Chapter 21

**Aria’s POV**

There he stood, the very embodiment of my nightmares, the man who had once sought to strip away my dignity. The same man I had been forced to stab in a desperate bid to reclaim what was rightfully mine. Kevin, the name twisted in my mind like a knife, bringing with it a wave of nausea that rose from my stomach to my throat.

I instinctively shifted to the side, battling the urge to bare my teeth in a primal snarl. But then, I caught sight of the grin that twisted his lips, a smile that felt more like a threat than a greeting.

“Aria,” he jeered, his voice dripping with mockery. “It has been quite a while, my dear.”

In that moment, the corridor around me faded into a blur, and I was transported back to that wretched room. The flickering light bulb overhead cast shadows that danced ominously, while the echo of my own heartbeat thundered in my ears. I could almost feel his hot breath against my neck, a reminder of the terror I had fought so hard to escape.

What was he doing here?

His grin widened, as if he could sense the fear radiating off me. It was like a feast for him; he thrived on it. My wolf stirred restlessly within me, clawing at my ribs, desperate for release, but I fought to keep it at bay.