Aria's breath hitched in her throat as she stared at the figure standing in the doorway. Sebastian Wolfe. Her heart pounded with an intensity she hadn't felt in years, but the memories of him—of their time together—were a stark contrast to the cold, calculating man he had become.
He stood there, leaning casually against the doorframe, his eyes twinkling with a mix of amusement and challenge. The man who once promised to protect her, to be the one who fought for her in the shadows, was now a dangerous player in the game she never wanted to be a part of.
Sebastian took a step forward, the door clicking shut behind him as he closed the distance. His presence was overwhelming, like a storm threatening to swallow her whole. He had always had that effect on her—an effect she tried so hard to forget.
"Aria," he said, his voice smooth like silk, yet dangerous in its calmness. "I didn't expect to find you here. But it seems fate is as cruel as ever."
Her pulse quickened. She knew this was a bad idea, knew that Sebastian's return would only complicate everything, but she couldn't help herself. He had always known how to make her feel alive, even when it was the last thing she needed.
"What do you want, Sebastian?" Aria asked, her voice a little more steady than she felt. She crossed her arms, trying to build a wall between them, but deep down, she could already feel the cracks forming.
"Isn't it obvious?" He raised an eyebrow, his gaze raking over her with a possessiveness that sent a chill down her spine. "I came for you."
Her stomach twisted. "You had your chance, remember? You chose to leave."
Sebastian's eyes softened for a moment, but the edge of danger never left his gaze. "You think I left you? No, Aria, I didn't leave you. I left to destroy the man who took you from me."
Her heart thudded in her chest as the weight of his words hit her. "Kieran?" she whispered, a bitter taste in her mouth at the very mention of his name.
"Yes, Kieran," Sebastian said, his lips curling into a smirk. "He took you, played his games, and thought he could claim you as his. But I'm not done, Aria. I've never been done with you."
She shook her head, the confusion swirling in her mind. "Why now? Why after all this time?"
Sebastian took another step closer, his hand reaching out to gently tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "Because I want what's mine."
Her breath caught. His words were raw, filled with an intensity that mirrored the fire between them when they were together. But that was then. She wasn't the same person anymore. She had made her choices—choices that had led her into Kieran's world, a world that felt suffocating but familiar.
"I'm not yours anymore, Sebastian," Aria said, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to stay strong. "I made my choice."
Sebastian didn't seem fazed by her words. His gaze hardened, his jaw tightening as he stepped closer, trapping her against the wall. "You made your choice to play his game, but I know you, Aria. You were never meant to be a pawn."
She could feel the heat of his body so close to hers, the memories of their stolen moments rushing back. She had been a fool to think she could erase him from her life, and now he was here—threatening to unravel everything she had worked so hard to build.
"I'm not playing anyone's game," she said, trying to sound firm, but the uncertainty in her voice betrayed her. "I'm trying to survive."
"Survive?" Sebastian chuckled darkly, his hand brushing against hers, sending a jolt of electricity through her. "You think this is survival? Aria, you're in more danger now than you've ever been. You think Kieran will protect you? He doesn't care about you. He only cares about control."
Her heart twisted at the truth in his words. She hated it, but she couldn't deny the reality of her situation. Kieran had never cared for her—not like she had hoped. He wanted power, and she was merely a tool in his quest to maintain it.
"I don't need your help, Sebastian," Aria said, pulling her hand away from his touch. "I can handle this myself."
Sebastian's eyes darkened, and for a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of the man who once cared for her, but it was gone in an instant. "You always were stubborn," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "But that's what I loved about you."
The tension between them was suffocating, and Aria's mind raced. She needed to get out, to find a way to escape this madness before it consumed her completely. But she knew one thing for sure—Sebastian Wolfe had returned, and with him, the storm she had tried to outrun was just beginning.
"You don't belong here," she whispered, more to herself than to him. "Not anymore."
Sebastian's smirk deepened, his eyes gleaming with determination. "We'll see about that, Aria. We'll see."