THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN VOWS

A DANGEROUS KIND OF CLOSENESS

CHAPTER FIVE

A DANGEROUS KIND OF CLOSENESS

The alarm continued to echo through the Silvermoon estate.

Aria stood frozen in Adrian's office, listening to the hurried footsteps outside.

Warriors moved through the corridors.

Doors opened and closed.

Voices overlapped.

Something was happening.

And Adrian had left without telling her exactly what it was.

She walked toward the door.

Then stopped.

His final words returned to her.

"Don't leave this room."

Aria sighed.

"Of course."

She hated that she was actually considering obeying him.

She turned back toward the office.

Then the door opened.

Lila rushed inside.

"Aria!"

Aria's shoulders relaxed.

"Lila."

"What happened?"

"I don't know."

"Where's the Alpha?"

"He went to the eastern border."

Lila's eyes widened.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"What happened?"

Aria shook her head.

"Someone was found near the border. Adrian thinks whoever it is might be looking for me."

Lila stared at her.

"For you?"

"Apparently."

"Why would anyone be looking for you?"

"I don't know."

Lila walked closer.

"Did Adrian tell you anything else?"

Aria hesitated.

"He told me about my mother."

Lila's expression changed.

"Your mother?"

"He knew her."

"What?"

"I didn't know until today."

Aria sat down slowly.

"He said she was part of the Silvermoon Pack."

Lila sat beside her.

"What else?"

"He said she asked him to protect me."

Lila was silent.

Aria looked down at her hands.

"And he knew I was his mate."

Lila's mouth opened slightly.

"You found out?"

"He told me."

"When?"

"Today."

"And what did you say?"

"I don't know."

Lila gave her a look.

"Aria."

"I was shocked."

"You like him."

Aria immediately looked up.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"I don't like him."

Lila folded her arms.

"Then why are you blushing?"

"I'm not."

"You are."

Aria covered her face.

"Lila!"

Her friend laughed.

"I'm just saying."

Aria lowered her hands.

"It's complicated."

"Of course it is."

"He rejected me."

"But?"

Aria sighed.

"But he doesn't seem like he actually wants to reject me."

Lila's teasing expression softened.

"Then maybe you should give him time."

"How much time?"

"I don't know."

Aria looked toward the window.

"I don't want to spend my life waiting for someone to decide whether I'm worth choosing."

Lila reached for her hand.

"You shouldn't."

Aria smiled faintly.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

They sat quietly for a moment.

Then Lila suddenly looked toward the door.

"Did you hear that?"

Aria turned.

The hallway was silent.

"What?"

"I thought I heard footsteps."

Aria stood.

She walked toward the door.

Before she could open it, the door swung inward.

Marcus stood there.

"Aria."

She immediately noticed the tension in his face.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"That's not true you know?."

Marcus sighed.

"Adrian is dealing with the situation."

"Is he okay?"

"Yes."

Aria relaxed then straightened up immediately

Marcus noticed.

His expression softened.

"You care about him."

Aria looked away.

"He's our Alpha."

"That's not what I meant."

She didn't answer.

Marcus smiled slightly.

"I'll leave you two alone."

Lila raised an eyebrow.

"Excuse me?"

Marcus stepped aside.

"Actually, I'm leaving both of you alone."

He walked away.

Lila looked at Aria.

"Interesting."

"Don't."

"I didn't say anything."

"You were about to."

"I was."

Aria laughed despite herself.

For a moment, everything felt normal.

Then a loud crash came from outside.

Everyone froze.

A warrior shouted.

"INTRUDER!"

Aria's smile disappeared.

Lila grabbed her hand.

"What do we do?"

Before Aria could answer, Marcus came running back.

"Lock the door!"

He pushed them inside.

"What happened?" Aria asked.

"Someone breached the eastern wall."

"We don't know."

"Where's Adrian?"

Marcus looked toward the corridor.

"He'll be here."

Aria swallowed.

She wanted to believe him.

She really did.

But something inside her had already begun pulling toward Adrian.

The bond.

It was stronger than before.

She could feel his emotions.

Fear.

Anger.

Determination.

And something else.

Pain.

Aria pressed a hand against her chest.

"He's hurt."

Marcus looked at her.

"What?"

"Adrian."

"You can feel him?"

She nodded.

Marcus stared at her.

Then he whispered,

"The bond is already getting stronger."

Aria looked at him.

Before Marcus could say anything,the door opened.

Adrian stood there.

Aria's breath caught.

He was breathing heavily.

There was a small cut near his eyebrow.

His clothes were wet.

But he was standing.

He looked directly at Aria.

"I'm fine."

She hadn't even asked.

She walked toward him.

"You were hurt."

"It's nothing."

Adrian looked at Marcus.

"Give us a minute."

Marcus nodded.

He pulled Lila out of the room.

The door closed.

Aria stared at Adrian.

"You scared me."

