Chapter 5 Five

Aria's POV:

'What was I thinking?' The question echoed in my head so loudly it felt like it might split my skull open.

What kind of madness had possessed me to reject the offer of a man who could have killed me without blinking? A man who could have forced me to do his bidding with a single command, or a single flex of Alpha command, and no one would have questioned it.

Yet I, a slave girl who had been dragged here in chains, looked him in the eyes and said no.

My heart pounded painfully against my ribs as reality crashed down on me in waves. What kind of audacity did I think I had? What kind of courage, or stupidity had made me defy Alpha Draven Darkmoon in his own home?

Still... none of it made sense.

One moment, he wanted breeders whose sole purpose was to bear his children and be discarded. The next moment, he wanted a wife for an entire year.

'Something must've changed.' I said to myself, mind drifting back to the man who had interrupted him earlier.

What did he say to Draven outside those doors? What kind of argument could make a man like him change his plans so suddenly? And why me of all people?

The sound of his voice pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts. "Do you want time to think about it?" Draven asked calmly. "You may give me your answer later if you wish."

I looked up at him slowly, my heart still hammering as his eyes met mine and I stiffened because they were cold in a way that made my skin prickle with unease.

There was no warmth there and it made me feel unsafe, because I had no idea whether this was a test or a trap. An Alpha giving a slave the illusion of choice was strange. Or maybe... maybe he truly was different from the rumors.

But I highly doubted that.

The silence stretched for a while longer, until my mouth betrayed me and I blurted out the first question clawing at my mind.

"Why?" I asked hoarsely. "Why do you want me to be your wife for an entire year?"

"My pack has a tradition that every Alpha must produce an heir before the age of thirty-five." He said evenly. "And failure to do so means losing the Alpha title to the next bloodline, but I happen to be the last of mine. So if I don't produce an heir, then the title would be given to another."

He paused for a second, clearly frustrated then he continued. "I intended to use a breeder but the Elders forbade it and insisted that the future Alpha must be born of a Luna, not a sex slave to keep the Pack's spiritual energy stable."

I let out scoff and tilted my head back slightly, staring at the ceiling as if the Goddess herself might be listening. "I will never carry your child." I said firmly, and I regretted immediately but he did not get angry.

Instead, he said calmly. "You won't."

My gaze snapped back to him, stunned as he explained. "You will only pretend to be pregnant, while a breeder will carry my heir in secret. When she successfully births a son, I will take the child in and present him as yours. And when the time is right, we will divorce, for a reason the Elders cannot challenge."

My stomach churned violently because his words were horrifying. And yet... strangely, he hadn't forced me, compelled me, or threatened me.

That alone made the situation terrifying because my life had flipped upside down in the span of days. One moment I was walking home through the forest, exhausted but hopeful. The next, I was sold, beaten, transported, and now... standing at a crossroads that would determine my entire future.

If I said no, what if he killed me for daring to defy him? If I said yes, what if the entire year became a nightmare of politics, manipulation, and pack power struggles that broke me completely?

My hands trembled, but then another thought crept in. If I said yes... I would survive an entire year safe from physical abuse and I wouldn't be discarded like trash for defying him. And once the year was over... I could walk away.

The choice, horrifying as it was, became clear, so with my fists clenched tightly at my sides, I said. "I will do it."

A smirk curved his lips immediately. "You will do what?" He asked and I replied. "I will be your wife for a year."

Then, he stood up and extended his hand toward me. I hesitated only a second before taking it, allowing him to pull me to my feet. "Thank you." I murmured, my voice barely steady.

"It is quite late, we will discuss further tomorrow." He began. But you should know this, by morning, I will inform the Elders that I have found my fated mate and intend to make her my Luna. Meaning that tomorrow onward, you will bear the title of Alpha Luthor's mate so behave as one."

He paused then continued. "The contract will be drafted and presented to you. You will read it, understand it, sign it and understand that once the agreement ends, you will be rewarded with anything you desire, as long as it is within my reach."

I opened my mouth to thank him again, but he cut me off. "You should go, we will speak tomorrow."

"I... I don't know where to go." I admitted. "I don't know anywhere here."

"Just ask any maid you see on your way out to take you to Madam Roxanne. Then inform her that you are one of the girls brought in earlier. She'll show you where you'll stay tonight."

Thanking him, I bowed my head and hurried out. But as soon as I was about to reach the entrance, the man standing there, glared at me. So I lowered my head respectfully and moved past him without a word.

Stepping out of the garden, I had no idea whether to go left or right, but then chose right at random. After a while, I turned a corner and collided with someone.

"Oh! I'm so sorry." I apologized and the plainly dressed looked at me, surprised. "It's alright." She said. "Do you need help?"

"Yes, please." I nodded. "Can you take me to Madam Roxanne?"

"Of course." She smiled. "I'm Nicolle, what's your name?"

Before I could answer, my eyes drifted past her to see a little girl no older than five running down when she suddenly tripped and fell hard. Without thinking, I rushed forward and lifted her gently.

"Are you alright?" I asked softly, noticing that she didn't cry or speak, she just stared at me silently.

Suddenly, a maid rushed forward and yanked the child from my arms. "I was just helping her up." I said, stunned and the maid snapped. "I didn't ask for your help."

Nicolle hurried over. "Why do you look upset? Did she say something to you?"

"I helped the little girl, but her mother shouted at me." I said quietly and Nicolle scoffed. "That's not her mother, that's her personal maid."

"Why would such a small girl need a personal maid?" I asked and Nicolle let out a chuckle. "That's not just any little girl, that's Alpha Draven's daughter, Ella.