Aria’s POV.
The room fell completely silent. The tension was thick, and I could feel the weight of my accusation hanging in the air. Alpha Wolfhart’s brows furrowed deeply as he leaned forward in his chair, his sharp eyes narrowing as he studied the ring on my finger. The silence stretched on, amplifying the pressure I felt, but I didn’t waver. I stood tall, my hand still outstretched, refusing to back down from the truth. “Are you certain?” he asked, his voice low and serious, each word carefully chosen. His piercing gaze didn’t leave the ring, but I could feel the gravity of his focus on me.
“Yes,” I replied without hesitation, meeting his gaze directly. “I compared it to diamonds I own. There’s no question about it.” My voice was firm, but the anger simmering beneath my calm exterior was impossible to miss. I wanted them to understand the insult this ring represented-not just to me, but to my entire pack. This wasn’t a trivial mistake. It was a deliberate slight, and I wouldn’t let it be ignored.
Alpha Wolfhart’s expression darkened, his sharp blue eyes shifting from me to Kael. His gaze was piercing, the kind that stripped away any pretense. “Is this true?” he asked, his tone cold and unyielding. His words hung in the air, demanding an answer, and for the first time, I saw Kael’s confidence falter, if only briefly. But he recovered quickly, his mask of calm slipping back into place as he pushed himself off the pillar and began walking toward us with a slow, deliberate stride.
Kael’s movements were unhurried, almost lazy, but there was a tension in the way he carried himself. His eyes met mine as he approached, and they burned with something sharp and dangerous, something that sent a shiver down my spine. “There must be some mistake,” he said smoothly, his voice dripping with feigned innocence. His tone was calm, almost soothing, as though he believed he could talk his way out of anything. “The jeweler assured me it was flawless,” he continued, tilting his head slightly. “Perhaps they switched the ring by accident. It’s the only explanation.” His words were carefully chosen, but I could see the cracks in his performance. He was lying, and we both knew it.
I narrowed my eyes at him, my anger bubbling just beneath the surface. “A mistake like this doesn’t just happen, Kael,” I said sharply, my voice cutting through the room. “You expect me to believe that the jeweler accidentally gave you a fake diamond for an engagement ring? That’s not an accident-it’s an insult.” My words were biting, and I refused to let him brush this off so easily. I wanted him to feel the weight of what he’d done, to understand that I wouldn’t be silenced.
Kael’s jaw tightened for a brief second, the only crack in his otherwise composed demeanor. But he quickly turned to his father, his tone smooth and measured once again. “I’ll personally handle this, Father,” he said, his voice steady and full of false confidence. “I’ll go to the jeweler myself and demand an explanation. This will be resolved immediately.” His words were perfectly crafted to deflect blame, but I saw the flicker of annoyance in his eyes as he spoke. He hated being called out, especially in front of his father.
Alpha Wolfhart studied his son for a long, tense moment, his sharp gaze searching Kael’s face for any sign of deceit. The silence stretched on, heavy and uncomfortable, before he finally nodded once. “See that you do,” he said, his voice low and authoritative. “This is an insult not only to Lady Aria, but to the Nightshade pack as well. It must be corrected.” His tone left no room for argument, and I felt a small surge of satisfaction at his words. At least someone in this room understood the gravity of the situation.
Kael inclined his head slightly, his expression calm and obedient. “Of course,” he said smoothly, his voice carrying the perfect amount of respect. But as his gaze shifted back to me, the mask of calm slipped for just a moment. His eyes darkened, and his lips curled into a faint sneer, his true feelings breaking through for the briefest of seconds. It was a promise-a warning-that this wasn’t over.
The conversation ended shortly after that. Alpha Wolfhart assured me that the issue would be resolved quickly and personally, and I left the Silverfang castle with mixed emotions. On the surface, I should have felt victorious-my accusation had been taken seriously, and Kael had been held accountable. But unease lingered in my chest, refusing to be ignored. Kael had been too smooth, too quick to offer explanations and solutions. His reassurances felt rehearsed, like he’d anticipated this moment and prepared for it. And the look he gave me before I left… it wasn’t just anger. It was something deeper, something darker. It sent a chill down my spine, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had made a dangerous enemy.
