Chapter Three

Aliya. 

By the time the clock on the wall hit 6:50 p.m., my stomach had knotted itself so tightly I couldn’t breathe properly. I’d been pacing my room for the last twenty minutes, trying and failing to convince myself that dinner would be simple. Just a meal. Just people eating. Nothing to be afraid of.

But the idea of walking into a room full of wolves, all of them stronger, sharper, and more powerful than me, made my skin crawl. I had always been reminded that I was weaker. Slower. Human.

Even here, nothing had changed.

At 6:57, I finally forced myself to leave the room. The hallway was quiet except for distant voices echoing from downstairs. My steps were small, careful, as if I expected the floor to break open beneath me.

As I reached the staircase, a maid rushed by, carrying a tray of wine glasses. She stopped when she saw me and dipped her head politely.

“Luna,” she said softly.

Luna. The title hit me like a slap.

I was no Luna. I was barely a woman surviving her own home.

But I nodded and kept moving, my legs shaky as I descended the stairs.

The dining room was huge, with high ceilings, long wooden table capable of seating at least twenty, golden chandeliers glowing softly. Pack members filled the room, laughing and talking until alpha Kai walked in.

And the room fell silent.

He looked different, commanding in a dark shirt, sleeves rolled up, hair brushed back neatly. Those sharp eyes flicked around the room once before landing On me.

Something in his expression shifted, just a flicker, but enough to send a strange tremor through my chest.

“Dinner,” he said, and everyone took their seats immediately.

I didn’t know where to sit, so I hovered awkwardly, heat creeping up my neck. A few wolves were staring at me curiously. Some with confusion. Others with pity.

I felt out of place. Like broken furniture someone shoved into a luxury showroom.

Kai jerked his chin toward the empty seat beside him, the Luna’s seat.

I swallowed and walked toward it. His eyes lingered on me as I sat, but he didn’t speak.

Before I could even adjust my breathing, the doors at the far end of the room burst open.

And a woman walked in.

No, she didn’t walk. She glided.

Her heels clicked sharply against the marble, her dress clung to her curves perfectly, and her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders like an expensive waterfall. Confidence radiated from her like heat. The entire table seemed to wake up.

Some wolves murmured. Some sat straighter. Others smiled.

And Kai, Kai’s jaw tightened, just a little.

She stopped right beside him, touching his shoulder lightly.

Her voice was honeyed venom.

“Kai.” She leaned down, brushing her lips against his cheek. “I missed you.”

He didn’t kiss her back, but he didn’t push her away either.

She slid gracefully into the seat on his other side, completely ignoring my existence. Her perfume was strong enough to choke me.

“Nelima,” Kai said finally, hisbvoice low. “I wasn't expecting you tonight.”

“I never need an invitation darling,” she purred, running a hand down his arm. “Not from you.”

Everyone at the table exchanged glances. Whispers rose and fell like waves.

I sat still, trying to drown into my own skin.

Nelima laughed suddenly and leaned her head on Kai’s shoulder as if it belonged there. “You didn’t even tell me you were back in the territory.”

Kai’s eyes flicked to me for a second.

Then back to her.

“Things changed,” he said simply.

“Mmm.” She smiled sweetly. “I can see that.”

Her gaze finally slid to me, slow, assessing, sharp enough to peel away skin.

“And who is this little one?” she asked, as if talking about a stray puppy referring to me. 

Kai stiffened, hisbjaw clenching.

“This is Aliya,” he said. “My wife.”

That was followed with total silence, Dead silence. Forks paused midair.

And Nelima, She laughed.

Not a normal laugh.

A cruel, incredulous laugh that echoed around the room like thunder.

“You are funny,” she said, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. “Kai, love, you almost had me.”

Kai turned fully to her.

“I’m not joking Nelima.”

Immediately her smile was wiped off her face.

“What?”

“My wife.” He said the words slowly, clearly, undeniably.

Her eyes widened. Her lips parted. Her face went pale then bright red.

“You married her?”

I stared at the table, my nails digging into my palms.

“She is a human,” Nelima hissed. “She doesn’t even have a wolf.”

Kai didn’t respond.

“She is not even pretty, look at her.”

My throat instantly tightened as she just went on. 

“She is nothing, she is a nobody.”

Something deep inside me flinched painfully.

Kai leaned back in his chair, voice cool. “Dinner is not the place for this conversation Nelima.”

“Oh, I disagree,” she snapped, her voice rising. “You think you can marry someone like, like that and expect me to sit here quietly? You didn't even talk to me or tell me”

I felt eyes on me again. Everyone at the table was staring at me, some judging me, some pitying me others comparing. 

“Enough, Nelima,” Kai warned, his alpha aura rolling off him like a wave.

She shut up instantly, breathing hard. But her eyes stayed glued on me, full of hatred, disbelief, jealousy, something darker. No one dared speak again, we all ate in silence. 

The rest of dinner passed in a blur. I barely tasted the food. Wolves whispered. Nelima whispered louder, every few minutes dropping comments like:

“I hope she knows how big your bed is. She will get lost.” Or:

“Do humans even understand what mating means?” Or: “She must be a temporary charity case.”

Kai didn’t say a word. He didn’t defend me.

He didn’t correct her. He simply ate quietly, his face unreadable.

By the time dinner ended, my body was trembling from exhaustion and humiliation.

I got up immediately, wanting to escape, but before I could take a step A hand grabbed my wrist.

Nelima.

She pulled me aside near the hallway, her beautiful face twisting into something vicious and raw.

“Listen carefully, little mouse,” she said, her voice low enough that only I could hear. “Kai has belonged to me for years. We are fated. Bound. Destined for each other.”

I swallowed hard, trying to pull my hand back, but she squeezed tighter.

“You?” she scoffed. “You are nothing. You are a placeholder. A convenient lie. A warm body to fill a cold bed.”

My mouth dried up.

“He will never love you,” she whispered, leaning close enough for her breath to hit my ear. “Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.”

I stood frozen, heart pounding painfully. She smirked and let go of my wrist.

“Kai Ballard,” she said, lifting her chin proudly, “will always be mine.”

Then she turned and walked away, the scent of her expensive perfume following her like a victory flag.