Chapter 186

Aria

I just got out of the bath and threw on this clean, simple gown they left for me. My hair’s still damp, clinging to my neck, and my skin’s warm but not in a good way. After I woke up earlier, I ended up crashing for another hour, dead asleep. I wish I felt better after all that rest, but honestly? I still feel like I got hit by a truck. My body’s sore, sure, but it’s my heart that’s truly fucked. It hurts in a way I can’t explain. And my wolf? She’s a complete mess, crying in the back of my mind like a lost pup. And it’s all because of Lucas.

I can’t stop thinking about him. I’ve tried, but his face keeps showing up every damn time I blink. It’s like this ache that won’t let go, and fuck, it’s eating me alive. I hate this feeling. I hate what I did to him.

“Aria… you’re up and dressed,” Alpha Marcel says, stepping into the room. His voice is calm, gentle, like he knows I’m barely hanging on.

I glance toward the door, offering the smallest smile I