Aria’s POV.
The breakfast had been unbearable. The tension between Zander and that man-Asher, I’d learned his name was-was so thick it felt like a storm cloud pressing down on us all. I didn’t know the full story, but whatever history they shared, it was clear it was filled with betrayal and anger. And when Asher had the audacity to call me “sexy,” the way Zander’s jaw clenched and his eyes darkened was enough to send a shiver down my spine.
But now, with breakfast over and the garden finally free of unwelcome visitors, I had other things to focus on. Things that mattered to me.
I found Zander in his office, seated behind the massive mahogany desk that seemed to dwarf everything else in the room. He was leaning back in his chair, his fingers steepled in thought as he stared at a stack of papers. He didn’t even look up as I walked in.
“What is it, Aria?” he asked, his voice low and clipped.
I ignored the irritation in his tone and stepped further into the room, crossing my arms over my chest. “I need to talk to you about something.”
His eyes flicked up to mine, sharp and assessing. “Go on.”
I took a deep breath, bracing myself. “Tomorrow is my first day of college. I’m going.”
He stared at me for a moment, as if I had spoken in a language he didn’t understand. Then his brow furrowed, and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. “No, you’re not.”
The bluntness of his response made my blood boil. I had expected resistance, but I hadn’t expected him to dismiss me so easily. “Excuse me?” I said, my voice rising.
“You’re not going,” he repeated, his tone calm but firm. “You’re my Luna now. Your place is here, by my side, handling your responsibilities to the pack. College isn’t necessary.”
I clenched my fists, the fire inside me flaring to life. “You don’t get to decide that for me, Zander. I’ve been waiting for this for years-dreaming of it. I’m not giving it up because you think you can control every aspect of my life.”
He stood, his towering frame making the room feel smaller, more suffocating. “This isn’t about control,” he said, his voice colder now. “It’s about safety. Do you have any idea how dangerous it would be for you to wander off to some human college without protection? You’re the Luna of the Silverfang pack, Aria. Do you think your enemies care about your dreams?”
I took a step closer, refusing to back down. “If you’re so worried about my safety, then send a guard with me. But I’m going, Zander. One way or another. You can either make this easier, or we can fight about it all day. Your choice.”
He stared at me, his jaw tightening as the seconds stretched on. Finally, he let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his dark hair. “Fine,” he said begrudgingly. “But you’ll have a guard and a driver with you at all times. No arguments.”
Relief flooded through me, though I kept my expression neutral. I didn’t want him to see how much this small victory meant to me. “Fine,” I said, matching his tone.
His eyes narrowed slightly, as if he didn’t trust how easily I had agreed. “I mean it, Aria. If you step out of line, if you try to ditch them-”
“I won’t,” I interrupted, holding up a hand. “But there’s one more thing.”
He raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue.
“I need to go shopping,” I said. “For casual clothes. I can’t exactly show up to college wearing the formal dresses and designer heels you’ve filled my wardrobe with.”
He scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “You’re going shopping now?”
“Yes,” I said, my tone firm. “And no, I’m not taking one of the maids to do it for me. I’ll go myself.”
He stared at me for a long moment, the muscles in his jaw flexing as he considered my request. Finally, he nodded once, though his expression was far from pleased. “Fine. But the guard and driver will go with you. No exceptions.”
I wanted to argue, to tell him I didn’t need an entourage following me everywhere I went, but I knew better than to push my luck. I’d already won the bigger battle. “Agreed,” I said.
He watched me for another moment, as if waiting for me to challenge him further. When I didn’t, he sat back down, dismissing me with a wave of his hand. “Do whatever you need to do. Just stay out of trouble.”
I turned to leave, a small, victorious smile tugging at the corners of my lips. As much as Zander wanted to control me, I wasn’t going to let him. Tomorrow, I would step into my college classroom for the first time, and no one-not even my overbearing Alpha husband-would stop me.
For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a flicker of hope. This was my chance to carve out a piece of freedom in this new, suffocating life. And I wasn’t going to waste it.