Chapter 17 Love Me?
Chapter 17 — Aria’s POV
The dining room was large, brighter than any room I had ever eaten in before. The long table gleamed under the chandelier, and the walls were lined with art that spoke of wealth, power, and tradition. Servants moved quietly around us, filling glasses and placing dishes, but it felt as though the room belonged only to Aiden and me.
I sat across from him, heart still thumping from the morning, from everything that had happened. Mina’s words still echoed faintly in my mind, but I had pushed them aside. Now, I needed to focus on this moment, on being here, on surviving… and perhaps… understanding Aiden.
He ate calmly, almost leisurely, while I struggled to take small bites, my stomach tight with nerves. I kept sneaking glances at him, trying to read his expression. The man who was soon to be my mate—or who I feared might demand more than I could give—seemed calm, almost untouchable. Yet, when his eyes met mine, there was a spark I couldn’t ignore. Something warm, intense, almost… hungry.
“Aria,” he said suddenly, his voice cutting through my thoughts. “If you are free later, we can hang out.”
I froze for a second, surprised by the casual tone. “Hang out?” I asked, my voice quieter than I wanted.
“Yes,” he said simply, almost smiling. “Walk, talk… get to know each other.”
I nodded quickly, unsure if my pulse was racing because of excitement, fear, or the strange pull I felt toward him.
We finished eating in silence, though the tension between us was thick. Every glance felt weighted, every movement deliberate. When the last plate was cleared, Aiden stood and motioned for me to follow. I felt a flutter of nerves as I rose, my hands trembling slightly, though I tried to hide it.
We stepped out into the garden. The air was cooler here, crisp and filled with the scent of flowers and earth. The sun was beginning to set, casting golden light across the manicured lawn. Birds chirped faintly, but their peaceful sound did little to calm my racing heart.
Aiden walked beside me, his steps steady, confident. He said nothing for a few minutes, and I wasn’t sure if that silence was comforting or terrifying.
Finally, he spoke.
“I am Aiden Darking,” he said, his voice low, almost intimate. “I am the Alpha of this pack.”
I nodded, trying to keep my voice steady. “I know,” I said softly. “But… I’m sure you know me too. I am Aria.”
He glanced at me, his expression unreadable, and for a moment I felt a strange warmth. Then I took a deep breath, deciding to ask the question that had been burning in my mind since I left the house.
“But… I must ask,” I said carefully, my hands twisting in front of me, “why did you choose me? Mina… she is loved by her family, and I don’t think you ever wanted her. So… why me?”
He stopped walking and turned slightly to face me. His eyes caught the sunlight, glowing faintly golden, sharp and intense. He smiled, a small curve that sent a jolt through my chest.
“I have never loved Mina,” he said simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “But you…” His voice trailed off, and I felt my heart leap.
I blinked, trying to process his words. “Me?” I asked softly, almost disbelieving. “You… you mean me? But… you don’t even know me. Not really. How… how can you… love me?”
He shrugged slightly, but his smile never faltered. “You’re different,” he said, his voice low, calm, almost teasing. “I don’t know why… maybe it’s your scent, your presence, your courage… I just know you’re mine.”
I stopped walking. My mind spun. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came. Me? How could he… and why now, of all times? I had been careful, hiding my emotions, surviving each day, trying not to cause trouble. And yet, here was the Alpha of the pack saying… I was his?
Before I could respond, his phone rang. He glanced down, eyes narrowing slightly, and lifted it to his ear.
“I’ll be right there now,” he said, his tone shifting, more commanding. “Yes… I’m on my way.”
He ended the call, and his gaze flicked back to me, serious now. The playful warmth was gone, replaced by that Alpha presence I could never ignore. I felt small beside him, my chest tightening.
“Do you… understand?” he asked quietly, almost to himself, almost to me.
“I… I think so,” I whispered, unsure if I really understood anything.
He nodded once, then started walking again, slower this time, letting me keep pace beside him. The tension in my chest didn’t lessen. I wanted to ask so many questions—about him, about Mina, about why I felt my heart racing so fast—but the words wouldn’t come.
All I knew was that my life had changed again. And this time, the pull toward him was something I couldn’t resist, no matter how much I wanted to.
The sun dipped lower, shadows stretching across the ground. I realized then that whatever happened next, I would not be able to hide from it. Aiden Darking had claimed me, in a way I didn’t yet understand, and the world I had known… was gone.
I walked beside him, heart pounding, hands trembling. And for the first time in a long time, I felt both fear and something more… something dangerously close to hope.