Aria’s POV.
I got a text from Zander late at night, asking me to meet him. I wasn’t sure why I even considered it, but soon, I found myself sneaking out of Daniel’s castle. The halls were quiet, and the guards didn’t notice as I slipped into the night. My heart raced as I walked toward the forest. I didn’t know why I was doing this. Why was Zander playing games with my mind and my heart again?
He had hurt me before. He had humiliated me.
I wasn’t ready to trust him.
The forest was eerily quiet except for the sound of leaves rustling in the wind and the distant hoot of an owl. The moonlight pushed through the trees, leaving silver streaks across the ground. As I walked deeper into the woods, my breath puffed in the cold air, and my heart pounded harder with every step. I knew this was dangerous. Meeting Zander in secret was risky-not just for me but for him too. If Daniel found out, there would be consequences.
But I couldn’t stop myself.
After what Zander said to me at the restaurant, he had been stuck in my mind. His words had stayed with me, sharp and painful like thorns. *”You don’t have to do this. You have a choice.”*
But did I? That was the question I couldn’t answer. That was the reason I was here, risking everything to meet the one person I had promised myself I would never see again.
When I reached the clearing, I stopped. The sound of a small stream bubbling in the distance filled the silence. I knew this place well-it was where Zander and I used to meet, back when life was simple, back when I still believed in us. I hadn’t been here since the day he broke my heart, but now, standing in this familiar spot, I felt a strange mix of pain and longing.
And then, I saw him.
Zander stepped out of the shadows, his tall figure moving gracefully, reminding me of how dangerous he could be. His dark hair was messy from the wind, and his piercing eyes locked onto mine as he walked closer. He looked the same and yet different-his strong presence was still there, but now there was something else: desperation, regret, or maybe both.
“You came,” he said quietly, stopping just a few feet away from me. His voice was low, almost unsure, like he didn’t believe I would show up.
“I shouldn’t have,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. The cold air bit at my skin, but it was nothing compared to the tension between us. “If Daniel finds out about this, it’s over-for both of us.”
His jaw tightened, and I saw anger flash in his eyes. “Daniel doesn’t own you, Aria,” he said firmly. “You’re not his property.”
I looked away, running my fingers over the rough bark of a nearby tree. “Maybe not,” I said softly, “but I made a promise. I agreed to be his Luna. I can’t just walk away from that. There will be consequences.”
Zander frowned, stepping closer. “Why did you agree to it in the first place?” His voice wasn’t harsh-it was filled with curiosity and concern. “Was it for your family? Your pack? Or was it because you thought you had no other choice?”
His question hit me harder than I expected. I swallowed, my gaze dropping to the ground. “It doesn’t matter why,” I said quietly. “What matters is that I made a deal, and I have to keep it.”
“No,” Zander said, his voice stronger now as he moved closer. His presence filled the clearing, overwhelming me. “What matters is that you’re not happy, Aria. I can see it. You’re not the person you used to be. Daniel is controlling your life, and you’re losing everything that makes you who you are. Is that really what you want?”
I lifted my head and met his gaze. His eyes burned with an intensity that made my chest ache. “What do you expect me to do, Zander?” My voice cracked, trembling under the weight of my emotions. “If I walk away from Daniel, he’ll destroy my pack. My family will lose everything. And then what? Where would I go? What would I do?”
“Come with me,” Zander said, his voice steady and certain.
His words hung in the air, heavy and impossible. My breath caught in my throat, and I stared at him, trying to understand what he was saying. “What?” I whispered.
“Come with me,” Zander repeated, stepping even closer. His voice was softer now, but the determination in it didn’t waver. “Leave all of this behind-Daniel, the Huntington pack, the deal you made. I’ll protect you, Aria. I’ll protect your family and your pack. You don’t have to do this alone.”
My heart pounded so loudly I could barely think. For one wild moment, I wanted to say yes. I wanted to run away with him, to leave everything behind and start over. But then reality crashed into me like a wave, washing away that fleeting hope.
“It’s not that simple,” I said, shaking my head. “Daniel won’t let me go. He won’t just sit back and let you take me. He’ll come after me, after my family, after everyone I care about.”
“Let him try,” Zander said darkly, his eyes flashing with anger. “I’m not afraid of him, Aria. I’ll fight him if I have to. I’ll take on his entire pack if it means keeping you safe.”
His words sent a shiver through me, but it wasn’t fear. It was something deeper, something I didn’t want to name. I turned away, trying to calm my racing heart. “You can’t fight all my battles, Zander,” I said softly. “This is my mess. I made this choice. I have to deal with it.”
“You didn’t make this choice,” he said, his voice raw and full of emotion. “This was forced on you. You’ve been pushed into a corner, and you’re too proud to admit it.”
I flinched at his words because they were true. He was right-I was stuck, trapped in a situation I didn’t want. But that didn’t mean I could just walk away.
“I don’t need you to save me,” I said, my voice stronger now. “I’ve survived without you, Zander. I’ve kept going, even after what you did to me. Don’t come back now and act like I need you to fix everything.”
The pain in his eyes was almost too much to bear, but I held my ground.
“Aria,” he said softly, his voice breaking. “I know I hurt you. I know I don’t deserve your trust or forgiveness. But I can’t stand by and watch you destroy yourself for someone like Daniel. Let me help you. Please.”
I took a shaky breath, my emotions threatening to break through. “I don’t know if I can trust you,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
“You don’t have to trust me,” he said. “But trust yourself. Trust that you deserve more than this.”
We stood there in silence, his words hanging between us. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe that there was another way out of this nightmare. But the fear of what might happen if I chose wrong was too strong.
“I need time,” I said finally, my voice shaking. “I need to think.”
Zander nodded, though I could see the frustration in his eyes. “I’ll wait,” he said quietly. “As long as it takes.”
I turned and walked away, my heart heavy with fear and doubt. I didn’t look back. If I had looked back, I wasn’t sure I would have been able to keep walking.