_Aaron's POV_
Everything was going according to plan.
I watched as Lyla left the room with my mother, her laughter still lingering in the air. She looked so happy, so trusting. My mate. My future Luna. My queen.
She had no idea.
A slow smile spread across my lips as I leaned back against the chair. The potion was working perfectly. When she had woken up, confused and weak, I had given her the water—just as the witch had instructed. And the moment she drank it, I had seen the change.
The haze in her eyes had cleared, and her energy had returned. She felt strong. Happy. Completely under my control.
I chuckled to myself. It was almost too easy.
The fake mate bond between us felt as if it was real. I knew that. I could feel the pull just as much as she did. But that wasn’t enough. I cou
