46. Aria

46

ARIA

I couldn’t sleep. I was in Atticus’s room, not wanting to be in the manor where my life had been turned upside down. I’d come here to escape the suffocating walls of my childhood home.

Mia, Hale, Lyza, and Joren hadn’t questioned me when I showed up here. They’d let me in with no judgment, no questions asked. I was thankful for that. My mind twisting, searching for a solution to the mess I was in, but none came.

A sudden weight dipped the bed, and I tensed. Then, seeing him, I exhaled, my body uncoiling from its tight knot of terror and anxiety. Atticus.

“Where did you come from?” The words left me in a gasp.

“I needed to see you,” he said in a low rumble that vibrated through me.

“Gods, Atticus.” Tears pricked my eyes. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed him until this very moment. The weeks of terror melted away as if his presence alone could shield me from the squall outside.

“Shh, I’ve got you.” He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against the solid wall of his chest. In his embrace, I allowed myself to feel safe, maybe for the first time since this all began.

“How did you find me? I was shielding.”

His ice-blue eyes met mine, and even in the dim light, I saw the pride in them.

“Shielding?” he echoed with a hint of admiration.

“Yeah.” I pulled my knees to my chest, making room for him. “I’ve been practicing. Building barriers in my mind, keeping everyone out—even Seren.”

“Smart,” Atticus murmured. He reached for my hand, his fingers grazing my skin with a gentleness that contrasted his rough exterior. “But Seren knew. She told me you were here.”

“Of course, she did.” I let out a soft laugh.

We fell silent, the space between us thick with everything we couldn’t say. It didn’t matter. Being without him had felt like an unending abyss, each day stretching longer than the last. Now, with mere inches separating us, the pain of being apart was a stark reminder of how much we needed each other.

“Atticus,” I started, but he shook his head slightly.

“Shh, no words,” he whispered, reaching out to brush a stray hair from my face.

Our gazes locked, and time seemed to slow. It was as if the world had shrunk down to this room, to the two of us. These hardships could have torn us apart, but instead, it forged a stronger link. We were a united front against whatever disorder awaited outside these walls.

“We’re better together,” I finally said, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

My fingers brushed the rough ink that marked his skin, the tattoos I knew as well as my own thoughts.

“Atticus,” I said, unable to hold back any longer.

He responded by pulling me into him. His hands roamed over my back as I traced the muscles that flexed beneath his shirt. There was no gentleness in our movements, only urgency, as if we were trying to make up for lost time with every second that passed.

Our lips crashed together, and I poured every ounce of my longing, my anxiety, and my love into that kiss. It felt like coming home after being lost in a hurricane, the warmth of him searing through the chill that had settled in my bones during our separation.

“Fuck, I missed you,” he muttered against my mouth.

“Me too,” I managed to say before his lips claimed mine again. My heart raced like a wild creature, beating against my ribcage as he pulled me to his chest. His skin was rough against mine, but everything about him felt right.

Atticus’s lips brushed against my forehead, my eyelids, my earlobe. Each tender touch made me shiver with anticipation. His thumb traced circles on the base of my neck, sending shivers down my spine and filling me with the desire to feel more.

The air thickened between us, heavy with the scent of woodsy cologne and musk that was uniquely his. It filled my senses, making my head spin in the best way possible. He placed a soft kiss on my jawline and then moved up to nip at my earlobe. I gasped at the sudden rush of pleasure that shot through me.

“I’ve missed you more than I can say,” he murmured against my skin.

He ran his hands through my hair as he pulled back slightly to look at me.

“I’ve missed you too,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. His lips met mine again, and I let out a soft moan. Our tongues danced, exploring each other’s mouths as if they were mapmakers tracing uncharted terrain. His hand found its way under my shirt, his fingers skimming the small of my back and trailing down to my hip. My nails dug into his shoulders as I pulled him closer, desperate for more of his touch.

Atticus’s warm breath fanned my face, and the scruff of his beard lightly scratched my cheek. I shivered in delight and deepened the kiss. With each passing moment, our emotions intertwined more deeply, becoming one pulsing ache that yearned for release.

He pushed me back onto the bed, his body covering mine. The mattress creaked beneath our combined weight as he hovered above me, his intense gaze never leaving mine. Slowly, he began to explore my body with gentle kisses that left blazing trails of desire from my jawline to my collarbone. I arched into him with a needy groan, wanting him closer still. His touch was featherlight but electrifying, making me ache for more as he traced patterns on my skin with his lips and tongue. Every touch set off a chain reaction of shivers that rippled through me.

My breath came out in short, ragged gasps as Atticus’s lips brushed against my collarbone, his hot breath raising goosebumps on my skin. “Atticus,” I whispered. “I love you.”

