Mute

Caspian’s POV.

As I attended to the concerns of my pack members, a sense of duty weighing heavy on my shoulders, one of my men approached with a grave expression. “Alpha Caspian,” he greeted respectfully, catching my attention.

I exchanged a meaningful glance with Elijah, my trusted beta, before turning back to the man. “Go ahead, speak,” I commanded, my tone firm yet composed.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

The man wasted no time in delivering his message. “Alpha Brent is enraged,” he began, his voice tinged with urgency. “A member of the LightShadow pack has t**d into his territory and allegedly killed two of his pack members. Brent demands retribution, threatening to come after you if you don’t answer for the damages.”

Elijah interjected, his voice tinged with concern. “It’s a trap, Caspian. Don’t fall for it. Brent’s aim is to lure you in and eliminate you, knowing he can’t match you in a fair fight.”

I raised a hand to silence Elijah, my mind already racing with calculations.

Turning back to the messenger, I demanded more information. “Who is this person Brent is referring to?” I inquired, my voice steady despite my curiosity.

And then I waited for the man to confirm the identity of the trespasser in Brent’s territory.

“It’s Aria,” he declared, the name hitting me like a thunderbolt. My eyes widened almost to the point of bulging out of their sockets.

“Are you certain?” I demanded, my voice barely above a whisper. “Aria, the mute omega who ran away from my pack? The young woman we’ve been searching for?”

The man nodded flippantly. “Yes, Alpha Caspian,” he confirmed. “Alpha Brent is holding her as a hostage after claiming she murdered two of his pack members.”

My throat tightened at this revelation.

Aria, the very thought of her had haunted my nights, filled with worries about her safety, her well-being.

Guilt gnawed at me, knowing I was the cause of her pain, the source of her suffering.

Relief washed over me momentarily, knowing she was alive, but it was quickly replaced

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by a wave of fear for her safety.

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Aria was in danger, in the clutches of a ruthless Alpha who could snuff out her life without a second thought. I couldn’t bear the thought of her enduring any more pain because of me.

Without hesitation, I turned to Elijah, my trusted beta, and issued the command. “Ready some men. We’re going to the Blue Wave pack right now.”

Elijah’s expression darkened with concern as he voiced his objections. “Alpha Caspian, we can’t just barge into Brent’s territory like that. Who knows what he has planned? Our history is riddled with violence, and if we confront him, it could lead to more

bloodshed.”

But I couldn’t heed his warnings, not when Aria’s life hung in the balance. “I don’t care,” I snapped, my voice laced with urgency. “We’re going over there to get Aria now, no matter the cost.”

Determined and driven by the need to protect her, I prepared myself for the confrontation ahead.

As we stepped into the territory of the Bluewave pack, a message was swiftly delivered to Alpha Brent about my arrival. His orders were clear: let us in.

Elijah’s weariness was obvious as we walked into Brent’s domain, but I couldn’t afford to be afraid. My mind was consumed with thoughts of Aria, her safety, her well-being.

The moment we entered the grand hall, I felt her presence before I even laid eyes on her. Despite breaking our mate bond, I still felt a deep connection to her, a pull that drew me towards her like a magnet.

And then I saw her, standing off to the side, and my breath caught in my throat.

Aria.

Finally, after two agonizing weeks of searching, I had found her. My body trembled with emotion; she had always held power over me, but I never realized the extent until she left.

But Aria’s reaction wasn’t what I expected. Instead of relief or joy, her expression was one of hatred, a look that pierced through me like a dagger. Something which made it impossible for me to stare at her without feeling like s**t.

Alpha Brent’s voice cut through the tension in the room as he spoke from his seat. “You

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came quicker than I expected, Caspian,” he remarked, his tone laced with mockery. “All this for a mere omega in your pack.”

I couldn’t contain the growl that rumbled from deep within my chest as I faced Alpha Brent, my eyes burning with fury. “Release Aria,” I demanded, my voice laced with menace, “or face the consequences.”

Brent’s response was a chuckle, his gaze meeting mine with an amused glint. “You’ve got some balls, Caspian,” he remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Threatening me in my own territory?”

I narrowed my eyes, my muscles tensing with barely contained rage. “You know I’m not afraid of you,” I spat, my voice low and dangerous. “Now let go of Aria while I’m being nice. She’s innocent. She won’t even hurt a fly, let alone kill someone.”

And to my suprise, Aria recoiled and stepped back until she stood before Brent. With a determined expression, she began to sign, her movements fluid yet filled with

conviction.

‘I would rather you kill me than to release me to go back to the LightShadow pack,’ she signed. ‘I would be more than glad to die here.’

The room fell silent at her bold demand, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

I stood frozen, stunned by her response and how she seemed so bold to make this known to the lady who in turn relayed the message to Alpha Brent.

My mind raced, dealing with a wide range of emotions; shock, anger, and a profound sense of guilt.

In that moment, I realized the depth of Aria’s pain and the extent of my own wrongdoing. I had hurt her, betrayed her, and now she stood before me, willing to sacrifice her life rather than return to the pack that had caused her so much suffering.