Chapter 6

Aria’s POV

The forest seemed darker now, as though it knew the weight of the decision I had just made. The trees loomed over me like silent witnesses, their twisted branches clawing at the moonlit sky. The chill in the air seeped into my bones, but I welcomed it—it was far less cruel than the icy betrayal that had brought me here.

Darius walked beside me, his movements confident yet predatory. He didn’t say much as we navigated the winding path through the forest, but I could feel his presence like a storm gathering on the horizon. There was power in him, dark and untamed, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I had just made a deal with the devil.

“Where are we going?” I finally asked, my voice cutting through the stillness.

“To a place where you’ll learn to become who you were always meant to be,” he replied cryptically. His tone was calm, but there was an edge to it that made my wolf, Vixen, bristle.

I bit back a retort and kept walking, my mind racing with questions I wasn’t ready to ask. My heart was still raw from Kael’s rejection, from the image of my sister smiling triumphantly as she accepted the position that should have been mine. The pain flared anew, but I shoved it down, replacing it with the simmering rage that Darius had stirred to life.

As we reached a clearing, I stopped in my tracks. Before us stood a group of wolves—rogues, I realized instantly. They were a ragtag bunch, their appearances disheveled and their auras wild. They watched me with a mix of curiosity and wariness, their golden eyes glowing in the dim light.

“Is this her?” one of them asked, a tall woman with auburn hair and a jagged scar running down her cheek.

Darius nodded, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder. “This is Aria. She’s one of us now.”

I bristled at his words but held my tongue. One of them? Could I really be a rogue? The thought would have terrified me a day ago, but now, it felt like the only path forward.

The woman smirked, her eyes raking over me. “She doesn’t look like much.”

“Looks can be deceiving,” Darius replied smoothly. “Aria has potential. More than any of you can imagine.”

Her smirk faded as Darius’s tone hardened, and she stepped back without another word.

He turned to me, his expression unreadable. “This is your new family, Aria. We don’t care about pack politics or ranks here. Strength is all that matters. And if you’re going to survive in this world, you’ll need to prove yours.”

I squared my shoulders, determination flooding through me. “What do I have to do?”

Darius’s lips curved into a dark smile. “Fight.”

Before I could process his words, the auburn-haired woman stepped forward, her stance shifting into one of challenge.

“This is Maren,” Darius said. “She’ll test you.”

Maren’s smirk returned, and she crouched low, her muscles coiled like a spring. I barely had time to react before she lunged, her claws slashing through the air.

I dodged on instinct, Vixen surging to the forefront of my mind. My wolf’s anger fueled my movements, sharpening my reflexes as I twisted out of Maren’s reach. But she was fast—faster than I’d anticipated—and her claws grazed my arm, drawing blood.

Pain flared, but it only fueled my resolve. I spun, landing a solid kick to her side that sent her stumbling. The others watched in silence, their expressions unreadable, as Maren recovered quickly and came at me again.

“Focus!” Darius barked from the sidelines. “Use your anger! Let it guide you!”

I growled, the sound low and feral, and let Vixen take control. My vision sharpened, and I could feel the power coursing through me as I met Maren’s next attack head-on.

Claws clashed, and for a moment, it felt like a dance—a deadly, brutal dance. But this time, I was in control. I ducked under her swipe and struck her ribs with a force that made her yelp.

Maren staggered back, her breathing labored, and I didn’t hesitate. I tackled her to the ground, pinning her with my claws at her throat.

The clearing was silent except for the sound of our heavy breathing.

“Enough,” Darius said, his voice calm but commanding.

I released Maren and stepped back, my chest heaving as I struggled to regain my breath.

Maren rose slowly, her gaze locking with mine. To my surprise, she nodded, a glimmer of respect in her eyes.

“Not bad,” she said gruffly before retreating into the shadows.

Darius approached me, his expression one of approval. “You did well,” he said. “But this is only the beginning. If you’re going to stand against Kael and your sister, you’ll need to be stronger. Ruthless.”

I nodded, my resolve hardening. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

He smiled, a cold, calculating smile that sent a shiver down my spine. “Good. Then let’s begin.”

The training began the next day. Darius pushed me to my limits, his methods harsh but effective. Every strike, every fall, every bruise became a testament to my determination.

The other rogues watched from the sidelines, some with curiosity, others with disdain. But I didn’t care. I wasn’t here to earn their approval.

I was here to become stronger. To become something more than the broken, rejected mate Kael had left behind.

And as the days turned into weeks, I could feel the transformation taking place. The pain that had once defined me was now my weapon, my strength.

Kael had cast me aside, but he would regret it.

They all would.

*****Kael’s POV*****

The celebration in the hall had long since ended, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that clung to me. Aria’s face flashed in my mind, the betrayal and pain in her eyes searing into my soul.

I clenched my fists, trying to push the memory away. I had made my choice—chosen duty over my heart. My pack needed a strong Luna, one who could stand by my side and command respect. And yet, I couldn’t deny the ache in my chest, the hollow emptiness where the mate bond had been.

“She’ll be fine,” Diamond said softly, her hand brushing against my arm.

I forced a smile, nodding. “Of course.”

But as I looked out the window, my wolf growled restlessly, a deep sense of wrongness settling over me.

Aria was gone, and with her, a part of me had gone, too.