Chapter 2 WHETHER HUMAN OR NOT

### **The Next Morning**

Aria stretched, a slow smile curving her lips as she arched her back and extended her arms above her head. She let out a gentle yawn, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. The warm sunlight streaming through the bedroom window highlighted the dust motes dancing in the air, and the soft hum of the refrigerator provided a comforting background noise.

Spilling across her blankets in gold, and for the first time in days, she hadn't woken up gasping, heart racing, the grey werewolf's breath on her neck. . .

Just warmth. Quiet.

Her smile widened. No nightmare-and she'd see Jason today.

She tossed off the duvet and slipped her feet into her purple flip-flops, the ones with floppy rabbit ears she refused to throw out, no matter how worn they were. The soft lining tickled between her toes as she padded toward the bathroom, her steps light.

The air was crisp against her skin as she shuffled to the bathroom to wash up. After brushing her teeth and splashing her face with cold water, she padded into the dining room.

By the time she reached the kitchen, the scent of toasted bread and sizzling bacon greeted her like an old friend. Sunlight poured through the windows, catching on floating dust motes. Familiar, peaceful.

"Good morning, sweetie!" her aunt–no, mom–Sandra, said with a smile, as she poured herself a cup of coffee. The clinking of cups and saucers accompanied her movements.

"Morning, Mom," Aria replied, giving her a quick hug. It didn't feel weird calling Sandra that anymore. Not after everything.

"Morning, mom," chirped Kai from the table.

Kai sat swinging his feet slightly, already dressed and tapping away at a game on his tablet. At first glance, he looked like an ordinary boy-messy black hair, fair skin, and a mischievous grin that never quite faded. But his glowing red eyes gave away what he truly was. A vampire, born with power pulsing through his veins. Still just a kid, though, and the most important person in Aria's life. Fiercely curious, fiercely protective, and annoyingly quick with a comeback.

"Morning, Kai," Aria greeted, ruffling his hair as she sat beside him.

"Hey, sis," he mumbled, not looking up from his screen.

Aria rolled her eyes and grabbed a seat beside him, pouring herself a glass of juice. Some things never changed.

Their uncle–dad–Diamond, looked up from his newspaper, the rustle of the pages a familiar sound, peering at them over the rim,"Stay out of trouble in school, kids. Try not to make the principal call me today, yeah?"He said, his voice warm and gentle.

"We'll try," Aria said with mock innocence.

Kai added, "No promises."

Sandra gave them both a look, one brow arched. "Eat your breakfast and don't be late. You know how the school gates love to slam shut at eight."

Aria took a bite of her toast-warm, crunchy, perfect. But her thoughts drifted, unspooling quietly beneath the surface. Would Jason smile at her again? Say something more than hi this time? Maybe today he'd actually talk to her. Maybe today she wouldn't feel like just some invisible new girl.

"Got your bag?" Sandra asked.

Aria blinked out of her thoughts and nodded. "Yeah. We're taking a taxi."

"You sure?" her aunt asked, the worry already settling into her expression.

"We'll be fine, Mom," Kai answered, standing and slinging his backpack over one shoulder.

"Okay, be careful then," Sandra said, concern etched on her face.

"We will, mom," Kai said, already heading out the door.

Aunt Sandra and Uncle Diamond had told them to call them mom and dad since they had no child of their own and Aria and Kai didn't have a problem with that.

Aria followed, brushing crumbs from her shirt. She hesitated just a second before stepping out-just long enough for the old fear to try and creep back in.

But it didn't. The forest was far away. The dream was over.

And Jason was waiting.

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### **At School**

After dropping Kai off at his class, Aria hurried down the hall, the soles of her shoes squeaking against the polished floor. First period was minutes away, and she didn't want to risk being late-especially not for Mr. Mike's math class.

She slipped through the classroom door just in time, her breath catching in her throat as she sank into her seat by the window. Relief washed over her. Mr. Mike hadn't arrived yet.

Two minutes later, the door creaked open, and he strode in with his usual no-nonsense glare. Aria straightened instinctively, but when their eyes met, his gaze softened-barely.

He'd never admit it, but she knew he went easy on her. Probably because she aced every problem he threw at the class.

The hum of chatter faded as the lesson began, chalk tapping rhythmically against the board. Aria tried to focus, but her eyes scanned the room, searching-until they found him.

Jason.

He sat two seats away, posture relaxed, eyes trained on the teacher. The sunlight framed his dark hair, catching on the curve of his cheekbone. Something about the way he held himself-calm, focused, unreadable-made her heart skip.

Aria smiled and gave a little wave.

Jason's eyes flicked toward her.

Then... nothing.

No smile. No wave. Just a blank look before he turned back to the front.

