Aria’s POV.
The news about Zander’s gathering reached me early one morning while I was sitting quietly in the campus art studio, sketching ideas that had been swirling in my mind for days.
My pencil moved smoothly across the page, creating the elegant lines of a gown I had been imagining. Designing and sketching were my escape, my way of expressing myself.
Today, I had intended to focus only on my art, to let my creativity flow freely without interruptions. But life, as always, seemed to have other plans. It enjoyed throwing distractions at me just when I thought I could have a peaceful moment.
Clara, one of my classmates, let out a loud, dramatic gasp that instantly caught everyone’s attention in the room. The sound was so unexpected that she nearly dropped her phone. It broke the quiet hum of the studio, and I couldn’t help but look over, along with everyone else, to see what the fuss was all about. Clara always had a flair for drama, but this time, her reaction seemed even more exaggerated than usual.
“Did you hear about the Alpha King’s gathering?” Clara asked eagerly, her voice dripping with excitement. Her eyes were glued to her phone, scanning whatever piece of information had gotten her so worked up. It was like she had just stumbled upon the juiciest secret in the world, and she couldn’t wait to share it.
My pencil stopped mid-stroke the moment I heard the words “Alpha King.” Those two words immediately made my stomach twist uncomfortably. I tried to ignore it, but my body betrayed me with that reaction.
“What gathering?” one of the other girls asked curiously, leaning closer to Clara to see what she was talking about. Everyone was starting to pay attention now, their interest piqued by Clara’s excitement.
Clara’s grin widened as she proudly held up her phone, almost like it was a trophy. She looked like she was enjoying every second of being the center of attention. “Apparently, Zander-the Alpha King-is hosting these massive parties to find his Luna. Listen to this headline: ‘Alpha Zander Hosts Exclusive Gathering to Find His Future Mate.'” She read the words out loud with dramatic exaggeration, clearly loving the way everyone was hanging onto her every word. The room buzzed with whispers and reactions, but I stayed quiet.
I forced myself to continue sketching, even though my grip on the pencil got tighter. I didn’t want anyone to notice how tense I was. “What’s it about?” I asked casually, trying to sound completely uninterested. I needed to act as though I hadn’t already figured out what this was about.
Clara raised an eyebrow at me, looking slightly shocked. “You don’t know? Seriously? Girl, where have you been? This is the biggest thing happening in the werewolf world right now!” She leaned in closer, lowering her voice like she was about to share a big secret. “He’s only inviting the strongest and most powerful she-wolves to his castle for these fancy gatherings. It’s supposed to be super exclusive. Only the elite-alphas and their families-are getting invites. He’s looking for a Luna, someone who’s strong enough to be the Alpha Queen.” She looked around the room as though expecting everyone to be as impressed as she was.
A sharp snap echoed in the room. My pencil had broken in half under the pressure of my grip.
Clara flinched at the noise and turned to me, her eyes wide with concern. “Whoa, are you okay?” she asked, clearly startled by the sudden sound.
I quickly brushed off the broken pencil and forced a smile onto my face. “Yeah, I’m fine,” I replied calmly. “I guess I just pressed too hard.” But inside, I felt anything but calm. My emotions were bubbling just beneath the surface-anger, frustration, and a hint of something I didn’t want to acknowledge.
So, this was Zander’s grand plan. Instead of owning up to his mistakes or even acknowledging what he had done to me, he was out there pretending to be the perfect Alpha King. Hosting these ridiculous, over-the-top events to find a replacement for me, as if I had never mattered to him at all. As if I was nothing more than a passing thought, someone who could be easily replaced.
“Well, good for him,” I said after a moment, forcing the words out with a fake smile. “I hope he finds exactly what he’s looking for.” My voice sounded steady, but it took everything in me to keep it that way.
Clara didn’t seem to notice the tension in my voice or the way my smile didn’t quite reach my eyes. She was too caught up in her excitement. But Naomi-my best friend-noticed. She always noticed. From across the table, she gave me a sharp look, her eyes filled with concern and understanding. She didn’t say anything, but I knew she could tell how much this was bothering me.
The conversation in the room moved on quickly, shifting to other topics as people lost interest in the article. But my mind stayed stuck on it. The words Clara had read echoed in my head, and my emotions churned. The audacity of it all was overwhelming.