Aria’s POV
The evening air was cool against my face. Lina’s tiny hand was warm in mine. Cassius was already reaching for the door.
Everything felt almost normal.
Almost peaceful.
Then I heard it.
A low, primal growl.
The sound cut through the quiet street like a blade. Made every hair on my body stand up. Made my heart stop dead in my chest.
I knew that sound.
I’d heard it before. In moments of passion. In moments of rage. In dreams I’d tried desperately to forget.
I turned slowly.
And there he was.
Kael.
Standing in the middle of the street. His car door still open behind him. His body rigid with tension. His eyes blazing with something dark and dangerous.
Those black-gold eyes.
Fixed directly on me.
How was he HERE?
How did he find my home?
My body reacted before my brain could catch up. I stepped backward. Put myself between Lina and him. Spread my arms wide.
"Mommy?" Lina’s voice was small. Confused. "Who’s that man? Why is he making scary sounds?"
"It’s okay, baby." The words came out automatic. Calm. Nothing like the terror screaming through my veins. "Stay behind Mommy."
Cassius had turned too. His body went tense. Alert. The shopping bags hit the ground with a soft thud.
"Aria." His voice was low. Careful. "Who is this?"
I couldn’t answer.
Couldn’t speak.
Could only watch as Kael started walking toward us.
Each step was deliberate. Controlled. Like a predator stalking its prey.
His eyes never left my face. Never blinked. Never wavered.
"So." His voice was ice. Cold and sharp and cutting. "This is what you’ve been doing."
The accusation in his tone made my blood boil.
What I’VE been doing?
Like I was the one who owed him an explanation?
"Kael." My voice came out steadier than I felt. "What are you doing here?"
"Funny." He stopped a few feet away. That massive frame looming over all of us. "I was about to ask you the same thing."
His gaze shifted. Moved past me. Landed on something behind my shoulder.
On Lina.
My heart seized.
I stepped sideways. Blocked his view completely.
"Don’t look at her."
The words came out fierce. Protective. The voice of a mother defending her child.
Something flickered across Kael’s face. Pain. Rage. Something else I couldn’t name.
"Is that your daughter?"
The question hung in the air like a bomb.
"That’s none of your business."
"None of my BUSINESS?" His voice rose. Lost some of its icy control. "You disappear for three years. THREE YEARS. And now I find you playing happy family with some other manâ€""
"I’m not PLAYING anything." I cut him off. Sharp. Angry. "This is my LIFE. A life that has nothing to do with you."
His jaw clenched. I could see the muscle jumping beneath his skin.
"You said you didn’t come back for me." His voice was quieter now. More dangerous. "But you came back to THIS territory. MY territory. And you expect me to believe it’s just coincidence?"
"Believe whatever you want." I lifted my chin. Refused to be intimidated. "I don’t owe you any explanations."
"The hell you don’t!"
He moved closer. His presence overwhelming. His scent washing over me like a tidal wave.
Black cedar. Winter frost. Everything I’d spent three years trying to forget.
My body betrayed me. Responded to him despite everything. Despite the fear. Despite the anger. Despite the wall I’d built around my heart.
I hated it.
Hated HIM for making me feel this way.
We stood there. Glaring at each other. The tension so thick I could barely breathe.
Behind me, Lina whimpered.
"Mommy? I’m scared."
The sound of her voice snapped something inside me.
My daughter was afraid. Because of HIM. Because he couldn’t control himself. Because he’d followed me to my home and was making a scene in the middle of the street.
"Lina, baby." I kept my voice gentle. Calm. "Go inside, okay? Mommy will be right there."
"But Mommy--"
"Please, baby. Just go inside."
Cassius moved. Reached for Lina’s hand.
"Come on, little one." His voice was soft. Reassuring. "Let’s go find those snacks we brought."
Lina hesitated. Her little eyes darting between me and the scary man who’d appeared out of nowhere.
"It’s okay." I forced a smile. "I’ll be right behind you. I promise."
Finally, reluctantly, she let Cassius guide her toward the door.
I watched them go. Watched until the door closed behind them.
Then the contact sent electricity shooting up my arm. I gasped. Tried to pull away.
His grip tightened.
"Kael." My voice wavered. "Let go."
"Not until you talk to me."
"I said let GO."
I yanked harder. His fingers dug into my skin.
Pain.
Actual pain.
"You’re hurting me!" The words came out sharper. Louder. "Kael, stop!"
The door burst open behind me.
Cassius.
He was there in an instant. Putting himself between me and Kael. His body a shield.
"Let her go."
His voice was calm. Steady. But there was steel underneath. A warning that only a fool would ignore.
Kael didn’t let go.
His eyes locked onto Cassius. Evaluated. Dismissed.
"This doesn’t concern you."
"You’re hurting her." Cassius didn’t back down. Didn’t flinch. "Let. Her. Go."
The air between them crackled with tension.
Two wolves. Facing off.
One an Alpha. The most powerful wolf in the territory.
The other a healer. Smaller. Weaker. But standing his ground anyway.
For me.
"I said." Cassius’s voice hardened. "Let her go."
Kael’s grip on my wrist tightened for just a second.
Then released.
I stumbled backward. Cassius caught my arm. Steadied me.
"Are you okay?" His eyes searched my face. Worried. Protective. "Did he hurt you?"
"I’m fine." The words came out shaky. "I’m fine."
Kael was watching us. His face had gone dark. Dangerous.
"So this is how it is." His voice was barely human. "You run away from me. Hide for three years. And THIS is who you run to?"
Kael’s eyes snapped to him.
And what I saw there made my blood run cold.
Rage.
Pure, undiluted rage.
The kind of rage that destroyed everything in its path.
"She’s not your toy." Cassius’s voice was firm. "She’s not something you can own. And if you had any respect for her at all--"
The last thread of Kael’s control. Breaking.
His eyes went dark. Black consuming gold. His lips pulled back in a snarl.
And before I could scream, before I could move, before I could do ANYTHING--
Kael’s fist connected with Cassius’s face.