Chapter 4 – No Bond, No Control
Rain fell in thin sheets, soaking Aria's hair as she walked down the quiet street. She hugged her arms tight around herself, but the cold still seeped through her clothes. The rain didn't bother her much—it matched the heavy, gray feeling inside her. She tilted her head back, staring at the cloudy sky. Why? Why had the Moon Goddess paired her with him? An Alpha. Not just any Alpha—Damon, the Lycan Alpha. His name alone twisted her stomach. How was that fair?
All she'd ever wanted was a mate who'd love her. Someone kind, gentle, with a warm smile. Someone who didn't demand she kneel or act like she was his property. Not a man who growled orders or stared at her like she belonged to him.
Was a normal mate too much to ask for?
A loud honk snapped her out of her thoughts. Aria blinked rain from her eyes, turning to see a sleek black car pull up beside her. The door flew open, and Damon jumped out, moving fast, his shirt darkening in the rain.
"Aria!" he called, jogging toward her, his voice cutting through the downpour.
She froze for a moment, her heart racing. As he reached for her arm, she jerked back, dodging his touch.
"Don't," she snapped, her voice sharp. "Leave me alone. I don't want to see you."
Damon's brows furrowed, his dark eyes searching her face, surprised by her rejection. "You'll get sick in this rain," he said, his tone softer than she expected. "Let me take you home."
"Home?" Aria let out a bitter laugh, rain dripping from her chin. "I don't have a home with you. And I'm not going anywhere with you." She glared at him, her voice shaky but firm. "You're not the mate I wanted."
"You don't get to choose," Damon said, his voice low, almost gentle. "The bond—"
"There's no bond!" Aria cut him off, stepping back. Her words came out fierce, fueled by frustration. "I don't have a wolf. No wolf, no bond. No instincts pulling me to you. No reason for me to obey you."
Damon opened his mouth to respond, but another car's engine hummed behind them. A sleek silver car rolled up, its headlights cutting through the rain. The passenger door swung open, and Mona jumped out, her heels clicking on the wet pavement. Her eyes narrowed with concern as she rushed toward them.
"Aria!" Mona called, then glanced at Damon. Her body stiffened, but she held her ground.
Damon stepped forward, placing himself between Aria and Mona. "No one's taking her anywhere," he growled, his voice low and possessive. "Aria is mine."
Mona didn't back down, though a flicker of fear crossed her eyes. She stepped closer, her voice steady but sharp. "She's not a thing, Alpha. She's a person. She asked for space. Respect that."
Damon's eyes flashed with the same commanding intensity Aria had seen before, but she refused to waver. Not this time. She stepped past him, standing beside Mona.
"You heard her," Aria said, her voice quiet but firm. "I don't belong to you. This is a mistake."
Before Damon could say another word, Aria yanked open the car door, climbed in, and slammed it shut. Mona hurried to the driver's seat, sliding in quickly. As they pulled away, Aria didn't look back, though she felt Damon's gaze burning into her.
The car was silent for a few minutes, the only sounds the soft tap of rain on the windshield and the rhythmic swoosh of the wipers. Aria stared out the window, watching the world blur through the rain.
"You okay?" Mona asked, glancing over.
Aria nodded slowly, wiping her wet hand across her eyes. "Yeah. I'm fine."
Mona's lips pressed together, unconvinced. "Are you sure?"
"No," Aria admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "I just need to be somewhere else. Can you drop me at school? I have dance practice."
Mona nodded, signaling a turn. "Of course."
They drove in silence for a bit longer, the rain softening to a drizzle. Then Mona spoke again, her voice gentle. "If you ever feel alone—like, really alone—you can tell me. I'm here for you, okay?"
Aria managed a small smile, warmed by her friend's words. "Why you?" she asked softly. "Why are you the one helping me through this? Am I stuck with Damon forever?"
Mona took a deep breath, her eyes fixed on the road. "You're not stuck," she said. "As long as Damon doesn't mark you during the full moon, the bond won't lock in. You'll still have a chance."
"A chance?" Aria turned to her, hope flickering in her chest.
"A second chance mate," Mona said. "It's rare, but it happens. If the first bond doesn't seal, the Moon Goddess might give you another mate. That's why the full moon matters. If he doesn't mark you, you could get another path."
For a moment, Aria let herself believe it. She imagined waking up one day free from this suffocating fate, free from Damon's intense eyes and controlling presence. Maybe she could have a mate who loved her without demanding her submission. A mate who felt like home.
"I hope that's true," she whispered, her voice breaking.
"It is," Mona said softly. "You just have to hold on."
Aria nodded, tears stinging her eyes. She wiped them away quickly, refusing to let them fall. "Thanks," she muttered as the car pulled up to the school.
She stepped out into the light drizzle, slinging her bag over her shoulder. The school's hallway lights glowed softly through the windows, casting a warm yellow shine on the wet pavement. Aria pushed open the door, her sneakers squeaking on the slick floor.
Dance practice was her escape, her sanctuary. She hoped it could still pull her out of this mess, even for a little while.
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