Romans de Ijeoma

Aria’s POVBy the time the sun disappeared behind the mountains, I felt like I had lived an entire lifetime in one day.The ceremony had finally ended, but the celebrations had not.For hours, Ironcrest had been filled with music, laughter, dancing, and the sounds of warriors celebrating their new Alpha and Luna.People had approached me from every direction.Some kissed my cheeks, others hugged me, and many bowed before calling me Luna.I had smiled until my cheeks hurt.I had thanked everyone, I had danced, I had listened to stories about my father from people I barely remembered and through all of it, Kael had remained beside me.Sometimes close, and sometimes a few steps away, but always there.Now, finally, we were sitting in the dining hall.The long table was filled with food.Roasted meat, fresh bread, steamed vegetables, potatoes, fruits, and sweet pastries.There were enough dishes to feed twice the number of people sitting around the table and after spending the entire day

Aria’s POVBy the time I stepped into the grand hall, I had already heard at least six different versions of how tomorrow was supposed to go.According to one omega, the ceremony would begin at sunrise.According to another, it would begin at noon, according to the head cook, the entire pack would be gathered before breakfast because apparently no one was allowed to eat until the Alpha was officially crowned and according to Martha, who had been following me around all morning with the patience of a saint, I was not supposed to believe anything I heard unless it came directly from the elders.I decided to listen to Martha.The grand hall looked nothing like it had the previous evening. Workers had transformed the enormous stone chamber into something almost unrecognizable.Long white cloths hung from the walls, embroidered with the silver crest of Ironcrest. Banners bearing my family’s name had been placed beside the newer black-and-silver banners of the pack. Tall candles stood in go

Aria’s POVI was halfway to the kitchen when I ran into Martha.I turned the corner too quickly, and she nearly dropped the basket of folded clothes in her hands.“Aria!” She shrieked.“I’m sorry.” I reached for the basket, steadying it before anything fell.Martha stared at me, then her eyes immediately moved to my neck.I instinctively covered the mark with my hand.She noticed, of course she did. Everyone did.“How are you feeling?” she asked carefully.“Fine.” Her eyebrow rose. “ sure?”I sighed. “Don’t look at me like that.”“Like what?” She chuckled.“Like you’re afraid I’ll fall apart.” I rolled my eyes.Martha smiled faintly. “I wasn’t, but maybe a little.”I rolled my eyes and continued walking.“Where are you going?” She asked.“The kitchen.” I replied “Why?” She hurried after me.“Because I’m hungry.” I looked at her like she had gone mad.Martha followed me. “You’re hungry?”“Yes.” I walked faster.“You could have asked the omegas to bring you something.”“I’ve spent en

Kael’s POVI knew something had changed the moment I stepped into the hallway.The first omega I passed bowed deeply.“Good morning, Alpha.”I nodded. “Good morning.”She straightened, but instead of walking away, she gave me a strange smile, then she giggled.I frowned. “What?”“Nothing, Alpha.” She quickly lowered her head.I continued walking. The next two omegas I passed did the same thing.They bowed, smiled, giggled and whispered.I stopped and they immediately froze.“What is going on?” I asked.One of them looked at the other.“Nothing, Alpha.”“Then why are you laughing?” I frowned.“We’re not laughing.” The other omega covered her mouth.A muffled giggle escaped anyway.My eyebrow lifted and she immediately bowed.“Congratulations, Alpha.”My stomach dropped.“Congratulations for what?”She looked at me as though I had asked the most ridiculous question.“For finally claiming Lady Aria.”My body went completely still. Of course because of the mark, everyone knew.I swallowed

Aria’s POVI didn’t stop running until I reached my room.I slammed the door behind me so hard that the sound echoed through the corridor.My hands were shaking, and my entire body was shaking.I pressed my back against the door and sucked in a deep breath, but it did nothing to calm the storm inside me.Tears blurred my vision.I wiped them away angrily but more came.“Damn you, Kael.” My voice broke.I pushed away from the door and stormed toward my empty room. They were two pillows on the floor.“Damn you!” I shrieked.I grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it across the room. It hit the wall and dropped uselessly to the floor.I didn’t care and I grabbed another one.“And your stupid wolf!” I said with disgust.That one went flying too. I paced across the room, running both hands through my hair.How dare he? How dare he do that to me? How dare he put his hands on me after everything I had already endured?My fingers instinctively moved toward my neck.I froze.The mark was still

Kael’s POVLate afternoon settled over Ironcrest, painting the packhouse windows with streaks of golden light.I should have been thinking about the council, I should have been thinking about the reports stacked across my desk, the border patrols that needed to be reassigned, and the meeting I had with the warriors at dawn.Instead, I was thinking about Aria again and again.It had been hours since the incident at the training grounds, yet I could still feel the weight of the warrior’s body beneath my hand.I had nearly killed him for nothing.He had only been helping Aria by giving her water and helping her sit down when she became exhausted.That was all.Yet the moment I saw his hand on her arm, something inside me had snapped. My wolf had surged forward with such violence that I had barely recognized myself.The word MATE had been pounding through my head ever since and I hated it.I hated that my wolf seemed to believe he had some kind of claim over Aria.She wasn’t mine, she ha