Two years after Dex's trial, something unexpected happens to me. I fall in love.
His name is Ronan, and he's one of the newer Elite Warriors. He comes from the Northridge Pack, the same pack where Sage's father was from. He's strong and skilled, but what draws me to him is his kindness.
I first notice him when he's training with new recruits. Instead of being harsh or dominating, he's encouraging. He helps them find their strength instead of highlighting their weaknesses.
One day, he comes to me with a question about training technique.
"You fought me in the preliminary round of the trials," he says. I recognize him now that he mentions it. He was one of the male fighters in the early rounds, before I made it to the championship.
"I did," I say. "And you fought well."
"You were amazing," he says. "I remember thinking that you didn't seem real. Like you were made of something that couldn't be touched."
That compliment, simple as it is, stays with me.
We start spending more time together. First as training partners. Then as friends. Then as something more.
One night, we're on the roof of one of the training buildings, looking out at the mountains. Ronan takes my hand.
"I have to tell you something," he says. "My family has connections to your father's pack. My grandfather was actually one of the people who supported your father when he destroyed Sage's father's reputation."
The words hit me like a punch to the stomach.
"Why are you telling me this now?" I ask.
"Because I'm falling in love with you," Ronan says. "And you deserve to know the truth about where I come from."
I pull my hand away.
"Does Sage know?" I ask.
"I don't think so," Ronan says. "I never made a big deal about it. I wanted to separate myself from my family's history."
I don't know what to do with this information. For the past few years, I've been working to move past my father's sins. To not let his mistakes define me. But now I'm falling in love with someone whose family was complicit in those sins.
That night, I tell Sage.
"I already know," Sage says, surprising me. "I looked into Ronan's background when he first arrived."
"And you didn't tell me?" I ask.
"Because it's not his responsibility to apologize for what his grandfather did," Sage says. "Just like it's not your responsibility to apologize for what your father did."
"But don't you hate his family?" I ask.
"I hate what they did," Sage says. "But I'm tired of letting hate define my relationships. Ronan isn't his grandfather. You're not your father. And I'm not my father."
Sage's words help me see things differently. I go back to Ronan and tell him that I want to try. To see if what we have is real. To see if love can exist between us despite the history that connects our families.
We start dating, quietly at first. But eventually, it becomes public. And when it does, some people get angry.
There are those in the pack system who think I'm a traitor. That I'm betraying the memory of Sage's father by dating someone whose family hurt him. But Ronan and I decide that love isn't betrayal. Love is healing.
Sage meets with Ronan's family and has a conversation about what happened. It's not easy. His grandfather is defensive at first. But eventually, he admits what he did. He explains that he was young and ambitious and stupid. He made mistakes he's regretted for years.
It's not a perfect resolution. Old wounds don't heal cleanly. But it's something. It's progress.
One night, Ronan proposes to me. We're on the same roof where we first held hands. He gets down on one knee and asks me to marry him.
"I know this is complicated," he says. "I know our families have history. But I don't care about that. I just care about you. About building a life with you."
I say yes without hesitation.
When I tell Sage, she's happy for me. But I can see sadness in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"Nothing's wrong," Sage says. "I'm just thinking about how far we've come. Two years ago, the idea of peace between families seemed impossible. Now you're getting married to someone whose family was part of the system we fought against."
"Is that a bad thing?" I ask.
"No," Sage says. "It's exactly the kind of thing we were fighting for. The ability to choose our own lives. To make our own decisions. To love who we want to love despite where we come from."
The wedding is scheduled for six months away. I'm excited but also terrified. Getting married means committing to something permanent. It means being vulnerable in a way I haven't been since I started fighting.
But Ronan makes me feel safe. He believes in me. He supports the work I do. He doesn't try to diminish my power or control me. He just loves me.
Two weeks before the wedding, I receive a letter from my father.
*Aria, I heard about your engagement. I'm happy for you. I know I have no right to be your father, but I wanted to send you a gift for your wedding. I'm sending a small amount of money and a piece of jewelry that belonged to your mother. She would be proud of you. I'm proud of you.*
The letter makes me cry. Not because I forgive my father everything, but because he's finally accepting who I've become. He's finally letting go of what he wanted me to be and celebrating what I am.
I write back and invite him to the wedding. I'm not sure if he'll come, but it feels important to ask.
A week before the wedding, he arrives at the Alpha King's compound. He looks even older than when I saw him three years ago, but his expression is softer. Kinder.
We don't have a long conversation, but we do have a real one. He tells me about the years after I left. How the pack changed. How he struggled with letting go of the old ways.
"I'm sorry," he says. "For everything. I know that doesn't fix anything, but I need you to know that I know what I did was wrong."
"Thank you," I say. And I mean it.
The day of the wedding, I'm nervous in a way I haven't been since the trials. But when I see Ronan at the altar, all the nervousness goes away. This is right. This is what I choose.
Sage stands beside me as my maid of honor. Kai is beside Ronan as his best man. My father is in the front row, watching with tears in his eyes. Marcus is there. Kira and Mira are there. All the people who've been part of my journey.
When we say our vows, I promise to be honest and strong and true. Ronan promises to support my dreams and believe in my power. We promise to build something good together.
When we kiss, the entire crowd erupts in cheers.
That night, at the reception, my father comes to dance with me. It's awkward and formal, but it's something. It's a bridge being built between us.
Later, Sage pulls me aside.
"You happy?" she asks.
"Yes," I say. And it's true. Not in a simple way. Not without complications. But genuinely, deeply happy.
"Good," Sage says. "Because I have something to tell you. Kai asked me to marry him. And I said yes."
I hug her, and we both cry a little bit.
"We've come so far," I say.
"We have," Sage agrees. "And I don't think we're done yet."