Aliya’s POV
After Mellisa left, I sat in my room, numb with shock. The idea of being mated to Jayden, of binding myself to him for life, was overwhelming. Especially after everything that had happened between us. The humiliation, the cold indifference, the moments of unexpected tenderness—it was all too much to process. Yes, I knew I was happy at first, but at the same time, the reality of everything was happening like a dream. I'd be mated to the most ruthless Alpha.
I couldn't deny that there was a part of me that longed for Jayden, that was drawn to him despite everything. But there was also a part of me that feared him, that resented the way he had treated me. And now, I was being forced into a decision that felt impossibly unfair.
That night, sleep eluded me. I lay awake, my mind c
