Hidden intentions

Kael's POV.

The castle halls were quiet as I paced outside Aria’s room, my fists clenching and unclenching at my sides. I could still hear her voice from earlier, trembling with anger and betrayal: "Is this true? Were you with her?"

How could I blame her for storming off? Mara had poisoned the well, twisting the truth to suit her own desperate agenda. But Aria deserved better than this—better than lies, better than Mara’s schemes, and better than me… if I couldn’t fix what had been broken.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. The door in front of me loomed like a gate to judgment, separating me from the woman who was meant to be my mate. I needed her to see that everything Mara had said was a lie—or at least, a distortion of the truth. And I needed to tell her why.

But standing here, in the stillness of the castle, I realized I didn’t just want to clear my name. I wanted her to trust me. To believe in me. To see the man I could be for her.

I raised my hand and knocked lightly.

A long silence stretched before I heard the sound of soft footsteps approaching the door. It opened just enough for Aria to peek out, her pale blue eyes red-rimmed and wary.

“What do you want, Kael?” she asked, her voice cold.

“I need to talk to you,” I said, keeping my tone steady. “Please.”

She hesitated, her fingers tightening on the edge of the door. For a moment, I thought she might slam it in my face, but then she stepped back, opening it wider.

“Fine,” she said, walking back into the room without looking at me. “Say what you need to say.”

I stepped inside, closing the door gently behind me. Her room was bathed in soft moonlight, the faint glow highlighting the tension in her posture as she stood by the window, arms crossed. She didn’t turn to face me.

“I’m sorry,” I began, my voice low. “For what happened earlier. For Mara. For everything.”

She let out a bitter laugh, finally turning to look at me. “Sorry? That’s all you have to say? Mara said you were with her, Kael. That you promised to marry her. And you didn’t deny it.”

“I didn’t deny it because it was partially true,” I admitted, watching her expression harden. “But it’s not what you think.”

“Then explain,” she said, her voice sharp. “Because right now, it looks like you’ve been playing me this whole time.”

I took a step closer, my chest tightening as I saw the hurt in her eyes. “Mara and I… we were together, yes. But it ended months ago. I ended it. And I never promised to marry her. She made that up to hurt you—and to hurt me.”

“Why would she do that?” Aria asked, her tone skeptical. “Why would she lie about something like that?”

“Because she can’t stand the thought of me moving on,” I said bluntly. “Mara thrives on control, on being the center of attention. When I told her it was over, she couldn’t handle it. And when she found out about the engagement…” I shook my head, frustration bubbling to the surface. “She saw it as an opportunity to ruin everything.”

Aria’s gaze softened slightly, but the wariness in her eyes remained. “If you broke things off with her, why didn’t you tell me about her before? Why let me find out like this?”

“Because I thought she was gone,” I said honestly. “I thought she’d moved on. I didn’t think she’d show up here and… and drag you into our mess.”

She studied me for a long moment, her silence weighing heavily in the air. Finally, she turned back to the window, her shoulders slumping.

“I don’t know if I can trust you, Kael,” she said quietly. “You say Mara’s lying, but how do I know you’re not lying, too? How do I know you’re not just telling me what I want to hear?”

Her words cut deeper than I expected. I crossed the room slowly, stopping a few feet behind her. “You don’t,” I admitted. “And I don’t blame you for doubting me. But I swear to you, Aria, I’m telling the truth. Whatever you want to know, ask me. I’ll give you the answers.”

She turned to face me again, her arms still tightly crossed. “Why did you agree to this engagement?”

I hesitated, the weight of the question settling over me. “Because it was what my pack needed. My father thought an alliance with your family would strengthen our position, and I didn’t have much of a choice.”

Her eyes narrowed. “So, I’m just a political pawn to you? A tool for your pack’s ambitions?”

“No,” I said firmly, taking a step closer. “When I agreed to this, I thought that’s all it would be—a political arrangement. But then I met you.”

She blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in my tone.

“You’re not what I expected, Aria,” I continued, my voice softening. “You’re strong. Stronger than you realize. And even though you’ve been dealt a cruel hand, you haven’t let it break you. I… I admire that.”

Her lips parted slightly, but she didn’t respond. I took another step closer, closing the distance between us.

“I know this isn’t what you wanted,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “And I know I’ve given you every reason to push me away. But I want you to know that I’m not here to hurt you. I’m here because I want to be. Because I believe we could build something real—something more than just an alliance.”

She looked up at me, her pale blue eyes searching mine for answers. For truth. For something to hold on to.

“And Mara?” she asked after a long pause. “What happens if she comes back? If she tries to interfere again?”

“She won’t,” I said, my tone resolute. “I made it clear to her tonight that it’s over. Completely. She won’t bother you again.”

Aria studied me for a moment longer, then let out a soft sigh. “I don’t know if I can believe you, Kael. Not yet.”

“That’s okay,” I said, surprising even myself with the patience in my voice. “I’ll prove it to you. However long it takes, I’ll show you that you can trust me.”

She didn’t respond, but the tension in her posture seemed to ease ever so slightly. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

“Goodnight, Aria,” I said softly, stepping back toward the door. I kept my tone calm, my expression carefully controlled, as if I actually cared about her feelings. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The truth, though, was far from what I let her believe. I wasn’t being me. I was faking everything—every word, every look, every ounce of concern. Why? Because I always get what I want. Always. And Aria? Sweet, innocent Aria? She was no exception.

I clenched my jaw as the memory of that night flashed in my mind—the night I offered her the chance to spend it with me. She had slapped me across the face, her soft hand leaving a stinging mark that burned more than my pride. She thought she could reject me, that her defiance could stop me. I had let her think that, for the time being.

But this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

As I left her room and walked down the quiet halls of the castle, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a much bigger game. Winning Aria’s trust would take time, and with Mara lurking in the shadows, it was clear the road ahead wouldn’t be smooth. Mara was a problem, but not one I couldn’t handle.

But one thing was certain: I wasn’t going to let anyone—or anything—get in the way of what mattered most to me. And what mattered most? Not her heart, not her love… but her body.

---

I stepped out of the castle, the cool night air brushing against my face. The black Ferrari parked in the driveway gleamed under the moonlight, its curves reflecting my mood—sharp and powerful. Sliding into the driver’s seat, I slammed the door shut and gripped the steering wheel tightly.

Pulling out my phone, I dialed Jace. The line rang twice before his voice came through, casual and cocky as always.

“Kael,” he said. “Didn’t expect to hear from you this late. What’s up?”

“I need a drink,” I said flatly, starting the engine. The deep growl of the Ferrari filled the silence.

Jace chuckled. “That bad, huh? What happened? The little princess giving you a hard time?”

“Something like that,” I muttered, pulling out of the driveway and onto the empty road. “Let’s just say things didn’t go as smoothly as I planned. Meet me at Scarlet’s. I need to blow off some steam.”

“Scarlet’s?” Jace repeated, clearly amused. “You’re serious? The engagement talk got you running to strippers already?”

“Just be there,” I snapped, my tone sharp. “Bring Damon and Rylan too. I’ll be there in fifteen.”

“Alright, alright,” Jace said, still laughing. “We’ll see you there.”

I hung up without another word, pressing my foot down on the gas. The Ferrari roared as it sped down the dark road, the adrenaline coursing through my veins doing little to calm the storm in my head.