two ~ The substitute Mate

It's finally morning,the waves of the leaves could be heard from Dax window as he slowly Open his eyes .Only to be welcome by the ray of sun which shine brightly through his window, Into his bed room.He yawn , sluggishly Standing up from his bed .He took a turn as he slowly walked into the bathroom.His mind filled with the thought of Aria and what her response would be.

Soon he was ready ,He headed out of his room . Slowly but steadily,he took the road that led to Aria room .He stopped at the entrance of the room as he took a deep sigh ,before making it way into her quarters.

"Come in ."He heard the sound of Aria voiced from the room although it was barely above a whisper .He sighs,before taking a slow step into her room. only to see her seated on the couch with her legs partly crossed together.

"Hey."he waves with a mixed Emotions as her eyes are now fixed on her .

"I accepted the offer."She had said , taking Him by surprise.He jumped up ,his heart filled with joy .

He couldn't believe his luck when Aria agreed to be his substitute mate.He was more than happy for her Acceptance, although he was fully aware that it wouldn't be easy for her, but he was grateful for her willingness to step up and help him in his time of need.

The wedding was arranged quickly, with little time for either of them to prepare. Dax was nervous as he stood at the altar, waiting for Aria to arrive. He couldn't help but feel guilty for putting her in this position, but he knew that it was for the good of the pack.

Finally, Aria appeared at the end of the aisle, dressed in a beautiful white gown. She looked stunning, and Dax couldn't help but feel a surge of pride as he realized that she was now his.

The ceremony was short and simple, but it felt like a lifetime to Dax. He couldn't wait to start his new life with Aria, but he was also filled with anxiety about what the future held. He knew that he had a lot of work to do to earn the trust of his pack, and he hoped that Aria would be by his side every step of the way.

As they left the ceremony and headed back to Dax's private quarters, He couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over him. He had done what he needed to do to protect his pack and keep his claim on the throne. But he also knew that he had gained something much more valuable in the process – a loyal and devoted substitute mate.

Over the next few days, Dax and Aria settled into their new life together. They spent their days getting to know each other, sharing stories and learning about each other's likes and dislikes. Despite the circumstances of their marriage, they found themselves growing closer with each passing day.

But despite their growing affection for each other, Dax couldn't help but feel a nagging sense of guilt. He knew that Aria deserved to be with someone who loved her for who she was, not just as a substitute mate. He vowed to himself that he would do everything in his power to make her happy and to show her, how much he appreciated her sacrifice.

As they sat together in front of the fire that evening, Dax took Aria's hand and looked into her eyes.

"I know that this is not the life you expected, Aria," he said, Staring deeply into her eyes ,as she stared at him with deep feelings .

"But I want you to know that I will do everything in my power to make it up to you. You are not just a substitute mate to me – you are my partner, my equal, and my mate in every way that matters."

Aria smiled at him, her eyes shining with warmth and affection.

"I know that, Dax," she said.

"And I am grateful for the opportunity to be your mate. We may have started out as an arranged marriage, but I believe that we can make it into something more – something real and true."she said , staring at Dax with an affectionate look.

Dax felt a surge of hope and happiness as he looked into Aria's eyes. He knew that there were challenges ahead, but with Aria by his side, he felt like he could face anything. Together, they would build a future that was strong, stable, and filled with love.

Aria's curiosity got the best of her and she couldn't help but ask Dax about Blaire's sudden decision to elope with Damien.

"Do you have any idea why Blaire would do something like this?" she asked him, her eyes filled with concern.

Dax let out a deep sigh and looked down at the ground.

"I don't know. I thought everything was going well between us, but apparently, she had other plans."He sighs as he winces in pain.

Aria nodded, understanding the pain that Dax must be going through.

"And what about Damien? Did you notice anything between them before they left?"she asked, trying to place her head in what could have happened and how it happened

Dax shook his head.

"I always saw them together, but I trusted them both so much that I never thought about the possibility of them having feelings for each other. I guess I was blind to it."He said with pain in his heart as he ,had a flashback of the last family meeting they had together.

Aria placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Dax. I can't imagine how hard this must be for you."

Dax looked up at her and took a deep breath.

"Thank you, Aria. I appreciate your efforts. And I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me for putting you in this position."he had said , with deep concern.

Aria smiled warmly at him.

"There's nothing to forgive, Dax. I understand the importance of duty and responsibility. And I will do everything in my power to support you and the pack."

Dax felt a sense of relief wash over him. He had been so worried about how Aria would react to his proposal, but her willingness to help him was a weight off his shoulders.

"Thank you, Aria. You don't know how much this means to me."

"I will be the best substitute mate I can be, Dax. I promise."Aria Nodded ,her eyes filled with the determination to help Dax get over this.

They both soon bade each other goodbye and there again,she went back into her room with the tought of what she had done and how she had agreed to be Dax's wife , knowing fully well that the journey won't be easy .

Aria watched the birds outside her window,with her mind consumed with thoughts of her sister. She couldn't understand why Blaire would run away with Damien, of all people. It didn't make any sense to her, and she couldn't shake off the feeling of anger and betrayal that she felt towards her sister.

She paced back and forth in her room, trying to come to terms with what had happened. She couldn't believe that she had been kept in the dark about Blaire's plans. As her older sister, she felt responsible for her, and she couldn't bear the thought of something happening to her.

As she continued to stew in her thoughts, she heard a knock at her door. She turned to see Dax standing in the doorway, his expression serious.

"Aria, may I come in?" he asked.

Aria nodded, and Dax entered her room, closing the door behind him.

"I wanted to talk to you about something," he said, his voice gentle.

"What is it?" She raised her eyebrows to look at him and how serious he was .

"I know that you must be feeling angry and confused about your sister's actions," he said,And then paused to observe her physical attraction.

"and I want you to know that I will do everything in my power to find her and bring her back to you."He continued,now facing her .

Aria, on her part, felt a pang of gratitude towards Dax. Despite their forced marriage, she could tell that he was a good man, and he genuinely cared about her and her family.

"Thank you, Dax," she said,

"But do you have any idea why Blaire would do something like this? Did you notice anything strange between her and Damien before they eloped?"She asked ,more than hurt as she thought.

Dax sighed, his expression troubled.

"I had always seen them together, but I trusted them both so much that I never thought about them having an affair. As for why Blaire would do this, I honestly don't know. But I promise you, Aria, I will do everything in my power to find her and bring her back to you."He said .

Aria nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She knew that she could trust Dax to do what was best for their pack and for her family.

"Thank you, Dax," she said again,

"I appreciate everything you're doing for us."She smiled at him.

Dax smiled at her, his eyes softening.

"Of course, Aria. We're in this together, now."They both kept on staring at each other.

They knew that their lives were forever entwined, whether they liked it or not. But for the sake of their pack and their families, they were both willing to do whatever it took to make their marriage work.