THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN VOWS

THE DISTANCE HE KEPT

THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN VOWS

CHAPTER EIGHT

THE DISTANCE HE KEPT

Aria had begun to notice a pattern.

Whenever she entered a room, the Alpha found a reason to leave it.

At first, she had thought it was coincidence.

The first time, she had walked into the dining hall just as Alpha Adrian finished breakfast. He had stood, exchanged a few quiet words with Marcus, and left without even looking in her direction.

The second time, she had gone to the library looking for a book.

The Alpha had been there.

The moment he noticed her, he had closed the book in his hands and told the librarian that he was finished.

The third time was the worst.

She had been walking through the eastern corridor when they nearly collided at the corner.

For half a second, they simply stared at each other.

Aria had been about to greet him.

Instead, Alpha Adrian stepped aside.

"Excuse me."

That was all.

He walked past her without another word.

Aria had stood there for several seconds, watching him disappear around the corner.

She hadn't called after him.

She hadn't asked what she had done.

She hadn't followed.

She simply continued walking.

If the Alpha wanted distance, she would give it to him.

She wasn't going to beg someone to speak to her.

Especially not someone who had already made it clear that he didn't want a mate.

Still, it hurt.

And that was the part she refused to admit.

Not to Lila.

Not to herself.

And certainly not to him.

"You're doing it again."

Aria looked up from the book in front of her.

Lila was sitting across the table in the library, watching her.

"Doing what?"

"Reading the same page for the past five minutes."

Aria glanced down.

She was, in fact, still on the same page.

"I was thinking."

"About him?"

"No."

Lila raised an eyebrow.

Aria closed the book.

"I said no."

"You didn't have to say it twice."

"Then stop asking."

Lila leaned back in her chair.

"I wasn't going to say anything."

"You were."

"I was going to say that the Alpha has been avoiding you."

Aria's fingers tightened around the edge of the book.

"He has responsibilities."

"That's your explanation?"

"It's the truth."

"Maybe."

Lila studied her face.

"Are you upset?"

"No."

The answer came too quickly.

Lila didn't push.

Instead, she lowered her voice.

"Then why have you been quiet all morning?"

Aria looked toward the tall windows.

Outside, several pack members were crossing the courtyard.

"I don't like making things uncomfortable."

Lila waited.

Aria sighed.

"I haven't done anything to him. If he wants to keep his distance, that's his choice."

"And yours?"

"My choice is to respect it."

Lila nodded slowly.

"Fair enough."

Aria opened her book again.

She tried to read.

She couldn't.

A few moments later, footsteps sounded in the hallway.

Aria recognized them before she even looked up.

The door opened.

Alpha Adrian entered with Marcus.

Aria's heart gave an irritating little jump.

She immediately lowered her eyes to her book.

She wasn't going to look at him.

She wasn't going to wonder whether he would leave again.

She wasn't going to care.

Marcus spoke quietly with the librarian while Adrian stood near the shelves.

Aria kept her eyes on the page.

Then she heard his voice.

"Where is the report from the western patrol?"

"The Beta has it."

"I'll collect it later."

His voice was calm.

Controlled.

As if Aria wasn't sitting only a few tables away.

She hated that she noticed every detail about him now.

The sound of his voice.

The measured way he spoke.

The slight pause before he gave an order.

She closed the book.

"I'll go."

Lila looked at her.

"Where?"

"Home."

"You've barely been here."

"I have other things to do."

Lila looked toward Adrian.

Then back at Aria.

She understood.

"All right."

Aria stood.

She gathered her things and walked toward the door.

She didn't look at Adrian.

Not once.

But as she passed him, she heard him say her name.

"Aria."

She stopped.

Slowly, she turned.

He was looking at her.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Adrian's expression became unreadable again.

"Nothing."

Aria stared at him for a second.

Then nodded.

"All right."

She walked out.

She didn't hear Marcus sigh behind her.

But she did hear Adrian say quietly,

"Forget it."

---

The afternoon passed slowly.

Aria spent most of it helping in the pack kitchen.

It was easier there.

There were always things to do.

People to talk to.

No one expected her to explain the strange distance between herself and the Alpha.

And she was grateful for that.

Near sunset, a group of warriors entered the kitchen carrying empty trays.

One of them placed his tray on the counter.

"Training was brutal today."

Another laughed.

"You say that every day."

"Because every day the Alpha makes it worse."

Aria smiled faintly.

She had almost forgotten about Adrian.

Almost.

Then one of the warriors spoke again.

"At least he's joining the Moonlight Gathering this year."

Aria's hands stopped moving.

"The Moonlight Gathering?"

The warrior looked at her.

"Yes."

She tried to sound casual.

"Is that happening soon?"

"Three nights from now."

Another warrior nodded.

"The council has already started preparing."

Aria glanced at Lila.

Lila looked equally surprised.

"You didn't know?" she asked quietly.

Aria shook her head.

"No."

The warrior continued talking.

"I heard the Alpha is expected to make an announcement."

"What kind of announcement?" someone asked.

The warrior shrugged.

"Something about the future of the pack."

Aria's stomach tightened.

She forced herself to continue arranging the dishes.

It shouldn't matter.

It was a pack gathering.

Nothing more.

She had no reason to expect Alpha Adrian to tell her about it.

Still, a small part of her had thought...

No.

She stopped that thought immediately.

She had no right to expect anything from him.

Especially not after he had spent days avoiding her.

Lila came closer.

"Aria."

"I'm fine."

"I didn't ask."

"I know."

Lila didn't say anything else.

That was why Aria loved her.

She knew when silence was better than questions.

---

That evening, Aria walked back to the estate alone.

The courtyard was busy.

