Chapter 4 –THE WRONG MATE

“Lady Malia, calm down.”

I looked at the warrior. “My eyes just started glowing.”

He glanced at the other warrior, then back at me. Neither of them looked afraid.

“You heard an Alpha howl for the first time,” he said. “Your wolf reacted. It happens.”

“It does?”

“With ordinary Alphas, maybe.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

He lowered his voice. “Blackridge is different.”

“How?”

“The Alpha family has produced powerful Alphas for generations. Their bloodline is feared by other packs. Even their younger wolves are stronger than most trained warriors.”

I looked toward the dark forest. “That was one of them?”

“That was the First Son.”

My stomach tightened. The howl still echoed inside my chest.

I took a slow breath. My wolf finally settled, and the glow in my eyes faded. I had no time to think about it.

“We should keep moving,” the warrior said.

I nodded. The Blackridge estate appeared beyond the trees.

I had expected a large house. I had not expected a fortress.

Tall stone walls surrounded the estate, with guards standing at every entrance. The main house rose behind them, huge and dark, with wide steps leading to massive wooden doors.

I swallowed.

This was where I had to tell them I was not Aria.

We entered the estate. Several guards watched me as we crossed the courtyard. The doors opened before we reached them.

A tall man and woman stood inside. The man was broad-shouldered and calm. The woman beside him carried herself with quiet authority.

The Alpha and Luna of Blackridge.

Their expressions softened when they saw me.

“You must be Aria,” the Luna said warmly.

I stopped. The Alpha smiled. “Welcome to Blackridge.”

“Thank you.”

The Luna stepped forward and touched my arm. “You must be tired from the journey. Come inside. We prepared food for you.”

“I—”

“Your room is ready too.”

I felt my stomach twist. They were being kind because they thought I was someone else.

We entered a large dining room. A table was covered with food, fruit, bread, roasted meat, and several drinks.

“Please, sit,” the Luna said.

I remained standing. “Actually, there is something you need to know.”

The Luna paused. The Alpha looked at me.

I took a breath. “I’m not Aria.”

Silence.

The warmth disappeared from their faces.

The Luna slowly lowered the plate she was holding. “What did you say?”

“I’m Malia. Aria is my younger sister.”

The Alpha’s eyes hardened. “Where is she?”

“At home, I suppose.”

“You suppose?”

“I wasn’t told exactly what my parents planned.”

The Luna’s face turned red. “They sent you here?”

I nodded. The Alpha’s voice became dangerously quiet. “Your family knew who we were expecting.”

“I know.”

“And they sent you?”

“I didn’t know about the arrangement until last night.”

Before either of them could respond, the doors opened behind me.

Two men entered.

The first was tall, broad, and carried the same intimidating presence I had felt from the howl. His dark hair was slightly messy, and his face was hard to read.

Beside him walked a younger man who looked enough like him to be his brother.

“Deucalion” his mother called.

He looked at his parents.

“What is going on?”

His mother turned toward him.

“Your mate is not here.”

His eyes moved to me. “Who are you?”

I forced myself to stand straight. “Malia. Aria’s older sister.”

His expression changed. “Where is Aria?”

“She should still be at home.”

His jaw tightened. “What do you mean, should?”

“I don’t know what they told her.” His eyes remained on me for another moment.

Then he looked at his mother. She shook her head. “They are playing with us.”

The room became tense. The Alpha immediately called for a messenger. “Go to their territory. Bring Malia’s parents here. Now.”

The messenger bowed and left. I stood there while everyone waited.

Deucalion said nothing. He simply watched me. There was something strange about his stare. It wasn’t anger alone. It was disappointment.

Somehow, that made me feel worse.

My parents arrived less than an hour later. I looked at them as they entered.

They were calm. Too calm.

My mother smiled politely. “Greetings Alpha.”

The Blackridge Alpha didn’t return the greeting. “You have some explaining to do.”

Father remained composed. “Of course.”

“You promised us Aria.”

Mother stepped forward. “We have not broken the agreement.”

The Luna’s eyes narrowed. “Then explain why your eldest daughter is here instead of the daughter we agreed upon.”

Father glanced at me. I hated the calmness in his eyes.

“Aria is eighteen.”

Deucalion lifted his head.

Father continued. “You are much older than her. We cannot allow our daughter to enter such a marriage.”

Deucalion stood up immediately. “What?”

His voice filled the room. He looked at my father. “You agreed to this.”

“We did.”

“And now you’re taking her away?”

Father didn’t answer.

The Luna stepped forward. “Our sons know about this arrangement. More importantly, your daughter and our First Son have feelings for each other.”

My eyes moved to Deucalion.

He looked furious. Not at me but my parents.

“They love each other,” the Alpha said. “We will not accept a different mate simply because you changed your mind.”

My mother folded her arms. “We are protecting our daughter.”

I almost laughed. Protecting? After threatening to cast me out if I refused?

I looked at Deucalion again. He was still staring at my father. Nobody was talking about me anymore.

I felt invisible again. I slowly stood. “I think I should leave.” Everyone turned toward me. “This has nothing to do with me.” I walked toward the door.

I was almost there when my father’s voice stopped me.

“Alpha do you not want this agreement?”

I froze.

My hand remained on the door.

Slowly, I turned around.

Father looked at the Blackridge Alpha. Then he said the words that made my blood run cold.

“It’s either Deucalion marries Malia, or there’s no deal.”

Silence. I froze. I stared at him. The Blackridge Alpha rose from his chair.

“You don’t mean what you just said?”

Father stood. “I mean it.”

My heart dropped.

Everything suddenly made sense. His strange calmness that morning. The warriors waiting outside. His refusal to explain. They had known Blackridge expected Aria. They had known she was already loved by the First Son.

And they had brought me here anyway. Not to escape the arrangement. Not to explain the mistake but to replace her.

I stared at my father. “You planned this?”

He didn’t answer.

I looked at my mother. She remained silent.

My hands began to shake. I had spent the journey believing I was walking toward freedom.

Instead, I had walked into the cage they built for me. And now the door was closing. Behind me stood the Blackridge family.

In front of me stood my parents. Between them was my future now.

A future I had never chosen, already sold.

My eyes moved to Deucalion.

For the first time, he looked directly at me.

Neither of us spoke.

But the anger in his eyes told me one thing.

He didn’t want this either.