Chapter Nine
Aria’s POV
The air inside the ceremonial hall was thick with anticipation. My wolf stirred uneasily beneath my skin, pacing and growling at the edges of my consciousness. Even as I adjusted the delicate lace of my wedding gown, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something–or someone–was watching me.
“Aria, you look stunning,” Aunt Mira said as she embraced me tightly, her scent of lavender and cedar momentarily soothing my nerves. She handed me an intricately carved wooden box, a gift meant to symbolize the union of two packs.
“Sorry I’m late, the roads were blocked with patrols. There’s been some… tension near the borders today.”
I nodded, trying to focus. The tension wasn’t new. Over the past few days, rogue sightings had increased near our territory,
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and while Taylor assured me that his pack had everything under control, my instincts told me otherwise.
Still, today wasn’t about rogue wolves or border disputes. It was about uniting my pack with the Jules, solidifying an alliance that would ensure safety for everyone
under our care.
As I stood at the entrance to the ceremonial grounds, the steady hum of the crowd fell away. The energy shifted, every wolf present feeling the significance of the moment. Taylor, my soon–to–be mate, stood tall at the altar. His powerful aura radiated strength and stability, and for the first time, I allowed myself to relax.
The ceremony began smoothly, the chants of the elders weaving through the sacred space. Taylor‘ s piercing amber eyes never left mine, and I felt my wolf calm under his steady gaze. The weight of the pack‘ s expectations eased as I reminded myself of my duty.
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Chapter Nine
Just as the elder handed us the ceremonial dagger to complete the blood bond, a voice shattered the peace like a thunderclap.
“Stop the ceremony!”
The growl was deep, desperate, and achingly familiar. My heart stuttered as my head snapped toward the source. There, disheveled and defiant, stood Nicho, his eyes wild and glowing with the silver sheen of his wolf.
A ripple of unease passed through the crowd. My father’s furious snarl broke the stunned silence. “Nicho, this is neither the time nor the place for your antics. Guards, remove him immediately!”
But Nicho was faster. He shoved past the enforcers and strode toward me, his wolf barely restrained. His scent–pine and smoke–hit me like a wave, dragging me into memories I’d fought so hard to bury.
“Aria, you can’t do this!” he pleaded, his voice cracking. “You‘ re my mate. You
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Chapter Nine
always have been.”
Gasps rippled through the audience. Taylor stiffened beside me, his jaw tightening, but he didn’t move.
“Nicho,” I said, my voice low but steady, “you rejected me. You told me you didn’t want a mate.”
He flinched as if I’d struck him, his glowing eyes dimming for a moment. before reigniting with determination. “I was a fool! I let fear and pride blind me. I didn’t know what I was throwing away. Please, Aria, don‘ t do this. Don‘ t bind yourself to him.”
The crowd murmured, the tension thick enough to cut with a claw. Taylor finally stepped forward, his voice calm but edged with authority. “Aria has made her choice, Nicho. This union is what’s best for her and for the packs. If you truly care for her, you’ll respect that.”
Nicho growled, his wolf rising to the
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surface. “You don‘ t understand. She‘ s
mine!”
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