Axel's whispered alert sends Aria's heart racing.
"He's back."
She hurries to the entrance, excitement coursing through her veins.
As she sees Elijah, her breath catches.
He's changed, yet still devastatingly handsome.
His chiseled features and powerful warrior stance remain unchanged.
Their eyes meet, and Aria's face breaks into a radiant smile.
She waits for Elijah's response, anticipating a warm smile.
She's rehearsed this moment countless times in her mind.
Will she run to him, embracing him tightly?
Will it be awkward with his people surrounding them?
She'll wait for his cue.
Perhaps he'll abandon all decorum, rushing into her arms.
She'll meet him halfway, their love rekindling.
But Elijah's expression doesn't mirror hers.
No smile.
No spark of recognition.
No rush to reunite.
He glances at her once, then looks away.
Aria's smile falters.
Something's off.
Elijah's demeanor has changed.
His eyes, once filled with love and adoration, now seem distant.
Cold.
Unfamiliar.
Aria's heart sinks.
What's happened to the man she loves?
Has he forgotten her?
Or has something hardened his heart?
Aria's heart sinks as Elijah approaches, his eyes scanning the entrance without acknowledging her. She waits, expectant, but he passes her by.
Axel intervenes, his voice laced with concern.
"Alpha, here's Aria."
Elijah's response is chilling.
"Who's that?"
Aria's face falls, her eyes widening in shock. Axel and Lila exchange disbelieving glances.
Aria steps forward, her voice trembling.
"Elijah!"
Elijah's gaze turns icy.
"Who dares call me by my name? Who's she?"
Lila tries to reason with him.
"A witch of Netherlands, you're fond of her."
Elijah's expression twists in disgust.
"Do I look fond of her now? Take this beast from my presence this moment!"
Axel hesitates.
"Do you really mean it, Alpha?"
Elijah's anger boils over.
"What's the meaning of this? Everyone is now disrespectful! Leave with her if you must."
Lila steps forward.
"I'll take her away!"
Aria's desperation grows.
"No! Leave me alone! Elijah! Elijah!!"
Elijah spins around, his eyes blazing. He strides toward Aria, his hands closing around her neck like a vice.
Aria feels the difference in his gaze, the disgust and hatred piercing her soul.
"Elijah, I'm sorry for disappearing," she stammers, tears streaming down her face. "Please take me back!"
Her words fall on deaf ears. Elijah's grip tightens, his claws digging into her skin.
Aria's vision blurs, her breath caught in her throat.
But then, something shifts in Elijah. He sees her tears, her desperation.
He releases her, and Aria crumples to the floor, gasping.
Elijah turns away, his mind shrouded in confusion.
Who is this woman?
Why does she claim to know him?
He walks into the palace, leaving Aria broken and bewildered.
Lila gently drags Aria away from the painful scene, leading her to the cozy cottage that had become Lila's sanctuary. Despite its usual warmth, the cottage still looks dirty, reflecting Lila's recent preoccupations.
Lila hands Aria a cup of refreshing water, concern etched on her face. "Have this, I'm sorry about what happened with my Alpha," she says, "but I know he's doing this to protect you."
Aria takes the cup, draining its contents. Her throat still hurts from strangling, and her eyes remain red and puffy.
"Protect me? How?" Aria asks, her voice laced with skepticism.
Lila hesitates. "I don't know; I can't explain. Alpha Elijah's Mating ceremony is in a moon's time. He's not yours anymore, but Princess Ophelia's. He did say before that he'll take Ophelia as a mate for your safety. I think he's been threatened by her father, the king."
Aria's expression remains uninterested, her mind consumed by the desire to see Elijah.
"Please take me to him!" Aria pleads, desperation creeping into her voice. "Let me see him one more time."
Lila sympathizes. "You know I can't disobey my Alpha. Let's give him some time. Maybe he'll come looking for you."
Lila recalls her initial distrust of Aria, the witch who they had invaded their land. Initially, she believed Aria was dangerous and would destroy the wolves and kill Elijah in revenge. She, as Alpha Elijah's Gamma decided to always watch his back especially from the witch's claws. However, after observing Aria's love for Elijah, Lila's understanding deepened.
