She closed her eyes, letting his words wash over her, a sense of safety and belonging settling deep in her bones. She hadn't felt anything like it before.
The next afternoon, sunlight filtered through the ancient trees outside the manor. Ariana was taking a quiet walk near the edge of the grounds, still finding her strength, still processing everything.
"Ariana?"
A voice called her name, a voice from a life that felt impossibly distant. She turned – and time folded in on itself. Standing before her, looking slightly out of place against the wild backdrop of the territory, was Leo. Her childhood friend. His eyes were wide, breathless with relief and concern. He looked older, more worn than the boy she remembered, the boy now clearly a man.
"Leo?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper, stunned. "What are you doing here?"
He took a step towards her, his hands slightly in his pockets. "I heard what happened… the news travels, even to the city. I had to see you. Had to know you were okay." His eyes dropped to the imposing stone of the manor, then back to her face. "Is it true? You're married… to the Blackthorn Family?"
She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, a nervous habit, her heart pounding in her chest for a different reason now. "It's… complicated. More complicated than you can imagine. But yes. Here I am."
"How did it happen, Ariana?" he asked gently, his blue eyes filled with a familiar concern. "One minute you were supposed to marry someone you love... someone else, then you were sick, and now... you're here, married to *him*?"
They talked, the conversation a rush, like trying to bridge years of silence in minutes.
And somewhere nearby, hidden in the shadows of the trees, Darius watched. His golden eyes narrowed, a low growl rumbling deep in his chest, unheard by the humans but felt by the land itself. He observed the man who had once been a part of Ariana's life, a life that no longer belonged to him.
Leo's presence was a complication. A reminder of a past Ariana thought she had left behind. But Ariana wasn't the same girl he remembered – and her life was no longer simple.
"I should go," Leo said, taking a step back, glancing nervously towards the manor. "I can feel... a tension. Like I shouldn't be here, mostly by the way he is looking at me." A faint scent of wolf, though he didn't recognize it, prickled his senses. "But… I'm glad you're okay, Ariana. Truly. That's all I wanted to know."
She nodded, her throat tight with a mix of nostalgia, relief, and the sudden, sharp awareness of Darius's presence. "Thank you, Leo. For coming. For caring."
She turned, her eyes instinctively finding Darius in the shadows.
He stepped forward, emerging from the trees, his presence overwhelming, formidable. He stood before her, golden eyes dark with possessiveness. "Who was he?"
"Leo," she said, her voice steady, meeting his intense gaze. "An old friend. From... before."
Darius's jaw tightened, a muscle flexing in his cheek. His eyes narrowed further. "He's in love with you." It wasn't a question.
She shook her head, stepping closer to him. "No. That's not... it's not like that anymore. We were children."
"You're mine now, Ariana," he growled, his voice low, a possessive rumble that vibrated between them. "He needs to understand that."
She reached out, her hand resting on his chest, feeling the steady, powerful beat of his heart beneath her palm. "I am yours, Darius. Always. You claimed me." She looked up at him. "But don't make this harder than it needs to be. He's just a friend."
He leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear, his voice a low, dangerous whisper that sent a shiver down her spine. "If he tries to take you from me... I'll kill him."
She shivered again, not from fear of the threat, but from the sheer intensity of his possessiveness, the absolute certainty in his tone.
"Darius," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly, her hand pressing against his chest. "You don't have to..."
He interrupted, his voice sharp, demanding, his golden eyes searching hers, seeking an answer only she could give. "Do you want him here? In your life? Around you?"
She hesitated for a moment, her heart a confusing tangle of past affection and present, undeniable pull towards the powerful man before her. "I... I don't know," she confessed, the truth quiet and uncertain.
Darius's expression hardened, his grip on her arms tightening, pulling her closer until their bodies were pressed together. His voice was a low growl, absolute, leaving no room for ambiguity. "Choose, Ariana. Him... or me."
She met his gaze, the choice clear, undeniable. Her hand remained on his chest, feeling the truth of her own heart beating against him. "You. Of course, you." A small smile touched her lips, genuine, relieved. "I am glad to experience this lovely side of you, Alpha."