Chapter 3- She is mine

Indie’s laughter rang out, high-pitched and mocking. “Oh, poor Aria. Did you really think this was your night? Don’t kid yourself. You’re just here to fill a space, nothing more.”

Before I could respond, Luca tightened his grip on both our hands, pulling us forward. The three of us walked toward the entrance, with me on one side like an unwanted accessory, while Luca and Indie walked with pride and confidence. I felt small, like a shadow beside them, completely overshadowed by their presence.

As we stepped into the hall, the whispers started immediately, a low murmur that quickly spread through the crowd. I could hear bits and pieces of what they were saying.

“Isn’t she the one with the tragic family history?”

“They say her mother’s death was… suspicious.”

“I heard her father ran away after it happened. What a disgrace.”

My heart ached with every word, each whisper like a dagger slicing through my already fragile composure. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from crying, clinging desperately to the fake smile I wore like a mask. But inside, I was crumbling.

Luca’s grip on my arm was like iron, reminding me of my place in this charade. He leaned in slightly, his voice low and filled with warning. “Remember, Aria. You’re nothing but a puppet tonight. Don’t forget it.”

Indie’s eyes sparkled with cruel satisfaction as she whispered, “You’re just a prop, Aria. A pretty face to stand beside us, nothing more. Try not to ruin the night with your pathetic tears.”

Their degrading words, the whispers from the crowd, the pitying stares—it was all too much. I felt like I was drowning, suffocating under the weight of my own misery. But there was no escape. I had to play my role, no matter how much it hurt. All I could do was smile through the pain and pray for this nightmare to end.

Yet through it all, my heart still ached for Luca. Even after everything he’d done, a part of me wished things could go back to how they used to be. I prayed he’d love me again like he once did, that he would care for me the way I so desperately wanted him to. But deep down, I knew that was just a foolish dream.

I felt like I was floating, drifting through the ceremony like a ghost. The words spoken by the pack members and elders blurred together into a meaningless hum. I wasn’t really listening; I was just there, my body going through the motions while my mind was far away. All I could think about was how empty I felt inside. Every time Luca and Indie whispered to each other, I felt like I was fading into the background, like I wasn’t even a real person anymore.

Time seemed to drag on until finally, the moment came. Luca’s grip tightened on my arm, pulling me back to reality as the elders stepped aside, signaling it was time for him to officially introduce me as his Luna.

Luca stood tall, his voice loud and commanding as he addressed the pack. “Tonight, we celebrate the rise of a new Luna, someone who will stand beside me and lead this pack. Aria is my chosen mate and your future Luna.”

The crowd’s applause was thunderous, but all I could hear was the pounding of my heart. I was supposed to step forward and accept the title. My lips parted, ready to speak the words that would seal my fate, but before I could, the massive doors of the hall slammed open with a deafening crash, silencing everyone.

Every head turned toward the entrance, the air thick with tension as an overpowering presence filled the room. My breath caught in my throat as I saw him—Alpha Kael.

He strode in like he owned the place, his every step echoing through the stunned silence. He was tall, towering over everyone, with a physique that radiated raw power. His dark hair was slicked back, emphasizing the sharp lines of his chiseled jaw. His eyes, a piercing shade of silver, scanned the room with an intensity that made everyone shrink back in fear and respect. The aura he carried was suffocating—domineering, possessive, and unmistakably dangerous. He was dressed in a sleek black suit that clung perfectly to his broad shoulders and muscular frame, giving him an air of both elegance and menace.

Girls, women, and even married women couldn’t tear their eyes away from him, practically drooling over his every move. Despite the rumors swirling about him being the devil incarnate, they couldn’t resist his magnetic presence.

Men, on the other hand, were filled with envy. Every glance toward him was laced with resentment, knowing they could never command the same level of power and admiration he did with such ease.

Whispers rippled through the crowd. “That’s Alpha Kael... the most powerful Alpha in the region.”

“What is he doing here?”

“He’s supposed to be negotiating a deal with Luca.”

“Oh, he is handsome and hot.”

I felt the weight of his gaze fall on me, and my entire body tensed. It was like his eyes pierced straight through me, seeing things no one else could. My heart raced as he slowly made his way closer, his expression unreadable, but there was something about the way he looked at me that sent shivers down my spine.

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KAEL

The moment I stepped into that hall, I could feel it—a shift in the air, a pull deep within me. I’d come here for business, to settle matters with Luca, but now, as I scanned the crowd, I knew there was something far more important at play.

Then I saw her.

A single breath was all it took for everything to change. The scent hit me first—floral with a hint of sweetness, like the first bloom in spring after a long, harsh winter. My wolf snarled in my mind, restless, clawing to take control.

Mate

The word reverberated through me like a command from the goddess herself.

I stared at her, the fragile girl standing awkwardly beside Luca, her eyes wide and full of fear. The connection snapped into place so forcefully that I almost staggered. How could this slip of a girl be mine? My fated mate? She looked broken, like a bird with clipped wings, barely able to stand under the weight of her own misery.

But there was something else beneath the fear—something fiery that called out to me but I couldn't quite place a finger on it.

Luca droned on about some nonsense, introducing her as his Luna, but all I could focus on was the mate bond screaming in my veins. She was supposed to be mine, yet there she stood, about to bind herself to another man. Fury surged through me, possessiveness darkening my thoughts. I had to have her. No one else would ever touch what belonged to me.

My eyes narrowed as I made my way closer. Luca didn’t seem to realize the grave mistake he was making. Fool. I wasn’t here to play games. If he thought he could stand between me and my mate, he was sorely mistaken.

“This ceremony...” I growled, my voice low but silencing all murmurs. “Is it to announce her as your Luna?”

Luca turned, confusion flashing across his face as he finally noticed me. He straightened, trying to regain some sort of control. “Yes, Aria is my chosen mate. Just be patient, we can sign the deal later, Kael.”

His smug tone grated on my nerves. I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to rip that smirk off his face. “She’s not yours,” I spat, each word laced with venom. “She is mine.”