Chapter 76: Chapter 76; Did you kiss him back?
Alina’s POV
I let out a sharp, bitter laugh that scraped against the silence between us. "Aren’t you tired of this yet, Aiden?" My voice came out steadier than I felt. "What exactly do you think you’re going to gain? I’m not coming back. I’m happy where I am now."
The irritation that flashed across his face was instant—jaw tightening, eyes narrowing into that familiar dangerous glint. He hated being rejected. He always had.
"You have no idea what you’re saying," he growled, stepping closer. "I gave you a better life—"
"No." I cut him off, the word slicing through the air. "You gave me a cage and called it a life. I was never myself with you. I was just... surviving."
His expression darkened. For a moment, the forest around us felt too quiet, like even the trees were holding their breath.
"Did you never love me?" The question slipped out low and rough. When I didn’t answer immediately, he pressed again, voice cracking just slightly. "Alina. Did you never love me?"
I tore my gaze away, staring at the ground where moonlight dappled the leaves. My throat burned. The memories pressed in—nights I’d convinced myself this was enough, that the fire between us could somehow become peace.
"I did," I whispered finally, the admission tasting like ash. "I loved you. I thought... maybe we could actually build something real. A future. But I was wrong. Every single time." I lifted my chin, meeting his eyes. "The universe gave me a second chance. And I’m not wasting it."
A jagged, humorless laugh tore from his throat. "Lucian? That’s your second chance?"
The way he said the name—like it was something filthy—made my blood heat.
"I’m happy with him," I said quietly. "He takes care of Leo. Really takes care of him."
That was the breaking point.
"Leo is my child!" Aiden roared, the sound echoing through the trees. His eyes flashed with raw fury. "You would really keep my son from his father?"
I didn’t answer. The words wouldn’t come. Instead, I turned away. "I want to leave. Stop this, Aiden. Just... stop."
I’d barely taken two steps when his fingers closed around my wrist—firm, familiar, burning. I froze. Before I could pull away, his other hand rose, brushing my cheek with a gentleness that felt like a lie. His thumb traced my jaw, and my stupid heart stuttered.
"I miss you," he breathed, voice low and rough. "Every damn day."
This is stupid, I thought. This is so stupid. My body was leaning into him anyway, traitorous and weak, remembering the weight of his hands, the way he used to consume me whole. I hated myself for it. I tried to resist, tried to step back—but then his arm snaked around my waist, pulling me flush against him.
His lips crashed into mine.
I didn’t kiss him back at first. I stayed rigid, fists clenched at my sides. But he deepened the kiss, demanding entrance, and something inside me cracked. A small, broken sound escaped me as I opened for him. His grip tightened, crushing me closer, and a soft moan slipped into his mouth before I could stop it.
Then—sudden violence.
A powerful force ripped me backward. I stumbled, eyes flying open just in time to see Lucian’s fist connect with Aiden’s face in a sickening crack.
"How dare you kiss her!" Lucian snarled, voice vibrating with pure rage.
My stomach dropped. What have I done?
Aiden recovered instantly, spitting blood with a savage grin before throwing a punch that sent Lucian staggering. In the next heartbeat, both of them began shifting—bones cracking, fur rippling, eyes glowing with lethal intent. Two massive wolves faced off, snarling, hackles raised, ready to tear each other apart.
"Stop!" I screamed, throwing myself between them. "Both of you, stop!"
The air shimmered as they forced themselves back into human form, breathing hard. Lucian’s eyes found mine—raw, devastated, disappointment carved so deep it made my chest ache. The sadness there hurt worse than any anger could have.
"Why?" His voice was hoarse. "Why would you let him touch you, Alina?"
Before I could speak, Aiden cut in, wiping blood from his lip with the back of his hand. "Because she still loves me. The same way I love her."
Lucian’s hands clenched into fists, his whole body trembling with the effort not to shift again.
Aiden smirked, cruel and confident. "You think you can just take her from me and that’s the end of it? Or do you think because you marked her, she belongs to you now?" He took a step forward, eyes locked on Lucian. "She’s my mate too. We have a bond. You can’t erase that."
