Aria’s POV
Giselle straightened, a smile slipping onto her face as she turned to him. “Oh, nothing, Denderick. I was just making sure our little runaway was keeping busy.”
Denderick’s gaze shifted to me “Is that so?” he asked.
“Yes.” Giselle cut in before I could answer.
Denderick’s eyes met Giselle’s, and he growled three words at her.
“Dining hall. Now.”
*********
I barely had time to catch my breath after the both of them left the room before I heard raised voices echoing down the hallway. The words were muffled, but the tone was unmistakable- they were arguing.
I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but the sound was so sharp and intense, it was impossible to ignore. I took a few hesitant steps toward the door, my heart pounding in my chest.
“What were you thinking, Giselle?” Denderick’s voice was low and furious, filled with a kind of anger I hadn’t heard from him before. “She’s been through enough!”
“Enough?” Giselle’s voice was shrill, laced with indignation. “She’s the reason we’re in this mess to begin with! I’m doing what needs to be done to protect this pack!”
“You’re doing it out of spite!” Denderick shot back. “This isn’t about protecting anyone; this is about your jealousy!”
There was a brief pause, and I could almost see the way Giselle would be narrowing her eyes, her mouth tightening into that familiar, disdainful line.
“Jealousy?” she echoed. “You think I’m jealous of her? Of that… that slave?”
“She’s not a slave anymore!” Denderick snapped. “And you know that. She has a child to care for. She’s vulnerable, and you’re treating her like- like she’s nothing. What’s wrong with you?”
“What’s wrong with me?” Giselle’s voice was shaking with fury. “What’s wrong with you, Denderick? You’ve been acting like a lovesick fool ever since she got here! Are you still harboring feelings for her? Is that what this is about?”
My breath caught in my throat at her words. Was that true? Did Denderick still have feelings for me? I didn’t want to believe it, didn’t want to think about the complications that would bring. But the raw emotion in Giselle’s voice made it hard to dismiss.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Denderick said, but his voice lacked the strength it had before. “This has nothing to do with that. I’m just trying to do what’s right.”
“Right,” Giselle spat. “You’re trying to do what’s right for her, not for us. You’re supposed to be the Alpha of this pack, Denderick, not some… some guardian angel for a woman who doesn’t even belong here!”
“She does belong here,” Denderick said, his voice firm now. “At least for now. She’s our guest, Giselle. And you will treat her with respect.”
“Respect?” Giselle let out a harsh laugh, the sound echoing down the hall. “You think she deserves respect? After everything she’s done? She left with your child!”
“She left because I treated her like an animal!” Denderick roared. “All she has ensured is because of me. I have to make it up to her!”
“You’re delusional, Denderick. You’re letting your emotions cloud your judgment.”
“I’m not the one who’s letting emotions get in the way of what’s right,” Denderick shot back. “You’re acting out of jealousy, and I won’t stand for it.”
There was a long silence, and I held my breath, waiting for Giselle’s response. When she finally spoke, her voice was low and dangerous. “If you care so much about her, maybe you should be with her,” she said, her words like poison. “Maybe that’s what you’ve wanted all along.”
“That’s not-” Denderick started, but she cut him off.
“Don’t lie to me, Denderick,” she hissed. “I can see it in your eyes, in the way you look at her. You still have feelings for her, and it’s pathetic.”
“I don’t-” Denderick tried again, but Giselle wasn’t having it.
“Enough!” she snapped. “I’m done with this. You can pretend all you want, but I know the truth. You’ve always cared more about her than you ever did about me. Well, I won’t stand for it. I won’t be second best, not to her, not to anyone!”
Her words hung in the air, heavy and bitter, and then I heard the sound of footsteps- sharp, angry footsteps- storming away from the dining hall. took a step back, away from the door, not wanting to be caught standing there like a fool.
The door to the dining hall slammed open, and there she was, her face twisted with rage. She barely glanced at me as she stormed past, her skirts swishing around her legs like a storm cloud. For a moment, I thought she might say something, might hurl one last insult at me, but she didn’t. She just swept out of the room, her anger following her like a shadow.
I stood there, frozen, not knowing what to do or say. The tension in the air was thick, and suffocating, and I could still hear the echo of their argument ringing in my ears. I didn’t know how to process what I’d just heard, didn’t know what it meant for me, for Denderick, for any of us.
Before I could gather my thoughts, Denderick appeared in the doorway. His face was a mask of frustration, his eyes dark and troubled. For a moment, we just stared at each other, the silence between us thick and heavy.
“I’m sorry,” I blurted out, the words tumbling from my lips before I could stop them. “I didn’t mean to cause any trouble between you and Giselle.”
Denderick’s expression softened slightly, but there was still a darkness in his eyes that made my stomach twist. “It’s not your fault,” he said quietly, stepping out of the room. “Giselle… she’s just… she’s angry. She’s not thinking clearly.”
“She thinks you still have feelings for me,” I whispered.
Denderick’s jaw tightened, his eyes flicking away from mine for a moment. “It doesn’t matter what she thinks,” he muttered. “You did say you felt nothing for me.”
His eyes met mine, and I could see the hope reflected in them. He wanted me to clear his doubts, wanted me to assure him that I still harbored some feelings for him.
When I said nothing, Denderick nodded once. “I’ll see to it that she doesn’t bug you again.” He said quietly, then walked away from me.
I watched him walk away, mulling over his words in my head. I’d told him point-blank that I didn’t care about him before. But unlike then, I wasn’t sure anymore.