Chapter 8 At The Dining
Chapter Eighr — Aria’s POV
Everyone was eating.
The long table was filled with food, warm plates, and soft voices. The room smelled like spices and fresh bread, but I could barely taste anything. I sat quietly, my hands resting on my lap, my back straight, my eyes lowered most of the time.
My brothers sat around me, making sure my plate was full. One of them gently pushed a bowl closer to me when he noticed I wasn’t eating much.
“Eat slowly,” he whispered. “You need strength.”
I nodded, forcing a small smile, even though my chest felt tight.
My parents sat across the table. My mother kept looking at me, her eyes full of worry and love. My father tried to act normal, talking to my brothers about pack matters, but his voice was stiff.
Mina sat a little farther away.
She laughed softly at the right moments. She spoke politely. She looked calm.
But I could feel her watching me.
Every time someone spoke to me, her eyes flickered. Every time my brothers leaned closer to me, her fingers tightened around her fork. She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
Then the door opened.
The room went quiet.
I felt it before I saw him.
Alpha Aiden.
The air seemed to shift as he stepped inside. He was tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in dark clothes that made his presence heavy and commanding. His face was calm, unreadable, his eyes sharp and cold.
Everyone stood up at once.
“Alpha Aiden,” my father said quickly. “You honor us with your visit.”
Aiden nodded slightly. “I was nearby,” he said. His voice was deep and steady. “I came to greet the family.”
Before anyone else could speak, Mina stood up quickly.
“Alpha Aiden,” she said, her voice sweet, almost eager. She walked toward him with confidence, her smile wide. “Welcome. Please, sit.”
She stood close to him. Too close.
Aiden nodded again, his eyes briefly meeting hers.
Then… his gaze moved.
It landed on me.
I froze.
It wasn’t a long look. It wasn’t obvious. But it was enough.
His eyes lingered on me for just a second longer than necessary. His brows furrowed slightly, like he was noticing something he didn’t expect.
My heart skipped.
I looked down quickly, my fingers tightening on the edge of the table.
I felt exposed. Seen.
Mina noticed.
I saw it from the corner of my eye—the way her smile stiffened, the way her body tensed. She followed his gaze and saw where he was looking.
At me.
Her jaw tightened.
“Alpha,” Mina said quickly, stepping closer to him again. “May I speak with you? Privately?”
Aiden didn’t answer her right away.
He took a seat instead, calm and unbothered. One of my brothers pulled out a chair for him. Food was placed in front of him, but he barely looked at it.
Mina remained standing beside him, clearly waiting for his attention.
She leaned down slightly and lowered her voice, though everyone could still hear.
“Alpha,” she said, smiling tightly, “she’s pregnant already.”
The words hit the table like a stone.
My breath caught.
My hands trembled.
The room went silent.
I lifted my head slowly, my heart pounding. My chest felt like it was burning.
Aiden looked up then.
His eyes moved to me again.
This time, the look was different.
Sharp.
Focused.
Heavy.
I felt my stomach twist under his gaze.
Mina straightened, clearly satisfied she had said it.
“Can we go out and talk?” she added quickly, her voice urgent. “There are things you need to know.”
Aiden didn’t respond.
He didn’t even look at her.
His eyes stayed on me for a moment longer, as if he was studying me, trying to understand something.
Then he looked away.
“I didn’t come to discuss that,” he said calmly.
Mina stiffened.
“Alpha—” she tried again.
“I said,” he repeated, his voice firm but not loud, “I did not come for that.”
The room felt tense. Heavy. Like something unseen was pressing down on all of us.
Mina’s face flushed. Her lips parted, but no words came out. She slowly stepped back, her hands clenched tightly at her sides.
My heart wouldn’t stop racing.
I felt small. Exposed. Uncertain.
I didn’t know why he looked at me like that.
I didn’t know what he was thinking.
All I knew was this—
Mina saw it.
And she didn’t like it.
Not at all.
I lowered my gaze again, my fingers resting protectively over my stomach.
Something had shifted.
And I had a feeling…
nothing would be the same after this.