Chapter 3 Love After Punishment

Aria's pov.

My knees... gods, I couldn't even feel them anymore. It was like they had stopped being part of my body. Just stone pressing into bone, over and over, six long hours of it. My legs had gone numb, then the burning sensation came, then back to numb again. My whole body felt like it wasn't mine.

Six hours of silence, Six hours of laughter, Six hours of her voice in my ear, it was tormenting.

Vanessa.

She came out every chance she got, like she had been waiting for this moment her whole life. Her voice sang, high and fake sweet, but every word was dipped in poison.

"Don't you look pathetic, omega? You should thank me for even looking at you."

"Don't slouch. Do you want the Alpha to see you like this? Oh wait....he already did."

Her friends laughed like trained pets. Every time, like a chorus made just for her.

I sat there, back straight, because if I bent for even a second, she would notice. My chin were down because that's what omegas did, my hands pressed into the dirt until my nails hurt. My dress clung to my body, damp with water she had thrown at me earlier. She said I spilled it on her, but I knew the truth. And so did the snake in front of me.

I kept telling myself it didn't matter, that this wasn't forever. Alpha Zac had promised me, he told me I would be his Luna. He told me to wait, just wait. My birthday was in a week. Just seven more days, and I would never kneel again.

But still, it broke something in me. Being out there like that, being laughed at, taunted, while he stayed away. Six hours of it. Six hours of her voice in my head.

When Marcus finally came and told me it was over, my body almost gave out. My knees screamed when I tried to stand. I stumbled, caught myself on the wall of her house, and for a second I thought I might faint.

But I didn't. I kept walking. Step after step back toward the Alpha's mansion. Every part of me throbbing with pain and the ache in my chest was the worst of it all.

I told myself I just needed to be at the guest quarters. Just to get inside, close the door, and breathe where no one could see me. A cold refreshing bath then Sleep and forget about today but his voice cut through my thoughts.

"Aria."

I stopped at my tracks, my breath hitched at the thought of who that might be. I slowly turned my head and saw him, Alpha Zac. His eyes were on me. I couldn't read them. Cold? Warm? I didn't know again.

My heart jumped anyway.

"Shower," he said. His voice was sharp, commanding, the Alpha voice. "Be in my room in thirty minutes."

That was it. No softness, No explanation, Just an order.

And I... I obeyed.

The water stung when it touched my knees. They were red, scraped raw. I winced as I washed, my hands trembling as I ran the cloth over my skin. The bruises on my arms stood out darker now that the dirt was gone. My reflection in the mirror looked hollow. Eyes swollen, lips dry, face pale.

But I still went. Because no matter what had happened, no matter how cold he had been in front of everyone, I couldn't stop myself. He wanted me in his room. He wanted me.

And that was enough.

I knocked on his door before the thirty minutes were even up. My hand shook against the wood.

"Come in," his voice called from inside.

I pushed the door open.

He was there, standing by the bed, his jacket gone, his shirt sleeves rolled up. His eyes landed on me instantly, dark and piercing.

Before I could even speak, he closed the space between us. His hand caught my wrist, pulling me inside. The door slammed behind me.

He dragged me to the bed. My knees hit the mattress as he pushed me down gently, not rough, not like earlier. His face shifted, the cold Alpha mask fading.

"I should have stopped it," he said, his voice low, softer than it had been in weeks. "I should have taken your place."

My chest ached at his words, my throats burned with words filled with emotions that were threatening to spill out.

"Then why didn't you?" My voice were now laced with hint of tears "Why did you look at me like I was nothing out there? Why did you......"

"Because it's not time," he cut me off, his hands cupping my face now, thumbs brushing my skin. "Because if I defend you now, they'll tear you apart. They'll never stop. But once you're mine....once you're my Luna...they won't dare touch you."

He pressed his forehead to mine, his breath felt soft and soothing against me. "One week, Aria. Just one more week, and it's over."

