Aria’s POV.
As the dinner dragged on, the questions grew more personal, and with each one, I felt the walls closing in on me.
At first, the council members and Daniel’s family had stuck to safer topics-questions about my family, my upbringing, and my views on pack loyalty. But eventually, the curiosity shifted. The questions became pointed, as though they were determined to peel back the layers of the story Daniel and I were presenting. I could feel their eyes on me, searching for cracks in the carefully constructed facade.
“Aria,” one of Daniel’s aunts began, her tone sweet but dripping with curiosity. Her smile was sharp, her eyes glinting with interest that felt more like an interrogation than a casual question. “How did you and Daniel meet? I’m sure everyone here would love to hear the story.” Her words were light, but the weight of her intention was clear. She wasn’t just being polite-she wanted to test me, to see how well I could keep up the act.
I hesitated for a split second, long enough for the memory of our first meeting to flash through my mind. It had been at the university, back when I was still a student and he was my professor. At the time, it had seemed innocent-a professional relationship built on respect and admiration. But now, with everything that had happened since, the memory felt tarnished, like something I could no longer look back on without bitterness.
“We met at the university,” I said finally, keeping my tone light and casual. “I was one of his students. At first, it was purely academic, of course.” I forced a small laugh, hoping it would soften the tension in the room. “But as time went on, we got to know each other better, and… well, here we are.” My words were vague on purpose. The last thing I wanted was to give them more ammunition to pick apart.
There was a murmur of interest around the table, and I noticed a few raised eyebrows. The scandal might not have been mentioned outright, but it was clear that it lingered in their minds. The idea of a professor and his student forming a romantic relationship was scandalous enough, even without the added drama of the video. I could feel their judgment, their curiosity, their skepticism. It was as though they were all silently filling in the gaps with their own assumptions.
“And when did you realize you had feelings for each other?” another council member asked, his tone bordering on intrusive. He leaned forward slightly, his expression a mix of genuine interest and something much sharper. He wasn’t just asking for the sake of conversation-he wanted to test me, to see how well I could maintain the illusion.
I felt my pulse quicken, my mind scrambling for an answer that wouldn’t make things worse. But before I could speak, Daniel stepped in, his smooth, practiced charm filling the room like a warm blanket. “It wasn’t something we planned,” he said, his voice warm and sincere, as though he were sharing a deeply personal truth. “Sometimes, fate has a way of bringing two people together, no matter the circumstances.”
He turned to me then, his blue eyes softening in a way that almost felt genuine. For a moment, I nearly believed the act myself. “Isn’t that right, Aria?” he asked, his tone gentle, as though we were sharing a private moment in front of everyone.
I nodded, forcing a smile onto my face. “Yes. Fate has a funny way of working,” I said, my voice steady despite the tightness in my chest. It was a lie, of course. Fate had nothing to do with this. But as I glanced around the table, I saw the approving smiles of Daniel’s council members and family. The lie had done its job.
—
By the time the dinner finally ended, I felt like I could barely breathe. The weight of pretending, of smiling and playing the role of Daniel’s devoted future Luna, had left me feeling drained and hollow. Every moment of the evening had been a performance, every word calculated to maintain the illusion. And while the council and Daniel’s family seemed satisfied, I felt like I had left a piece of myself behind in that dining room.
Daniel escorted me out of the grand hall, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back as we walked through the castle’s endless corridors. The weight of his touch, though gentle, felt heavy, like a constant reminder of the role I was expected to play. The castle, with its cold stone walls and towering ceilings, felt more like a prison than a home. Every step echoed around us, the sound amplifying the silence between us.
When we reached the door to one of the guest rooms, Daniel finally broke the silence. “You handled that well,” he said, his tone approving. He leaned casually against the doorframe, his sharp blue eyes studying me with a mix of amusement and calculation. “They were impressed, especially Elder Marcus. That’s exactly what we needed.”
I turned to face him, my expression hard. “I didn’t have much of a choice,” I replied, my voice sharper than I intended. “You made it very clear what was expected of me.”
He chuckled softly, the sound low and almost mocking. “You’ll get used to it,” he said, stepping closer. His tone was calm, but there was an edge to it that made my stomach twist. “Pretending. Playing the role. It’s part of being a Luna, Aria. You should think of it as a skill, one you’ll need to master if you want to succeed.”
I took a step back, my hands curling into fists at my sides. “You don’t have to remind me, Daniel,” I said coldly. “I know exactly what I signed up for. I don’t need you to lecture me on how to play the game.”
For a moment, his smirk faltered, his expression hardening slightly. But the change was brief, and he recovered quickly, his usual confidence returning. “Good,” he said simply, his tone dismissive. “Because this is just the beginning. There’s a lot more to come, and you’ll need to be ready.”
I didn’t respond. Instead, I stepped into the guest room and closed the door behind me, the sound of it shutting echoing like a final verdict. I leaned against the door for a moment, my eyes closing as I tried to steady my breathing. The evening had been a success in Daniel’s eyes, but for me, it felt like another piece of my freedom had been stripped away.
I had done what was expected of me tonight. I had smiled, lied, and played my part perfectly. But as I stood alone in the cold, unfamiliar room, I couldn’t help but wonder how much more of myself I would lose before this was over.