Arya’s POV
Without even thinking, I dashed out of the room.
What was he doing here?
I didn’t know which emotion ruled my chest, anger or worry.
I was pissed that he dared show his face after what he did to me.
Worried that he might cause trouble in the Black Moon Pack.
The vampires in this pack freaked me out.
The image of one feeding still lives rent-free in my head and it was not funny at all.
Just as I was about to leave the building, someone dragged me back.
“Let me go!” I yelled, but the grip was firm stronger than mine.
“It’s me, Your Highness,” the voice said.
I turned to see Flora—my personal servant.
I glanced at her arms and shuddered.
They were the kind of arms fit to wield a sword like a guard’s.
“What is it?” I snapped.
“And haven’t I told you not to refer to me as Your Highness?
I am not your Luna!”
She bowed.
“I’m sorry.
You’re… I mean… Miss—”
”Arya,” I completed for her.
“Arya,” she echoed softly.
Her voice lowered.
I looked out the open window and my heart nearly left my body.
Chase and Jake were locked in a staring contest.
Any moment now, they could start fighting.
And fights between alphas don’t end until one dies.
If one dies, the winner takes over the dead alpha’s pack.
I didn’t want to be the reason the Silver Moon Pack would lose their alpha.
They could place a bounty on my head.
No matter how hard Chase might try to protect me, they’d find a way.
Werewolves are relentless in pursuit.
“Miss… you can’t do that,” Flora said.
“Why?” I asked.
“You and I both know how dangerous it is for them to fight.”
She nodded.
“Nevertheless, Miss Arya…” she looked down at her leg.
A large black scar ran deep into her inner thigh.
I had always wondered what happened to her.
“When the Alpha of the Black Moon Pack was little, he got into a fight with a child.
I tried to intervene, and he injured me.
It took me months to recover.”
She couldn’t look me in the eye.
Was that why he was called a beast?
I looked back outside.
They were still staring.
If he fought Jake, he would kill him and that would be bad.
For me, especially.
“Well, I can’t just stand here and do nothing,” I muttered and started walking.
“He could kill you,” she said.
“Alpha Chase has a horrible temper.
No one gets close when he’s pissed not to talk of that.” She gestured to the scene.
Chase’s eyes had gone dark.
He was grinding his teeth, and his knuckles had turned white.
He was this close to striking Jake if nothing was done.
“Then I’ll die knowing I tried,” I said, marching toward the field.
“Jake!” I shouted.
He turned to me, and his eyes softened.
When I reached them, I turned to Chase.
My heart was pounding.
Adrenaline surged through me.
Just staring at Chase was enough to make me cower, but I stood my ground.
“Um… Chase, can we… can we talk?” I glanced at Jake, who—like a fool—had a smirk on his face while glaring at Chase.
Chase said nothing.
I began to worry he wouldn’t respond.
But then, finally, he spoke.
“Follow me,” he said and started toward the Pack Hall—the same building where Chamberlain had his Moon Stone ceremony.
“This place is too wide.
Can’t we go somewhere cozier?” Jake asked.
I jabbed him in the stomach.
“Arrgh!” he yelped.
“What did I say wrong?”
”Shut up,” I spat.
Chase stopped and turned.
“Ten minutes,” he said, deadpan, and walked away.
“Finally, we’re alone,” Jake said.
When he reached out to touch me, I smacked him across the face.
“Argh!
What was—”
I slapped him again.
He held both cheeks, stunned.
“That was for cheating on me with my sister and rejecting me,” I sneered.
He flexed his jaw and nodded. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
“Yeah… I deserve that.” Then, suddenly, he began to kneel.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“I came to apologize for how everything ended between us,” he said.
“Honestly, I’ve learned my lesson.
Your sister is a horrible person.
I never should’ve mated her.”
Anger surged through me.
The audacity to ask for forgiveness now.
“Then why did you?” I slapped his hands away.
“Please forgive me, Arya.
I had no choice.
She seduced me.
You know I was a virgin.
Our sexual appetite is huge as werewolves, especially virgins.
You know that, Arya.” He tried to reach for me, but I moved away.
“Don’t touch me,” I snapped through gritted teeth.
“Please come back to the pack where you belong.
Nowhere is the same without you.”
I was stunned to see tears roll down his cheeks.
But then I remembered my own pain.
In fact, I was here because of him.
I shook my head.
“No, Jake.
I can never go back to my vomit.” My eyes watered.
Though truthfully, he was the one who vomited me.
“But I’m here begging, Arya.
Please—I’ve begged for your forgiveness.”
”No.
It’s not enough.
It never is.
Because if asking for forgiveness was enough, there wouldn’t be any need for the police.”
Jake stood suddenly.
His eyes cold.
Like he had transformed from the pleading man to a stranger.
“If you won’t come with me willingly, I’ll take you by force,” he growled, then grabbed my arms and lifted me bridal style.
“Put me down!
Jake!” I screamed, kicking and struggling.
But he didn’t listen.
He stormed toward the exit.
And all I could think about… was my little boy.