Aria's POV
Darkness clung to me like a second skin, thick and suffocating. Memories floated just out of reach—shadows of faces I couldn't place, voices calling my name, and a searing pain that tore through my chest. When I opened my eyes, the world was muted, colors dulled and sounds distant, as though I were caught in a dream I couldn't wake from.
"Aria," a voice said softly.
I turned my head toward the sound, my body heavy and unfamiliar. A man knelt beside me, his features sharp and commanding, but his eyes… his eyes were filled with a sorrow that pulled at something deep inside me.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice hoarse and fragile.
His jaw tightened, but he didn't look away. "It's me, Lucas."
The name stirred something within me, a faint echo of familiarity. But it wasn't enough. I searched his face, desperate to bridge the gap between the aching emptiness in my chest and the man before me, but it was like grasping at smoke.
"I don't remember you," I whispered, tears burning my eyes.
Pain flashed across his face, raw and unguarded. "That's because of Finn," he said, his voice laced with anger. "He did this to you."
Finn. The name struck a chord, but not the one Lucas seemed to hope for. Instead of answers, it brought only more questions. Who was Finn? And why did my chest tighten at the sound of his name?
I pressed my palms to my temples, willing the fragments of my memory to fall into place. But the harder I tried, the more elusive they became.
"It's okay," Lucas said, his voice softening. He reached out, his hand hovering near mine as though he were afraid to touch me. "We'll figure this out together. Just… stay with me."
The vulnerability in his words tugged at something deep within me, but I couldn't ignore the nagging fear that crept along the edges of my mind.
"What if I never remember?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
His eyes met mine, unwavering. "Then I'll remind you. Every day, if I have to."
His words, so steady and resolute, should have reassured me. But instead, they left me feeling more lost than ever.
The following days passed in a haze of confusion and tension. Lucas rarely left my side, his protective presence both comforting and overwhelming. The rest of the pack seemed to tread carefully around me, their gazes filled with a mixture of concern and curiosity.
Eleanor was the only one who treated me with a semblance of normalcy. She didn't hover or speak to me as though I might shatter at any moment. Instead, she offered quiet companionship, filling the silence with stories of the pack and its history.
"It's strange," I told her one evening as we sat by the fire. "Everyone acts like they know me, but I don't… I don't know myself."
Eleanor studied me, her expression thoughtful. "You're not the same person you were before," she said finally. "What Finn did to you changed things. But that doesn't mean you've lost who you are. It's still in there. You just have to find it."
Her words settled over me like a blanket, warm but heavy with implication.
"And what if I don't want to find it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Eleanor's eyes softened, and she reached out to place a hand on mine. "Then that's your choice. But don't let fear make it for you."
Her words lingered long after she left, weaving themselves into the restless dreams that plagued my sleep.
The dreams were always the same—a tangled web of shadow and light, faces flickering in and out of focus. Finn's voice was the loudest, smooth and coaxing, pulling me toward the darkness.
"You're more than they've told you," he whispered. "You're powerful. You're *mine.*"
But another voice, quieter and steadier, called me back.
"Aria, fight it. You're stronger than this."
I woke with a gasp, my heart racing as Lucas's face swam into view. He was sitting beside me, his eyes filled with worry.
"Another nightmare?" he asked gently.
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "It's always the same. Finn… and you."
His jaw tightened, and he looked away, his hands clenching into fists. "He's still trying to get into your head," he said, his voice low and rough. "But he won't win. I won't let him."
I wanted to believe him. But the truth was, I wasn't sure who was winning anymore—Finn, Lucas, or the darkness threatening to consume me.
By the time the next full moon rose, the pack was on edge. The tension was palpable, a living thing that pressed against my skin and made it hard to breathe.
"Something's coming," Lucas said as we stood on the balcony overlooking the forest. "I can feel it."
I shivered, pulling my shawl tighter around me. "Do you think it's Finn?"
Lucas's expression darkened, and he nodded. "He won't stop until he gets what he wants."
"And what does he want?" I asked, my voice trembling.
His gaze met mine, and for a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer. But then he said, "You."
The weight of his words settled over me like a stone. "Why? What does he want with me?"
"Because you're more than just my mate," Lucas said, his voice quiet but firm. "You're connected to something bigger—something ancient and powerful. And Finn wants to control it."
I shook my head, panic rising in my chest. "I don't understand. Why me? I don't feel powerful. I feel… broken."
"You're not broken," Lucas said, stepping closer. He reached out, his fingers brushing against mine. "You're strong, Aria. Stronger than you know. And we'll face this together."
His words, so full of conviction, stirred something deep within me. For the first time in days, a flicker of hope bloomed in my chest.
But as the moon rose higher, casting its silvery light over the forest, a bloodcurdling howl shattered the night.
Lucas's head snapped toward the sound, his body tense and ready. "Stay here," he ordered, his voice sharp.
"Lucas, wait—"
But he was already gone, disappearing into the shadows.
I stood frozen, the echoes of the howl reverberating in my chest. Something told me this was just the beginning—and that whatever lay ahead would change everything.