Chapter 103

**ARIA**

I barely slept. My mind spun circles around itself, no matter how many pillows I buried my face in or how tightly I clutched the blanket around my body. The weight in my chest wouldn’t budge—a stubborn, aching presence fueled by betrayal, fear, and a creeping sense of uncertainty I couldn't shake.

I wasn’t just tired. I was bone-deep exhausted. The kind of fatigue that sleep couldn’t fix, that burrowed into my very cells and whispered, "You're not enough."

The morning sunlight trickled through the curtains, golden and soft, and all I could do was stare at it. I had sent Adam and Austin away last night. Told them I wanted space. Needed space. And for once, they actually listened. I had expected that it might feel liberating. Instead, I woke up alone. Starving. With nothing in the apartment except the echo of my own racing thoughts.

I dragged myself out of bed, every muscle aching, and shuffled to the kitchen. Nothing. Not even a damn piece of toast. If I had the energy, I might’ve screamed.

Instead, I grabbed my phone.

Me to Rosalie: Can you bring food? And come alone, please.

I wasn’t sure why I added that last part. Maybe because I knew Rosalie would understand. Maybe because she always knew.

Exactly two minutes later, a knock rattled the door.

"It’s me!" came Rosalie’s chirpy voice.

When I opened the door, she practically pushed her way in, arms full of bags.

She dropped them onto the kitchen counter and grinned. "You know, for someone who wanted to be alone, you sure scream ‘feed me everything in sight’ telepathically."

I blinked at the array she unpacked: pancakes, a full bottle of orange juice, cinnamon biscuits, chocolate chip cookies, popcorn, two hazelnut chocolate bars, a bag of pickles, and slices of ham.

My mouth watered.

"How—"

She waved a hand. "I have my ways. Also, you’re predictable. Oh, and I’ll grab a tub of mint chocolate chip later, don’t worry."

I laughed, but it came out more as a broken breath. She set a plate in front of me, poured the juice, and sat across the table as I dug in.

She didn’t push. She didn’t say anything until I was halfway through my third pancake and the sugar had brought some life back to my brain.

"I hate them," I muttered.

Rosalie raised an eyebrow. "You sure? Because I’ve seen how you look at both of them, and it’s not exactly hatred."

"Okay, fine. I’m furious. I just... I can’t believe they kept something so big from me. Again."

Rosalie didn’t answer immediately. She just let me talk. And once I started, I couldn’t stop.

"I thought we were past this. I thought we made a pact after everything. That there’d be no more secrets. And then Sasha just... blurts it all out like he’s
announcing the weather. And everyone knew. Everyone but me."

She nodded thoughtfully. "They should have told you."

"I was supposed to have time to think about becoming a hybrid. Not be told it was the only way I’d survive carrying my children."

My voice cracked at the end, and I blinked rapidly to clear the fresh wave of tears that stung my eyes.

Rosalie reached across the table and took my hand.

"They love you. That doesn’t excuse what they did. But you don’t need to forgive them today. You need to teach them a lesson."

I stared at her.

That was not the answer I had expected.

"Wait... what?"

She shrugged, completely unfazed. "Look, men learn best from discomfort. They screwed up. Let them sit with it. Let them stew a little. The world won’t end because Aria Scava didn’t let them hover for one day."

I laughed again—for real this time.

"As for the twins," she continued, her tone growing more serious, "They are hybrids. You aren’t. That means your body is doing everything it can to nourish two
supernatural lives, and it's draining you faster than your system can recover."

My chest tightened. "So I really do need to be turned."

She nodded. "Yes. If you want to carry them to term and survive, you’ll need the strength that comes with being a hybrid. And soon."

I looked down at my plate, appetite suddenly gone.

Rosalie squeezed my hand. "But you have the choice, Aria. This isn’t about being forced. This is about fighting for them, for yourself, on your terms."

I nodded slowly, the fear still coiled in my gut, but it eased a little knowing that someone was finally talking to me—not around me.

And that, maybe, I wasn’t as alone as I felt.

**AUSTIN**

Being locked out of my own home made me sick to my stomach.

The apartment door felt like a wall between us, more impenetrable than any steel gate. She’d slammed it shut the night before, and I hadn’t heard a single sound since. Not a footstep. Not a cry. Just silence. Deafening, maddening silence.

When Rosalie finally stepped out, I was already waiting in the hallway. She had her hoodie pulled up, her arms full of what looked like an empty food bag.

"How is she?" I asked, barely keeping the desperation out of my voice.

Rosalie kept walking. "She’s fine. We talked. She needed someone to listen."

"Did she... did she say anything about the twins? Or the hybrid part?"

Rosalie glanced over her shoulder and gave a small, knowing smile. "She knows. And she’s accepted it. It’s not easy, but she’s thinking clearly now."

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. Relief swept through me like a wave. "So... can Adam and I go back?"

Rosalie barked out a laugh. "Not today."

She turned the corner before I could protest.

"Where are you going now?"

"Store," she called over her shoulder. "Need mint chocolate chip ice cream, maybe some chips. We’re watching trash TV tonight. I’m sleeping over."

I stood there, stunned, blinking after her retreating form.

Rosalie. Sleeping over.

I had been benched from my own bed by my mate and her best friend armed with snacks and sass.

All I could do was rub the back of my neck, sigh, and mutter, "She’s really not letting us off the hook, is she?"

And somewhere behind that door, I imagined Aria smirking in quiet satisfaction.

Honestly? She deserved it.