Chapter 177

Aria

Darren and I lay tangled together in the hospital bed, much to the nurse’s earlier chagrin. They had finally allowed us to remain together, reinserting my IV and moving my monitors to his side of the room, when my eyes had glowed and a low growl had accidentally ripped from my throat when they had tried to pull us apart.

Now, Darren lay with his arm draped over my waist, his fingers curling and uncurling repeatedly against my hip, while my head rested on his chest. I was careful not to press too hard against the bandages covering his wound, but I wanted to listen to his heartbeat.

My own chest ached, the shallow gash stitched and sore, but I didn’t care. He was alive, breathing beneath me, and I wasn’t letting go. Not after everything. The wounds would heal soon enough, anyway. Now, more than ever, I was grateful for our accelerated healing abilities.

Still, I couldn’t help but scold him.

“You’re an idiot, you know that?” I said for what had to be the dozenth time since we’d laid down, glancing up at him. “Jumping in front of that bullet like some kind of hero. What were you even thinking?”

He raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. “I could ask you the same thing, Aria. You were about to do it first.”

I huffed, shifting slightly, only to feel a pang shoot through my chest as my stitches protested the movement. “That’s different. I’m allowed to be reckless for you. You’re not supposed to be the one who—” I stopped, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “You scared me half to death, Darren. I thought I’d lost you.”

His hand tightened on my hip, pulling me closer despite the pain it must have caused him just to make that small movement. “I couldn’t let you take it. Not after everything you’ve done for me.”

I furrowed my brow.

He paused, his gaze dropping to the blanket bunched between us. “I’ve never felt like I could make it up to you, you know. Not really. You saved me back then—found me on that road, patched me up, gave me a home when I was just a broken pup. And ever since, I’ve been trying to balance the scales. I thought I had finally balanced them, at least somewhat, and then you saved me from Charles that day, and…”

His voice trailed off, and he shook his head, looking away.

My wolf stirred inside of me at that. I reached up, cupping his face, my thumb brushing over the stubble on his jaw. “Darren, stop. You don’t need to ‘make it up to me.’ You never did. I didn’t save you expecting some kind of debt.”

I searched his eyes, willing him to understand, then went on, “The best thing you can do—the only thing I want—is to share a life with me. A full, loving life with you and Lucas. That’s all I’ve ever needed.”

He stared at me for a long moment, something raw and tender flickering in his expression. Then he leaned forward, pressing his forehead to mine.

His breath was warm against my lips as he murmured, “You’re too good for me. But I’ll spend every damn day trying to deserve you.” He pulled back just enough to smirk at me. “Although you’re not off the hook either. What was that about taking a bullet for me? You’re just as lovesick and reckless as I am.”

I laughed, although my throat was raw and cracked from screaming earlier. “Guess we’re a matched set, then. Two fools who’d rather die than let the other get hurt.”

His lips brushed mine then, a touch that was soft and fleeting, and I melted into him, the ache in my chest easing for just a moment. For a while, I’d thought I would never feel the caress of his lips against mine again, and now I wanted to savor it forever.

We stayed like that for a while, neither of us speaking. At some point, I must have begun to drift off again, too exhausted from the day’s events to keep my eyes open.

But then, suddenly, the door burst open, shattering the stillness, and I jolted upright, wincing as the movement pulled at my wound.

Bella stormed in first, followed by Wendy and Liam, their faces ranging from relief to downright fury. I barely had time to wonder how they’d gotten here so fast or even brace myself before Bella lunged at me, throwing her arms around my neck.

“You fucking moron,” she sobbed, her voice muffled as she buried her face in my shoulder, right where my stitches still ached. I gasped at the pain, but a laugh bubbled up anyway.

“Ow, Bella, careful,” I managed, patting her back awkwardly. “I’m still in one piece—mostly.”

She pulled back, her big brown eyes red-rimmed and blazing with fury. “You scared the shit out of me, Aria! Getting shot at like that—what the hell were you thinking?”

“It wasn’t exactly planned,” I said, grinning despite the pain. “Good to see you too.”

Wendy stepped forward next, her arms crossed, her silver hair windswept as if she’d run here. It hit me, then, that I’d never seen her wolf form. Was it silver like her hair?

“Both of you,” she snapped, her gaze flicking between me and Darren. “What did I tell you about taking care of each other? And here you are, shot up and bleeding all over the place. Reckless, the pair of you.”

Darren chuckled. “We tried, Grandmother. Promise.”

“Tried?” She huffed, but her expression softened as she moved closer, resting a hand on his shoulder. “You’re lucky to be alive, boy. Don’t you dare pull a stunt like that again.”

Liam lingered near the door, his arms crossed too, but his eyes were softer. “Glad you’re okay,” he said simply, nodding at us. Darren tilted his chin in silent question, and Liam said, “Bella’s father is bruised up real nice, but he’s alive and in custody. No one was harmed.”

I let out a breath of relief. I hated Bella’s father just as much as anyone in this room, but the whole point of our march was to remain peaceful.

The room settled into a strangely familiar buzz after that—Bella fussing over my bandages, Wendy scolding Darren about resting every time he tried to sit up, Liam filling us in on the events following the march. It felt like home, messy and loud and full of love, despite everything.

But then, a sharp knock on the door cut through the chatter, and we all froze, our heads turning in tandem as a nurse poked her head in. She held an envelope in her hands.

“Mr. and Mrs. Avarise? This just came for you. Official delivery.”

I frowned, glancing at Darren. He sat up in bed, ignoring Wendy’s protests, and took the envelope from the nurse. She slipped out after that, leaving us staring in shock and awe and maybe even fear at the seal stamped on the front.

The emblem of the human government: a golden eagle flying in front of a blue banner.

Without a word, Darren slid his thumb under the flap. I held my breath, wondering if we were in grave trouble; another deportation notice, perhaps, or maybe an arrest warrant. But Darren just blinked at the contents in confusion as he read them.

I leaned closer, reading over his shoulder, and my heart stuttered as I saw the words on the page. It was an invitation.

Specifically, an invitation to the human president’s home.