(POV-Marcus)

Marcus noticed the tension that pinched Aria's face into a grimace, something that had definitely not been there the last time he'd seen her.

"Is everything okay?" he asked, leaning forward to inspect her face more closely. He still felt mildly smug about their very obvious height difference, though it was entirely male pride that made him feel that way.

She nodded, glancing away, but continued to chew on her bottom lip distractedly. She sighed, looking back up at him in defeat. "Aiden has people watching April, to see when I make contact and she cut the call before she could finish telling me what was happening. I'm a little worried. I don't know what's going on in his head but it's putting people in danger and I don't like it."

Marcus frowned, wanting to get rid of the unhappiness on her face. He liked that she felt comfortable enough with him to open up about what was bugging her. It was a welcome surprise and he wanted to savor it for a little while.

"Did she sound scared?" he asked her, pulling his hair into a knot at the back of his head. His eyes focused on the way her teeth gnawed at her bottom lip, her fingers twitching and fidgeting at her sides. She was agitated, he didn't even need a whiff of her scent to tell. He'd become familiar enough with all the little things she did that gave away her emotions without her needing to say a word.

He knew that she was close to her family, and her best friend, April, meant the world to her. The news that Aiden had people watching April, possibly putting her in danger, all for Aria's sake would definitely upset her.

He kind of hated Aiden for it. But at the same time, if it hadn't been for his ludicrous decision to reject his true mate and take the other wolf as his chosen, Marcus wouldn't have been drawn to that pretty wolf at the bar that night.

"Not really," she sighed, finally looking up at him. "She's not really the kind of wolf who scares easily. though. I think that's why I'm worried. Something really terrible could be happening but she'd play it off like it was nothing and I wouldn't know a damn thing until it was too late."

"What about your parents?"

"My dad is as tough as wolves come," she chuckled wryly. The twinkle in her eye gave away the admiration she had for her father; it was something that Marcus found adorable. "I honestly doubt Aiden could take him on; he's been a Delta for most of his life and he was the reason Aiden's father never really had to face any challenges while he was still Alpha. But with the way he's been going berserk... My dad would prioritize protecting my mom and the rest of the pack before he defended himself."

"Your dad sounds amazing." Marcus said, crossing the short distance between them and tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Pink dusted the apples of her cheeks in response to his gentle touch. "He kind of sounds like you."

"I wish!" she snorted, a small smile on her face. "He's everything I wish I could be. Well, my mom too, because she's the only wolf he's actually afraid of."

Marcus breathed a soft laugh, rolling his eyes playfully. "Something tells me you've already achieved that."

"Please, you're a big, scary Alpha," she scoffed, her gaze falling to the column of his throat. "I'm the furthest thing from terrifying. My mom, on the other hand..."

With a smile, he jerked his head, motioning to the forest that waited for them.

"Let's shift and go for a run," he suggested, watching how her eyes shifted between forest green and amber as her wolf fought to break free. "It'll help clear your mind, at least. And when we get back, we can talk about it."

She nodded, stepping out of her clothes and shifting quickly. surprising him with her speed.

Her wolf was every bit as beautiful as he'd imagined. She wasn't large but she was obviously built for speed. Her lithe form hid a kind of strength that even Marcus couldn't fathom. She was a stunning mix of pure white and ash grey, her paws, legs and belly as white as snow. Her tail, back and the top of her head and ears looked as if she'd run through a fire, the ash settling on her fur. She glanced back at him, her amber eyes so familiar that his own wolf whined in recognition.

"Alright," he chuckled, getting the hint clear enough: hurry up. He shifted as well, shaking out his fur and tossing his head. Even in their wolf forms, Marcus practically towered over Aria.

Like this, their communication was slightly limited, but they understood one another enough, and when Marcus nodded once, they both shot into the forest at the same time.

The trees flew by as they ran, the branches of smaller bushes and brambles catching on their fur, their paws barely touching the soil. Like this, it almost felt like he was flying, the ash grey of her back ducking in and out of the trees fast enough that he often lost sight of her. The air was cool and it settled in his lungs, coming out hot the faster he pushed his limbs. His heart hammered a steady pace in his chest, thumping along with the beat of his paws on the ground. It reminded him of the months he spent living with the wild wolf pack, where he'd looked for peace, a way to escape the all-consuming grief and guilt after Helena had died.

