Chapter 2 Unwelcomed proposal

Aria's POV.

The same man had been watching me the entire evening. His gaze burned through the crowd, no matter where I went. There was an unmistakable intensity in his eyes, something that unnerved me to my core. His scent was distinct, powerful, and unmistakably of royal bloodline. Yet I had no idea who he truly was or why he had the audacity to make such a shameless proposition to me earlier. The memory of his words by the pool brought a wave of disgust crashing over me.

I had slapped him without hesitation, my anger taking control before I could even think twice. The crack of my hand meeting his face had echoed through the air, and while I felt a fleeting moment of satisfaction, it was quickly replaced by revulsion. Sleep with him? Who did he think he was to suggest something so indecent?

I pushed the encounter from my mind as best I could, falling into step beside my father. He was making his way through the grand ballroom with purpose, stopping every so often to introduce me to the many alphas present at the gathering. The sheer number of them was overwhelming, and I struggled to keep up. My father, as the alpha of our pack, Nightshade, was well-respected, and his presence commanded attention. I, however, felt out of place. The grandeur of the Silverfang Pack's castle only heightened my discomfort.

The ballroom was nothing short of magnificent. Crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceilings, their light casting delicate patterns on the polished marble floor. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries and antique mirrors that reflected the glow of the shimmering candles. It was a marvel of elegance and wealth, but it failed to put me at ease. Instead, I felt as though I were being suffocated beneath the weight of it all.

The music began to play, a soft, haunting melody that filled the room. I glanced at my wristwatch, noting the time. Midnight. The full moon hung high in the sky, its silver light spilling through the grand windows. This was supposed to be the moment I had been waiting for-the night I would finally shift into my wolf for the first time. At eighteen years old, I had already passed the age for a first shift. Most wolves experienced it on their eighteenth birthday or soon after, but for me, nothing had happened. A month had passed, and I was still waiting.

I tried to push the anxious thoughts away, focusing on the moonlight and hoping that tonight would be different. But as the minutes turned into an hour, my hope dwindled. I felt my father's eyes on me, the disappointment in his gaze cutting deeper than any words he could have spoken. My heart sank. How could I face everyone if I didn't shift? The gossip had already begun, whispers of my failure spreading among my peers. And to make matters worse, I had yet to find my mate. I felt like I was falling behind in every way that mattered.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sight of him-the man I had slapped earlier. He was weaving his way through the crowd, his movements deliberate, his smirk unwavering. My pulse quickened, a mixture of irritation and unease bubbling to the surface. I couldn't understand what he wanted from me, but his confidence was infuriating.

He stopped directly in front of me, his piercing eyes locking onto mine. "I'm Kael," he said smoothly, his voice dripping with authority. "Next in line, Alpha Kael Ashford."

The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. Of course. This was his castle. The Silverfang Pack was the strongest in the werewolf kingdom, second only to our own pack, Nightshade. It made sense now, but it didn't make his presence any less irritating.

I crossed my arms, my tone cold and dismissive. "I'm not interested in knowing who you are."

Kael's smirk only widened, his confidence unshaken. "But I'm interested in dancing with you."

Before I could snap back at him, my father appeared beside me, accompanied by an older alpha. My father's expression was unreadable, but his next words caught me off guard. "Aria," he said, "this is Kael Ashford. Heir to the Silverfang Pack. Kael, this is my daughter and the heiress of Nightshade."

Kael extended his hand once more, his movements smooth and deliberate. "Shall we dance?"

My first instinct was to refuse, but I hesitated, glancing at my father. His subtle nod was all the permission Kael needed. Reluctantly, I placed my hand in his, letting him lead me to the dance floor. The room seemed to fade away as we moved in time with the music. Kael's presence was overwhelming, his charm undeniable. Any other woman would have been thrilled to be in my position, but I couldn't shake the memory of our earlier encounter. His audacity, his arrogance-it all lingered in the back of my mind.

And yet, there was something about him that drew me in. I hated it, but I couldn't deny it. The way he carried himself, the way he looked at me-it was as if he saw straight through me, past my defenses and into the deepest parts of who I was. It was unsettling, to say the least.

As we danced, he leaned in closer, his voice a low whisper against my ear. "Would you be my wife?"

I froze mid-step, my heart stopping as his words registered. I pulled back slightly, staring at him in disbelief. "What?" I managed to stammer, my voice barely above a whisper.

Kael's smirk remained, his confidence unwavering. "You heard me."

I shook my head, trying to process what was happening. "Why? Are you kidding?" My voice was louder now, the confusion and frustration evident in my tone.

Kael didn't answer right away. Instead, he held my gaze, his expression unreadable. There was something lurking behind his eyes, something I couldn't quite place. It wasn't just arrogance or amusement-it was deeper than that, more complex.

"I don't joke about things like this," he finally said, his voice steady. "You're different, Aria. I knew it the moment I saw you."

His words left me speechless. I didn't know how to respond, didn't know what to think. The room around us seemed to blur, the faces of the other guests fading into the background. All I could focus on was him-Kael Ashford, the man who had been watching me all night, the man who had made the most outrageous proposition I'd ever heard.

I didn't trust him. I didn't trust his intentions, his charm, or his words. But in that moment, as the music played on and the full moon shone down upon us, I couldn't deny that he had managed to capture my attention in a way no one else ever had.