Chapter 7

ARIA'S POV

I just stood there, feeling like a deer caught in headlights. My eyes burned with unshed tears, but I blinked them back fiercely. There was no way I was going to give these people the satisfaction of seeing me break down.

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but Agatha cut me off with a sharp wave of her hand.

"Shut up!" she snapped, her voice filled with hate. "You've said quite enough, you little rogue."

The room fell quiet as Agatha glared at me with a look that made me flinch a little. I felt small, so damn small, under her cold gaze.

"Do you have any idea," she began, her voice low and dangerous, "what you’ve done to this pack? To our future?"

I swallowed nervously, confused. "What… what do you mean? What have I done?”

Agatha's laughter was cruel and sharp. "Oh, don't play dumb, dear. It doesn't suit you." She then turned to address the crowd. "This... rogue," she spat the word like it was poison, "has ruined the future for our pack's future generation. The next heirs of the Alpha position will either be weaklings or may never even be born."

Murmurs spread across the room. I saw shock, disgust, and anger on the faces around me. But I didn't understand. How could I have ruined anything?

"I don't-" I started, but Agatha cut me off.

"By trapping my son in this sham of a marriage," she continued, "you have denied this pack the chance at genuine strong leadership. Dante should be with a real wolf, someone who can give us powerful heirs. Not some weak, pathetic rogue pretending to be one of us.”

Her words hit me like a physical blow. I staggered back, suddenly finding it difficult to breathe. But somewhere deep inside, a spark of anger flickered.

"You're wrong, Luna," I said, my voice barely above a whisper at first. Then louder, "I am not a rogue! I am more than that."

The room fell silent again, all eyes on me.

"I saved you," I said, my voice growing stronger with each word. "All of you. When the Silver Fang pack attacked last year, who do you think reached out for help? Who negotiated the peace treaty that kept you all from being wiped out?”

I looked around the room, meeting the eyes of those who had mocked me earlier. "It was me. If it weren't for me, you would all be dead.”

For a moment, there was complete silence – no one said anything and there were no whispers.

Suddenly, Agatha let out a snort, and just like that, the spell was broken. Laughter filled the room, but it was harsh and mocking.

“Goodness Aria," Linda said, coming out of the crowd with a giggle. "You really are delusional, aren't you?”

I ignored her and faced the crowd. My mind screamed at me to just stop talking and walk away, but that would be too… too humiliating.

"You all think I'm lying?" I challenged. "Fine. Let me tell you something else. You want to know why I left my old pack? How I ended up here in the first place?"

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. "It was because of my own stupidity. My own recklessness. I made a mistake that almost got me killed."

The room had gone quiet again, all eyes on me. Even Agatha looked surprised by my confession.

"Dante found me," I continued, my voice softer now. "He saved me when I thought all was lost. That was why I fell in love with him. That was why I married him. It was out of gratitude, yes, but also because I truly love him."

I turned to look at Dante, who was standing off to the side. His face was unreadable, but I thought I saw a hint of something in his eyes. Was it regret? Pain? I couldn't tell.

However, before I could say anything else, Agatha's cold voice cut through the silence.

"How touching," she said mockingly. "A beautiful fairy tale. But that's all it is - a story. The truth is, Dante has a true mate. And it's not you, little rogue."

I felt a sharp pain in my stomach. "What?" I whispered.

Agatha's smile was triumphant and cruel. "Linda," she said, pointing to the bitch standing near Dante. "She's Dante's true mate. She's the one he's meant to be with. You're just... a temporary distraction."

I stared at Agatha in shock, my mouth opening and closing but no words coming out. I turned to Dante, silently begging him to deny it. To tell me it wasn't true.

But he wouldn't even meet my eyes.

I looked around the room, taking in the faces staring at me. Some showed pity, others disgust, and a few wore cruel smiles of amusement.

Agatha's voice cut through the silence, dripping with mockery. "Oh, poor little Aria. Did you really think you belonged here? That you could ever be one of us?"

I tried to reply, but no words came out. My throat felt tight, choked with unshed tears.

"You know," Agatha continued, glaring at me, "I have actually been doing some digging into your past. And I've found something quite... interesting."

My heart skipped a beat. What could she possibly know?

Agatha's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Tell me, Aria. Have you ever heard of the Griffith family?"

I swallowed hard. Of course I was well aware of the Griffith family, as I was a part of it. Every pack in the kingdom knew about the Griffiths. They were the largest, most powerful wolf pack in existence.

"I... yes," I managed to stammer out.

"Ah, so you do know them," Agatha said, her voice sickly sweet. "Then perhaps you can explain something to me. You see, I've heard a fascinating rumour. They say the Griffith Alpha King has a daughter. A beloved princess, hidden away from the world."

She paused, letting her words hang in the air. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"Now, correct me if I'm wrong," she continued, her eyes gleaming with malice, "is it true that this princess... disappeared a few years ago? Rumour has it she ran away from home.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. How did she know? I had been so careful to keep my identity hidden.

Agatha leaned in close, her voice dropping to a stage whisper. "So tell me, little rogue. With everything you've said about helping the pack, reaching out for help and all that rubbish, are you really trying to make us believe that you, this pathetic rogue who can't even hold onto my son's affections, are the only beloved daughter of the Griffith Alpha King?"

The room erupted in laughter. I heard whispers, saw people shaking their heads in disbelief.

"She can't be serious," someone muttered.

"As if the Griffith princess would lower herself to come here," another voice scoffed.

I stood there, feeling smaller with each passing second. But as the mocking laughter overwhelmed me, something strange happened. Instead of feeling more less of myself, I felt myself growing bold. Stronger.

For years, I had hidden who I was. I had run from my past, thinking I could start over with the man I loved. But in that moment, I realized I was done running. Done hiding.

I lifted my chin, meeting Agatha's gaze head-on. "You're right about one thing, Luna," I said, my voice steady and clear. "I am indeed the daughter of the Griffith Alpha King."

The laughter died abruptly. I could feel the shock spreading through the room.

"I am the princess Aria of the Blood Moon kingdom," I continued, my voice growing stronger with each word.