Chapter Eleven - The Truth I Could No Longer Ignore

Aria’s POV

Morning came quietly. I was already in the kitchen when I heard movement behind me.

The sound of slow footsteps dragged across the floor.

I turned and Damon stood at the entrance, looking half-asleep.

His hair was messy, and his eyes were still heavy with sleep.

The moment he saw me, he smiled.

“There she is.”

I said nothing as he walked into the kitchen sluggishly and pulled out a chair.

“You’ve been awake for a while, haven’t you?”

“Yes.” I replied.

He yawned. “You’re always up so early.”

He glanced at what I was preparing, then he smiled again.

“My beautiful little cook.”

Normally, those words would have made me blush but they didn’t anymore.

I simply turned back to the stove.“Breakfast will be ready soon.”

He stared at me for a moment. “You’re quiet.”

“I’m fine.” I muttered.

He shrugged and leaned back in the chair. “Good.”

I continued preparing breakfast but my mind wasn’t on the food. It was on everything that had happened.

The money, the strange woman who had come to the house, the things she had said, Damon’s anger when I asked about the mating bond, the way he had told me I was no longer in Ironcrest and couldn’t command him, and the most troubling part of all…He had never made me his mate, not once.

I had spent months believing that he simply needed time, that perhaps there was a reason for the delay but now I was beginning to see things differently.

What if he had never intended to mate me? What if he had been waiting for someone else? Someone he actually wanted?

The thought made my stomach twist. Perhaps he was searching for his true mate, and perhaps that mate wasn’t me.

I stopped stirring the pot. For months, I had convinced myself that Damon loved me.

I had ignored the small things, the excuses, the delays, the stolen money, and the secrecy.

Every time something felt wrong, I found a reason to explain it away because I loved him and because admitting the truth would mean admitting that I had thrown everything away for nothing.

I took a slow breath then carried breakfast to the table. I placed his plate in front of him.

“Thank you,” he said casually.

I sat opposite him as he picked up his fork.

I watched him for a moment, then I asked,

“Do you have anything to tell me?”

His hand stopped. For the briefest moment, something flickered across his face, then it disappeared.

“What do you mean?” He asked.

I kept my expression straight. “Is there anything you think I should know?”

He stared at me, then he laughed a short, dismissive laugh.

“Aria, what are you talking about?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.” I glared at him.

He placed his fork down. “You’re being strange.”

“Am I?” I scoffed.

“Yes.” He leaned back in his chair.“You need to stop being delusional and get a grip.”

The words stung but this time, I didn’t react.

I simply looked at him. “Delusional?”

“Yes.” He shook his head. “I don’t know what you’ve been thinking about, but you’re creating problems where there aren’t any.”

I said nothing.

He picked up his fork again. “Eat your breakfast.”

I stared at him, then I lowered my eyes. “Okay.”

That was all I said.

I didn’t argue, i didn’t ask another question, I didn’t tell him about the woman, I didn’t tell him about the money, and I didn’t tell him that I no longer believed his excuses because suddenly, I understood something.

I didn’t need him to confess. His actions had already told me enough.

I had been so blinded by love that I hadn’t wanted to see it.

Damon wasn’t building a life with me, he was using the life I had already built, my money, my status, my name, and my trust.

Perhaps he had loved me once, and perhaps he hadn’t.

But whatever he felt for me now, it wasn’t the kind of love I had imagined.

If he truly loved me, why had he never made me his mate? Why did he become angry whenever I asked? Why was he constantly asking me for money? Why did strangers come looking for him? Why did he keep so many things from me?

I had no answers but I didn’t need them anymore.

I knew what I had to do. I was going back to Ironcrest.

The thought terrified me as my father was gone.

I didn’t know how the pack would receive me, I didn’t know what had happened after I left, and I didn’t know what Kael would do when he saw me but I couldn’t stay here, not anymore.

I had already made one terrible mistake and I wasn’t going to make another by remaining in a place where I was no longer loved.

I looked across the table at Damon.

He was eating peacefully, completely unaware of the decision I had just made.

