Aria’s POV.
I stood frozen in the middle of my room, my fists clenched so tightly that my nails dug into my palms. My chest heaved as I stared at the door Zander had stormed out of, his cruel words still echoing in my ears. *”At least she knows how to follow orders.”* The image of him kissing that maid-of him dragging her out of the room like I was nothing-burned in my mind, and I felt a wave of fury so strong it made my entire body tremble.
I couldn’t let this happen. I wouldn’t let this happen.
He thought he could humiliate me, that he could treat me like I was invisible, like I was some insignificant pawn in his game of power. But he had forgotten one thing-I was his Luna. Whether I wanted this role or not, it was mine now, and I would be damned if I let him disrespect me like this in front of the entire castle.
I marched to the wardrobe and yanked it open, my hands shaking as I pulled out a pair of simple silk pajamas-a tank top and matching pants. I didn’t care about looking regal or proper. I didn’t care if the staff whispered about me. All I cared about was showing Zander that I wasn’t some weak little girl he could shove aside.
After changing quickly, I tied my hair into a loose bun and stormed out of my room, the cold stone floor chilling my bare feet as I made my way through the dimly lit hallways. The path to Zander’s chambers was burned into my memory, and every step I took only fueled the fire raging in my chest.
When I reached his door, I didn’t hesitate. I shoved it open without knocking, the heavy wood slamming against the wall with a loud *crack*.
The room was dimly lit by the glow of the fireplace, the flickering light casting long shadows across the walls. Zander was sitting on the edge of the massive bed, his shirt undone, the maid standing nervously beside him. She jumped at the sound of the door, her wide eyes darting to me as I strode into the room.
“Get out,” I commanded, my voice sharp and unwavering.
The maid’s mouth opened as if to protest, but one look at my face must have convinced her otherwise. She glanced at Zander, who raised an eyebrow but said nothing, and then quickly scurried out of the room, the door clicking shut behind her.
Zander leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable as he watched me with those cold, calculating eyes. “To what do I owe the honor, *Luna*?” he drawled, his voice dripping with mockery.
I ignored the taunt, crossing the room until I stood directly in front of him. My heart pounded in my chest, but I refused to let him see any hint of fear or hesitation.
“You will not humiliate me like this again,” I said firmly, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside me. “I am your Luna, Zander. Whether you like it or not, that is my title, and I will not allow you to treat me like I’m beneath you.”
He tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in his dark eyes. “And what exactly do you plan to do about it?”
I took a deep breath, my nails digging into my palms once again. “If you want to sleep with whores, fine. Do it. But you will not do it here-not in this castle, not in our home. If you feel the need to disgrace yourself, you’ll do it far away from these walls, where no one can see it. You will not humiliate me, and you will not humiliate this pack.”
For a moment, he said nothing, his gaze locked onto mine as if he was trying to decide whether I was serious. Then he stood, towering over me, his presence as overwhelming as ever.
“And what makes you think you have the right to tell me what to do?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
I didn’t flinch. I didn’t back down. “Because I am your Luna,” I said, my voice rising with each word. “And if you ever want me to respect this position, if you ever want me to act like the Luna you so desperately need for your precious alliance, then you will treat me with the respect I deserve. You can hate me all you want, Zander. You can despise me, blame me for your brother, whatever helps you sleep at night. But I will not be humiliated in my own home. Do you hear me?”
The air was thick with tension, the silence stretching between us like a taut wire. His jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing as he stared me down. For a moment, I thought he might lash out, his anger boiling over. But then, to my surprise, a slow, dark smile spread across his face.
“You’ve got fire,” he said quietly, almost to himself. “I’ll give you that.”
I didn’t respond, my chest heaving as I waited for his next move.
He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “But don’t think for a second that you can control me, Aria. You may have the title of Luna, but you’re still here because I allow it. Don’t forget that.”
I raised my chin, refusing to let him intimidate me. “And you don’t forget that a Luna’s strength reflects the strength of her Alpha. If you tear me down, you only make yourself weaker.”
His eyes flashed with something I couldn’t quite place-anger, perhaps, or maybe something closer to respect. Either way, he didn’t respond. Instead, he turned away from me, walking to the window and staring out into the night.
“Get out,” he said finally, his voice cold once again. “You’ve made your point. Now leave.”
I hesitated for a moment, my heart still racing, but I knew better than to push him further. Without another word, I turned and left the room, closing the door behind me.
As I walked back to my chambers, my legs felt like jelly, my hands trembling from the adrenaline still coursing through me. But despite the fear and the exhaustion, I felt a small flicker of satisfaction.
He would hate me for this, I knew that much. But he wouldn’t humiliate me again. Not like this.