Chapter 4 Bound by duty

Aria's POV.

The party had ended hours ago, but the silence in the limo on the way back to Nightshade Castle was deafening. I stared out of the window, watching the darkened forest blur into streaks of green and black under the pale glow of the moon. The towering trees seemed to mock me with their freedom-rooted yet wild-while I sat trapped in a gilded cage, bound by duty and expectations I hadn't chosen.

My father, Alpha Wolfhart, sat across from me in the limo, his piercing gaze fixed on his phone. He was calm, too calm, and that made my stomach churn. Tonight was supposed to be a celebration-an Alpha gathering where alliances were strengthened and loyalties reaffirmed-but for me, it had been a nightmare in disguise. The announcement of my engagement to Alpha Kael of the Silverfang Pack had been made without my consent, and I hadn't dared to refuse. Not in front of the other Alphas. Not when my father's reputation was on the line.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry, and remained quiet the entire ride. Speaking up now would only lead to another argument, and I wasn't ready for that battle-not yet.

When we finally arrived at the castle, its towering spires piercing the night sky like claws, I felt a strange sense of dread. This place, once my sanctuary, now felt like a prison. The towering stone walls seemed to close in on me as we walked through the grand entrance hall, the sound of our footsteps echoing off the marble floors. I waited until the maids had taken our coats and disappeared into the shadows before I spoke.

"Father," I said, my voice firmer than I expected. "We need to talk."

He paused mid-step, his broad shoulders tensing. Slowly, he turned to face me, his expression unreadable. "Speak," he said, his tone clipped.

I glanced around the hall to make sure we were alone. "I can't marry Alpha Kael," I said, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to stay calm. "I don't even know him."

Father sighed, rubbing his temples as though I were a child throwing a tantrum. "Aria," he began, his voice heavy with disappointment. "Before we discuss anything else, look at the time."

I frowned, confused by the sudden shift in topic. "What does the time have to do with anything?"

He pointed to the ornate grandfather clock in the corner of the room. Its golden hands glimmered in the dim light, inching closer to dawn. "It's almost morning," he said, his voice low and cold. "And you haven't shifted yet."

His words hit me like a slap to the face. My chest tightened as I struggled to breathe. He didn't need to elaborate-I knew exactly what he meant. In our world, a werewolf who hadn't shifted by eighteen was considered weak, an outcast. And I, the daughter of one of the most powerful Alphas in the kingdom, was a month after my eighteenth birthday with no sign of my wolf.

"How do you expect to face the people of our pack?" he continued, his voice rising. "Do you think they'll respect you? Do you think they'll follow you as their Luna when you can't even shift? They'll ridicule you, Aria. They'll hurt you."

His words cut deep, each one a dagger twisting in my chest. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I fought back tears. "I know," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "But I can't just marry someone because you think it will save my reputation. I have to wait-for my mate."

"Your mate?" Father scoffed, shaking his head. "Who is your mate, Aria? Where is he? Do you even know if he exists? And if he does, how will he find you if you haven't shifted?"

I flinched, his words striking a nerve. Deep down, I knew he had a point. Without my wolf, I couldn't sense my mate, and he couldn't sense me. But the thought of giving up on the one person destined for me-the one person who would love me for who I truly was-made my heart ache.

"I don't know," I admitted, my voice cracking. "But I can't just-"

"You can, and you will," Father interrupted, his tone final. "This isn't about what you want, Aria. This is about what's best for the pack. An alliance with the Silverfangs will strengthen our position and protect us from our enemies. Alpha Kael is strong, respected, and capable. He will make a fine mate."

I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. "But I don't even know him! How can I marry someone I don't love?"

"You'll have time to get to know him," Father said, his voice softening slightly. "You'll date him for a week, and the engagement ceremony will take place next week."

My eyes widened in shock. "Next week? That's insane! I can't-"

"End of discussion," he said, cutting me off once again. "Now go to bed. And to let you know, I've invited Kael to dinner tomorrow night. You'll have the chance to start getting to know him then."

"Father, please," I begged, my voice breaking. "Don't do this."

But he ignored me, turning on his heel and climbing the grand staircase to his chambers without another word. I stood there, paralyzed, my heart pounding in my chest. The weight of his decision pressed down on me like a boulder, suffocating me. My vision blurred as tears welled up in my eyes, and I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me.

I leaned against the wall for support, trying to steady my breathing. My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me out of my spiral. I wiped my tears and pulled it out, my heart sinking as I read the flood of messages in the high school group chat.

**"Have you heard? Alpha Kael from the Silverfang Pack announced his engagement to Aria."**

**"He would never mate with her unless she shifted."**

**"I bet she's his true mate. He would never marry a weak she-wolf otherwise."**

My hands trembled as I read the messages, each one more painful than the last. They didn't know the truth. They didn't know that this engagement wasn't about love or destiny-it was about politics and power. But for once, the whispers behind my back had stopped. For once, they weren't calling me "the weak daughter of Alpha Wolfhart" or "the girl who couldn't shift."

Maybe... maybe this engagement wasn't entirely a curse. If it meant silencing the rumors and earning the respect of my peers, maybe it was worth it. At least now, no one could question my place in the pack. At least now, I wouldn't be seen as a failure.

But at what cost?

I forced myself to climb the stairs to my room, each step heavier than the last. When I finally reached my sanctuary, I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, letting out a shaky breath. The moonlight streamed through the large windows, casting an ethereal glow across the room. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my pale blue eyes red and puffy from crying. My long dark hair was a mess, and I looked as broken as I felt.

I stripped off my dress and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the remnants of the night. The steam enveloped me, and for a moment, I felt a sliver of peace. But it didn't last. The weight of my father's words, the engagement, and my unshifted wolf pressed down on me like a storm cloud, threatening to drown me.

After my shower, I dried off and slipped into my pajamas, trying to push the thoughts out of my mind. I climbed into bed and pulled the covers over me, willing sleep to take me. But just as I was drifting off, my phone buzzed on the nightstand.

I groaned and reached for it, squinting at the screen. It was a message from Kael.

**"I have a surprise for you tomorrow."**

I stared at the message, my heart sinking. What could he possibly have planned? And why did it feel like my life was spiraling further out of my control?

I placed the phone back on the nightstand and turned off the light, curling up under the blankets. As I lay there in the darkness, I couldn't help but wonder what tomorrow would bring. Would Kael be the mate I had always dreamed of, or would he be another chain binding me to a future I didn't want?

The only thing I knew for sure was that my life was about to change forever.