CHAPTER 47 : "Whispers Through the Shadows: The Hidden Truths That Linger in the Silence
CHAPTER 47 : "Whispers Through the Shadows: The Hidden Truths That Linger in the Silence
Nightfall in Aria’s ’s Chambers
A soft voice stirred her from sleep. Her eyelids flew open. It was powerful—compelling.
Dressed in a simple nightdress, she rose, drawn to the voice that called to her very soul.
It led her beyond the familiar paths of the pack, deeper into the territory than she had ever ventured.
At last, she arrived at an ancient dwelling, its walls weathered by time. She stepped inside.
"Aria …"
The voice whispered again, guiding her down a narrow passage, deeper still—until the air grew heavy, thick with an unfamiliar scent.
A scent that struck her like a blow.
It was faint yet intoxicating—smelt like frost-laced cedar and crushed wildflowers.
She pressed forward, descending into a dungeon.
There, amidst the dim torchlight, stood a figure. A golden mask concealed half of his face, but his eyes—piercing, molten gold—bore into her.
"Beloved." His voice cracked as he inhaled deeply, his entire form shuddering. "You smell of—honeyed jasmine and aged myrrh." He sniffed, "Such a fine smell."
Aria stilled. This was not Demetrius speaking. No—whatever lurked within him had surfaced.
Her gaze darkened. "You… who are you, truly?"
"I am your mate, beloved. Your fated mate."
Her pulse quickened. "Then you have answers, don’t you? You know who I am."
He smiled—a smile unlike any she had ever seen on Demetrius .
It was… pleasant. Disarming.
A shiver rippled through her at the thought.
"You are a Dragon." He breathed in deeply. "I can smell it on you."
Aria recoiled. "A Dragon ?"
"It is not knowledge meant for you." His tone turned grave. "If they discover what you are, the wolves will kill you. You are vulnerable, your beast locked inside you."
A heavy silence fell between them. She bit her lip, unease twisting in her gut.
"Why?" she demanded.
"Because Dragons have been extinct for centuries." His voice was edged with warning. "You must hide your true nature, Aria . Guard it well, or you will not survive."
Her mind spun. It was too much.
"How… how can I believe you?" she whispered.
"Can a mate lie to another?" He stepped closer, his golden gaze unrelenting. "Do you not feel it, too? My truth—my sincerity?"
"I…"
"Shhh…" He raised a hand, as if soothing a restless beast. "You will wake in a few moments, and when you do—you will find me here. Then, beloved… I will tell you everything."
\---
Aria gasped as her eyes flew open.
The chamber was unchanged, yet the air felt heavier.
Her body trembled, her mind still grasping at the remnants of the dream—or was it a dream at all?
She sat up abruptly, her breath uneven.
Then she turned to see Milicent, lying in the bed in the corner. Aria stood and walked to her, sitting down on a nearby stool.
"Hey," she called softly, smiling down at Milicent as a tear escaped down her cheek.
"I can't believe you're still having that dream, beautiful. Don't you think it's time you woke up?" Aria continued, her voice faltering. "You need to feel again. You need to know that people are waiting for you to wake up. Because..." Her breath hitched as she remembered that night. "I can't forgive myself for what they did to you. I can't." Another tear fell, and she made no move to wipe it away.
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
She stood swiftly and moved to the door, only to find Dylia standing there with her medicine bag, Cedric beside her.
They bowed as they entered.
"Good morning, Luna."
Aria nodded in acknowledgment and stepped aside to let them in.
"How do you feel this morning?" Dylia asked.
"Hale," Aria replied with a faint smile.
Dylia moved to sit beside Milicent and began applying medicinal herbs to her and another for her to drink.
"Have you learned anything about her family, Luna?" Dylia asked.
Aria looked up.
"No one knows her. For someone taken into slavery when she was five, her village must have been burned, and her parents killed."
"You speak as though you’ve experienced it yourself," Dylia remarked, her voice quiet.
"Luna," Dylia said, noticing her pause. "Did I strike a memory?"
"Not at all," Ariareplied, her voice steady but distant. "I was thinking of how much Milicent has suffered since birth, and I would never let her suffer again."
She forced a smile. "It’s a pity," Dylia murmured, her gaze lingering on Milicent before shifting back to Aria . "I’ll return in the evening. Make sure she’s fed well." Then, she bowed and exited.
Ariastood up and walked to the window, gazing out, her eyes searching for Vargr. It hadn't escaped her notice that she hadn’t seen him since that night—and she hadn't seen the alpha around the castle either. She wondered what had happened to him after she left to dance with Milicent that evening.
Her thoughts wandered back to the dream. The house. The pull to find it. But seeing Vargr was more important.
She missed him, and seeing Lord Jaime might lead her to him, who could shed light on Vargr’s disappearance.
But the question lingered in her mind. Did she truly miss Vargr?
\---
Uthred's Domain
"It is clear that your Alpha is more than what we had believed," the mage said. "It is time to cease delving into his memory. You've seen what happens to those who try."
Uthred sighed, frustration evident in his posture. "I can’t believe everything I had planned is crumbling. Now I'm supposed to find the true Alpha Demetrius."
The mage smiled, his gaze steady upon him. "Why do you seek him so desperately? Is the imposter not doing well as the Alpha?"
Uthred scoffed. "Doing well, you say? I was content as the Beta to the previous Alpha, until this boy came along and returned with him—now, he’s been made Beta, leaving me cast aside. Now it makes sense why the imposter chose him. Cedric must be complicit in this."
The mage nodded slowly. "You are right. But," he pressed, "I can't fathom why I’m aiding you only to see you return to the position of Beta, not even Alpha. You spoke of becoming Alpha and promising me the throne of the Witch's Clan when you did."
Uthred laughed bitterly.
"You don’t reach the pinnacle of the ladder by skipping steps," he said. "Every climb is made one step at a time. There’s no shortcut to power."
The mage rolled his eyes. "If you say so. Now, what’s our next move to find your true Alpha?"
"That isn’t a problem at all," Uthred said, his voice low and confident. "I have something of his with me. You can use it to track him."
The mage raised an eyebrow. "How can you possess something of his and still ask for the Alpha's hair to confirm his identity?"
Uthred scoffed at the question. He turned sharply to face the mage. "How can you ask such a thing when you’ve been with me for so long? I made it clear from the start that he was an imposter. You were the one who refused to believe me."
"And you think withholding his belongings wouldn't have been the key to exposing that man, rather than wasting the blood of my ally in the Witch's Clan?"
Uthred let out a heavy sigh. "Can we not bicker about this now? Bring it up another time, and I will make it right. But for now, we have more important matters to attend to."