Chapter 157

Aria

I couldn’t help it. Something primal and possessive surged through me when I saw that woman touching my mate.

My wolf, usually so calm and controlled, bristled and clawed at the back of my mind. A low growl threatened to escape my throat as I stared at Raven’s perfectly manicured hand on my mate’s shoulder.

“Ours,” my wolf growled, agitated. “He’s our mate. What is that woman doing?”

I took a step forward, my jaw clenching so tight I thought my teeth might crack. This was insane; I knew that. The rational part of my brain knew I was being ridiculous, but the wolf inside of me, deep and primal, couldn’t seem to process the sight of another woman, especially one as beautiful as Raven, sitting so close to my mate.

It was a strange feeling, this jealousy. As a human, I’d never been particularly possessive, but as a werewolf, everything felt more intense, more urgent when it came to him. The bond between mates wasn’t just emotional; it was physical, biological, instinctual.

My hands curled into fists at my sides as I moved further into the room, the floorboard creaking beneath me. Both Darren and Raven looked up, and the moment Darren’s eyes met mine, his entire face lit up.

“Aria,” he said, his smile widening.

That smile was like a balm to my soul. The tension in my shoulders instantly eased, and I took a deep breath, pushing my wolf down. I was overreacting. This wasn’t me—it was just a primal urge, one that I would have to get a grip on if I was going to exist in this world.

“Hey,” I managed, forcing a smile as I approached them. “What are you two up to?”

Raven straightened, her green eyes sparkling. “I was just telling Darren about an idea I had for the summit you’re holding this weekend.”

Darren gestured for me to join them, and I settled into the armchair across from the couch, still feeling a bit unsettled but marginally better than before.

“Raven thinks it would be good to have some entertainment during the summit,” Darren explained. “Something to lighten the mood.”

Raven nodded eagerly. “A children’s play,” she said. “The human children and werewolf children could be in it together.”

My eyebrows went up. The idea was good, I had to admit. The summit was going to be tense, with so many different packs coming together to discuss the future of werewolf-human relations right before a potential war. A bit of lightness could help ease some of that tension.

“That’s actually a great idea,” I said, my initial discomfort fading as I considered the possibilities. “The kids would love it.”

“I was hoping you’d say that,” Raven beamed. “I’m willing to coordinate everything. I have an extensive background in theater, and I think it would be a perfect way to show the other packs that humans and werewolves can work together harmoniously.”

“Lucas could participate,” Darren said.

The mention of Lucas made my smile turn more genuine. “He would love that,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “But do you think you can pull something together by this weekend?”

Raven shrugged one slender shoulder. “I’ve done more in less time,” she laughed, waving her hand. “Besides, it’ll just be a short play. I don’t want the kids to have to worry too much about remembering lines or anything.”

I exchanged a glance with Darren, and the tender look in his eyes made the last vestiges of my anxiety finally slip away. I nodded. “I’m in,” I said.

Darren grinned. “Good. I was hoping for your approval before we agreed to anything.”

“Then it’s settled,” Raven said, clapping her hands together and hopping up from the sofa. “I’ll start working on it right away.”

“Let me know if you need any help,” I offered, feeling a bit guilty about my initial reaction to her presence. I should have been happy that a celebrity was here to help us and support our cause, but instead I had foolishly let my wolf’s territorial instincts cloud my judgment.

“Actually,” Raven said, “I was hoping to start tomorrow morning. Could you bring Lucas to the village square? I’m planning to gather all the children who are interested and start with some basic activities.”

“Of course,” I agreed. “We’ll be there.”

As Raven stood to leave, she thanked us both, her eyes lingering on Darren for a moment before she turned to go. I felt a flicker of that earlier jealousy but squashed it quickly. It was normal, I told myself. My wolf was still adjusting to the mate bond, and these protective instincts were just part of that adjustment. I would learn to control them better with time.

Once Raven was gone, Darren moved to sit beside me, taking my hand in his. “You okay? You seemed a bit tense when you came in.”

I considered telling him about the jealousy, about how my wolf had reacted, but quickly decided against it. It seemed silly in retrospect, and I didn’t want him to think I didn’t trust him. Especially not when he had controlled his jealousy over William so easily.

“Just tired,” I said instead. “It’s been a long day.”

He nodded, accepting my explanation without question. “Let’s get some rest, then. Tomorrow’s going to be busy.”

The next morning, I woke early and got dressed right away. I pulled on a comfortable pair of leggings, boots, and a warm sweater—something I could move in easily throughout the day, since it was going to be a long one. Over a quick breakfast of coffee and fruit tarts, Wendy insisted on braiding my hair in its usual coronet, apparently not pleased with the way I’d come downstairs wearing it loose around my shoulders.

As Wendy worked, humming under her breath, I sipped my coffee and glanced at Lucas. His face was covered in fruit juice from the tarts, and I chuckled. I licked the tip of my thumb and wiped away a particularly sticky spot on his cheek.

“That boy is going to eat me out of house and home,” Wendy sighed as Lucas scrambled onto his chair and greedily reached for another tart.

I smirked. “As he should. He must burn thousands of calories a day just running around.”

Bella, who was nursing her herbal tea nearby with a pale face from a bout of morning sickness, groaned. “Do all werewolf kids have so much energy?” she asked, rubbing her still-flat stomach.

“More than humans, that’s for certain,” Wendy laughed. “But let’s not forget that Lucas is half-human and he’s still this much of a pain in the neck. I think he’s just got a streak of his mother in him.”

Lucas grinned around a mouthful of fruit tart, crumbs coating his teeth and lips.

After breakfast, Darren was handling some matters around the pack, so I headed out with Lucas. He was tugging me along by my hand as we approached the square, where a group of children and parents—human and werewolf alike—had already gathered.

Raven was standing at the center of the group, looking utterly ravishing in a sleek skirt and turtleneck. Her long black hair, loose and silky across her back, almost looked like a nebula as it caught the sunlight with each movement. I felt suddenly underdressed in my simple attire.

Lucas gave me a quick hug before running off to join the other children. I watched as Raven welcomed him, introducing him to the group. She had a natural way with kids, I had to admit, and they all seemed captivated by her. No wonder. She was fucking stunning.

I settled onto a bench at the side of the village, content to watch for a little while as Raven led the children through various exercises and games.

“She’s something, isn’t she?”

I turned to find another pack member sitting down beside me. It was the mother of the girl who had been bitten by the dog. A quick scan of the group of kids revealed that the little girl was healthy and happy, running around next to Lucas.

“She is,” I agreed, watching as Raven demonstrated a dramatic fall that had all the children giggling.

The mother leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. “But you know, if I saw my mate making eyes at a woman as beautiful as her, I’d be worried.”

My head snapped up, following the mother’s gaze. There, standing at the entrance to the village, was Darren. His arms were crossed over his chest, and his eyes were fixed on Raven with an intensity that I’d never seen before.