Zander’s POV.
I was sitting alone in my office, the quiet pressing in on me like never before. The room, usually filled with warmth and purpose, now felt cold and hollow. My desk, once cluttered with papers and plans for the future, now felt like a useless block of wood.
My thoughts kept circling back to her, no matter how hard I tried to push them away. I couldn’t focus on anything else-only her. Aria. Her name echoed in my mind, bringing with it a pang of regret so sharp it nearly took my breath away.
I could still see the look in her eyes when she told me she was leaving-when she said she was done with me. That fire in her gaze had burned through me, leaving me frozen and unable to stop her. I should have stopped her. I should have said something, done something, to make her stay. But I didn’t. And now she was gone. My wife. My mate.
I sat back in my chair, gripping the edge of my desk so tightly that my fingers ached. The tension in the room was suffocating, made worse by the furious presence of my father. Alpha Wolfhart Ashford. He was a man who commanded respect and fear in equal measure, and at this moment, both radiated off him in waves. He stood before me like a towering storm, his face a mask of anger and disappointment.
I had spent my entire life chasing his approval, trying to prove that I was worthy of being his son, worthy of being the next Alpha King. But now, as his sharp gaze bore into me, I felt like a failure. His voice thundered across the room, shaking me to my core.
“You’ve made a mess of this, Zander!” he barked, his words crashing down on me like a hammer. The sheer force of his anger made the air in the room feel heavy. He slammed his fist down onto my desk, the sound echoing loudly. “Do you even understand what you’ve done? Do you have any idea what’s at stake here? Or are you so blinded by your own arrogance that you can’t see the damage you’ve caused?” His words hit me like blows, each one heavier than the last.
I forced myself to meet his piercing gaze, even though my stomach churned with unease. I had faced my father’s anger before, but this was different. This time, there was more than just his disappointment-it was the weight of an entire kingdom. Still, I kept my voice steady, even though I felt anything but calm. “She left on her own,” I said, my tone low but firm, though deep down I felt the uncertainty creeping in. “She made that choice. I didn’t push her out.”
My father let out a bitter laugh, one completely devoid of humor. He leaned forward, his presence even more intimidating as he towered over me. “She left because you betrayed her,” he snapped, his words cutting like a blade. “You were careless, Zander. Reckless. You treated her like she didn’t matter, like she was just another piece in your little game. But she’s not some woman you can toss aside when it suits you. Aria is the daughter of Alpha Xavier Nightshade. Her presence in this castle, as your wife, is the only thing holding this fragile alliance together. Without her, everything falls apart.”
His words hit me hard, but he wasn’t done. He straightened, his glare never leaving mine as he continued. “If she doesn’t return-and quickly-this alliance will crumble. And when it does, there will be nothing left for you. No throne. No kingdom. No future as Alpha King. You’ll lose everything, Zander. Everything we’ve worked for.”
The weight of his words settled over me like a storm cloud, dark and oppressive. I felt my hands clench into fists, my knuckles whitening as I fought to keep my composure. My jaw tightened as his accusations echoed in my mind. He was right. I had been careless. I had let my pride and anger blind me to what really mattered. But the thought of losing everything-my title, my pack, my future-was too much to bear. “The packs wouldn’t go to war over this,” I said, though the words felt hollow even as I spoke them. Deep down, I wasn’t sure I believed them.
My father’s expression darkened even further, and he leaned closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. “You think Xavier Nightshade will just sit back and let this happen? You think he’ll swallow his pride and let his only daughter-his heir-be humiliated and abandoned like this? You’re a fool if you believe that. He’s already furious, Zander. Right now, he’s holding back for the sake of the alliance, but if Aria stays away for much longer, he’ll have no choice but to act. And when he does, it won’t just be words-it’ll be war. The Nightshade pack and the Silverfang pack will tear each other apart. Do you understand what that would mean? For us? For our people? For *you*?”
I swallowed hard, my throat dry as the full weight of his words pressed down on me. The thought of war between our packs was unthinkable. The devastation it would cause, the lives it would destroy-it wasn’t something I could allow. I couldn’t let it come to that. My voice was cold, but there was no hesitation as I spoke. “I’ll bring her back,” I said, my tone laced with determination.
My father’s eyes narrowed, his expression hard. “You’d better,” he said sharply, his voice like a blade. “And when you do, you will fix this. You will keep her here, not just for appearances, but because she is your wife. She is your mate, chosen by the Moon Goddess herself. You have one year-one year to make this work. If you fail, you won’t just lose your title, Zander. You’ll lose everything. And so will the people who depend on you.”
As his words sank in, I nodded, though my mind was already racing. I couldn’t let this happen. I couldn’t lose everything-not my title, not my pack, and certainly not my power. But more than that, I couldn’t lose her. Aria. If keeping her by my side was the only way to secure the peace and my future, then I would do whatever it took. No matter what it cost me.
But I knew one thing for certain-Aria wasn’t going to come back willingly.
