Chapter 86

Aria

The room I was shown to was larger than I expected, with warm wooden walls and thick fur rugs spread over the stone floor. A large four-poster bed dominated the space, draped in heavy quilts and soft pillows, and a small sofa sat near the crackling fire.

It felt cozy and inviting, if only it weren’t for the sour-faced guard posted outside the door.

Darren lingered by the entry, his arms crossed over his chest as he glanced around the room. His gaze landed on the bed, then flickered to me. “I’ll sleep on the sofa tonight,” he said quietly, nodding his head toward the plush sofa next to the fireplace.

I blinked, caught off guard. “You don’t have your own room?” I blurted out.

He smirked slightly. “This is my room.”

My eyes widened a little, and upon looking around, I realized he was telling the truth. The closet, with the door slightly open, revealed rows of suits and other menswear. A stack of children’s books that looked suitable for Lucas was piled by the fireplace. And the whole room smelled like Darren’s cologne.

I swallowed hard and looked away, trying not to let the fact that I would be sleeping in Darren’s personal bed get to me.

“It’s best if we stick together while you’re here,” he continued. “At all times.”

He didn’t need to say anything else for me to understand the implications. I may not have been able to be harmed directly by pack members, but I could still be harmed in other ways.

Tracy’s drugging attempt was proof of that.

“Oh… Well… You don’t have to sleep on the couch,” I said quickly, although the thought of sharing the bed with Darren made my cheeks burn a little. “You’ll be uncomfortable. Let me take the couch.”

He simply shrugged. “I’d rather be uncomfortable than let my guest be uncomfortable.”

The sincerity in his tone was enough to quiet any argument I might have had. I nodded, offering a small smile. “Thank you.”

He gave a short nod in return, his mismatched eyes softening slightly before he turned to leave. “Dinner’s in an hour,” he said over his shoulder. “Take your time.”

As the door clicked shut behind him, I let out a slow breath and sank onto the edge of the bed. The reality of everything hit me all over again—the hostility, the way everyone looked at me, the weight of being here as the Luna no one wanted. It was exhausting.

I unpacked one of the dresses I’d brought, a simple navy-blue sweater dress with long sleeves. It wasn’t extravagant, but it was the nicest thing I had that felt appropriate for a dinner with werewolf elders, and it was warm enough for this climate. I paired it with some tights and pulled out a pair of boots.

As I slipped the dress on, there was a soft knock at the door.

“Come in,” I called out.

The door creaked open, and Wendy stepped inside, her silver hair catching the firelight. She carried a small wooden box in her hands, and her warm smile made me feel a little less on edge.

“Oh, you look lovely,” she said, her eyes lighting up as she took me in. “But something’s missing.”

“Missing?” I echoed, glancing down at myself.

She nodded and set the box down on the small table near the sofa. “Every Luna deserves to look her best. Let’s see…”

Before I could protest, she opened the box to reveal a collection of jewelry—delicate silver pieces adorned with intricate carvings and gemstones that seemed to shimmer in the firelight. She picked up an opal choker necklace on a black velvet ribbon, its pendant shaped like a crescent moon, and held it up to my neck.

“This one suits you,” she said with a wink, fastening it around my neck before I could argue. “You should keep it.”

“No, I couldn’t possibly—”

“Nonsense. I haven’t worn that piece in years,” Wendy cut me off, grinning. “Now, let’s do something with that hair.”

I found myself seated in front of the small mirror above the dresser as Wendy gently combed through my hair. She carefully selected some strands and began pinning it up into a rather intricate updo.

“You have such lovely features,” she murmured as she worked. “And your height—it’s perfect for a Luna. A true beauty among werewolves.”

I flushed, ducking my head slightly at the compliment. “I’ve never felt… beautiful,” I admitted quietly. “Humans always said I was too tall.”

Wendy chuckled softly. “Well, among werewolves, you’re just right. Strength and grace are prized here. And you, my dear, have both.”

Her words warmed me in a way I hadn’t expected, and for a moment, I forgot about the hostility waiting for me downstairs. When she was finished, I looked in the mirror and barely recognized myself. The opal pendant rested perfectly against my throat, and the updo flattered me more than I thought it would. I felt like a beautiful woman, not an awkward, lanky girl.

“Thank you,” I said softly.

She smiled, patting my shoulder. “Go meet Darren; he’ll be waiting for you down the stairs and to the left. I’ll see you at dinner.”

A few minutes later, I stepped out into the hallway and headed downstairs, finding Darren waiting for me outside the dining room. His eyes lifted to meet mine, and for a moment, he seemed to freeze. His gaze swept over me, his expression unreadable, but there was something warm in his mismatched eyes that made my cheeks heat.

“You look… stunning,” he said, his voice quieter than usual as he glanced at the necklace.

“Thank you,” I murmured, feeling a little flustered. He offered his arm, and I took it, comforted by his sturdy frame as we approached the heavy double doors.

“Whatever happens in there,” he said softly, leaning down so only I could hear, “I’m with you.”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “Okay.”

The doors opened, and the low hum of conversation immediately ceased. The dining room was grand, with a long table stretching nearly the length of the room. Elders and other pack members filled the seats, and they were in the midst of a heated conversation already.

“We should take her out to the woods,” one of them was saying. “Let nature handle her.”

“It wouldn’t be murder,” another chimed in with a nod. “Her Luna defenses wouldn’t stop the environment.”

“There might still be karmic retribution,” a third, a tall and wiry older man with salt-and-pepper hair and a hard look to his face, argued. “But I’d be willing to take the fall.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I froze in the doorway. My breath caught, and my grip on Darren’s arm tightened instinctively. How could they speak about me like this? And so openly, as if I weren’t even there?

Darren stepped forward, his presence commanding as he drew me closer. “Enough,” he said sharply. The room fell silent, all eyes turning to him. “I will not allow this. I’ve already decided to unmark her.”

Murmurs rippled through the room, some of the elders shaking their heads. “Unmarking isn’t possible,” one of them said bluntly. “Even if it were, she would still know too much. Humans can’t be trusted.”

“She’s trustworthy,” Darren said firmly, his jaw tightening.

“Of course you would say that,” the man with the salt-and-pepper hair sneered. “But how can we believe you?”

Darren narrowed his eyes. “You wouldn’t believe me when it comes to anything, Charles,” he hissed. “If I told you the sky was blue, you’d ask for proof.”

The man, Charles, clenched his jaw. No one spoke for a few moments, and it was clear that Darren and this man didn’t have a… pleasant history.

Finally, Darren led us to our seats. He pulled my chair out for me, right next to the head of the table, with an empty seat for who I assumed was Wendy across from me.

As I took my seat, I felt like a specimen under a microscope as their eyes bore into me. They were looking at me with such disdain, as if I were nothing but an invasive species on their land.

It felt… dehumanizing.

But with Darren by my side, I felt a little comforted. Still, I picked at the food on my plate, hardly able to eat as the cruel remarks continued. Darren issued several warnings, his voice growing more heated with each one, but the elders seemed unfazed even though he was their Alpha.

And yet, everything changed when Wendy suddenly swept into the room. A cold wind seemed to enter with her, but her eyes were blazing like small fires.

“If you are so concerned about Aria’s honesty,” she barked before even sitting down, “then why not have her perform the blood oath?”

The room went deathly silent.