ALPHA’S HEART, My Haven

Episode-11

Dorian’s Point of View

I looked at Kael and Lucia, the weight of their questions hung in the air. After a brief pause, I let out a slow breath and finally spoke.

“I’ll explain everything when we get inside,” I said calmly. The tension in the room was thick, and I wasn’t about to deal with it out in the open.

They both nodded and as we stepped through the doors, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of the situation. I had to choose my words carefully. Everything had changed since Aria’s arrival, and even though the news would come as a shock, I couldn’t avoid the truth forever.

I led them into the family sitting room, a private space where we could speak freely. The large wooden doors closed behind us, cutting off the noise from the outside.

As we settled into the plush chairs in the center of the room, Greta entered. “Would you like me to have something chilled served, my lord?” she asked.

I nodded. "Yes, Greta."

She moved to give instructions to the other maids, and soon the air was filled with the soft clink of glass and the rustling of plates. The simple act of serving food didn’t seem to alleviate the heaviness that lay between us, but it was a start.

Lucia wasted no time. As soon as we were served, she began, her eyes full of curiosity. “Dorian, who is Aria, and why is she here, in this pack?”

I leaned back, folding my arms. It wasn’t a question I had expected, but I’d been preparing for it. “She’s someone who ran from Viktor’s territory. Her past is... complicated.” I paused, making sure to leave out certain details. I wasn’t ready to tell them about the mate bond. Not yet. “She fled from Viktor, and I couldn’t turn her away. She came here, seeking refuge, and I agreed to protect her.”

Lucia’s face turned into something unreadable. It was clear that this answer didn’t satisfy her. She leaned forward slightly, her eyes flashing with concern.

“You brought her here just like that?” Lucia asked, her voice rising with disbelief. “What if she’s dangerous, Dorian? What if she causes harm to you? To the pack?”

I held her gaze, trying to calm the storm that was coming up. “I believe she’s not a threat,” I said, my voice low. “She’s not here to cause harm. She’s here because she has nowhere else to go.”

Lucia’s eyes narrowed further, and I could tell she wasn’t ready to back down. She wanted to protect the pack, she always had. But I wasn’t about to let her dictate what happened next.

“She needs to leave,” she stated firmly. “She’s a danger, Dorian. You’re the Alpha, why are you allowing this?”

Before I could respond, Kael cut me off sharply as he turned to Lucia. “Lucia, you don’t even know her. You’re jumping to conclusions. Just calm down until you meet her. There’s no need to judge her before you even speak to her.”

I couldn’t have agreed more with Kael. We needed to give Aria a chance, not just for her sake, but for the pack. She was under my protection now, and I wasn’t going to let that go without a fight.

I stood, signaling to Greta. “Please take Aria out,” I said.

Moments later, Greta returned, guiding Aria into the room. She looked delicate, her posture straight, but I could sense her discomfort. She was adjusting to everything, but she held herself well. I knew it couldn’t be easy for her, being in a new world, and a new pack.

She sat down beside me, her eyes meeting mine briefly, before turning to Lucia and Kael. She smiled politely but remained cautious. I could see the hesitation in her, and I hated that she had to go through this.

“Aria,” I began, my voice steady but kind. “This is Kael, my twin brother,” I said, gesturing to the taller figure beside me. “And this is Lucia.” I paused, watching her reaction.

Aria’s gaze shifted to them, and I could see her processing everything at that moment. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said, her voice quiet but composed.

Kael immediately smiled, offering his hand. “I’m Kael,” he said warmly. “I’m sure we’ll be great friends.”

Aria took his hand, shaking it lightly, but I noticed the uncertainty in her touch. Kael was always the more approachable of the two of us, and his fun nature was likely to put her at ease.

But Lucia’s reaction was far different. She didn’t speak, but the way she looked at Aria was cold, almost disdainful. It wasn’t subtle. I could feel the tension rise between them, though Aria was too polite to show anything more than a faint, neutral smile.

Greta arrived back just in time to break the silence. “The meal is served, my lord,” she said in a gentle voice.

I stood, motioning for the others to follow. Aria seemed to hesitate for a moment but followed the rest of us to the dining hall. The meal was set, but the atmosphere was far from comfortable. As we all took our seats, the sound of cutlery filled the space, but the quiet undertone of discomfort never fully left.

At the table, I noticed that Aria seemed to struggle with her food. She coughed lightly, her throat clearly irritated by something. Without thinking, I immediately stood up and reached for a glass of water.

“Aria, here,” I said, offering the glass. She took it gratefully, her fingers brushing against mine briefly. I tried to mask the sudden surge of protectiveness I felt, but I could tell that Kael noticed.

Kael glanced at me, his eyes widening in surprise. He had never seen me act this way before, especially not over someone I had just met. His raised eyebrows told me he had noticed more than just the water.

Lucia, on the other hand, was watching Aria with barely contained irritation. Her eyes moved from me to Aria, and then back again. I could feel the weight of her gaze, heavy with judgment.

After lunch, Greta and the other maids escorted Aria out of the dining hall. Kael watched the exchange with interest, his smile turning to tease. “I see how it is,” he said with a grin. “Are you over your first love, Dorian? Giving love another chance?”

I didn’t respond, though a part of me wanted to. The truth was, I hadn’t given Aria a chance in that way, not yet. But I couldn’t ignore the way she made me feel. The connection between us was undeniable.

Kael wasn’t going to let it go, though. “Aria’s beautiful,” he continued, his voice light but laced with something else. “I knew the moment I saw her that she’d be fun to be around.”

I couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm, but there was a part of me that didn’t want to talk about it anymore. Lucia’s eyes flashed with something darker, and she stood up instantly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor.

“I’ll be in my chambers,” she hissed. Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and stormed out, her footsteps echoing down the hall.

I glanced at Kael, who was watching Lucia with amusement. “She’ll be fine,” he muttered, though the tension in the air remained.

Before I could say anything else, the door to the sitting room burst open. Mason rushed in, his face pale and his breath rising.

Kael and I shared a look, but before we could speak, the door slammed open. Mason rushed in, his face flushed with urgency.

“What’s going on, Mason?” I asked, my voice steady, though a sense of unease settled in my stomach.

Mason breathed heavily, his eyes wide with alarm. “There’s someone at the border, my lord. We think it’s someone from Viktor’s pack.”