For the first time, I didn’t feel the need to tell him everything.

I would wait,,I would plan, and when the right opportunity came…I would leave and return to Ironcrest.

I didn’t know what waited for me there but whatever it was, I would face it because the woman who had run away from Ironcrest for Damon was no longer the woman sitting at this table.

That woman had believed love was enough but I knew better now.

Love without honesty was a lie.

And I had finally stopped believing his.

***************

After breakfast, Damon pushed his chair back and stretched.

“I have a few errands to run,” he said casually.

I looked up from my plate. “Again?”

He barely glanced at me. “Yes. I won’t be long.”

Those words should have meant nothing to me.

He had said them countless times before but this morning, something inside me shifted.

I watched him pick up his coat and head toward the door, and suddenly, I saw everything clearly.

All the excuses, all the disappearing, and all the things I had ignored because I loved him.

Damon was always going somewhere, always running errands, and always claiming he had something important to do yet he never returned with anything useful.

He never brought money home, he never brought food unless he expected me to prepare it, and he never brought anything that showed he was actually building the life he had promised me.

Instead, he took my money, took advantage of my name, used my identity whenever it benefited him, convincing people to give him things because he was associated with me and when those people came looking for payment, who paid? Me.

I had been so desperate to believe that I had chosen love over duty that I refused to see what was standing right in front of me.

Damon wasn’t building a life with me, he was living off me. But there was something worse, something I couldn’t forgive.

My father.

Damon knew. He knew that my father was my last living blood relative, he knew how much Alpha Lucien meant to me, he knew I had left everything behind because I believed I could build a future with him, and yet, when my father died, Damon said nothing.

He hid it from me, he smiled at me, he ate my food, he slept under the same roof as me, he watched me wake up every morning believing that my father was still alive somewhere, probably furious with me but waiting for me to return.

And all the while… My father was dead, buried, and gone.

I had missed his final moments, I had missed his funeral, and I hadn’t even been there to say goodbye.

My chest burned. How could someone who claimed to love me do that? How could Damon look into my eyes every single day and pretend everything was fine?

I stared at him as he reached for the door.

“Aria?” He called out.

I blinked. “What?”

“I said I’ll be back later.” He frowned.

I forced a smile. “Okay.”

He nodded, apparently satisfied, then he walked out and the door closed behind him.

I remained seated for several seconds, then I heard his footsteps fading.

I didn’t move until I was certain he had gone far enough, only then did I stand.

My hands trembled as I walked toward the room.

I didn’t cry, not this time. I had cried enough.

Instead, I opened my luggage and began packing.

There wasn’t much. Most of my things had already been reduced to the few belongings I had brought with me.

Clothes, a few personal items, some and money I had managed to keep hidden.

I folded everything quickly and placed it into a small bag.

Every movement felt strangely calm. Perhaps this was what happened when the heart finally became tired of being hurt.

I looked around the room.

This place had once represented freedom to me. I had thought leaving Ironcrest would mean finally living for myself and I had thought Damon was the man who would give me the life I wanted.

Instead, I had traded one cage for another.

I walked to the mirror. The woman staring back at me looked different.

Not physically, but something in her eyes had changed.

She no longer looked like the foolish girl who had run away from home because she thought love was enough.

She looked like someone who had finally understood the price of her choices.

I reached for a black veil and draped it over my head, making sure it covered most of my face.

I couldn’t risk being recognized. If someone from Crimson Snow discovered who I was, word could reach Damon before I had even crossed the border and I didn’t want him following me.

I didn’t want to hear his excuses, I didn’t want another explanation, and most importantly, I didn’t want him convince me to stay.

I picked up my bag. My hand rested briefly on the door handle.

For a moment, I thought about the life I had imagined here.

The mornings with Damon, the meals I prepared, the promises he had made, and the future I thought we would have.

Then I remembered my father. I remembered that while I had been playing house with Damon, my father had been dying with my name on his lips.

My grip tightened.

“I’m sorry, Father,” I whispered.

