"I will never be your mate", she said with defiance.
The words hung heavy in the air like a slap.
"For a moment, his expression didn't shift. But then his jaw clenched, and his eyes darkened in a way that made her feel she'd crossed a line. Not anger. Not hurt. Something… much deeper."
Aria barely had time to gather her thoughts before the door swung open.
The Alpha's attendant entered through the open door — tall, dressed in black, her face an unreadable mask of sternness.
"Alpha," she said in a formal tone, standing by the door, awaiting a signal to proceed.
With a single nod from Ronan, she moved briskly toward him, handing over a sealed note and whispering something urgently about the council wanting to see him. Aria, ever observant, noticed how easily she herself could read lips with — a skill she secretly admired.
After the exchange, Ronan introduced them.
"Aria, meet Kassandra," he said, his voice flat. "You can use Kass to save time."
Kassandra's gaze hardened, her expression clearly warning Aria not to dare use it.
Kassandra's response was a tight, polite smile that didn't reach her eyes. "A pleasure meeting you," she said, her words crisp and cold.
Aria noticed her control and wondered if they had ever had a history together. She finds herself weirdly annoyed at the thought of that.
The tension in the room thickened as the two women silently sized each other up, neither showing a hint of warmth.
Kassandra's eyes flickered to Aria's face for a brief second, a barely-there smile that seemed almost patronizing. Aria couldn't decide if she was annoyed or jealous, but the feeling gnawed at her.
Ronan sighed inwardly, thinking, Too soon for this hatred.
The air softened ever so slightly as Kassandra caught his expression, but only enough to keep the tension simmering just below the surface.
"You're excused," Ronan finally said, his voice sharp.
Kassandra's steps were brisk and quiet as she left the room without a word.
Just as Aria opened her mouth to comtine their earlier conversation, the door swung open again.
A tall male entered, his presence commanding. He had chiseled features and wavy blond hair that framed his face perfectly. His stride was confident — the same authority Ronan exuded, though there was no mistaking who held the true power here.
No waiting to be sent in, Aria thought dryly. A second-in-command.
And this one smiles. Dangerous in a different way.
Thepack's Beta, Kaelith, strolled in with an air of playfulness that only seemed to highlight the gravity of the situation. His eyes scanned her, sizing her up, almost as if he were measuring the space she occupied.
"You must be the famous new wolf who leapt to victory," Kaelith said with a chuckle, stealing a glance at Ronan. He enjoyed seeing the warning flicker on the Alpha's face.
"I must say, I'm impressed," Kaelith added, bowing mockingly.
"And I'm flattered," Aria replied smoothly, amused by the obvious irritation on Ronan's face.
For a brief moment, she almost felt normal again. One person who's not treating me like a monster, she thought, sighing inwardly.
By the way, I'm Kaelith," he continued with a teasing grin. "And you must've guessed by now that I'm the Crimson Moon pack's Beta."
"Aria," she said, nodding. "I gathered that."
"We'll continue later," Kaelith teased, his voice shifting as he dropped the jest. "To business, then," he added, his tone adopting a more serious edge.
He spoke to Ronan, insisting that Aria begin her training immediately. Her interest piqued, she leaned forward slightly, her mind racing with possibilities.
Ronan gestured to Kaelith, and they moved a little distance away, speaking in hushed tones.
"Hello? Forgot about me?" Aria interrupted playfully.
Ronan and Kaelith glanced up briefly, before continuing their conversation.
"Typical Alpha and Beta," Aria muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes.
Not long after, Kaelith began heading for the door, still teasing. "See you around," he said, giving Aria a wink.
She nodded but remained half-disinterested, letting the quiet murmur of their conversation drift into the background.
"Care to talk about it now?" she asked as the door closed behind Kaelith.
Ronan sighed and motioned for her to take a seat.
"You have to start training soon," he said, his tone serious. "There are rumors that the Blood Fang pack is preparing to come after you for killing one of their members. How true that is remains to be seen, but either way, you need to be prepared."
"Interesting," she replied with a sigh, leaning back in the chair. "I was hoping for a normal life. No mystery. No history. But now..." Her voice trailed off as she stared at the wall.
Ronan stood, brushing his hands together. "I'll be back. In the meantime, take a walk. Get comfortable for your stay."
"You may not know it yet, but there's more to you than meets the eye. Some of us can see it."