Her hand fell slowly to her lap. A tiny pout tugged at her lips.

What was that? Yesterday he'd looked at her like she mattered. Like he saw her. Had she imagined it?

She tried to refocus, but her thoughts kept drifting. Maybe he was having a bad day. Maybe he didn't see her. Or maybe... he regretted noticing her at all.

"Miss Nightshade."

The sharp voice yanked her back.

She blinked. Mr. Mike stood by the board, marker in hand, eyebrow raised. "Are you paying attention?"

Heat crept up her neck. "Yes, sir."

"Excellent. Then you can solve this."

Aria rose, smoothing her skirt with a breath to steady herself. She approached the board, mind still spinning. But numbers had always been her refuge.

She solved the equation swiftly, her hand steady even as her thoughts tugged elsewhere.

When she returned to her seat, Jason hadn't looked at her once.

### **Later...**

After third period ended, Aria lingered in the hallway, scanning the crowd. No sign of Jason.

Her chest tightened. She'd meant to ask him what was wrong. Or at least say hi. But he'd disappeared the moment the bell rang.

Her friends called out to her, waving from the cafeteria doors. She forced a smile and joined them, but her thoughts remained elsewhere.

Something's off.

And she wasn't imagining it.

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The bell rang, but Jason didn't move.

Around him, chairs scraped against tile, students murmured their goodbyes, footsteps shuffled out the door-but his eyes stayed on the whiteboard. Blank now, just like his thoughts.

No.

Not blank.

Blurred.

There'd been a girl. Two seats away. She'd waved at him.

He remembered the shape of her smile-soft, expectant. Familiar, somehow. Like the echo of a dream just out of reach.

But her name?

Gone.

He hadn't meant to ignore her. It just happened. Like something inside him short-circuited the moment their eyes met.

And then came the pressure-again.

That invisible weight behind his eyes. The cold, creeping static in his brain. A whisper without words, pushing down hard enough to make his jaw clench and his throat go dry.

Every time he looked at someone too closely-especially her-it pressed harder. Stronger.

Like it didn't want him to remember her.

Jason exhaled slowly through his nose, trying to ease the tension coiled beneath his skin. He hated this. This fog in his head. This leash on his instincts.

The girl-whoever she was-had looked right at him. Smiled like she knew him. Like they'd shared something.

Had they?

His gut said yes.

His brain said no.

And the thing wrapped around his mind said don't.

Jason ran a hand down his face and finally stood. He shoved his hands into his jacket pockets and stepped into the hallway, letting the noise of students fill the silence inside him.

He needed answers. Now.

Because if he didn't figure out what was happening soon...

He might forget her completely.

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**At the Café**

Aria stared down at her half-empty latte, the warm hum of the café fading beneath her thoughts.

"She waved at him. He looked right at her. Then-nothing." Ella's voice cut in, sharp with disbelief.

Rose shrugged, picking at her sandwich. "Maybe he's just not that into you?"

Aria's heart clenched. "It's not that," she whispered. "Something's wrong. He approached me first. Why act like a stranger now?"

"I don't like this," Ella muttered, scanning the café. "And where is he, anyway?"

Before anyone could answer, a voice sliced through the air behind them.

"Hey, heads up, moron."

Aria lifted her head-and froze.

Three girls stood a few steps away. The one in the center-black hair, arms crossed, expression carved from ice-locked eyes with Aria. Her presence radiated danger.

On her left stood a red-haired girl, her crimson eyes gleaming. Vampire.

To her right, a silver-haired girl smirked, twirling a silver ring between her fingers. Witch.

Recognition hit Aria like a slap. The black-haired one-she'd seen her yesterday. The glare after Jason left. And now she was here.

"You really think you can steal Jason's attention?" the leader hissed, voice smooth and poisonous.

Aria's spine stiffened. Her pulse thundered.

"Who the hell are you to tell her anything?" Ella snapped, rising halfway from her seat. Her eyes glinted dangerously. "Back off."

The red-haired girl stepped forward, fangs bared. "Shut up, slut. This doesn't concern you."

Ella jolted, fury blazing across her face. "Did you just call me-?"

"Ella, don't," Aria whispered, grabbing her friend's wrist. "She wants a reaction."

The black-haired witch smiled like a cat playing with its prey. "Stay away from Jason," she said softly. "Or things will get messy."

Aria rose slowly, heart pounding. "You think you can control him?"

The girl tilted her head. "Maybe. Maybe not. But he won't remember you. Not while I have him."

Then she leaned in. "Try again, and he'll reject you worse next time. We're not done."

She turned on her heel. "Come on, girls."

As the girls turned to leave, Aria felt a surge of defiance. She wasn't going to back down.

