16. Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Aria

T he morning sun is already high as I step outside, the crisp air filling my lungs. The pack grounds are bustling with activity, and as I make my way toward the training field, I can't help but stop and watch.

Dozens of wolves move in perfect synchronization, sparring, shifting, and practicing attacks with fierce determination.

My gaze lingers, but my mind wanders. Father would never have let me see this.

I straighten my shoulders. I'm not that woman anymore.

A decision sparks in my chest as I turn on my heel and head toward the pack house.

Bane is in the living room, reviewing maps with Rook. His brow is furrowed in concentration, but as soon as I walk in, his head tilts up, and his eyes fix on me.

"Aria." His deep voice always makes my stomach flutter. "What's on your mind?"

I stop in front of him, folding my arms over my chest. "I want you to teach me self-defense."

Bane blinks, then chuckles—a low, rumbling sound that makes me grit my teeth.

"I'm serious," I press.

"Oh, I can see that, princess," he says, his lips twitching. "But you've never struck me as the type to punch first and ask questions later."

"Maybe not," I admit, "but things have changed. I need to learn. For myself... for Elias."

That sobers him a bit. His playful smirk fades, replaced by something deeper, more thoughtful. After a moment, he stands, towering over me.

"Alright," he says, nodding. "Follow me."

Bane's private gym is massive, a sleek room lined with state-of-the-art equipment and padded floors. Weapons hang on one wall, gleaming under the overhead lights.

"Impressive," I murmur, walking inside.

"I didn't think you'd settle for anything less," Bane teases, grabbing a pair of gloves. "We'll start easy. Stretch first. Let me see what we're working with."

I roll my eyes but I do as he asks, stretching my arms and legs. His gaze burns into me the entire time, making it nearly impossible to focus.

When I finish, he tosses the gloves to me. "Alright, hands up. Show me your stance."

I fumble into what I think is a defensive position, but his snort tells me everything I need to know.

"Not like that," he says, stepping closer.

Before I can react, his hands are on my hips, tugging me forward until I'm in the right position. The heat of his touch makes me inhale sharply.

"Relax," he murmurs in a tone that does the exact opposite.

I try to focus as he adjusts my posture, his hands firm but careful. His chest brushes my back as he moves closer, and suddenly, I can feel everything.

"Keep your feet apart," he says, his breath warm against my ear. "Like this."

He nudges my legs wider with his knee, and I bite my lip as heat surges through me.

"Good," he continues, oblivious—or maybe not. His voice dips lower. "Now, throw a punch."

I do as he says, punching forward.

"Not bad," he says, his voice still low. "But your form needs work. Try again."

I throw another punch, and this time, his hand slides to my shoulder, guiding the motion.

"Better," he says.

But I can barely hear him over the pounding in my chest. His hands linger, trailing from my shoulder to my arm, then back to my waist.

"Bane," I start, but my voice wavers.

"Hmm?" he murmurs, his lips dangerously close to my ear now.

"You're—"

"Teaching you," he finishes, his voice like gravel. "Don't stop now."

But his hands don't stop either. One slides to my stomach, his fingers brushing just under the edge of my tank top. I suck in a breath as heat pools low in my belly.

"This is... not self-defense," I manage to say, but it sounds more like a gasp.

"No?" he asks, and there is that smirk in his voice again.

His other hand grips my hip, pulling me back against him. I can feel how hard he is, pressing against me in a way that makes my knees weak.

"Bane," I say again, this time more like a plea.

"What is it, Aria?" he murmurs, his lips grazing my ear.

I turn my head slightly, intending to push him away, but the second our eyes meet, I am lost. His gaze is dark, smoldering, and filled with a hunger that matches my own.

"I shouldn't..." I start, but then his mouth is on mine, swallowing whatever protest I might've had.

His kiss is demanding, bruising, and I can't help but respond, my hands tangling in his hair as I turn fully toward him.

He pushes me back against the wall, his body pinning mine as his hands roam over me.

"Tell me to stop," he growls against my lips.

But I can't. I don't want to.

Instead, I moan his name, and that is all the permission he needs.

His hands slip under my tank top, his fingers tracing fire across my skin as his lips move to my neck.

"Bane..." I whisper again, but it isn't a protest.

He groans in response, his mouth trailing lower as his hands grip my thighs, lifting me against the wall.

Bane’s hands slip under my tank top, his touch igniting my skin as his lips trace along my jawline.

“Bane...” I whisper, barely recognizing my own voice.

He groans low in his throat, a sound that vibrates straight through me. His lips crash back onto mine, hungrier this time, devouring me like he’s been starving for far too long. His fingers curl around my thighs, lifting me effortlessly against the wall.

I gasp, clutching his shoulders for balance, my legs instinctively wrapping around his waist. His body presses firmly against mine, and I feel the undeniable hardness of him.

"You drive me fucking insane," he growls against my lips, his breath hot and ragged. His hands roam under my top, sliding up to cup my breasts, his thumbs teasing over my nipples through the thin fabric of my bra.

“Bane,” I moan, arching into his touch as a wicked smile curls across his lips.

“Say it again,” he demands, his voice gravelly as his lips trail down to my neck. His teeth scrape against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.