"Enough!" I shouted, my voice cracking. "Aiden, leave. Now."
He didn’t move. His gaze burned into me, then slid to Lucian with pure hatred.
"I’m not going anywhere," he said coldly. "This only ends when he dies."
"Aiden, I said leave." My voice shook, but I forced steel into it. "This isn’t your territory anymore. You don’t get to show up and destroy everything I’ve built."
Aiden’s gaze slid to me, dark and possessive. "You think I’m just going to walk away from my mate and my son? After everything?" He laughed again, low and bitter. "You kissed me back, Alina. Don’t pretend that meant nothing."
Heat flooded my face. I felt Lucian’s stare burning into the side of my head—raw hurt mixed with fury. I couldn’t meet his eyes. Not yet. The taste of Aiden still lingered on my lips, a betrayal I couldn’t erase.
"I was weak for a second," I whispered, more to myself than to them. "It doesn’t change anything."
Lucian moved then. Not toward Aiden, but closer to me. His hand brushed my arm, gentle despite the rage vibrating through him. The contrast made my chest tighten. This was the difference. Lucian’s touch didn’t demand. It offered. It grounded me.
"She’s made her choice," Lucian said, his voice low and deadly calm. "You heard her. She’s happy. Leo is safe. You’re the one clinging to ghosts."
Aiden’s eyes narrowed to slits. In one fluid motion, he shifted again—faster this time—his massive black wolf exploding forward with a snarl that rattled my bones. Lucian didn’t hesitate. Bones cracked, fur rippled, and his own silver-gray wolf met Aiden head-on.
They collided in a blur of teeth and claws. The sound of impact echoed through the forest—growls, snapping jaws, the sickening thud of bodies slamming into each other. I screamed their names, but they were lost in the haze of instinct and hatred.
I lunged forward, grabbing at fur, trying to wedge myself between them again. "Stop! Both of you—please!" My fingers caught Lucian’s shoulder. He faltered for half a second, just long enough for Aiden to swipe at his flank, drawing blood.
The metallic scent hit the air. My stomach churned.
"Enough!" The word tore out of me with every ounce of Luna power I could summon. The air shimmered with it, forcing both wolves to separate, panting and bleeding. They shifted back, human once more, chests heaving, eyes still glowing with their beasts barely contained.
Lucian’s side was torn open, blood trickling down his ribs. He didn’t seem to notice. His gaze stayed locked on me, disappointment still carved deep, but something else flickered there now—fear. Fear that he might actually lose me.
Aiden wiped blood from his mouth, smirking despite the bruises blooming across his jaw. "You feel it too, don’t you? The pull. Our bond never broke, Alina. Not really."
I shook my head, tears stinging my eyes. "I loved you once. But love isn’t enough when it suffocates you." My voice cracked. "Lucian... he sees me. The real me. Not the version you tried to shape."
For a moment, real pain flashed across Aiden’s face—raw and unguarded. Then it hardened back into anger. He took a step back, but his eyes promised this wasn’t over.
"This isn’t finished," he growled, voice rough with his wolf. "I’ll be back for my family. Both of you." His glare sliced to Lucian. "Especially you."
With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows of the trees, his presence lingering like smoke long after the sound of his footsteps faded.
Silence fell, heavy and suffocating.
I turned to Lucian slowly. His expression broke something inside me. The sadness in his eyes, the quiet betrayal... it hurt worse than any wound.
"Alina..." He reached for me, then stopped, hand hovering in the air. "Did you really kiss him back?"
The question hung between us. I swallowed hard, guilt twisting like a knife.
"I did," I admitted, voice barely above a whisper. "For a moment, I let the past pull me under. But it’s you I want. You, I choose. Every day."
I stepped closer, ignoring the blood on his skin, and pressed my forehead to his chest. His arms finally came around me—hesitant at first, then tight, desperate. His heartbeat thundered against my ear.
"I’m sorry," I breathed.
