Mute

Aria’s POV

As Caspian marched back towards the Light Shadow pack with me unceremoniously slung over his shoulder, a wide range of emotions engulfed me. Disbelief, anger, and frustration churned within me like a tempest raging in the depths of my soul.

How could this be happening? I pondered over this, my heart racing so hard that I could hear the sound of it in my ears.

Caspian, the one who had granted me my freedom, was now forcefully dragging me back into the very heart of the pack I had sought to escape.

As we approached the gates of the castle, a hushed murmur swept through the air, drawing the attention of the maids and a few onlookers who had gathered nearby.

“Is that… Caspian?”

“Who’s that he’s carrying?”

Their eyes widened in shock as they beheld the sight before them: Caspian, the powerful alpha, carrying me on his shoulder like a common criminal.

Gasps of astonishment rippled through the crowd, mingling with whispers of confusion and disbelief.

“What’s going on?”

“I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

“This is unheard of, unprecedented.”

The maids, who had once looked upon me with pity and sympathy, now regarded me with a mixture of fear and suspicion, their eyes darting between Caspian and me as if trying to make sense of the surreal scene unfolding before them.

I could feel the weight of their stares bearing down on me like a heavy burden, their silent judgment a harsh reminder of the precarious position I now found myself in.

But why? This was just too much for me to bear at the moment.

But amidst the chaos and confusion, one thing was abundantly clear: Caspian’s actions had sent shockwaves through the pack, shattering the fragile peace that had once reigned within its walls.

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12:32 Wed.

As we p

sense of

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ough the gates and into the heart of the castle, I couldn’t help but feel a ir wash over me.

Once again, I was back at the Light Shadow pack, trapped within its suffocating embrace. And this time, escape seemed like an impossible dream, a distant glimmer of hope swallowed whole by the darkness that threatened to consume me.

As the reality of my situation sank in, I ceased my futile struggles against Caspian’s iron grip. What use was there in fighting against an Alpha? He was a force of nature, his strength unmatched and his will unyielding. My wolf, sensing the futility of our resistance, growled softly within me, a silent acknowledgment of our defeat.

I had once dared to challenge him, to defy his authority and seek my freedom. But now, faced with the undeniable truth of his power, I could do nothing but submit to his will. He was the Alpha, the leader of the pack, and I was but a mere omega, powerless in his presence.

With a heavy heart, I resigned myself to my fate, allowing Caspian to carry me along like a helpless burden.

As Caspian finally set me down on my own two feet, a wave of relief washed over me, tempered by the lingering tension that still hung in the air. Before I could even gather my thoughts, however, the sound of hurried footsteps broke through the silence, and I turned to see Elijah, Caspian’s loyal beta, rushing towards us with a look of guilt etched. across his features.

“I’m sorry, Alpha,” Elijah panted, his words rushed and breathless. “There’s been a misunderstanding. It wasn’t Aria who was attacked by Brent’s men. It was another Omega who was targeted by rogues.”

I stood frozen in disbelief, my mind struggling to process the revelation. So, Caspian had acted on false information, believing that I had been the one in danger.

And yet, even after discovering the truth, he had still come for me, still shifted and chased after me to stop me from leaving.

The realization hit me like a blow to the chest, leaving me stunned into silence.

Caspian had gone to great lengths to ensure my safety, despite the mistaken belief that I was in danger. It was a sobering reminder of the depth of his commitment to his pack,

to me.

But before I could even begin to comprehend the implications of his actions, Caspian waved off Elijah’s words with a dismissive gesture, his expression unreadable. “It’s fine,” he said tersely, his voice betraying none of the turmoil that surely raged within him.

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12:33 Wed, Au

“Hurt or unhurt, Aria isn’t leaving this pack anymore. I changed my mind.”

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over any hopes I may have harbored of escaping the confines of the Light Shadow pack.

At that moment, I realized that Caspian’s decision was final, his authority unquestionable.

I knew that I couldn’t argue with him anymore, not when I was already exhausted to the bone from the day’s events.

So, with a resigned glance in his direction, I turned to face him and signed the words that had been burning on my tongue for so long: “I hate you.”

With those three simple words hanging between us like a bitter curse, I grabbed my bag and turned on my heel, boldly walking towards the quarters where I would be staying.

The maids who had gathered around us watched in stunned silence, their eyes wide with disbelief at the audacity of my actions.

No one had ever dared to defy Caspian in such a manner before, let alone walk out on him after declaring their hatred to his face.

But I was beyond caring about the consequences of my actions. I held my head high as I walked, refusing to let Caspian’s gaze or the weight of his disapproval weigh me down. I could feel his eyes boring into my back, a silent accusation that followed me like a shadow, but I refused to let it break my stride.

I was tired, tired of playing by rules, tired of pretending to be someone I wasn’t just to fit into their world.

To hell with Caspian, and to hell with anyone else who dared to judge me. I didn’t care anymore what they thought of me.

I was done bending over backwards to please them, done trying to earn their approval.

I wa

s my own person, and no one had the right to dictate my worth or my actions.