ARIA

The sun is up, shining so bright across the training yard. The sound swords clashing and the warriors snarling as they train in the open field wakes me.

I open my eyes unwillingly. My body still aches from the journey and my mind not at peace from the events of the night before. It's a miracle how I was able to fall asleep. Everywhere around me feels foreign and unwelcoming. I reach out instinctively, my hand brushing the empty space beside me.

It is the first morning I wake up as a fated mate – and I am alone.My chest tightens. Maybe he is in the next room. Maybe he had come in late, silently, just to make sure I was safe. The bond wants to believe it.

Gathering my courage, I rise and follow the sounds of the training.

I find him there – Damon, the Alpha, my mate – moving like a storm through the warriors. His blade flashes, his wolf's presence dominating the field, every strike sharp enough to make seasoned fighters falter.

He barks order, corrects stances, disarms a man twice his size with barely a flick of his wrist.But he never looked at me.I linger at the edge of the field, fingers tightening around my cloak.

"Damon," I call out softly.

For a moment, his head turns. I think I catch something there – heat, conflict, the bond pulling at him like it pulls at me. But then his expression closed, hard as stone.

"Later," he says flatly, before turning his back and resuming the spar.

The word strikes harder than any blade. Later. Always later.I swallow down the sting and force my feet to move. I can't stand here under the eyes of the warriors, not while they smirk and muttered:

Ignored by her Alpha.

The Luna, abandoned already?

I make an escape towards the dining hall, my stomach knotted tight. Elias catches up with me.

The long tables are crowded when we enter, chatter filling the space.

But as soon as we step through the door and into the great hall, everywhere goes silent. Every head I can scan is turned in our direction and I stop on my tracks, standing still from all the stares.Some look curious, others pity clearly on their faces. A few openly hostile.

Unwilling to go, Elias excuses himself for a moment after someone calls out to him.

Alone, my pulse races and my heart beats fast. I lower my gaze to avoid eye contact and I take a seat at the far end of one of the benches in the great hall.

The omegas serve me quickly, but my tongue cannot comprehend the taste of the food as my mind is wandering away, trying to get as far away as possible. Every bite tasted of scrutiny. Then, a shadow falls across the table.

"Mind if I sit?" Elias asks, voice low and warm.

He carries no judgment in his eyes – only that steady, familiar kindness that had soothed me since childhood. I smile, weakly.

"Please."

He sits next to me on the bench. He's so close. I get more comfortable with each passing minute as though his presence next to me is drowning all my thoughts.

"You don't have to face them alone." He says quietly. "I know what they're thinking. They don't see what I see."

I set my spoon down, my hands trembling.

"And what do you see?" Elias's gaze softens.

"Strength. Grace. A Luna they don't deserve."

My throat aches.

"Don't say that," I whisper. "He's my mate. He's... Damon is my bond."

Elias's jaw works, his smile flickering but holding steady.

"And I'll always be your friend," he says, softer now. "But a bond doesn't make a man worthy of you,"

I stare down at my nearly filled bowl of food, my vision gets blurry. My wolf howls inside my chest getting restless, yearning for her mate. The one who reaches to claim her.

And though Elias's words wrapped around me like comfort, I know they can't quiet this ache.

DAMON

Training begins at dawn. Theairsmellsofpineandearth. The sound of the clashing blades of warriors, their low growls, and comands fill the grouns. Yet, despite the routine, my thoughts were not on drills or strategy.

She's awake in her quarters. Alone. Afraid. I can feel it. My wolf howls for me to move, to claim her, to protect her, yet pride and duty hold me back.

Tristan, my right-hand Beta, is organising and training the warriors, ensuring the drills are running smoothly. Maeve, our finest healer, moves among the healer apprentices. With such concentration and care, her gentle hands heal those who are injured and guides those who are less skilled.

I can see Aria from afar, seated on the edge of the training yard, observing quietly, head bowed. Her small frame looks vulnerable among the hulking warriors.

