Chapter Twenty - The Mark Changed Everything

Aria’s POV

I was halfway to the kitchen when I ran into Martha.

I turned the corner too quickly, and she nearly dropped the basket of folded clothes in her hands.

“Aria!” She shrieked.

“I’m sorry.” I reached for the basket, steadying it before anything fell.

Martha stared at me, then her eyes immediately moved to my neck.

I instinctively covered the mark with my hand.

She noticed, of course she did. Everyone did.

“How are you feeling?” she asked carefully.

“Fine.”

Her eyebrow rose. “ sure?”

I sighed. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?” She chuckled.

“Like you’re afraid I’ll fall apart.” I rolled my eyes.

Martha smiled faintly. “I wasn’t, but maybe a little.”

I rolled my eyes and continued walking.

“Where are you going?” She asked.

“The kitchen.” I replied

“Why?” She hurried after me.

“Because I’m hungry.” I looked at her like she had gone mad.

Martha followed me. “You’re hungry?”

“Yes.” I walked faster.

“You could have asked the omegas to bring you something.”

“I’ve spent enough time without having people wait on me.” I shrugged.

Martha stared at me. “You sound like you’re preparing for war.”

“Maybe I am.” I tried not to smile.

She laughed softly. The tension had loosened only for a moment, then I remembered the mark.

My fingers went to my neck again then the smile disappeared.

Martha noticed. “Aria.”

“I’m trying not to think about it.” I avoided her eyes. “I don’t want everyone staring at me.”

“They will for a while.” She said sadly.

“Wonderful.” I exclaimed.

She sighed. “The pack hasn’t had a Luna in a long time.”

I stopped walking. “I know. My mother was the last one.”

Martha looked at me. “You see why we need one?”

I frowned. “But my father…”

“He ruled without you.” She interrupted me.

I understood.

She continued. “People are excited.”

“About me?” My brows furrowed.

“About the future.” She smiled softly.

I scoffed. “What future?”

Martha gave me a look. “You know exactly what future.”

I sighed.

“Pups.” I glared at her. “Don’t.”

“I didn’t say anything.” She raise her hand submissively in the air.

“You didn’t have to.” I frowned and we resumed walking.

The kitchen was only a few steps away but before we reached it, two omegas came toward us.

The moment they saw me, they smiled.

“Lady Aria.” One bowed.“Congratulations.”

My shoulders stiffened. “Thank you.”

“You’re going to make such a beautiful Luna.” The second omega giggled. “And when the Alpha pups arrive….”

Martha cleared her throat and the omega stopped.

“Sorry.” She apologized.

I smiled tightly. “It’s fine.”

They walked away. I waited until they were gone.

“Did you hear that?” I whispered.

Martha nodded. “They’re already talking about pups.”

“I’ve noticed.” I nodded.

“You’ll get used to it.”Martha laughed.

“I don’t think I want to.” I pushed open the kitchen door.

Warm air immediately surrounded us. The smell of freshly baked bread, roasted meat, herbs, and soup filled the room.

For the first time since leaving my father’s packhouse months ago, I felt something close to peace.

This smell and this place reminded me of childhood.

I used to sneak into this kitchen when I was younger. I would steal pieces of bread and run away before the omegas caught me.

Kael always knew. He would find me during training and threaten to tell my father but he never did.

I smiled at the memory, then I frowned. Why was I thinking about Kael?

I picked up a piece of bread and noticed Martha watching me.

“What?” I frowned

“You were smiling.” She gave me a sly look.

“No, I wasn’t.” I denied

“You were.” She teased me.

“I was thinking about the bread.”

She laughed. “Of course.”

I took a bite. It tasted exactly the way I remembered.

For a few moments, I simply ate.

No Kael, no elders, no Damon, and no coronation. Just home.

Then Martha ruined it.

“The coronation is the day after tomorrow.” She announced.

I stopped chewing.

I swallowed. “I know.”

“They’ve already begun preparing.” She peered at me. “Are you nervous?”

