Chapter 53: A Wolf That Shouldn't Be

Connor

The second my fingers brushed against Aria’s wrist, she jerked away. Not just a flinch—she ripped herself free, staggering back like I’d electrocuted her.

Her eyes flickered. Again.

For the briefest moment, a strange glow passed through them again—wild, untamed, primal. It was gone as quickly as it appeared, but I knew what I had seen.  

My wolf stilled, every nerve in my body going rigid. Was it possible? Could she have her wolf after all these years? Was that what my wolf felt that day? Her wolf awakening?

The thought of running through the forest with my mate, of feeling her presence beside me in the wild, made my wolf start pacing, restless and eager.  

The silence between us was suffocating. The kind that fills the air just before something explodes.

"Aria…" My voice came out rough, barely above a whisper.  

She took a step back, shaking her head. “Don’t. I told you, I don’t need this drama right now.”  

But I wasn’t listening anymore. My gaze was locked onto hers, searching, desperate to understand.  

“What was that?” I asked, my voice thick with something between hope and disbelief.  

She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes. “What was what?”  

I took another cautious step forward, struggling to find the right words. “I mean… your wolf. Is it possible—”  

She exhaled sharply, cutting me off. “What are you trying to say, Connor?” Her tone was clipped, impatient.  

“I just—”  

“I’m already having a crazy normal day,” she interrupted with a bitter laugh. “I don’t need more from an ex-mate.”  

Ex-mate.  

The word stung more than I wanted to admit.  

She turned sharply on her heel, walking toward the sleek black car waiting for her at the curb.  

“Aria—wait.” I reached for her without thinking. My fingers barely brushed her arm before she turned towards me with a force I did not expect.  

The world snapped into slow motion.  

A force exploded from her body, sending me flying backward like a rag doll. I almost crashed onto the pavement, my head smacking against the street pole with enough force to make my vision blur.  

What the hell?  

I blinked, my breath coming in sharp gasps as I stared up at the sky, the edges of my vision tilting.  

How did she do that?  

A groan escaped me as I pushed myself up and straightened. My wolf was growling, torn between shock and exhilaration.  

Ivy stood frozen, staring down at her hands in horror. Her fingers trembled as if she had no idea what had just happened. Her lips parted, her breath shallow. “I… I didn’t mean to…”  

Her driver rushed to her side, his face unreadable as he leaned in to whisper, “Miss Ivy, your father said you have to be at the family lunch as soon as possible. We are already late.”  

I saw the hesitation in her eyes, the war raging inside her. But after a brief pause, she nodded and slipped into the car.  

The door shut.  

The vehicle pulled away.  

And I was left there, standing by the roadside, staring after her.  

My mind raced.  

She had no wolf.  

No wolf.  

Then how the hell did she just push me back like that?  

I barely had time to process what had happened when a slow, mocking voice spoke from behind me.  

"Would you like to know what just happened?"  

The voice was too close.  

Close enough that I could feel the person's breath ghosting against my neck.  

Every muscle in my body locked up as my instincts screamed at me to move, to fight, but I was still dazed from whatever Ivy had done.  

I turned my head slightly, just enough to see a shadowy figure standing behind me.  

Tall. Unfamiliar. Yet… something about the presence made my skin prickle.  

My wolf bristled, baring its teeth in my mind.  

The stranger chuckled.  

"I can explain everything, Alpha Connor," the voice drawled, filled with amusement.  

"And trust me, you’re going to want to hear this."   

I forced my body to move, twisting around in one sharp motion. My fists clenched, prepared to strike if needed.  

The woman in front of me didn’t flinch.  

She stood there, relaxed, almost too casual. Dressed in dark clothing, her face partially obscured by the shadow of a nearby building. But I could see enough.  

Sharp eyes. A smirk that made my instincts scream danger.  

“Who the hell are you?” I growled, my voice edged with warning. “How did you know my name?”

She tilted her head, almost as if she were studying me. “That’s not important.”  

“You were watching us.”  

Her smirk widened. “I was.”  

My jaw tightened. “Why?”  

She let out a slow sigh, as if I was exhausting her. “Because someone has to make sure you don’t ruin everything.”  

That set my wolf off.  

I lunged.  

Or at least, I tried to.  

Before I could even touch her, something cold and invisible wrapped around my limbs, stopping me mid-motion. My breath hitched as an overwhelming force pinned me in place.  

I’ve heard about black magic and the existence of some sorcerers. But never have I ever encountered anyone that practiced it.

The pressure was suffocating, like invisible chains constricting every muscle in my body.  

“What the—”  

The woman stepped closer, her eyes flashing with something… unnatural.  

“You’re asking the wrong questions, Connor.”  

My wolf thrashed, trying to break free, but whatever held me was stronger than anything I had ever encountered.  

It felt like we were invincible to everyone around, as people went on with their activities, not sparing a glance in our direction.

Who is she?

“Let me go,” I snarled, baring my teeth.  

“Not yet,” she murmured, her voice like silk. “I need you to listen.”  

The force around me tightened briefly before releasing me without warning. I stumbled forward, my body catching itself just in time before I hit the ground.  

I whipped my head up, panting, ready to defend myself.  

But she was already a few feet away, watching me like I was some kind of interesting puzzle.  

“Aria was never supposed to get her wolf. It would destroy the balance of our world,” she said smoothly, her gaze dark and unreadable. “But now… something’s changed.”  

My heart pounded in my chest.  

“What do you mean ‘was never supposed to’?” I demanded.  

Her smirk returned. “Exactly what I said.”  

I stared at her, my mind racing.  

For years, Aria had been rejected by her wolf. It was a fact, a cruel fate she had accepted.  

But today…  

Today, I saw it.  

That flicker. That raw power.  

And now this stranger, this damn shadow lurking in the darkness, was telling me that it wasn’t supposed to happen?  

My hands clenched. “Who are you?” I asked again, my voice lower, more dangerous.  

She exhaled, as if bored. “A friend.”  

I took a slow step forward. “I don’t believe you.”  

Her smirk didn’t falter.  

“You will.”  

And then—  

Before I could blink, before I could move—  

She disappeared.  

Vanished into thin air like she had never been there at all.  

I stood frozen, my breath uneven, my wolf pacing wildly inside me.  

What the hell just happened?  

And more importantly…  

What the hell was happening to Ivy?