Writers POV

She dragged herself into the bedroom through the window, stumbling through the woods. Her breathing was erratic, she was bleeding profusely, and the wound showed no signs of healing. She dragged her feet to the restroom. It was becoming increasingly difficult for her to breathe, and she was afraid of collapsing. She took the first aid kit from the bathroom and took off her jacket and tee shirt. She placed a gauge over the wound in an attempt to temporarily stop the bleeding. She poured antiseptics on her wound and looked at it. It was one and a half inches wide and quite deep. She looked for a needle but couldn't find one, so she settled for a sharp long pin and some thread. She disinfected the thread by dipping it in antiseptic. She warmed up the needle with her fire ability and bent its head like a fish hook. She stuffed her face with her shirt and began working on closing the wound's face. As the hot needle thread pierced her skin, she gritted her teeth and closed her eyes in an effort to keep from screaming. She sewed the wound shut with a tight jaw and trembling hand. She dressed the wound with a gauge and bandages. This one, like every other wound and scar, was hidden beneath her skin by the enchantment, away from every eye and touch. She undressed, her hair changing back to scarlet red and took a shower; she was feeling lightheaded, so she changed into one of his oversized shirts and a fresh pair of her undies. She burned the clothes she was wearing before covering every last drop of scent and blood. The clothes burned and the ashes vanished into the air in a mere minute. She dragged her body to the bed and passed out.

As the sunset, he returned to the manor, followed by the pack of wolves. They recovered every single body, as well as any traces of who might have killed them. Whoever it was, they were clearly skilled. Nothing but a few drops of blood was left behind the silhouette. At the back of the manor, they reverted to human form and dressed in available shorts.

"Assemble the conference room and ensure that everyone arrives in thirty minutes." Aiden gave Nick the order and proceeded to the bedroom. He was eager to see Ariel. He had left before she had woken up and hadn't seen her all day. And after discovering the bodies, he had a sick feeling in his heart that something might be wrong.

As Aiden entered the bedroom, the warrior who was guarding her bowed. He discovered her in deep slumber, lying in bed beneath the warm duvet. She was wearing one of his shirts, and a small smile crept across his lips. He entered the bathroom and decided to wake her up for the meeting after taking a shower and getting dressed.

"Ariel?" He called her name gently, but she didn't respond. When she didn't respond after a few times of calling her name, he gently placed his hand over her shoulder to shake her. Before he could say anything, her eyes shot open and she grabbed his hand, yanking it away. Her stench was on full guard but when her gaze was drawn to his perplexed expression, she let go of his hand.

"Are you all right?" He inquired out of concern.

"I'm fine," she said, settling back.

"Just a bad dream," she said with a shake of her head and closing her eyes. He nodded and sat down beside her. She leaned against the headboard and asked

"When did you come back?"

"Just a few minutes ago. We have a meeting in twenty minutes." He said looking at his watch.

"About what?"

"We found a few bodies of assassins getting back from the southern border." He said and she nodded running her hand over her face.

"Do I need to go with you?"

"Yes, that's why I woke you up." He said softly

"I'm not feeling really well, nasty migraine." She said resting her head on the bed headboard.

"I didn't know, I wouldn't have woken you up if I knew. I'll leave you to take some more rest then."

"Okay, can you ask someone to send some food for me? I'm hungry."

"Did you have lunch?" He asked and she shook her head a no. He shook his head in displeasure

"I'll bring something for you." He said leaving the bedroom. After a few moments, he returned with a platter of food. He opened the lid, and she discovered a large bowl of chicken soup, bread, and a tub of pudding inside. He sat down in front of her and placed a spoonful of soup in front of her mouth. She looked down at the spoonful and then back at him. He motioned for her to eat, and she did so. With a small smile on his lips, he gradually fed her the soup and bread. The way he catered to her every need, the way he was always there for her, taking care of her and the way he was always so loving and respectful towards her made her heart swell. She couldn't take her gaze away from his lovely face. She felt compelled to hold him close and kiss him until neither of them could breathe, and to pour her heart out to him. She felt compelled to tell him how she felt and why she was fleeing from him, from them! She will tell him, she reasoned with herself. But not right now; perhaps someday in the near future! When the bowl was empty, he set it on the bedside table, and his vision became cloudy for a moment.

"Everyone is here; I have to go." He informed her, and she nodded.

"Finish the pudding and get some rest. I'll be right back." She gave him a small smile, he kissed her forehead, and exited the room, gently closing the door behind him. She took the pudding and began eating slowly, but her thoughts were racing about the events of the day. Why would he kidnap Mia, how did his assassins enter pack territory, and how did he send the letter in her room? And, most importantly, why didn't she heal from the wound? She felt the stinging pain as she gently caressed the spot where she had been stabbed. The pain had worsened, and she cringed. There were numerous questions and possibilities, but there were no answers.

He walked into the conference room with a stiff face, his mind racing over the possibilities of what had happened. His beast had shuddered at the sight of the vanishing silhouette and the droplets of blood left behind their trail smelled utterly familiar. Then there was the droplet of blood by the bedroom window, followed by the lingering odor of smoke and fire. He wasn't too keen to connect the dots, not just yet. He entered the conference room, everyone stood and bowed as he took his seat at the head of the table.

"Is there anything you can tell us about identifying those bodies?" He asked, his voice cold and powerful, placing his hand on the table and sitting straight.

"Nothing, Alpha." As Aiden looked at him, a warrior replied with his head bowed.

"Alpha, if I may." Aiden nodded when a man at the far end of the table asked for his permission to speak.

"I'm Vladislav Marron, physician of Dawn Pack, Your Highness," the man stood up and said.