"How can you love someone who invaded your country and destroyed everything you loved, including your family?" Lila wonders.
Lila advises, "Rest now child, we'll talk better after a nap."
Aria scans the dirty cottage, her distaste evident.
"I can't sleep in dirt," she says.
There she goes again! Aria is always against Lila's living lifestyle. She did this before, and she's on about it again?
With a swift finger movement, Aria conjures her magic, transforming the cottage into a sparkling sanctuary. The dust disappears, floor shines, the sheets sparkles and the furniture shines.
Lila watches, amazed.
Aria settles into the clean sheets, her eyelids drooping. Her eyes tired from all the crying.
Later, Axel calls at the door. Lila steps outside into the fading sunlight. She meets him outside her cottage.
Axel's worried face greets her.
"Honestly, I'm confused," Axel admits. They both take a walk further out of her cottage.
Lila nods. "Same here, I'm confused as well."
Axel presses on. "What happened in Wolfsburg? You went with him to the king's palace."
Lila's expression turns grave. "Some eyesore happened. The Alpha was acting weird with Ophelia – they kissed, made love, and acted like long-time lovers."
Axel's face contorts.
"What? That's weird. My Alpha would never do that."
Lila's voice drops. "I know. That's why I'm confused. Something is wrong somewhere."
Axel's concern deepens.
"Yes, something is different about him.He didn't even acknowledge the lady he's been looking for so long," Axel says. "The lady he did despicable things in her name. Our men went all day and night, all over Wolfland and beyond, looking for Aria, and when she's finally here, the Alpha doesn't recognize her."
The two close wolves of the Alpha share troubled glances.
Their Alpha's behavior defies explanation.
As the sun dips below the horizon, Lila and Axel continue their hushed conversation, seeking answers to the mysteries surrounding Elijah's strange actions.
They chat all afternoon, which is different; they're not always chatty with each other, but today calls for the unusual.
As Lila and Axel continue their conversation, Aria slips out of the cottage, determined to confront Elijah. She recites her invisibility magic spell and walks invisible into the palace invisible to all eyes.
At the palace, Elijah relaxes in his warm tub bath, unaware of the invisible Aria slipping in. She gets naked and joins him in the water, washing his back with scented soap.
Elijah moans in surprise.
Aria's invisibility magic fades, revealing her physical presence.
The angry Alpha leaps out of the tub, shocked.
"How did you get in?" Elijah demands. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Aria's voice trembles.
"It's me, Aria. Your Aria."
Elijah summons his guards.
"Seize her!"
Aria swiftly activates her invisibility magic again before the guards could see her naked.
Elijah turns to his guards, stunned.
"Who's Aria? I just saw her here! How could you let her in?"
The guards exchange confused glances.
Guard 1: "She's a witch from Netherlands, your you're very fond of her, Alpha.You even made her a pack member and freed all the Captives of Netherlands."
Elijah's face twists in disgust.
"That's witchcraft!I can never be fond of witches. Y'all know how much I hate them.I hate Netherlands' witches and wizards!"
An invisible Aria shakes her head, conviction etched on her face.
She realizes Elijah no longer knows or loves her.
Elijah orders his guards to hunt Aria down, dead or alive.
Axel and Lila rush to the cottage, alarmed by Elijah's howls.
Lila: "Aria, how could you?"
Axel: "That's not the point; you must leave now!"
Lila: "Guards are searching for you everywhere. You sneaked into his bath, threatening the Alpha."
Aria: "I didn't threaten him. I just couldn't help it. I wanted him back."
Axel: "Leave now, use your invisibility stuff and flee the kingdom."
Lila: "Return to Netherlands, that's the only place you'll find comfort."
Aria nods, preparing to leave.
She decides to take Elijah's prized white stallion. She wants to make him pay for hurting her heart and she will start by taking what's important to him. Starting from his favorite white stallion gifted to him by his late father.
Invisible, she rides the horse out of the palace.
The visible horse confuses the wolves. They didn't understand how the horse is leaving the pack on it's own
"Someone, get my horse!"Elijah screams as he hears of his horse. His wolf runs after the borders looking for the horse but it's out of reach.
"He'll be back," Axel comforts him.