Aria's eyes narrowed. "But I didn't say—" she began, but her words were cut off by the door slamming shut behind him.
"Rude and weird ," she muttered under her breath. "But I guess I'll do that."
— ✦ — ✦ — ✦ —
She wandered through the estate, seeking fresh air to clear her restless mind. The grand corridors were lined with portraits and windows that framed magnificent views of the grounds outside. The rich, intricate patterns of the rugs on the floor seemed almost alive, their threads woven with stories of a long-forgotten past.
This place is magnificent, Aria thought, almost in awe as she let her eyes drink in the beauty around her.
After several minutes of wandering with no one in sight, she stumbled upon a quiet, hidden section of the estate — a library.
The air here felt different. Heavier. Older. Magic seemed to have seeped into the shelves and lingered in the shadows, waiting to be remembered.
Aria wandered down one aisle, brushing her fingers lightly over the spines of the books. Dust filled the air like smoke, but one book caught her attention. Unlike the others, it wasn't coated in layers of dust.
Someone's been here recently, she thought, her curiosity piqued.
She pulled the book from the shelf and opened it. The title was written in a language she didn't recognize, but something about it felt important, almost… familiar. As she flipped it open, a strange symbol on the page glowed faintly, she felt a strange surge of power before vanishing like a wisp of smoke.
Before she could ponder its meaning, she heard faint footsteps in the distance.
Quickly, she closed the book and slipped out of the room.
Another day to dig deeper, she whispered to herself before closing the door.
As she turned down the corridor, a figure appeared ahead — a woman with a graceful stride, eyes sharp and knowing.
We're going to cross paths, Aria thought, her breath catching in her throat.
"You must be Aria," the woman said smoothly as she got to talking distance. "I'm Lady Elira — Ronan's aunt."
Her smile was flawless, but there was something practiced about it. Too perfect.
Elira's tone shifted midway through their conversation, the warmth draining away to reveal something colder, sharper.
"You speak of loyalty, yet you don't know who holds the leash. Tell me, flame in the shadows — when the truth burns through the lies, will you still stand beside him?"
Aria blinked, stunned. But Elira didn't stop.
"Truth sleeps in your bones, Aria. And when it wakes, you won't recognize the girl staring back at you."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Aria standing in the hallway, lost in thought.
Aria leaned against the wall, breathing raggedly, trying to make sense of Elira's cryptic words. Flame in the shadows, truth sleeps in your bones. She couldn't stop hearing them, trying to piece together their meaning.
Is Ronan hiding something? Aria wondered. Or was Elira trying to manipulate me?
The questions swirled in her mind, but there were no answers.
Maybe I can leave, she thought fleetingly, but then shook her head. Deep down, she knew leaving wasn't an option.
Her life had changed in the blink of an eye. A matter of days, she thought bitterly. Now everything's a rollercoaster ride.
She turned, ready to call after Elira — but the corridor was empty.
"There's no way she could've walked off that fast," Aria muttered, her heart racing. Just then, a tap on her shoulder made her jump.
Ronan.
"I see you've been exploring," he said dryly, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"I guess so," Aria replied, distracted. "But I still need more air," she added, brushing past him. Her mind spun with the cryptic words Elira had left behind.
Later, as she walked the halls again, she felt the stares return. Whispers.
How can she be here? She's dangerous.
Every word cut deep. Every look felt like a blade.
The weight of it all drove her back to Ronan's study. She opened the door — and there he was, sitting behind his desk, flipping through papers without looking up.
"I'm sure you've heard their words," she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
At the mention of the whispers, Ronan's jaw clenched. But he didn't speak.
"You see the way they look at me?" Aria continued, her voice rising. "Treat me like I'm a monster… a threat." Her words came out sharp with frustration.
Ronan's eyes flickered, but he quickly looked away, the emotion fleeting.
With a cold tone, he finally spoke. "Feelings don't matter in war, Aria. The sooner you understand that, the better."
He had turned to the fireplace, his voice distant, as though the words had come from someone else.
Her breath caught at those words.
Aria stood frozen, her emotions swirling in a whirlwind. Not from fear, but from something colder. Something heavier.
She watched him, waiting for some hint of the person she'd begun to trust, even if just a little bit. But there was nothing. Only the Alpha.
Disbelief washed over her. What did I expect from him?
As she turned toward the door, one thought clung to her like a shadow:
Iffeelings don't matter… then what part of me still does?