THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN VOWS

THE ALPHA'S WEAKNESS

CHAPTER SIX

THE ALPHA'S WEAKNESS

Aria didn't sleep that night.

Every time she closed her eyes, she remembered Adrian standing in front of her.

His hand against her cheek.

His forehead resting against hers.

The way his voice had changed when he admitted he was afraid of losing her.

And most of all, the way he had almost kissed her.

Almost.

Aria rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling.

"Why did you have to stop?"

She immediately covered her face.

"Why am I even thinking about this?"

A knock sounded at her door.

Aria sat up.

"Who is it?"

"It's me."

Lila.

Aria opened the door.

Lila stood there with two cups of hot chocolate.

"I knew you wouldn't sleep."

Aria stepped aside.

"Come in."

Lila entered and handed her a cup.

"So?"

"So what?"

"What happened with the Alpha?"

"Nothing."

Lila stared at her.

"Aria."

"We talked."

"That's all?"

Aria hesitated.

"Mostly."

"Mostly?"

"He almost kissed me."

Lila's eyes widened.

"HE WHAT?"

"Shhh!"

"Sorry."

Lila lowered her voice.

"He almost kissed you?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"He stopped."

"Why?"

"His vow."

Lila sighed.

"Of course."

Aria sat on the edge of her bed.

"I don't understand him."

"You don't have to."

"I want to."

"That's the problem."

Aria looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

Lila sat beside her.

"You keep trying to understand why he won't let himself love you."

Aria remained silent.

"But maybe," Lila continued, "you should stop trying to solve him."

"Then what should I do?"

"Let him figure himself out."

Aria smiled faintly.

"That's easier said than done."

"I know."

They sat quietly.

Then Lila asked,

"Do you want him?"

Aria looked down at her cup.

The question shouldn't have been difficult.

But somehow, it was.

"Yes."

The answer was barely audible.

Lila smiled.

"Then don't be ashamed of it."

"I'm not."

"You are."

Aria sighed.

"I'm just scared."

"Of what?"

"That he'll change his mind tomorrow."

Lila's expression softened.

"Then don't give him your whole heart today."

Aria looked at her.

"Give him pieces."

"What?"

"Let him earn the rest."

Aria smiled.

"You're surprisingly wise sometimes."

"Sometimes?"

"Don't push it."

They both laughed.

For the first time that night, Aria felt a little lighter.

But neither of them noticed the shadow moving outside the window.

---

The next morning, Adrian stood in the training grounds.

He watched the warriors spar.

His mind wasn't on the training.

It was on Aria.

Again.

Marcus approached.

"You didn't sleep."

Adrian didn't look at him.

"Neither did you."

"I slept."

"You're lying."

Marcus smiled.

"I learned from the best."

Adrian finally looked at him.

"Why are you here?"

"To see if you're still pretending."

"About what?"

"Aria."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"Don't."

Marcus crossed his arms.

"You almost kissed her."

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

"How do you know?"

"Because you look guilty."

"I don't."

"You do."

Adrian sighed.

Marcus became serious.

"Adrian."

"What?"

"You're falling for her."

"I know."

The admission surprised even Adrian.

Marcus stared at him.

"You know?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"I don't know what to do."

Marcus smiled.

"That's a first."

Adrian ignored him.

"I made a vow."

"You did."

"I can't break it."

"Why?"

"Because it means something."

"Does it mean more than she does?"

Adrian didn't answer.

Marcus stepped closer.

"You know what your problem is?"

"I have several."

"You think choosing her means betraying your responsibilities."

Adrian looked away.

"Doesn't it?"

"No."

Marcus shook his head.

"Your responsibility is to protect your pack. Not to destroy your own happiness because you're afraid of becoming like your father."

Adrian's eyes darkened.

"Don't bring him into this."

"I'm bringing him into it because you do."

Adrian said nothing.

Marcus continued.

"You've spent your entire life trying not to become him."

"That's because I know what he was."

"And yet you're making decisions based on his beliefs."

Adrian looked at him.

Marcus sighed.

"Maybe it's time you decided what you believe."

Before Adrian could answer, a warrior approached.

"Alpha."

Adrian turned.

"What?"

"The council has arrived."

His expression hardened.

"Already?"

"They requested an immediate meeting."

Adrian nodded.

