Chapter Eight- The Truth That Knocked

Aria’s POV

Damon left early that morning.

“I have a few errands to run,” he said while pulling on his jacket.

I looked up from the bed. “Errands?”

“Yes.”

“What kind?” I frowned.

He smiled. “Nothing important. I’ll be back soon.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

He leaned down and kissed my forehead before leaving.

I watched him disappear through the doorway. For some reason, I didn’t feel completely at ease.

Maybe it was because of everything that had happened over the past few days.

The whispers, his strange reaction whenever I asked about Crimson Snow, and the way he kept telling me not to worry.

I pushed the thoughts away. Damon had promised me he would make me his mate and that was what mattered.

I turned back to the luggage brought from Ironcrest. It had been sitting untouched for long.

I had avoided going through it because every item seemed to carry a piece of the life I had left behind.

But that morning, I decided it was time.

I opened the first bag and began sorting through my clothes.

Some dresses, a few training outfits, shoes, personal belongings, and things my omega had secretly sent after me.

I smiled faintly at the thought of her.

I wondered how she was doing and I wondered if she had kept her promise.

I hoped she had.

I reached into the bottom of the bag for the small pouch where I kept my money.

My fingers searched through the clothes but I felt nothing.

I frowned. I searched again, but still found nothing.

My heart skipped. “No.”

I moved everything out of the bag but the money wasn’t there.

I checked the second bag, and then the third but still found nothing.

I froze. For several seconds, I simply stared at the empty space where the pouch should have been.

Maybe I had put it somewhere else that I had forgotten.

I hurried around the room, checking every drawer and every corner but still found nothing.

My breathing became quicker. I sat on the edge of the bed.

Had I lost it? No, I couldn’t have. I remembered putting it there.

I was still trying to make sense of it when I heard a knock.

I lifted my head and realized Someone was at the door.

I quickly wiped the worry from my face and walked over. When I opened it, I found a young woman standing outside.

She looked unfamiliar. Her clothes were simple, and her expression was impatient.

She glanced past me into the room.

“Is Damon here?”

I frowned. “No. He went out this morning.”

Her eyes returned to me. “Who are you?”

I hesitated. “I’m Aria.”

She continued staring. “And?”

Something about her tone irritated me.

“And I’m Damon’s mate.” I replied.

For a second, she simply stared at me.

Then she scoffed. “His mate?”

My brows furrowed. “Yes.”

She gave a short laugh. “If you’re really his mate, where is your mark?”

My entire body went still. “What?”

“Your mate mark.” She gestured toward my neck. “Where is it?”

I instinctively touched the side of my neck.

There was nothing there, Of course there wasn’t.

Damon had promised he would mark me Very soon.

The woman watched my face change.

Her expression shifted into something almost pitying. “You don’t have one.”

I couldn’t speak.

She shook her head. “So you’re one of them.”

“One of who?”

“The girls Damon has been sleeping with .” She chuckled.

My stomach dropped. “That isn’t true.”

She shrugged. “Believe whatever you want.”

“You don’t know anything about us.” I gritted my teeth.

“Oh, I know enough.” She looked me up and down. “You’re clearly new here.”

I stared at her. “What exactly are you implying?”

“That Damon never told you about me?” She looked aghast.

“No.”

She laughed bitterly. “Of course he didn’t.”

My fingers tightened around the door.

“Who are you?”

“Someone Damon owes money to.” She folded her arms and kept a straight face.

My heart thudded. “What?”

“He owe me money a while ago.” She paused. “And he still hasn’t paid me.”

I stared at her, confused. “What does that have to do with me?”

“Nothing.” She turned slightly, then

Looked back at me. “I’m only here because I was told this is where he lives.”

I swallowed. “How much does he owe you?”

She named an amount and My eyes widened. That was not a small debt.

“That much?”

She shrugged. “Damon promised he’d pay.”

“When?” I asked.

“I don’t know.” She sighed. “He’s been making promises for a long time.”

Something twisted painfully inside my chest.

“Why would he owe that much money to you?”

Her expression became uncomfortable. “You should ask him.”

I stared at her. “Tell me.”

