76

76
Aria's POV I woke up with cold, unyielding steel chafing my wrists and ankles. Chains. I was sore all over; my head pounded like I'd been hit with a sledgehammer. Trying to move, the chain tugged tight, restricting me from moving in one place. My senses kicked into high gear as I tried to take in my environment. The darkness in the room was completely, oppressive. There was an overwhelming smell of damp earth mixed with something far fouler. The air was heavy and stale; I could hardly breathe. I coughed, the sound echoing off what I now realized were walls: a dungeon. A rattling of keys echoed through, followed by heavy, deliberate footsteps. My heart was pounding hard in my chest as I struggled to focus. It was too dark, and my vision was still trying to catch up. Whoever was coming didn't appear to be in any rush. Something about the measured footsteps was unnerving. "Hello?" I called out in a hoarse voice, the first word cracking. "Who's there?" The footsteps stopped. A moment of strained silence, and then a single bulb overhead flickered to life. The sudden rush of light blinded me, and I squinted, trying to shield my eyes. "Oh, you're awake," a deep, mocking voice said from the shadows. I blinked rapidly, forcing my vision to adjust to the dim light. I couldn't see his face, but his outline was clear, a tall figure cloaked in a hood, standing just out of reach. "Who are you?" I demanded, my voice sharper now. "Where am I? What do you want? He let out a low, wicked snort that stirred the bottom of my stomach. "You really don't learn when to shut your mouth, huh? Always throwing tantrums, even while being in the noose." "What trap?" I returned to him, heaving again at the chains. Scrapes against my skin aside, I didn't let the wounds faze me. "Talk, damned you! Where is Tiara? Where's my little one? The figure stepped closer, but the light didn't fall on his face. "Tiara," he said mockingly. "So quick to trust a stranger. How naïve of you." "She's not a stranger!" I snarled. "Tiara belongs to my pack. She'd never betray me. He laughed again. The sound was grating on my nerves. "Your pack? Do you even know who your pack is anymore? Do you even know who to trust?" I ignored his taunts and reached out with my mind, searching for Tiara through the mind link. It took a moment, but then I felt her presence. “Tiara," I called out in desperation. “Where are you? What's going on? Are you okay?" Her voice came through, calm but tense. “I'm here, Aria. Listen to me carefully. Whatever he says, play along. We're going to get through this together." She said through our werewolf mind link “Play along?" I repeated, frustration blowing over. “You want me to” “Just trust me,” Tiara interrupted, her voice firm. “I’ll explain everything later. Right now, do as he says.” The link went quiet, leaving me more confused than ever. “Trying to contact your little friend, are you?” the man said, his voice laced with amusement. “Go ahead. It won’t change anything.” I glared at him, masking the turmoil inside. "I don't need her help. I hate her!" I said with a highly raised voice. "Tiara betrayed me, and I will never forgive her. Liam will be back, and when he doesn't find us here, he will bring reinforcements. You will regret this." He shifted his hood to the side, almost weighing my words, before breaking into peals of laughter. "Oh, Aria. You still don't get it, huh? Your precious mate is not going to come save you. He's. occupied." I squinted. "What do you mean? Without a word, he pulled a phone from his pocket and slid it across the floor. It stopped just inches from my feet. The screen was lit, displaying a picture that made my heart stop. It was my mate, my own mate kissing Sophia. "No," I whispered, my voice barely audible. My chest tightened, and tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. "No. This can't be real." Oh, it's very real," the man said, his voice drizzling with satisfaction. "While you're here, chained and powerless, your so-called mate is back at the pack finding comfort in someone else's arms." I shook my head, trying to get rid of the image filling my mind, but the scene had seared itself into my memory. "You are lying," I said though my voice didn't hold too much conviction. "It is a trick. "Is it?" he returned. "Think about it, Aria. Have you ever really been able to trust those around you? They all want something from you, your power, your influence. Even Liam. He's no different." "You don't know anything about him!" I shouted, my voice breaking. "Oh, but I do," he said, leaning closer. "Would you like to know the truth? The real truth?" I glared at him, but my silence gave him the answer he wanted. “Liam and Tiara,” he began, drawing out the words as if savoring them, “are mates.” My breath hitched. “That’s not possible. You’re lying!” Am I?" he said with a smirk. "Why else would they be working so closely together? Why else would Tiara betray you? Open your eyes, Aria. You're nothing but a pawn in their game." "No." My voice quivered, and I clenched my fists, trying to hold onto the last shred of my composure. "And just to show you how magnanimous I am," he said, "I have one more surprise for you." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a flashlight, pointing it toward the far end of the room. The beam of light illuminated a small figure curled up on the floor. "Mommy!" a tiny voice cried out. My heart stopped. "My son. Chains clattered around me as I wrestled my way toward him, but they were too firm. I shouted out to him, with tears streaming down my face. "I'm here, baby! Mommy's here!" The hooded man stepped in the way, blocking my view. "Don't worry, Aria. He's safe. For now. But how long that lasts depends entirely on you.