“No.” I replied almost immediately.

“Aria.” She shook her head, knowing that I was lying.

I sighed. “Maybe.”

Martha nodded. “That’s normal.”

I looked down at the bread in my hand. “Do you think I can actually do this? Be Luna?”

“Yes.” She smiled. “You were born for it.”

I scoffed. “That’s what my father used to say.”

“He was right.” She nodded.

I didn’t respond. My father’s face appeared in my mind.

His smile, his voice, his hands resting on my shoulders when I was younger, and the way he used to tell me that one day I would lead Ironcrest.

I had hated hearing it. I had thought he was trying to control me and now I would give anything to hear him say it again.

“I miss him.” I whispered.

Martha reached for my hand. “I know.”

A tear threatened to fall but I quickly blinked it away.

“I don’t want to cry.”

“You don’t have to be strong all the time.” She rubbed my back gently.

“I have to.” I stiffened.

“Why?” She asked softly

“Because if I start, I don’t know if I’ll stop.”

Martha squeezed my hand. “Then don’t start.”

I smiled faintly. “Good advice.”

We left the kitchen shortly afterward.

As we walked back toward my room, I noticed several servants carrying clothes and boxes.

I stopped. “What are they doing?”

Martha followed my gaze. “Your belongings.”

I sighed. “I told Kael to move them back.”

“You shouldn’t have .”

I stared at the servants. “Why?”

Martha hesitated. “Maybe because you have to stay with Kael no matter what.”

I frowned. I had been so angry that I had forgotten about it. Then I remembered Kael standing outside the room in nothing but a towel.

A reluctant smile tugged at my lips.

Martha noticed. “What? You remembered something?”

“No.” I denied immediately.

“You did.” She burst into laughter.

I shook my head. “It’s nothing important.”

She smiled knowingly but I ignored her.

We continued toward the chambers. The servants were still moving things.

One of them approached me. “Lady Aria.”

I nodded. “Yes?”

“Alpha said we should wait for your instructions regarding your belongings.”

I looked toward the door. My belongings were still inside.

Some were neatly arranged, while others were still in boxes.

I sighed. “Leave them be.”

The servant blinked. “Lady Aria?”

“Leave them where they are.” I repeated.

Martha looked at me. “Are you sure?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“But you wanted separate chambers.” She looked confused.

“I still do.” I sighed heavily. “ but because moving everything back will only create another rumor.”

Martha understood.

I continued. “Everyone already knows I’ve been marked. Everyone thinks I’m going to marry him. If I start moving my belongings back and forth, they’ll gossip even more.”

Martha nodded slowly. “So you’re allowing them to remain in his chambers?”

“For now.” I nodded.

She smiled. “That’s sensible.”

“Don’t look so pleased.” I snarled.

“I’m not.” She laughed.

I entered the room. The first thing I noticed was how much of my life now occupied the space.

My dresses were arranged beside Kael’s clothing, my books were placed on one of the shelves, my jewelry box sat on the dresser, and my favorite blanket was folded neatly near the bed.

It felt strange. It was too intimate and too permanent. This was supposed to be his room, now it was ours.

Except it didn’t feel like ours. It felt like something everyone else had decided for us.

I walked toward the dresser. My fingers brushed over the jewelry box.

Then I saw something else. It was a small wooden box.

I frowned and picked it up.

“This wasn’t mine.” I whispered.

Martha stepped closer. “What is it?”

I turned it over. There was a small inscription on the bottom.

It bore my father’s initials, L.N.

My heart stopped. “Where did this come from?”

Martha looked confused. “I don’t know.”

I opened it. Inside was a folded piece of paper.

My hands trembled as I unfolded it. The handwriting was unmistakably my father’s.

I stared at the first line. My heart clenched as I sat on the edge of the bed.

Martha remained beside me. “What does it say?”

I swallowed. “I don’t know yet.”

