Chapter 4 The Silverfang Encounter

The morning sun barely touched the horizon when Aria awoke, her heart pounding from the dream. Her celestial blue eyes still held the faintest glow, as if the moon's power had lingered in her. The images of the storm, the voice, and Asher's enigmatic gray eyes swirled in her mind, refusing to fade.

She sat up, gripping the edge of the bed, her breathing uneven. What was happening to her? For years, she had searched for a sign that the power within her existed. Yet now, it teased her, appearing in fleeting moments she couldn't comprehend.

A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. "Aria?" Luna Celine, her mother's voice, came through, steady and familiar. "Come down for breakfast quickly. You'll be meeting with the Silverfang Alpha soon."

"Coming," she replied, hastily pulling on her cloak. She pushed her confusion aside, burying it beneath a mask of composure. Whatever was happening, she couldn't let it distract her. Not now. Quickly done with her morning routine, she rushed down for breakfast.

Mum, Good morning, How was your night? She asked. I'm good honey, how are you doing? I heard about what happened yesterday. Her mom asked worriedly

Mum, I'm good, Asher thought he rejected me, but I'm gonna prove to him that I am a Moonstone, Aria replied as she piped down the sandwich for breakfast with a hot cup of tea. Mum, I am already late for the meeting. Talk to you later. She rushed out

Aria made her way toward the central clearing of Moonstone territory. The sun had barely risen, casting soft hues of pink and gold across the horizon, yet a cold knot lingered in her chest. She had never felt more out of place. The upcoming meeting with the Silverfang Pack loomed over her, an inevitable storm on the horizon.

Aria's father, Alpha Lucan Moonstone, had been preparing for this day for weeks, speaking of the alliance as if it were the one thing that could secure their future. The rogue vampires had been growing bolder, and the Moonstone Pack couldn't afford to stand alone against such a threat. The Silverfangs, led by the infamous Asher, were their best hope for survival.

Her thoughts drifted back to last night, to Elias's words about unlocking her powers through emotions, through understanding herself. The idea seemed so far-fetched, so mystical-especially in the light of her growing resentment toward the bond between her and Asher. How could her emotions be tied to power she couldn't control? The thought of it made her head spin.

She had always wanted to be more than just the daughter of an Alpha. But now, it seemed as if the very thing she had tried to deny her whole, the weight of her heritage, was pressing down on her with a vengeance.

The sound of footsteps breaking through the underbrush pulled her from her thoughts. She looked up to see Elias walking toward her, his expression more serious than usual.

"Are you ready?" he asked, though it was clear he already knew the answer.

Aria nodded, though the knot in her stomach tightened. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Elias gave her a look of concern. "I know this is difficult. But this is about our survival. Don't let your emotions get in the way of what we need to accomplish here. We can't afford to make this personal."

Aria met his gaze, her lips pressed into a thin line. "I'll keep it together."

He gave her a quick, encouraging smile before turning and walking beside her, the weight of their shared responsibility hanging in the air. Together, they made their way toward the Moonstone Pack's boundary, where the Silverfangs would be meeting them.

The clearing where the meeting was to take place was surrounded by towering pines, their branches heavy with dew. A long table had been set up in the center, with representatives from both packs standing around it. Aria's gaze immediately sought out Asher, who stood at the far end of the table, his posture rigid, his stormy gray eyes scanning the group. His presence seemed to dominate the space, and though he was surrounded by his pack members, there was an undeniable distance between him and everyone else.

Asher's cold demeanor sent a wave of unease through Aria, and she quickly looked away, focusing on the task at hand.

Her father, Alpha Lucan Moonstone, stood beside Asher, his expression serious. "Ah, Aria," he greeted, his voice warm with concern but firm. "I'm glad you could join us."

Aria nodded, feeling the weight of the moment. "Of course, Father."

Asher's eyes flicked over to her, and for a brief moment, their gazes locked. The intensity in his stare made Aria's breath catch, and she quickly turned away, focusing on the proceedings.

The formalities of the meeting began, with the two Alphas discussing the recent increase in vampire activity and their plans for a joint strategy. Aria barely listened, her mind still spinning from the tension between her and Asher. Her emotions, despite her best efforts to control them, were becoming a storm of their frustration, confusion, and the faintest flicker of something else... something she couldn't quite place.

As the discussion wore on, the tension in the air became palpable. The Silverfangs were always a formidable force, but Aria couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Asher's presence, though commanding, felt like a storm cloud on the verge of bursting.

Finally, the moment arrived when it was time for the two Alphas to shake hands, solidifying the alliance. Aria watched, her heart pounding in her chest, as her father and Asher exchanged words of mutual respect.

But when the moment came for Asher to acknowledge her mate, the one person he had rejected in front of everyone-his expression didn't change. He gave her a curt nod, his eyes cold as ice.

The sting of his dismissal was sharp, but Aria refused to show it. She straightened her back, meeting his gaze with unwavering determination.

The meeting continued, but Aria felt the weight of his rejection pressing down on her more than ever. His coldness wasn't just toward her-it was toward everyone. His entire demeanor spoke of someone who had been hardened by pain, someone who had buried his emotions deep beneath a wall of ice. And for the first time, Aria felt a flicker of sympathy for him, despite everything.

What happened to you, Asher? She wondered, feeling a strange ache in her chest. The rejection she had felt was just about the mate bond. Or was it something deeper, something tied to the scars of his past?

The meeting finally concluded, and both packs began to disperse. Aria made her way to the edge of the clearing, feeling a pang of relief that the formalities were over. But her thoughts continued to swirl.

"You handled that well," Elias said, walking up beside her. "I know it wasn't easy."

Aria gave him a tight smile. "It wasn't. But we did what we had to do."

Elias eyed her thoughtfully. "I can see that something's still bothering you. You've been distant, even since last night."

Aria hesitated, then sighed. "I don't know what's going on, Elias. I can't seem to shake the feeling that there's something more to this something about Asher that I don't understand."

Elias's brow furrowed. "Be careful, Aria. You can't let yourself be distracted by him. We have bigger things to worry about."

But Aria couldn't ignore the pull in her chest, the inexplicable connection she felt to Asher. Even through his rejection, even through his cold demeanor, there was something between them-something powerful.

As they turned to leave the clearing, Aria couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. Her powers were still untapped, her emotions still in turmoil, and the bond with Asher-complicated as it was-wouldn't be so easily dismissed.

As she walked beside Elias, her heart heavy with the weight of her responsibilities, Aria couldn't help but wonder if this alliance with the Silverfang Pack was the beginning of something far more dangerous than they could have ever imagined.