Shira, my wolf, stirred inside me, humming, almost purring. 'He's ours. He's telling the truth'

I wanted to believe it. Goddess knows how much I wanted so badly to believe it.

His hands slid down, brushing my arms, pausing when his fingers found the tender spots where Vanessa had shoved me earlier. He cursed under his breath, anger flashing in his eyes.

"Let me tend to you."

I nodded because I didn't trust my voice anymore.

He pulled a small jar from his desk, the scent of herbs filling the air. He lifted my legs onto the bed, his fingers gentle as he spread ointment across my scraped knees. The cool touch soothed the sting, but it was his hands, his care, that broke me open.

"I'm sorry," he whispered again, almost too soft to hear. "Forgive me."

I closed my eyes, tears slipping free. "Just... don't let me go, Zac. Not again."

He leaned forward, kissed the tears off my cheeks.

And then his mouth was on mine.

The kiss was desperate, raw, his lips crushing against mine like he was trying to prove something, like he was trying to erase the last six hours. His hands slid up my arms, pulling me closer, pressing me into him.

I kissed him back just as hard, all the anger, all the hurt, all the need spilling into it.

His weight pushed me down into the bed. His hands slid under my damp nightdress, fingers grazing my skin, making me shiver.

"Aria..." he murmured against my lips.

"Please," I whispered. I didn't even know what I was begging for, comfort, proof, love. All of it.

He pulled the dress up over my head, tossing it aside. His eyes darkened as they roamed over me, hungry and soft all at once.

"You're mine," he said, voice rough. "You've always been mine."

His mouth moved down my neck, biting softly, sucking at my skin until heat spread through me. I gasped, my hands clutching at his shoulders.

When his lips found my breast, I moaned, arching into him. His tongue flicked over my nipple, then he sucked harder, and my body jolted with need.

I was trembling, my thighs pressing together, aching for him.

He slid his hand down, fingers parting me slowly, finding me already wet, already desperate.

"Gods, Aria," he groaned, pressing a finger inside me, slow, deep. "So ready for me."

I gasped, clutching at the sheets. The stretch burned and soothed at the same time. He added another finger, moving them in and out, his thumb circling my clit until I was shaking under him.

"Zac... please," I moaned, my body arching, begging.

He kissed me hard again, pulling his hand away only to undo his belt, shove his pants down. My eyes widened when I saw him, thick, hard, ready. My body ached for him, my walls tightening at just the thought of being filled.

He positioned himself between my legs, his eyes locking on mine. "Tell me you're mine, Aria."

"I'm yours," I whispered, tears slipping free again. "Always yours."

He pushed into me, slow, stretching me wide. I gasped, nails digging into his back. The pain mixed with pleasure, sharp and consuming, until all I could do was moan his name.

He moved deeper, groaning against my neck. "So tight. So perfect."

When he pulled back and thrust again, harder this time, my body cried out. The bed creaked under us. His hips slammed into mine, over and over, faster, deeper, until my moans filled the room.

"Zac....please..faster.."

He growled, obeying, pounding into me, his lips finding mine again, kissing me through every thrust. His hand slid down, fingers rubbing my clit while he fucked me harder, and I screamed his name, my body shaking.

The pleasure built fast, too fast, curling tight inside me until it burst. I cried out, clinging to him as my climax ripped through me, my whole body trembling.

He didn't stop, driving into me harder, chasing his own release. His growl grew louder, rougher, until he buried himself deep inside me and cummed, his body shaking against mine.

We collapsed together, breathing hard, sweat slicking our skin. He kissed my forehead softly, his hand still on my waist, holding me close.

"One week," he whispered again, voice hoarse. "One week, and you're mine forever. No one will ever touch you again."

I closed my eyes, burying my face in his chest. Shira was happy and kept siding with him, after he was our mate and being by his side was all that matters.

But I still remembered the way he looked at me earlier when Vanessa and her gang of plastic Barbies had bullied me, his cold eyes, his cold tone, making me question which man was real.

The Alpha who punished me, or the lover who held me now.