CHAPTER 1

Aria's POV

“ The Alpha woke up!” Magnus, Aiden's Beta , yelled from the living room.

My body went rigid as the words slowly sank In. I immediately left the housemaid I was speaking to in the kitchen and ran to the bedroom.

Aiden, my mate, had a car accident a month ago and went into coma. His condition was getting better, and recently, he began falling in and out of consciousness. He would wake up for a few minutes and stare blankly. He wouldn't speak, or he wouldn't even look at anyone. And then he would fall into a deep sleep again.

I continued with my routine to keep the household going going while his Beta and Delta were doing their best to run the pack. But since I was the Luna, all the final decisions were you to me .

I kept a brave face to everyone, but in the silence of our room at night, I would cry myself to sleep. I missed him and the security of his presence.

I wanted him back.

I haven't given up on hope that one day he will wake up and everything will be back to normal.

It seemed that day was today. He finally woke up and began talking.

But returning to normal didn't happen. At least the day I wanted it to be .

“ Don't touch me. Who are you?” he asked. His voice was cold as the winter night. He was staring at me with furrowed brows as if I had committed a heinous crime against him.

I rushed to our bed, and I couldn't stop myself from holding him. I was about to hug him when he growled at me .

Aiden hated been touched and was never affectionate with anyone except me . He was a good and fair Alpha, but he kept his distance. But never with me. I was allowed to hold him or hug him in public, putting on a show that we were in love. His smiles would always just be reserved for me .

It seemed he had forgotten that.

“I’m… I'm Aria.” I answered as I forced a smile despite the tears stinging my eyes. I was so happy to hear him talk.

“ Are you my nurse?” I don't think I allowed anyone to grab me just like that…”

“ I'm your Luna…” I said, trying to meet his gaze.

The room fell silent, and I felt it closing in on me as his eyes dilated before a scowl covered his whole face.

“ What the fuck?” He growled once more, and his eyes went to his Beta, who was standing behind me. “ Where is Emmaline?”

“ Alpha, calm down. I will answer all your questions, but let's wait for your physician. He'll be here in a couple of minutes.” Magnus told him.

“ Call Emmaline and tell her to come here. Or take me to her!” His words cut deep into my soul.

My jaw tightened as I blinked back my tears pooling in my eyes. I tilted my head as I met his gaze again. “ You place an order not to allow Emmaline inside this house.”

“ Am I asking for your opinion?” His nose flared as he glared at me , but before any hateful words could leave his mouth, the door opened and his stepmother came in.

Aiden's father died when he turned twenty-five, and he immediately took the position of the Alpha. His stepmother Ivy, stepped down as Luna but never stopped acting as one, even after my marriage with Aiden.

She would always be the first to complain about anything about me or things I'd decided on. She only stopped when Aiden requested for her not to meddle with my decisions. He also gave her a home so she could move out.

Aiden's act only fueled her hatred for me .

And yes, she never stopped letting me know that Emmaline was a far better choice than me.

“ They said the Alpha woke up?” She asked as she walked in without even throwing a glance.

She was followed by her Omega, who rolled her eyes upon seeing me . She hated me for being an Omega like her and a Luna.

“ Ivy, where is Emmaline? And why is the woman here claiming to be my Luna?” Aiden asked her, and it was getting harder to fight my tears.

The former Luna's eyes widened as her eyes darted to Beta Magnus.

“ He can't remember the Luna, but his physician…” Magnus was not able to finish his words because Ivy had already cut him off .

“ Emmaline is already on her way here. Just went to check the flower shop that delivers flowers here every three days to decorate your room, but she'll be here soon.” She said sweetly as she stood beside his bed, a wide smile playing on her face.

That was a lie. I was the only one organising the flowers around his room because I wanted him to wake up to a beautiful view and for him to know, I was always longing for him.

“ I don't think its fair to give credit to someone who has never stepped foot in this house for a whole year.”

“ What do you mean?” Aiden asked.

“ As I said earlier, you ordered not to let her into the house. The flowers you see around here are my…”

“Take the Omega away from here, and she's not allowed to enter this room until Aiden orders so,” Ivy said firmly, looking the Beta.

“You can't do that. I'm the Luna of this park and the mistress of this house.” I spoke as my chest heaved.

My eyes went to Aiden, who still had a dark expression in his face. He was just looking at me.

“ Beta Magnus, I said take her away from her. It's not good if Emmaline sees her when she comes,” Ivy kept talking, motioning with her hand while glaring at Magnus.

“ I said I'm not going,” I said firmly before looking at Aiden again. “ Aiden, pls tell Ivy….”

“ Alpha Aiden….” He cut me off before I could finish, and his deep, cold voice sent shivers down my spine. “ Leave…”

My jaw tightened at his order, and my heart shattered to pieces.

“ You don't remember me, and yet you're not going to ask me anything about how I ended up here?”

“I said leave!” he was almost growling.

A hand snaked on my arm, and I tilted my head slowly to look at the Beta. I waited for Aiden to growl or reprimand Magnus for holding me as he would on occasions that the Beta accidentally held me . He would never let any male touch me. But he did nothing this time.

“ Let's go,Aria,” Magnus said.

He dropped the title Luna from my name. It was then I knew I was losing this battle.

I took one last look at Aiden as I pivoted my body to Magnus’s guide, and my heart just broke again. He wasn't even looking at me. He was already in conversation his stepmother as if I was just a waste of space, not worthy of being looked at as I excited the room— our room.

I slowly pulled my arm away from Magnus as we walked the corridor. “You will tell him about me, right?”

“ Yes, I will. But I can't force him to believe anything.”

“ I want to be there when the doctor arrives. I want to hear what he has to say about his condition.”

“That condition lies with Aiden.”

“ But he can't remember me! So, of course, he will not let me be there!” I snapped at him.

“ There's nothing I can do, Aria.”

“ Luna Aria!” I gritted my teeth, trying to suppress my anger.

“ Just Aria,” he replied. “ You lost that title the moment he forgot you.” .

My breath hitched.

And until he remembers,” he added, stepping closer, lowering his voice to a cruel whisper, “ you're just a ghost and a placeholder in this house.” He continued, voice like ice . “ And placeholders get removed when the real things returned.”

He stepped closer, eyes narrowing. “ You think he'll remember? He wakes up every morning asking for her.”

I swallowed hard, the sting in my chest sharper than ever.

As he turned to leave, he threw one last hurting word over his shoulder. “ Be ready Aria. This time, you won't just lose your title…. you'll lose everything.”