Mute

Aria’s POV

All eyes were on me, their stares like daggers piercing through my skin. Their gazes were suffocating, filled with scrutiny and judgment.

I could feel the whispers, the disbelief, the silent accusations hanging in the air. It was as if I had planned this whole disaster when, in truth, I had no hand in any of it. Caspian was the one who had rejected me, who had chosen Ellen, and now he was unraveling his own marriage to pursue me.

I took a step back, my heart pounding in my chest, the panic rising. This was too much. The whispers grew louder, a cacophony of shock and confusion.

“Is she the reason Caspian’s acting like this?”

“I can’t believe he would do this on his wedding day.”

“This is a scandal.

I couldn’t breathe. The room was spinning, and my vision blurred with unshed tears. I had to get out of here. I couldn’t stand the hate, the judgment, the overwhelming chaos

of it all.

“Aria, wait!” Caspian’s voice cut through the din, but I couldn’t face him. Not now.

Without another word, I turned and bolted for the door, pushing through the stunned crowd. The sound of my heels clicking against the marble floor echoed in my ears as I fled, my heart racing with every step. The air outside the grand hall was cool against my flushed skin, but I didn’t stop. I kept running, desperate to escape the suffocating pressure of the scene behind me.

“Arial” Caspian’s voice was closer now, and I glanced over my shoulder to see him running after me, his face a mask of frustration and desperation.

‘Leave me alone, Caspian!’ I signed, hating that I was a mute and couldn’t yell so hard at him. I didn’t want to hear his explanations or apologies. I just wanted to be free from this nightmare.

I ran faster, my breath coming in ragged gasps, my heart pounding in my ears. The garden loomed ahead, a maze of hedges and flowers, and I ducked into it, hoping to lose him in the twists and turns. The sound of my footsteps was muffled by the soft earth beneath me, but Caspian was relentless, his pursuit non-stop.

“Aria, stop!” His voice was pleading now, but I couldn’t bring myself to listen.

I turned a corner and found myself in a secluded clearing, surrounded by towering hedges. My breath caught in my throat, and I realized I had cornered myself. There was nowhere else to run.

Caspian burst into the clearing, his chest heaving with exertion, his eyes locked onto mine. He took a step forward, but I held up a hand, my whole body shaking, “Don’t Just… don’t

“Aria, please,” he begged, his voice raw with emotion. “I need to explaini

‘Explain what, Caspian?’ I signed aggressively, my anger and frustration boiling over. “That you ruined your own wedding? That you rejected me for Ellen, and now you’re doing the same to her? What could you possibly say to make any of this right?”

He took another step closer, his eyes filled with anguish. “I made a mistake. I was trying to do what I thought was best for the pack, but I can’t deny my feelings any longer. 1 love you, Aría. I’ve always loved you.”

I shook my head, my eyes burning with unshed tears. “You don’t get to do this, Caspian You don’t get to throw my life into chaos and then expect me to forgive you

He reached out, his hand trembling. “Please, just give me a chance to make it righ

I took a step back, my eyes cold. “You made your choice, Caspian. Now live with in

As I turned to leave, I felt Caspian’s massive presence close in behind me his powerful arms wrapping around my waist and pulling me into his chest. His body trembled against mine, a storm of emotions radiating through his touch. His breath was tot against my neck as he buried his face into my skin, his voice a desperate whisper

“Aria, please,” he murmured, his voice breaking, “I can’t live without you. I need you to forgive me. I need you to come back to me, or I’ll go mad

Every fiber of my being tensed as I struggled to break free from his grip. Ben Caspian was too strong, his Alpha strength amplified by the presence of his wolf, houding me captive against his heaving chest. I could feel the tremors in his body, the raw emocion coursing through him.

“Aria, I’ve been living in hell since I brought you back from the BlueWave pack be began, his words tumbling out in a rush. “I thought I was doing the right thing for the pack, for our future. But I was wrong. So terribly wrong”

His voice wavered, and I could feel the pain in his words, the sincerity. But my beat

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was a stiff, walled off from the vulnerability he now displayed.

“I don’t love Ellen, Aria. I never did. I was blinded by what I thought was duty and obligation. But every moment away from you has been torment. Every night, I lie awake thinking of you, yearning for you.”

I closed my eyes, fighting back the surge of emotions threatening to break through my defenses. His words were like a blade, cutting through the layers of pain and resentment I had built up. But I couldn’t let myself soften. Not yet.

“I was a fool to reject you, he continued, his voice cracking. “A fool to think I could ever be happy with someone else. You are my mate. Aria. My true mate. And I was too blind

to see it

His arms tightened around me, his body shaking with the force of his emotions. “Please, believe me. I need you. I love you. I can’t live without you.”

Part of me wanted to believe him, wanted to see the truth in his words. But the memories of his rejection, the cold, heartless way he had pushed me aside, were still fresh. I couldn’t let myself be vulnerable again. I couldn’t trust him not to hurt me.

I struggled once more against his hold, but he held me fast, his grip unyielding. His large body trembled against mine, a testament to the turmoil raging within him.

“Aria,” he whispered, his voice raw and desperate. “I know I’ve hurt you. I know I’ve done things that are unforgivable. But please, give me a chance to make it right. Let me prove to you that my love is real.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I blinked them away. I couldn’t let him see my weakness. I couldn’t let him think he had a chance to break through the walls I had built.

His words continued, a torrent of confessions and pleas. He spoke of his sleepless nights, of the emptiness he felt without me. He spoke of his regret, of the constant ache in his heart. But through it all, I remained silent, my heart a cold, unyielding stone. Finally, he fell silent, his breath ragged against my neck. For a moment, the world was still, the only sound the pounding of our hearts. I could feel his desperation, his anguish. But I couldn’t bring myself to respond. My heart was too stiff, too wounded to let his words penetrate.

With a final, shuddering breath, he released me, stepping back. I turned to face him, our eyes locking. His face was a mask of pain, his eyes pleading. But I couldn’t give him the response he sought. I couldn’t let myself be vulnerable again.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself as I turned to face Caspian. My hands moved with deliberate precision, signing the words that needed to be said, each gesture sharp

and clear.

‘We can never be together, I signed, my eyes locked onto his. ‘Leave me alone. Stay out of my way!

The weight of my words were heavy in the air, and for a moment, there was only silence. Then, Caspian’s face twisted in anguish, and he let out a raw, desperate yell.

“I love you! Please, Aria, give me this one last chance to erase the insults and fix the damages.”

He began to move towards me again, his eyes filled with hope and despair. My heart pounded, but I stood my ground, raising my hands once more. This time, my signs were fiercer, more urgent.

‘Stay back, I signed with force. ‘If you come any closer, I will hate you more than I already do.

The words seemed to have struck him like a physical blow. I saw the pain spread across his face, the longing in his eyes darkening into a deep, haunting sadness. His steps. faltered, and he stopped, staring at me with an expression that nearly broke me.

But I couldn’t let him see my own turmoil. With a final look, I shifted, my body morphing into my wolf form. The transformation was swift, my senses sharpening as fur covered my skin and my limbs elongated into muscles.

Without another glance at Caspian, I boked, my paws pounding against the earth as I

ran.

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