Zander’s POV.
I leaned back in my leather chair, my fingers tapping the armrest absentmindedly as my mind circled the same thing, over and over again. No matter how much I tried to focus on the duties of my pack, my thoughts always returned to her.
Aria.
Her name echoed endlessly in my mind like a haunting melody I couldn’t escape. Her face, so vivid in my memory, refused to fade. I saw her clearly every time I closed my eyes-those fiery eyes flashing with anger, her lips pressed tight with hurt, her defiance burning like a flame. And now, the whispers that had reached my ears from the Huntington pack only added fuel to the firestorm raging inside me. I couldn’t stop thinking about her, couldn’t stop wondering how everything had gone so wrong.
“She’s heading to Daniel’s territory,” Liam, my Beta, had informed me earlier that morning. His expression was grim, his voice calm but heavy with warning. “There’s a welcome dinner being held in her honor. His council and family will be there. Daniel is making a statement-he’s showing everyone that she’s going to be his Luna.”
The words had hit me like a punch to the gut, leaving me stunned and furious all at once. A welcome dinner. A celebration of Aria becoming *his*. The image of her standing by Daniel’s side, surrounded by his pack, smiling and pretending to be happy, made my blood boil. The thought of her being paraded around as his future Luna-not because she wanted to be, but because she felt forced-made something dangerous stir inside me.
I had no right to feel this way. I had made my choice. I had rejected her, broken our bond, and walked away. But knowing that she was now being pulled into Daniel Huntington’s world-the world of a man I despised more than anyone-made it impossible to stay calm. I couldn’t just sit here and pretend I didn’t care.
“And that’s not all,” Liam had added, his voice hesitant, as though he knew the next words would push me over the edge. “The rumors say they’ll be mated soon.”
That final blow had sent me to my feet in an instant. My chair scraped loudly against the hardwood floor as I began pacing the room like a caged wolf. My hands curled into fists at my sides, the rage and frustration building with every step I took.
“Keep our men on her,” I barked, my voice sharp and commanding. “I don’t care where she goes or what she does-I want updates. I want to know who she’s with, where she is, and what’s happening at all times.”
Liam had frowned, his arms crossing as he leaned back against the wall. His expression was a mix of confusion and disapproval. “Zander, this isn’t your place anymore,” he said firmly. “You let her go. You rejected her. She’s made her choice, and now you have to live with it.”
“She hasn’t chosen him,” I growled, my voice low and dangerous. My eyes burned with intensity as I met his gaze. “She’s being forced into this. I know it. She wouldn’t choose him-not willingly.”
Liam had sighed, running a hand through his hair, but he didn’t argue further. “Fine,” he said after a long pause. “I’ll make sure we keep an eye on her. But you need to think about what you’re doing, Zander. This isn’t going to end the way you want it to.”
—
When Liam returned to me that evening with news, I didn’t hesitate.
“She’s at a restaurant in the city,” he said, handing me a slip of paper with the details. His tone was neutral, but I could see the concern in his eyes. “She’s alone. Looks like she needed some time away from Daniel’s estate.”
Alone.
The word hit me like a jolt, sending a surge of adrenaline through my veins. She wasn’t with Daniel. She wasn’t surrounded by his council or his guards. For the first time in what felt like forever, she was away from him, away from his suffocating presence.
This was my chance.
I grabbed my jacket and stormed toward the door without a second thought. The need to see her, to speak with her, burned in me like an uncontrollable fire.
“Zander,” Liam called after me, his voice steady but laced with warning. He stepped into the doorway, blocking my path for a moment. “What exactly are you planning to do here? You can’t just walk in there and expect her to listen to you. You broke her, remember? You rejected her. She doesn’t owe you anything.”
I paused, my hand gripping the edge of the doorframe tightly, my jaw clenched. “I’m going to talk to her,” I said, my voice low but determined. “I need to know if she’s doing this because she wants to… or because she feels like she has no other choice.”
Liam’s gaze was heavy, filled with doubt and silent disappointment. But he didn’t stop me. Instead, he stepped aside, shaking his head slightly. “You’re making this harder on yourself,” he muttered. “But I’ll cover for you if anyone asks.”
—
The restaurant was small, quiet, and tucked away in a forgotten corner of the city. It was completely unassuming-no grand entrances, no flashy decor. It was the kind of place that felt miles away from the Huntington pack’s lavish, suffocating world. It wasn’t Daniel’s kind of place at all. But it suited Aria perfectly.
I spotted her the moment I looked through the window. She was seated near the back, her figure illuminated by soft, golden light. Her hands rested on the table as she stared out the window, her untouched wine glass sitting before her. She looked smaller than I remembered, as if the weight of her new reality had pressed her down. Even from a distance, I could see the tension in her shoulders, the exhaustion in her posture, and the quiet sadness in her expression.
For just a moment, I hesitated. Seeing her like this-so vulnerable, so far removed from the fiery, strong woman I had known-made my chest ache in a way I hadn’t prepared for. I wanted to run to her, to pull her into my arms and promise her that everything would be okay. But I also knew that I had no right to do that. Not after what I had done.
Still, I couldn’t stay away.
I pushed open the door, the faint chime of the bell drawing her attention. Her eyes snapped to mine, and I saw the brief flash of surprise before her expression hardened.
“Zander,” she said, her tone flat and cold as I walked toward her table. “What are you doing here?”
I slid into the seat across from her without waiting for permission. “I could ask you the same thing,” I said, my voice low and steady. “What are you doing here alone?”
She sighed, leaning back in her chair, her hand brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I needed space,” she said simply. “Air. Time to think.”
“From Daniel?” I asked, my eyes narrowing slightly.
Her jaw tightened, and she turned her gaze out the window. “Why do you care?” she asked, her voice sharp and defensive.
“Because this isn’t you, Aria,” I said, leaning forward. “You’re not the kind of woman who lets herself be treated like a pawn. You’re not someone who lets herself be used.”