Chapter 4 Aria's POV

Aria's POV

"Good morning, beautiful. You were incredible last night," Darius's voice resonated, pulling me from the depths of sleep. His words sent a jolt through me, and I turned swiftly to face him. There he sat, wearing only his shorts, his chiseled torso exposed, eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

I clutched the bedsheet to my chest, the realization of my nudity and the bloodstains on the sheets confirming the loss of my virginity. Tears welled up as the weight of the previous night's actions settled upon me.

Darius's expression shifted to one of concern. "I didn't realize you were a virgin," he murmured, approaching me. "Had I known, I would have exercised more restraint. But I was gentle with you."

He leaned in to kiss me, but I turned my head away, the pain and regret too overwhelming. Without another word, I gathered my belongings and fled to my room, tears streaming down my face.

The day passed in a blur. The royal guests prepared to depart, and I immersed myself in my duties, hoping to avoid any further confrontations. However, fate had other plans.

As I navigated the bustling lobby, Darius's voice rang out, commanding and clear. "Where's Aria? I need to speak with her before we leave."

Ronan Vale, who had been overseeing the departures, turned to Darius with a frown. "Why do you need to see her?"

Darius's eyes narrowed. "I don't believe I need to explain myself to you, Ronan."

The tension between them was palpable. I attempted to slip by unnoticed, but Darius spotted me. "Aria, you're coming back to the pack with me." 

I froze, the weight of his words sinking in. Before I could respond, Kael interjected, his tone dripping with disdain. "She shouldn't dare set foot in our territory again."

Ronan stepped forward, positioning himself protectively between Darius and me. "Aria stays here. This is her home now."

Darius's voice dropped to a dangerous low. "Need I remind you who I am? I am the Lycan King, and my word is law. Aria will return with us."

The surrounding Alphas watched the exchange with visible unease. I felt torn, caught between my past and the life I had built here.

"Your Majesty," I began, my voice trembling. "I... I don't understand. Why do you want me to return?"

Darius's gaze softened slightly. "We have matters to discuss, Aria. Important matters that can't be addressed here."

I glanced between Ronan, who had become a steadfast protector, and Darius, the king I was bound to obey. Though my heart yearned to stay, I knew I couldn't defy the Lycan King's command.

"It's okay, Ronan," I said, turning to him. "I... I need to do this."

Kael scoffed, crossing his arms. "This is ridiculous. She'll only cause trouble."

Darius shot his step-brother a warning glare before turning back to me. "Prepare yourself, Aria. We leave in an hour."

As I turned to go, Ronan Vale gently caught my arm.

"If you need anything, anything at all, you contact me. Understand?"

I nodded gratefully, touched by his concern.

I hurried to my room, my mind awash with questions. What could the Lycan King possibly want to discuss? Was this about last night? The thought made my cheeks burn with shame.

An hour later, I stood in the lobby, my small bag at my feet. Darius nodded approvingly when he saw me, while Kael rolled his eyes in disdain.

Ronan approached me one last time.

"Remember what I said, Aria. You're always welcome here."

I offered a weak smile.

"Thank you for everything, Ronan."

As I climbed into the car, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the window-a fleeting, almost ghostly image in the glass. The girl staring back didn't look like someone embarking on a new chapter. She looked haunted. Her wide eyes shimmered with uncertainty, lips pressed into a thin line as if holding back a hundred unspoken fears. She looked scared. Scared of what fate had planned. Scared of what she might become.

The car rumbled to life, and silence filled the space around me like fog. No one spoke. I leaned my head against the cool window, watching the scenery blur past-forests thick with mist, winding roads that twisted like fate itself. With every mile, I felt like I was being pulled further from the life I knew and deeper into something I couldn't understand... or escape.

After about two and a half hours, we reached the edge of the pack's territory. My chest tightened as towering gates came into view, guarded and formidable. Beyond them stood the palace-looming, grand, and intimidating. Its stone walls were kissed with ivy, ancient yet untouched by time, and its turrets disappeared into the overcast sky like sentinels watching from above.

The moment I stepped out of the car, the atmosphere changed.

Alpha Marcus stood before me, arms crossed, posture rigid, his sharp gaze slicing through me like cold steel. His disapproval wasn't just visible-it radiated from him like a chill wind.

Before I could even catch my breath, Darius stepped forward, his presence instantly shifting the balance. Power clung to him like a second skin-impossible to ignore, impossible to challenge.

"Alpha Marcus," he began, his tone formal but firm, "Aria will be staying with us for a while."

Marcus's jaw tensed. His eyes narrowed into slits of suspicion, barely masking the disdain simmering beneath. "As you wish, Your Majesty," he said stiffly. "But may I ask why this... outsider is suddenly of such importance?"

I flinched at the word. Outsider. It felt like a brand.

Before Darius could answer, Kael's voice cut through the tension like a blade, laced with sarcasm and venom. "That's what we'd all like to know."

My cheeks flushed, a burning mix of humiliation and rage creeping up my neck. I wanted to vanish. Or scream. Or both. My hands clenched into fists at my sides.

But Darius didn't flinch. He turned a warning glare on both men, silencing them instantly. The tension crackled like static between them.

Then, his eyes found mine-steadier, softer. "Aria," he said simply, "follow me."

I obeyed, grateful to escape the scrutiny, though my heart pounded like a warning drum. I followed him through the grand halls of the palace, past ornate portraits and polished stone corridors that echoed with our footsteps. Everything here felt too large, too regal, too sharp.

Eventually, he stopped in front of a tall wooden door and opened it to reveal a spacious, elegant room. The bed was massive, the windows draped in silk, the fireplace already burning low.

"You will be staying here from today," Darius said, turning to face me. "And you're going to be my personal assistant henceforth."

The words hit me like ice water.

My breath caught in my throat. I stared at him, trying to read between the lines. My thoughts spiraled. Was this... punishment? Protection? Or something else entirely?

A chill slithered down my spine, and I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling suddenly exposed. Was this because of what happened between us? I wanted to ask, but my lips refused to form the words.

Darius looked at me for a long moment-his expression unreadable, his eyes far too knowing.

But he said nothing more.

And neither did I.