Kael’s POV.
The soft hum of the private jet filled the cabin, wrapping us in a steady, almost hypnotic rhythm as we soared through the clouds. It was a sound I’d heard countless times before, a sound I usually associated with calm and control. The interior of the jet was the epitome of elegance, with smooth cream leather seats that invited you to relax and polished wood accents that gleamed under the soft overhead lights.
It was a luxury I’d taken for granted, a privilege that had become second nature to me. But today, none of it mattered. The tension in the air was so thick, it was suffocating, and no amount of lavish surroundings could make it easier to breathe.
Aria sat across from me, her figure perfectly poised, her back straight as if she were holding herself together by sheer force of will. Her face was turned toward the window, her eyes fixed on the endless expanse of blue sky as though staring out at the clouds could shield her from the weight of this conversation. She looked flawless, as she always did. Her blue dress clung to her figure in a way that was impossible not to notice, and her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders in soft, effortless waves. But her expression told a different story. Her jaw was tight, her lips pressed into a thin line, and her brows were drawn together just enough to betray her thoughts. She might have looked perfect, but I knew she was anything but calm.
She didn’t want to be here. She didn’t want to have this conversation. And, most of all, she didn’t want to be with me.
I leaned back in my seat, letting my gaze linger on her for a moment longer. She hadn’t said much since we boarded, not even a polite comment about the flight or the weather. The silence between us had grown heavier with every passing second, and it was starting to grind on my nerves. I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to fix this-to find a way to break through to her, even if it meant pushing myself further than I was used to.
“Aria,” I said, my voice cutting through the silence like a blade. It came out softer than I intended, almost hesitant. I wasn’t used to speaking this way-without the usual cocky edge that came so naturally to me. But I needed her to listen. “Can we talk?”
She didn’t turn to look at me, but I saw the way her shoulders tensed. It was a small movement, but it told me everything I needed to know. She was bracing herself. “What is there to talk about, Kael?” she replied, her tone as cool and distant as the ice-capped mountains we were flying over. “We’re doing what’s expected of us. Isn’t that enough?”
“It’s not enough,” I said, my voice firmer this time. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees as I tried to catch her gaze. “Not for me.”
That got her attention. Slowly, she turned her head, her green eyes meeting mine for the first time since we’d taken off. They were guarded, cautious, like she was afraid of what I might say next. But beneath all that, I saw a flicker of curiosity. “What do you mean, Kael?”
I let out a slow, measured breath, running a hand through my hair as I searched for the right words. Vulnerability wasn’t something I did easily-or often. But with Aria, I didn’t have a choice. She wasn’t like anyone else I’d ever been with. She didn’t fall for my charm or my confidence or the weight of my family name. She was different. And if I wanted her to believe me, I had to show her something real. Or at least, as real as I could let myself be.
“What I mean,” I said finally, my voice steady but quieter now, “is that this isn’t just about the packs for me. I know it feels like this whole thing is some kind of arranged business deal, and maybe that’s how it started. But that’s not what it is for me anymore.”
Her frown deepened, and she crossed her arms over her chest, the movement deliberate and defensive. She turned to face me fully, her gaze sharp and unyielding. “You expect me to believe that?” she asked, her voice tinged with skepticism. “After everything you’ve said? After everything you’ve done?”
“Aria, listen to me,” I said, leaning closer, my tone urgent now. “I know I’ve messed up. I know I’ve given you every reason not to trust me. But I’m telling you the truth. This-us-it’s not just about obligation for me. It’s real.”
She shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. “Real? You think this is real? Kael, you’ve spent your entire life doing what’s convenient for you, what benefits you. Why should I believe that this is any different?”
“Because it is,” I said, my voice rising slightly despite myself. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “Because with you, everything feels different. You make me want to be different.”
Her eyes softened for a fraction of a second before the walls came back up. “Words are easy, Kael. Prove it.”
“Yes,” I said without even a second of hesitation, locking my gaze with hers, refusing to look away. She needed to see the truth in my eyes, to feel the weight of my words. “Yes, because it’s the truth, Aria. I know we started off… rocky, to say the least. Let’s be honest, I’ve probably given you every reason in the world not to trust me. I’ve screwed things up, I’ve said the wrong things, done the wrong things. But the more time I’ve spent with you, the more I’ve realized that all of that doesn’t matter. None of it does. Because I’ve realized something about you… about us.”
