Chapter four
956 Words
Aria's POV
"Princess, we've been searching for three years," Lucas's voice cracked with emotion. "Your father—"
"Is he well?" I interrupted, not ready to hear about my father's anger.
"He's... managing. But your disappearance changed him. Where are you?"
"I can't say yet. Lucas, I need you to do something without telling anyone. Not even Ethan."
"Anything, Princess."
"I need you to investigate Alpha Damien of Storm Moon Pack. Everything. His alliances, his enemies, his weaknesses."
Silence. Then, "Princess, isn't that the Alpha who just—"
"Yes."
"You're there. You're his Luna." His voice turned dangerous. "That omega Luna in the photos... that's you."
"Lucas—"
"I'm coming to get you. Now."
"No!" I gripped the phone tighter. "You can't. Not yet. Just... get me the information. Please."
"One week," he said finally. "Then I'm telling your father."
After hanging up, I couldn't sleep. The mate bond burned constantly now, telling me exactly what Damien and Serena were doing. My wolf clawed at my insides, demanding we reclaim what was ours.
At dawn, Mia knocked urgently. "Luna, you need to see this."
She handed me an invitation—gold-embossed, elegant. A mating ceremony announcement. Damien and Serena's official mating ceremony, scheduled for the next full moon.
"He can't," I breathed. "We're still mates. The bond—"
"He's planning to break it," Mia whispered. "The kitchen staff heard him discussing it with the elders. He'll reject you publicly, then claim Serena."
The invitation fluttered from my numb fingers.
A rejection. A public rejection would shatter the bond, leaving me wolfless for months, maybe forever. It was the cruelest thing one mate could do to another.
I dressed carefully and marched to Damien's office. He was alone, finally.
"You're planning to reject me?"
He didn't deny it. "It's for the best."
"The best?" I laughed bitterly. "Breaking a goddess-given bond is for the best?"
"You've given me no heir in three years—"
"Have you ever considered it might be your fault?" The words exploded out of me. "Have you ever once thought that maybe you're the problem?"
His face darkened. "Watch your tongue."
"No. You watch yours. You're about to commit the greatest sin against the Moon Goddess, and for what? Because some w***e spread her legs and claimed she's pregnant?"
"She IS pregnant. The doctor confirmed it."
"Your doctor. Your friend. How convenient."
"Are you suggesting—"
"I'm suggesting you're thinking with the wrong head." I stepped closer. "Tell me, Damien. When exactly did she conceive? Because the timeline seems remarkably convenient."
Doubt flickered in his eyes for just a moment.
Then the door burst open. Serena stood there, tears streaming down her face. "There's blood. Oh goddess, there's blood!"
Damien rushed to her, catching her as she swayed. "Get the doctor!"
But I saw it—the glint of satisfaction in her eyes as she looked at me over his shoulder.
The doctor arrived within minutes, examining her while Damien paced.
"The pup?" he demanded.
"Is fine," the doctor assured. "But she needs bed rest. No stress."
"This is your fault," Damien snarled at me. "Your confrontation caused this."
"How? I wasn't even near her—"
"Your presence is enough." He stood, his decision made. "You're banned from the pack house. Move to the omega quarters."
"You're sending your Luna to live with the servants?"
"You won't be Luna much longer."
The words hit like physical blows. But I saw Serena's smile, and something in me snapped.
"Fine," I said calmly. Too calmly. "But remember this moment, Damien. Remember it when the truth comes out."
That night, in the cramped omega quarters, I sat on a narrow bed that smelled of mildew. Other omegas whispered in the hallways, shocked that their Luna was among them.
Mia had refused to leave my side. "This is insane. The pack won't stand for this."
"Won't they?" I stared at the peeling walls. "They need an heir more than they need me."
My phone buzzed. Lucas had sent files—dozens of them.
I read through them, my eyes widening. Damien had debts. Massive debts from the war campaign. The Northern Alliance had offered to clear them in exchange for...
"A mating alliance with Serena Blackstone," I whispered.
This wasn't about love or heirs. It was about money. About politics.
Another file caught my attention. Medical records from the Northern Alliance. Serena had been treated for infertility two years ago.
"Mia," I said slowly. "What if she's not really pregnant?"
"But the doctor—"
"Is Damien's beta's brother." I showed her the files. "What if this is all a lie?"
Hope and rage warred in my chest. If I could prove she wasn't pregnant...
A commotion outside interrupted us. Howls of alarm, then excitement.
We rushed out to find the pack gathering. A convoy of black cars had arrived—diplomatic plates.
My heart stopped.
Ethan stepped out of the lead car, dressed in royal blues, his presence commanding immediate attention. His eyes scanned the crowd until they found mine.
"Hello, sister."
The crowd gasped. Sister? The omega Luna was...
"Prince Ethan," Damien appeared, looking confused. "What brings the Lycan Prince to our pack?"
"I've come for my sister," Ethan said simply. "Princess Aria. Though I believe you know her by another name."
The silence was deafening.
Damien's face went white as he turned to stare at me. "You're... you're the missing Lycan Princess?"
I lifted my chin, my omega disguise falling away as I let my true aura unfurl for the first time in three years. The power of the royal bloodline flooded the air, bringing every wolf to their knees except Ethan.
"Hello, mate," I said coldly. "Surprise."
- Writer
