Aria’s POV.
I didn’t sleep that night. My eyes stayed open, staring at the dark ceiling above me, my thoughts swirling like a storm that wouldn’t stop. No matter how much I tossed and turned, sleep just wouldn’t come to me. The bed that was supposed to bring me comfort felt like it was made of stone, and my pillow felt like it weighed a ton under my head.
Zander’s words echoed in my mind, refusing to let me forget them. Over and over, they played like a broken record, growing sharper and heavier with each repetition.
Each word felt like a dagger, slicing deeper into my heart, leaving wounds I couldn’t see but could feel in every part of my soul.
“One year. Just one year. And then you’ll be free.”
The way he said it-so cold, so detached, like it didn’t matter to him-made it hurt even more. One year. What was one year supposed to mean? To him, it seemed like a small thing, an easy solution. But to me, it felt like an eternity, a lifetime of being tied to someone who didn’t care if I stayed or left.
Free.
The word echoed again, and instead of making me feel better, it made me feel worse. The idea of being free should have been comforting, a light at the end of the tunnel, but it wasn’t. It felt heavy. It felt like a chain wrapping tighter and tighter around my chest, making it hard to breathe. It wasn’t a promise to me. It was a reminder that I was stuck, trapped in a life I never chose, with a man who didn’t want me. I didn’t ask for this marriage.
I didn’t want to be here. But now that I was, I wasn’t going to let him treat me like I was invisible, like I didn’t matter. I couldn’t let him toss me aside like I was something disposable.
If Zander wanted to push me away, I wasn’t going to let him. I would hold on tighter, no matter how much he tried to keep me at arm’s length. If he thought he could control me with his anger, his coldness, and his indifference, he was wrong. I wouldn’t let him win. I wouldn’t let him make me feel small or powerless. I wasn’t going to sit back and let him pretend that I didn’t exist. Instead, I would make him see me. I would make him understand that I wasn’t going to fade away quietly. I would show him what it felt like to lose control, to feel powerless when someone else held all the cards.
As the first rays of sunlight crept through the curtains, I made up my mind. I made a decision that I knew would change everything. Zander would fall in love with me. Not because I wanted his love or needed it to feel whole, but because I had to prove something-to him and to myself. I had to prove that I wasn’t just a pawn. I wasn’t just a piece in the game he thought he was playing. I was stronger than that, more important than he realized, and he would see it.
### The Morning
The air was warm and fresh, carrying the soft scent of saltwater and flowers. The sun was shining brightly, casting a golden light over the sparkling, crystal-clear waters of the resort. It was the kind of morning that felt peaceful and perfect, but my heart was far from calm. I woke up early, long before Zander, and quietly slipped out of the suite. I didn’t want to wake him, and honestly, I didn’t want to face him yet. I glanced back at his sleeping form-his broad shoulders rising and falling with each deep, steady breath-and for a brief moment, I hesitated. He looked so peaceful, so calm, so different from the cold, distant man I had spoken to the night before.
But then I remembered the way his voice had sounded the night before. I remembered the cold, distant tone, the way he had spoken to me like I didn’t matter at all. The memory of his words hit me like a sharp slap, and the ache in my chest returned. But instead of breaking me, it fueled me. The hesitation I felt vanished as my determination grew stronger. I wouldn’t let him win. I wouldn’t let him treat me like I was invisible or unimportant. My resolve hardened like steel, and I knew exactly what I had to do next.
I pulled out the boldest, most daring bikini I owned. It was deep red, a color that stood out and demanded attention. It hugged my body in all the right places, accentuating my curves in a way that felt bold and confident. It wasn’t something I would normally wear, but today was different. Today, I wanted to make a statement. If Zander wanted to act like I didn’t exist, I would make sure he couldn’t take his eyes off me. If he wanted to push me away, I would make it impossible for him to ignore me.
The beach was already alive with activity by the time I arrived. Guests were scattered across the sand, lying on lounge chairs under colorful umbrellas, sipping drinks, and chatting in soft, cheerful voices. Children were playing near the water, their laughter mixing with the soothing sound of waves crashing against the shore. The sun was warm on my skin, and the sand felt soft under my feet as I walked toward the water. I could feel eyes on me as I passed by-curious gazes, admiring looks, and maybe even a little jealousy from some.
But I didn’t care. I wasn’t here for them. I wasn’t here to impress anyone else. Their opinions didn’t matter to me.
I stepped into the cool, refreshing water, letting the gentle waves lap at my feet before diving in completely. The sea felt like a safe haven, wrapping around me like a soothing embrace. As I swam farther out, I felt the tension in my shoulders and chest begin to melt away. With every stroke, I left behind the frustration, the hurt, and the weight of everything that had happened the night before. Out there, away from the shore, I felt truly free. Free from Zander, free from expectations, and free from the heavy emotions that had been dragging me down. For a few precious moments, it was just me, the water, and the quiet peace of being completely alone.