He froze, then moved off me. My throat threatened to close up when he didn’t say anything. Then, finally, he said, “I love you too. More than I can say. More than I ever thought possible.”

Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes as he trailed more kisses down my chest, his hair tickling my neck, before planting the barest of kisses on each breast. It was too much, too soon, and yet not enough. I trembled with anticipation beneath him, every nerve-ending on fire.

His hand slipped lower down to cup my stomach, fingers skimming over the fabric of my pants. He tugged at the buttons, his tongue wetting his bottom lip as he looked up at me for permission. I nodded, unable to speak as his fingers tightened the hem of my shirt and pulled it up and over my head slowly.

Skin met skin as he tossed aside his shirt, and our bodies pressed together in a mosaic of heat and cold. Our breaths came out in pants, hearts thundering in our chests like drums beating in time with the rhythm of our desire. His mouth trailed hot kisses down my stomach until it hovered above the waistband of my pants. His gaze flickered to mine for a moment before he growled and bit down gently on the fabric, tearing it apart with his teeth.

The cool air hit my overheated skin, making me gasp as I arched into him. His hands slid under me, spreading my legs apart as he pressed closer between them. His cool touch against the bare skin of my inner thighs sent shivers racing through me from head to toe. I couldn’t help but moan as Atticus’s lips closed around the sensitive, hardened nub between my legs. It was a feather-light touch, barely there, but enough to make me scream out in pleasure. My hips bucked off the bed, seeking more of his attention. His tongue flicked out, lapping gently at the moisture that coated my aching core. My back bowed off the mattress as I arched into his touch, loving the way his facial hair tickled my inner thighs.

I let out a string of incoherent moans as he continued to tease me, taking me apart piece by piece with those soft kisses and gentle laps of his tongue. His fingers danced along my sides, caressing my skin and adding to the pressure building within me. It felt like floating in a dream while drowning in pleasure at the same time. Warmth and cold melted into one as his mouth moved lower still, kissing and licking and sucking until he found what he sought.

“Oh God,” I gasped as he circled the tip of his tongue around my clit, making me writhe beneath him. My body tightened in response, desperate for release. “Atticus,” I groaned as he teased me so perfectly. My hips bucked wildly, begging for more. I tangled my fingers in his hair, urging him closer still. Every swipe of his tongue sent shockwaves through my body, each lick more intense than the last. He gripped my hips, holding me down.

The bed creaked under our weight as we moved together, each thrust of his tongue sending shockwaves of pleasure through me.

He sucked hard on my clit, sending electricity shooting through every nerve-ending. I let out a long, shuddering moan, arching into his mouth. My legs trembled as I clung tightly to his neck. The world seemed to stand still for a moment before a shattering cry fell from my lips as I came undone beneath him. Waves of pleasure rippled through me as his name spilled from my lips in a desperate whisper.

Atticus pulled away slowly, looking up at me with satisfaction written all over his face. His eyes were dark, reflecting the storm in his soul. His thumb followed the path of his kisses as he leaned in to kiss me again, this time with a sense of urgency that matched mine. Fireworks exploded inside my chest, unfurling in molten threads of heat throughout my limbs.

He rolled off me and pulled me into an embrace, our skin sticky with sweat and desire. He trailed kisses down my neck and collarbone, teeth nipping at each point they met until reaching my breasts once more. He cupped one in his hand, massaging it lightly as he tweaked my nipple.

“Atticus,” I murmured, my fingers trailing up his muscled back. Goosebumps rose on our flesh as our heartbeats quickened. The scent of sweat and lust wrapped around us like an intense perfume—intoxicating and heady.

He pulled back slightly to meet my eyes, a question in his gaze. I nodded eagerly, hungry for him to continue what he had started. He grinned widely before slipping out of his pants, freeing his erection from its confines. Hesitantly, I reached for it, then curled my fingers around it.

I sat up and pushed him onto his back, one hand on his shoulder and the other wrapped around his length. Once he was on his back, I leaned over him, pushing my hair out of the way as I stooped down to take him into my mouth. I welcomed the taste of him against my tongue, liking the feel of his length in my mouth. My cheeks hollowed out as I took him deep into my throat, eliciting a moan. His hands tangled in my hair, holding me closer to him as he threw his head back in pleasure.

I looked up at him as I swirled my tongue around the tip of his cock, watching his eyes roll back in his head with each stroke. His chest rose and fell rapidly with every breath, his muscles tense beneath my touch.

He pulled me off him suddenly, groaning loudly. “Fuck,” he breathed out roughly. His hands held onto mine before they tangled into my hair again, pulling me up his body and claiming my lips in a searing kiss.

Atticus rolled over onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow as he looked down at me with desire blazing from his eyes. He ran his fingers through my sweat-dampened hair while tracing patterns on my skin with his free hand. “You are so fucking sexy,” he growled against my lips.

