Chapter 4: The Ultimatum

Aria’s POV

I went directly from the greenhouse to Damon's office. He was standing beside his desk with a stack of inspection schedules, and he asked me to wait while he finished a conversation with the head guard.

I remained near the door until the guard left, holding the transfer paper so tightly that the crease had begun to tear.

“Did you know someone prepared an application to send me to Ravenscroft as a servant?” I asked. “It has my prison number and a signature that isn't mine.”

Damon took the page and read it. “Where did you get this?” he asked. “Why was it among the guest documents?”

“It was left beneath the register yesterday.” I watched his face. “You said Father needed time before signing my transfer, but somebody has already filled one out.”

He set the paper on his desk. “This isn't approved. I don't know who prepared it, and I'll speak to the office staff. Father told me Prince Lucian had raised questions about it. You should have come to me first.”

“I didn't know he would come into the greenhouse.” I reached for the document, but Damon placed his hand over it. “He told me to keep the original.”

Damon looked toward the closed door. “Lucian has been here less than a day, Aria. He's considering a political alliance with Serena, and I need you to understand how serious that is for the pack.”

“I understand that Serena's marriage matters.” I kept my voice steady. “I don't understand why my name was put on a document I never signed.”

He returned the page at last. “I'll find out. Until then, stay away from the royal guests and let me handle the matter.”

I left without arguing.

Damon had once been the person I trusted to speak for me, and now I found myself rehearsing every word before entering his office.

In the west corridor, Mrs. Vale was carrying a tray toward Mother's sitting room. She stopped when she saw me and shifted the tray to her other hand.

“Lady Evelyn has asked for her afternoon medicine,” she said. “Dr. Rowan is due to review her prescription tomorrow, but Lady Serena has the new box.”

“May I come with you?” I asked. “Mother used to ask me to check the labels, and I want to be sure she has what the doctor prescribed.”

Mrs. Vale led me into the sitting room, where Mother was reading beside the window. She looked up when we entered, and her expression softened briefly before she noticed me behind the tray.

“Aria, I wasn't expecting you,” she said. “I hope you're not here to complain about the greenhouse. Serena told me you were upset.”

“I came because Mrs. Vale said your medicine had changed.” I waited while she set down her book. “May I look at the label before you take it?”

Mother opened the drawer beside her chair and handed me a small bottle. The dosage printed on the label was different from the one I remembered, but Dr. Rowan had changed Mother's prescription while I was away. I couldn't tell whether the new instructions were correct.

“I'll ask Dr. Rowan tomorrow,” I said. “Please don't take an extra tablet because you feel tired. I remember he warned you about that.”

Mother took the bottle back. “Serena handles my appointments now, Aria. You needn't behave as though she hasn't cared for me.”

“I didn't say she hadn't.” I moved away from the chair. “I only wanted to help you check the instructions.”

In the corridor, Mrs. Vale touched my elbow lightly and waited until I looked at her. “Miss Aria, Lady Serena told me not to give you the medicine box or the appointment notes. She said it would upset Lady Evelyn if you started asking questions.”

“Then please don't put yourself at risk by showing them to me,” I answered. “I'll ask Dr. Rowan directly when he comes.”

At dinner, a maid approached with the evening menu and told Father that Serena had approved the dishes. I took the seat nearest the door because it was the easiest place to leave if I became overwhelmed by the noise.

Prince Lucian sat opposite Serena, listening while she described the charities she hoped to support after marriage. When Father mentioned that the alliance might be announced before the inspection ended, Lucian put down his glass.

“I haven't agreed to an announcement,” he said. “There are matters concerning the household that I intend to understand before discussing a formal arrangement.”

Father frowned. “If this concerns the transfer document, my son assures me it was a clerical error.”

“A clerical error doesn't explain why a young woman's signature was copied onto an agreement she had never seen,” Lucian replied. “I would prefer to discuss it with your office privately.”

I kept my eyes on the tablecloth. Serena had stopped eating, and Kieran Ashford, who sat beside Damon, was looking directly at me.

He was the pack Beta and Damon's closest friend, and he had always defended Serena whenever anyone questioned her. Since Nathaniel's death, he had treated me as though I were responsible for every problem the family faced.

After dinner, I went to the library to find an old copy of the pack's border regulations. Kieran followed me through the doorway and closed it behind him, although he left the door unlocked.

“You've been busy,” he said. “The prince has barely arrived, and you've already made him question Serena's family.”

“I showed him a document with my name on it,” I answered. “If you know who prepared it, you can tell Damon. I don't want anyone to use my signature again.”

Kieran came closer. “Serena has spent years rebuilding this family's reputation. She doesn't deserve to lose her future because you've decided to punish everyone who stayed behind.”

“I don't want her future.” I moved around the table toward the door. “I want permission to leave, and then none of you will have to see me again.”

He blocked the doorway with his arm. “You'll stop approaching the prince. You'll stop asking questions about Serena. If you can't do that, I'll make sure you remember how to behave.”

I looked at his hand against the doorframe. “Please move, Kieran. I haven't done anything to you.”

His face tightened. “You have until tomorrow to apologize to Serena and withdraw your accusation. If you refuse, I'll take you somewhere you can think about what your interference is costing her.”