Weak. Fragile. How can she be my Luna? The thought pricks me, yet the bond lashes at me, insisting. I clench my fists behind my back, the bond pulling at me like chains. She shouldn't be here. I can't let her weaken me like this.

She is mine. Then, I heard my name unexpectedly.

"Damon." In a still and gentle voice.

I turn, quicker than I wanted to. In that brief unguarded moment, some piece of my internal struggle slips through my mask of indifference. I quickly regained control, making sure nobody sees it.

Upon the sight of her face so close, I am tempted to give in. to draw her close, to protect her, to keep her safe. But I don't. Instead, I say flatly:

"Later." I turn and resume sparring with my warriors.

Collins, a warrior walks up to my side. She leans against a pillar, arms folded, voice silk over steel: "She won't last a moon cycle." My wolf snaps inside him because the words echoed his own doubts.

I can see Tristan from the corner of my eyes. He's studying me from the shadows, jaw tight. He wants to speak but bites it back, loyalty wrestling with unease.

I don't turn back for a while. But when I do, Aria is no longer in the training yard. A memory flash hits me: father's warning-"Love is a weakness an Alpha can't afford." I all but laughed.

ELIAS

Aria, my Aria.

Her movement is quiet and her body looks tense. I don't blame her, because I, too, can feel the stares of judgement. My hand reaches out for hers, a protective instinct I cannot fully control.

He doesn't see her. But I do. Every subtle gesture, every flicker of hesitation in the movements – the way she shields herself from the pack's stares – tells me more than Damon ever will.

As we enter the hall, a few pack members glance openly, whispering as if our presence alone is scandalous. I hate to leave her all by herself, but I have to when I hear my name.

I see her sitting at the far end of the bench by herself, not surprising.

"Mind if I sit?" I try to hide how I feel inside with a smile.

She smiles back, weakly. "Please."

I try to reassure her and give her even the slightest comfort.

"Don't mind them," I murmur, leaning close enough so only she can hear. "I know what they are thinking. They don't see what I see."

Aria's gaze shifts, and she looks up at me. I can feel her hesitation, almost as if she's seeking reassurance. "He's my mate," she whispers.

I mask the edge in my smile. "A bond doesn't make a man worthy of you. Remember that."

Her jaw tightens, conflicted. She doesn't argue, but the subtle tension in her posture says she understand. For now.

ARIA

The training yard echoes with laughter that isn't mine.Sweat trickles down my spine. Splinters bite my palms. The staff shake like a branch in the wind. My wolf claws at my ribs: Prove them wrong. Stand your ground.

My body's screaming from pain as I strain it. I grit my teeth and wrap my hands around the training staff, my muscles burning, but they still tremble. Two warriors sparring nearby, they're making fun of me and they don't bother to lower their voices.

"That's the Luna?" one sneered. "She can't even keep her balance."

"Moon help us if we go to war," another muttered, smirking.

Heat flares in my cheeks, but I force my legs to stay locked in position. I can't give them the satisfaction of seeing me stumble. The bond has chosen me, whether or not they believed. I will prove myself. Somehow.

The staff slipped in my sweaty palms. I waver – and a hand catches me.

"You're gripping it too tightly,"

Elias says evenly, in such a way that calms my nerves. He then goes ahead to release my hold on the staff and correcting my stance. His touch is light as he brushes dirt from my knuckles.

"Strength isn't just in force, Aria. It's in control.

The mocking laughter dulled, though I still feel their eyes. I exhale shakily.

"If I were stronger... if I were enough, he'd look at me differently."

Elias's expression softens, his voice barely above a whisper. "Or maybe he's the weak one, not you"

I blink, startled by the words. Elias smiles faintly, brushing it off with a shrug before I can respond.

Before I can press him, a ripple runs through the warriors. They straighten, eyes flicking towards the gates.

I follow their gaze – and freeze.

A woman rides into the yard with so much aura and authority. Her long hair silk, her cheekbones sharp, her lips curl in a mischievous smirk as her eyes meets mine.

Astrid Morwen. She carries herself as though she already belongs, her confidence biting at my raw insecurities. Boots crunched against gravel, the sound sharp as a blade.The air shifted; warriors straightened as though gravity itself bowed to her.

