Aria's POV
The forest was too quiet. The kind of silence that pressed against my ears and made my heart race. I clung to Lucas, my fingers digging into his shirt, trying to make sense of the chaos that had just unfolded.
The mist was gone, but its lingering chill wrapped around me like a phantom, refusing to let go. The stranger, his words, the vial—all of it swirled in my mind like a storm I couldn't escape.
"Who was that?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Lucas didn't answer immediately. His jaw was clenched, his eyes scanning the trees like he expected the man to reappear at any moment.
"Lucas," I pressed, stepping back to force him to look at me. "What's going on?"
He turned his gaze to me, and for a moment, I saw something in his eyes that made my breath catch—fear. It was fleeting, replaced almost instantly by the hardened mask he always wore, but it was there.
"We need to get back to the packhouse," he said, his voice tight.
"No," I said firmly, surprising even myself. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me the truth."
"Aria—"
"No!" I cut him off, stepping back. "I'm done being kept in the dark. Whoever that man was, he knew my name. He came here because of me. I deserve to know why."
Lucas ran a hand through his hair, frustration etched into every line of his face. "It's not that simple."
"Then make it simple," I snapped.
He stared at me, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought he might argue, but then his shoulders sagged, and he let out a heavy sigh.
"Fine," he said, his voice softer now. "But not here."
Eleanor appeared then, her sharp eyes darting between us. "The area's clear for now, but we need to move. There's no telling if that man left something behind."
Lucas nodded, his Alpha demeanor snapping back into place. "Get the warriors to secure the perimeter. No one leaves until I say so."
Eleanor inclined her head before disappearing into the shadows, leaving Lucas and me alone once more.
"Come on," he said, reaching for my hand.
I hesitated, my pride warring with the strange pull I felt toward him. Finally, I gave in, letting him lead me back to the packhouse.
Once we were inside, Lucas took me to a room I hadn't seen before. It wasn't his office or the common areas I'd wandered through earlier—it was a private space, cozy and dimly lit, with shelves of books and a fireplace that crackled softly in the corner.
He motioned for me to sit, and I reluctantly lowered myself onto the plush couch. He remained standing, pacing in front of me like a caged animal.
"Start talking," I said, crossing my arms.
He stopped, his back to me, his hands resting on his hips. "You don't understand what you're asking for."
"Then explain it to me," I challenged. "Because right now, all I know is that my life is apparently tied to curses and strangers who want to kill me."
He turned to face me, his eyes burning with intensity. "It's not just your life, Aria. It's the entire pack. Everything I've worked for, everything I've tried to protect—it's all because of you."
I flinched at the weight of his words, but I didn't back down. "Why? Why me?"
Lucas hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "Because I failed you."
The quiet confession sent a shiver through me. "What do you mean?"
He sat down across from me, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "Years ago, when I first realized you were my mate, I made a choice. A selfish, stupid choice. I rejected you, Aria. And in doing so, I set off a chain of events that I couldn't stop."
The air left my lungs, leaving me dizzy. "You… rejected me?"
He nodded, his jaw tight. "I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was sparing you from a life you didn't deserve—being tied to someone like me. But I didn't know the consequences."
"What consequences?" I asked, my voice shaking.
Lucas ran a hand over his face, his exhaustion evident. "The curse. It wasn't just on the pack—it was on us. On you. The witch who cast it… she made sure we'd both suffer for what I did."
The room spun, and I gripped the edge of the couch to steady myself. "A curse," I repeated, my mind struggling to process. "What kind of curse?"
Lucas looked at me, his eyes filled with regret. "One that binds your memories, your power, your very identity. One that ensures you'll never fully remember who you are, or what you mean to me."
I stared at him, the weight of his words crushing me. "So this… this is why I can't remember anything? Why my life feels like a puzzle with half the pieces missing?"
He nodded. "And why you're in danger. Finn and the others—they're after you because of what you are, Aria. Because of what you can do."
"What I can do?" I echoed, my voice barely above a whisper.
Lucas hesitated, then reached for the book I'd been holding. He opened it to the first page, where the strange symbols glowed faintly in the firelight.
"This book," he said, his voice low, "is the key. It's your handwriting, your magic. And it holds the answers we need to break the curse."
I stared at the symbols, the strange warmth from earlier returning. It pulsed through my veins, both foreign and familiar.
"But I don't remember how to read it," I admitted, my frustration mounting.
Lucas reached out, his fingers brushing against mine. The spark that ignited between us was undeniable, and for a moment, the bond flared to life.
"You will," he said, his voice steady. "We'll figure it out together."
The sincerity in his words made my chest ache. I didn't know if I could trust him—not after everything he'd just told me—but I also couldn't deny the connection between us.
Before I could respond, a sharp knock at the door interrupted us.
Eleanor stepped inside, her expression grim. "We have a problem," she said.
Lucas stood immediately. "What is it?"
"It's Finn," Eleanor said. "He's rallied more rogues. They're moving toward the northern border."
My stomach dropped, and I looked at Lucas. His jaw tightened, his Alpha demeanor snapping back into place.
"We'll deal with it," he said.
Eleanor hesitated, her gaze flickering to me. "You need to decide what to do about her. If Finn gets his hands on her—"
"He won't," Lucas interrupted, his tone sharp.
I stood, my fear replaced by a sudden surge of determination. "I'm not hiding," I said firmly.
Both Lucas and Eleanor turned to me, surprise flickering across their faces.
"This is my fight too," I said, meeting Lucas's
gaze. "I'm not running anymore."
Lucas stared at me for a long moment, and then he nodded. "Then we fight."