Bond and Betrayal

Chapter 9. Unspoken

“Well, it looks like you’ve found yourself a suitable friend—a servant,” Mandy sneered, tossing her designer bag onto the counter before sauntering to the fridge for a bottle of juice.

I rolled my eyes and gave Amara a subtle signal to steer clear of the she-devil.

“Unlike you, Your Highness, I can befriend anyone,” I replied without sparing her a glance.

“I surround myself with quality people, Aria. That way, I don’t have to deal with unnecessary drama,” she retorted, popping a straw into her bottle before taking a deliberate sip.

I turned to face her, my patience wearing thin. “I’m just curious… why you’d do that,” I said, my voice calm but cold. “Let’s be honest, we don’t like each other, but I never expected you to kill your own child.”

She nearly choked on her juice. Nearly. And I didn’t feel even the slightest twinge of guilt for saying it.

If I weren’t pregnant myself, I would’ve been thrilled to have a niece or nephew. If Mandy didn’t want the child, I would’ve taken care of it with all my heart. No matter how much I despised her, that baby didn’t deserve such cruelty. Didn’t she realize the Moon Goddess could curse her for such an act?

“If you were in your right mind, you’d do the same,” she said, her eyes narrowing as they met mine.

“Excuse me?” I shot back, stunned by her audacity. The way she said it—so matter-of-factly—only confirmed how unhinged she was.

“You’re young, Aria. A child will change your life,” she added. “And I’m not talking about the good kind of change.”

“Thanks for the advice, sister,” I said, flashing her my sweetest, most insincere smile. “But I’m not interested in becoming a murderer. Save that for yourself.”

She took another sip of her juice, unbothered, and returned my smile with an infuriatingly calm one of her own. “I’m just trying to help you, you know. Living here means following our schedule—working, training, socializing. Without a mate and while pregnant, you won’t be able to keep up.”

I bit back the urge to lash out. It’s okay. Count to three. The anger will dissipate.

One.

Two.

Three.

Still not working. A slap would probably work better—

“Excuse me, Orion. Is this how your Luna usually talks?”

The deep, authoritative voice sliced through the tension like a blade. Both Mandy and I turned toward the hallway, where a towering figure stood with arms crossed.

Klaus.

My breath caught as his piercing gaze swept over the room, lingering on me for a second too long. His dark hair framed his chiseled features, and even with his annoyed expression, he was heartbreakingly beautiful. My stomach twisted, my hormones betraying me yet again.

Damn hormones.

“Oh, hi, Klaus,” Mandy purred, her tone dropping into something unbearably flirtatious. I glanced her way, watching her twirl her hair in that overdone way that made me want to gag. Shameless, as always.

Behind Klaus, Orion and Dad stood just a few steps away, both clearly unimpressed by Mandy’s antics.

“Yes, I’m sorry about that,” Orion said, his tired gaze fixed on Mandy like he’d had enough of her nonsense for one lifetime.

Dad shook his head and took the seat next to me, his presence a quiet but reassuring reminder that I wasn’t alone in dealing with this mess.

The room went silent for a beat as Klaus stepped forward, his eyes never leaving me. He studied me for a moment, his brow furrowed slightly, but didn’t say a word. His gaze was warm but questioning, like he wanted to say something but was hesitant.

I knew the feeling.

“Lunch is ready in the dining room,” Amara called from the hallway, her voice bright and cheerful as she stood by the kitchen door, ready to usher everyone toward the meal. But Klaus didn’t move. He remained standing, blocking the entrance, his eyes still fixed on me.

I sighed, feeling my patience wear thinner with each passing second. The tension between us, coupled with my hunger, was making it harder to concentrate. “I’m sure you have something important to say, Klaus,” I said, crossing my arms. “But if you’re going to make me wait any longer, I’ll just head to the dining room.”

His lips parted as if he was about to speak, but then he hesitated. His eyes flickered to my stomach for a split second before looking back up into my eyes. There was something unspoken there, a weight in his gaze that made my heart race, but he didn’t say anything.

I was tired of waiting.

“If you already know what you want to say, Klaus, we can talk later,” I said, my voice sharp. “This mommy needs to eat.”

Klaus blinked, taken aback by my bluntness. He stared at me for a long moment, and I could see the conflict in his eyes. As much as he seemed to want to say something—anything—it was like the words wouldn’t come out.

His gaze softened for a moment, but still, he said nothing.

I was done. I wasn’t going to stand around any longer. I pushed myself up from the counter, my stomach grumbling as the scent of food wafted through the air. I needed food, not more awkward silence.

“I’ll see you later,” I muttered under my breath, heading past him and toward the dining room. The feeling of his eyes on me lingered like an invisible weight, but I refused to let it stop me.

As I walked away, I heard the soft shuffle of footsteps behind me, but I didn’t look back. Not yet. My stomach was in too much of a rush to make me care.

Mom and Mrs. Simmons was still engrossed in their gossip, while dad and Mr. Simmons sat on either side of them, looking bored. Mandy is nowhere to be seen.

I chuckled before taking a seat beside dad, while Orion’s gaze shifted between Klaus and I with a clear curiosity.