*Aria POV:*
Six months.
That is how long it takes for a heart to turn into stone.
I lived in the Thorn Pack now. The environment was a stark contrast to the decaying gloom of the Black Rose estate. Here, the Pack House was a modern fortress of glass and steel, nestled in mountains that smelled of crisp pine and freedom.
I didn't just sit around and mourn. Grief is a luxury I could no longer afford.
I enrolled in the Medical Academy. In our world, Healers are revered. We use a combination of modern medicine and ancient herbalism, channeling our energy to knit flesh and bone. I threw myself into my studies, learning the anatomy of a wolf, the weak points, the pressure points.
I learned how to heal. And I learned how to hurt.
Every night, my phone would light up.
*Theo: Please, Aria. Talk to me.*
*Theo: I kicked Elena out. She is living on the streets.*
*Theo: My mother is paralyzed from the stroke. She can't speak.*
*Theo: I miss you. The pack is falling apart without a Luna.*
I never replied. I blocked his number, but he would get new ones. I blocked his Mind-Link, building a mental wall so thick not even a whisper could get through.
One morning in December, snow was falling softly outside the library window. I was studying the properties of Wolfsbane when James walked in.
He placed a thick folder on my desk.
"Merry Christmas, kid," he said, his voice gruff but warm.
I opened the folder. It was a legal document.
*Acquisition and Merger Agreement.*
"What is this?" I asked, tracing the bold letters.
"The Black Rose Pack is bankrupt," James explained, leaning against the bookshelf. "Their stocks have tanked since the scandal. Their investors pulled out when they realized their Alpha is an emotional wreck who can't lead. Theo is selling off assets to keep the lights on."
"And?"
"And I bought their debt," James grinned, showing his teeth. "All of it. The land, the businesses, the Pack House. Technically, the Thorn Group now owns the Black Rose Pack."
My heart skipped a beat. Not out of love, but out of a dark, thrilling satisfaction.
"He doesn't know it's you?" I asked.
"He knows it's the Thorn Group. He doesn't know who will be signing the final papers," James winked. "I thought you might want the honors."
I looked down at my hands. They were no longer the trembling hands of a pregnant girl begging for mercy. They were steady. Strong.
"When is the signing?" I asked.
"Tomorrow. Noon. At their headquarters."
I stood up. "I need a dress."
"What kind?"
"Green," I said. "The color of poison. And the color of new life."
That night, I stood in front of the full-length mirror. The emerald silk dress hugged my curves, the slit running high up my thigh. I applied dark red lipstick, sharp as a wound.
I closed my eyes and reached deep inside myself. *For months, I had been researching my lineage. I discovered that my bloodline wasn't weak; it was rare. The silence of my wolf hadn't been weakness; it was a protective shell, a hibernation state designed to preserve the immense power of the Royal Bloodline until I was strong enough to wield it. The trauma had cracked the shell.*
*Wake up,* I whispered to her. *It is time to hunt.*
Deep in the recesses of my mind, I felt a stir. A low rumble. Then, a growl. It wasn't the soft whimper of the Omega I used to be. It was the snarl of something ancient.
My eyes snapped open. In the mirror, my irises flashed a brilliant, glowing violet.
The sign of a waking royal bloodline.
"Welcome back," I whispered to my reflection.