—
Zander’s POV.
From the balcony of our suite, I stood motionless and watched her intently, unable to pull my gaze away. The ocean stretched endlessly before her, but she commanded my full attention as if nothing else existed.
She didn’t know I was there, observing her every move, every graceful motion she made as if the world was hers to conquer. The sun glinted off the water, highlighting her silhouette, making her seem almost unreal, like she was part of the waves themselves.
She moved through the waves effortlessly, her slender figure cutting through the water like she belonged there, like it was her natural element. The way she swam was hypnotic, her movements fluid and powerful, as if she were dancing in the water instead of swimming.
The red bikini she wore clung to her body like a second skin, accentuating every curve and making it impossible not to notice her. And I wasn’t the only one who noticed her.
A group of men lounging on the beach had their eyes glued to her, their gazes stuck to her as if she were the only thing worth looking at. They openly admired her, leaning forward as if they could get closer just by watching. Their attention stayed fixed on her as she moved, their admiration so obvious that it made my chest tighten with irritation. Even Asher, standing casually by the bar with a drink in hand, couldn’t look away. His dark, calculating eyes followed her every move, his expression unreadable but undeniably captivated.
My wolf growled low in my chest, a sound so deep and primal that I almost didn’t recognize it as my own. The jealousy I felt came out of nowhere, flaring up hot and fast, taking me by surprise. It burned through me like wildfire, irrational and uncontrollable, making my fists clench at my sides. My wolf didn’t care about logic or reason; it only knew one thing-it didn’t like the way others were looking at her.
I told myself it didn’t matter. She was my wife in name only, nothing more, nothing less. I reminded myself that she had every right to do as she pleased. She could wear whatever she wanted, swim wherever she wanted, and let whoever she wanted look at her. It wasn’t my place to tell her what to do or how to act. It wasn’t my concern. I repeated this to myself over and over, like a mantra, trying to convince myself that I didn’t care.
And yet, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop the possessive anger rising inside me. It was like a storm brewing in my chest, uncontrollable and relentless. I hated the way it felt, this tight knot of jealousy that refused to go away. I wasn’t supposed to feel this way about her. I wasn’t supposed to feel anything at all. But the anger, the possessiveness-it was there, and it was consuming me.
When I saw her dip below the surface of the water for longer than usual, my irritation turned into something else. My frown deepened as I leaned forward, my eyes scanning the waves for her. At first, I thought maybe she was playing a game, trying to tease me, trying to get my attention. She had a way of doing things that made me question her intentions, always keeping me off balance.
But then, she didn’t come back up. The seconds stretched on endlessly, each one heavier than the last. My heart began to race, my wolf stirring uneasily inside me, sensing something was wrong. The jealousy I had felt only moments before was replaced with something colder, sharper-fear.
—
Aria’s POV.
One minute, I was swimming, the world quiet and serene. The next, a sharp tug pulled me downward.
Panic set in as I realized the current had shifted, dragging me farther out to sea. I kicked and struggled, my lungs burning as I fought to break the surface, but the water was relentless.
*I’m not going to make it.*
The thought sent a fresh wave of panic through me. My vision blurred, dark spots dancing at the edges as I felt myself slipping away.
—
Zander’s POV.
She didn’t resurface. The water stayed quiet, calm, and undisturbed, but she was nowhere to be seen.
My eyes scanned the waves, searching for her, expecting her to pop back up with a sly grin or some playful remark. She liked to push boundaries, to test me, and for a moment, I thought this was just another one of her stunts. Maybe she wanted to scare me, to get back at me for how cold I had been the night before. But as the seconds dragged on, the unease in my chest began to grow, twisting into something sharper, something that felt a lot like fear.
I saw Asher move first, his drink abandoned as he darted toward the water without hesitation. His relaxed, confident posture from just moments ago was gone, replaced by urgency and purpose. By the time I fully registered what was happening, he was already diving into the waves, his strong strokes cutting through the water with ease. I stood frozen for a second, watching him, my mind racing, my wolf stirring uneasily inside me. It was only then that the reality of the situation hit me-something was seriously wrong.
My heart slammed against my ribs, pounding so hard it felt like it might break through my chest. My breathing quickened as I watched Asher reach her. She was limp, her body lifeless as his arms wrapped around her and pulled her to the surface. The sight of her like that shook me to my core, a deep, primal panic taking over. My wolf howled in anguish, its pain mirroring my own as I stood there, helpless, watching someone else save her.