“Bane,” I repeat, my voice breaking on the syllable.

“Good girl,” he mutters, his mouth pressing wet, open-mouthed kisses down to my collarbone.

I claw at his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against mine. He chuckles darkly and pulls back just long enough to yank his shirt over his head, revealing every sculpted inch of his chest. I bite my lip, my breath catching at the sight of him, and his eyes darken with something primal.

“Keep looking at me like that, and I’ll take you right here,” he says, his voice thick with lust.

“Then do it,” I challenge.

His smirk vanishes, replaced by something feral. In one swift motion, he grips the hem of my tank top and pulls it over my head, discarding it somewhere behind him. His lips crash back onto mine as his hands move to my shorts, tugging them down along with my panties.

He doesn’t wait, doesn’t hesitate. His hand grips my thigh, lifting me higher against the wall, and then he thrusts into me in one fluid, relentless motion.

I cry out, my nails digging into his shoulders as he buries himself completely inside me. The stretch is intense, overwhelming, but the way he fills me makes every nerve in my body ignite.

“Fuck, Aria,” he groans, his forehead resting against mine as he starts to move, slow at first, then harder, deeper. “You feel so goddamn perfect.”

His words make me tremble, my body clenching around him as he picks up the pace, driving into me over and over.

“Say my name,” he growls, his hand tangling in my hair as his hips slam against mine.

“Bane,” I gasp, over and over, the only word I can manage.

“You’re mine,” he bites out, his lips claiming mine again as his thrusts grow erratic, desperate. His hand slips between us, his thumb finding the sensitive bundle of nerves between my thighs, and I shatter almost instantly, crying out his name as waves of pleasure consume me.

“Good girl,” he mutters again, his voice hoarse as he follows me over the edge, his body tensing as he groans my name.

We stay like that for a moment, our breathing ragged, bodies trembling. His forehead rests against mine, his lips brushing my temple.

But the moment is shattered by the sound of a door slamming open.

"BANE!" Rook's voice booms, sharp and demanding.

Bane instantly pulls away, his breath ragged. "What the—"

I jump down from the wall, trying to straighten my clothes and act like nothing has happened. My cheeks burn as I turn away, avoiding Rook's eyes.

Rook stands at the door, arms crossed, his usual smirk replaced by a scowl. "I knew I'd find you here," he says, his tone exasperated.

Bane doesn't even flinch. He leans casually against the wall, his hands in his pockets, though his flushed face betrays him. "What's so urgent, Rook, that you feel the need to burst in without knocking?"

"Don't give me that crap," Rook growls, his sharp eyes darting between the two of us. He grabs Bane by the arm and yanks him forward. "We have a situation."

Bane's casual demeanor shifts immediately, his brows knitting. "What kind of situation?"

Rook glances at me, then drags Bane closer, lowering his voice so only he can hear.

I can't make out the words, but whatever Rook says makes Bane's entire body go rigid.

"What?" Bane barks, his voice rising enough to make me flinch.

Rook gives him a look that screams keep it down, but it is no use. Bane's hands clench into fists, and his face turns pale.

"Are you serious?" he asks, his voice low and dangerous now.

Rook nods grimly.

Without another word, Bane storms toward the door.

"Bane!" I call, stepping forward, confused and a little hurt by how abruptly he's left. "What's going on?"

He stops at the door, his back to me. For a moment, I think he might say something, but then he glances at Rook, who shakes his head.

"Stay here, Aria," Bane says without looking back.

And then he is gone, Rook close behind him.

As I step out of the gym, the sight of guards running frantically through the halls immediately catches my attention. Some are speaking into walkie-talkies, their tones clipped and urgent.

"What's going on?" I ask one of them, stepping in their path.

The guard barely glances at me before replying, "The Alpha has instructed us to keep you out of this, ma'am."

"Out of what?" I press, but he has already turned and jogged off, leaving me standing there, confused and annoyed.

I frown and head further down the corridor, determined to get answers. The tension in the air is palpable, and I can't shake the feeling that something is seriously wrong.

Turning the corner, I spot Lila near the infirmary. Her face is pale, her normally steady hands trembling as she speaks into her phone.

"He needs to be found immediately," she hisses, her voice tight with worry. "No, I don't care how many of you it takes. Search the east perimeter and report back!"

"Lila?" I call out, my voice hesitant.

She flinches, spinning around to face me. Her eyes widen, and her lips part slightly, as if she is debating whether or not to say anything.

"What's going on?" I ask again, stepping closer. "Why are the guards acting like the world's ending?"

Lila's gaze darts past me, as if she is checking to make sure no one else is listening. She lets out a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "The Alpha… he's ordered a full search."

"For what?"

She hesitates, her expression tightening.

"Lila," I press, gripping her arm gently. "Tell me what's going on."

Her eyes meet mine, and in that moment, I know it is bad.

"It's Elias," she says finally, her voice breaking.

My grip on her arm loosens, and the water bottle in my hand slips, hitting the floor with a dull thud.

"What do you mean, Elias?" My voice shakes.

"He's gone," Lila says, her own voice trembling now. "No one can find him. He... he just vanished."