My Forbidden Guardian

Chapter- 4

"Jealousy? No, no. I just think some people find you… unapproachable."

"Unapproachable?" I laughed, slyness dripping from every word. "This is what you're telling them all? That I'm not likable?"

"Let's just say… some have their reservations," she said, playing it like she had nothing more interesting to be concerned with.

"Well, maybe they just can't handle me," I said, shooting back with unexpected confidence at her words spilling out.

“What's the matter, Lina? Afraid they'll realize I'm not the problem here?

“Oh please”, Aria, back, her voice going to a mockingly serious whisper. “We both know it's hard to be likable when you've got a shadow looming over you”.

There was a fire started in my chest. "Do you mean Kael? The best friend I have?"

Her smile deepened. "Is he really just your friend? Or is it rather a bodyguard? It's tricky since you two are so close."

I took another step forward. The heat in my cheeks felt its way up, but I did not take a step back.

"Kael is the only one who sees me like I am and not as you want me to be. He judges me none. You do."

"Judgment?" Lina laughed, her voice cracked and brittle.

"I'm just being realistic. You think this little friendship with him is some quaint little thing, but maybe it's exactly what keeps others away."

I felt that familiar twist of frustration knot inside my belly. "If anything, you're scared, too. Scared of being outshone."

And there it hung in the air, feeding off the shock crossing her face for that one moment until she caught herself and leaned in closer.

"You know, Aria, sometimes it's just best to step back and let them see the real you," she said quietly. "Then maybe they'll stick around."

"Stay?" I asked, the tension between us jumping like a jump rope. "And why would I want to do that? So you can pick them off one by one?"

She laughed now, but it was shaky, as if she were trying to laugh away the truth. "You're overreacting. "I'm just looking out for you, you know."

"Looking out for me?" I sneered. "Is that why you've been spreading rumors about how unlikeable I am?"

A flicker of annoyance came across through Lina's otherwise skilled mask. "Not like I'm the only one saying it. You've heard the whispers."

I moved forward, my heart beating fast but in anger.

"Oh so you thought I don't hear what others say behind my back? It's the people who dare to say it to my face who count."

Her eyes flew open, and I almost heard her thinking wheels whirring in her head. She was going nowhere, at least for today.

"Perhaps if you stopped scheming and were a better friend, you'd know that not everybody is trying to rip you off," I added, keeping my voice even.

She pulled down her mouth corners slowly. And for the first time that night, I really caught her off guard, but only for a moment.

"You really think you're so tough, don't you?"

I laughed aloud, my voice rising to my bravery.

"And then here I was thinking you had finally figured it out. Admit it, Lina: you're jealous. Jealous that I get some attention from Kael, and yet you're fighting for second chances."

Her expression seemed to set like stone, and for an instant, the mask slipped, revealing the bitterness still crumbling beneath her perfect face.

"You think you have won this small argument, Aria, but this is a war. And I don't play by the rules. I am here now, let’s see what’s the worst you can do”.

"I don't either," I told her, turning back into her without flinching. "So let's see who wins."

I turned my back on my foe and took off. By then, my heart had begun beating not because of fear but because of exhilaration.

Golden hours fell upon the garden, transforming the scene as coming from an unknown living force.

One hears the rustling of leaves together with a far-away murmur of bees, reminding myself and myself that all is well.

It was dusk, and the sun was setting with its shadows when I realized this was just the start of a war I was much more prepared for.

Kael being there did make all the difference.

I walked around through the garden the orange glow of the sunset to mock the storm roiling inside me.

After I had that argument with Lina, the weight of it all was unbearable to carry. I went into bed early hoping for sleep to shake it off.

It is after getting barely a wink into sleep last night due to heavy words weighing up my body in the darkest of nights, making me leave my chest hollowed up in pain.

When morning arrived, my mother entered my room with Kael walking behind her as always, his calm shadow to her eager light. She beamed at me excitedly as she announced.

Despite my mother's enthusiasm, my eyes kept glancing at Kael. His presence was steady and sure something I was accustomed to.

I didn't think about much. But lately, something has been different. A sense of calm comfort that somehow became essential.

"Aria, today's the day! We managed to schedule a meeting with a new Alpha. I raised an eyebrow, my voice light. "And what kind of Alpha are we talking about?"

She drew Kael forward with a proud smile. "Someone both of us agree would be perfect for you, Alpha of the Crescent Moon Clan, strong and respected. Gentle, refined and, as everybody is saying, charming."

The sparkle in her eyes sparkled as if presenting to him the prize of the season. Kael gives a small nod to assent, his gaze never flickering off me.

I turned my head from my mother, to Kael and, with the smallest smirk, said, "And I presume Kael will be there as well?"

Kael's lips curled into the faintest of smiles. "Of course. Someone has to make sure you stay alive, my lady."

There was a flicker, just a moment's hesitation in his gaze, as though the words he wanted to say lingered on his lips which were held back by some unspoken vow.

I chuckled slowly, faked reluctance. "What if I don't want to have you trailing behind, Kael?" His voice was soft, but his gaze held a hint of words unspoken. "Well, that isn't any choice."

My mother kept pushing us to hurry. And soon, we got moving. I had showed up at the table beautifully decorated beforehand for the meeting that my mom had set up for me. I felt no flutter of nerves nor rush of excitement.

This was some silly, sappy romance in which I was mooning over. It was just a meeting. This was a formality, a thing I only knew from my mother. I never knew it myself.

The Alpha arrived and stood at the table, well-groomed and clean-cut, his eyes fixated upon me with something like wonder and adoration.

He rises to come to meet me, his hand pushing out my chair, and I nod at him and sit. As we talked, I listened intently, and heard how he spoke of loyalty to his pack, and strong alliances forming.

He speaks so freely about complimenting me, smooth phrases flowing through his voice speaking about my "grace" and my "elegance" and promises of a rich future full of alliances and promises.

But his words brought me nothing. So, it was a date, after all, something obligatory. I looked up into his face with unshakable indifference so that he was not given the slightest hope for flattery and fluttering in my heart.

I knew I belonged in the world of power; one received only admiration with opportunistic interest from one's surroundings.