His hands traveled down my back, over my ass to my inner thighs as I straddled him. The friction between us intensified with each passing moment. He groaned against my lips as I slowly lowered myself onto his shaft, taking him deeper into me with every inch. Our hips met in a grinding rhythm, moans escaping our lips in sync. His strong arms encircled me and held me in place as his tongue danced with mine once again. Every thrust sent shockwaves through both of us until we were primal beings, hungry for release.

Atticus’s fingers dug into my hips, urging me to move faster, harder against him. I bounced up and down on his cock as he licked and nibbled on my neck. Sweat beaded on our skin while the sounds of flesh slapping against flesh echoed around us. My breasts swayed with each movement, nipples brushing against his skin.

I broke the kiss when I felt myself getting close again, biting my lip to stifle my moans as I neared the peak. My muscles clenched around him, taking him deeper inside me with every contraction. His name fell from my lips in a desperate whisper that tasted like victory and desire mixed together. He responded by thrusting upward, finding his own release just as I did.

Atticus’s chest rose and fell in rhythm with mine. We were twined around each other, and it felt so right. The sounds of the night filtering in through the windows was a soothing melody as we caught our breath.

“Aria,” he whispered. His arms tightened around me. The movement was protective, instinctual. There was a heaviness in the way he said my name. It triggered an alarm inside me. I propped myself on one elbow to look at him. His eyes were troubled seas under the pale moonlight streaming into the room.

“I killed Larkin.”

My throat clenched, a visceral reaction to the deep-seated sorrow I felt coming through our bond. He’d done what he had to—I knew that much about the man I loved. Knowing that, however, didn’t ease the tension that knitted my brow.

“Atticus...” I pressed my palm against his cheek as if I could wipe away the dark shadows of his confession with my touch.

His muscles tensed, coiled like a spring, as if ready to bolt from the truth he’d just unleashed. I swallowed hard, my own confession rising.

“I’m no longer the alpha of the Silver Claw pack.”

He stiffened. For a moment, I thought he might not have heard, but the slight narrowing of his ice-blue eyes told me he had. The implications of what I’d said wrapped around us, another layer in the cocoon of our shared burdens.

“Since when?”

“Since the council decided. They told me today.” My throat felt dry, my words barely more than a whisper. “They didn’t approve of... how I handled things.”

“Because of me?”

“Partly.” I couldn’t tell him it was all because of him, even though it mostly was. I rolled away. Atticus wasn’t just any rogue, he was one with the power to command the very darkness. Right now, we were just two people, stripped of titles and roles.

“Damn them,” he muttered, his mouth tightening.

“Atticus...” I started, but what more was there to say?

“Hey,” he said softly, reaching for me. His fingers brushed against my cheek, sending an electric jolt through my skin. “We’ll figure this out.”

I nodded, but the turbulent thoughts in my head wouldn’t calm. It churned, relentless waves crashing against the shore of my resolution. I had tried to keep him safe by pushing him away, focusing on the pack above everything else. Yet here we were, our destinies entangled once more, the pack a distant gale on the horizon.

I shifted in his arms, turning to face him. The moonlight revealed the worry lines on his face, the scars of battles past. My chest felt heavy with a weight that had nothing to do with the physical.

“Hey,” he said, softer now. “I love you. No matter what happens.”

“I love you too,” I replied. “What happens now?”

He ran a hand through his hair, the silver streak catching the moonlight. “I told you, we face it together. No more running.”

“Can we?” I asked, the doubt clear. The world outside our bubble was unforgiving, cruel even.

“We have to try.” He was resolute, but his eyes betrayed him, showing the same terror that gnawed at me.

I wanted to believe him, to throw caution to the wind and let this moment last forever. A nagging feeling tugged at me, pulling me away from the safety of his arms.

“What if?—”

“Stop,” he cut me off, pressing his forehead to mine. “Don’t say it.”

It was there, between us, unsaid yet loud as a scream. Goodbye. It loomed over us, a specter neither of us could shake. We were two halves of a whole, yet destiny seemed determined to tear us apart.

“Let’s not think about that now,” he murmured, kissing me softly. “For now, we have this.”

I clung to him, to the now. Yet, as much as I tried to hold on to the sweetness of our reunion, the thought of farewell lingered, unbidden and unwelcome.

“Okay. For now.”

We lay in silence, and after a while, the rise and fall of Atticus’s chest told me he was asleep. Sighing, I curled into him and let sleep claim me as well.

When I woke, I was alone. There was a dent in the pillow where he had slept, and the scent of him clung to the air. I ensured my shields were locked down tight. Only then did I allow myself to surrender to the tears that had been building up inside me. Whatever else he’d said last night, it hadn’t been goodbye, but it sure as fuck felt like it.

