Aria's POV.
I held Celeste's wrist tight, her hand frozen mid-air, inches from my face. My grip was iron, fueled by years of her sneers, her taunts, her smug certainty that I'd always be less. The calm one.
The lowly Omega. The twin who bowed her head and took the blows. My heart pounded, a wild drum in my chest, as memories of humiliation flashed through me—her mocking laughter, Mother's cold glares, the pack's whispers that I was nothing.
I'd endured it all, swallowing my pride like bitter medicine. But not today. Not anymore.
"Don't you dare try that again," I hissed, my voice low and sharp, surprising even me.
My fingers tightened, and Celeste flinched, her perfect face twisting with fury.
Her blue eyes, so like mine but burning with hate, glared into me. I didn't let go. I wanted her to feel it—the strength she never thought I had.
She yanked her hand free, stumbling back a step, her silver dress shimmering like a snake's scales.
"You think you're clever, Aria?" she spat, her voice a venomous whisper, meant for my ears alone.
"Your silly tricks won't last. I'll take what's mine soon enough!" Her chest heaved, her rage a living thing, clawing at the air between us.
I chuckled, the sound of my words cold and weird on my lips. "I'll be waiting, Celeste," I said, tilting my head, letting a small smile curl my mouth. But inside, my heart was a storm.
Fear twisted in my gut, sharp and cold. If the pack found out I wasn't Celeste, the Gamma they expected, but Aria, the Omega who'd tricked them all just to make her mother happy, I'd be dead.
Or worse—banished, cast out to the rogues, left to rot in the wilds.
The thought made my breath catch, but I shoved it down, forcing my face to stay calm. I had to be stronger. Smarter. I had to make Kael love me, truly love me, before the truth shattered everything.
I brushed past her, my shoulder grazing hers, and didn't look back. Her jasmine perfume lingered, heavy and cloying, but I kept walking, my red regalia swishing with each step.
The maid trailing behind me stayed silent, her eyes on the floor, but I could feel Celeste's glare boring into my back like a dagger.
My hands trembled, and I clenched them, hiding the shake. I'd stood up to her, but the satisfaction felt off.
The massive doors of the throne chamber stood before me, flanked by two guards in black armor, their eyes sharp as they watched me approach.
I lifted my chin, channeling Celeste's arrogance, and pushed the doors open. The chamber was dim, lit by flickering torches that cast long shadows across the stone walls.
The air smelled of cedar and power, thick and heavy, like the weight of Kael's presence. He sat on the throne, his broad shoulders filling the carved seat, his black-and-silver attire clinging to his body. His onyx eyes locked onto me the moment I stepped inside, and my breath hitched.
I bowed, low and practiced, my heart racing. The mate bond hummed, a faint spark in my chest, pulling me toward him.
But doubt gnawed at me. Did he know? Had he sensed I wasn't Celeste? Last night, when we had sex and the bond had flared, I'd thought he saw me. But now, in the cold light of morning, his face was unreadable, a mask of stone.
He rose, descending the throne's steps with a predator's grace, each movement deliberate, commanding.
My pulse quickened as he stopped before me, close enough that I could smell the faint cedar and musk of his scent.
His hand moved, a single finger brushing under my chin, tilting my face up. My skin burned where he touched, a thrilling rush flooding me.
My inner wolf stirred, clawing to break free, desperate to lean into him, to lose myself in the bond. But I couldn't. Not yet.
I forced myself to step back, breaking the contact. My wolf whined, but I shoved her down, clinging to my senses.
"Why did you call me here, Alpha Kael?" I asked, my voice steady, though my heart felt like it might burst.
His eyes narrowed, a flicker of something, amusement? desire?, crossing his face before it vanished.
"We're leaving the pack tomorrow," he said, his voice deep, like a blade slicing through the silence.
"We head to the Fang Bane pack for recognition. You'll come with me. Get your things ready."
The words hit me like a gust of wind. Leave the pack? Tomorrow? My mind raced. The Fang Bane pack was powerful, their Alpha known for his cunning and ruthlessness.
Recognition meant proving I was Kael's Luna, not just to our pack but to theirs. It was a chance to maintain my place, to make Kael see me as more than a stand-in.
But it was also dangerous. If anyone there suspected I wasn't Celeste, the consequences could be deadly.
I opened my mouth to protest, the words half-formed, but stopped. This was my chance. Away from Celeste's schemes, Mother's glares, the pack's whispers, I could make Kael fall for me.
Truly fall. I could show him Aria, not the mask of Celeste. Every moment alone with him—every glance, every touch—could bind him to me.
I swallowed my fear and nodded. "I'll be ready," I said, meeting his gaze.
He studied me, his eyes searching, like he could see through the lie. My stomach twisted, but I held his stare, refusing to flinch.
Finally, he nodded, a small gesture, and turned back to the throne. "Go," he said, his voice softer now, almost gentle. "We leave at dawn."
I bowed again and left, my heart pounding so loud I was sure the guards outside could hear it.
The hallway felt colder, the weight of his words settling over me. Tomorrow, I'd leave with Kael.
Tomorrow, I'd start strengthening the bond tighter, making him love me before the truth could tear us apart.
Back in my room, I started packing. The wooden chest by the bed was half-empty, my few belongings pitiful compared to Celeste's wardrobe.
I folded a spare dress, my hands moving on instinct, my mind still spinning. The Fang Bane pack. Kael's touch on my chin. Celeste's threat.
It all swirled together, a storm I couldn't escape. I had to be perfect. I had to make him see me.
A sharp knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts. I froze, my hands clutching the dress. Who could it be? Not the maid again—she'd left hours ago. Not Kael, surely.
My heart skipped, a mix of hope and dread. I crossed the room, my bare feet silent on the cold floor, and opened the door.
A guard stood there, his face stern, his armor glinting in the dim light. Without a word, he handed me a folded piece of paper, then turned and left, his boots echoing down the hall.
I closed the door, my fingers trembling as I unfolded the note. The words were scrawled in bold, black ink, each letter sharp and deliberate.
"Meet me by the garden."
I read it aloud, my voice barely a whisper, and froze. My breath caught, a chill creeping up my spine.
Who could it be? Kael? But why a note, when he'd just seen me? Celeste, plotting something new?
My heart raced, the paper crumpling slightly in my grip. The garden was quiet at night, hidden from prying eyes.
A perfect place for a trap.