Aria's POV
The first thing that woke me up was the light of dawn filtering through the curtains. My body was heavy but rested in a way that it hadn't been in days. The sleeping pills Ivan had brought from the healer last night had done their job—no nightmares, no restless tossing, just deep, dreamless sleep. He'd handed them to me with a quiet smile after our talk, saying, "You need this more than I do. Get some rest, Aria. Tomorrow's a new day."
I dressed quickly, pulling on my training clothes with steady hands. My mind was clear and sharp, no distractions. No lingering thoughts about the night before. I wouldn't let Raine's words echo in my head anymore. The insults, the cold fury in his eyes—they were his burden, not mine. If he wanted to die alone, walled off from the world, let him. I didn't care. Not anymore.
I met Ivan at the training grounds, the grass still damp from yesterday's rain. He looked at me with a raised brow.
"You look… ready," he said, tossing me a pair of sparring pads.
"I am," I replied, strapping them on. "Let's get to it."
He nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Light sparring today. Focus on dodges. Let your reflexes do the talking."
We circled each other slowly at first, the familiar rhythm pulling me in. Ivan moved in with a jab—controlled, predictable. I sidestepped, feeling the air rush past my cheek.
"Good," he said. "Again."
He came faster this time, a feint left, then a hook right. I ducked, pivoted, the movement fluid and instinctive. My heart pounded, but not from fear. From focus.
Lira was there, quiet but present, sharpening my senses. The world slowed just a fraction—enough for me to see the shift in Ivan's weight, the telltale twitch in his shoulder. I dodged again, slipping under his arm like water.
Ivan stepped back, eyes wide. "Damn, Aria. That was clean. You're dodging like you've got eyes in the back of your head."
I wiped sweat from my brow, breathing steady. "Lira's helping. It's like… she's anticipating the moves before I do."
He grinned. "That's her enhancing your reflexes. She's getting stronger."
We went again—light jabs, hooks, sweeps. Each time, I moved better. Faster. No hesitation. No distractions. I didn't let my mind wander to the west wing, to silver eyes that had cut through me like ice. I didn't care about him. Not his past, not his pain, not his walls. If he wanted isolation, he could have it.
Ivan swung a wide arc. I leaned back, the pad grazing my hair. Then I countered—not hard, just a tap to his side. He laughed, stepping back.
"You're a natural," he said. "If you keep this up, you'll be sparring me for real soon."
I smiled, the first real one all morning. "Let's hope so."
We wrapped up as the sun climbed higher, my muscles burning but my mind clear. For the first time in days, I felt control. Focused. Ready.
And whatever storm Raine carried inside him? It wasn't mine to weather.
Not anymore.
After training, my body hummed with that good kind of exhaustion—the kind that came from pushing hard and coming out stronger on the other side. Ivan had clapped me on the shoulder with a proud grin, telling me to "take it easy for the rest of the day." I'd nodded, still catching my breath, feeling Lira settle quietly inside me like a cat curling up after a long hunt.
I headed back to the manor, towel drying my hair as I walked the corridors. I was supposed to check in with Cara for today's Luna duties, but I'd completely forgotten in the rush of the morning.
I found her in the small office off the kitchens, sorting through ledgers.
"Cara," I said, knocking lightly on the open door. "I'm sorry—I forgot to pick up the list for today's duties."
She looked up, gray eyes softening when she saw me. For a moment she studied my face, then set down her quill.
"There's no list today, Lady Aria."
I blinked. "What?"
Cara folded her hands neatly on the desk. "You've worked hard these past days—training from dawn, tending to the pack, visiting the infirmary, spending time with the cubs. I decided to clear your schedule. You've earned the rest of the day to yourself."
I stared at her, surprised warmth spreading through my chest.
"Really?"
She gave a small smile. "Really. Go. Rest. Read. Walk the grounds. Whatever you need."
"Thank you," I said, meaning it more than she probably knew. "Truly."
Cara inclined her head. "You're doing well here. Don't forget to take care of yourself too."
I left the office feeling lighter than I had in weeks. A whole day free—no duties, no expectations.
I knew exactly where I wanted to spend it.
The library was tucked in the eastern wing of the manor—a tall, quiet room with high ceilings and walls lined floor-to-ceiling with books.
I slipped inside and closed the door behind me with a soft click.
No one else was there.
I wandered the shelves slowly, fingers trailing over leather spines. Histories of Nightshade. Legends of the Moon Goddess. Treatises on pack law. Herbals and healing guides. So many options to choose from.
I lingered in that section for a while, pulling down a slim volume on moonflower remedies and flipping through its illustrations. The drawings were beautiful—silver leaves, glowing petals, notes on how to brew teas for dreamless sleep or to soothe a restless wolf. I tucked it under my arm, thinking it might come in useful one day.
Then my eyes drifted to the next shelf: thick books bound in dark leather, embossed with the Nightshade crest. Histories.
I couldn't resist.
I selected one titled Chronicles of the Nightshade Line: From Thorne to Present. It was heavy, the pages yellowed with age. I carried it back to the arm chair, along with the herbal guide, and settled in again.
The book opened with a family tree—names and dates stretching back centuries. I traced the line down to Raine Blackthorn, current Alpha. Beside his name, a small note in faded ink: Bearer of the Blood Curse.
I turned the page.