"I was in charge of inspecting the Assassins who had been discovered dead. Your Highness, they were all newborn vampires."

"Aren't vampire bodies supposed to turn to ash and vanish after death?" Beta Nick asked, and everyone in the room looked at the physician in anticipation of an answer.

"Yes, Your Grace, I'm afraid that's what was supposed to happen, but as we all know, their body did not vanish in ashes. They were distinct, almost evolved. Their death was instantaneous due to the deep cut in their neck. Whoever killed them was very well trained, and they made sure to kill them in an instant; otherwise, I'm afraid everyone present would have been in grave danger, as we all know how vicious newborn vampires are in strength and every other aspect. Furthermore, the fact that their DNA differs from that of regular vampires is very concerning."

"Their ambush positions were perfectly simulated. You are correct that the attack would have resulted in a bloodbath." Aiden nodded, a solemn expression on his face.

"Then whoever killed them saved us." Except for Aiden and his pack warriors, almost everyone in the room agreed with Alpha Zedan.

"Those who killed them were also aware of the attack and their location. How can we be certain that those highly skilled murderers are not threats upon us?" Nick stated

"You're right, Nick, but the first question at this point is how twenty-five assassins managed to sneak across your pack's border undetected." Aiden asked Zedan, his eyes brimming with rage and Zedan averted his gaze.

"I need answers, Alpha. I'm here to help you get out of your predicament and prevent any further untimely deaths of my subjects. But I won't be able to assist you if your pack members don't take things seriously. And I certainly don't want to endanger my pack by bringing any more warriors to your aid."

"Please forgive this mistake, Your Highness. I will make sure that the border patrol is well aware of their grave mistakes and they pay through it."

"Make sure they don't make such mistakes in the future or else I'm afraid you and your pack members won't be present here apologizing for their mistakes."

The rest of the meeting was spent talking about the mysterious hidden alliance or hidden enemy, the dead assassins, and the possibility of an impending lurking danger. When most of the present wolves called the mysterious assassins allies, a large number of them were unwilling to accept them as allies.

As the meeting and discussions progressed, Aiden's thoughts were elsewhere. The meeting ended with the adoption of new safety protocols and the agreement to conduct additional research on the assassins' dead bodies and weapons. Aiden walked back to their bedroom, he removed his suit jacket and unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt. He entered the bedroom and discovered Ariel asleep. The blanket was under her, and the shirt had risen above her buttocks, exposing her long legs and torso. He walked closer to her, trying to keep his burning gaze away from her alluring body. He took the duvet and covered it till her neck, and kissed her on the forehead. He stripped down to his boxers and put on sweatpants and a t-shirt, he laid beside her in bed, curdling her from behind. She snuggled closer to his warmth and he smiled tenderly at her

"Good night, love." He drifted off to sleep.

She was standing in an open field, surrounded by dead grass and trees. Everything around her appeared to be lifeless, dark, and cold. She looked around, but all she saw was darkness. She walked around, looking for something that was alive. She discovered nothing, not even a living soul. She was terrified and anxious, so she began running around screaming for help, but no one responded. Suddenly she noticed a ball of light in the distance, she dashed towards it, desperate to escape the darkness. But as the light got closer, she came to a halt and tilted her head to look at the ball of light. Her eyes widened as she realized it was a ball of fire getting closer and closer. She started running away from it but the ball of fire kept getting closer to her at full speed. She screamed for help as the fire engulfed her completely, but no voice came out of her vocal cord. She was engulfed in flames, but the flames were not touching her. Her body temperature skyrocketed, and she writhed in agony. She had the sensation that fire was coursing through her veins, spreading throughout her body and burning her from within. She whimpered as she felt the scorching heat consume every part of her living being. Aiden, who was sleeping beside her, gazed at her with a worried expression on his face.

"Hey, Ariel? Look at me." He hovered over her, his weight resting on his left elbow, his hand on her cheek, and he tried to make her look at him.

"Please look at me, love." She wished to open her eyes and look at him as he pleaded, but her eyes burned and felt too heavy for her to lift.

"I-it b-burns!" Her face cringed in pain as a scream of agony left her mouth. Aiden cupped her cheeks making her look at him.

"Ariel? Look at me, love." He demanded her attention, but she was still writhing in agony. Her face flushed, and she climbed onto his lap, straddling him.

"Aiden," she clenches her fists around his t-shirt and moans his name. She tries to press her lips against his, but he pulls away. She gives him a frown. His eyes shifts from their original blue to black. Her scent and the pheromones on the air were making him go crazy. He was trying hard to control himself. His control slips and he begins kissing down her jaw toward her exposed neck and shoulder. His grip on her waist tightened, retaining her squirming form on his lap and preventing her from rubbing her body over his.

"Ariel!" He pulls back, growling lowly. Her hands go around his neck, attempting to draw him closer.

"Do you not want to fuck me?" She exhales and reaches for the waistband of his pants. But before she could shove her hand in his pants, he holds her wrist lifting her hand away.

"I want to devour you, but only when you give yourself to me willingly, not because of your heat." He picks her up in bridal style and kicks open the bathroom door. He sets her on the counter and fills the bathtub with cold water. He draws her closer to the bathtub, gets in first, and then takes Ariel's hand pulling in the tub, she lies on top of him in the cold water. He holds her close planting soft kisses here and there. Her body temperature drops as a result of physical contact with him and exposure to cold water.

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We are already at 9000!!! I'm so happy that it hurts😭😭 you guys are amazing and I love every single one of you so much😭😭 I had so much fun writing this chapter ❤ Her secret is in jeopardy now but as the saying goes, secrets always finds their way out to the light😉

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