The tension between Aria and the alpha continued to grow, their connection becoming harder and harder to ignore. Despite herself, Aria found her thoughts drifting to him more often. Every time their eyes met, something sparked between them—something dangerous, something she couldn't control.
One night, as they trained under the full moon, the bond flared to life once more. The mark on her skin burned as though it was alive, and Aria gasped, stumbling back.
"Are you okay?" The alpha's voice was soft, almost concerned, though he quickly masked it with his usual coldness.
"I don't know," Aria admitted, her voice trembling. "This... it's too much."
He stepped closer, his presence towering over her, his dark eyes searching hers. For a moment, Aria thought he might reach out to her, but instead, he simply watched her struggle.
"You'll get used to it," he said, his voice low. "The bond... the curse... all of it. But be careful, Aria. The power you carry inside you isn't something to be trifled with."
A shiver ran down her spine. The prophecy that had been whispered about her, the bloodline that could either save or destroy them all—it was starting to feel all too real.
And the deeper she fell into the Shadowlands, the more she realized that there was no escape.