Chapter 3

　　Ariana

　　Ariana barely slept. The guest quarters were clean and quiet, but silence did nothing to calm her mind. Every sound outside the door made her tense. She was a stranger in a powerful pack, surrounded by wolves who did not trust her and elders who openly wanted her gone.

　　Just before dawn, raised voices sounded through the stone halls.

　　Ariana sat up instantly.

　　The voices were sharp, controlled but burning underneath. One of them was Damian's. The other belonged to a woman.

　　Curiosity mixed with unease. Ariana knew better than to wander, but the sound carried clearly through the open corridors. She moved closer to the door and listened.

　　"You crossed a line, Damian."

　　The voice was smooth but edged with fury.

　　Ariana did not recognize it, but she felt its authority immediately.

　　"I did what was necessary," Damian replied calmly.

　　"Necessary for who" the woman snapped. "For the pack or for your pride"

　　Ariana's breath caught.

　　This was not just anyone.

　　This was his betrothed Luna.

　　Ariana stayed where she was, her heart was beating fast as footsteps drew closer. The voices grew louder as they entered the council chamber nearby. The door did not close completely, leaving just enough space for Ariana to hear every word.

　　"You were warned," the woman said. "We all were. Bringing a lone wolf into Black Ridge territory puts us at risk. You know the rules. You know the consequences."

　　Damian did not raise his voice. "I know exactly what I am doing, Lyla."

　　"That makes it worse," she shot back. "You did not act out of ignorance. You chose this."

　　Ariana leaned against the wall, guilt pressing heavy on her chest. She had never meant to cause trouble. She had only wanted to survive.

　　"Rowan already knows," Lyla continued. "Iron Crest is watching. The elders are furious. And now the pack is whispering."

　　"They will settle," Damian said.

　　"You cannot settle rumors with silence," she replied sharply. "You are about to take a Luna. Our bond is supposed to represent unity and strength. And yet you bring in a rejected wolf with unknown ties and expect everyone to accept it."

　　Ariana flinched at the word rejected.

　　"You are overreacting," Damian said. "She will not interfere."

　　"That is not your decision alone," Lyla snapped. "I am your future Luna. Every action you take reflects on me."

　　There was a pause.

　　Then Damian spoke again, slower this time. "Nothing will interrupt our bond."

　　Ariana's chest tightened.

　　"She means nothing beyond what I allow," Damian continued. "She is under my protection. That is all."

　　The words were firm, controlled, and final.

　　For a moment, there was only silence.

　　Then Lyla laughed horribly.

　　It was sharp and bitter.

　　"You expect me to believe that" she asked. "You expect me to stand beside you as Luna while a strange female lives under your roof"

　　"She is not under my roof," Damian replied. "She is in the guest quarters."

　　"That changes nothing," Lyla snapped again."You think I cannot smell it The tension The pull The interest"

　　Ariana froze.

　　Her heart raced.

　　"You may not acknowledge it yet," Lyla continued, "but others already see it. You brought her in yourself. You stood against the elders for her. You faced a rival alpha without hesitation."

　　Damian's voice remained steady. "I would do the same for any wolf on my land."

　　"That is a lie," she said immediately. "And you know it."

　　A heavy silence filled the room.

　　Lyla stepped closer. Ariana could hear the soft sound of her footsteps.

　　"I was chosen for you," she said. "Raised for this role. Prepared to stand beside you and strengthen this pack. And now you risk everything for a lone wolf with no status and no pack."

　　"I risk nothing," Damian said. "You are letting emotion cloud judgment."

　　Lyla's voice dropped dangerously low. "Do not dismiss my anger. I have every right to it."

　　Ariana pressed her hand against her chest, her breathing shallow. She wanted to leave. She wanted to disappear. But her feet refused to move.

　　"You gave me your word," Lyla said. "You promised that when the time came, nothing would stand between us."

　　"And nothing will," Damian replied. "This changes nothing."

　　"It changes everything," she said. "Perception matters. Loyalty matters. Strength matters."

　　Damian exhaled slowly. "Say what you mean."

　　"I want her gone," Lyla said. "Send her away. Now. She ordered!"

　　Ariana's heart dropped.

　　"No," Damian replied without hesitation.

　　The word replayed so hard like a strike.

　　"You choose her over peace" Lyla demanded.

　　"I choose what is right," Damian said.

　　Lyla's restraint finally shattered.

　　"What is right for who" she shouted. "For the pack Or for you"

　　Her power surged outward, sharp and furious. Ariana gasped as the pressure slammed into her, forcing her back against the wall.

　　Damian responded instantly. His presence rose to meet it, calm but unyielding, pushing her power back without effort.

　　"Enough," he said firmly.

　　Lyla breathed hard. "You knew this would happen. You knew the elders would challenge you. You knew I would challenge you."

　　"I knew," Damian said.

　　"Then why" she demanded.

　　"Because turning her away would have been wrong," Damian replied. "And I will not rule through fear or cruelty."

　　Ariana's eyes burned.

　　She did not expect that.

　　Lyla stared at him, looking stunned. Then her expression hardened.

　　"You are making a mistake," she said coldly. "And when the consequences come, do not expect my silence."

　　She turned sharply and stormed toward the door.

　　Ariana barely had time to step back before she emerged into the corridor.

　　Their eyes met.

　　Lyla's gaze dropped to Ariana with open fury and judgment.

　　So this is her, the Luna said slowly. The problem.

　　Ariana straightened, forcing herself to stand tall. "I did not ask to be here."

　　Lyla's lips curved into a cruel smile. "None of us ever do."

　　She brushed past Ariana without another word, her scent sharp with anger.

　　Ariana stood frozen until Damian stepped out moments later.

　　He stopped when he saw her.

　　"You should not have heard that," he said.

　　"I am sorry," Ariana replied quickly. "I will leave if you want me to."

　　"No," Damian said immediately.

　　She looked up at him, startled.

　　"You did nothing wrong," he continued. "This is not your burden."

　　"It feels like it is," Ariana said quietly.

　　Damian studied her for a moment. "This pack will test you. Others will test me. That was inevitable."

　　She swallowed. "Your Luna hates me."

　　"She is not my Luna yet," Damian replied.

　　The correction sent an unexpected chill through her.

　　"Go back to the guest quarters," he said. "Stay inside today."

　　Ariana nodded and turned away, her thoughts spinning.

　　By the time she reached her room, the pack was already buzzing.

　　The news had spread.

　　The Alpha had defied the elders.

　　The betrothed Luna was furious.

　　And the rejected lone wolf was at the center of it all.