40. Aria

40

ARIA

"Get out!" Zane booms, sending a shockwave through me. His eyes, wild with fury, lock onto mine. "Now! You can't be here. You need to get out now. We can't have an undocumented omega here. It's too dangerous, for you and for us."

My heart shatters, each shard a piercing reminder of my foolish hope. Zane's words echo in my head, suffocating me like a vise around my chest. I struggle to draw breath, the weight of rejection crushing me from the inside out.

My heart.

I can feel it breaking.

I feel the rejection in my soul.

That's it. This is over.

As the others begin to argue, their voices a cacophony of anger and disbelief, I turn on a heel and walk away.

No one calls for me.

They are too busy arguing.

Not one runs after me, screaming or begging me to stop.

I walk out the front door and down the street in a daze, the cold night air grounding me in the harsh reality of my situation.

No one calls to me.

Not one.

With every step I take away, my memories bubble to the surface, sweeping me under.

"Don't embarrass me." Noah's cruel voice sends shards of glass through me.

Licking my lips, I flip up the visor. I can't keep looking at my broken collarbone. The bruise is almost too much to cover, but I manage by wearing a scarf. It still hurts like hell.

"I won't," I tell him, but unfortunately, it's not a promise because I never know what is going to set Noah off.

It could be that he just can't scratch his back, or that he doesn't like the color of my lipstick.

It could also just be the fact that I'm wearing lipstick.

It doesn't matter.

I don't even want him coming with me, but here we are. His hold over me tightens with each passing day, suffocating me and making it impossible to breathe. I have to get out. I have to find a way to escape before it's too late.

"You brought the food?" he asks, looking over at me with the smile I fell in love with — the smile that now feels like a knife twisting in my gut.

Noah's smile, once a source of comfort, now sends chills down my spine. I find myself cataloging the minute changes in his expression, the slight tightening around his eyes, the twitch in his jaw. My body tenses involuntarily, muscles coiled and ready to flinch at the slightest provocation.

I know I can't keep living for these little moments where he makes me fall in love all over again, and I know that Cayenne and Aunt Sara suspect something, but I can't bring myself to do anything about it.

Day by day, my confidence will grow and then shatter. It's a vicious cycle I can't break, so here we are, driving to my aunt's house, when I want nothing more than to be free of Noah.

I need to be free of Noah before he bites me. It's a miracle he hasn't yet.

I refuse to let a monster bind me. I won't.

Get out. Leave. Tell Aunt Sara.

"You look beautiful, Aria." He grabs my hand, threading our fingers together and kissing my knuckles. "Hey," he says. "I was thinking…"

I give him a fake smile, one he sees right through. "Yeah?"

"Bond me tonight," Noah whispers, his voice a mix of desire and desperation. He parks the car and grips my hair, not quite painful but a clear show of dominance. Terror courses through my veins, but beneath it, I sense his own insecurity, his need to possess me completely. He presses a soft kiss to my neck, a deceptively gentle gesture that promises both pleasure and pain. "I'm going to bite you right here while I knot this tight little pussy."

Fear mingles with arousal, because at the end of the day, I'm still an omega, and his scent wraps around me. I hate that he's a match. I hate that I react this way.

"Without a pack?" I ask, trying to control my fear so he won't smell it — something I've gotten damn good at.

He chuckles. "Baby, I'm the only alpha you will ever need."

He isn't. My last heat ? —

Don't think about it. Just don't.

"Oh look," I squeak. "I see Aunt Sara." Luckily, that isn't a lie, and with a sigh, he lets me go. He isn't happy about it, but he does it.

As we step out of the car, I spot Aunt Sara standing on her porch, waving at us with a warm smile. Her presence is a comforting balm to my frayed nerves. Beside her stands a tall, well-built man with kind eyes and a gentle demeanor. This must be the new boyfriend she mentioned in her last call.

"Aria, Noah!" Aunt Sara exclaims, hurrying down the steps to greet us. She wraps me in a tight hug, and I breathe in her familiar scent, feeling a brief sense of peace. She's a beta, so her scent isn't overpowering, but that's what always made her special to me. She smells like peace, like home. "It's wonderful to see you both."

"Fuck, I missed you, Aunt Sara," I mutter into her hair, my voice steady for the first time in hours. Noah stands a few steps back, his charming mask firmly in place.

His charisma is his superpower … or rather villain power.

"This is Peter," Aunt Sara says, gesturing to the man beside her. "Peter, this is my niece, Aria, and her boyfriend, Noah."

Peter steps forward with an easy smile, extending his hand to Noah. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Sara's spoken so highly of you."

Noah shakes his hand firmly, his eyes assessing. "Nice to meet you too, Peter."

How do I keep them safe? How do I protect them from Noah's wrath?

I smile at Peter, feeling a tentative warmth toward him. "Hi, Peter. It's nice to finally meet you. I heard so much about you."

"All bad things, I hope." His eyes sparkle, and he gives Aunt Sara a kiss on the cheek, causing her to blush. I don't think I've ever seen her so happy.

"Come inside," Aunt Sara says, herding us toward the house. "I have some wine and snacks ready. Let's catch up."

As we cross the threshold, the familiar warmth of Aunt Sara's home washes over me. The living room glows with soft, amber light, creating pockets of shadow that seem to whisper of safety and secrets. The air is rich with the comforting aroma of home-cooked food—a stark contrast to the tension I carry within me. For a moment, I let myself believe in the illusion of normalcy. A platter of cheese and crackers sits on the coffee table, along with a bottle of red wine and four glasses.

We settle onto the couch, and Aunt Sara pours us each a glass of wine. I take a sip, savoring the rich flavor and the way it soothes my nerves. I'd chug it, but I fear that would give away too much.

