Chapter 11
Ethan’s POV
I stood in the shadowed corner of the training grounds, my eyes locked on Aria as she faced down her challengers. The way she moved was mesmerizing – each strike precise and deadly, yet carrying an almost artistic grace. In mere moments, she had three transformed wolves pinned and forced back to human form, without ever shifting herself.
The morning sun caught her dark hair as she executed a perfect takedown, her movements economical and devastating. No wasted energy, no flashy displays of power. Just pure, refined technique.
My wolf, Felix, whined softly in my mind. As Shadow Fang’s heir, I’d witnessed countless skilled warriors in combat, but there was something different about the way she fought. Something that stirred not just professional respect, but a primal hunger I hadn’t felt since…
I pushed the thought away, even as Felix paced restlessly beneath my skin. The depth of my reaction to her was puzzling – this strange pull that seemed to grow stronger each time I saw her. Perhaps it was simply appreciation for her remarkable skill.
When the demonstration ended, I found myself stepping forward, offering measured applause. “Impressive display, Instructor Reynolds. My voice carried across the now–quiet training ground, deeper than I’d intended. “Your fighting technique is… remarkable.”
Aria turned to face me, and something in my chest tightened at the careful distance in her amber eyes. The former Silver Moon princess gave a polite nod, her posture perfectly correct yet somehow remote. “Thank you.”
“I noticed you didn’t shift forms during the demonstration,” I said, moving closer. The intriguing absence of her scent grew stronger – like a void that somehow pulled at me. “Most wolves would have transformed to prove their dominance. Yet you took down three of them without breaking a sweat.
Aria held her ground, though I caught the slight quickening of her pulse at my approach. A bead of sweat traced down her neck, and I found my eyes following its path. “I don’t need to shift to be effective.” Her chin lifted with that stubborn pride that made Felix stir restlessly. The morning sun caught her hair, creating a halo effect that seemed oddly fitting. “As those three just learned. Sometimes raw power isn’t everything.”
“No, you certainly don’t.” I found myself studying the curve of her jaw, the way her training clothes clung to her athletic frame. Every line of her body spoke of carefully honed strength. “But I’m curious about why you can’t. A Silver Moon princess, born to one of the strongest female warriors – losing your wolf connection seems… significant.”
Her amber eyes met mine, defiant yet guarded. Something flashed across her face – pain, anger, or maybe both. “After an… incident, my connection to my wolf was severed.‘ A muscle ticked in her jaw as she crossed her arms.
“That’s all you need to know, Alpha Heir. Not all of us get to keep our birthright.”
The space between us seemed to crackle with tension. Felix whined, urging me to move closer, to learn more about this fascinating woman. The sound surprised me – showed such interest in anyone.
my wolf rarely
‘Is it?” I stepped forward again, close enough now to catch the faint scent of her shampoo – something crisp and clean that made my wolf pace anxiously. My voice dropped lower. ‘Because something tells me there’s much more to your story, Aria Reynolds.”
She didn’t back away, but her breathing hitched slightly. One hand came up to brush her hair back, exposing the elegant line of her throat. “Careful, Ethan.” My name on her lips sent an unexpected shiver down my spine. Her eyes held mine, a challenge and a warning wrapped in amber fire. ‘Some stories are better left untold. Especially for someone in your position.”
The mention of my position – should have made me step back. Instead, I found myself drawn closer, like a moth to flame. Felix growled softly, pushing against my control in a way he hadn’t since that night at Mountain View Resort.
“And if I want to know them anyway?” The words came out rougher than intended, heavy with something that went beyond mere curiosity. Felix growled softly, pushing against my control in a way he hadn’t since that night at Mountain View Resort.
Aria’s lips curved into a ghost of a smile that made heat pool in my stomach. Her tongue darted out to wet her lower lip a quick, unconscious gesture that drew my gaze like a magnet. “Then you’ll have to earn that right.” She turned to leave, but paused, glancing back over her shoulder. The morning light caught her profile, softening her features for just a moment. “And trust me, you’re not ready for what you might find.”
I watched her walk away, her movements still graceful despite the intensity of her earlier fight. My wolf whimpered at her departure, a sound of loss that echoed my own inexplicable sense of emptiness. There was something about her that called to me on a level I couldn’t explain – something that felt dangerously close to familiar.
The buzz of my phone barely registered through the fog of confusion and desire. Emma’s name flashed on the screen, but my eyes remained fixed on Aria’s retreating form. The memory of her slight smile, the challenge in her eyes, the way she moved with such deadly grace – it all swirled together with older memories.
Felix paced restlessly in my mind, as confused and frustrated as I was by our intense reaction to her.
The mystery of Aria Reynolds was becoming an obsession, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to fight it.
