Aria’s POV.
The room erupted into thunderous applause after Kael’s toast, the sound echoing off the ornate walls and domed ceiling like a wave crashing through the ballroom. It was mechanical, practiced-polite, but not heartfelt.
The alphas and their wives clinked their glasses together, their expressions ranging from subtle approval to quiet skepticism. I sipped my champagne, forcing a smile onto my lips that I hoped looked genuine. My hand was steady, but my heart was racing. I could feel their eyes on me, sharp and unrelenting, like a thousand needles pricking at my skin.
Everywhere I looked, people were watching. Some of the gazes were discreet, hidden behind perfectly rehearsed smiles and slight nods of approval. Others were less cautious, their true thoughts flickering across their faces before they could mask them. It was a performance for all of us-Kael, me, and the crowd. Beneath the polite applause and murmurs of agreement, I could sense the real atmosphere of the room: speculation, judgment, and the quiet hum of distrust.
Near the center of the room, Alpha Marcus of the Western Ridge pack stood out like a dark shadow in the sea of smiling faces. He clapped slowly, his hands moving with deliberate indifference. His dark eyes narrowed slightly as they flicked between Kael and me, his expression sharp and calculating. Marcus was a tall, broad-shouldered man with the kind of presence that demanded attention. The graying hair at his temples gave him an air of wisdom, but his reputation for being shrewd, distrustful, and brutally honest preceded him.
Beside him, his wife, Luna Elara, was the picture of elegance. Her deep burgundy gown clung to her figure perfectly, and her long, dark hair was swept into a sleek chignon. She stood with her chin raised ever so slightly, her posture poised and regal. But her lips, pressed into a thin, tight line, betrayed her thoughts. Her eyes flicked between Kael and me, and for a moment, she lingered on me, her gaze heavy with silent appraisal.
“Quite the match,” Marcus said finally, his voice low but carrying enough weight to draw the attention of those standing nearby. The slow cadence of his words was deliberate, like he wanted everyone to hear him. “Though I can’t help but wonder if the timing isn’t… rushed.”
Elara tilted her head slightly, her sharp eyes glinting as she studied us. “A surprise engagement with so little notice,” she murmured, her tone light and conversational, but laced with a subtle edge that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. “It does make one wonder how much of this is genuine and how much is… strategy.”
Kael’s smile didn’t falter, not even for a second. He raised his glass in their direction, his movements smooth and confident, as if the tension in the air didn’t faze him in the slightest. “When you know, you know,” he replied, his voice calm and warm, carrying over the crowd with ease.
Marcus chuckled softly, but there was no humor in the sound. It was cold, calculated, and filled with doubt. “Of course,” he said, his tone dripping with skepticism.
At the far end of the room, Alpha Jarek of the Midnight Sun pack leaned casually against a marble pillar, his arms crossed over his chest. He was younger than most of the other alphas, his sharp jawline and piercing blue eyes giving him an edge of danger that set him apart. Unlike the others, he didn’t bother clapping. Instead, his lips curled into a faint smirk as he watched Kael and me like a predator sizing up its prey.
His wife, Luna Celeste, stood gracefully at his side. She was stunning, her ice-blonde hair styled into an intricate updo that sparkled with tiny diamonds. Her pale blue gown shimmered under the soft glow of the chandeliers, and her delicate features gave her an almost ethereal quality. But her eyes betrayed her, their icy blue depths cool and calculating as they settled on me.
“What do you think?” Jarek asked her, his voice low and casual, though it carried just far enough for the people nearby to catch. His smirk widened as he tilted his head toward me. “A charming performance, or a desperate move?”
Celeste didn’t answer right away. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, her gaze raking over me with an appraising sharpness that made my skin prickle. “She looks… delicate,” she said finally, her voice soft but sharp enough to cut. There was a hint of pity in her tone, but it didn’t feel genuine-it felt more like a subtle jab dressed up as concern. “I wonder if she’s ready for what’s expected of her.”
Jarek snorted, the sound low and dismissive. His smirk deepened, his eyes glinting with amusement as he leaned closer to Celeste. “She doesn’t have a choice,” he said, his voice louder this time, just enough to draw a few more glances. “None of us do.”
I felt my cheeks flush, a mixture of anger and embarrassment swirling in my chest. I wanted to say something, to defend myself, but the words stuck in my throat. Around me, the murmurs of the crowd continued, and I could feel the weight of their judgment pressing down on me like a heavy blanket.
Kael must have noticed the tension in my posture, because he leaned in slightly, his hand brushing against mine as he spoke softly. “Don’t let them get to you,” he murmured, his voice low and steady. “They’re just testing you. That’s what they do. It doesn’t mean anything.”
I turned to him, my eyes narrowing slightly. “It feels like it means everything,” I whispered back, my voice tight.
He straightened, his expression calm and unreadable as he addressed the crowd again, his voice cutting through the murmurs like a blade. “I know there are questions,” he said, his tone firm but not harsh. “And I know not everyone here is convinced. But trust isn’t built overnight. It’s earned. And I intend to earn it-with her by my side.”
The room quieted, the tension shifting slightly as Kael’s words hung in the air. For a moment, it felt like the crowd was actually listening, like he had managed to take control of the narrative.
But as I glanced around, I caught the faint smirk still lingering on Jarek’s lips, the subtle flicker of doubt in Marcus’s eyes, and the calculating gaze of Celeste.
