Aria's POV
I gasped in sheer terror as Ramon plummeted out of nowhere, landing gracefully on his feet right in front of me with effortless agility.
But the sudden shock sent me stumbling backward, losing my balance entirely.
No, no, no! Not the thorny rosebushes! I prayed desperately inside.
I braced myself for the impending impalement, shutting my eyes tightly and throwing my hands over my face.
Come on, Aria, you've survived worse pain than a few thorns. You can take this!
Yet... The painful sting never came.
Before I could peek through my fingers, a rich, intoxicating scent washed over my senses—crisp winter pine mixed with deep cedarwood and the faint, electrifying hum of raw Alpha pheromones.
It was instantly grounding, wrapping around me like a warm safety net and chasing
