Page 26 of Her Fated Alpha Prince
The wind stirred again, warm and alive, brushing against Ariana’s face like a breath. It carried the scent of the strange flowers—sweet, sharp, almost metallic. Her thoughts whirled.
“What do I do now?” she asked quietly.
Varos stepped back, his expression unreadable. “You listen. You feel. And you stay silent.”
She frowned. “Why silent?”
“Because they’re watching. And if they suspect how quickly you’re changing, they’ll act. Some will want to use you. Some will want to end you.” His gaze sharpened. “Neither will ask permission.”
Ariana swallowed hard, her fingers curling into the hem of her tunic.
“Why me?”
Varos only gave a small, sad smile. “The world has always bled through cracks. You are one of them.”
Then he turned and walked into the trees, vanishing into shadow like a trick of the light.
Ariana stood there, rooted, her breath coming too fast. The jungle didn’t feel hostile. It felt… awake. Waiting. As if it expected something from her she didn’t know how to give.
She turned back toward the villa. Her feet moved without thought, but the tension stayed with her, a thread of fire wound tight through her veins.
When she entered the room again, the air felt different. Charged.
She closed the archway doors, drew the curtain, and collapsed onto the bed. Not to sleep—sleep was gone—but tothink. To try and pin her mind to something real. Concrete.
The note. The fire. The way the plants had turned to her.
And Kael. Always Kael.
She hated how much he haunted her thoughts. Hated that his presence in her mind wasn’t just about attraction—it wasconnected. Somehow, he was part of all this. Part ofherwaking up.
But he wasn’t telling her anything.
He’d warned her, called her dangerous, and then pulled back. Always just enough to keep her unsure. Always just enough to make herwant.
She rolled over, staring at the high ceiling. “What the hell am I?” she whispered to the dark.
No answer came. But her body thrummed like a plucked string, the memory of the dream, the flowers, the voice echoing still.
Remember who you are.
She didn’t know who that was.
Not yet.
But something inside her stirred in response, ancient and hot and pulsing with promise.
Not fear. Not anymore.
Somethingbigger.
And for the first time since waking in this place, Ariana didn’t feel like a prisoner.
She felt like a fuse.
Waiting.
Ready.
