Aria’s POV
The moment I saw who it was, my blood ran cold. I quickly turned away, my heart hammering in my chest. It was the true father of my son, appearing like a demon from my past.
Oh, Goddess!
Anxiety flooded my veins, and I gripped the edge of the table to steady myself. What was I to do now, faced with the man who could destroy all my carefully laid plans?
I could hear Alpha Logan greeting Alpha Denderick with a cold voice- it was obvious that there was some sort of rift between them. How much longer before he asked to see the mother of Logan’s child?
Erinne quickly walked up to me, her expression concerned. “What’s the matter, Luna Aria?” she asked softly.
“I need to go to my room,” I whispered urgently, barely able to keep the tremor out of my voice. Erinne nodded and helped me to my feet.
Together, we hurried out of the dining hall. My mind raced with thoughts of what Alpha Denderick’s presence could really mean. Why was he here? Had he discovered the truth? Would I really be called before the Council of Alphas? I could barely keep my composure as we made our way through the corridors.
Once inside my room, I hastily grabbed my son from Erinne’s hands. “Leave,” I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended.
“Luna Aria, what’s-” Erinne began.
“Get out!” I roared, my voice trembling with fear and anger. I couldn’t afford to have her here, not now.
Erinne left, looking hurt and confused. The door closed behind her, and I was finally alone. My hands shook as I held my son close. At least his small body was a comforting weight against my chest. But that comfort was fleeting. I began to pace the room, my mind filled with riotous thoughts.
All I could feel was fear at what had just happened. What if Denderick exposed me? What if he took my son away? The thought was unbearable. The agitation I felt before was nothing compared to the storm now raging inside me. I had worked so hard to build this life, to protect my son. I couldn’t let it all fall apart.
I stopped pacing and sank to the floor, my back against the wall. I needed to think, to come up with a plan. But all I could feel was the crushing weight of dread. My breath came in short, panicked gasps. I had to keep it together. For my son. For myself.
Suddenly, the door barged open, slamming against the wall. I glanced up to see Alpha Logan storming in. His face a mask of fury; veins jutted out from his forehead, and his lips were bared back in a snarl.
My heart skipped a beat, and I clutched my son tighter, instinctively shielding him from the anger I knew was coming.
“How dare you walk away from the dining hall!” he roared, his voice echoing off the walls. “Who do you think you are? Who gave you the permission?”
“I- I wasn’t feeling well-” I stammered, trying to find the right words, but he didn’t let me finish.
“You don’t get to just leave!” he shouted, advancing on me with menacing strides. His hand shot out, grabbing my arm with a vice-like grip. Pain shot through my shoulder as he yanked me to my feet, my son’s weight making the movement even more jarring.
“You think you can embarrass me in front of my guests?” His voice was a low growl now, each word filled with contempt. He shook me roughly, and I could barely hold back a cry of pain.
“Please, Alpha Logan, I-”
His other hand slapped across my face, silencing me. My head snapped to the side, and I tasted blood. The room spun for a moment, and I struggled to stay upright, cradling my son protectively.
“You’re nothing without me, do you understand?” he hissed, his face inches from mine. “You will obey me, or I will make your life a living hell. You don’t speak until I tell you too, or move unless I give you the go-ahead.”
Tears blurred my vision as he pushed me away, causing me to stumble and nearly fall. My son whimpered in my arms, sensing my distress.
“I don’t care what excuse you have,” he snarled. “You will return to the dining hall and act like the obedient Luna you are, or you will regret it.”
The moment I heard Alpha Logan’s command to return to the dining hall, my legs gave out from under me. I sank to my knees, clutching my son tightly. I knew I couldn’t face Denderick again, not like this.
“Please, Alpha Logan, I can’t go back there,” I pleaded, my voice trembling. “Please, just let me stay here.”
His eyes narrowed, and he approached me slowly, like a predator stalking its prey. “You don’t have a choice, Aria. You will do as I say.”
“Please,” I begged, tears streaming down my face. “I’ll do anything, just don’t make me go back.”
My pleas only seemed to fuel his anger. He reached down and grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking my head back painfully. “You think you can defy me? You think you have any say in this?”
I whimpered, trying to shield my son with my body. “I’m sorry, Alpha Logan, please-”
He let go of my hair only to deliver a brutal kick to my side. Pain exploded through my ribs, and I cried out, falling to the floor. “You will obey me, Aria, or I’ll make sure you regret ever crossing me,” he spat, delivering another vicious kick.
I curled into a ball, trying to protect my son from the blows. Each strike sent waves of agony through my body, but I couldn’t stop pleading.
“Please, Alpha Logan, I’m begging you-”
“Enough!” he roared, his foot connecting with my stomach. The air was knocked out of me, and I gasped, struggling to breathe. “You will go back to that dining hall, and you will act like the Luna you are supposed to be.”
With one final kick, he turned and stormed out, leaving me crumpled on the floor. My body throbbed with pain, but the fear was even worse. I had to go back, or he would make good on his threats. I had no choice but to obey.
I slowly got to my feet, every movement a struggle. My son whimpered softly, and I held him close, trying to find the strength to face what awaited me. If I went back there, and they found a way to discover my secret, I was done for. There were only two options for the crime I’d commited: facing death, or having my baby taken from me and staying with Alpha Logan forever. And I could not decide which one was worse.
What was I going to do?