“Aria!” I shouted, my voice raw and desperate as I finally started running toward the shore. My feet moved as fast as they could, kicking up sand as I closed the distance between us. By the time I reached the water’s edge, Asher had already carried her out of the waves. Her pale, lifeless body hung in his arms, her head lolling to the side. It was a sight I would never forget, a punch to the gut that left me breathless.
“She’s not breathing,” Asher said sharply, his voice cutting through the chaos as he knelt in the sand. His tone was calm but urgent, his movements precise as he tilted her head back and pressed his ear to her mouth. The crowd that had gathered around us murmured anxiously, their voices a blur of noise I couldn’t focus on. I dropped to my knees beside her, my hands trembling, unable to think of anything but the fact that she wasn’t moving.
“Move,” I growled, shoving Asher aside with more force than necessary. My wolf didn’t want him near her, didn’t want him to be the one saving her. Asher hesitated for a second, his jaw tightening as he looked at me, but he stepped back, giving me space. I leaned over her, cradling her face in my hands, my voice breaking as I called her name. “Aria,” I said, my tone a mix of anger and desperation. “Open your eyes. Please, dammit, open your eyes.”
Her chest rose weakly, barely noticeable at first, and then, with a sputtering cough, she gasped for air. Relief hit me like a wave, crashing over me so hard that I almost collapsed. Her emerald eyes fluttered open, dazed and unfocused, but alive. She was alive. “Aria,” I breathed, my thumb brushing gently against her cheek, as if touching her would make the moment more real.
She blinked up at me, confusion clouding her gaze at first before it shifted into something else-gratitude. But her gratitude wasn’t for me. I saw it in the way her eyes moved past me, locking onto Asher. She turned her head slowly, her voice barely audible as she whispered, “Thank you.” The words weren’t meant for me, and they cut deeper than any blade ever could.
My jaw tightened, and the jealousy I felt flared white-hot in my chest. It was irrational, uncontrollable, and yet, I couldn’t stop it. “He didn’t save you,” I snapped before I could stop myself, the words tumbling out of my mouth. “I would have.” The bitterness in my tone surprised even me, but I couldn’t take it back.
Asher snorted, crossing his arms as he looked down at me with that infuriatingly calm expression. “But you didn’t, did you?” he said, his voice cool and sharp. “You just stood there, watching.” His words hit like a slap, igniting the anger already burning inside me. My hands clenched into fists, the urge to punch him almost overwhelming.
But before I could act on it, Aria’s weak voice broke through the tension, cutting through the air like a blade. “I’m fine,” she said softly, her gaze shifting back to me. Her voice was quiet but steady, as though she was trying to reassure me. “I’m fine, Zander.” But she wasn’t fine. I could see it in her pale face, in the way her body trembled slightly even as she spoke. And the truth was, neither was I.
I scooped her into my arms, ignoring the murmurs from the gathered crowd as I carried her back toward the suite. She didn’t resist, her head resting weakly against my chest, but the gratitude in her eyes when she looked at Asher burned like fire against my soul. It was a reminder that I had failed her, that someone else had been the one to save her when it should have been me.
—
### Back in the Suite
I placed her gently on the bed, my hands still trembling as I stepped back. My emotions were a storm inside me-fear, anger, guilt-all crashing into each other, leaving me unable to think clearly. “What the hell were you thinking?” I demanded, my voice louder than I intended. The question wasn’t just for her; it was for me too.
She flinched, her brows furrowing as she looked up at me, her body still recovering from everything that had just happened. “I wasn’t thinking,” she said quietly, her voice defensive yet tired. “I just wanted to swim.” Her explanation was so simple, so casual, that it made my frustration boil over.
“To swim?” I repeated, disbelief lacing my tone. “You nearly drowned, Aria! Do you have any idea what could have happened if-” My voice broke off, my anger faltering as I tried to keep myself together.
“If Asher hadn’t saved me?” she interrupted, her voice sharp and cutting. The words were like a knife, slicing through my defenses with ease.
I froze, her accusation hitting harder than I expected. Her lips curved into a bitter smile as she continued, her voice soft but filled with frustration. “That’s what this is about, isn’t it?” she said. “You hate that he was the one who saved me. You hate that I thanked him.”
I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. The truth was too bitter to admit, even to myself.
“You can’t have it both ways, Zander,” she said, her voice steady but laced with anger. “You can’t push me away one moment and act like you care the next. It’s not fair.”
Fair. There was nothing fair about any of this. Nothing about our situation, about her, about how she made me feel, was fair. My hands clenched into fists as I turned away, trying to suppress the storm raging inside me, trying to keep control.
“Get some rest,” I said finally, my voice cold and detached. I couldn’t let her see how much her words had affected me. “We’ll talk later.”
Her silence followed me as I left the room, but her words stayed with me, haunting me long after the door closed behind me.