Aria's POV
The door slammed shut behind Lucas, leaving me alone in the oppressive silence. My heart pounded in my chest, my mind racing with fragments of the conversation we'd just had.
"Mate. Bonded. A mistake that cost us everything."
His words echoed in my head, tangled with emotions I didn't understand. How could someone be so sure of a connection I couldn't even remember? Yet, there was something about the way he looked at me—something raw, desperate, and almost apologetic.
I pushed myself off the bed and paced the room, the sound of my footsteps muted against the plush carpet. Staying here wasn't an option, not when every nerve in my body screamed to move, to do something.
The howl I'd heard moments ago still lingered in the air, sending chills down my spine. I didn't know what it meant, but I could feel its urgency.
Against my better judgment, I opened the door and peeked into the hallway. It was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
I stepped out cautiously, the faint scent of cedar and pine guiding me. It was Lucas's scent, comforting in a way that made no sense but impossible to ignore.
I reached the staircase and paused, gripping the banister as I glanced down. The packhouse was dimly lit, shadows stretching across the walls like living things. Every creak of the floorboards beneath my feet sounded like a gunshot in the quiet.
"Aria, what are you doing?"
The voice startled me, and I whirled around to see Eleanor standing at the top of the stairs. Her sharp eyes studied me, her arms crossed in a way that felt both protective and reproachful.
"I…" I hesitated, unsure how to explain. "I needed air."
Eleanor raised an eyebrow. "Air doesn't come with a side of danger."
I bit my lip, frustration bubbling inside me. "Lucas told me to stay in my room, but he's not telling me anything. How am I supposed to understand what's happening if no one talks to me?"
Eleanor's gaze softened slightly, though her stance remained firm. "You're right. You deserve answers. But running off in the middle of the night isn't the way to get them."
"I wasn't running off," I countered. "I just…" I trailed off, not even sure what I'd planned to do.
"Come with me," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
I followed her down the hallway, my unease growing with every step. We stopped outside a door I hadn't noticed before, one that looked older than the rest of the packhouse. Eleanor pushed it open, revealing a small study lined with shelves of books and scrolls.
"This," she said, gesturing to the room, "is where you'll find some of the answers you're looking for."
I frowned, stepping inside. "What do you mean?"
Eleanor closed the door behind us and leaned against it, her expression unreadable. "Lucas won't tell you the full truth, not yet. He's too caught up in protecting you to see that you're strong enough to handle it. But you deserve to know who you are, Aria. And this room holds pieces of that puzzle."
I turned to the shelves, my eyes scanning the faded spines. There were journals, old ledgers, and what looked like hand-drawn maps.
"Where do I even start?" I asked, overwhelmed.
Eleanor walked over to a locked cabinet and pulled a key from around her neck. She unlocked it and handed me a leather-bound book. Its cover was worn, the edges frayed, but the moment I touched it, a strange warmth spread through my fingers.
"This belonged to you," Eleanor said quietly.
I stared at her in disbelief. "What?"
"You kept it hidden," she explained. "No one else could open it, not even Lucas. But after you disappeared, it reappeared here, as if waiting for you."
I ran my fingers over the cover, my heart pounding. Slowly, I opened it to the first page.
The handwriting was familiar in a way that made my chest ache.
"If you're reading this, it means I failed."
The words blurred as my vision swam. My breath caught, and I had to force myself to keep going.
"There are things I couldn't tell you, not then. Things you wouldn't have believed even if I had. But they're coming for you now, Aria. And you have to remember who you are before it's too late."
The rest of the page was filled with symbols I didn't recognize, swirling patterns that seemed to move if I stared at them too long.
"What is this?" I whispered, looking up at Eleanor.
"It's a spell," she said, her voice hushed. "A piece of the magic that ties you to this place, to Lucas, to everything."
I shook my head, the weight of it all threatening to crush me. "I don't understand."
"You will," Eleanor said. "But not all at once. This is only the beginning, Aria. There's so much more you need to uncover."
Before I could respond, a loud crash echoed through the packhouse, followed by a chorus of panicked voices.
Eleanor's eyes widened. "Stay here," she ordered, moving toward the door.
"No," I said, clutching the book to my chest. "I'm coming with you."
She hesitated, her jaw tightening. "Aria—"
"I'm not sitting back anymore," I said firmly. "If this is my life, I have a right to fight for it."
Her expression softened, and for a moment, I thought she might argue. But then she nodded. "Stay close to me."
I followed her out of the study, the book still clutched in my hands. Whatever was happening, I wasn't going to hide
anymore.
The truth was out there, waiting for me. And I was done running from it.