Chapter 5

• ~ARIA~
• My life was taking a drastic turn right before my very eyes, and there was little or nothing I could do about it. It wasn't enough for the goddess that she made me a late shifter, and took away my father — the only solace I had in this world, causing my promiscuous mother and sister to toss me around the way they wanted.
• No, it wasn't enough. I was forcefully had by a ruthless Alpha who treated me like a leper afterwards. Now, he was back in my life, spouting what I wasn't comprehending, and threatening me on top of it.
• Cora said he was the Alpha of their pack. Technically, I had to obey him rather than being forced into it. I didn't have any option. I was already within the pack. Any attempt to run would send me into the dungeon or worse.
• Cora had begged me to do it, with tears rolling down our cheeks. Whether I wanted to do it or not, I would be forced to do it.
• How can one be so ruthless?
• "Sleeping with me forcefully wasn't enough for you. You are also forcing me into carrying your pup?"
• My eyes were still filled with tears as I sank on the cold floor outside the balcony of the new room I was led to.
• I had rushed out here immediately as the guards took their exit, waiting for the arrival of the full moon so I could stare at it and ask the goddess what I did wrong.
• Arya had always been the lucky one. She was prettier and she also got her wolf early, giving her the illusion that she was older and could treat me the way she wanted. I left the house so she wouldn't end up strangling me because I slept with her supposed man. Mum would even help her to.
• I wiped the tears rolling down my cheeks with the back of my hand. The moon wasn't out yet. I was waiting for it to show up and take my pleas to the moon goddess.
• I squeezed my eyes shut and curled my knees up, wrapping my arms around it. Just then, I heard distant howls, a sign that the moon was coming out.
• My eyes fluttered open at the realization.
• It seemed as though I had chosen the best spot because the moon was right in front of me, bigger than I expected. This was the first time I was seeing a moon up close.
• The balcony at our house wasn't close to the sky. But here, it seemed as though you could touch the moon if you stretched your hand further.
• As I was admiring the glistening full moon, temporarily forgetting about my tribulations. I started noticing some changes in my body, starting from the tingling of my veins and the hairs that were sprouting out from my skin.
• "Oh goddess, it's happening." I muttered as I closed my eyes, surrendering myself to my other half.
• The breaking and reshaping of my bones, followed by the heightening of my senses and the low growl that came from within.
• Shifting fully, my wolf whom I named Ria on the spot stood on four legs and stared down at herself. I couldn't believe I had finally shifted.
• She howled endlessly and happily towards the moon, picking up the distant howls from other wolves as well.
• She growled in appreciation to the moon goddess, as she bounced around in excitement on the balcony. We were both excited. We had finally found each other, after so many years of waiting. The shifting wasn't as painful as I had envisioned.
• "Thank you, goddess."
• Suddenly, I halted in my tracks as a particular scent wafted through my nose, overwhelming me and making me weak to my knees. I was still processing it when my door flung open and the Alpha walked in, his gaze falling on me. The balcony door was wide open.
• "Are you okay, Aria? I heard your howls from across my room." He asked, his voice devoid of his rough edges.
• Ria started panting and purring in delight. I was yet to wrap my head around the sudden excitement at seeing the man who forced himself on me. She was supposed to share in my grief, not gush at the sight of him.
• The scent of pinewood became stronger as he advanced closer, igniting desire inside of me. This could only mean one thing...
• ALPHA ADRIAN IS MY MATE!!!
• No way!
• The closer he came, the more my heart kept drawing to him and I could feel Ria's readiness to leap on him. No! I wouldn't allow that. Before she would throw herself cheaply at him, I shifted back, falling on the floor and panting slightly.
• Ria kept chanting 'Mate 'inside of me, but I ignored her. She pushed further, purring sadly at my refusal to bounce on him.
• "He hates my very existence, and he's ruthless." I explained, but she couldn't listen.
• "He's still our mate." She pressed further, and I sighed, getting on my feet.
• Why would the moon goddess mate me to someone that saw me as a whore? That didn't make sense, for real. Remembering the accusation he laid on me at the hotel, that I was trying to take the place of his dead mate. Proclaiming him as my mate would lend credence to that accusation.
• "But..." Ria started, but we were interrupted by his warming presence and intoxicating aura. He was standing right in front of me, his gaze boring into my body.
• That was when I knew I was naked. Shoot! I looked down at my discarded clothes on the floor and back to him.
• Then I remembered his question.
• "Yes, I am okay. Can you please leave? I want to wear my clothes."
• He smirked, stepping close to me, his eyes fixed on my breast. I felt vulnerable under his gaze but Ria felt ecstatic.
• "Tell him. Tell him!" She chanted. "He obviously likes us. Why don't you tell him."
• "Not now, Ria." I muttered, but not loud enough for him to hear.
• "Aren't you going to give me space to wear my clothes?" I asked, my voice a pitch higher.
• He was surprisingly calm, his eyes still doing justice to my body. I bit my lips, fighting the urge not to relish those lustful stares. The mate bond was pushing me, but I could still put it under control. Maybe because of the fact that I wasn't his mate too.
• "Aria..." He finally uttered in a low, husky voice that sent shivers through my spine.
• "I told you he likes us." Ria was still chanting, but I didn't reply. I was having an inner fight. I was fighting not to give in to the desire threatening to explode through me. Nor fall to my knees and beg for him to claim me.
• But when his smooth big hands rested on my waist, I threw all resistance and reservation into the wind as I went into his embrace and warmth.