ALPHA’S HEART, My Haven

Episode-7

Dorian’s Point of View

The night air was thick, carrying a weight I couldn’t shake. For the past few days I had left the Darkmoon pack, I couldn’t stop thinking about all that happened there. The way Luna Lilian slapped that young maid for a simple accident only confirmed what I’d gone there to say. There was no future for me there. No future with Chloe.

As I made my way through the woods, I heard faint footsteps. I paused as I tried to listen, and I recognized the sound, a desperate sound of escape. I waited, watching the darkness until a figure stumbled forward.

My heart skipped as the moonlight revealed her face. Aria, the servant girl. The one I hadn’t been able to forget since our brief and tense encounter.

She looked fragile, her hair was rough, and her eyes wide with fear, yet there was strength in her, even now. Something about her had been bothering me. I felt the strange pull I had felt at the Darkmoon pack. And as I watched her stumble toward me, everything in me shifted.

“Aria?”

She looked at me and relief flooded her face. “Alpha Dorian… please… help me.” Her voice was low, raw and broken.

I stepped forward, the familiar surge of protectiveness bloomed inside me. “Who did this to you? Why are you near Viktor’s territory?” I asked, even though the bruises and terror in her eyes answered before she could speak.

“He… he tried to…” she stammered as she tried to speak.

I clenched my fists, trying to push down the rage in me. Without thinking, I shrugged off my coat, and wrapped it around her shoulders.

“You’re safe now,” I promised, my voice was steady, even though I was angry. I knew Viktor had a ruthless reputation, but this… this was unforgivable. But how did Aria get there? What was she doing there?

As I guided her away from the shadows of Viktor’s domain, I could feel her fear. “Come on,” I said gently, “let’s get out of here.”

We walked in silence, and I felt her glance at me a few times, like she wanted to say something, but fear kept her quiet. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected to find when I’d come to this part of the woods tonight, but certainly not this, not her.

After a while, I stopped, realizing she was still clinging on to my coat. “Are you alright?” I asked softly, looking down at her. She quickly shifted her gaze to the ground.

“Aria, if you’re comfortable, I’d like to hear what happened as soon as we get to my pack.” I spoke with as much gentleness as I could. I didn't want to press her, but I needed to understand.

She hesitated, and twisted her fingers together before finally nodding.

As I guided Aria through the thick forest, each step seemed to calm her a little more. We finally entered the grand hall of my mansion. Aria was still cautious, and her eyes were wide, so I settled her down on the couch and offered her a blanket. She looked up at me, and I nodded, reassuring her. "Go on, tell me everything."

“I’ve… I’ve been with Chloe’s pack since I was a child. My parents… they’re gone,” she began, her words trembling as she burst out into tears, “Alpha lupa killed them and took me in as a maid.”

I nodded because I’d seen glimpses of how Lilian treated her, but hearing it from her left a sour taste in my mouth.

“I was never treated well,” she continued, her voice was soft as if she was talking to herself. “Lilian, she… she always found reasons to punish me. And Chloe, she’s the only one who’s ever shown me kindness. She’s always tried to stand up for me. But it wasn’t enough.” She looked up at me, her voice broke and tears streamed down her face. “Then, they decided to… to sell me off.”

My heart clenched at her words, and before I could stop myself, I reached out and covered her hand with mine. “I’m sorry, Aria,” I murmured as I felt the weight of her pain, as if it were my own.

“Thank you, Alpha,” she whispered, her fingers brushing against mine as she found comfort in the contact.

“Please, call me Dorian.” The formality felt wrong somehow, thinking about everything she’d been through, and I wanted her to feel safe.

She nodded with a faint smile. “Dorian,” she repeated softly, as if tasting the name.

The room was silent for a few moments, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was filled with an understanding, a connection I hadn’t expected. I hadn’t felt this way in years, and it was both odd and comforting.

I looked away as I cleared my throat, forcing myself to focus. “I… I had come there that day with the intention to end any arrangement with Chloe’s family,” I said, my heart pounding as I spoke the words. “I have no intention of marrying Chloe. I was there to make that clear to her parents.” I looked at Aria and I could see the confusion in her eyes.

“So… you don’t want to be with her?” she asked, and I could see the relief mingling with surprise on her face.

I shook my head. “No, I don’t,” I admitted, the words were coming easier than I’d expected. “To be honest, the only reason I agreed to come was out of respect for my pack, my people. They wanted an alliance, a union that would strengthen our position. But…” I hesitated as I struggled to find the right words. “I don’t have the heart for it.”

I could see her processing my words, and I took a steadying breath, before looking at her. “Years ago, I thought I’d found my mate. My Luna.” The memory of it was still sharp, like an old wound that refused to heal. “But she… she betrayed me. She left me for someone more powerful, leaving me and my pack in jeopardy.” My voice was filled with bitterness as I spoke each word. “Since then, I vowed I’d never let anyone close again.”

Aria listened quietly, and there was something comforting in the way she listened. No pity, just a silent understanding.

“I’m sorry, Dorian,” she whispered, and the sound of her voice eased something in me. “That must have been hard. To lose someone you trusted like that.”

I nodded. I felt an ache that hadn’t healed over the years. “It was. And after that, I decided I’d never let anyone get that close again. I am still very young, so It was easier to focus on the pack, on keeping everyone safe.”

I hadn’t expected to share so much, but Aria had a way of drawing it out of me, of making me feel seen. I didn’t want to admit it, even to myself, but from the moment I’d met her, there had been a pull, a sense of familiarity, of something deeper.

“I don’t know what to say,” she stammered, and her voice was barely a whisper.

“You don’t have to say anything,” I murmured as I squeezed her hand gently. “And I’m grateful. For whatever reason, thank you for pouring that drink on me. It gave me a way out of a life I never wanted.”

She laughed softly, and the sound of her laughter warmed something deep inside me. “I didn’t mean to, you know,” she said, her cheeks flushing. “It was an accident.”

“Perhaps,” I said, allowing a smile to break through my face, “but it was the best accident I’ve ever encountered, and then I met my mate.”

Her eyes widened slightly, and I felt my chest tighten as she looked at me.“I didn’t realize it at first, but… I know what you are, Aria.” I reached out for her hand and placed it on mine, the warmth of her touch was pleasing. “You’re my mate.”

“I know this is unexpected, but I won’t force anything. I just wanted you to know.” I paused and the intensity of my feelings was overwhelming.

As the words left my mouth, I took a step closer to her and Aria tried to rise up, but then she collapsed into my arms, unconscious.

“Aria! Maids! Guards!” I shouted, my heart pounding as Aria lay unconscious in my arms.