Chapter 10 Mood
Chapter 10 — Aria’s POV
I was alone again.
The room felt too big when I was the only one inside it. The walls were quiet, but my thoughts were loud. They wouldn’t stop. No matter how hard I tried to calm myself, everything that had happened kept replaying in my head—Alpha Aiden’s words, Mina’s face, my brothers’ shocked eyes.
Why did this have to happen to me?
I sat on the bed and hugged my arms around myself. My shoulders felt heavy, like I was carrying something too big for me to hold. I had just returned to my real family, and already, everything felt wrong.
I didn’t want to be the problem.
I didn’t want anyone to think I came here to take something that wasn’t mine. I didn’t want my parents to regret finding me. I didn’t want my brothers to look at me with doubt.
Most of all, I didn’t want Mina to hate me.
“I didn’t plan any of this,” I whispered to myself.
I stared at the floor, blinking back tears. Maybe if I stayed quiet. Maybe if I stayed small. Maybe if I didn’t react to anything, things would settle down.
Maybe they would forget Alpha Aiden’s words.
Maybe Mina would calm down.
Maybe I could belong here… even just a little.
Just then, the door opened.
I lifted my head slowly.
Mina walked in.
She closed the door behind her and leaned against it for a moment. Her face was calm, but there was something sharp in her eyes. Something cold. My heart sank immediately.
“Mina,” I said softly, standing up. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
She pushed herself off the door and walked toward me slowly, her steps quiet but heavy. She looked around the room once, then back at me, like she was judging everything.
“I know why you’re here,” she said.
I shook my head quickly. “No… no, you don’t. Please, listen to me.”
She laughed softly, but there was no humor in it.
“Don’t pretend,” she said. “Girls like you always come with an agenda.”
My chest tightened.
“I don’t have any agenda,” I said, my voice shaking. “I swear. I didn’t even know about this family until recently. I just—”
She raised her hand, stopping me.
“Enough,” she said coldly. “Let me make this very clear.”
She stepped closer.
“There is nothing you can claim here.”
Her words felt like a slap.
“You can’t claim my parents’ love,” Mina continued. “They raised me. They held my hand when I cried. They watched me grow up. You might share blood with them, but that doesn’t mean you can take my place.”
“That’s not what I want,” I whispered, tears filling my eyes. “I don’t want to take your place. I just want peace.”
She didn’t care.
“Aiden,” she said sharply. “You can’t claim him either. He is my fiancé. I don’t care what he said or how he looked at you.”
My hands trembled.
“And my brothers?” she added, her voice dropping. “Don’t even think about them. I’ll make sure they turn against you. I’ll make sure they see you for what you are.”
My tears fell freely now.
“Mina, please,” I begged. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I didn’t invite Alpha Aiden. I didn’t ask for his attention. I don’t even want him.”
She stared at me for a long moment.
Then she smiled.
It wasn’t a kind smile.
“You already ruined things,” she said quietly. “And you haven’t even started yet.”
I took a step back, my heart pounding.
“I’m sorry,” I cried. “If leaving will fix this, I’ll leave. I don’t want to be trouble. I don’t want to hurt you.”
For a second, she looked at me in silence.
Then…
Footsteps.
Fast. Heavy.
Coming closer.
Mina’s expression changed instantly.
Her eyes widened. Her face turned pale. She lifted her phone quickly.
She faked a fall…
Huh! How?
“Oh no…” she said suddenly, her voice shaking. “Hello? Yes—yes, I’m here—”
The door burst open.
My four brothers rushed in.
“Mina!” one of them shouted.
“What happened?” another asked urgently.
Before I could speak, Mina let out a small cry and swayed. One of my brothers caught her immediately, lifting her into his arms.
“She was shaking,” he said, panic in his voice. “She looked like she couldn’t breathe.”
Mina held onto him weakly, her head resting against his chest.
“I… I just wanted to talk,” she whispered softly. “I didn’t want any trouble…”
All their eyes turned to me.
I stood frozen, tears on my face, my mouth open but no words coming out.
“I didn’t—” I tried to say.
But no one was listening.
They were all focused on Mina.
And in that moment, I knew—
This was only the beginning.