Page 13

ARIA

T wo soldiers carried another injured through the door. The young man’s leg twisted in an unnatural direction, and a shudder coursed through my body at the agony in his cries.

“ Goddess, ” Estelle hissed under her breath before rushing away from me, barking orders at the soldiers to place the new patient on a hospital bed. “What in the hells happened?”

One of the soldiers shrugged a heavy shoulder. “Buckled beneath him while defending against a larger opponent. Don’t know why he’s cryin’ so much, though.”

As if on cue, the injured man emitted a pitiful sob as the two soldiers placed him horizontally on the nearest open bed.

“Aw, you’ll be alright Gio.” The other soldier clapped the injured man on the shoulder. All three individuals were as naked as the day they were born, clearly having just shifted from their wolf forms.“Welcome to the big leagues, kid.”

The soldiers chuckled at the younger male’s expense, and I rolled my eyes. Clearly the experienced warriors were enjoying their inferiors’ struggles. Brutes.

“You two,” Estelle growled at the two men that delivered their injured comrade. “Get out before I force you to volunteer the rest of your day in the clinic.”

The pair continued laughing as they heeded Estelle’s warning, striding toward the exit like they owned the damn building. This, I thought to myself. This is why I didn’t want to be a warrior.

Several nurses flocked to Estelle’s side to help treat the broken leg. If I joined, I’d only get in the way. Instead, I released a long sigh and wandered toward where Emerson stood by the window, eager to distract myself from the man, Gio’s, agony.

Her pin-straight auburn hair gleamed with golden highlights in the sun, and her eyes widened in awe at whatever she watched beyond the glass pane. She noticed me approaching and cast me a small smile.

“They’re practicing defending while outnumbered,” she explained, nodding toward the window. I arrived at her side, and my eyes widened at the scene unfolding at the bottom of the hill. “It’s exciting, isn’t it?”

Indeed, dozens of warriors in human and wolf form alike gathered on the training field below.

They were broken into three groups, and each group possessed a team of attackers that hopelessly outnumbered the defensive team.

Jaws snapped. Claws raked down one another’s flanks. I could hear the snarling from here.

Those actively engaged in the fighting took their wolf forms, while the males and females resting remained in their human forms. Among them, I recognized a pair of exceptionally broad shoulders overseeing the entire exercise. My heart somersaulted.

“Malik is here,” I stated, betraying my surprise.

Emerson giggled beside me. “Well, he is the general. ”

“Right,” I breathed, though all of my focus centered on the male at the center of the clearing below.

A pair of sweatpants hung low on Malik’s hips, though he wore no cover over his impressive torso.

His arms folded tight over his chest, and I could see his bulging biceps and shoulders from here.

Long, unkempt hair fell past his shoulders, in desperate need of a haircut.

Only the scarred portion of his features faced the clinic’s window, but the gruesome flesh didn’t startle me any more.

Below, a wolf with an inky coat trotted over to Malik from another group. Halfway across the clearing, the wolf shifted into a tall, lithe-limbed female.

Golden skin stretched over long, muscled legs.

A sheet of black, silky hair fell to the middle of her back.

Her breasts, full and round, practically bounced with every graceful step she took toward my mate, and, even from here, I could tell that her pubic hair was immaculately trimmed into a thin line leading to her sex.

The female came to a stop beside Malik, and an ugly tangle of possessiveness and anger flared in my gut.

She lifted her hand and pointed toward one of the groups of warriors, and Malik’s gaze followed suit. They must’ve been speaking via their mind link, and a pang of jealousy speared through my chest at the easiness of their communication.

Emerson glanced sideways at me, undoubtedly sensing the newfound tension racking my body, then back at Malik and this female. A small, knowing smile played on her lips. “That is Freya. She’s a squadron leader.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and feigned nonchalance with a shrug.

Below, the beautiful female— Freya— looked up at Malik with an amused smile, and I swore I saw the corner of his mouth quirk upward .

My gut twisted as the pair seemed to share an inside joke.

What the hell was wrong with me? This female was one of Malik’s soldiers. They’d likely known each other and fought alongside one another for years. Still, I envied her for the time she’d gotten to spend beside my mate.