"Training?"

Astrid's voice is silk dipped in venom. She cast a deliberate glance at my trembling stance before turning her gaze towards Damon, who appears at the far side of the yard.

"Alpha, I had thought you'd keep your Luna busy with... softer tasks."

Snickers erupts. Damon's expression hardens, but he said nothing. The silence cut deeper than any blade. I lower my staff, my throat thick. Not a word. Not a defense. Nothing.

Astrid's smirk widens, as if she'd won something invisible.Her smirk was victory already claimed. I turn, fleeing the training yard before the tears can fall.

DAMON

I arrive late, the smell of sweat and pinewood thick in the training yard. My wolf growls low as I spot Aria struggling with the staff. She looked fragile – too fragile- but I can't let them see me hesitate.

And then Astrid appears. Of course. She always knows exactly when to make herself visible, to remind me of expectations, to test Aria.

I watch Aria lower the staff, shoulders slumping beneath invisible weight. I want to stride forward, to correct the wrong, to take her side. My wolf howls in frustration, sensing her humiliation.

But I did nothing wrong. Pride and strategy hold me in check. Let her stumble now, let the pack see her struggle. Let her learn the weight of the bond in real terms.

Still, my eyes follow her movement as she heads towards the riverbank. My wolf growls in frustration and my heart beats so fast. Why does it burn so?

ELIAS

I catch her before the staff slipped entirely. Her fingers are shaking, her stance faltering, and I can't let her fall – not like this. Not in front of them.

"Strength isn't just in force. It's in control." I say brushing my fingers over hers to steady her grip.

Her words hit me, soft and laced with doubt. "If I were stronger...if I were enough, he'd look at me differently."

I shake my head slightly, "Or maybe he's the weak one, not you." My wolf prowlers just beneath my skin, hackles raised on her behalf.

I watch her eyes blink, and for a brief moment, I will myself to hope she believes me. She lean against my shoulder, clinging to the only anchor she has left.

When the ripple of attention shifts towards the gates, I turn, following her gaze – and tensed, Astrid Morwen. Beautiful, precise, dangerous. A rival hidden behind confidence and poison.

Aria bolts before I can offer more than a half-grasp. I follow her silently, letting her lead the way to the riverbank.

***

ARIA

I end up by the riverbank. The ache in my chest feels worse than ever. I wrap my arms around myself, wishing the bond will silence, wishing Damon will just – see me.

The rush of water muffles my sobs. Fireflies drifted lazily above reeds.I dip my hands into the cold current as if trying to wash away humiliation.

Elias's footsteps crunch softly against the grass. He doesn't speak at first, only sits beside me, close enough for warmth.

theatreon't have to prove yoursefollowem," he says at last.

My laugh is hollow. "If I can't win their respect, what kind of Luna am I?

"The kind who doesn't need their approval," Elias murmurs. "The kind who rules with her heart, not her centre. That's strength too, Aria."

My eyes sting. I turn to him, searching his gaze, clinginggggg to it as the only anchor I have left.

But the bond tugged cruelly, reminding me it isn't his eyes I longed for.

It's Damon's.

ARIA

The hall of Garvoh Pack glows with firelight, shadows dancing across stone walls. Laughter and chatter fill the air as wolves gather for the autumn feast, tables heavy with roasted meat, spiced bread, and overflowing goblets of mead.

The hall smelled of roasted venison, honeyed mead, and spiced bread. Lutes and drums filled the space, though the music faltered when whispers began. Heat from braziers pressed down, suffocating rather than comforting.

I walk in at Damon's side, my steps small, and my nerves trembling beneath the eyes that followed us. I keep my chin up, though every whisper feels like a stone pressing against my chest.

A warrior's mate whispered, "She looks like prey, not a Luna."

An elder scoffed, "Our Alpha deserves better."

"Is that the Luna?"

"She doesn't look like she belongs."

"An Alpha should have chosen stronger."

