The Set Up part one
Aria Pov
I couldn't believe it had only been a few months since I had married Alpha Alexander. Everything went so fast. It felt like it had only been a few days that I had stood on the altar exchanging vows with a man I knew nothing about.
He'd been charming, I'll give him that. Smiling and courteous, making an effort to put me at ease. But I knew better. I knew he was just playing a role, pretending to be the perfect husband until he got what he wanted ... .or maybe I was just seeing it that way because I didn't like him.
Fortunately, the mating ceremony had been skipped. I was relieved; I didn't want to be bound to him by some ritual. I played the part of the dutiful Luna, smiling and nodding in all the right places, while secretly waiting for the rebels to help me escape.
But as the days turned into weeks and into months, something strange began to happen. I started to feel... drawn to him. It was wrong, I knew it was. He was the enemy, the man who'd taken me away from my family and forced me into this marriage.
And yet, I couldn't help the way I felt. I found myself stealing glances at him, watching the way he moved with a quiet confidence that was both captivating and intimidating. I was drawn to him and it felt like he would be my downfall.
*
*
It was the Alpha's birthday, and the entire pack was celebrating. I had planned to make my move tonight, to slip away unnoticed and make contact with the rebels. But as I stood in the crowded hall, surrounded by the noise and laughter of the pack, I felt a pang of hesitation.
Maybe it was the way Alpha Alexander smiled at me, his eyes crinkling at the corners. Maybe it was the way he had touched my hand earlier, his fingers brushing against mine in a gentle caress.
Whatever it was, I knew I couldn't go through with my plan. Not tonight, at least.
But I could still wait.
As the night wore on, I began to feel a growing sense of unease. It started with little things: a whisper in the hallway from maids, a strange look from one of the pack members.
And then, the letters started arriving. Threatening, accusing me of treason and adultery. I knew I had to be careful, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched, that someone was waiting for me to slip up so they could pounce and throw me out.
I looked up to see Alpha Alexander standing in front of me, his eyes narrowed in concern. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice low laced with concern.
I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal after all, I was part of this somehow. But as I looked into his eyes, I saw something there that gave me pause.
Something that made me wonder if I'd misjudged him all along.
"Aria," he called my name sweetly, his voice softening. "What's going on?"
And that's when I saw it. A piece of paper on the floor, near his feet. A piece of paper with a message scrawled on it, in red ink:
"Talk and you're next."
I forced a weak smile, trying to reassure Alex that everything was fine while I tried to hide the letter under my feet. "I'm fine, really. Just tired," I muttered.
But Alex wasn't buying it. He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I want to ask you something though," he said, his voice low and even.
I met his gaze, wondering what he wanted to ask. "What is it?"
"What are you hiding from me, Aria?" he asked, his eyes searching mine.
I felt a flicker of surprise. "I'm not hiding anything," I replied, trying to sound convincing.
But then he asked another question "what about the rumors? Surely you've been hearing about them" he asked, his tone neutral.
I stared at him, unsure of how to respond to his probing questions. The annoyance was growing, and for a moment, I thought about my initial plan - to kill him and be done with it. But then I remembered the unexpected twist: I had fallen for him.
A sly thought crept into my mind. Maybe it was time to play the damsel in distress. I took a step forward, my eyes locking onto his as I whispered, "Do you believe the rumors?"
I forced tears to well up in my eyes, and Alex's expression softened. He drew me closer, his fingers gently wiping away the fake tears as he pushed my hair behind my ear. His touch sent shivers down my spine, but I didn't let my guard down.
"I don't believe it, Aria," he whispered back, his voice filled with conviction. "You know I love you. I always will."
A smirk escaped my lips as he pulled me into a hug. I muttered under my breath, my voice barely audible, "Too bad this love of yours will be your end."
I hugged him back, my eyes twinkling in excitement. 'The game has just began'