I had embarrassed him in front of his father, called his integrity into question, and forced him to admit fault. I knew Kael well enough to understand that he wouldn’t forgive me for this. Not easily, and maybe not ever. What I didn’t know was just how far he was willing to go to make me pay for it.
Kael’s POV.
The moment Aria left the room, my fists clenched tightly at my sides. The sound of the heavy doors closing behind her echoed in my ears, fueling the fire of anger burning in my chest. She had crossed a line, a line she should have known better than to approach, let alone step over. My jaw tightened as I replayed the scene in my mind, the way she had boldly stood before my father and exposed me. Her defiance was unacceptable, and the humiliation she had caused me was something I would not forget-or forgive.
“She’s a bold one,” my father said, his voice calm, though there was a faint hint of amusement in his tone. His piercing blue eyes remained fixed on the door Aria had exited through, as if he were still analyzing her even after she was gone. “You’ll need to watch her carefully, Kael. A Luna who thinks for herself can be a great asset in the right circumstances-but she can also become a dangerous liability if not properly managed.” His words were measured, and his tone carried a warning, one that I didn’t need to hear to understand.
I forced a tight, controlled smile onto my lips, though the muscles in my jaw were still tense. “I’ll make sure she stays in line,” I replied, my voice steady but cold. Inside, my anger simmered like a volcano waiting to erupt. Aria had embarrassed me in front of him, had made me look weak, and I couldn’t allow that to stand. I would ensure that she understood her place, one way or another.
Alpha Wolfhart nodded slowly, leaning back in his grand chair with an air of authority that filled the room. “Good. See to it that this ring situation is dealt with quickly,” he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “We can’t afford any more missteps, especially not ones that would give the Nightshade pack reason to question this alliance. Handle it, and handle it well.” His eyes sharpened as he spoke, his expectations clear.
“Yes, Father,” I said smoothly, bowing my head slightly in deference. But even as I spoke, my mind was already elsewhere, spinning with plans and ideas. My father’s focus was on the alliance and the packs, but mine was on her-Aria. She thought she’d won, that she’d humiliated me and walked away victorious. But she had no idea who she was dealing with. This wasn’t over. Far from it.
“Father,” I said suddenly, my voice calm and measured, the anger in my chest now carefully hidden behind a mask of composure. “I think it’s time we moved the wedding forward. Waiting too long invites unnecessary tension between our packs, and it gives people too much time to question the alliance. A swift union will solidify the bond.” My words were deliberate, each one chosen with care to sound logical and strategic, though my true motives were far more personal.
He raised one silver eyebrow, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly as he studied me. “How soon?” he asked, his tone curious but cautious. He trusted my judgment, but he was always careful when it came to decisions that could affect the packs.
“Next week,” I said, the words leaving my lips with quiet finality. There was no hesitation in my voice, no room for doubt. The sooner this was done, the better. I couldn’t afford to give Aria any more time to challenge me, to grow bolder in her defiance. The marriage would bind her to me completely, and once that happened, she would have no choice but to fall in line.
My father considered my suggestion for a moment, his expression thoughtful. Finally, he nodded, the movement slow and deliberate. “Very well,” he said, his tone carrying the weight of his agreement. “I’ll make the arrangements. The Nightshade pack will need to be informed immediately, and preparations must begin at once. This must be handled with care, Kael. No mistakes.” His words were firm, but I could hear the approval in them.
As he dismissed me with a small wave of his hand, I turned and left the room, my steps measured and purposeful. The anger that had burned inside me moments ago had shifted, transforming into something colder, sharper-a focused determination. My mind was already working, already plotting, every detail of my plan falling into place with precision.
*You want to challenge me, Aria?* I thought to myself, my lips curling into a faint, humorless smile as I walked through the grand halls of the castle. *Fine. Challenge accepted. But you’re about to learn what happens when you push me too far. You’re about to see what kind of man you’re dealing with-and what I’m willing to do to remind you of your place.*