I started reading;

IF YOU ARE READING THUS, THEN PERHAPS I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO TELL YOU WHAT I HAVE TRIED SO MANY TIMES TO EXPLAIN.

My eyes blurred but I wiped them and continued.

YOU HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT I WANTED TO CONTROL YOUR FUTURE.

A shaky breath escaped me.

“That’s true,” I whispered.

Martha said nothing, so I continued.

BUT A FATHER DOES NOT ALWAYS CHOOSE WHAT HIS CHILD WANTS. SOMETIMES HE CHOOSES WHAT HE BELIEVES HIS CHILD WILL NEED.

I stared at the words. My heart began pounding.

I almost laughed through my tears.

“That’s an understatement.” Martha smiled faintly.

I continued;

KAEL IS NOT PERFECT. HE IS STUBBORN, PROUD AND DIFFICULT.

I smiled. My father knew him well.

BUT HE IS LOYAL. WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG,KAEL NEVER ASKED FOR ANYTHING FROM ME. HE NEVER DEMANDED POSITION, HE NEVER DEMANDED WEALTH, AND HE NEVER DEMANDED YOUR HAND.

My breathing slowed . I looked up and noticed Martha was watching me.

“What does that mean?”

She shook her head. “Keep reading.”

So I continued;

I HAVE WATCHED HIM PROTECT YOU WHEN YOU WERE TOO YOUNG TO NOTICE. HE HAS SERVED BY MY SIDE ON BEHALF OF HIS LATE FATHER AS MY BETA’S SON.I HAVE WATCHED HIM STAND BETWEEN YOU AND DANGER. AND I HAVE WATCHED HIM TRAIN YOU WHEN YOU WANTED TO QUIT.

My chest tightened as I remembered Kael standing behind me, correcting my stance, telling me to try again, and never allowing me to surrender.

AND I HAVE WATCHED THE WAY HE LOOKS AT YOU WHEN HE THINKS NO ONE IS WATCHING.

I froze. My heart skipped.

“What?” Martha leaned closer.

I read the sentence again and again.

PERHAPS YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN BY ALL THESE. PERHAPS YOU WILL HATE ME FOR THE DECISION I MADE.

A tear rolled down my cheek.

BUT I WOULD RATHER HAVE YOU HATE MY DECISION THAN SPEND YOUR LIFE BESIDE A MAN THAT WOULD NOT KNOW HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HEART.

I stopped as my vision blurred completely.

Martha took the paper from my hands. “Aria.”

I shook my head. “No.”

She gave it back and I wiped my eyes.

I couldn’t stop reading, so I continued;

I BELIEVE KAEL WILL PROTECT YOU. EVEN IF YOU DONT LOVE HIM NOW, EVEN IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE ELSE, ONE DAY I HOPE YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT WHY I CHOSE HIM.

The final line was short;

TRUST MY JUDGMENT ONE LAST TIME.

I stared at it as silence filled the room.

Martha sat beside me. Neither of us spoke.

My father’s letter had not answered everything, It hadn’t explained why he had chosen Kael.

It hadn’t told me whether Kael truly loved me, It hadn’t erased what happened yesterday but it had done something I hadn’t expected.

It had planted doubt but not doubt about what Kael had done.

I knew that was wrong, but doubt about whether my father’s decision had been as selfish as I had believed.

I folded the letter carefully. “Where did this come from?”

Martha shook her head. “I don’t know.”

“Was it in Kael’s things?” I asked.

“Perhaps.” She shrugged.

I looked around the room. Kael must have kept it or my father had given it to him, I didn’t know.

I placed the letter back inside the box.

“Don’t tell anyone about this.” I whispered.

Martha nodded. “Of course.”

I stood. My heart still felt heavy but something inside me had shifted.

I wasn’t ready to forgive Kael, I wasn’t ready to love him, I wasn’t even ready to trust him.

But maybe I had been too quick to believe that my father had wanted me to marry him simply because Kael wanted the throne.

Maybe there had been something else, something my father had seen but I hadn’t.