"Tell them I'll be there."

The warrior left.

Marcus looked at him.

"They know."

Adrian frowned.

"Know what?"

"About Aria."

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"How?"

"People talk."

Adrian looked toward the pack house.

"I'll handle it."

---

The council meeting began an hour later.

Several older members of the pack sat around the long table.

Adrian stood at the head.

The council leader, Elder Rowan, looked at him.

"We heard about the incident at the eastern border."

"Yes."

"And we heard someone breached our territory."

"Yes."

"What are you doing about it?"

"I'm increasing patrols."

"And the girl?"

Adrian's expression changed.

"What girl?"

"Aria Vale."

Silence filled the room.

Adrian's voice became cold.

"Why are you asking about her?"

"Because she may be connected to the incident."

"She isn't."

"You don't know that."

"I do."

Elder Rowan leaned forward.

"You seem unusually certain."

Adrian stared at him.

"Because I know her."

"And how exactly do you know her?"

Adrian said nothing.

The elder's eyes narrowed.

"Unless..."

Adrian's hands tightened.

"Choose your next words carefully."

"She's your mate."

The room went silent.

Adrian didn't deny it.

Elder Rowan sighed.

"So it is true."

Another council member spoke.

"This is exactly what we feared."

Adrian looked at him.

"What did you fear?"

"That the Alpha would allow his personal feelings to compromise the pack."

Adrian's eyes hardened.

"My feelings have nothing to do with my leadership."

"Then reject her."

Adrian froze.

The words struck harder than he expected.

"Excuse me?"

"You made a vow."

"I remember."

"Then keep it."

Adrian looked around the table.

Every face was watching him.

Waiting.

Judging.

He could hear his father's voice in his memory.

An Alpha must never allow love to weaken him.

Adrian closed his eyes briefly.

Then opened them.

"I will make my own decisions."

Elder Rowan frowned.

"Your position requires sacrifice."

"I know."

"Then sacrifice her."

Adrian's expression changed.

"No."

The answer came before he could stop it.

The room went silent.

"No?"

Adrian looked directly at the elder.

"Aria is not something to sacrifice."

"Then what is she?"

Adrian's voice softened.

"Someone."

He stood.

"Meeting dismissed."

He walked out before anyone could respond.

But as he entered the hallway, he stopped.

Aria stood at the other end.

She had heard everything.

Their eyes met.

Adrian's heart sank.

"How long have you been there?"

"Long enough."

He walked toward her.

"Aria..."

"You said no."

"Yes."

"You could have rejected me again."

"I won't."

She stared at him.

"Why?"

Adrian stopped in front of her.

"Because I finally realized something."

"What?"

He looked into her eyes.

"My vow was supposed to protect me."

He reached for her hand.

"But all it has done is keep me away from the one person I can't stop thinking about."

Aria's heart raced.

"Adrian..."

"I don't know what happens next."

She squeezed his hand.

"Neither do I."

He smiled faintly.

"But maybe we can figure it out."

Aria smiled back.

"Maybe."

For the first time, Adrian didn't pull away.

He simply stood there holding her hand.

And for a few precious seconds, neither of them cared about the council.

Or the vow.

Or the expectations.

They only cared about each other.

Then a voice echoed from the end of the hallway.

"Alpha."

Adrian turned.

A warrior stood there.

"What is it?"

"We found something."

Adrian's expression became serious.

"What?"

The warrior swallowed.

"A message."

"From whom?"

The warrior looked at Aria.

"Someone left it specifically for her."

Aria's smile disappeared.

Adrian stepped in front of her.

"Give it to me."

The warrior handed him a folded piece of paper.

Adrian opened it.

His eyes moved across the words.

Then his face went pale.

Aria noticed.

"What does it say?"

Adrian didn't answer.

"Adrian."

He slowly looked at her.

"It's your mother's handwriting."

Aria's heart stopped.

"My mother's?"

He nodded.

The room suddenly felt colder.

Aria reached for the paper.

Adrian hesitated before handing it to her.

She unfolded it.

There was only one sentence.

"Aria, if Adrian has finally chosen you, then the vow must be broken."

Aria looked up.

"What does this mean?"

Adrian stared at the message.

"I don't know."

But deep inside, he knew one thing.

Her mother had expected this day.

And whatever she had been protecting Aria from...

had finally begun.