2-The Price

hapter 2

Aria

“Please, baby. I did it because of you. I wanted to get close to him, to get to know him better and appreciate him as a person because of you then he seduced me and I got lost in the moment because of how much he resembles you”

We both heard gasps from behind him. Roman responded. “He’s lying, Aria. We've been screwing each other for years now, his claim of being homophobic was a scheme to erase suspicions. We are more than just fuck buddies.”

Roman's words hit home. I clenched my fists, angled my head, and sank my nails into my palms.

“You know what? The two of you should just pretend I was ever here—” I hiccuped and I knew I couldn't deal with this anymore. It was only a matter of time before the tears started falling.

There was barely so much I could keep in. I needed to leave here. I needed to think. To process my next step. I placed my engagement ring on the floor, half a meter away from where I was standing.

“I hope both of you have an explanation ready for our families and the guests. Cause they’ll be needing it” I said with a calm indifference before turning on my heels, ignoring Rhett's plea for me to wait and talk it out with him.

I could feel the tears as they slid silently down my face. I had held myself together when I confronted Rhett and Roman but inside, I was a miserable wreck.

The truth stung and realizing it was far more devastating. For four years I believed in a love that was mutual and genuine. Only now did I realize I was a pawn in some sort of game.

It was at the foot of the floor that I remembered my father was waiting for Roman, Rhett, and me. I didn't want to go back and recall the details of Rhett tangled in my brother’s body.

I hesitated with tears falling down my face for a while, then rattled off to a nearby restroom. I shut my eyes, taking deep breaths. I took off my clothes, folded it in a satchel and made a run for it in my wolf form.

‘Where to,’ Ivory , my wolf asked, her voice cutting through the fog in my brain.

Where to? Good question!

Home wasn't even an option. I didn't want to go to my bedroom in the packhouse that was next to Roman’s. Aunt Carina was still at the party venue and I didn't want to sit in her room alone, replaying the image of Rhett and Roman. I didn't have the strength to answer her questions when she got back. So I simply answered.

“Anywhere but home” I simply answered, then curled in the dark corners of my consciousness as I let Ivory ’s rage fill the dark, quiet night.

I didn't know how long Ivory kept running. One thing I do know is that it has been hours, and we’ve been swallowed by the night.

‘Good heavens’ Ivory said as she stopped running. She halted by a riverside, facing the full moon. She howled and howled to the moon as if wanting to challenge the moon’s decision. Why did she let our mate betray us like that?

After shifting back to my human wolf, I wandered alone in the night until the next morning. The cast of dawn cleared around me as I walked aimlessly, my mind replaying all that had happened over and over. My phone buzzed with calls, text messages, and emails, but I didn't read or reply to any.

I just walked until my feet started to hurt and transformed into my wolf form before heading back home.

*******

It was late afternoon when I returned to Packhouse. At that time, the news of my failed engagement had bridged across every border in the werewolf territory, and as soon as I stepped into the packhouse, my father summoned me to the throne room, and I obeyed. There were ten pack elders with him and his beta when I entered the throne room, every gaze locked on me.

I stood at the center of the grand arena, still in my wolf form, tall, lean, and mud-smeared. Ivory ’s white fur was covered with dirt and wet with water. The silence around me is heavy with judgment. Across the arena, my father’s cold commanding black eyes found mine.

I already knew what was lurking behind those fiery eyes of his, but instead of showing my fear, I let the rage from yesterday steel me, so when I fixed my gaze on his, I wouldn't blink, and when I spoke, my voice was calm and controlled.

“Father, about yesterday, you must understand that…”

“Save it.” He snapped. His jaw clenched and his expression hardened but there was a flicker in his eyes. Disappointment and Regret.

He tossed a tablet toward me, and when the screen lit up, the headline was the first thing that greeted my eyes.

“A ROYAL HUMILIATION: Nightwind Pack Heiress’ sudden disappearance at engagement party with Blackstone Prince led to a scandalous end of a four-year-long marriage arrangement”

I lowered my gaze.

“Do you understand what you have done?” his tone carried a dreadful meekness in it.

“You didn't just embarrass this pack, you’ve weakened our alliance with the Blackstones. With the recent threats and attacks hovering over our pack, we needed a strong alliance —someone with power, command, and authority to rule alongside you to ensure the safety and longevity of our pack but you threw the one person who could give our pack that away, and because of that, you’ve been ousted as my heiress”

“Why am I being punished? I didn't end the wedding because I got bored. I ended it because Rhett cheated on me with my brother for years. It wasn't my fault!” my voice rang out, sharp and unwavering.

