Chapter 20 – ARIA'S MOVE

After that night, my life inside Blackridge became even harder.

Deucalion’s order had spread through the house. Every guard knew I was not allowed to leave the grounds without his permission. Every servant seemed to know it too.

I could not walk to the garden without someone watching me. I could not visit the library without a guard appearing nearby. Even when I went downstairs for water, I felt eyes following me.

I was being watched.

And Aria made sure I never forgot why. She started appearing everywhere Deucalion was.

At breakfast, she sat beside him. In the garden, she walked with him.

In the evenings, she found reasons to stay near him, laughing at things he said and touching his arm whenever she had the chance.

I knew she was doing it because she wanted me to see.

One afternoon, I entered the library and found them together.

Aria was sitting beside Deucalion on the long sofa. Her head rested against his shoulder while he read something from a book.

She looked up when she saw me. “Oh, Malia. We were just talking about—”

I raised my hand to stop her. Deucalion looked at me.

“Did you need something?”

“I came for a book.”

“Then take one and leave.”

His tone was calm. Aria smiled again and moved closer to him. I turned toward the shelves.

My wolf stirred. I hated that my body still responded whenever I saw them together. I grabbed a book without checking the title and left.

Behind me, I heard Aria laugh.

My hands tightened around the book.

She was winning. At least, that was what she wanted me to believe. The strangest part was Deucalion. He had started noticing me.

If I skipped breakfast, he asked where I was. If I stayed in my room too long, a servant would appear with food.

If someone spoke harshly to me, Deucalion somehow heard about it. And whenever my mark ached, I sometimes caught him touching the mark on his own neck.

Neither of us mentioned it.

But I noticed. My wolf noticed too. She had become restless.

Some nights she paced inside me, unable to settle.

I did not understand why. After that night I spent weeks trying to forget Deucalion.

Yet my wolf seemed determined to remind me that the bond between us was still there, even if it was incomplete.

Then there was my body.

Something felt different. I was tired more often. Certain smells made my stomach turn.

Some mornings, I woke up feeling strangely sick.

My appetite had changed too. I did not think much of it at first.

But the Blackridge Luna did. She watched me constantly.

One morning, she stopped me outside the dining hall. “You look pale.”

“I am fine.”

“When was your last cycle?”

I froze. I looked at her. “Why are you asking me that?”

“Answer me.”

“I don’t remember.”

Her expression hardened. “You don’t remember?”

“No.”

She sighed in frustration. “This is becoming ridiculous.”

“What is?”

“You.”

I stared at her. She lowered her voice. “Do you understand what is expected of you?”

“I understand that everyone expects me to give this family an heir.”

“Then act like it.”

Her words disgusted me. “I am a person, not a breeding animal.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Watch yourself.”

“No. You watch yourself.” I talked back. For a moment, neither of us moved.

Then she stepped closer. “If there is no child, there is no excuse for your continued failure.”

My stomach twisted. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You should.”

She walked away.

I remained there, confused.

Why was she so certain there should already be a child by now?

I returned to my room and sat on the edge of the bed. I placed a hand over my stomach.

Nothing. I felt nothing.

Still, a strange thought entered my mind. What if something really was changing?

I pushed it away.

I could not afford another problem.

The following days became worse. Aria grew bolder. One evening, I was passing through the main hall when I saw her standing close to Deucalion.

She was fixing his collar.

“You always look better when I do this,” she said.

Deucalion gave a faint smile. I stopped for only a second. Aria noticed me. She deliberately rested her hand against his chest.

My wolf growled. Deucalion looked toward me.

Our eyes met. For a moment, something changed in his face.

Then Aria spoke. “Are you going somewhere?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

I looked at her. “Does it concern you?”

She smiled.

“Everything in this house concerns me.”

“Then you must be very busy.”

I walked away. Behind me, I heard Deucalion say my name.

I kept walking.

“Malia.”

I stopped but did not turn.

“What?”

“Wait.”

I turned around. He was watching me. “Where are you going?”

“To my room.”

His jaw tightened.

Then he said nothing.

I walked away. What do they even want from me? I did not understand him anymore.

One moment he acted like I was nothing. The next, he wanted to know where I was going.

A guard came to my door. “The Alpha wants you and Deucalion in his study.”

I followed him downstairs. When I entered, Deucalion was already there. His father sat behind the large desk.

He motioned for me to sit.

“We have a situation along the northern border.”

Deucalion folded his arms. “What happened?”

“A neighboring pack has claimed a section of territory that belongs to Blackridge.”

“How large?”

“Large enough to matter.”

The Alpha looked at both of us. “I have arranged a meeting with their leaders. You will attend.”

I frowned. “Both of us?”

“Yes. You are Deucalion’s Luna. It is time you began appearing beside him in matters that concern this pack.”

I nodded. “When is the meeting?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

Before I could say anything else, the study door opened.

Aria walked in. “I heard about the meeting.”

Deucalion turned. “Aria, leave.”

She ignored him. “I want to come.”

The Blackridge Alpha frowned. “This meeting concerns the Luna and the Alpha.”

“And I am the better choice.”

Her eyes moved toward me. She smiled coldly.

“I know Deucalion better than she does.”

I stood. “Then why don’t you say what you really came here to say?”

Aria’s smile disappeared. She pointed directly at me.

“I am the perfect person to go with Deucalion.”

Her finger remained pointed at me.

“Not that thing standing next to him.”

Silence filled the room.

My heart dropped. Deucalion looked at Aria.

“What?”

Anger surged through me.