His expression softened.

"I'm sorry."

"You could have been seriously hurt."

"I wasn't."

"You don't know that."

"I do."

Aria shook her head.

"You always do that."

"Do what?"

"Act like nothing can happen to you."

Adrian stepped closer.

"I'm the Alpha."

"And you're still a person."

He went silent.

Aria reached toward the cut on his forehead.

He caught her wrist.

Their eyes met.

Neither moved.

"Aria."

"Let me,please

He slowly released her.

She touched the wound carefully.

Adrian winced.

it hurts so bad

"No."

"You're just trying to act all strong like you feel no pain at all "

"Maybe."

She smiled.

"See? You can admit things."

"Don't get used to it,it's dangerous to "

She laughed softly.

The sound seemed to surprise him.

Adrian stared at her.

"Why are you staring at me,did I do something wrong alpha?"

"Nothing."

"You were staring,and it was obviously obvious"

"I know."

so,why do we keep getting close "

He hesitated.

"Because you make it difficult to remember why I should stay away from you."

Aria's smile faded.

"Then don't."

His eyes darkened.

"You don't understand what you're asking."

"Maybe I do."

"No."

He stepped back.

"If I stop resisting this bond, everything changes."

"Maybe everything needs to change."

"Aria."

"You keep talking about your vow."

"Because it's important."

"And what about me?"

Adrian froze.

"What about you?"

"Where do I fit into all of this?"

He didn't answer.

Aria stepped closer.

"You keep deciding what is best for me. You decided to reject me. You decided to protect me. You decided I shouldn't know about my mother."

Her voice trembled.

"But you never asked me what I wanted."

Adrian's expression softened.

"You're right."

She blinked.

"You're right."

He looked down.

"I've been making decisions for you because I was afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"Losing you."

Aria's heart skipped.

"You barely know me."

"I know enough."

"How,much do you know alpha,you barely saw me not quite long

"Because I notice you."

Her breath caught.

Adrian continued.

"I notice when you're tired. I notice when you're pretending you're okay. I notice when you get nervous and start playing with your fingers."

Aria looked down.

She was doing exactly that.

"And I notice," he said quietly, "that you look at me like I'm worth understanding."

She looked back at him.

"Maybe you are."

Silence.

Adrian lifted his hand.

His fingers gently touched her cheek.

Aria's heart raced.

He didn't move closer.

He simply looked at her.

"I shouldn't do this."

"Then don't."

"But I want to."

"Then why don't you?"

His eyes dropped briefly to her lips.

Aria's breath caught.

For one moment, the world seemed to disappear.

The bond between them pulled tighter.

Adrian leaned closer.

Then stopped.

His forehead rested lightly against hers.

Neither spoke.

Aria closed her eyes.

His voice came quietly.

"If I kiss you, I won't be able to pretend anymore."

Aria opened her eyes.

"Then stop pretending."

Adrian looked at her.

The emotion in his eyes nearly broke her heart.

He wanted to.

She knew he did.

But he still pulled away.

Aria felt the disappointment immediately.

Adrian stepped back.

"I'm sorry."

She looked at him.

"For making you hope."

Aria swallowed.

"I wasn't hoping,I was just following your lead

He gave her a sad smile.

"That's another lie."

Then he turned away.

Aria watched him walk toward the window.

For the first time, she understood something.

Adrian wasn't rejecting her because he didn't feel anything.

He was rejecting her because he felt too much.

And somehow, that was both comforting and heartbreaking.

Outside, the rain began again.

Adrian stared through the glass.

"I need to tell you something."

Aria waited.

"The man we found at the border wasn't alone."

Her expression changed.

"What do you mean?"

"There were tracks leading away from the watchtower."

"How many?"

"At least six."

Aria's stomach tightened.

"And they're coming here?"

Adrian turned toward her.

"We don't know."

"Then what do we do?"

"I'll protect you."

She sighed.

"Adrian..."

"I'm serious."

"I know."

He walked toward her again.

This time, his voice was softer.

"But I need you to promise me something."

"What?"

"If anything happens, you stay behind me."

Aria frowned.

"I can take care of myself."

"I know."

"Then—"

"That's exactly why I'm asking."

He looked into her eyes.

"I don't want you to think you have to prove anything to me."

Aria became quiet.

"You don't have to protect me from everything," she whispered.

"I know."

"You just have to trust me."

Adrian nodded.

"I'll try."

She smiled.

"That's all I'm asking."

He smiled back.

And for the first time, Aria saw something she had never expected to see on the Alpha's face.

Hope.

But neither of them noticed the figure standing far beyond the estate walls.

A woman watched the lights of the mansion through the rain.

Her eyes remained fixed on one window.

Adrian's window.

She smiled faintly.

"So," she whispered.

"The Alpha has finally found his mate."

She turned away from the estate.

"Let's see how long he can keep her."

And with that, she disappeared into the darkness.