Her frown deepened, her arms tightening around herself as if she was physically shielding herself from my words. But she didn’t shut me down, didn’t tell me to stop. That was enough for me to keep going, to push through the wall she was trying so hard to keep up between us.
“I feel… connected to you,” I said, each word spilling out slower than the last as if I was piecing them together in real time. “It’s a connection I’ve never felt with anyone else. Not even close. I don’t know how to describe it… it’s like there’s this pull. Something invisible but strong. And no matter how many times you push me away, no matter how far you try to run, it keeps pulling me back to you.”
Her lips parted slightly, her green eyes widening just a fraction. It wasn’t much, but it was enough for me to know I was getting through to her. She wanted to say something-I could see it in the way her gaze flicked away and then back to me-but the words didn’t come. The silence stretched between us, and I took the opportunity to lean forward, my voice dropping lower, softer.
“Aria,” I said, letting her name linger on my tongue like a prayer, “I think you’re my true mate.”
Her breath hitched audibly, and for a moment, I saw it-the flicker of doubt, of hope, of something deeper in her eyes. She wanted to believe me. I could see it plain as day. It was in the way her expression softened for just a heartbeat, in the way her fingers gripped the armrests of her seat like they were the only thing grounding her. But then, almost as quickly as the hope appeared, it was replaced by fear. A fear I knew well.
“That’s impossible,” she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. She shook her head, her dark hair falling over her shoulder as she looked down at her lap. “I haven’t shifted yet, Kael. I’m eighteen. I should’ve shifted by now. If I haven’t, how can I know? How can you know if you’re my mate?”
I fought the urge to smirk. This was exactly where I needed her-teetering on the edge of doubt, questioning everything she thought she knew. If she wasn’t sure, if she was uncertain, then I could guide her. I could plant the idea and make her question everything else.
“Maybe the Moon Goddess has a plan,” I said softly, my tone gentle, almost reverent. I leaned forward, keeping my movements slow, deliberate. “Maybe you haven’t shifted yet because she wanted us to find each other first. Maybe she didn’t want the bond to force us together. Maybe this is her way of giving us a choice, Aria. A real choice.”
Her lips pressed into a tight line, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied me. I could see the wheels turning in her head, the way she was trying to find any cracks in my sincerity. But I didn’t let up. I kept my expression open, my gaze steady, even as my heart pounded in my chest.
“What if you’re wrong?” she whispered after a long moment, her voice trembling just enough to betray her uncertainty. “What if you’re not my mate? What if… what if this is all just something you’ve made yourself believe?”
I didn’t hesitate. I reached across the small space between us, my hand closing gently around hers. Her skin was soft, warm, and even though she didn’t pull away, I could feel the tension in her fingers. That small victory, the fact that she let me hold her hand, gave me the courage to keep going.
“I’m not wrong,” I said firmly, my thumb brushing lightly over the back of her hand. “I can feel it, Aria. Every time I’m near you, it’s like… like the rest of the world just disappears. You challenge me in ways no one else ever has. You frustrate me, you make me question everything about myself, and… and you make me want to be better. For you. I’ve never felt that way about anyone else. Not even close.”
She stared down at our joined hands, her brows furrowing as if she was trying to make sense of it all. Her lips parted slightly, and for a moment, I thought she might pull her hand away. Instead, she whispered my name, so softly I almost missed it. “Kael…”
I squeezed her hand gently, leaning in even closer, lowering my voice as if the words were meant only for her. “You don’t have to decide right now,” I said softly, almost pleading. “Just… think about it, okay? Don’t let fear or doubt stop you from feeling what’s real. Let yourself feel it, Aria. Just… give us a chance.”
The silence stretched between us again, heavier this time. The soft hum of the jet filled the space, the faint rush of the wind outside the only other sound. She didn’t say anything for what felt like an eternity, her gaze fixed on our hands. But then, finally, she nodded-just once, but it was enough.
“Okay,” she said quietly, her voice barely audible. Her grip on my hand tightened ever so slightly, and I felt a surge of relief so intense it almost knocked the breath out of me.
I leaned back in my seat, still holding her hand, the tension in my chest easing just a little. She wasn’t convinced, not completely. But she was willing to think about it. And that was more than I could’ve hoped for.
The game wasn’t over yet. Far from it. But now, I had a chance. And if I played my cards right, if I didn’t screw this up, I wouldn’t just win her trust.
I’d win her heart.