The Ferals.

So this is what a kiss feels like. All the books she'd read never quite did justice to the sensation. The butterflies that fluttered in her belly as his lips moved passionately against hers, the shuddering pleasure that washed over her when he bit and licked her lips… It was a sensation that left her breathless.

Was it always like this, or was it because it was her first kiss?

After a few moments of steadying her breath, Aria slowly opened her eyes and found herself lost in his beautiful golden gaze.

"You said you fell in love with me at first sight and want to marry me, right?" Tristan asked, caressing her lips with his thumb.

Aria was too stunned to speak. She felt as if she was the one getting seduced instead.

She could only nod her head in response and heard him say

"I..." she started, but his voice interrupted.

"You said you fell in love with me at first sight and wanted to marry me, right?" Tristan asked, gently caressing her lips with his thumb.

Aria, too stunned to speak, could only nod.

"Then, let's get married."

"What?" she whispered, her mind racing.

"Tomorrow at 8 a.m.," Tristan replied, pulling back and standing up. "I'll have a car pick you up."

Was this real? Had her silly words really convinced him to marry her, or had it been the kiss?

"Why do you look so surprised? Don't you want to get married?"

"I want to," Aria said quickly, a smile tugging at her lips as she watched him collect his phone and hand it to her.

"Your number," he said.

Aria entered her number into his phone, then frowned as she handed it back. His gaze was steady, unwavering, and it was as if he could see straight through her.

"Are you really blind?" she asked, unable to hold back her curiosity.

Tristan chuckled softly. "I am, but I can see through the eyes of my wolf."

"That's... amazing."

"Do you have a wolf, Aria?"

"No, I don't." Aria replied, and when he became silent, she became worried that he might change his mind on marrying her.

Tristan touched the black gemstone on his pendant and suddenly removed it from his neck.

Aria, on the other hand, was surprised. How come she never noticed the pendant on his neck until he had touched it?

"Turn around." Tristan commanded.

Aria turned around and felt the cold touch of the gem on her neck. Why was he giving this to her?

Aria looked at the gemstone, and right before her eyes, it disappeared. She turned around to look at Tristan and said, "It's gone."

Tristan smiled and replied, "Tell no one about it. Even though you can't see it, that pendant is capable of protecting you, and whenever you are in danger, I will be able to feel it."

"But why give it to me? We've only just met."

"Tomorrow, you'll be my wife. And it's the duty of a husband to protect his wife."

Aria's heart skipped a beat. "You're very different from what I've heard about you."

"And what have you heard about me?"

Tristan asked, a playful smile on his lips.

Aria glanced away, a bit embarrassed. "That you're cruel, cold, and a monster."

"And now, what do you think of me?"

"I think... you're kind, scary but charming, and very mysterious," she said with a smile.

"That must be why you fell in love with me at first sight," Tristan teased.

Aria felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment, but she couldn't help but laugh. She was glad Hailey had come up with a solution, because there was no way she could have killed Tristan.

Suddenly, a knock at the door jolted Aria out of her thoughts. Cole's voice came from the other side.

"Alpha, we have an emergency."

"Give me three minutes," Tristan said, looking at Aria. "I'll have someone drop you off."

"No need," Aria said, rushing to the door. "I came with my friend, so you don't have to worry. Goodbye."

She met Cole, who looked at her with a frown on his face before entering the room she just left.

Aria let out a tired sigh and went back to the room she had left Hailey in.

Back in Tristan's room, Cole begrudgingly asked, "Why did you let her stay for that long?"

"Why? Are you jealous?" Tristan asked with a smile.

"I just don't trust her." Cole said, angry at the way those two ladies had played with his intelligence.

Before he could say more, Tristan suddenly coughed, his hand covering his mouth. Blood was on his palm.

Cole froze, his heart racing. He quickly grabbed a cloth to wipe the blood from Tristan's hand.

"I'm fine, Cole," Tristan said, giving his beta a reassuring smile.

Cole didn't reply, just focused on cleaning Tristan's hand until there was no trace of blood.

Tristan sighed and asked, "What was the emergency?"

Cole stood silent, afraid that his emotions would show if he said a word.

Tristan didn't try forcing him to talk, and after a few seconds passed, Cole opened his mouth and said, "The mayor wants to have a talk with you."

"About?"

"The Ferals." Cole replied, back to his original self.

Tristan frowned and asked, "Has there been another murder?"

Cole nodded and said, "This time, it wasn't just an ordinary werewolf that was killed."

"Who?"

"John Calhoun. He is the CEO of a food manufacturing company and has done a lot of charity work, so his disappearance will be hard to hide."

"The Ferals are getting out of control, and the worst part of it is that we have no idea who their king is. What about the one Alpha Elywnn had caught?"

"Alpha Elywnn has not sent any message yet. Should I arrange a meeting with him tomorrow?"

"No, not tomorrow. I have to go register my marriage with Aitana tomorrow."

"Aitana?"

Tristan realized he had made a mistake and quickly corrected himself. "Aria."

"Hold on, are you seriously getting married to that girl? The Elders will..."

"I don't care about what the Elders want; I am marrying Aria tomorrow, and that's final."