The Huntress Luna

Chapter 6 The Invitation

The room still smelled faintly of cedarwood and lavender, as the room itself carried the feeling of this new place I was supposed to call home. Home. The word felt heavy on my tongue, like a secret that I wasn't ready to speak yet.

I had barely unpacked my stuff when the door burst open without a knock. Lyria stood there, the soft light of the hallway torched, barely showing her face, but her frame gave her out. Her blond hair glowed like silk, and her lips curved halfway into a smile, but it didn't warm her eyes.

"Well, well," she said, her voice sharp. "Settling in already, Huntress?"

The way she made my skin prickle. First, she didn't knock. Secondly, she just flung my door open like she owned the room. Thirdly, she didn't even call me by my name, Arya. She just proceeded to call me Huntress. Like I wasn't a person. Like I was a role.

I stood on the edge of the bed and met her eyes. "I'm trying to. However, it feels more like I'm sitting in a cage than a room."

Her smile sharpened. "Cages are where rogues like you belong." She walked inside, closing the door behind her, her steps calculated. "Maybe you'll prove yourself useful to avoid being treated like one."

My fingers moved towards the dagger tucked under my cloak. I didn't draw it—I mean, what's the point? But deep down, I wanted to slit her throat right here, right now.

I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to respond. But before I could do that, a soft knock interrupted us. The door is just wide enough for another person to come in. It was Kaden.

He filled the doorway with not only his broad shoulders and brown hair, but his aura. His eyes moved between Lyria and me and back to Lyria.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, though his tone suggested that he already knew the answer.

Lyria moved towards him, her posture softening like bread inside water. "Of course," she meowed. "I was just welcoming our... guest."

The way she seemed humble and polite was so funny that I almost laughed. But Kaden's expression was stiff, but his gaze lingered on me—like he was asking me if I was okay in his mind.

I nodded gently. "I'm okay. I can take care of myself."

"I'm sure you can." His mouth shifted into a smirk. He turned to Lyria immediately. "Lyria, you should allow her to be. She just got here."

And for a second, I thought Lyria would snap at him. But she nodded her head and flashed a smile at him. "Yes, Beta. I was just trying to be friendly."

She rushed towards the door like she was being chased by a wild animal, the air slapping our faces. Her scent tickled my noise.

"Watch out, rogue," she whispered so low that only I could hear. "Not all wolves bite out of hunger. This isn't over."

The door shut behind her, leaving the air heavier than before.

Kaden exhaled slowly. "Don't worry about her. She just loves getting under people's skin."

"I realized." I turned facing the small window where the moonlight slipped in. "She's hiding something."

"Most people here are," Kaden replied, closing the distance between us. "Even you."

The words struck me like lightning. He wasn't accusing me, but there was a hint of suspicion.

I forced myself to remain steady. "And yet, I'm still standing in one piece."

"Yes, for now," he smirked softly. "But keep your eyes open. Don't underestimate Lyria. She's not just sassy, she's venomous."

I studied him for a minute. From what I heard about him— Kaden was quiet and wasn't the one to waste words. If he warned me, it would be serious.

Before I could reply, another knock on the door was heard. I rolled my eyes in anguish. Who was the intruder this time around? The knock continued, firmer and before I knew it—the door opened and Kyle stepped inside.

The air immediately changed. His presence filled the —loud and commanding. The short dark hair was pulled back.

"Alpha," Kaden said, bowing his head.

Kyle nodded. His eyes were sharp and assessing, but became softer the moment they found me.

"Arya," his deep voice called my name like it belonged to him. "How's it going?"

"Everything's fine," I said, smiling.

We held each other's gazes for a moment before turning to Kaden. A silent conversation seemed to pass between them—brother to brother, Alpha to Beta. Then Kyle's attention shifted back to me.

"I came with an invitation," he said. "There will be a royal dinner tonight. Important allies will be in attendance, pack leaders too, an opportunity to... make yourself known."

My stomach growled. A royal dinner meant eyes. Questions. Criticism. But there was no refusing an Alpha's command disguised as an invitation.

I shrugged my shoulders. "I'll be there, alpha."

His face changed in a way that seemed like satisfaction. Then his jaw relaxed. "Perfect. Um... Lyria will help you with what to wear."

As if Lyria already knew, the door opened again, and she walked in like she had been eavesdropping all along. Her smile showed all her teeth as to what Kyle had been saying, but her smile dropped the moment she noticed that Kyle's eyes were on me and not her.

"Yes, Alpha," she answered, dropping her head. "I'll make sure she looks... presentable."

The way she spat out the last word makes me feel sick.

Kyle didn't seem to hear her, or even care. His attention was still on me. "Follow me," he said, turning to Kaden. "See you tonight, Arya."

The way he said it, in front of her, felt deliberate.

When he left with Kaden, silence filled up the room. Lyria's eyes bored holes into me.

"Looks like you've caught his attention, huh?" she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Good for you."

But I saw through her. A flare of envy she

couldn't hide properly.

And at that moment, I realized. I needed to be cautious of Lyria.