Chapter 21 – FORCED TO STAND BESIDE HIM

Anger surged through me.

I stared at Aria, unable to believe she had actually said those words in front of Deucalion and his father.

‘Not that thing standing next to him.’

Something inside me snapped. I walked straight toward her.

Aria took one step back. “What are you doing?”

Before she could say any other thing, my hand flew across her face.

And landed on her cheeks

The sound filled the study. Aria’s head turned with the force of it. She slowly brought her hand to her cheek, staring at me in complete shock.

Nobody spoke. The Blackridge Alpha looked at me. Deucalion looked furious.

Aria’s eyes quickly filled with tears. “You hit me,” she whispered.

“Yes,” I said coldly. “And I would do it again if you call me a thing, one more time.”

She looked at Deucalion as if expecting him to comfort her.

“Deucalion…”

His eyes remained on me. “Malia.”

I said nothing.

“You will not raise your hand against Aria again.” He said.

My anger returned. “She insulted me first.”

“That does not give you the right to hit her.”

“And what gives her the right to say whatever she wants to me?”

Deucalion’s jaw tightened.

“She called me a thing in front of your father,” I continued. “She keeps trying to humiliate me, and everyone expects me to stand there and take it.”

Aria shook her head. “I never asked her to hit me.”

“You wanted a reaction.”

“I wanted the truth to be known.”

“And what truth is that?”

“That you don’t belong here.”

My hands curled into fists. Ready to hit her again.

Deucalion stepped closer. “Enough.”

I looked at him. “You didn't say a word when she was ranting all those things with her mouth.”

“That is not true.”

“It is.”

“Malia, stop.”

“No. Why should I?”

His eyes hardened.

“You are making this worse.”

“I am making this worse?”

My voice rose.

“She walks into this room and calls me a thing. She tells your father she should be beside you. She tells everyone she is better than me. But somehow I am the one who is wrong?”

Aria lowered her eyes. “I only said I could represent the pack better.”

“You mean you want my place.”

She said nothing. I laughed bitterly. “At least admit it.”

I was still facing Aria when Deucalion suddenly moved his hand and struck my cheek.

I froze.

The room disappeared for a moment. I slowly raised my hand to my cheek.

It burned. But the pain was not what shocked me. It was him.

Deucalion had slapped me.

I looked at him. His anger was still there, but something else had appeared in his eyes.

Regret.

He had realized what he had done.

Neither of us spoke.

I swallowed hard and lowered my hand. “You just proved exactly what I am in this house.”

“Malia…”

I shook my head. “No.”

He stepped toward me. “I did not mean—”

“Stop.” I raised my hands. My voice was quiet now. “You did not stop to think. You were angry, and you hit me.”

His face tightened.

I waited for an apology.

None came. His pride was stronger. I looked away from him. The Blackridge Alpha finally spoke. “This has gone far enough.”

I stood silently.

“Tomorrow’s meeting with the northern pack is still happening,” he continued. “Deucalion and Malia will attend.”

I immediately shook my head. “I am not going.”

His father frowned. “You are the Luna.”

“I know what I am.”

“Then act like it.”

I looked at him. “I have had enough.”

Deucalion turned toward me. “Malia.”

I ignored him. “This is your business,” I said. “Let them handle it.”

“You cannot simply refuse.”

“Watch me.”

Aria suddenly stepped forward. “If Malia doesn’t want to go, I can.”

I looked at her. There it was. Exactly what she wanted. She wanted me out of the way. The Blackridge Alpha looked displeased.

“This meeting concerns Blackridge territory.”

“And I know Blackridge better than she does,” Aria replied. “I know Deucalion. I know how he handles negotiations. I can be useful.”

I gave a small laugh. “Then go.”

Deucalion looked at me. “What are you saying?”

I met his eyes. “If she wants to go instead, then she should.”

His expression darkened.

“Malia.”

“Since that’s what everyone here wants.”

Aria looked at me carefully. “You mean that?”

“Yes.”

I touched my cheek again. “I have no interest in standing beside someone who just slapped me because I corrected my own younger sister.”

Deucalion’s face changed. “Don’t bring that into this.”

“Why not? You already did.”

Silence settled over the room. The Blackridge Alpha rubbed his forehead. “This is becoming childish.”

“No,” I said. “It is simple. I am not going.”

Aria quickly spoke. “Then I will go.”

She turned toward Deucalion. “I can stand beside you.”

I looked at her. “Of course you can.”

She smiled faintly. “I will represent Blackridge properly.”

“You can try.”

Deucalion remained silent. Aria continued. “I know the northern territory. I know the people there. And I understand what Deucalion needs when he is negotiating.”

My chest tightened, but I refused to show it. The Blackridge Alpha looked at Deucalion. “Do you agree?”

Deucalion glanced at me.

I expected him to say no.

Instead, he remained quiet for several seconds.

Then he looked at his father.n“If Malia refuses to go, someone has to represent the Luna’s position.”

Aria immediately stepped forward.

“I can do that.”

I shook my head.

“Fine.” Deucalion looked back at me.

I did not care anymore. “Let her go,” I said. “She wants my place so badly. Give it to her.”

Aria smiled. “I won’t disappoint you.”

I almost laughed. “You already have.”

The Blackridge Alpha sighed.

“Then it is settled. Deucalion and Aria will attend the meeting tomorrow.”

For a moment, nobody moved. Aria looked stunned, as though the decision had already belonged to her. Deucalion’s expression became unreadable. I stood there with my cheek still burning, wondering why everything kept turning against me.

I turned toward the door.

I had barely taken one step when the study doors opened. The Blackridge Luna walked in.

Everyone became silent. Her eyes moved from Deucalion to Aria, then stopped on me.

“What exactly did I just hear?”

Nobody answered. She looked at Aria. Then at Deucalion.

Finally, her gaze returned to me.

“No.”

Aria frowned. “Mother—”

The Luna raised her hand.

“I said no.”

She stepped farther into the room.

“Malia is the one going.”