Even more, I wasn’t foolish enough to believe that most shifters remain abstinent prior to finding their mate. Most sought relief with other unmated wolves when the need arose…

Admiration and intimacy sparkled in Freya’s gaze as she gazed up at Malik, and the traitorous, insecure parts of myself wondered if perhaps their relationship extended beyond mere colleagues. Standing side by side, the pair made a startlingly powerful match. It wouldn’t have been such a surprise.

The thought hurt far more than I’d ever admit out loud.

MALIK

The back of my neck tingled, and a now-familiar tug plucked at the fibers at the center of my body. I turned my head, following the direction of the tug toward the clinic overlooking the training grounds.

The sun glared against the windows, preventing me from seeing inside, but I knew who watched me from within. I felt it in my bones. In the way my blood warmed and my spine straightened, and my feet longed to carry me away from my duty as General to reunite with my little dove.

This morning, I awoke with Aria in my arms. We were curled around one another, our foreheads touching as we shared the same breath. Her legs tangled with mine, and a soft mewl of displeasure escaped her parted lips when I forced myself to slip away .

It had taken everything in me to leave her there. Last night, she’d been so patient. Like an angel sent from the Moon Goddess to guide me through the uncharted waters of allowing another person into my life.

Every soft word and tentative touch melted away a fraction of the steely wall I’d built around my heart over the past two decades. Aria was slowly saving me from myself, and, for that, I was eternally grateful.

General? Freya’s voice echoed in my mind.

My gaze snapped back to my captain. She looked up at me with a furrowed brow, and, when I didn’t immediately respond, she repeated the question she must’ve asked moments ago. What do you want me to do with the recruits?

Right. We’d been discussing the recruits, the shifters from across our territory that had recently come of age and hoped to earn a spot in our army. Though a handful showed potential, most would die the moment they saw true battle.

I sighed. Send them all back to basic training. Even those with solid technique. They’re no use to me until they’re all stronger and faster.

Though my brother would see all of the recruits thrown into the army at the lowest ranks, allowing the strong to rise and the weak to fall, I refused to sign their death warrants.

Whereas Roman wanted sheer numbers in his army, I only wanted the best fighting alongside me in battle.

Fortunately, more often than not, Roman paid no attention to my choices as General.

Freya dipped her chin and turned to heed my command, but she didn’t make it more than two steps before turning back.

Malik? She prompted, her voice softer than before. I recognized the imploring tone, and it set my teeth on edge. What of your mate? The alpha’s daughter. Will she be gracing the army with her presence ?

I stiffened, discomfort lining my spine.

There was a poorly-veiled edge to Freya’s words. One that I recognized from the countless times I’d refused her advances in the past. She was a fine warrior and objectively beautiful, certain to bear strong pups to whatever male she chose, but I’d never once been tempted to accept her offer.

She only wanted me for my position and the blood pumping through my veins, but I refused to be a commodity for yet another. Not when I’d already surrendered myself to Roman long ago.

When at first I did not respond, Freya continued, eyes trailing down my bare chest, lingering on my neck. I couldn’t help but notice that you have yet to cement the bond… Is there something wrong with the girl?

Unadulterated anger roiled through me, and I shifted to face one of my best warriors. My head cocked to one side, a silent snarl forming on my lips. Careful, Freya. You may be a captain, but you’re far from irreplaceable.

She blinked, dark brown eyes going wide as she took a step backward. The scent of her fear seeped into the air between us. Forgive me, General. I only asked ? —

You will not speak of Aria again. You will not even think her name, I warned, allowing a sliver of innate alpha’s authority to slip into the command.

When my father named Roman heir, I surrendered my right to use the primal ability that allowed an alpha to give unbreakable orders. That did not mean that I lost the skill completely, though Roman would punish me if he knew I dared to use it on one of his subjects.

Even so, I would not allow Aria to be dishonored. Not by this female. Not by anyone.

Freya retreated without another word, and I turned my gaze back to the clinic atop the hill and the blonde she-wolf hidden inside.

A strange cocktail of desire and unease churned in my chest, for, though I’d dismissed Freya’s words, the audacity of her statement served as a reminder that I needed to mark my little dove, and soon.

Aria wouldn’t be mine, not truly, until I did.