No matter what Kael said, I knew one thing for certain: this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
I kept my face calm, my expression carefully neutral, pretending that I hadn’t heard their words. But no matter how hard I tried to ignore them, their comments lingered in my mind, cutting deeper than I wanted to admit. Each word felt like a thorn, pricking at my composure, making it harder to breathe. I told myself not to care, not to let their whispers and judgment affect me, but it was easier said than done. It wasn’t just what they said-it was the way they said it, their tones dripping with condescension, as though I was some delicate flower that would wilt under the smallest bit of pressure.
Near the banquet table, Alpha Henrik of the Silver Fang pack was impossible to miss. He stood tall and broad, his massive frame practically filling the space around him. With a booming laugh that could shake the walls, he raised his glass high, his voice cutting through the hum of conversation like a blade. “Well done, Kael!” he bellowed, grinning wide enough to show his sharp teeth. “You’ve landed yourself a beauty!” His tone was jovial, but there was something about his words that made me feel like I was being appraised, like a trophy on display rather than a person.
Luna Valeria, his wife, turned sharply to him, her dark eyes narrowing as she lifted one perfectly arched brow in disapproval. She was stunning, her midnight blue gown hugging her slender frame, her black hair pinned back elegantly. With a voice like smooth velvet, she said, “Henrik.” It was a single word, but it carried all the weight of a warning. Her tone was low but firm, enough to make Henrik pause-if only for a second.
But Henrik was undeterred. He let out another booming laugh, clearly unbothered by his wife’s scolding. “What? It’s true!” he said, gesturing toward me with his glass as though I wasn’t standing right there. His eyes gleamed with amusement. “She’s a fine match for him. Though I can’t help but wonder…” He paused, his grin turning wolfish. “Is she as fierce as she looks? Or is she just pretty to look at?”
Valeria sighed, her shoulders rising and falling in a graceful motion as she turned her attention to me. Her expression softened slightly, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of sympathy in her eyes. “Don’t mind him,” she said, addressing me directly. Her voice was softer now, though there was still a firmness to it, like she was trying to reassure me while also keeping Henrik in check. “Henrik has a habit of speaking without thinking. You look lovely, my dear. Truly.”
I managed a polite nod, forcing a small smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Thank you,” I murmured, though my stomach twisted uncomfortably. The way Henrik looked at me, the way his words lingered in the air-it made me feel exposed, vulnerable in a way I wasn’t used to.
Toward the back of the room, Alpha Silas of the Crimson Vale pack stood like a statue, his presence commanding even without saying a word. He was an intimidating figure, his thick beard and scarred face giving him the appearance of a seasoned warrior rather than a political leader. His broad shoulders and towering frame made him impossible to ignore, and his dark eyes were fixed on me and Kael with a gaze that was impossible to read.
Beside him, Luna Maren was his opposite in every way. She was vibrant where Silas was stoic, her crimson gown clinging to her curvaceous figure as though it had been painted on. Her sharp green eyes sparkled with curiosity, her lips painted a bold red that only added to her striking appearance. She leaned closer to Silas, her voice low but deliberate as she said, “Well, isn’t this interesting.” Her words weren’t loud, but they carried just enough to reach my ears, her tone laced with intrigue.
Silas grunted in response, his gaze flicking briefly to Kael before returning to me. “He’s making a statement,” he said, his voice rough and gravelly, like he’d spent years barking orders on a battlefield. “Let’s see if he can follow through.”
Maren chuckled, the sound soft and melodic, but there was something sharp beneath it, like the edge of a blade hidden beneath silk. “Oh, I think Kael’s quite good at making statements,” she said, her eyes lingering on him for a moment too long. Then, with a sly smile, she added, “But I do wonder… does the girl know what she’s gotten herself into? Or is she just here to play her part?”
In one corner of the ballroom, a small group of Lunas had gathered, their voices low but animated as they whispered among themselves. They were dressed impeccably, their gowns shimmering under the soft light, their jewelry glittering with every movement. But their eyes-sharp, calculating, and judgmental-darted toward me frequently, making it clear that I was the topic of their conversation.
“She’s so young,” one of them said, her voice carrying just enough for me to hear. She had an air of superiority about her, her posture stiff as though she were above everyone else in the room.
“Eighteen, I heard,” another chimed in, her tone dripping with disdain. “And she hasn’t even shifted yet. Can you imagine? An Alpha’s mate who can’t even shift?”
“She’s pretty, though,” a third one added, her voice light but insincere. Her gaze lingered on me for a moment before shifting back to the group. “That might be enough to keep Kael distracted-for now.”
I felt the heat rise to my cheeks, but I refused to let them see how much their words affected me. I lifted my chin slightly, keeping my expression composed, even as my hands tightened around the stem of my champagne glass.
As the murmurs, whispers, and veiled comments swirled around me like a storm, I turned my attention back to Kael. He was still smiling, his charm radiating as he moved effortlessly through the crowd, exchanging pleasantries and shaking hands. If he noticed the tension in the room-or the judgment directed at me-he didn’t show it.
He leaned closer to me, his voice low enough that only I could hear. “Are you okay?” he asked, his tone quiet but steady, his dark eyes searching mine.
I hesitated, my fingers brushing against the engagement ring on my hand. The weight of it felt almost unbearable. “They’re all watching us,” I murmured, my voice barely audible over the soft strains of music.
“They always will,” he replied, his tone light but not unkind. The corner of his mouth quirked up in a small, reassuring smile. “Let them. This is our night, Aria. Let them see exactly what they want to see.”
I wanted to believe him-to trust in his confidence, to let his calm demeanor shield me from the judgment of everyone in the room-but I couldn’t. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was a pawn in a game far bigger than I understood.
And as I glanced around the room, at the watchful eyes, the calculating stares, and the whispered words that seemed to follow me everywhere, I couldn’t tell if I was playing to win-or simply trying to survive.