Aria’s POV
There was nothing else to do but to obey the monster.
Slowly, I picked myself up from the ground, wincing at every movement. Each step sent sharp, searing pain through my ribs and stomach where Logan had kicked me. My body ached with every breath, but the pain in my heart was even worse.
Hatred for Alpha Logan burned inside me like a flame. How had I gotten into the hands of such a man? How could he treat me this way? How could he be so brutal and heartless?
I began to weigh my choices. Would it have been better for me if I’d stayed with Alpha Denderick? Did I really run from a problem and straight into the hands of an even bigger problem?
I forced myself to get dressed and then gently dressed my son, who seemed to sense my distress. His innocent eyes watched me, and I gave him a sad smile. Holding him close, I left the room and began the slow, painful walk back to the dining hall. Every step was like walking on sharp, pointy nails.
When I reached the dining hall, I found it empty except for the servants cleaning up the remnants of breakfast. The normal clatter of dishes and low murmurs seemed distant and surreal. I spotted Erinne approaching from one of the maids, her expression troubled.
“Where are Alpha Logan and Alpha Denderick?” I asked, my voice strained.
“They’ve started the Council of Alphas meeting already,” Erinne replied. “They’re in the throne room.”
I frowned, realizing I didn’t know where the throne room was. “Can you show me the way?”
Erinne nodded and gave me directions. “Go down the main hallway, take a left, and it’s the large double doors at the end.”
I thanked her and made my way there, my heart pounding with anxiety. As I neared the throne room, I stopped before the imposing doors, taking a moment to gather myself. Lies and excuses flitted through my mind, none of them sounding convincing enough. What if Denderick recognized me? What if he exposed me?
But I had to find a way to cover for myself.
Taking a deep breath, I hoped for the best and pushed the doors open. I stepped inside.
The room was filled with the presence of the Alphas, their commanding voices filling the space. I could see Alpha Logan and Alpha Denderick among them, deep in discussion with other Alphas. My entrance drew their attention, and for a moment, the room fell silent.
Logan’s eyes narrowed as he saw me, but Denderick’s gaze was what truly terrified me. I could see the recognition in his eyes, the flicker of something that could expose everything I had struggled for months to build.
An Alpha on the far end of the table looked at me with curiosity. “Alpha Logan, is this your breeder?”
Alpha Logan nodded, a proud smile on his face. “Yes, the child in her hands is my son as well.”
My heart sank at his words. He called me his breeder, not his Luna. It was a clear indication of how little he esteemed me. The proud and harsh way he spoke made it evident that I was nothing more than a means to an end for him.
“Aria,” Alpha Logan called, “stand behind me as we proceed with the meeting.”
I moved to stand behind Logan, my heart pounding. Fate seemed to be playing a cruel joke on me, as where I stood placed me directly opposite Alpha Denderick. I could feel his eyes silently boring into me, but I tried my best not to meet his gaze.
The meeting began, and the Alphas discussed various topics with an air of seriousness and authority.
A man called Alpha Harris spoke first. “We need to address the increasing security concerns in our territories. Rogue wolves have been getting bolder, and their attacks are becoming more frequent.”
Alpha Callum nodded in agreement. “We’ve had several incidents in our pack as well. It’s becoming a serious issue. We need a coordinated effort to deal with this.”
Logan leaned forward, his expression serious. “I propose we increase patrols along our borders and establish a communication network among our packs to share information about rogue activities. Perhaps widen our mind links.”
Alpha Kieran added, “We should also consider holding joint training sessions for our warriors.”
Soon, the conversation shifted, Alpha Rowan brought up the topic of the Moon Ceremonies. “The next Moon Ceremony is approaching, and we need to ensure everything is in order. It’s a time for our packs to come together and reaffirm our bonds.”
Logan turned to Alpha Callum. “Have the preparations for the ceremony begun in your pack?”
Callum nodded. “Yes, we’ve started the arrangements. We’ll ensure it’s a memorable event for everyone.”
The Alphas continued discussing various aspects of the Moon Ceremonies, from rituals to security measures. I stood there, trying to focus on their words, but my thoughts kept drifting to Alpha Denderick.
Several times, our eyes caught across the table, and I saw different emotions flash in his gaze. Confusion, surprise, hurt- but I never saw anger. It left me bewildered. Why wasn’t he furious at me for running away from his pack?
From the corner of my mind, I heard Alpha Rowan ask Alpha Denderick a question. However, Denderick was so fixated on me that he didn’t hear.
“Alpha Denderick,” Rowan called out again, a hint of impatience in his voice. “Pay attention to our discussion!”
Denderick remained lost in his thoughts, his eyes locked on mine.
“Alpha Denderick!” another voice, this time Alpha Harris, joined in, sounding more insistent.
Finally, after several attempts, Denderick jerked up and looked around in confusion. He stammered, “What? What is it you want?”
The room fell into a tense silence as all eyes turned toward him. I could feel the weight of their gazes and the unease that settled in the air. Alpha Logan’s stare was particularly intense, moving from Denderick to me and back again. I could see him trying to decipher the connection between us, suspicion growing in his eyes.
God, what could he tell? Could he notice that we knew and recognized each other?
Logan finally spoke up, his voice cutting through the silence. “Denderick, do you know Aria from anywhere?”
My heart leapt in fright. This was the moment. Would Denderick cover for me, or would he reveal my secret? CHAPTER 33
Aria’s POV
There was nothing else to do but to obey the monster.
