Chapter 6

Aria’s POV

 The first thing I felt as Kael held me close to himself was pain, not the kind you get from a mother's slap but entirely different, and whatever it was, I bet it came from him. 

And then the smell of his cologne clouded my nostrils; even with the tension, he didn’t even shed a single sweat. 

His hand pressed to my waist as I stayed still. Wanting to be anywhere but here. 

I could feel everyone staring at us, and still yet the only person I could think of was this young man holding me like he had every right to. 

“Look, I told you. The both of them have connived to humiliate this family,” Ronan spat, glaring at Kael and me as he made his way to my father, who looked extremely furious.

My father's eyes landed on mine before dropping to where I remained glued to the Black Fur pack’s alpha. Disappointment flashed across his face. Without thinking.  I tried to pull away, but he held me tighter and softly pushed my head back on his hardened chest. “Let go of me,” I cried, still struggling. 

He didn't move and pretended as though I wasn’t speaking to him. Bastard! What would he gain from this?

“I said let go, you prick!” I fumed, trying to bite him off this time. 

His grip loosened as his gaze dwelled on mine. “I thought you wanted my help?”

I scoffed and pushed harder, finally pulling away from him as I took in a deep breath. “I never asked for your help.”

“Are you calling me a liar then?” He asked, and for a minute there it was almost as if we were the only ones in this room. 

It’s always been like that since that stupid claiming bond. The sooner we get this resolved, the better. 

“Kael…” I heard his mother call, causing him to pause. She made her way to him, and everyone turned.

Alpha Rayford blocked her path. His eyes filled with venom. “How dare you and your boy make a laughing stock of the crescent pack?” 

Kael’s mother  let out an heavy sigh. The expression on her face lighter. “Alpha Rayford, I’m genuinely sorry about what my son did, and I promise this will never happen again.” 

Just like that, she apologized, rendering the entire room speechless. The guards stole glances at each other, and I don’t blame them. The Black Fur Pack has immense pride and would never agree to a fault, and now  this.

Father remained quiet, processing his thoughts with a glare that whatever this was wasn’t over. I could tell from his expression alone. 

 She carefully made her way to Kael. Her emerald green eyes met mine; this was not a time to commend her appearance, but she has this commanding aura. She flashed me a soft smile before her eyes landed on Kael. 

“So this is why you created a scene back home. I thought you said a friend was sick!” She frowned, shaking her head. 

He rubbed his hand against the back of his neck. “Mother, I…”

“You know why this is very dangerous, Kael. Letting your wolf loose isn’t right, and you know what happened to—“ 

She hadn't finished her sentence before I sensed the aura around Kael change. Almost like a dark memory he never wants to visit, shown to him against his will. 

“Mother, please, I can handle myself, and I’m not going to hurt anyone.” His eyes shifted to me. “Especially not her.”

What are they talking about? My eyes ransacked the room for clues or some gossip, but all I got was silence. My heart beat faster as I took a few steps back. 

She grabbed hold of his arm. “So whatever this is, you've got to stop this madness before we regret things."

 "You don’t know that, mother.”

Was it really that bad? For a second I was going to convince myself that maybe I should think about how this was affecting his life too, but then the thought that he went for that kiss after I had asked him to stop made it clear. 

“Talia, take your demented son and leave,” and that triggered something even I couldn’t comprehend. Their enmity sprang out as the both of them bore out their fangs and claws against the other. 

Nobody even tried to talk the other out of it.

Whatever’s wrong with Kael’s family, I bet my parents also know about it. Or could it have been a rumor? 

He doesn’t look like someone who has lost control of his mind. Our eyes briefly met, but I hurriedly looked away. Although enough to see that he gave no fucks about any of this. 

Ronan sat with his legs crossed, watching the entire scene unfold like someone who had paid for a front-row seat. 

“Quite a reunion, don't you think?” He muttered, earning a glare from me. 

“If you have something to say, then just say it,” Kael hissed, his voice dangerously calm. 

“Honestly, I don't understand why y'all are so worked up over a bond they don’t even want. Let the marriage go on.”

“Perhaps you should learn to keep your mouth shut.”

“Or else what? You’d strike me down from where I stand,” Ronan retorted, pulling the conflict to himself. 

“Try me.”

“Kael!” Talia snapped. 

My father let out a dry laugh as my mother entwined her arms with his. As though they’d come to a conclusion. 

“Look at this. Centuries have passed, and still the black fur pack hasn’t changed. Nothing more than a bunch of liars and bsckstabbers,” my father's jaw tightened. My mother nodded, affirming to what he had just said. 

“For all I know, my precious Aria would’ve never done something like this; your son should be blamed,” he accused, not ready to drop it. 

“This is a serious allegation. Your daughter has been caught in a serious situation none of us understand, yet everyone in this room blames my son." 

"Your son?" My mother laughs bitterly. “What makes him fit to be the alpha of this house? To even go near my daughter. Maybe if he had proper control of his animalistic side, then none of this—“

“How dare you! Clarisse. You witch! If I’d known about how scheming you were, I’d never have agreed to helping you,” Miss Talia fumed, as her jaw hardened. 

What is really going on here? It seemed this was beyond the mate bond. Were Mother and Miss Talia friends back then?

And why would my mother say something like that when she doesn’t even believe me?

“Maybe you should put your son on a leash since you couldn’t keep your husband,” my mum finally did it. 

Ma'am Talia lunged at her, but Kael was fast to pull her back. She blinked rapidly, trying to control her breath as her grip on him softened. She shook her head slowly. 

Kael’s eyes met mine again but this time he didn’t look away, still holding his mother tight. “I’m sorry about all this, and I swear I don’t want the bond either. Henceforth I won’t approach you or anything.” 

His voice wasn’t steady at all; like, he had struggled through every word, but him saying it to my face made my chest hurt so bad that I struggled to breathe. My eyes burned as I fought back tears. 

A silent whimper in my ears as though my wolf was mourning a bond that wasn’t even severed yet.  Before my father could move, a strange silenced engulfed the room as the guards pulled back in a single file. 

An elderly woman entered, leaning on a wooden staff. Her white hair was styled in locs, and her eyes were white as snow. 

My father positioned himself properly. All my life I have never seen the pack seer in full flesh. What an incredible aura she had, enough to control the breeze and silence two powerful alphas. 

Oh! To be loved by the goddess. 

She barely acknowledged anyone before her eyes settled on me, then moved to Kael. She flashed me a warm, weak smile and gestured for me to come closer. 

I reluctantly accepted and placed my hand on her warm wrinkled palm. “Oh, moon goddess. I see it now,” she whispered, as though she was under some sort of trans. 

My father watched carefully. She let go of my hand and stared at my parents. 

Her tone was serious. “You will marry alpha Kael before the next full moon, child.”