Unwanted Engagement

Aria’s POV.

The words hung in the air, reverberating through my mind like a deafening echo. “Be my wife.” I blinked at Alpha Kael in disbelief, trying to process the audacity of his proposition. Surely, he was joking. There was no way someone like him—arrogant, overconfident, and maddeningly smug—could be serious.

I narrowed my eyes at him, my voice sharp and cutting as I replied, “But we’re not mates!”

Kael’s smirk didn’t falter. Instead, he leaned closer, his piercing gaze locking onto mine. “As far as I know,” he said coolly, “you haven’t found your mate. Maybe you… don’t have one.”

His words felt like a slap to the face. My breath hitched, and a sudden wave of humiliation washed over me. Mateless? The idea was both terrifying and insulting. It was every wolf’s worst fear. My entire life, I had been told that my mate was out there somewhere, waiting for me. The bond was supposed to be sacred, unbreakable—a gift from the Moon Goddess herself. And now, here was Kael, standing before me, suggesting that I might be one of the rare, unfortunate wolves who didn’t have one.

I felt a lump forming in my throat, but I refused to let him see how deeply his words had cut me. Instead, I shoved his hands away from me, breaking the contact between us. My father, who had been watching from a distance, noticed the exchange. His eyes followed me as I stormed out of the ballroom, my heels clicking against the polished marble floor. I pushed open the grand doors and stepped outside onto the terrace, the cool night air hitting my skin like a balm.

The pool shimmered under the light of the full moon, its surface rippling gently in the breeze. I stood at the edge, my hands gripping the stone railing as I tried to calm the storm of emotions raging inside me. Anger, embarrassment, and an unfamiliar sense of fear tangled together, leaving me breathless. I heard footsteps behind me, and I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

“Where are you going?” My father’s voice was firm, his tone leaving no room for argument. His presence was commanding, as always, but tonight, I didn’t feel comforted by it. Instead, I felt cornered.

I spun around to face him, my voice trembling with anger. “This Kael is humiliating me!” I spat. “He asked me to be his wife, and then he had the nerve to say that I might be mateless!”

My father’s expression didn’t soften. If anything, his gaze grew heavier, more serious. And then he said something that shocked me to my core.

“His words might be right, Aria. What if you don’t have a mate?” he said, his tone calm but unyielding. “And as for his offer… it’s too good to refuse. His father already approached me about it.”

My heart skipped a beat. I stared at him, my mouth dry. “And you said what?” I whispered, though I was terrified of the answer.

“I agreed,” my father said simply, as if it were the most logical thing in the world. “If you get engaged to Alpha Kael, even if you don’t shift or find your mate, you’ll be safe. Kael is next in line to be the Alpha King after his elder brother steps down. This alliance would secure your future, Aria.”

His words hit me like a tidal wave. My chest tightened, and I felt as though the ground beneath me had been pulled away. He agreed? Without even consulting me? Without giving me a choice?

I took a step back, my voice rising in disbelief. “So, you’re selling me now? Is that it?”

The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I had gone too far. My father’s expression darkened, and without warning, his hand came down hard across my cheek. The sharp sting spread through my skin, and I gasped, more out of shock than pain.

“Shut your mouth!” he growled, his voice trembling with anger. “I’ve pampered you too much, Aria. Why would I sell you? Do you think I’m doing this for myself? I’m already the Alpha of our pack. We’re wealthy. We’re powerful. I don’t need anything more. But you—” His voice softened, though his eyes remained stern. “I’m doing this for you.”

I pressed a hand to my stinging cheek, tears welling up in my eyes, though I refused to let them fall. My father took a step closer, his anger giving way to something deeper—worry, fear, perhaps even love. He cupped my face gently, his calloused hands rough against my skin.

“What if I die, Aria?” he said softly, his voice tinged with desperation. “What will happen to you then? Without me, the pack and the ministers of the council could strip you of everything—our lands, our castle, our title. You’d be left with nothing. But if you’re engaged to Kael, none of that will matter. You’ll be protected, no matter what happens.”

I swallowed hard, my anger faltering as his words sank in. I had never seen my father like this before. He was always so strong, so sure of himself. But now, he looked vulnerable, as though the weight of the world rested on his shoulders.

“Please,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Think about it. It’s a good offer. And besides…” He gave me a faint smile. “Kael is handsome, isn’t he? And it’s clear he likes you.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could say a word, the sound of footsteps approaching interrupted us. My heart sank as I turned to see Kael and his father, Alpha Ashford, stepping onto the terrace. They were followed by a group of alphas, their expressions ranging from curiosity to excitement.

Kael’s smirk was firmly in place, his confidence radiating like an aura. He stepped forward, his presence commanding the attention of everyone around him. My stomach churned as I realized something big was about to happen.

Kael raised a hand, silencing the murmurs of the gathered alphas. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, his voice smooth and self-assured. “I have an important announcement to make.”

I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. No. No, no, no.

Kael’s gaze found mine, his smirk softening into something almost… tender. “I, Alpha Kael Ashford, am pleased to announce that I will soon be engaged to Aria Nightshade.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and final. I felt as though the ground had been ripped out from beneath me. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd, but all I could focus on was the pounding of my heart. My father stood silently beside me, his expression unreadable.

Kael extended his hand toward me, his smirk returning. “Aria, care to say a few words?”

I stared at him, my mind racing. Say a few words? What could I possibly say? That I had no idea this was happening? That I felt like a pawn in a game I didn’t understand? That I wasn’t sure if I hated him or if I was just terrified of him?

But I couldn’t say any of that. Not here. Not now.

Instead, I swallowed my pride, forced a tight smile onto my face, and placed my hand in his. The crowd erupted into polite applause, and Kael’s smirk widened, as though he had just won a game he had been playing all along.

As the alphas began to mingle and talk among themselves, Kael leaned in close, his lips brushing against my ear. “You’ll thank me for this one day,” he murmured, his voice low and confident.

I pulled away slightly, my eyes narrowing. “Don’t count on it,” I whispered back.

Kael only chuckled, his smirk never wavering. And as the night wore on, I couldn’t help but wonder if I had just made the biggest mistake of my life—or if Kael Ashford was about to change it forever.