The drive to the Nightshade pack felt endless. The tension in the air grew thicker with every passing mile. The road stretched on and on, winding through forests and hills that seemed to close in around me. It mirrored the heaviness in my chest, the weight of what I was about to face.
As I approached Aria’s father’s castle, the sun dipped lower in the sky, painting everything in shades of gold and red that were both beautiful and ominous. When I finally reached the towering gates, they groaned as they began to open, their slow, deliberate movement adding to the weight of the moment.
Beyond the gates, the estate sprawled outward in a grand display of wealth and power. The perfectly manicured gardens and towering structure stood as if daring anyone to challenge the authority within.
I stepped out of the car with purpose, every step deliberate. My face remained a mask of cold determination. My heart raced beneath the surface, but I wouldn’t let it show. Not here. Not now.
Alpha Xavier was waiting for me in the grand hall. The room itself was magnificent, designed to intimidate with its high ceilings, intricate chandeliers, and gleaming floors that reflected every movement.
He stood tall, his eyes sharp and calculating, his face a mixture of suspicion and barely contained anger. He didn’t waste time with pleasantries or false niceties.
“Zander,” he said. His voice was clipped and cold, leaving no room for misinterpretation. “What brings you here?” His words hung in the air like a challenge, daring me to prove I belonged.
“I’m here for my wife,” I replied. My words were blunt and unyielding, spoken with the calm that only sheer willpower could provide. My voice didn’t waver.
I made sure it carried the weight of my conviction. “She belongs with me,” I added, each word deliberate. Saying them aloud felt like declaring an undeniable truth.
I knew my statement wouldn’t sit well with him. But I didn’t care. I hadn’t come this far to tiptoe around his feelings.
Xavier’s eyes narrowed sharply. His expression hardened as he squared his shoulders and straightened his stance.
The air between us grew heavier, almost suffocating. He stared me down with the authority of someone who wasn’t used to being challenged.
“She left because you gave her no reason to stay,” he said. His voice carried a low, dangerous tone. There was no sugarcoating in his words.
“If Aria doesn’t want to return with you, I won’t force her,” he continued, his words sharp and pointed like daggers. “She’s my daughter, and I won’t let her be mistreated any longer. Do you understand me?”
His warning was unmistakable. The protective anger in his voice was something even I couldn’t ignore.
I didn’t flinch. I didn’t let my body betray even a flicker of the frustration boiling beneath my calm surface.
My jaw tightened, and I met his fiery gaze with a steady one of my own. “With all due respect, Alpha Xavier,” I began, my voice firm but respectful.
“Aria is my mate, and she is my wife. She is bound to me by the will of the Moon Goddess herself. That bond is sacred.”
“No matter what has happened, she belongs at my side, in my home, where she was always meant to be. I’ve come here to take her back.”
My words were resolute. They carried the kind of finality that left no room for argument. But I knew they wouldn’t be enough to sway him just yet.
Xavier pressed his lips into a thin, hard line. His jaw tightened further as he studied me in silence.
It was clear he was weighing his response carefully. He was deciding just how far he was willing to go to protect his daughter.
The tension in the room was unbearable. The silence stretched on for what felt like hours.
Just as he opened his mouth to speak, a soft sound broke through the standoff. Footsteps. Light but unmistakable.
They echoed through the grand hall, pulling both of our gazes toward the source. My eyes shifted past Xavier, and there she was.
Aria stood at the top of the grand staircase. Her suitcase was still clutched in one hand as though she had been on the verge of leaving.
Her long, dark hair spilled over her shoulders in soft waves. It framed a face that was pale but fierce.
Her expression betrayed none of the emotions swirling inside her. Her eyes, sharp and stormy, locked onto mine with a force that made my chest tighten.
In those eyes, I could see everything-anger, pain, and the strength she’d built while away from me. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.
She was close enough to see but felt miles away. The distance between us weighed heavier than any words spoken in this room.
“Aria,” I said. My voice was softer now, though it still carried the edge of authority I couldn’t quite let go of.
Seeing her here, so close yet so guarded, made the knot in my chest tighten even further. “We need to talk,” I continued.
Each word was carefully chosen. My tone was steady but laced with a hint of desperation I couldn’t hide. I needed her to hear me.
I needed her to understand why I had come. I needed her to give me the chance to make things right.
She began descending the stairs. Her movements were slow, deliberate, and graceful.
Every step she took was measured, as though she were preparing herself for what was to come. Her posture was straight, her chin held high.
But there was a wariness in her movements that told me she wasn’t ready to let her guard down.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” she said. Her voice was cold and distant, each word cutting through me like ice.
“I’m not going back with you, Zander. I’ve made my decision.”
Her tone was final, so firm it left no room for doubt. But her eyes betrayed her. They shimmered with unshed tears, with emotions she refused to let spill over.
She was strong. Stronger than I’d ever seen her. But I could feel the pain beneath her defiance.
And I knew, in that moment, that I would have to fight harder than I ever had to win her back.