Zander’s POV.
I walked back to the suite slowly, my thoughts a tangled mess. The anger I had felt earlier was still there, simmering just below the surface like embers that refused to die out. But now, the fire of my anger felt weaker, dulled by the exhaustion that weighed down my body.
I was too tired to hold on to the rage as tightly as I had before, but it hadn’t disappeared-it was just waiting there, quiet for now. My feet dragged slightly as I moved forward, my mind replaying everything that had gone wrong earlier.
Lyra’s words kept playing over and over in my mind, like an annoying tune I couldn’t forget. Every promise she made, every sweet lie she told, felt as sharp as a knife. She thought her manipulations could make me forget everything, that she could somehow convince me to break the bond I had with Aria. She wanted me to go back to her, to pretend like nothing had happened, like everything could be the way it used to be. But it couldn’t.
Lyra didn’t understand-she could never understand. This wasn’t about some meaningless duty or a bond that could be easily broken. This was about control, about power, and about the one thing I couldn’t seem to control: Aria. She wasn’t like anyone else. She didn’t listen, didn’t bend to my will, and that made her different. That made her dangerous.
The thought of her fiery defiance, of the way she could stand up to me without a hint of fear, made my fists clench. It made me want to shout, to force her to see things my way. And yet, at the same time, it stirred something deep inside me-something I didn’t want to name. Her stubbornness annoyed me, but it also pulled me closer in ways I didn’t fully understand.
As I rounded the corner to the suite, I froze. My whole body tensed, and my breath caught in my throat. The door to the suite was slightly ajar, open just enough to make my heart race. And then I saw him. Standing there in the hallway, far too close to my wife for my liking, was Asher. He was leaning casually, like he belonged there, and the sight of him made my blood boil.
My wolf growled low in my chest, the sound rumbling deep and dangerous, but I forced myself to stay still. I stayed in the shadows, watching as the scene unfolded in front of me like some cruel joke. I wanted to charge forward, to rip him away from her, but I held myself back, waiting to see what he would do.
Aria was standing in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest in that familiar way she always did when she was annoyed. She looked like she was ready to tell him off, to push him away, but she didn’t. She stayed there, standing far too close to him, and what she did next made my blood run hot. She smiled.
It wasn’t a big smile, not one that lit up her whole face, but it was enough. Enough to make my heart pound, enough to make my anger flare. That small, seemingly innocent smile was enough to drive me mad with jealousy.
“Asher,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of exasperation, like she was annoyed but not angry enough to send him away. “You didn’t have to do this.” Her tone was so casual, so calm, and it grated against every nerve in my body.
“I wanted to,” he replied smoothly, his voice oozing with confidence as he held out a garment bag. The bastard was grinning, his stupid smile making it clear he knew exactly what he was doing. It was like he was daring me, taunting me with the way he stood there.
“Consider it an apology for yesterday,” he added, his voice dropping slightly, softening in a way that made me want to rip him apart. “And a thank you for not letting Zander’s temper ruin your day.” He even had the audacity to laugh lightly, as if he wasn’t speaking to another man’s wife.
My jaw tightened, and I felt my nails dig into my palms as I clenched my fists. I didn’t move, but every muscle in my body screamed for action.
Aria glanced down at the bag he held, her fingers brushing against it hesitantly. “What is it?” she asked, her voice softer now, curious.
“Something for tonight’s party,” Asher said, his tone light and easy, like this was just another normal conversation. “It’s a special event. You *have* to be there. Eight o’clock sharp.” His grin widened slightly, as if he was already imagining her wearing whatever was in the bag.
She raised an eyebrow, her lips quirking just a little. “And what makes you think I’m going?” she asked, her voice full of challenge.
“Because,” he said, stepping closer to her, too close, “I’m inviting you. You’ll look stunning in this, and trust me, everyone will be watching you.” His words were smooth, his confidence unshaken, and I hated every single syllable.
Her lips twitched, as if she were trying not to smile, but I saw it. I saw the way her face softened just slightly. “You’re impossible,” she muttered, shaking her head.
“And you’re stubborn,” he teased, his grin widening even more. “But I always win.” His tone was playful, but there was something beneath it-something that made my wolf snarl.
Before I could stop myself, before I could think it through, I stepped forward, letting my presence fill the hallway. There was no more waiting, no more watching. It was time to put an end to this little game.