Mute

Cha

15

Aria’s 1

As I walked along the other route that led out the Light Shadow pack, each step forward felt like a liberation from the suffocating grip of the Light Shadow pack.

My belongings, meager as they were, weighed heavy on my shoulders, a reminder of

the life I was leaving behind. Caspian had finally granted me my freedom, but if he had refused, I would have left regardless. I no longer had respect for him, not after everything that had transpired.

The image of Caspian lingered in my mind like a shadow, his once beloved features now twisted by my newfound hatred.

Despite his efforts to save me from Brent’s clutches, his actions couldn’t erase the scars that marred my heart. The insults hurled at me, the wounds inflicted upon my soul- they remained etched in my memory, a festering reminder of all that had gone wrong.

Love, that was of warmth and comfort, had warped into a venomous brew of bitterness and resentment.

I loathed the sight of him, his very presence a reminder of the pain he had caused. And my wolf, once loyal and devoted, mirrored my sentiments with equal fervor. Together, we seethed with a hatred so potent that it frightened me, for I had never known such depths of emotion before.

But amidst the storm of emotions that raged within me, there was a flicker of something else-fear. Fear of what I had become, of the darkness that threatened to consume me whole. I was no longer the same Aria who had once loved Caspian with all her heart. I was something else entirely, a creature fueled by vengeance and spite.

Lost in the depths of my thoughts, I trudged through the tangled underbrush, my heart heavy with uncertainty.

Where was I headed? I had no clue.

But anywhere was better than staying in the Light Shadow pack, where every corner whispered tales of pain and betrayal.

Memories of my time as a lowly omega maid flooded my mind, each one a sharp thorn piercing my soul. Caspian, the one I had once trusted, had used me like a toy in his game, leaving me shattered and alone.

Yet, as much as I longed to escape the suffocating grip of the pack, the thought of

1/4

12.32 Wed, Aug 14 7 £7.

Chapter 15

reliving the horrors of the Bluewave pack sent shivers down my spine.

The elderly co person I ha

Their murder

+66%1

who had taken me in had been nothing but kind, unlike any other

eir lifeless bodies twisted and broken, still haunted my dreams like a relentless nightmare.

I remembered returning home to find them dead, their killers still lurking in the shadows, their growls and howls echoing through the night like a chilling refrain.

Fearing for my life, I had fled into the darkness, only to be ensnared by Brent’s men and accused of their murders.

It was only through Caspian’s unexpected intervention that I had escaped death’s icy grasp, his sudden appearance a flicker of hope in the darkest of hours.

But even as I owed him my life, I couldn’t bring myself to forgive him for the pain he had caused. The love I once held for him had turned to ashes, consumed by a fiery hatred that burned deep within me.

And so, as I journeyed into the unknown, I knew one thing for certain: I would never again allow anyone to control my life. I was free, and I would carve my own path.

As I carried on walking, lost in the labyrinth of my thoughts, the sudden sound of footsteps thundering behind me jolted me from my reverie. Confusion clouded my mind as I spun around, only to be met by the sight of a large black wolf hurtling towards me, its eyes gleaming with a piercing intensity.

gray

My heart s**ed a beat as I recognized the wolf’s distinctive features, the glint of in its eyes unmistakable. It was Caspian. What in the seven hells was going on? Why would Caspian chase after me like this?

Despite the instinctual fear that surged within me, I stood my ground, arms folded defiantly across my chest. I refused to cower before the powerful and dangerous- looking wolf barreling towards me. I held my gaze steady as he skidded to a stop in front of me and shifted back into his human form.

But the sight that greeted me sent a chill down my spine. Caspian looked as if he had seen horrors beyond imagining, his expression twisted with desperation as he gasped out my name.

“Why are you here?” I demanded, frowning at him in confusion.

Caspian was almost out of breath as he spoke, his words rushed and urgent. “You must

2/4

III

Wed,

Chapter 15

come wit

mediately.”

I took a step back, my brow furrowing in suspicion. “Why?”

“It’s not safe,” he insisted, his voice tinged with urgency.

I jutted out my chin stubbornly, refusing to back down. “You granted me my freedom, Caspian. Let me leave in peace.”

But even as I spoke the words, a nagging sense of unease gnawed at the edges of my consciousness.

Why had Caspian come after me? What danger lurked in the shadows that he felt compelled to warn me about?

As Caspian’s words cut through the air like a blade, my mind reeled with disbelief. “I’m not here to argue with you,” he declared, his voice firm and unwavering. “I’m taking you back.”

Before I could even muster a protest, before I could comprehend what was happening, Caspian swiftly scooped me up and threw me over his shoulders, as if I were no more than a sack of potatoes.

My eyes widened in shock, a gasp escaping my lips before I could stop it. “Put me down!” I exclaimed, my voice echoing through the forest, but it fell on deaf ears.

Ignoring my pleas, Caspian hoisted me onto his shoulders, effortlessly balancing my weight as if it were nothing.

With me still in his grasp, he picked up my bag and began striding back in the direction he had come from.

I could scarcely believe what was unfolding before my eyes.

Earlier that very day, Caspian had agreed to let me leave the pack, and yet here he was, forcibly carrying me back against my will.

It felt like a cruel twist of fate, a betrayal of the freedom I had dared to hope for.

I struggled against his hold, wriggling and squirming in a desperate attempt to break free, but Caspian’s strength was unmatched.

He held me fast, his grip unyielding as he carried me along the forest path.

Frustration and anger bubbled within me, boiling over until I could no longer contain them. “Put me down!” I demanded once more, my voice filled with fury.

3/4

1467 60%

Chapter 15

But Caspian remained stiff, unmoved by this. “I don’t want you to get hurt,” he said softly, hi

s words sending a chill down my spine. “I’m afraid you’re never leaving this pack.”