Aria’s POV.
Zander’s grip on my wrist tightened, his fingers digging into my skin like steel clamps. His eyes were locked on mine, dark and unrelenting, and his words came out sharp and cold. “Answer the question,” he barked, his voice echoing through the empty hallway.
I yanked at my arm, twisting and pulling as hard as I could, but it was no use. His grip didn’t budge, his strength overpowering mine like I was nothing.
Frustration and anger boiled inside me, threatening to spill over. “You’re unbelievable,” I spat, my voice trembling, but I didn’t care. The words poured out of me, raw and unfiltered.
“Kael tried to-” I stopped abruptly, my throat tightening as the memories crashed into me like a wave. The words were stuck, lodged in my chest, too painful to say out loud. “He tried to hurt me, Zander!” My voice cracked, but I pushed forward, my anger giving me strength. “And now you’re standing here, blaming *me* for his mistakes? For *his* actions?”
“Don’t lie to me!” Zander growled, his voice rising as it reverberated through the corridor. His wolf was dangerously close to the surface; I could see it in the way his eyes flashed with that otherworldly power, in the way his entire body seemed to radiate tension. “I saw the way he looked at you, Aria. I’m not stupid. I know the kind of man Kael was. If you didn’t want him, why didn’t you stop him? Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
His words hit me like a slap across the face, the force of them leaving me breathless. I staggered slightly, my breath catching in my throat, my chest tightening with disbelief. “How dare you,” I whispered, my voice trembling with fury and pain. “How *dare* you blame me for what *he* did. I refused him, Zander. I didn’t just stop him-I fought him. I did everything I could to protect myself. And now, after all of that, you’re standing here, dragging me to a doctor like I’m some kind of *animal*, questioning my honor?” My voice cracked at the end, but I didn’t care. The tears I’d been holding back were threatening to spill, but I wouldn’t let him see me cry. Not now. Not ever.
Zander didn’t respond. His silence stretched between us, loud and suffocating. But his lack of a reply was an answer in itself. He didn’t believe me. That much was clear.
The tears I fought so hard to keep at bay finally spilled over, hot and angry as they streaked down my cheeks. I hated myself for crying in front of him, but I couldn’t stop. “You’re no better than he was,” I said, my voice breaking as the words tumbled out. “You’re just like him. Cruel. Heartless. A monster.”
For a fleeting moment, his grip on my wrist faltered. His eyes flickered with something-hesitation, guilt, regret, maybe-but it was gone as quickly as it came. His expression hardened, and his grip tightened once more. He turned without a word and started walking again, dragging me behind him as though my words hadn’t affected him at all. My legs moved on autopilot, my heart pounding in my chest as I stumbled after him toward the waiting car outside the castle.
—
The drive to the clinic was unbearable, a suffocating silence stretching between us like a wall.
I sat stiffly in the back seat, my arms crossed tightly over my chest, my entire body trembling with anger and frustration. I refused to look at Zander, who sat beside me, his presence looming and oppressive. His silence was worse than anything he could have said. It was cold and unyielding, like a heavy weight pressing down on me. Liam sat in the driver’s seat, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. His eyes stayed glued to the road, but I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his shoulders were stiff with discomfort. He didn’t approve of this. None of them did. But no one dared to stand up to Zander when he was like this-not even Liam, who had been at his side for years.
I wanted to scream, to cry, to throw open the car door and run until I couldn’t feel his suffocating presence anymore. But instead, I sat there, silent and seething, my thoughts racing. Every insult, every cruel word I wanted to hurl at him burned on the tip of my tongue, but I kept them inside. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me break.
When we finally arrived at the clinic, the car came to a halt, but I didn’t move. My chest was tight, my hands clenched into fists in my lap. I stared out the window, refusing to acknowledge him.
“Get out,” Zander said, his voice devoid of emotion. It wasn’t a request-it was a command.
“No,” I said sharply, my tone icy and full of defiance. I turned to face him, my eyes blazing with anger. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
He leaned closer, his face inches from mine, his dark eyes locking onto mine with a chilling intensity. “You don’t have a choice, Aria,” he said, his tone low and dangerous. There wasn’t a hint of softness in his voice, no trace of the man he had once been.
I met his gaze head-on, my voice trembling but filled with fury. “You broke the bond, Zander. You divorced me. You have *no* claim over me anymore. If you think you can drag me in there and humiliate me like this, you’re wrong. I’d rather die than let you treat me like this.”
For a moment, something flickered in his expression. His eyes softened, guilt flashing across his face so quickly I almost missed it. But just as fast, it was gone, replaced by the cold, unrelenting mask he always wore.
“I didn’t ask for your permission,” he said, opening the car door and stepping out. His voice was sharp, like a blade cutting through the tense air. Then he turned back to me, his expression hard and unforgiving. “Now, get out.”
I stayed where I was, my body stiff with defiance.
From the front seat, Liam cleared his throat, his voice hesitant. “Zander… maybe you should think about this. This isn’t the way to handle things.” His words were careful, but there was an edge of bravery to them, a quiet protest against what Zander was doing.
Zander turned to him, his glare sharp enough to cut through steel. “Stay out of it, Liam,” he snapped, his tone leaving no room for argument.
I clenched my fists, hatred burning through me like fire as I finally stepped out of the car. My legs trembled beneath me, but I forced myself to stand tall, to keep my head high. If Zander wanted to humiliate me, fine. I’d let him. But he’d regret this. I’d make sure of it.