And he'd found it, at least, some form of it, in runs that lasted hours at a time. He chased the temporary freedom until his paws bled and his legs gave out and he collapsed on the ground.

But with Aria, that freedom was even sweeter.

He'd never really been able to go on runs with Helena. She'd despised shifting and preferred her human form. She also never really cared for playing the way Marcus did, which was why he'd been so excited to be a dad.

Aria was so different to Helena, yet he couldn't stop himself from comparing the two of them. Where Helena had been serious and calm, Aria was a tornado of energy despite her shyness and soft-spoken nature. She was fierce about the people she loved, where Helena had been more reserved.

The longer Marcus stayed with Aria, the more he learned that the only similarities Helena and Aria shared were their looks.

Aria growled playfully ahead. pulling him out of his thoughts.

He chased after her, nipping playfully at her hind legs as he caught up. They dashed through the trees and into a clearing, and Marcus tackled her to the ground, pouncing on her and nibbling on her ear.

She huffed cutely and bucked him off, surprising him with her sudden burst of strength. She turned around and sank low to the ground, her tail up in the air.

With a swoop in his chest, he mirrored her. It was how pups showed one another that they wanted to play, and seeing Aria crouch low and demand that he play along made him hopelessly endeared to her.

She snarled, her amber eyes twinkling, and she lunged at him. caught mid-air when he managed to intercept her.

But she was so good at wriggling out from underneath him, and he couldn't pin her down no matter how hard he tried.

In a flash, she was off again, bounding into the woods and howling for him to follow.

He didn't even think about it before he sprinted after her, feeling happier and more free than he had in far too long.

But his happiness would be short-lived.

He realized too late that the clearing they'd played in led only to his house, something he wasn't ready to tell Aria about.

At all.

He hurtled toward her scent, the soft, familiar smell already marred by the death and decay that hung over his house. He caught up with her in time to see her staring up at the house, her head cocked in curiosity. He panted hard, rounding her and standing between her and the house.

He couldn't tell her to stay away in his wolf form, but his silver eyes were warning enough. He snorted, a low snarl rumbling through his chest.

Stop, he practically begged. She huffed again, stubbornly refusing to heed his warning.

He growled this time, the sound more menacing and yet Aria simply stared at him, those amber eyes brimming with challenges.

Make me, she seemed to retort. They continued this way until Aria seemed to concede, turning around with a defeated grumble and trotting back.

But it was just a trick. As he'd started following after her, she'd bounded back toward the house, and Marcus panicked and did the only thing he could think of.

Just before she managed to slip past him, he caught her tail in his jaw and clamped down hard, her yelp shaking him to his core. He pinned her down like that, his snarls ferocious and deafening. Her head lowered finally and he let her up, not missing the anger sparking in her eyes.

He hadn't meant to pin her like that. He'd panicked and grabbed for the closest part of her body, his jaw snapping shut around her tail before he even realized what had happened. But he couldn't let her get anywhere near the house.

Chiding himself for stupidly allowing delirious joy and desire to cloud his judgement, he felt the first stirrings of regret for bringing her back to his pack and having her stay with him.

She refused to look at him and sprinted back to the packhouse, seething at him any time he got too close.

Once they'd returned, she shifted back and snatched her clothes off the ground, angrily tugging them on before rounding on him.

"Take me home," she demanded, her fury palpable. "Right now."

Marcus was still in shock, his entire life coming so close to turmoil when Aria had discovered his house, and then devolving into a screaming match outside his packhouse.

"Fine," he replied coldly. He saw the hurt in her eyes when he agreed so readily, even though she'd tried her best to mask it. "Go and pack your things if you're done."

He stalked past her, ignoring the tears that had gathered on her lashes, and called for Jaden.

He appeared out of thin air the way he always had, looking warily between Marcus and Aria.

"She wants to go home," he explained, not sparing Ayla a second glance. "Make sure she gets there safely."