She hesitated. Then she said quietly,

“He owed me for the services I provided him at the brothel.”

The world seemed to stop.

I couldn’t breathe. My mind struggled to process the words.

Damon, a brothel, Services? No. There had to be some explanation or it was some kind of misunderstanding.

The woman looked at me for a moment.

“I didn’t come here to cause trouble.” She turned away. “I just want what I’m owed.”

I couldn’t move. Before leaving, she glanced back at me.

“If I were you, I’d ask your mate where he’s been spending his money.”

Then she walked away.

I remained in the doorway completely frozen. The morning air felt suddenly cold against my skin.

My money, the missing money, Damon leaving early, his strange behavior, the excuses, and the promises.

Everything suddenly felt connected but I refused to believe it. I just couldn’t.

Damon loved me, he had run away with me, he had promised me a future, and he had told me that I was the only woman he wanted. There had to be an explanation.

I slammed the door shut as anger surged through me.

I paced around the room, my hands trembling. How dare that woman come here and speak about Damon like that?

How dare she accuse him? How dare she make me question everything?

I was still furious when I heard the door open.

I turned sharply.

Damon stepped inside. “Aria?”

I stared at him. He immediately noticed my expression.

“What happened?”

I walked toward him. “Did you take my money?”

His face changed only for a moment.

“What?”

“My money.” I frowned.

He looked confused. “What are you talking about?”

“The money I brought from Ironcrest.”

He sighed. “I took some.”

My heart sank. “You took it?”

“Yes.” He replied.

“Why?” I asked, heartbroken.

“I had a debt to pay.”

I stared at him. “How much?”

“Not much.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I was going to tell you.”

“When?” I placed my hands on my waist.

He didn’t answer.

My anger rose again. “Someone came here looking for you.”

His expression stiffened. “Who?”

“A woman.” I replied. “She said you owe her money.”

He looked away. “What woman?”

“I don’t know her name.” I stepped closer. “She said you have been owing her money a long time ago.”

Damon sighed. “Aria, it’s nothing.”

“She mentioned a brothel.” I snapped.

His eyes snapped back to mine. For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he ran a hand through his hair.

“She helped me when I was in a difficult situation.”

“What kind of help?” I snorted.

“She said you owe her money for services.”

He looked frustrated. “I borrowed money from her. That’s all.”

My heart pounded. “Why would she say you owed her for services?”

“Because that’s how she makes her money.”

I frowned. “What does that mean?”

“She works there.” He shrugged.

I stared at him. “She said you were involved with her.”

“I wasn’t.” His answer came quickly.“She misunderstood the situation.”

I searched his face. “And the money?”

“I borrowed it.” He sighed

“How long ago?” I raised a brow.

“Before I met you.”

I swallowed. “So why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I knew you’d worry.” He frowned.

I looked away.

He stepped closer. “Aria. I should have told you but I didn’t want you thinking badly of me.”

My chest tightened. “I don’t know what to think.”

He reached for my hand. I almost pulled away, but I didn’t.

“I swear there’s nothing between us,” he said. “It’s an old debt. Nothing more.”

I looked at him. “Then why did you take my money without telling me?”

His expression softened. “I was desperate.”

The anger inside me slowly began to fade.

“I should have asked you,” he continued. “I’m sorry.”

I lowered my gaze. I wanted to stay angry and demand answers. But part of me was afraid of what those answers might reveal.

So I nodded. “Fine.”

His shoulders relaxed. “You’re not angry?”

“I am.” I mumbled.

He reached for me. “But I don’t want to fight with you.”

He pulled me into his arms. I stood there stiffly for a moment before slowly relaxing against him.

“It’s going to be okay,” he whispered.

I closed my eyes. I wanted to believe him, I desperately wanted to.

So I decided to let it go for the sake of peace, for the sake of the life I had chosen, and the sake of the love I still believed was real.

But when Damon kissed my forehead, I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about the woman’s words.

“Where is your mark?”

I touched my neck after he released me.

Damon had promised me that he’d mark me Soon.

But suddenly, the word didn’t comfort me the way it used to.

It frightened me because for the first time, I wondered if soon was simply another promise Damon had no intention of keeping.