ARIA’S POV
I sat at the edge of my bed, staring at the small plastic stick in my trembling hands, as the two bright lines burned into my vision like a mark I could not escape.
Positive.
I was pregnant.
The word echoed in my mind over and over again, pushing out every other thought Intried to hold on to.
I was carrying Zane’s pup, the Alpha prince’s pup, my sister’s mate pup, and I had no idea what I was going to do.
My hands shook so badly that I almost dropped the test strip, amd I quickly hit it in the back of my drawer, burying it underneath a pile of clothes where no one would think to look.
Then I pressed my palms against my stomach, feeling the life growing inside me, and I whispered to myself that I had to stay calm, that I had to think, that I could not fall apart right now.
But it was too late, I was already falling apart.
I heard a sharp knock on my door, which made me jump with my heart beating faster against my ribs, and I recognized the knock immediately, it was Aurora, and I knew she was not here for anything good.
She called out sweetly, the kind of mocking sweetness that was always laced with poison.
“Aria, I know you are in there.
Open the door.
I want to talk to you.”
I did not move, I could not move.
My body was frozen on the spot and my mind was filled with panic.
But Aurora was not the kind of person who took no for an answer.
She knocked again, harder this time and called out impatiently, “Aria, open this door right now, or I will break it down.”
I knew she meant it, because she had never been the type to make empty threats.
I forced myself to my feet and unlocked the door, pulling it open wide enough to see her standing there, with her arms crossed tightly over her chest and a cold expression on her face.
She pushed the door open wider and walked into my room like she owned it, sweeping the place with her eyes with contempt.
“What do you want, Aurora?” I asked quietly.
She turned to face me and narrowed her eyes.
“I want to know why you ran out of the coronation ceremony crying like a pathetic little fool.
Everyone saw you.
Everyone noticed.
You embarrassed me.”
I blinked, totally caught off guard by the accusation.
“I did not embarrass anyone.
I just needed to leave.”
“Liar,” she spat angrily and stepped closer.
“I saw the way you looked at him.
My mate.
You were staring at him like you wanted him, like you have some claim on him.
Do you think I did not notice?”
I felt my face grow hot, but I forced myself to stay calm.
“I do not know what you are talking about.”
She laughed coldly.
“You are such a terrible liar, Aria, and it is almost pathetic.
You have been jealous of me and have always wanted everything I have.
First Gavin, and now my mate.
You are nothing but a bitter, jealous witch who can not stand to see me happy.”
Her words cut me deep like a blade, but I refused to let her see it.
“You are the one who is bitter, Aurora.
You are threatened by me, and that is why you are standing here, trying to tear me down.
You are scared that someone might actually see me for who I am instead of just your shadow.”
She opened her eyes wide with shock, and then scowled with rage.
I saw her hand move before I could react, and her palm hit my cheek with a sharp slap that echoed through the room.
The sting that followed was so intense that I stumbled back with my hand on my cheek.
I looked at her and something inside me snapped.
I had spent my entire life letting her walk all over me, letting her insult me and mock me and tear me down, and I was tired of it.
I was tired of being the victim.
I raised my hand to return the slap, ready to fight back for the first time in my life.
But before I could, the door opened suddenly and mother walked in.
She froze as her eyes moved from Aurora’s innocent expression to my raised hand, and I saw the judgment in her eyes immediately.
“What is going on here?” Mother demanded coldly with a sharp voice.
Aurora responded quickly, her voice sounding sweet and wounded.
“Mother.
I came to check on Aria because she left the ceremony so suddenly, and she attacked me.
I was just trying to help, and she raised her hand to hit me.”
I stared at her and opened my mouth in disbelief.
“That is not true!
She is the one who slapped me!
I was just defending myself!”
Mother turned to look at me, her eyes cold and dismissive.
Then she hissed, “I saw you with your raised hand, Aria.
Do not lie to me.”
“I am not lying!” I shouted in desperation.
“She came here and accused my of coveting her mate, and then she slapped me!” New chapters come out on g.com first.
Mother laughed coldly, and the sound sent shivers down my spine.
“And why wiuld Aurora do that?
She has everything.
You are the one who is always jealous of her.
It was you who could not keep Gavin, and now, you are trying to ruin her happiness because you can not stand to see her succeed.”
I felt my face turn pale and cried out, “Mother, I would never—”
“Silence,” Mother snapped.
“You have always been trouble, Aria.
You were difficult as a child, and you are difficult now.
You brought shame to this family when Gavin left you, and now you are trying to bring shame on Aurora too.
I will not allow it.”
Aurora stood behind mother with a triumphant smile playing on he lips.
She had won.
She had always won.
And I was standing there, with my cheeks still stinging and my heart still bleeding, completely alone.
Mother turned to Aurora and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Come Aurora, leave her to wallow in her misery.
You have a future to prepare for.
You will be Luna soon, and you do not need to waste your time on someone who will never amount to anything.”
Aurora smiled and followed mother out of the room, but then she paused and looked back at me, with her eyes glittering with victory.
“I hope you enjoyed your little moment of defiance, Aria, because it will be the last one you ever have.”
And then she was gone, leaving me standing there, with my hand still pressed against my burning cheek and my heart shattering inro pieces.
I sank to tne floor, as the tears I had been holding back finally spilling over.
I had no one.
My mother hated me, my sister despised me, and the man I loved was bound to the very person who had just destroyed me.
I pressed my hands to my stomach and felt the lufe growing inside me, the only thing I had left.
And I knew I had to leave.
If I stayed, Aurora would find out about the pregnancy, and she would destroy me.
She would destroy my pup.
I could not let that happen.
I had to protect my baby, even if it meant leaving everything behind.
I whispered to myself brokenly, “I have to go.
I have to leave tonight.”