"So how have you been, Aria?" Aunt Sara asks, her eyes filled with concern and love.

"I've been…managing," I say carefully, not wanting to reveal too much. "Work's been busy, and Noah's been keeping me on my toes."

Noah chuckles, slipping an arm around my shoulders. His finger digs into my collarbone, causing a flinch of pain to zap through me. It's a reminder—behave or else. "Aria's being modest. She's been amazing."

Aunt Sara glances between us, a hint of suspicion in her gaze, but she lets it pass. "Well, I'm glad you're here, and I'm really happy to introduce you to Peter."

Peter smiles warmly. "Sara's told me so much about you, Aria. It's great to finally put a face to the name."

I return his smile. "I hope it's all been good things."

"Of course," he says with a chuckle. "Sara's very proud of you."

"So, Peter," I begin, curious about the man who has brought so much joy to Aunt Sara's life, "how did you and Aunt Sara meet?"

Peter chuckles and glances fondly at Aunt Sara. "It's a bit of a funny story, actually. We met at a charity event for the local animal shelter."

Aunt Sara laughs, her eyes sparkling. "I was there volunteering, and Peter showed up with a donation that was larger than life."

Peter shakes his head modestly. "It wasn't that big."

"Oh, it was!" Aunt Sara insists, playfully nudging him. "You should have seen the look on everyone's faces."

"All right, it might have been a bit more than they expected," Peter concedes with a grin. "But honestly, I just wanted to help out. I love animals."

"Is that what drew you two together?" Noah asks, his interest piqued.

"Partly," Aunt Sara replies, "but we really connected when we started talking about hiking. Turns out, we both love spending time in the mountains."

Peter nods enthusiastically. "Sara mentioned her favorite hiking trail, and it's the same one I've been going to for years. We spent hours that evening comparing notes on our favorite spots and planning future hikes."

"Speaking of which," Aunt Sara adds, "we're planning a trip to the mountains in Colorado this fall. We're hoping to catch the fall colors at their peak."

"That sounds amazing," I say, genuinely happy for them. "I've always loved the mountains. There's something so peaceful about being out in nature."

Peter smiles. "Absolutely. It's a great way to disconnect from everything and just enjoy the moment."

Noah leans forward, his charming demeanor still firmly in place. "Do you have any favorite trails?"

Peter's eyes light up. "Oh, definitely. There's this one trail that leads to a hidden waterfall. It's a bit of a trek, but the view is absolutely worth it."

Aunt Sara chimes in, "We're planning to hike that trail during our trip. I can't wait to show Peter the spot where I used to go as a kid."

"I'd love to hear more about your hiking adventures," I say, wondering how I can join their trip.

"You should join us for a hike sometime, Aria," Aunt Sara suggests, her eyes twinkling with hope. "It would be great to have you along." For a moment, I see a future where I'm free, where I can breathe without fear. But Noah's grip on my hand tightens imperceptibly, a silent warning that shatters the fleeting dream.

"I'd love that," I say, the idea of a peaceful hike with Aunt Sara and Peter sounding incredibly appealing. Maybe that is when I can escape Noah. Maybe I can convince them to go sooner rather than later.

Noah does have that business meeting coming up.

"Fuck, I missed you," Aunt Sara says, her eyes misty with emotion. "You don't visit enough."

"You're right—I don't," I say sincerely. It's also a dig at Noah. He keeps me away. "It's been really nice."

Noah nods, his smile still firmly in place. "Yes, thank you, Sara. We should do this more often." He lies so easily.

Bastard.

"I'll be right back." I stand and step around to the hall.

"Where are you going?" Noah questions, sending a flare of discomfort through me. He wouldn't do anything here. Would he?

"The bathroom," I say, waving a hand behind me. I might pay for it later, but the wine has me convinced I don't care.

Once in the bathroom, I take care of the important business before tugging the scarf down to peer at my collarbone. It's bright purple, and the white button-down barely hides the bruise.

It hurts to touch, and Noah dug his fingers in tight enough to bruise the bruise. How is that even possible?

A knock on the door makes me jump.

"One sec," I grumble, hastily adjusting my scarf. But in my wine induced carelessness, I forget to check if it's fully covering the bruise.

I swing the door open, and Aunt Sara's eyes immediately lock onto my collarbone. Her expression shifts from concern to horror in an instant. Her eyes swing from the bruise to me and back again. "Are you in danger?" she asks.

This isn't how I wanted this to go down, but I give her one curt nod.

Time seems to slow, each second stretching into eternity. I see Aunt Sara's lips moving, forming words I can't hear over the sudden roaring in my ears. Then, in a heartbeat, the world explodes into chaos. A deafening crack splits the air, and warm droplets splatter across my face. It takes me a moment to realize it's blood—Aunt Sara's blood.

All I can do is stand there in shock as my ears ring.

My chest tightens. My body vibrates.

There's screaming.

I'm screaming.

I fall to my knees and dive for Aunt Sara.

My eyes fixate on the gaping wound in Aunt Sara's abdomen. The ragged edges of flesh pulse obscenely with each of her weakening heartbeats. The metallic stench of blood fills my nostrils, mixing sickeningly with the lingering aroma of home-cooked food. I can taste copper on my tongue, though I'm not sure if it's from the air or my own bitten lip.

Another shot.

More screaming.

I'm pressed down, face-first in her blood, my cheek smashed against the floor.

"I told you to behave, Aria," he whispers menacingly. "All you had to do was behave, and now look what you did. She's bleeding out, Aria."

"No!" I cry.

He lifts my head and slams it back down on the ground, right in her blood, again and again.

Dizziness washes through me.

This is it. This is how I'll die.

With nothing left to do, I reach for her hand and squeeze.

Just as she squeezes back, darkness sweeps in.