“Of course it wasn't your fault! It was my fault for trusting that you wouldn't blow this one simple thing up. You couldn't even keep a man, Aria.” His eyes bore icy holes down my skin. “How are you supposed to manage the pack as my heiress, let alone my business”

The words punched my guts, forcing a low growl to rumble in my chest, deep and primal.

“And who says whoever can't keep a man can't manage a pack or a business?" I said, voice cracking but loud enough to echo. “I’m not only schooled but trained in years of practice and experience. Having a man isn't a trophy!”

“But it is in our world and that’s common knowledge, Aria—one that has guided our kind for generations and hasn't changed. Years of schooling, fighting, training, and experiment mean nothing in a woman without her man.”

Around, the pack elders nodded in solemn agreement.

“What was the point of making me your Heiress then?”

“It was never about you, Aria. I made you my heiress because of Rhett. I was hoping you both would get married so I could secure an alliance with his father and have him rule after me but all my plans have turned to dust because of your pride”

His words punched through me. I couldn't believe my father. All this time, I was merely a means to an end for him? Blindly living that reality was one thing, but his admittance was far more heartbreaking.

Anger seized my throat and I spat without thinking.

“Because of my pride? So I should have married someone that's been fucking my brother behind my back because he aligns with your political aspirations?” I spat bitterly. “Since you need him so badly why not go ahead and marry him. After all, he's into men”

A stunned hush filled the throne room and my father's eyes turned cold. Murderous.

I had barely had time to realize my mistake when my father changed into his beast form, charged, and caught my throat with his fangs. He raised me by the neck and my paws dangled in the air.

“How dare you?!” His voice boomed, slamming into me like a tidal wave, radiating dominance and demanding an apology.

Power exploded from him, thick and oppressive like a suffocating fog.

My lungs seized. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move. My eyes bulged, blurred by the unshed tears.

“Fa…ther… plea…se” I choked

He released my throat and my back hit the floor with a thud, followed by a frightening crunch of bones. My bones.

He shot me a dirty look then turned to address the cabinet. “I’ve made my decision. Since Aria’s marriage with Rhett had been called off, she ceased to be my heiress from his moment onward. My new heir is Roman!”

My breath caught like a blade in my throat.

Roman?

A ripple of stunned gasps spread through the crowd, but my ears barely registered them. The pain in my back and chest drowned out everything.

“As for you, Aria,” he continued, voice cutting through me like steel. “You will start your training at the Wolfspire Academy next Monday. The new semester begins and you’ve been enlisted. You leave for the North in three days,” Father said, and my eyes widened in horror.

“What? No…I can't…” My voice didn't sound like mine. It came from somewhere small and broken. “I didn't even enroll…” my voice flattered as realization dawned on me.

All along, father had kept me because of Rhett, and now that he and I were no longer together, I was of no use to him, so he was discarding me. Not just as an heir. But as a daughter. As a wolf.

He wanted me far away, away from my dreams and aspirations. This was my punishment for humiliating my family and pack name.

The revelation sliced through me like a razor-sharp knife, leaving a trail of anguish and despair in its wake.

Wolfspire Academy was an institution for she-wolves who had come of age but were without a mate. There, they get groomed for one year and then auctioned to alpha males who’d tame, control, domesticate, and condition them to conform to societal norms of a woman, which basically includes cooking, cleaning, pop out pups, be a submissive, compliant wife, rather than a woman worthy of love and respect.

I couldn't go there. I didn't go through years of schooling, thorough and severe combat training to end up as a sex tool. That wasn't the life I’d envisioned for myself.

At once, I changed back to my human wolf and without caring that I was naked in front of at least sixteen pairs of eyes, I went on my knees begging.

“Father, please,” I said softly, tears glimmering behind my eyes. “Please don't make me go there. There are many good men out there. I can get a noble wolf from a reputable family to marry. Please don't send me there”

“Give me one last chance to prove myself, Father. Please,” I begged on my knees, tears rolling down my cheeks, but Father's face didn't grow softer. Like it didn't matter. My tears have never mattered to him in a fatherly way. If anything, it made me appear weak in his eyes.

“You should have granted the same one last chance privilege to Rhett when he asked, and even if you do get someone else to marry you, he wouldn't be as noble or reputable as Rhett Blackstone.” He looked away for the briefest second, then snapped his gaze back to mine.

“But since you asked so humbly, I'd grant you one last chance but it would come with a price”

My neck perked up.

“Tell me and I'll pay whatever price”

“Forge an alliance with the Blackstone pack Alpha King himself...”