Decorations were being carried from storage.

Pack members were hanging silver ribbons between the trees.

Several elders were discussing arrangements.

The Moonlight Gathering was clearly important.

Aria slowed as she passed.

She had attended the gathering every year since she was old enough to remember.

But this year felt different.

She had expected the Alpha to say something.

Even if only in passing.

Instead, she had heard about it from a warrior in the kitchen.

She hated that it bothered her.

It shouldn't.

She wasn't his mate in the way the pack expected.

Not yet.

And perhaps she never would be.

She walked past the decorations without stopping.

"Aria."

She turned.

Marcus stood nearby.

"Hi."

He smiled.

"You've been avoiding everyone."

Aria almost laughed.

"That's ironic."

"Why?"

"Nothing."

Marcus looked at her for a moment.

Then he glanced toward the courtyard.

"You heard about the gathering."

"Yes."

"I assumed the Alpha had spoken to you."

Aria looked at him.

"He didn't."

Marcus's expression changed slightly.

"He probably intended to."

"Maybe."

She gave him a small smile.

"It's not important."

Marcus knew she was pretending.

But he respected her enough not to expose it.

"The Alpha has a lot on his mind."

"I'm sure he does."

Aria adjusted the books in her arms.

"I should go."

Marcus nodded.

"Goodnight, Aria."

"Goodnight."

She walked away.

Marcus watched her go.

Then he looked toward the upper balcony.

Adrian stood there.

He had seen everything.

Marcus climbed the steps and joined him.

"You should have told her."

Adrian didn't look at him.

"There's nothing to tell."

"She's going to hear about the announcement eventually."

"I know."

"Then why didn't you speak to her?"

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"Because I don't want to encourage something I can't give her."

Marcus frowned.

"You've barely spoken to her all week."

"That's the point."

"You think avoiding her will solve this?"

Adrian finally looked at him.

"It will make things easier."

"For whom?"

Adrian didn't answer.

Marcus sighed.

"You've been doing this since you discovered the bond."

"I'm aware."

"You look for her whenever she's not around."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"I don't."

"You do."

"Marcus."

"I'm only saying—"

"Don't."

Marcus stopped.

Adrian looked back toward the courtyard.

Aria was no longer there.

"She deserves someone who can give her certainty."

"And you can't?"

"No."

The answer was immediate.

Marcus studied him.

"Because of your vow?"

Adrian nodded.

"Among other things."

"You made that vow before you even knew she existed."

"It doesn't matter."

"It clearly does."

Adrian said nothing.

Marcus watched him carefully.

"You're afraid."

Adrian's eyes hardened.

"I'm not afraid."

"Then what are you?"

A long silence followed.

Finally, Adrian answered.

"Responsible."

Marcus shook his head.

"Sometimes I think that's just another word you use when you don't want to admit you're struggling."

Adrian turned away.

"Go."

Marcus sighed.

"Fine."

He started down the stairs.

Then stopped.

"One thing, Alpha."

Adrian looked at him.

"She didn't ask you about the gathering."

"I know."

"She heard it from someone else."

Adrian's expression changed.

"She shouldn't have had to."

Marcus left.

Adrian remained on the balcony.

The courtyard below was almost empty now.

He could still remember Aria's expression earlier.

She hadn't confronted him.

Hadn't demanded an explanation.

Hadn't even looked angry.

She had simply accepted what she'd heard and walked away.

For some reason, that bothered him more than if she had argued.

He had expected questions.

He had expected her to ask why he hadn't told her.

Instead, she had given him exactly what he had been trying to create.

Distance.

So why didn't it feel like victory?

---

Aria stood in her room that night, looking out through the window.

The Moonlight Gathering was three days away.

She had already decided she wasn't going to think about it.

She would attend if she was expected to.

She would smile when she needed to.

And she would leave when it was over.

She wouldn't wonder whether the Alpha would look at her.

She wouldn't wonder whether he would speak to her.

She wouldn't wonder whether the announcement had anything to do with the mate bond.

She wouldn't wonder about him at all.

At least, that was what she told herself.

A knock sounded at the door.

Lila entered.

"You've been quiet."

"I'm tired."

"You're thinking about the gathering."

Aria smiled faintly.

"No."

Lila sat beside her.

"You don't have to pretend with me."

Aria looked down.

"I'm not pretending."

She was quiet for a moment.

Then she admitted softly,

"It just felt strange hearing about it from someone else."

Lila didn't interrupt.

Aria continued.

"I know he doesn't owe me an explanation."

Her fingers tightened together.

"And I know I shouldn't expect anything from him."

"That doesn't mean it didn't hurt."

Aria looked away.

"I know."

For a moment, her composure slipped.

Only slightly.

Then she straightened.

"If the Alpha wants distance, I'll give him distance."

Lila nodded.

"And if he wants something else?"

Aria looked toward the window.

"Then he'll have to be the one to say it."

She didn't know that, in another part of the estate, Adrian was standing alone in his office.

The same thought had been troubling him for hours.

He had wanted distance.

Now he had it.

So why was he already wondering whether Aria would look at him differently at the Moonlight Gathering?

He closed his eyes.

This was exactly why he had made the vow.

He had spent years believing that avoiding attachment was the safest choice an Alpha could make.

Yet one quiet girl who refused to chase him had somehow managed to make his carefully controlled world feel less certain.

Adrian opened his eyes.

"No."

The word escaped him quietly.

He would not allow himself to become distracted.

He would not encourage her.

And above all, he would not break the vow.

Whatever happened at the Moonlight Gathering, he would remain the Alpha.

And Aria would remain simply the woman fate had chosen for him.

Nothing more.

At least, that was what he intended to believe.