Aria’s POV.
The warmth of the towel wrapped snugly around my shoulders did little to chase away the cold that had seeped into my bones. No matter how tightly I held it, the chill seemed to linger, deep and unrelenting.
Back in my room, I stood in front of the mirror, studying my reflection. Droplets of water slid slowly down my neck, leaving icy trails that soaked into the soft fabric of the robe I’d changed into. My silver dress, once elegant and shimmering, now lay crumpled in a soggy heap on the floor. The wet fabric glistened under the dim light, serving as a humiliating reminder of what had just happened-a reminder I desperately wanted to forget.
I let out a long, frustrated sigh, running my fingers through my damp, tangled hair. Tonight had been planned so carefully, every detail designed to be perfect. It was supposed to be a flawless performance, a show of strength and unity for our packs, meant to impress and inspire. Instead, it had turned into a disaster. I had fallen into the pool like a clumsy fool, and Kael-of course Kael-had laughed as if it were the funniest thing he’d ever seen. The memory of his laughter made my cheeks burn all over again.
Kael. Just the thought of him sent a strange twist through my stomach, though I couldn’t tell if it was anger, embarrassment, or something else I didn’t want to name. He had been so maddeningly confident, so infuriatingly smug as he pulled me out of the pool, his grin making my humiliation feel even worse. And yet, despite all of that, there had been moments-brief, fleeting moments-when his touch had felt surprisingly… gentle. It was as if, beneath all the teasing and arrogance, there was something softer, something he didn’t want me to see.
I shook my head sharply, trying to banish the thought before it could take root. *It doesn’t matter,* I told myself firmly, repeating the words like a mantra. *None of it matters. This is just an arrangement, nothing more. Whatever Kael says, whatever he does-it’s all part of the act. It doesn’t mean anything, and it never will.* I clenched my fists, trying to push away the confusing emotions swirling inside me.
A soft knock at the door interrupted my thoughts, pulling me back to the present. The sound was gentle but insistent, breaking through the quiet of the room.
“Come in,” I called out automatically, assuming it was one of the maids coming to collect my ruined dress. I didn’t bother looking up, too preoccupied with wringing water from my hair and trying to regain some semblance of composure.
But when the door creaked open, it wasn’t a maid who stepped inside. It was Kael.
He entered the room without waiting for permission, the quiet click of the door closing behind him echoing in the stillness. He had changed out of his formal suit and into a simple black shirt and dark pants. Even dressed casually, he carried himself with that same maddening confidence, as if he owned every space he walked into. His dark eyes locked onto mine the moment he stepped inside, and a small, knowing smile tugged at the corners of his lips, making my heart race faster than I wanted to admit.
“Kael,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended. “What are you doing here?” My grip on the edges of my robe tightened instinctively, a subconscious attempt to shield myself from the intensity of his gaze.
He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his eyes swept over me, slowly, in a way that made my skin prickle. I clutched the robe tighter around me, feeling exposed despite being fully covered. Finally, he spoke, his tone light but with an undercurrent I couldn’t quite place. “You ran off so quickly after the… incident,” he said, his lips curving into a faint smile. “I thought I’d check on you. Make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine,” I said quickly, my voice clipped and firm. “You don’t need to-”
“You didn’t let me finish,” he interrupted smoothly, taking a step closer. His voice was calm, but there was a quiet insistence in it that made me stop mid-sentence. “I also wanted to apologize,” he added, his eyes softening slightly as he spoke.
That caught me off guard. “Apologize?” I repeated, blinking up at him in surprise.
“For laughing,” he said simply, his smile fading into something gentler. “I shouldn’t have done that. You didn’t deserve it, and I’m sorry.” His words were quiet, but they carried a weight that made them feel genuine.
I stared at him, stunned. Kael? Apologizing? It didn’t seem possible. For a moment, I wasn’t sure if I was imagining things. “I-thank you,” I said finally, though the words felt awkward and unnatural as they left my mouth.
He took another step closer, closing the distance between us. His dark eyes held mine, unwavering, and his voice dropped to a near-whisper. “You know, Aria,” he said softly, “you’re so much more than you give yourself credit for.”
My heart skipped a beat at his words, and I felt my pulse quicken as he reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against my arm. His touch was warm and steady, but it sent a jolt through me, leaving me unsure of how to react.
“Kael,” I said, my voice shaking slightly as I tried to regain control. “You need to leave.” My words were firm, but they lacked the conviction I wanted them to have.
But he didn’t move. Instead, his hand slid up to cup my cheek, his touch gentle but unyielding. His dark eyes searched mine, and his voice dropped even lower, almost teasing. “Do you really want me to?” he asked, his tone challenging.
“Yes,” I said firmly, though my voice trembled, betraying the tension building inside me.
He leaned in closer, so close I could feel the warmth of his breath against my skin. “You can keep pretending, Aria,” he murmured, his lips just inches from mine, “but we both know the truth. You’re mine.”
Before I could respond or even think, he closed the distance between us, his lips crashing against mine with a force that left me breathless.
The kiss was nothing like I had imagined-if I had imagined it at all. It wasn’t soft or gentle. It was demanding, possessive, as though he was trying to claim me with every touch, every movement. I froze, my mind racing, unable to process what was happening or how I felt about it.
And then, just as suddenly as it had started, it was over. Kael pulled back, his dark eyes blazing with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat. His expression was unreadable, but his voice was cold, devoid of the warmth he had shown moments earlier. “You’ll see,” he said quietly, his words sharp and deliberate. “Soon enough, you’ll understand. You’re mine, Aria. And nothing will change that.”
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked out of the room, his movements calm and purposeful. The door clicked shut behind him, and the silence that followed felt deafening.
I stood there, frozen, my hand slowly rising to touch my lips. They still tingled from the force of his kiss, and my mind was a whirlwind of emotions-anger, confusion, and something else I couldn’t name.
But one thought rose above the chaos, clear and undeniable:
Kael wasn’t just playing a game anymore. And whether I wanted to admit it or not, I was trapped in it with him.