My voice cracked. “I’m so sorry.”

I opened the door.

The hallway was empty, so I lowered my veil and walked out.

No one stopped me, and no one questioned me.

I kept my head down as I moved through the streets, pretending to be just another woman going about her business.

Every step took me farther away from Damon and every step brought me closer to the place I had abandoned.

Ironcrest was my home. The place I had sworn never to return to, and the place where my father had died waiting for me.

I had no idea what waited for me there.

Perhaps hatred, rejection, a throne that no longer belonged to me and perhaps Kael.

The thought of him made my chest tighten. I remembered the last time I had seen him.

His cold eyes, his controlled voice, and the way he had told me I was throwing away my future for something that wouldn’t last.

At the time, I had thought he was simply trying to control me.

Now…I wondered if he had seen Damon for who he really was long before I did.

I shook my head. There was no point thinking about it.

I had made my choices, now I had to face the consequences.

I continued walking until the buildings of Crimson Snow disappeared behind me.

Then I stopped. For the first time since I had arrived in this territory, I turned around.

I stared at the place I had once believed was my future.

There was no sadness in me anymore, only finality.

I adjusted the black veil over my face and turned toward the road ahead.

I was going home not because I expected forgiveness, or because I expected my old life to still be waiting for me. But because I had finally realized that running away had not made me free.

I had simply run away from the person I was supposed to become and this time, I wasn’t running from anything.

I was running back to myself.

With one last glance behind me, I crossed the Crimson Snow border.

I didn’t know what awaited me in Ironcrest, but one thing was certain.

I was never looking back.

************

The forest seemed endless.

I had been walking for hours, following a narrow path that twisted between towering trees. Their branches blocked most of the sunlight, leaving patches of darkness scattered across the ground.

Every sound made me nervous.

A snapping twig, the rustling of leaves, and the distant howl of a wolf.

I would stop and look around, my heart pounding against my ribs before continuing.

I had heard enough stories about rogues to know how dangerous these woods could be and if they caught me, things would be even worse if they discovered who I was.

I was the daughter of Alpha Lucien Nightshade, the lost princess of Ironcrest.

If word spread that I was traveling alone through the forest, I didn’t know who might come looking for me, so I kept walking.

I prayed silently to the Moon Goddess.

“Please, let me reach Ironcrest safely. Please don’t let me encounter rogues.”

The sun began descending before my legs finally gave out.

I couldn’t walk anymore so I found a large tree with thick roots and lowered myself beneath it.

My back rested against the trunk as I pulled out the small piece of bread I had packed before leaving.

It wasn’t much, but I was hungry.

I took a bite and chewed slowly, staring into the forest ahead.

For the first time since leaving Crimson Snow, I allowed myself to breathe.

I had made it this far and maybe I would actually make it home.

I took another bite, and then I froze.

Something had changed. I could smell someone.

My entire body stiffened. The scent was unfamiliar. It was that of a male, and it was very close.

I slowly lowered the bread.

My heart began racing. “Please don’t let it be a rogue.”

I looked toward the bushes and saw nothing.

Then the branches moved. I scrambled backward, pressing myself against the tree.

A man stepped out. He was carrying a dead rabbit in one hand.

I stared at him. He was dressed simply, wearing worn trousers and a faded shirt. A small hunting knife hung from his belt.

He was a hunter. Relief washed over me so quickly that I nearly laughed.

At least he wasn’t a rogue.

The man stopped when he saw me. He looked just as surprised.

“What are you doing out here alone?” he asked.

I hesitated. “I’m traveling.”

“Traveling where?” He asked.

“Ironcrest.” I replied.

His eyebrows lifted. “Iron crest?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

He studied me for a moment. There was something strange about the way he was looking at me.

Almost as though he was trying to remember where he had seen me before.

Then his eyes widened and he dropped the rabbit.

“You…” He gasped.

I frowned. “Are you alright?”

He took a step closer, then another.

His face suddenly filled with disbelief.“It can’t be.”

I instinctively pulled my veil tighter around my face.

