Outsider
1088 Words
Aria POV
Dinner time came, and we were already seated at the table. Calla, Sable, and I had the dining spread filled with an assortment of food I was certain we couldn't finish in days.
"Aria, I hope you liked your room," Sable said.
I smiled. I loved it when she spoke to me. "Yes, I do. I love the view and the tree in front of the balcony. It reminds me of my room back home."
Sable smiled back. "Yes, your mother mentioned that you love nature and enjoy looking at trees, so she urged us to find just the right fit for you."
I was shocked to hear that it had come from my mother. I hadn't thought she knew anything about me. But this small act didn't count as anything. The dining door opened, and a seven-foot, broad-shouldered man with dark hair and blue eyes walked in.
"Ah, here he is. Aria, I want you to meet Fenrir," Sable said.
My mouth froze. He didn't look anything like what the stories had described. He seemed far older than me. Would it ever work?
"Fenrir, your husband," Sable's voice lowered like she was teasing me.
"It's nice to meet you, Fenrir," I said.
There was no motion on his face. Sable seemed far more excited than he was. My eyes followed him as he walked the length of the long dining room and sat beside Calla at the far end. From the seating arrangement alone, I felt isolated. I took a sip of wine, doing my best not to show it, though I caught the glance Sable and Calla exchanged.
"Fenrir, why don't you come sit next to your bride?" Sable said.
I pretended not to pay attention and focused on the fish on my plate. "I'm fine here, Mother." His deep, masculine voice was firm, and Sable didn't ask again.
Instead, she stood, moved, and came to sit right beside me. The maid followed and repositioned her food in front of her. The table felt quieter after that, the kind of quiet that had weight to it. Silverware touched plates. Wine was poured. Conversation moved gently between Sable and me, her warmth doing most of the work while the other end of the table stayed silent.
I used my peripheral vision to glance at him, but he never once looked in my direction. Curiosity got the better of me, and I turned fully for a better look, and suddenly our eyes met just for a second before he turned away. I dropped my gaze too, but not before I noticed his hand gripping his fork tightly. Was he furious that I was sitting at his table? Or had he heard about Bram abandoning me and found the whole thing beneath him?
I looked up once more, carefully this time, and saw Calla place her hand over his. Something about the gesture made me stare a beat longer than I should have before I pulled my eyes away. Whatever they were to each other, it was clear I was the outsider in this room.
"Fenrir, why don't you take Aria hunting tomorrow?" Sable said.
"No." His answer came before she had even finished the sentence.
My stomach turned. Sable opened her mouth to press further. "Sable, it's fine," I said quickly, before it could become worse. "I'm scared of hunting." It was without doubt that he had no interest in spending time with me, so I had to find an excuse before things became more uncomfortable than they already were.
Fenrir POV
I was almost in the dining room; my mind focused on how to make the evening end as quickly as possible. The guards opened the door as I walked in. Seeing her in person made me note how petite she was. Innocent-looking.
"Fenrir, your husband," Sable's voice smoothed out in that particular way I recognized. She was teasing us. I made sure to keep a straight face and sat beside Calla at the far end.
"Fenrir, why don't you go sit next to your bride?" my mother asked.
"I'm fine here," I kept my tone solid. I wasn't ready to sit beside a stranger who would be out the door soon enough.
I watched my mother get up and move to sit next to Aria instead. I felt the sting of that, instantly, her quiet correction of my coldness, but I held my ground.
Aria didn't seem to pay me any mind either. Her head was down; her eyes fixed on her food. What was the point of forcing something on someone who clearly wanted nothing to do with you?
I made sure to keep my gaze away from her as much as possible, but her beauty was captivating in a way that made it difficult. I glanced once. Then held the glance longer than I intended. Suddenly, our eyes met. I looked down immediately, gripping my fork tighter, angry at myself for being caught. The table settled into a quiet rhythm after that. My mother carried the conversation the way she always did in uncomfortable rooms, filling silence with warmth that nobody had asked for but everyone needed. I kept my eyes on my plate and let her. Lost in my own thoughts, Calla slowly placed her hand over mine.
"Fenrir, you're not enjoying the meal?"
I pulled my hand away slowly. "It's good, Calla."
"Fenrir, why don't you take Aria hunting tomorrow?" my mother said.
Immediately, I felt anxious. Someone who looked as fragile as she did had no business in the woods during a hunt. The thought of her getting harmed settled uncomfortably with me.
"No," I said, it before I could dress it up as anything else. My mother opened her mouth to ask why, but Aria cut in before she could.
"It's fine, Sable. I don't like hunting that much," Aria said. I looked at her then. Briefly. She was staring at her plate, her voice even, giving nothing away. She had covered for the silence I left without making it look like covering. I wasn't sure what to do with that.
I pushed my chair back and stood. Dinner was over as far as I was concerned. I gave a brief nod to my mother, she tried to talk but held her words, and I walked toward the door. The guards the door as I moved closer. Then, without any reason I could explain, I glanced back. Aria was already looking at me. I turned and walked out.
- Writer
