Aria’s POV.
The next day came too quickly, the hours slipping through my fingers like grains of sand. The castle was alive with preparations, bustling with servants and pack members, all eager to see the union between Alpha Daniel and me. My engagement dress was laid out on the bed-a shimmering silver gown that reminded me too much of chains. The diamond ring Daniel had given me the night before sat heavy on my finger, a weight I couldn’t shake no matter how much I tried.
I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. The woman staring back at me looked like a stranger. Her dark hair was perfectly styled, her emerald eyes outlined with just enough makeup to make them pop. She was beautiful, but she wasn’t me.
The girl I used to be-the wild, carefree Aria who ran barefoot through the forest-was gone.
And yet, as I stared at myself, I felt something stir deep inside me. A small ember of rebellion, of defiance, that refused to be snuffed out.
*”You have a choice.”*
Zander’s words whispered through my mind like a ghost, haunting me with their truth.
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, but I knew one thing for certain: I couldn’t go through with this.
When the time came to walk into the grand hall, I felt like I was walking toward my execution. Daniel stood at the front, dressed in a tailored black suit, his dark eyes watching me as I approached. He looked every bit the powerful Alpha-strong, commanding, and cold.
The ceremony began, the Elder reciting the ancient mating vows that would bind us together. My heart pounded in my chest, each word feeling like a nail in my coffin.
When it came time for Daniel to slip the ring onto my finger, his hand brushed mine, and I flinched. His eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing.
“And now, seal your bond,” the Elder said, his voice echoing through the hall.
Daniel leaned in to kiss me, his lips hovering just above mine.
And I ran.
I didn’t think. I didn’t plan. I just ran.
Gasps and shouts echoed behind me as I bolted from the hall, my heels clattering against the stone floor. I ripped the engagement ring from my finger and let it drop, hearing it clink against the ground as I raced out of the castle and into the cold night.
The forest called to me, its dark embrace pulling me deeper with every step. The full moon hung high in the sky, its light guiding me as I ran. My lungs burned, my legs ached, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop.
I didn’t know where I was going-I just knew I needed to get away.
And then, it happened.
A sharp, searing pain tore through my body, bringing me to my knees. I screamed, clutching at my sides as the agony consumed me. My bones felt like they were breaking, shifting under my skin. My vision blurred, my senses heightened, and the world around me seemed sharper, clearer.
I was shifting.
For the first time in my life, I was shifting.
Panic and pain overwhelmed me, and I screamed again, the sound echoing through the forest.
“Aria!”
Zander’s voice cut through the haze, and I felt his presence before I saw him. He dropped to his knees beside me, his hands hovering over me as if he wasn’t sure how to help.
“It’s okay,” he said, his voice calm but urgent. “I’m here. Breathe, Aria. Just breathe.”
“I can’t-” I gasped, another wave of pain ripping through me. “It hurts-Zander, it hurts!”
“I know,” he said, his voice breaking. “I know it hurts, but you’re strong. You can do this. Let it happen. Don’t fight it.”
His hands found mine, his warmth grounding me as I surrendered to the shift. My body contorted, my screams turning into growls, and then, finally, it was over.
I lay on the ground, my chest heaving, my fur-covered body trembling with exhaustion.
“Aria,” Zander whispered, his voice filled with awe. “You’re… beautiful.”
I looked up at him, and for the first time, I saw him through my wolf’s eyes. His scent filled my senses-earthy, warm, and familiar. My wolf stirred, recognizing him in a way I hadn’t before.
He was my mate.
The realization hit me like a lightning bolt, and I let out a soft whimper, unsure of what to do.
Zander smiled, his hand brushing against my fur. “It’s you,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I knew it was you.”
Before I could process what was happening, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead. Then, his lips brushed my ear, and he whispered, “I’m sorry it took me so long to find you.”
He shifted into his wolf form-a massive black wolf with piercing blue eyes-and nuzzled me gently, his warmth and strength surrounding me.
And then, he did something I didn’t expect.
He marked me.
His teeth sank into the spot where my neck met my shoulder, and I felt a surge of power and connection unlike anything I’d ever known. My wolf howled in joy, and before I could stop myself, I howled with her.
Zander shifted back into his human form, his chest heaving as he looked down at me. “You’re mine, Aria,” he said, his voice raw and filled with emotion. “And I’m yours. No one else. Not Daniel. Not anyone.”
He reached down, picking up the engagement ring I hadn’t realized he’d grabbed. With a growl, he threw it into the forest, the sound of it landing somewhere far away echoing in the distance.
“Stay with me,” he said, his eyes locking onto mine. “Be my mate. Truly. Completely.”
I shifted back into my human form, trembling but whole. I looked at Zander, my heart pounding, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt free.
“Yes,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. “Yes, Zander. I’ll be yours.”
He pulled me into his arms, his warmth and love wrapping around me like a shield.
And under the full moon, I finally found where I belonged.
THE END.