Chapter 6 – Her Decision
Aria sat in the corner of the dance studio, her legs tucked under her, arms wrapped tight around her chest. Soft music hummed from the speakers, filling the room with a gentle beat. The other dancers moved with energy, their steps sharp and lively, but Aria stayed still. She stared at the mirror in front of her, but her reflection was a blur. Her mind was somewhere else.
The day before clung to her like a heavy shadow. Cara's cruel words echoed in her head. Who was that girl? Why had she shown up in dance class, a place Aria had never seen her before? None of it made sense. The confusion twisted in her chest, mixing with her fear of Damon and the mate bond she didn't want.
"Hey," a soft voice said beside her.
Aria jumped, turning to see Mona sitting close, her eyes full of worry. For a moment, Aria had forgotten Mona was in her dance group. With everything—Damon, the bond, the fear—her world felt foggy, like she was losing her grip.
"You okay?" Mona asked, her voice gentle, her brows furrowed.
Aria didn't answer. Her fingers gripped her leggings, her chest tight. Her thoughts were a storm, swirling too fast to catch.
She looked at Mona, her voice low but firm. "What if I reject my mate?"
Mona tilted her head. "Reject him?"
Aria nodded. "If I do, will he leave me alone? Will this all stop?"
Mona rested a hand on Aria's shoulder, warm and steady. "You're thinking about rejecting an Alpha?"
Aria's eyes dropped to the floor. "Maybe. I can't live with someone who scares me. Someone who thinks he can control me just because of some bond."
Mona sighed, standing and offering her hand. "Come on. We've got practice. The contest is soon, remember? Don't let this mate stuff break you."
Aria hesitated, then took Mona's hand and stood. Her body felt heavy, but she forced a small smile. "You're right," she said, brushing her hair back. "Let's dance."
They joined the others in the main studio. The floor buzzed with dancers spinning and leaping to the music. Aria tried to focus, letting the beat pull her in. She moved her arms, stepped to the rhythm, but her heart wasn't there. The weight in her chest stayed, heavy and unyielding.
Later, lunchtime came quickly. Aria, now in her clean school uniform, walked into the cafeteria with a tray holding just a water bottle and a sandwich. Her stomach churned—she wasn't hungry. Her mind was too full, too tangled with thoughts of Damon.
She chose a table in the corner, far from the noisy chatter of other students. Sitting alone, she propped her chin in her hand, staring at the table. Her thoughts drifted. How could she reject someone like Damon? He wasn't just a guy. He wasn't even just a werewolf. He was the Lycan Alpha—powerful, feared, untouchable. She'd heard stories, whispered in hallways or shouted in rumors. They all said the same thing: Damon didn't take rejection lightly.
Her fingers tapped the water bottle. She needed a plan—something smart, something strong. Running from him forever wasn't an option.
The cafeteria fell silent.
Aria didn't notice at first, lost in her thoughts. The quiet crept in slowly, like a wave pulling back from the shore.
Then someone sat across from her.
Her eyes lifted, and her body froze.
Damon.
He sat there like he owned the room, a smirk curling his lips. His silver-gray eyes locked onto hers, sharp and intense, just like in her dreams. Around them, students shifted away. Nearby tables emptied as people grabbed their trays and moved to the far end of the cafeteria, as if an invisible wall had risen around Aria and Damon.
"Why are you here?" Aria asked, trying to keep her voice steady. But a tremble slipped through.
Damon leaned forward, elbows resting on the table, his gaze never leaving her. "Is that how you speak to your Alpha?" he asked, his tone light but edged with authority.
Aria let out a sharp, bitter laugh and stood, her chair scraping the floor. "You might be an Alpha," she said, her voice shaking but clear, "but I'll never be your mate."
She turned to walk away.
Before she could take a step, Damon's hand caught hers.
Her body went stiff, her breath catching. His grip wasn't rough, but it was firm, like he wasn't giving her a choice. She turned back, her heart pounding.
His eyes had changed.
They weren't gray anymore. They were dark, almost black, like a storm brewing behind them. Something deep and ancient moved in his gaze, like a shadow under water.
"Don't walk away from me," he said, his voice low and sharp, cutting through the air.
Aria's pulse raced, hammering in her chest.
"I said," Damon growled, his voice louder, rumbling like thunder, "you belong to me. Only me."
His words shook the room, his growl echoing in the silence. Every student stared, their eyes wide, frozen in place.
Aria's throat tightened. Fear pinned her for a moment, heavy and cold.
But then something snapped inside her.
She yanked her hand free, her fingers trembling but her resolve firm. "Never," she snapped, her voice sharp and clear, slicing through the tension.
She didn't wait for his reaction. She turned and ran, her sneakers pounding the floor. She ran from the cafeteria, from the staring eyes, from the weight of Damon's gaze burning into her back.
Her breath came in short gasps as she pushed through the doors. The hallway blurred past, the lights dim and flickering. She didn't stop, didn't slow, didn't look back. Her chest burned, but she kept going.
She needed to escape.
From Damon.
From the bond.
From everything.
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