The Luna's Revenge

Chapter Three

ARIA'S POV

The color drained out of my face the moment I heard that word, my heart thudding violently against my chest. It felt as though I was about to have a heart attack.

“You're mistaken.” I seethed, my fingers pressed tightly into my palms.

“I am not.” Shiraya growled excitedly, and I shut my eyes for a second, gritting my teeth in anger.

“He CAN'T be our mate! I will never accept it!” I stormed out of the hall, leaving Sky behind. I suddenly felt suffocated in the grand halls of Crescent Moon Academy, and needed to get some air.

“I am not mistaken. He is—”

“I don't want to hear it!” I cut Shiraya off and cut off our mind link, so I wouldn't have to hear her repeat that word to me.

Of all the male wolves I could have been mated to, why him?

Why did the Moon Goddess grant me a second chance just to punish me all over again?

I shut my eyes, running a hand through my hair, making a mess of it. There has got to be a mistake somewhere.

“You've grown quite well.” I heard that deep masculine voice that used to irritate me before, but now, now it sent shivers down my freaking spine!

I took a deep breath to calm my reckless nerves but all I could inhale was his scent!

He smelled like sandalwood, amber and musk, creating that rich, earthly, warm and sensual feeling.

It was enough to draw me in without him trying!

“What do you want?!” I seethed, my eyes still shut as I was afraid of what would happen if I stared into those eyes again.

“Nice to see you too, mate.” Darien responded in what seemed like a hurtful tone with a touch of sarcasm.

I widened my eyes, glaring at him.

“I am not your mate!” I snapped, word for word.

Darien moved closer to me, the way he stared at me made me feel as though he could see right into my soul. I was literally fighting for control, but the devil only made it worse by leaning toward me, and that was it. I lost it.

I couldn't bring myself to look away anymore, my legs had already turned to mush and I was certain I would crumble if he didn't back away anytime soon. I wanted to push him away, but my body begged for him to be closer.

“You look beautiful, Aria.” Darien's hand found its way to my face and I melted into his touch, shutting my eyes as jolts of electricity coursed through my veins.

However, one word lingered on my mind.

“Beautiful?”

Did he truly just compliment me? This wasn't the Darien Morgan I remembered.

The Darien I knew was a ruthless bully who couldn't survive a day without making my life miserable!

He made sure to remind me of how ugly I was or at least how ugly he thought I was. He called me out on every little mistake and made me a laughingstock in the Academy.

If not for the fact that my father had been the Alpha, things would have been a lot worse as I was certain the other kids would have bullied me as well.

Remembering this seemed to have successfully reignited my rage and I forced myself to snap out of whatever hold Darien had on me. I slapped his hands off immediately, aggressively shoving him off.

"You stay the hell away from me!" I snapped.

“Who do you think you are to waltz into my life and act like you hadn't traumatized me for five years?!” I growled, my chest rising and falling in an unsteady rhythm.

I could have sworn I saw a flicker of regret or was it hurt in his eyes, but I didn't care to know which one or why. I hated this man, with every fiber in my bones, and nothing can possibly change that, not even the mate bond!

I wasn't going to let him or anyone else walk over me anymore. Not in this lifetime, nor the next!

“Aria,”

I stormed away before he could finish whatever nonsense he had to say to me, my heart threatening to rip itself out of my chest.

I had one more score to settle, and that was to kick Lionel's ass off my father's throne!

After that, hell will fall on Tyler, and on everyone else who ever caused me pain in my past life.

I barged into the council hall, expecting to find Lionel, but the entire council members and elders were present instead.

Even better. It'll make what I'm about to do easier.

"Aria, aren't you supposed to be at your graduation party?" Lionel smiled, one that didn't reach his eyes.

“Stay calm, Aria. He can't hurt you this time," I reminded myself, clearing my throat and forcing a smile on my face.

“I decided to get my graduation gift now.”

“And what will that be, young Aria?” Elder Ray asked with a small smile, a genuine one.

He was the oldest council member and the only one that did not associate himself with Lionel's corrupt alliance.

“My father's throne,” I announced, causing a sudden confusion amongst the council members.

“What a sudden request. Don't you think you should have sent an earlier appeal before storming in here and disrupting our meeting?” Elder Simon asked, his nose scrunched up in a frown.

“I did not think I needed permission to take what's mine.” I held my ground, my gaze on Lionel the entire time.

Lionel let out a dry chuckle as he rose from the high table.

“You are not ready, Aria–”

“You don't get to decide that!” I cut him off.

“Don't you think you're rushing into this? And besides, you can't possibly expect us to make you Luna just like that, or do you?” Lionel raised a brow at me and a frown settled on my face.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

The Silverfang Pack is the second most powerful Pack in Wolf City. How do you think others will perceive us if we make a girl rule over us?”

“What exactly are you insinuating, Lionel?!” I asked impatiently, clenching my fists in anger.

What sick game could he possibly be playing now?

Lionel turned towards the council members.

“No one is going to believe that a young girl is competent enough to handle the burdens of the affairs of the Pack. If you want to convince us, at least do it with the support of your mate, don't you think?”

“This wasn't the agreement!” I snapped as I noticed the council members were considering Lionel's suggestion.

“Yes, I clearly remember the agreement was that I would stand in your stead until you are ready to rule. You got your wolf, but you don't even have a mate yet. So until you get married, I don't think it'll be in the Pack's best interest to hand over the throne to you,” Lionel stated, his tone firm and final.

“Lionel!”

“If there's nothing else, you should leave, Aria. Or perhaps do you want to introduce your competent Alpha to us?” he asked, mockery evident in his tone.

“We should just tear him apart!” Shiraya growled, but I restrained her.

That would be a reckless move.

"Where is he? Where is your competent mate who can stand in for you?" Lionel asked again in a taunting manner.

“He is right here.”

We all heard a deep and alluring voice echo in the hall just as the double doors burst open, a voic

e I recognize all too well.

I slowly turned around, my heart racing in excitement as his sweet scent hit my nostrils.

My eyes widened in shock as I watched him majestically waltz into the room, his aura a mix of confidence and dominance.

"Darien!”