Page 34 of The Alpha's Forbidden Heir

Bane’s expression softens, just for a moment, but the anger returns just as quickly. “I’m not saying it was easy for you, Aria. I’m saying it doesn’t have to be this way anymore.”

I shake my head, tears stinging my eyes. “You don’t get it. You don’t know what it’s like to be constantly afraid, to feel like no matter what you do, it’s not enough.”

“Then let me help,” he says, his voice almost pleading now. “Let me protect you. Both of you.”

“And what happens when it all falls apart?” I ask, my voice trembling. “What happens when the past catches up to us, Bane? What happens when you decide you don’t want us anymore?”

“That’s not going to happen,” he says firmly.

“You don’t know that,” I whisper, the weight of everything pressing down on me.

“I do,” he insists, stepping closer. “Because I’m not letting you go again. Either of you.”

I take a shaky breath, my heart torn between the fear of staying and the fear of leaving.

“Aria,” he says softly, his hand reaching out to cup my cheek. “Come back with me. Let me prove to you that things can be different.”

I close my eyes, his touch sending a wave of warmth through me. But when I open them, the reality of what he’s asking crashes over me like a tidal wave.

“If I go back,” I whisper, “it means facing everything I’ve been running from. Everything I tried to leave behind.”

Bane’s eyes soften, his voice quiet but unwavering. “I know. And I’ll be right there with you. “

I want to believe him. God, I want to believe him. But as I look into his eyes, I can’t shake the feeling that going back means more than just facing the past. It means risking everything all over again.

And I’m not sure I can.

Then he leans in, his voice dropping low, almost a whisper. “Aria, if you don’t come back, they’ll come for you anyway. And this time, I won’t be able to stop them.”

Chapter Eleven

Bane

The moment Aria finally gives in, the tension in her shoulders barely loosening, I don't waste any time. I step out of the house and pull my phone from my pocket, dialing Liam.

"Yeah?" His voice is sharp, irritated, as usual.

"Get a car ready," I bark, my tone leaving no room for argument. "We're bringing two more back with us. I want their rooms prepared—next to mine."

"Of course," he mutters before hanging up.

I shove the phone back into my pocket and walk into the house, my wolf pacing.

"We're leaving in an hour," I say firmly.

"An hour?" she repeats, her voice sharp. "You don't waste any time, do you?"

"Time's something we don't have, Aria," I reply, my tone clipped. "You've been out here vulnerable for too long. That ends now."

Her eyes narrow, but she doesn't argue, at least not this time.

Exactly one hour later, we are packed and ready to go. My men move efficiently, loading the car while I stand off to the side, arms crossed, watching. Elias bounces around with excitement, his energy palpable.

"Is this your car, Mr. Bane?" he asks, staring up at me with wide, curious eyes.

"It is," I reply, softening my tone for him. "And you can just call me Bane."

"Cool," he says, grinning. "Can I sit in the front?"

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