"Hey," Aria said, her voice firm. "Who are you, anyway?"

The black-haired girl turned, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Someone who will make sure you stay away from Jason."

The girl's smile was cold and calculating. "You'll find out soon enough. Just remember, Jason is off-limits."

"Even if you try to talk to him again, he would still ignore you just like the way he did today in class as long as I have him under my spell.... Let's go girls" She said and they walked away, leaving Aria and her friends stunned."

They walked off-silent, smooth, dangerous. The air felt colder after they left.

Rose swallowed. "That... was a threat, right?"

"Damn right it was," Ella growled. "She admitted the spell."

Aria sank into her seat, stunned. "That explains everything."

Moments later, laughter erupted near the café window. Aria turned-and saw Jason walk in.

With them.

He sat at their table like he belonged, his smile easy, his eyes light. Like none of it mattered. Like Aria didn't exist.

"It's obvious he was under a spell." Rose said with a low voice.

Ella's eyes flashed with anger. "We need to do something about it. We can't just sit here and watch him be controlled like that."

"I'm going to break that spell," Aria whispered, her fists clenched. "Even if I have to tear it out of him myself."

The girls watched in silence as Jason continued to laugh and chat with the girls, his eyes never once meeting Aria's.

" She wasn't lying when she said that she had him under her spell " Ella said gritting her teeth.

" We have to do something about it guys " Aria said as she hit her fist on the table angrily.

" After school we will follow him and when he's alone Ella will break the spell on him with her powers " Rose said.

" Are you sure those fools won't keep an eye on him " Ella said.

" We will have to be very careful " Aria said.

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### **Alpha Lyrien's Pack – Morning**

Lyrien stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, silent as stone. Beyond the glass, the garden bloomed in a riot of color, untouched by the storm brooding in his chest. Sunlight spilled over the forest treetops, but it felt distant-mocking.

He sipped from his water glass, his cold lips brushing the rim. His yellow eyes narrowed, sharp and unblinking. Inside, his beast stirred-restless, prowling. He could almost feel the soil beneath his paws, the wind slicing through his fur. But he remained still, jaw clenched, fists tight in his pockets.

The Moon Goddess had cursed them.

Not just any punishment. She had bound him-the strongest Alpha of the North-to a human. The weakest creature of all.

His twin brother Lykon had accepted it, even embraced it. His human mate now walked proudly as Luna of her pack, earning loyalty and peace.

But Lyrien?

He felt nothing but contempt. For the goddess. For humans. And for the trembling truth buried beneath it all-that part of him burned to find her. Claim her. Bind her to him, forever.

He turned away from the window, shoulders squared. The scent of aged leather and polished wood clung to the air, mingling with the faint crackle of fire behind him. This mansion, this legacy-it was all built on power. Not love.

The memory of his last outburst flickered through his mind-claws ripping flesh, bones snapping under his grip. One careless insult, one wrong glance, and the young wolf had paid the price. Since that day, not a single pack member dared cross him.

He closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they were black as midnight-his beast rising. He blinked, and they returned to their golden hue.

> **\[Get here. Now.]**

> His voice cut through the mind link like a blade, slicing into the silence.

Moments later, Mason, his Beta, stumbled into the room still in his pajamas, the collar askew. He bowed his head low, eyes glued to the floor.

Manson was slightly younger than Lyrien, broad-shouldered and battle-hardened. His light brown hair always looked tousled, like he'd just come from a fight or from bed-sometimes both. His face was usually unreadable, but there was a steadiness in his green eyes, a soldier's discipline under pressure. He wore a plain black T-shirt and pajama pants, clearly pulled from sleep, but he didn't complain. He never did. Loyal, capable... but not foolish.

"Alpha?"

"I want the warriors ready in ten minutes." Lyrien's voice was calm, but it held the weight of a command that could not be disobeyed. "We're going to find my mate."

Mason blinked. "Your- Alpha, she's... human."

A muscle twitched in Lyrien's jaw. He didn't turn. "And?"

"You've always said-"

"**Do you question me?**"

The room grew colder.

Mason flinched, hands raised in surrender. "No, Alpha. I'll prepare the warriors immediately."

Lyrien finally looked at him-eyes glowing, unreadable. "Good. And not a word to Lykon. Not yet."

The Beta bowed once more and backed out of the room, the door closing softly behind him.

Silence fell again, heavy and charged.

Lyrien moved back to the window. The forest stretched out before him, wild and endless. Somewhere out there, the human girl carried the other half of his soul. A cruel twist of fate.

He would find her.

He would bind her.

But love? That was a luxury he would never offer.

"I don't need to love you," he murmured, more to himself than to her. "I only need you close enough to never leave."