She had flashes-fire, blood, a man screaming her name.
Then... darkness.
Now she drifted between shelters and streets, haunted by dreams that felt too real. Dreams of claws, moonlight, and a burning betrayal. Of love-then murder.
She shivered, pulling her coat tighter.
The sound of an engine broke the silence. A black car slowed to a stop across the street. Sleek. Dangerous. The kind of car people in this part of town pretended not to see.
The back window rolled down.
A man stared out, his face half-hidden in shadow. Aria's heart slammed against her ribs. He looked like someone she'd seen in her dreams-sharp jaw, cold eyes, presence like a loaded gun. Something primal curled inside her chest, like recognition. Like warning.
Then the window rolled back up.
The car began to drive off-but abruptly stopped.
She turned to walk away, too late.
The passenger door opened.
"Get in," a voice commanded. Deep, smooth, lethal.
Aria froze. "Excuse me?"
"Get. In." The voice wasn't shouting, but it left no room for disobedience.
"I don't even know you."
"But I know you."
Her breath caught.
He stepped out.
The rain seemed to swerve around him like it was afraid to touch him. His suit was tailored perfection, black on black, with a blood-red pocket square that matched the thin scar slicing across his cheek. Midnight hair. Ice-gray eyes. Tall, dominant, terrifying.
He was beautiful in a way that didn't feel human.
"You shouldn't be out here," he said, his gaze trailing from her soaked boots to her trembling lips. "This is Crimson territory. You're lucky I found you first."
"Who are you?" she asked, voice shaking.
The man smiled faintly. "Lucian."
Lucian. The name sent a shiver down her spine like a forgotten promise.
"I don't need saving," she said.
"I didn't say you did. But someone else might think differently." He tilted his head. "There's a price on your head, you know. Half a million. Dead or alive."
Aria's knees weakened. "That's not funny."
"I'm not joking."
She backed away. "You have the wrong person."
"No," he said softly, stepping closer. "I have exactly the right one."
Her instincts screamed. Run.
But her feet didn't move.
Not when he was looking at her like that. Not when his scent-like cedar and something wild-wrapped around her like a chain. She hated the way her body responded. As if it knew him. As if it wanted him.
"You're not safe out here, Aria."
Her head snapped up. "How do you know my name?"
He reached into his coat and tossed her a folded piece of paper.
She opened it slowly. A photo. Of her. From days ago. Sleeping under a bridge. Underneath it:
"Subject: Aria Blackwood. Status: Recovered. Priority: Eliminate."
Her vision blurred.
"You've been marked," Lucian said. "By people who don't care if you remember or not. Someone wants you dead. Again."
Her heart twisted. Again.
She looked up at him. "Why are you helping me?"
Lucian's jaw tightened. "Because I owe someone. And because... I know what it's like to be hunted."
He opened the door again.
"Come with me. Or take your chances out here. But know this-whoever's after you won't stop. And if they get to you before I do... you won't come back a second time."
Aria stared at him.
Her instincts said no.
Her heart whispered yes.
The rain fell harder, cold and merciless.
She stepped into the car.
Lucian closed the door behind her.
As the car sped off, Aria looked back at the bus shelter. The shadow of a large black wolf stood just beyond the trees, glowing eyes watching them disappear into the night.
And somewhere deep in her soul, something long-dead stirred.
/0/75371/coverbig.jpg?v=577f3c30b5c194d3127a7068a5bf8a09)
View More Comments on App
/0/61795/coverbig.jpg?v=b30cbfd63b4a13c548a5c05cf867c133)
/0/71279/coverbig.jpg?v=9e49a76b6b5eef1f9b662f77b9729717)
/0/79297/coverbig.jpg?v=5580ae4317d3230416418e5292fa6d1e)
/0/73883/coverbig.jpg?v=1d6648a2866aafa919b160ad5a001afc)
/0/73838/coverbig.jpg?v=13386996a09e7a2f9334fc224055a59a)
/0/69279/coverbig.jpg?v=470c37c28032fffc04e91cca64c9513f)
