ZANE’S POV
I sat in my chambers long after Aria’s call had ended, with my phone still warm in my hand and a smile still lingering on my face.
Her voice had been different tonight, stronger and more sure of herself, like something inside her had finally clicked into place.
It was not the voice of the broken woman I had met at the bar, drowning her sorrows in whiskey.
It was the voice of someone who had decided to fight.
I replayed her words in my head, the way she had told me she accepted my offer, and I felt a warmth spread through my chest that I had never felt before.
She was going to be staying at my private residence, my secret sanctuary that no one knew about, and I would be able to see her every single day.
The thought made my heart race in a way that surprised me.
I lay back on my bed and stared at the ceiling, with a small smile playing on my lips.
I wondered what it would be like to have her there, to see her in the mornings and know she was safe.
I imagined her laughing, with her eyes crinkling at the corners, and I felt a strange sense of peace settle over me.
I had spent my whole life preparing to be Alpha, never allowing myself to want anything for myself.
But I wanted her.
I wanted her more than I had ever wanted anything.
The next morning, I woke up early, with my excitement barely contained.
I dressed quickly and found Tristan in the hallway.
He took one look at me and raised an eyebrow, with a teasing smile spreading across his face.
“You look like a man who did not sleep at all,” he said, his voice sounding light and playful.
“And you have that ridiculous smile on your face again.
What is going on with you?”
I hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell him.
“I need you to help me with something.
I have a private residence on the outskirts of the territory.
I am moving someone there today.”
Tristan widened his eyes in shock, and he stared at me like I had just grown a second head.
“Wait, wait, wait.
You have a secret property?
I have known you for years and I never knew about this.
What else are you hiding from me?
A secret wife?
Secret children?” He asked mockingly.
I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
“It is just a place I bought years ago.
Somewhere private, somewhere no one knows about.
I needed somewhere to escape when things got too much.” I shrugged lightly, trying to act casual.
Then Tristan crossed his arms with a wide smirk on his face, and said with his voice dripping with amusement.
“And now you are moving your secret girlfriend into your secret house.
Very romantic, Alpha Prince.
Very dramatic.
I never thought I would see the day you would be sneaking around for a woman.” He laughed and shook his head.
“Look at you.
You are whipped, and you are not even official yet.”
I threw a pillow at him, but I could not hide my smile.
“Just help me make sure no one follows me.
That is all I ask.” I said calmly.
Tristan laughed again, and held up his hands in surrender.
“Fine, fine.
Go get your girl.
I will cover for you.
But do not blame me when the whole pack finds out and calls you the secret boyfriend.”
But Tristan called after me, his voice turning slightly serious.
“Before you go, I need to update you on something.
The elders have been asking about the Luna ceremony.
They want to know when you plan to officially announce Aurora as your mate.”
I stopped and turned back to face him, with my jaw clenched tight and growled, “Tell them I am still adjusting.
I have only been back for a short time.
They can wait.”
Tristan raised an eyebrow and said drily, “They are getting impatient, Zane.
You know how the elders are.
They do not like waiting.
They have been talking about how Aurora is the perfect Luna and how the pack needs stability.”
I sighed heavily, and ran a hand through my hair.
“I do not care what the elders think.
I am not ready to make any announcements about Aurora.
And I will not be pressured into something I do not want.” I snorted.
Tristan nodded slowly, his voice sounding careful.
“I figured you would say that.
I will buy you some time.
But you need to figure out what you are going to do, and soon.
The elders will not wait forever.”
I met his gaze, and replied firmly, “I know.
And I will.
But right now, my priority is keeping Aria safe.
Everything else can wait.”
Tristan studied me for a moment, then smirked.
“Look at you.
The great Alpha Prince, putting love above duty.
I never thought I would see the day.”
I shook my head, with a small smile tugging at my lips.
“Just make sure no one follows me today.”
Tristan laughed and patted me lightly on my shoulder.
“I will take care of it.
Now go get your girl before I change my mind and tell the elders where you really are.”
I took a cab to Mira’s house, not wanting to draw attention to myself.
My heart pounded as we approached, and I saw Aria waiting outside with a small bag in her hands.
She looked nervous but determined, her eyes bright with a fire I had not seen in her before.
She was wearing a simple dress, her dark hair pulled back, and she looked beautiful.
I got out of the cab and walked toward her, my heart racing.
She looked up at me and managed a small smile.
“I am ready.” She said softly.
I nodded and took her bag, placing it in the cab.
We got in and drove toward the apartment, the silence between us comfortable but charged with unspoken words.
I reached over and took her hand, and she did not pull away.
Instesd her fingers tightened around mine, and I felt a surge of emotion.
“Are you okay?” I asked softly, my voice gentle.
She nodded, and replied with her voice trembling slightly.
“I am scared, but I am ready.
I am tired of running, Zane.
I want to start living.”
I squeezed her hand gently and smiled.
“You will.
When we arrived at the apartment, Aria stepped inside and looked around, with her eyes open wide with surprise.
The place was modest but elegant, with warm lighting and comfortable furniture.
It was not a palace, but it was private and safe, exactly what she needed.
She turned to me, with her eyes full of wonder and said softly, “Zane, this is…
this is beautiful.
I do not know how to thank you.”
I stepped closer, and said with a gentle voice.
“You do not have to thank me, Aria.
You deserve to feel safe.
You deserve to have a place where no one can hurt you.”
She looked at me, her eyes searching mine, and muttered under her breath.
“Why are you doing all of this for me?
I do not understand.
I am just…
I am just me.
I am not special.
I am not like Aurora.
Why would you risk everything for someone like me?”
I felt my heart ache at her words.
She still did not see herself the way I saw her.
I stepped closer, and said intensely but steady.
“Aria, I have been searching for you since the moment I met you.
I have risked everything to keep you safe.
Do you really need to ask me why?”
Her eyes filled with tears, and she whispered, her voice cracking.
“But what if I am not worth it?
What if I am not worth all of this trouble?”
I cupped her face gently, my voice steady and sounding so sure.
“You are worth everything, Aria.
I have never been more sure of anything in my life.
You are not a shadow.
You are not second best.
You are the woman I have been looking for, and I will not let you go.”
She stared at me for a moment, her eyes searching mine, and then she broke.
She threw her arms around me and hugged me tightly, burying her face in my chest.
I wrapped my arms around her, and held her close, feeling her warmth seep into me.
Then I leaned down and whispered into her hair, with a soft voice filled with wonder.
“I do not know what it is, Aria, but I can feel it.
Something has changed in you.
You are different now.
You are not the same woman I met at the bar.”
She pulled back just enough to look up at me, her eyes searching mine.
“Really?” she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
I bit my lower lip, with a small smile playing at the corners of my mouth.
“Really.
And I like it.
I like it a lot.”
She looked at me for a long moment, her eyes softening, and then she whispered softly and her voice sounding so sure.
“Okay.”