Chapter 19

Lucas remained frozen, his hand rising slowly to touch his reddening cheek, stunned disbelief

written across his unshaven face.

"You're... real?" he whispered, staring at her as if she might evaporate.

Aria had reached her absolute limit with this absurd day. She laughed-a sharp, brittle sound utterly devoid of humor.

"Real? Sure. Apparently I'm trapped in a real-life horror movie where my supposed death wasn't enough to get you out of my life."

Without deigning to look at him again, she pivoted sharply toward the staircase.

"Aria, wait-please!"

Lucas lunged after her, alcohol and desperation making his movements clumsy. As he grabbed for her wrist, the combination of his unsteady state and her quick evasion created disaster-her foot slipped on the polished marble step.

"Look out!"

Despite his impaired reflexes, Lucas managed to pull her against him as they fell, positioning his body to take the impact.

Their bodies hit the marble stairs with a sickening thud that echoed through the foyer.

Cushioned by Lucas's intervention, Aria escaped with minor disorientation. Lucas, however, wasn't as fortunate-a crimson stain began spreading across the white marble beneath his head.

"Alpha!" Davis's horrified voice cut through the sudden stunned silence.

The household erupted into chaos. After fifteen minutes, both were being loaded into separate ambulances.

with Lucas still hospitalized, Aria

escape.

16-41

Chapter 19

few belongings and headed confidently for the main entrance, only

expression immediately hardened into

uncomfortable glances. "Luna, we have

premises

seriously trying to hold me prisoner?

choice."

they could formulate a response, she attempted

doors.

unwilling woman, the guards hesitated

reconsider-Alpha

Aria's

to a stop directly

Her name emerged with an unsettling combination of relief and

features. "It makes

Thornwood Pack, Aria had meticulously prepared for an eventual confrontation with Lucas. She'd recognized the reality that

strategy had been calculated avoidance-minimal contact, neutral responses if they did encounter each other, nothing that might escalate the situation

Her silence

sending messages she systematically ignored. When blocked, he'd found

his orbit.

16:41

Chapter 19

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255