I rushed to the bathroom and splashed cold water onto my face, hoping to conceal the evidence of my tears. Atticus needed me to be strong, so I would allow myself this moment of weakness, then be strong. I dressed and made my way out of the room, following the voices and the smell of food.

The smell of bacon and fresh bread filled the air, a comforting blanket over the chill of our grim reality as I stepped into the kitchen. My heart leapt with joy when I spotted Atticus. Mia leaned against Ilaric, her smile genuine and warm. It was a rare sight lately, and it filled me with an unexpected joy.

“Looks like you two found some peace in all this havoc,” I said, nodding toward them as I grabbed a piece of toast.

Ilaric gave Mia’s arm a gentle squeeze before he dug into the mountain of eggs and bacon on his plate. “We’re working on it. Don’t worry about the pack. We’ll sort out the alpha mess.”

I shrugged. “That’s not on top of my list right now. Maybe it’s best if someone else took the lead for a while.”

Before he could respond, Atticus cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. I braced myself.

“I need to tell you all what’s happening in Crimson Fang territory,” he said. “Caius... he’s not just strong, he’s something else. Something worse.”

Joren frowned, pushing his plate away. “What do you mean?”

“His power. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen,” Atticus continued, tracing the tattoos on his right arm. “He doesn’t just control the pack; he controls everything. Land, people, other packs. He’s got his claws in deep.”

Hale leaned forward, his brow furrowed. “How do we even start to take on someone like that?”

Atticus’s gaze moved to me before answering. “We find his weakness. Everyone has one.”

Silence fell over us. I reached out, placing my hand on his. His skin was hot to the touch. I nodded, trying to absorb the gravity of Atticus’s words.

“The magic wielder Caius has been using... he’s not just a pawn. There’s fear in him, but also a tenacity that’s been twisted to Caius’s will. He’s bound by something more than loyalty—dread, maybe, or a promise he believes only Caius can fulfill.”

Mia set her fork down with a clatter, her nurturing warmth giving way to determined steel. “There’s always a chink in the armor, a sliver of doubt in even the most loyal follower. We need to find out what holds him so tightly to Caius. What does he want that he believes only Caius can give?”

Ilaric reached over, squeezing Mia’s hand. We all knew the stakes, and the conversation had turned from breakfast chatter to a strategic huddle against an enemy we were just beginning to understand.

“Right,” I said. “We’ll find it, whatever it is. We’ll use it to bring Caius down.”

Hale’s gaze was fixed somewhere beyond the table, his mind clearly weaving through strategies. He brought a hand up to his mouth, his index finger tapping methodically against his lips as if to drum out a silent rhythm only he could hear.

“If we can figure out what he’s after,” Hale finally said, “maybe we can offer him an alternative. Or at least convince him that his goals are unreachable with Caius. It’s a long shot, but worth considering.”

Silence descended as we all pondered Hale’s words. I chewed on the inside of my cheek, playing over scenarios in my head. He had a point. If we knew the magic wielder’s true desire, we’d have something to work with.

“Alliances,” I said, leadership pressing down on me. The others turned to me, waiting for more. “We can’t forget about the potential allies hiding in plain sight. There are packs out there who won’t stand for Caius’s rule if they knew the true extent of his madness.”

Nods went around the table, a silent agreement. We were a pack formed not by blood, but by a shared cause. That was our strength.

“Cut off his resources,” Joren said, scanning the map spread out before us.

“Expose his secrets,” Mia suggested.

“Turn his allies against him,” Lyza chimed in, fingers tracing potential routes on the parchment.

We were building something here, a plan with enough moving parts that it just might work. Each piece of the puzzle clicked into place with a satisfying snap, and I almost dared to hope.

Then Atticus stiffened. His tattoo, the one that snaked across his skin like a living shadow, pulsed ominously. His jaw clenched, and I knew without asking that something was wrong.

I touched his arm. “What’s wrong?”

He glanced up, his ice-blue eyes holding a cyclone of emotions. “The tattoo... it’s burning. I have to go now.”

A collective sigh of regret passed through the group, but my pulse seemed to stop altogether. “I’m coming with you.”

He shook his head, the familiar stubborn set to his mouth leaving no room for argument. “It’s too dangerous. And I can’t focus if I’m worried about you there.”

“Please—” I started, but he cut me off.

“Stay.” The command could’ve been harsh, but his touch softened it, his hand cupping my cheek tenderly.

Grief threatened to choke me, but I swallowed it down. This wasn’t goodbye, not really. We’d faced worse.

His lips met mine, and for a beat, the world fell away. When I opened my eyes, he was gone, vanished into the shadows he commanded so well.

“Be safe,” I whispered to the empty space where he had stood.