Chapter 154

Aria

The dining hall of the pack house was warm and filled with laughter, the rich scent of roasted meat and spices still lingering in the air.

Plates were scraped clean, wine glasses half-full, and the soft glow of candlelight flickered against the wooden walls. It wasn’t a grand celebration, not by any means, but it was good enough for us.

And in the middle of all the chaos surrounding the pack, our future, the impending war—at least we had this moment.

Wendy had apparently insisted on cooking most of the meal herself, and I could still hear her scolding Lucas for swiping his finger through the cake’s frosting before dinner had even started. He had spent the evening bouncing between chairs, stuffing himself with food far too rich for a five-year-old, until Darren had finally carried him upstairs to bed.

Now, the rest of us had drifted into the den, where the party continued.

Darren sat across the room, a bottle of whiskey open between him and Liam. They had started some kind of drinking game involving cards, and by the way Liam was groaning, Darren was clearly winning.

Meanwhile, Wendy and Darren’s father lounged on the couch, deep in conversation, while Brandon fiddled with the old record player in the corner.

It was comfortable, easy even, but Darren and I still felt a little uncomfortable. We were smiling throughout the night, but every time we would look at each other one of us would quickly glance away, still tense after our argument.

“Are you two good?” Bella whispered at one point, nudging me with her elbow. “You’re acting weird.”

I offered her a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes, even with all the wine I’d drunk so far. “It’s fine. Just a small argument.”

Bella’s brows shot up, but I quickly stood, brushing crumbs off my sweater. “I’m getting more cheese for the board. Anyone want anything?”

Brandon lifted his glass. “More whiskey.”

“Get it yourself,” I muttered with a chuckle, shaking my head as I walked into the kitchen.

The den was lively enough that the quiet of the kitchen felt stark in contrast. I opened the fridge, retrieving the last block of sharp cheddar from the bottom shelf. The knife was already on the cutting board from earlier, and I barely even thought as I started slicing.

But my mind was elsewhere. I kept thinking about my meeting with Bella’s father, about the potential consequences of the things I’d said. Not just that, but everything. What would happen to our pack? Would we be able to unite the packs? Would the human authorities really commit genocide against our people?

And most of all, it felt almost wrong, to be celebrating an engagement in the midst of all this. I knew we were entitled to a cozy dinner and game night just like anyone else, but after the stupid things I’d said today at that meeting, I felt like I should be out there with the others, patrolling the borders even though I hadn’t the faintest clue how to fight.

I was so lost in thought that the blade suddenly nicked my finger. I dropped the knife and hissed as a thin line of blood welled up against my skin. It wasn’t deep, just enough to sting, but before I could even reach for a paper towel, Darren was there.

He grabbed my arm, his grip firm around my wrist. I blinked up at him, startled by his sudden presence. How long had he been standing there, watching me mutter under my breath?

“It’s just a cut,” I said, watching as he stared at the wound.

“Let me see.” He ignored my protests, tilting my hand to inspect the cut.

“It’s nothing,” I tried again, but Darren was already reaching for a towel, pressing it gently against my finger. “Darren—”

“I know it’s nothing,” he said quietly. “Just let me do this.”

I let out a breath but didn’t argue further, watching as he carefully wrapped my finger with a strip of gauze he had retrieved from the first-aid kit. He didn’t speak, but his hands were steady and methodical as he worked.

When he was finally finished, only then did he meet my eyes, and something in his expression softened for the first time all day. “I’m sorry.”

I frowned. “For what?”

“For earlier,” he admitted. “For snapping at you. I know why you said it, but I don’t like the idea of people thinking I actually—” He exhaled sharply. “That I want to be Alpha King. That I think I deserve it enough to make such claims.”

I studied him, the way his fingers were still curled gently around my wrist, like he wasn’t quite ready to let go yet. “I didn’t mean to put that pressure on you,” I said. “I said it to scare Bella’s father. It was a moment of weakness. But…” I hesitated. “For what it’s worth, I think you would make a good leader, Darren.”

He stiffened slightly. “Aria.”

“I mean it.” I held his gaze. “You care about the werewolves more than anyone. You’ve already done so much since this whole shit-show started.”

Darren exhaled, taking a step back and running a hand through his black hair. It was loose around his shoulders, curling slightly at the ends. “Even if that were true, it’s still dangerous to tell people like Bella’s father that I’ll be the next Alpha King when an election hasn’t even been announced yet.”

I swallowed, my throat bobbing with the motion. He wasn’t wrong. But it still didn’t change what I believed.

“I’ll be careful,” I promised. “I won’t say it again.”

He nodded, and his face softened a little more. He then stepped forward, planting a gentle kiss on the top of my head, his hand lingering on my cheek for a moment. I felt a wave of relief wash over me, all of the tension of the day slipping away.

“Come on,” he said, tilting his head toward the den. “Before Liam accuses me of trying to abort our game just when I was on the verge of losing.”

The rest of the night passed in a haze, but the best kind. The drinks flowed freely, the snacks were reduced to crumbs, and the party games turned more ridiculous the longer they went on.

Brandon, half-drunk, tried to convince Melissa that he could balance a spoon on his nose for a full minute. Wendy had all but cried laughing when Darren’s father poorly tried to recall the lyrics to a song he had long since forgotten.

And all night, Darren kept sneaking glances at me, his gaze lingering in a way that made my skin heat under the soft glow of the fire.

It was late when the party finally started winding down. Wendy was the first to call it a night. Liam and Bella were next, Liam having to carry a half-asleep Bella up the stairs. One by one, the others filtered out, leaving just Darren and me sitting in the dimly-lit living room.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting long shadows across the walls. It was a comfortable silence now, far more comfortable than before.

When I turned to him, he was already watching me. And this time, he didn’t look away.

Heat simmered in his gaze, slow and smoldering, and I felt it like a spark catching under my skin. An idea came to mind then, and I wrapped my fingers around his, knowing exactly how to make up after our argument.

“Where are we going?” Darren slurred, slightly tipsy as I pulled him to his feet.

I grinned. “We’re going to bed,” I whispered, pulling him after me. “But not to sleep.”