Chapter 113 Chapter 113
The kitchen had gone quiet in a dangerous way. It became too still, as though the walls themselves were listening. The air had thickened. Dahlia leaned against the counter, her arms crossed, her eyes flickering between Lina and I. There was a thin smile on her lips, the kind that pretended to be amused but reeked of disdain.
“You’re discussing with a servant?” She sounded disgusted.
“And so what? Is there any rule that says I can’t have friends”
"Friends with a servant? What happened to sending them on errands?”
“Unlike you, I have human emotions. I won’t treat them differently” Dahlia took a cup, pouring herself some water.
“At least she understands her place” Dahlia said lightly, drinking some water before she continued.
“Some people forget they're guests here” Lina's shoulders stiffened and she looked at me.
I knew Dahlia was referring to me. My temper flared instantly.
"What did you say?" My voice was calm, but it carried a warning. Dahlia’s gaze flickered to mine. slow and assessing.
“I said Lina knows better than to overstep. It's an admirable trait of all the servants. Unlike, some others that haven’t learnt their place” I scoffed.
“An advice to you Lina, running errands for the Luna doesn’t make you more important than others. It just makes you convenient” she said sweetly, a smile tugging at her lips.
“That’s enough. You're mistaking respect for fear” I replied, stepping closer. “And you don't get to decide anyone's worth” Dahlia smiled.
“And you do?" She raised a brow.
"I don’t either but at least I’m not cruel”
The air thickened, heavy with unspoken challenge. Dahlia straightened, setting her glass down.
"You're awfully bold for someone who walked in here with nothing,” she said. “No pack. No name worth mentioning” I felt heat rush through her veins.
"Say whatever you want about me” I snapped.
“But leave Lina out of it. You will not speak to her like that” Dahlia raised a brow, mock surprise flickering across her features.
“Why? Because she’s your little shadow. I didn't realize you were her protector”
"I am speaking for all the servants. If you’ve been cruel to them in my absence, don’t do it in my presence” Dahlia scoffed.
“You act like you belong here, Ailsa. Like this place is yours to defend. But you forget, Lucian brought you in. That's all”
“Let me remind you if you have forgotten, I am the Luna of this pack whether you like it or not so you had better get used to that” she laughed.
“You are no Luna. A Luna commands respect from her subordinates but you go around trying to be friendly to be everyone so you can be accepted. How pathetic! Some of us actually earned our place here without pity” my fingers curled slowly.
Lina opened her mouth but I lifted my hand stopping her. I moved closer, my voice low and dangerous.
“That’s what you keep saying. You think cruelty passes for strength? I don’t want to be a Luna who her subjects fear and I don’t need anyone’s pity. But you cannot understand, you’ve not been a Luna before neither will you ever be” he expression darkened.
"Spare me the morality lecture” Dahlia snapped, her composure cracking. “Strength you say? You wouldn’t know the first thing about strength”
I felt the sting but I didn’t look away. I was not going to look weak in her front.
“You waltzed in here and you were handed a title. A bed beside the Alpha. Protection and power. While I had to sacrifice a lot to get here. But that’s the only thing you are good for. A mere fuck” my jaw clenched.
“You don’t know what I’ve sacrificed” I said through gritted teeth. Dahlia tilted her head.
“Oh, I know something you’ve sacrificed. Your unborn child. That’s the only sacrifice you’ve made” a smile tugged at her lips.
Everywhere became silent. That was a direct jab to hurt me. I felt the world narrow at that moment.
“You think that makes you special? Plenty of women lose children. At least some of us don’t hide behind grief to excuse weakness” she continued.
For a split second, I saw red. My hands trembled. Then Dahlia straightened, eyes hard again.
“So don't pretend you're better than me”
My wolf surged violently, pushing me to remind Dahlia who she was dealing with. For a dangerous moment, I imagined fisting my hand in Dahlia’s hair and dragging her across the kitchen floor but instead I stepped closer, heat rolling off me in waves.
"You're bitter and you're bored, and you need to heal because Lucian would never choose you. You are pathetic” Dahlia's smile faltered, then hardened.
"I dare you to say another word and I will forget every reason I have to be merciful” I said, my voice shaking. Dahlia smirked.
“See? All bark and no bite. I’m not scared of you” Dahlia said in my face.
Without another word, I turned on my heel and walked out before I did something I couldn't undo. The kitchen doors swung shut behind me with a force that rattled the walls. My footsteps echoed down the corridor, uneven and fast.
My chest burned, breath coming too quick as I fought to rein in the fury clawing at my insides. I didn’t stop until I nearly collided with a solid chest. He steadied me by the shoulders instinctively.
“Easy” he said when I had straightened.
"Ailsa?" Aiden's brow creased as he looked down at me.
“Why are you frowning like you're about to commit murder?" I huffed out a breath, trying and failing to calm myself.
“Dahlia” I said flatly.
“She was talking down on Lina. Then we exchanged words” Aiden's jaw tightened.
“I'll handle it”
"No. It’s nothing serious” I said quickly, grabbing his arm.
“Don't let Lucian know, please” Aiden blinked.
“Why not?"
"Because I don't want him punishing her again. Not like last time” I said. He studied me for a moment, then nodded slowly.
“Alright, I’ll keep it between us. I was not going to tell Lucian or harm her. I was just going to speak to her”
We began walking together and the tension eased from my shoulders.
“Did Lucian tell you about the wolf ball coming soon?”
"Yes” I replied. "He told me about it, this morning. He wants me to oversee the planning” Aiden hummed.
“That’s good. Are you comfortable meeting other people?" I frowned.
“What do you mean?"
"Other Alphas. Lunas," he clarified. "They'll be here. Some of them might not be friendly. They may be hostile to you” I lifted my chin.
“I can handle it." Aiden smiled faintly.
“I figured you'd say that. Lucian would fight anyone that’s unfriendly to you. That I know”
We slowed near the courtyard. He hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
“Can I ask you something personal?” I stiffened but nodded.
"Go ahead” my heart was beating fast.
"Where did you come from?" His tone was careful, not accusing. "I know you're not a rogue”
I froze. The courtyard suddenly felt too narrow, the air too thin. I was not expecting this question.
"I didn't…have a pack” I said finally, the words stiff on my tongue. Aiden didn't press. He just nodded.
“You’ve said this before. I figured you were hiding from something. When you first came here, you didn’t smell like a rogue and I noticed that but we didn’t care then” he said quietly, looking at me but I turned away from fear of him seeing the truth in the.
“I won't push. You'll tell me when you're ready. I know I’ve told you this before but I really mean it”
I exhaled slowly. Relief and dread tangled in my chest.
“Just know you’re not alone here” he paused and added.
"There's been some unrest at the borders, strange movements” my stomach twisted.
“We're looking into it”
“I hope there’s been no deaths”
“For now, there is no death but we have to curb the issue before someone dies” His gaze sharpened, meeting mine.
“If there's anything you want to tell me, anything at all, you know where to find me. I’m a good listener”
Then he gave me a small, reassuring smile and stepped back and turned away leaving me to the echo of his words.
I stood there long after he was gone, my heart pounding and my fingers trembling.
Aiden knows something, I thought. Or he was getting close to finding out.
My wolf stirred uneasily inside me, reminding me what she had been saying all this time.
‘Tell the truth’ my wolf urged. ‘Before it's torn from you. Lies have a way of killing slowly’
I swallowed hard, staring down the corridor, already wondering how much longer I could keep running from my past and what would happen when it finally caught up to me. I also wondered what would happen when Lucian, Aiden, and the rest of the pack finally learned who I really was.