The man stared at me. Then, without warning, he fell to his knees.

I jumped. “What are you doing?”

He lifted both hands toward the sky.

“Moon Goddess!” His voice echoed through the trees. “Thank you!”

I stared at him in confusion.

He bowed his head. “Thank you for allowing me to witness this day before I die.”

I looked around nervously. Was this man insane?

“Please, get up.” I pleaded but he didn’t. Instead, he looked at me with tears gathering in his eyes.

“The princess has returned.” He grinned.

My heart stopped. He knew? He knew who I was?

“You recognize me?” I asked.

He nodded repeatedly.

“How could I not?” His voice trembled with emotion. “I have served Ironcrest for most of my life. I saw you when you were a child. You used to ride through the village with Alpha Lucien’s guards.”

I swallowed. Those memories felt like they belonged to another lifetime.

“What is your name?” I asked softly.

He finally rose to his feet and wiped his eyes. “Mario.”

“Mario,” I repeated.

He bowed his head respectfully. “My princess.”

The title made my chest ache. I hadn’t heard anyone call me that in months, maybe longer.

“Please don’t call me that,” I whispered.

He looked confused. “Why?”

“Because I don’t know if I’m still a princess.” I said bitterly.

Mario stared at me. “You are Alpha Lucien’s daughter. You will always be our princess.”

My eyes burned. I looked away before he could see the tears threatening to fall.

My father. I had spent so long avoiding the thought of him that hearing someone speak about him so naturally almost broke me.

Mario seemed to notice my silence so he didn’t ask questions.

Instead, he picked up the rabbit.

“Ironcrest isn’t far from here anymore.”

I looked at him. “How far?”

“Less than an hour if we walk quickly.”

My heart jumped. Less than an hour?

I was finally So close to the home I had abandoned.

Mario looked toward the darkening sky. “But you shouldn’t travel alone.”

“Why?” My brows furrowed.

“The woods become dangerous after sunset. There are rogues who pass through these areas.” He explained.

My stomach tightened. “I was hoping I wouldn’t encounter any.”

“You were lucky.” He looked at my small bag. “You shouldn’t be here alone at all.”

I nodded. He adjusted the rabbit in his hand.

“Follow me. I’ll take you to the packhouse.”

I hesitated. I had just met this man but somehow, I trusted him.

Perhaps it was because he had looked at me with the same loyalty my father’s people had always shown me or it was because, after everything that had happened, I desperately needed someone to show me that I wasn’t completely alone.

“Alright,” I said.

Mario smiled. “Good.”

He started walking and I quickly gathered my things and followed him.

For a while, neither of us spoke.

The forest grew darker around us, but I wasn’t as afraid anymore.

Mario walked confidently, clearly familiar with the paths.

Every now and then, he would turn around to make sure I was still behind him.

Eventually, I broke the silence.

“Mario?” I sighed.

“Yes, princess?” He replied.

I gave him a disapproving look.

He smiled apologetically. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine.” I hesitated before asking the question that had been sitting heavily in my heart.

“What happened after I left?”

His footsteps slowed. I noticed the change immediately.

He didn’t answer at first, then he looked ahead.

“A lot happened.”

My heart tightened. “What do you mean?”

He remained silent.

I stopped walking. “Mario.”

He turned around.

“Tell me.” I urged him.

He studied my face for several seconds, then he sighed.

“You should hear it from the Alpha.” He looked at me.

The word made my chest tighten. “The Alpha?” I raised a brow.

He nodded. “Yes.”

I swallowed. “Who is the Alpha now?”

Mario looked at me strangely. You don’t know?”

I shook my head. He seemed surprised, but before he could answer, he looked beyond me.

“There.” I followed his gaze.

Through the trees, I could see lights, buildings, the familiar stone walls, and the tall towers rising above the forest.

It was Ironcrest my home.

I stopped breathing.

After everything I had lost…After everything I had done….I was finally home.

But as I stared at the pack that had once belonged to my father, one terrifying thought entered my mind.

What if home no longer wanted me?