CHAPTER SIX

JELENA

Dad clears his throat, and immediately, all attention in the room shifts to him as the subtle clinking of cutlery on plates halts mid-air, and even the low hum of conversation dies down, replaced by a tense silence that blankets the entire dining hall.

“Aaron, can you repeat what you said to me on the phone two nights ago?” he asks, his voice steady but carrying an undertone of curiosity and there’s a weight to it, a sort of cautious authority that makes everyone hold their breath.

Dad isn't an Alpha but maybe age or experience, but he does well to hold himself against all Alpha’s, all except one, and that memory lives rent free in my head 

I glance at Aaron, my chest tightening, and I notice a slight stiffening in his shoulders, he takes a slow, measured breath and straightens his posture, though the slight tremor in his voice betrays him.

“Thank you, sir,” he begins, his words deliberate, almost rehearsed. “I would like everyone to know that we are planning to fix a date for our wedding, and I would like to officially ask for your permission to marry Jelena.”

The confidence he projects seems fragile and yet he says it with a seriousness that is almost maddening.

Silence follows, it stretches in the air, thick and suffocating, making it almost impossible to breathe.

I myself am stunned, utterly, completely stunned cause this is not something I was prepared for, I wasn’t informed, and the audacity of it hits me like a punch to the stomach, leaving me momentarily frozen in disbelief that my heart feels like it’s been trapped in ice, refusing to thaw.

Then, Dad’s voice cuts through the tension, steady and unwavering, slicing through the fog of my thoughts.

“Is your pack okay with the merging of our companies, Alpha Aaron?” he asks, his gaze locking onto Aaron. “I know my daughter isn’t the strongest among them, and I want to make sure you understand what you’re getting into.”

There’s a weight in his words, one that implies he isn’t asking out of curiosity but from a place of calculation, he’s always had this ability to look at situations like a chessboard, and right now, he’s assessing Aaron’s next move and i know deep down that he is just being careful for his business, and we were just pieces to be manipulated.

Aaron doesn’t flinch and his confidence returns in a flash, steady and unwavering. “Yes, sir. We already accept her as part of the pack and would cherish her more than ever,” he says, his tone carrying both conviction and reassurance.

I feel a cold, hollow sensation in my chest, I am not just learning about my marriage; I am being reminded, once again of how useless my father has always regarded me. The bitter truth settles over me like a cloak. I had been right all along, the only reason he’s interested in this merger is not because of me, not because he sees value in my abilities or even my loyalty. No, it’s because having an Alpha like Aaron on his side would elevate his own status, make him more powerful and more respected, more untouchable too

A wave of anger, mixed with a painful sense of betrayal, rises in me and my chest tightens with the realization, constricting as if my own ribs are conspiring to trap my heart. I glance around the table, searching for signs of reaction, and I’m not the only one shocked by this revelation. Alice and Vanessa’s faces betray subtle expressions of surprise, though they attempt to mask it with practiced calmness, there’s a flicker of something darker behind their eyes, a whisper of judgment or perhaps disbelief but they try to keep it hidden, just as they always do.

Dad clears his throat again and resumes eating, a motion that signals everyone else to do the same. Conversation begins to trickle back in, polite but forced but for me, though, the simple act of chewing becomes unbearable as every bite feels heavily lodged in my throat as if it’s solidified into something unyielding and suffocating me with every swallow.

“We are yet to agree on a date,” Aaron says, breaking into my spiraling thoughts, he turns toward me, his eyes softening, and takes my hand in his. The gesture is gentle and loving, and for a moment, it makes my chest ache with a confusing mixture of longing and revulsion.

“When it is decided, let me know,” Dad says casually, resuming his own meal without acknowledging the tension hanging between us.

Aaron’s voice becomes more animated, almost boastful. “It would probably be a spring wedding. The pack would enjoy having a moment in the spring, and the weather works in our favor.”

“That's fine,” Dad replies, nodding, his expression unreadable.

Spring? What the fuck does he mean by a spring wedding? Spring is already here. How could he speak as though he has the luxury of planning months ahead without even consulting me? What game is Aaron playing at now, and where do I even fit into this elaborate plan?

I can’t speak up, not now atleast not in front of Dad or in front of the pack, I think he came with his Beta and someone I don't think I have met, and definitely not in front of Alice or Vanessa. I feel trapped in a cage of polite smiles and unasked questions, while my heart hammers violently in my chest, I’m sure Alice didn’t expect this turn of events either, and I have no clue how to navigate this precarious situation.

“Excuse me, please. I have to use the restroom,” I say abruptly, rising from my chair. My voice sounds foreign to my own ears, strained and tight with panic

Dad gives a nod, a small, simple gesture that signals me to go. I rush out of the dining room, moving quickly toward the bathroom before my stomach turns entirely against me cause if I don’t act fast, the contents of my meal will rebel in a way that will leave me humiliated.

Inside the bathroom, I collapse near the sink and lose control for a moment and everything in my stomach empties violently, leaving me weak and trembling. After a few moments, I manage to rinse my hands, the cold water doing little to soothe the nausea and the fury roiling inside me.

I lift my gaze to the mirror, and my reflection stares back at me: pale, frail eyes that look almost foreign. The girl in the mirror seems smaller, weaker, and yet her gaze is fierce, searching for answers she isn’t sure she wants to find.

Should I really forgive Aaron? The question pounds in my mind, relentless and cruel. It’s supposed to be a one-time thing, right? A mistake, a betrayal orchestrated by circumstance rather than intent? Or is it something more?

Should I lose him entirely because my wicked stepsister had the audacity to seduce him? The thought churns in my gut, bitter and sour. After everything we’ve endured together, this is the first time I’m seeing this side of him 

I know I shouldn’t be thinking this way. I know the thoughts circling in my mind aren’t logical, and yet… logic has no place here cause my emotions are raw, jagged edges cutting into me from every direction and still, if I say yes, if I relent, I could finally leave this suffocating house, this cage that has held me captive in more ways than one. He would treat me better, perhaps even with genuine care, and we could return to the life we once knew or at least the semblance of it.

“Why would you reduce yourself this low?” my rational mind screams, trying to wrest control. “You’re not escaping, and if anything, you’re just changing prisons, the cell would remain the same.”

A sigh escapes me, trembling and small, but heavy with the weight of indecision, I feel trapped between what my heart desires and what my mind knows to be true.

I step out of the bathroom, and almost immediately, I collide with something hard, my chest tightens instinctively, but then I recognize the scent, sharp and commanding. It’s him. Aaron.

Even though my wolf feels weak, vulnerable, and wary, my instincts flare at the recognition of his presence, I push with all the strength I can muster, trying to stay as far from him as possible, though part of me shivers at the proximity I can’t escape.

“What do you want?” I demand, my tone dripping with scorn and bitterness, every word a shield against the raw vulnerability threatening to surface.

My wolf whimpers softly in fear, echoing the emotions I struggle to suppress, from pain and disgust rise inside me, mixing with confusion, fear, and an undeniable pull I cannot fully control. I’m staring up at a powerful Alpha, and the intensity of his aura is overwhelming that it presses down on me, commanding, intoxicating, and terrifying all at once.

I feel the weight of his presence in every nerve and  breath, and the shiver of my weakened form that my resolve wavers, and in a small, reluctant way, I lower my head, succumbing to the sheer force of his Alpha energy.

“We need to talk,” he says, his voice low, measured, carrying the weight of something I’m not yet ready to face.