My wolf stirs, restless, urging me to push back – but Damon's arm never once brush mine. He walked ahead, as if she were an afterthought, not his fated mate. We reached the high table.

Damon takes his seat, and I take mine next to him. He avoids looking at me, he doesn't say a word to me either. I try to distract myself by fumbling with my dress. My heart beats fast as I try to convince myself that tonight would be different. Maybe he'll claim me in front of them all.

An elder rises, raising a goblet.

"Tradition calls for the Alpha and his Luna to share the first dance." His voice rings with authority, drawing all eyes to us.

Heat floods my face. This is it – the chance. I turn to Damon, my hand trembling as it brushes towards his. "We should –"

"No." Damon's voice cut sharp and flat. He leans back, his gaze hard. "We won't perform for spectacle."

Everywhere goes silent. My heart beats faster.

Astrid's laugh breaks it. She rise gracefully, skirts swaying, and stepped towards Damon with deliberate poise.

"If the Alpha refuses the Luna, perhaps he would accept another partner,"

Astrid's hand trails up Damon's arm, her gown brushing his legs as they move. The pack clapped in rhythm, the sound like thunder pounding against my ribs. Damon's wolf might have stirred, but his face remains carved of stone.

DAMON

Her hand moves towards me, delicate, hopeful. My wolf growls low in protest. I should claim her, acknowledge her... but pride, fear, and centuries of learned restraint keep me seated.

The elder's decree echoed in the hall, but the bond inside me throbbed angrily. She's mine. Why should I humiliate her or myself in a public display?

Astrid's laugh draws my attention – a calculated step towards the center. She extends her hand gracefully, in a well calculated precision. I clench my jaws. My wolf growls, reminding me of my unclaimed mate, and the wrong I'm about doing to her.

I refuse to give them the satisfaction they seek. And yet... seeing Aria's hand fall, her chest hollow with expectation unmet, my wolf ache to act.

I turn towards Astrid, accepting her hand with a measured, controlled movement, shielding the Luna from the spectacle I am creating – but not the pain.

ARIA

I freeze. I can't breathe. It feels as though my heart has stopped beating. I can see the surprise on everyone's faces through distant and blurry eyes.

Damon stands. Without hesitation, he takes Astrid's hand. The two move to the center, his strong frame guiding her with effortless power. Murmurs fill the hall. Some disapprove. Some are amused.

I sit still, too scared to move. It feels as though my body might scatter if I move. My head throbs as the music plays. My muscles tense, my hands clench as I hide them under the table. Why won't he claim me? Or even reject me? Instead, he chooses to neglect me.

The bond flares painfully, pulling me towards him, begging for acknowledgement he refuses to give.

Astrid's eyes are glowing with victory as she moves gracefully beneath Damon's arm. When the were close enough, she whispers loud enough for me to hear.

"Poor thing. Even the moon goddess pities you."

My throat burns. I rise, blinking away tears, and turn to leave before this humiliation drowns me completely.

"Aria – wait!"

Elias. I hear him, even before I see him. I stop moving. He appears next to me and places his hand on my shoulder as though trying to shield me from the multitude of eyes.

His hand linger at my elbow, firm, steady-more grounding than Damon has ever been in public. His eyes cut toward Damon, his jaw tight.

"He enjoys tearing you down," he whispers, his words meant only for me. "I never could."

I shake my head, trying to force myself to breathe. "Don't say that. He's my mate."

Elias's smile is small, sad, his eyes shadowed with something unreadable. "A bond doesn't make a man worthy of you."

ELIAS

"Aria – wait!" My voice is steady as I appear beside her, hand on her elbow. My eyes cut toward Damon, jaw tight. Every fiber of me wants to march to him, demand he see her, protect her – but I mask it under calm restraint.

He enjoys tearing you down. I whisper it, low, meant only for her ears. "I never could"

She shakes her head, fighting to breathe. "Don't say that. He's my mate,"

I give her a small, sad smile, a shadow passing across my eyes. "A bond doesn't make a man worthy of you."

I guide her gently away from the chaos. My heart clenches. I wish I can keep her away from this chaotic life forever.