Slowly, I picked myself up from the ground, wincing at every movement. Each step sent sharp, searing pain through my ribs and stomach where Logan had kicked me. My body ached with every breath, but the pain in my heart was even worse.
Hatred for Alpha Logan burned inside me like a flame. How had I gotten into the hands of such a man? How could he treat me this way? How could he be so brutal and heartless?
I began to weigh my choices. Would it have been better for me if I’d stayed with Alpha Denderick? Did I really run from a problem and straight into the hands of an even bigger problem?
I forced myself to get dressed and then gently dressed my son, who seemed to sense my distress. His innocent eyes watched me, and I gave him a sad smile. Holding him close, I left the room and began the slow, painful walk back to the dining hall. Every step was like walking on sharp, pointy nails.
When I reached the dining hall, I found it empty except for the servants cleaning up the remnants of breakfast. The normal clatter of dishes and low murmurs seemed distant and surreal. I spotted Erinne approaching from one of the maids, her expression troubled.
“Where are Alpha Logan and Alpha Denderick?” I asked, my voice strained.
“They’ve started the Council of Alphas meeting already,” Erinne replied. “They’re in the throne room.”
I frowned, realizing I didn’t know where the throne room was. “Can you show me the way?”
Erinne nodded and gave me directions. “Go down the main hallway, take a left, and it’s the large double doors at the end.”
I thanked her and made my way there, my heart pounding with anxiety. As I neared the throne room, I stopped before the imposing doors, taking a moment to gather myself. Lies and excuses flitted through my mind, none of them sounding convincing enough. What if Denderick recognized me? What if he exposed me?
But I had to find a way to cover for myself.
Taking a deep breath, I hoped for the best and pushed the doors open. I stepped inside.
The room was filled with the presence of the Alphas, their commanding voices filling the space. I could see Alpha Logan and Alpha Denderick among them, deep in discussion with other Alphas. My entrance drew their attention, and for a moment, the room fell silent.
Logan’s eyes narrowed as he saw me, but Denderick’s gaze was what truly terrified me. I could see the recognition in his eyes, the flicker of something that could expose everything I had struggled for months to build.
An Alpha on the far end of the table looked at me with curiosity. “Alpha Logan, is this your breeder?”
Alpha Logan nodded, a proud smile on his face. “Yes, the child in her hands is my son as well.”
My heart sank at his words. He called me his breeder, not his Luna. It was a clear indication of how little he esteemed me. The proud and harsh way he spoke made it evident that I was nothing more than a means to an end for him.
“Aria,” Alpha Logan called, “stand behind me as we proceed with the meeting.”
I moved to stand behind Logan, my heart pounding. Fate seemed to be playing a cruel joke on me, as where I stood placed me directly opposite Alpha Denderick. I could feel his eyes silently boring into me, but I tried my best not to meet his gaze.
The meeting began, and the Alphas discussed various topics with an air of seriousness and authority.
A man called Alpha Harris spoke first. “We need to address the increasing security concerns in our territories. Rogue wolves have been getting bolder, and their attacks are becoming more frequent.”
Alpha Callum nodded in agreement. “We’ve had several incidents in our pack as well. It’s becoming a serious issue. We need a coordinated effort to deal with this.”
Logan leaned forward, his expression serious. “I propose we increase patrols along our borders and establish a communication network among our packs to share information about rogue activities. Perhaps widen our mind links.”
Alpha Kieran added, “We should also consider holding joint training sessions for our warriors.”
Soon, the conversation shifted, Alpha Rowan brought up the topic of the Moon Ceremonies. “The next Moon Ceremony is approaching, and we need to ensure everything is in order. It’s a time for our packs to come together and reaffirm our bonds.”
Logan turned to Alpha Callum. “Have the preparations for the ceremony begun in your pack?”
Callum nodded. “Yes, we’ve started the arrangements. We’ll ensure it’s a memorable event for everyone.”
The Alphas continued discussing various aspects of the Moon Ceremonies, from rituals to security measures. I stood there, trying to focus on their words, but my thoughts kept drifting to Alpha Denderick.
Several times, our eyes caught across the table, and I saw different emotions flash in his gaze. Confusion, surprise, hurt- but I never saw anger. It left me bewildered. Why wasn’t he furious at me for running away from his pack?
From the corner of my mind, I heard Alpha Rowan ask Alpha Denderick a question. However, Denderick was so fixated on me that he didn’t hear.
“Alpha Denderick,” Rowan called out again, a hint of impatience in his voice. “Pay attention to our discussion!”
Denderick remained lost in his thoughts, his eyes locked on mine.
“Alpha Denderick!” another voice, this time Alpha Harris, joined in, sounding more insistent.
Finally, after several attempts, Denderick jerked up and looked around in confusion. He stammered, “What? What is it you want?”
The room fell into a tense silence as all eyes turned toward him. I could feel the weight of their gazes and the unease that settled in the air. Alpha Logan’s stare was particularly intense, moving from Denderick to me and back again. I could see him trying to decipher the connection between us, suspicion growing in his eyes.
God, what could he tell? Could he notice that we knew and recognized each other?
Logan finally spoke up, his voice cutting through the silence. “Denderick, do you know Aria from anywhere?”
My heart leapt in fright. This was the moment. Would Denderick cover for me, or would he reveal my secret?