Gently, I dropped the tray into the table, careful to not spill the content, the warning of the old lady at the Kitchen echoing in my head.

But just as I withdrew my hands, I mistakenly flinged something off the table.

Gasping and covering my mouth with my hand almost immediately, I bent down to retrieve whatever it was that fell.

It turned out to be a kind of mask.

Black. Thick. Mysterious.

For some reason, the little piece of material felt heavy in my hand as I continued to inspect it, turning it over again and again.

Strangely curious, I raised the mask to the light to get a better view of it, but just then, I heard a crack in the silence. Then, I heard the sound of water rippling from somewhere nearby.

Surprised out of my senses, the mask dropped from my hand. I picked the tray off the table before I even knew it, and then turned towards the noise. That was when I saw a large folding screen.

I took a deep breath and walked away from the table towards the screen, my tray shaking in my hands.

Before I could take another step, the screen suddenly moved and he stepped out.

It was Kael, the alpha of the Bloodridge pack.

Nothing could have prepared me for that moment.

He stood there, half-naked, water dripping down his body. His tall figure looked even stronger under the soft candlelight. His shoulders were wide, his chest broad, and every muscle on his body looked firm and well-shaped. His skin glistened with drops of water that ran down slowly, catching the light.

His wet hair fell across his face, hiding part of it, but I could still see how handsome he was. His cheekbones were sharp and high. His jawline looked strong, and his lips were full and soft, the kind that could make anyone stare. His eyes, even in the dim light, seemed deep and full of fire.

He was breathtaking, more handsome than I remembered. He looked like he had stepped out of a dream.

I froze. My hands trembled, and the tray slipped from my grasp. The glasses crashed to the floor, spilling red wine everywhere. A shard cut into my toe, and pain shot up my leg.

When I looked up again, he was gone, back behind the screen.

I knew I was in trouble.

My heart pounded wildly. What punishment would I face for this mistake?

Sweat gathered in my palms, as my heart raced for what to do next. My toe was bleeding so much, it left a pool of blood on the floor.

Confused, I turned to leave.

Then I heard heavy footsteps coming closer, followed by a loud, thunderous bang on the door.