Aria's POV.
I woke up alone, the bed cold and empty beside me. The soft sheets, rumpled from last night's hot sex, felt like a harsh reminder of Alpha Kael's absence.
My heart stuttered, a sharp pang slicing through my chest as I stared at the empty bed where he should have been.
Where was he? The room was silent, save for the faint creak of the wooden beams above and the distant howl of the morning wind outside the Shadow Claw packhouse.
Had he slipped away before dawn, unable to bear the sight of me in the light of day? My mind churned, replaying every touch, every whispered breath from last night.
Had he not enjoyed having me? Had he not felt the same fire that had consumed me when our bodies came close, when the mate bond came to life?
I shook my head, trying to shove the doubts away, but they clung like damp moss. My fingers twisted in the sheets, knuckles whitening. No, Aria, I scolded myself. It's only a matter of time. He'll crave you more. He has to.
Last night wasn't just a fleeting moment; it was the start of something unbreakable. The mate bond didn't lie, did it? I forced a breath, slow and shaky, willing my heart to steady.
Alpha Kael had claimed me, his hands fierce and sure, his onyx eyes burning with something I couldn't name. That had to mean something. It had to.
But then, like a venomous whisper, Celeste's voice slithered into my thoughts, unbidden and cruel.
Words she'd spat at me days ago, when her eyes gleamed with malice. "He will always be disgusted by you. That's why he hasn't touched you and will never. You might be my twin sister, but one thing you'll never be is me." My fists clenched, nails biting into my palms as her taunt echoed, sharp and cutting.
I sneered at the memory, a bitter smile curling my lips. Disgusted? Oh, Celeste, you're wrong. He touched me last night.
He wanted me. Not you, with your perfect Gamma strength and your poisonous charm. Me. Aria. The Omega you thought was nothing.
I let that thought fuel me, a spark of determination igniting in my chest. If I could make Kael fall deeply, truly in love with me, then nothing else would matter.
Not Celeste's schemes, not Mother's hatred, not the pack's sneers. When the truth came out—that I wasn't Celeste, the Gamma chosen to be Luna, but Aria, the Omega they all despised—he wouldn't send me away.
He'd fight for me. He'd choose me. The plan was simple but powerful, a thought I carried with every breath. I just had to be perfect. Flawless. Worthy.
Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed the soft knock at the door until it creaked open. A maid, young and nervous, peeked inside, her eyes darting to the floor.
"Lady Celeste… I mean, My Luna," she stammered, correcting herself with a flush. The name stung, a reminder of the lie I was living. "Alpha Kael requests your presence in the throne chamber."
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Thank you," I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
The maid bowed and stepped outside, leaving the door ajar. I slid from the bed, my bare feet cold against the wooden floor, and moved to the washbasin.
The water was cool, soothing my flushed skin as I splashed it over my face. I avoided the mirror at first, afraid of what I'd see.
Not Aria, but Celeste's image, painted over me like a mask. But I had to face it. I had to become her, if only for a little longer.
I bathed quickly, the scent of lavender soap filling the air, though it did little to calm my racing heart.
Drying off, I sat before the mirror, my hands trembling as I applied makeup. The same way Celeste did it—bold, precise, with crimson lips and smoky eyes.
My fingers fumbled with the brush, smudging the kohl at first, but I fixed it, forcing my hands to steady. I wasn't just Aria anymore. I was playing a part, and I couldn't afford to slip.
The red regalia hung on the wardrobe, its fabric rich and heavy, embroidered with silver threads that caught the morning light.
I slipped it on, the dress hugging my curves, its weight grounding me. I looked like a Luna. I had to act like one.
When I stepped into the hallway, the maid waiting outside bowed again, her eyes wide with something like awe. I forced a small smile, my stomach twisting as I followed her down the corridor.
The packhouse was alive with morning activity—guards training in the courtyard, their grunts echoing, and servants scurrying with trays of food.
But as I walked, my thoughts drifted back to Kael. Why had he left without a word? Was he regretting last night? Or was he planning something, his cold, unyielding mind already steps ahead?
I was so lost in my head that I didn't see her until she stepped into my path. Celeste. Her jasmine perfume hit me first, sharp and cloying, followed by the sight of her—flawless as always, her silver dress shimmering, her lips curved in a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
My steps faltered, but I caught myself, straightening my spine. I wouldn't cower. Not today.
"Going somewhere, sister?" she purred, her voice low, meant for my ears alone.
Her eyes raked over me, lingering on the red regalia, the makeup, the way I carried myself. Something dark flickered in her gaze—jealousy, maybe, or rage.
"Move, Celeste," I said, my voice cold, laced with a sarcasm I hadn't known I possessed. "I have somewhere to be."
Her smile widened, but it was all teeth, like a wolf baring its fangs. She stepped closer, blocking my path fully, her presence suffocating.
"Look at you, acting all high and mighty, Aria," she murmured, her voice a venomous hiss. "Don't forget your place in the slums. This is my position. Luna of the pack." Her words were soft, but they cut deep.
I smiled, a slow, deliberate curve of my lips, and leaned in, my breath brushing her ear. "Then why did you give it up?" I whispered, my voice steady despite the storm in my chest.
"Oh, I know. Because you're not a virgin. A requirement to be the Alpha's Luna." The words tasted like victory, sharp and sweet, as I watched her face twist with fury.
Celeste's hand shot up, fast as a striking snake, aiming for my cheek. But I was ready. My fingers caught her wrist mid-air, gripping tight enough to make her wince.
"Don't you even think of it, dear sister," I said, my voice low and dangerous, a tone I barely recognized as my own.
Her eyes widened, shock flickering before rage took over.