chapter 4

Derick’s POV

She walked away. And I didn’t stop her. Her words hit deeper than I expected.

“When it’s your turn to be Alpha, this peace will be gone.”

They echoed in my head long after she was gone. Jasper, my wolf, didn’t say a word. He just growled quietly inside me, angry and disappointed.

That silence from him said more than any word could.

I have followed my father's footstep for a long time and always treated people nicely even more than him but I haven't treated her nicely at all even though I knew she's the one person I shouldn't play with at all ,I messed up I really did.

But even if I wanted to fix it, I couldn’t. The more I thought about her , her scent, her voice the more it made something wild in me stir, something I didn’t want to feel.

So I stood intending to go look for her.

***

Aria’s POV

I just kept walking. I didn’t care where my feet were taking me I just needed to get away from him, from his cold words, from that look in his eyes that made me feel small and unwanted.

The air outside was cooler. I walked past the garden and into a small path behind the house. Trees swayed softly in the wind, and for a moment, I just wanted to disappear into them.

Three days. I’d been here for three whole days.

My mom must be worried sick. Kate probably hasn’t stopped calling. And Liam… I sighed, my chest tightening at the thought of him.

I missed home. I missed normal.

Before I could take another step, I heard a low growl behind me.

It wasn’t human.

The sound sent chills down my spine. I turned slowly, my heart thudding in my chest.

From the shadows, a huge dark wolf stepped out its eyes glowing red, teeth bared, its snarl deep enough to shake my bones.

I froze.

My legs wouldn’t move.

When it leapt, I screamed, throwing my hands up to shield myself.

But before the creature could touch me, something MASSIVE crashed into it , golden fur, blinding light, power that made the ground tremble.

The two wolves slammed into the dirt, growling, teeth flashing.

It happened so fast claws, snarls, the sound of ripping flesh and then the golden one pinned the dark wolf down, biting deep into its neck. The rogue went limp instantly.

I couldn’t move. I just stared at him at the golden wolf standing over the other one.

He was huge. Beautiful, even. His fur gleamed under the sunlight, golden with streaks of white, like sunlight caught in motion. His chest rose and fell slowly, his muscles tensing with every breath. His eyes those bright golden eyes burned with something fierce and alive.

It was Derick. It had to be him.

He looked dangerous, yes, but there was something heartbreakingly calm about the way he stood there, watching me.

Then he turned and padded deeper into the woods, disappearing behind a tree. I noticed clothes hanging nearby, like someone had left them there on purpose.

A few seconds later, he came out human again. His hair was messy, his skin glistening faintly with sweat, and there were faint bruises across his arms. His eyes, though, still glowed faintly gold.

He was breathtaking in a way I didn’t want to admit.

He stopped a few feet from me, breathing heavily. “Are you hurt?”

I shook my head, still trying to find my voice. “No… I’m fine.”

He nodded, looking away. “You shouldn’t have been out here. It’s not safe beyond the walls.”

“I know,” I said quietly. “I just needed to take a walk. You made it really hard to stay inside after what you said.”

His jaw tightened, and for a second, he didn’t say anything. Then, in a quieter tone, “ Am sorry i know i shouldn’t have said those things.”

I blinked. “What?

“I was angry,” he said simply, running a hand through his hair. “Not at you… just at everything. I said things I shouldn’t have.”

The honesty in his voice caught me off guard. He sighed, looking down. “I’m just glad you’re safe.”

My heart skipped a little. I didn’t know why maybe it was the way he said it, soft and sincere, or the way those golden eyes didn’t look so cold anymore, all the anger in me just disappeared.

He turned slightly, motioning toward the path. “Let’s get you back. It’s not safe here.”

I followed quietly, still shaken, but deep down something had shifted.

We walked in silence.

The sound of our footsteps on the stone path was the only thing filling the air between us. The forest was calm now, the sun still high but soft, golden light spilling through the trees and brushing his hair like it belonged there.

Derick didn’t say a word. Not at first. He just walked with his hands in his pockets, his head slightly bowed like he was arguing with someone inside his mind.

I followed quietly, still shaken, still trying to process everything that had just happened. The fight. His wolf. The way he looked at me.

When we reached the gate, he stopped.

The guards nearby bowed slightly, pretending not to stare. He turned to me slowly, and for the first time, he looked… unsure. Not the cold, untouchable man I’d seen earlier but someone different

His eyes met mine.

“Aria…”

Just the way he said my name made my chest tighten.

“I’m so sorry,” he said finally, voice low and rough like he’d been holding it back for too long. “You didn’t deserve any of what I said earlier or what you’ve been through since you got here.”

He paused, taking a slow breath. “When you walked away and said those words…” His gaze softened. “They stuck with me. And for the first time in a long time, I actually hated myself for the way I acted.”

His honesty hit me harder than I expected. I didn’t know what to say and he wasn’t done.

“I don’t know why I took it out on you,” he said, eyes flicking away for a moment. “Maybe because you don’t belong in our world and it scares me. Or maybe because you make me feel things I don’t want to feel.”

The air between us grew still. My heart thudded loud enough that I was sure he could hear it.

He took a step closer. “But I meant what I said I’m sorry, Aria. Truly.”

And in that moment, looking at him and the sunlight catching his golden eyes, the raw guilt on his face I couldn’t think straight.

Something in me just snapped.

Before I even realized what I was doing, I reached up, my hand brushing his warm cheek I didn’t think. I just kissed him.