I looked at the mark in the mirror.

My fingers touched it. Yesterday, it had represented everything I hated and today, it still did.

But now it also carried a question.

Why Kael? Why him? And why had my father been so certain?

A knock sounded. I immediately stepped away from the mirror.

“Come in.”

The door opened and Kael stood there.

My body stiffened. He didn’t enter, he

simply stood at the doorway and his eyes eyes moved to my neck and then looked away quickly .

For the first time, I noticed how uncomfortable he looked. He looked guilty.

“Aria.” He called softly.

“What?” I answered sharply.

“I wanted to speak to you.” He stepped into the room.

“About?” I raised a brow.

“The coronation.”

I crossed my arms. “What about it?”

“The elders set it for the day after tomorrow.” He announced.

“I know.”

He nodded. “I wanted to make sure you were comfortable with that.”

I almost laughed. “Comfortable?”

His expression tightened. “I know this is happening quickly.”

“You think?” I chuckled mockingly.

“I’ve spoken to the elders.” He heaved a sigh of relief.

“And?”

“I told them you should have a say in everything.” He continued. “They don’t completely agree.”

“I figured.” I waved my hand defeatedly in the air.

“But I do.” He placed his hand over his chest

I didn’t know what to say.

He looked at me. “I don’t want you to feel like you’re being forced.”

I swallowed. The irony almost hurt.

“That’s interesting.” I rolled my eyes.

His face fell.

“I know.” Then he said quietly, “I am sorry.”

I stared at him. He didn’t look away.

“I shouldn’t have done what I did.” He said with guilt written all over his face. “lost control, but that isn’t an excuse.”

“No.” I nodded. “I don’t forgive you.”

“I don’t expect you to.” He looked away.

I looked at him. He seemed different. Not the arrogant Alpha who had stood over me, not the man everyone was congratulating, just Kael.

The boy who had trained me, the man my father trusted, and the man I still didn’t understand.

“I found something.” I broke the silence.

His eyebrows furrowed. “What?”

I hesitated, then I decided not to tell him.

“Nothing.” I lied.

He studied me. I could tell he knew I was hiding something but he didn’t push.

Instead, he said, “The elders are going to begin preparations tomorrow.”

I nodded. “Fine.”

His eyes widened slightly. “Fine?”

“I’ll be Luna.”

His shoulders relaxed. “Thank you.”

I frowned. “Don’t thank me because I’m not doing it for you.”

He nodded. “I know.”

“I’m doing it for my father.” I folded my arms. “ And for Ironcrest.”

“I understand.” He smirked.

I paused. “And my belongings can stay where they are.”

He looked surprised. “You mean…”

“Yes.” I interrupted him.

“You don’t want them moved back?” He asked, wide eyed.

“No.” I looked away.

“Are you sure?” He asked again,

I nodded. “Everyone expects them there.”

His expression softened. “I don’t want you to do something simply because everyone expects it.”

I looked directly at him. “That’s so funny coming from you.”

He lowered his eyes. “I deserve that.”

I didn’t answer.

He stepped backward. “I’ll leave you alone.”

I turned. “Kael.”

He stopped.

I hesitated. “Did my father ever tell you why he chose you?”

He slowly turned back. His expression changed and for a moment, I thought he might say something.

Instead, he answered, “He told me he trusted me.”

“Only that?”

Kael looked at me for a long moment.“He told me to protect you.”

My heart tightened. “From what?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

Then he said, “From making decisions you might regret.”

My eyes widened. Before I could ask anything else, he left and the door closed.

I stood there, staring at it. My father’s words echoed in my mind that I should trust his judgment one last time.

I didn’t know whether I could but for the first time since returning to Ironcrest, I wanted to try.

Not for Kael, and not for the elders, but for my father and perhaps…For myself because maybe coming home hadn’t been a mistake after all.

Maybe I simply hadn’t yet discovered why my father had been so determined to bring me back and I intended to find out.