Aria's POV
I stared at Damon, my heart pounding beneath my ribs as the weight of everything I had been hiding settled heavily between us.
I stepped closer to him. "Damon, you're the one I chose."
His jaw tightened, but he didn't look away.
"I chose you," I repeated, forcing myself to hold his gaze. "Not Noah. I never wanted you to think otherwise."
Something flickered in his eyes, but it wasn't enough to ease the tension radiating from him.
"If that's true," he said quietly, "then why are you still keeping things from me?"
My stomach twisted. "Damon..."
"No." His voice hardened. "You don't get to tell me you chose me while continuing to keep secrets from me."
His Alpha aura rolled through the room, heavy and oppressive. I could almost feel it pressing against my skin.
Lydia stirr
