Chapter 32 The Shadow Of Jealousy
Chapter — The Shadow of Jealousy
Mina's POv
The meeting hall had emptied hours ago, but I couldn’t stop replaying it in my mind. Every word Aria had said, every confident step she had taken, every glance she had thrown at the pack—it was unbearable. My chest felt tight, my hands clenched into fists as I remembered the way Aiden had stood by her, his presence almost like a shield.
I had thought—no, I had known—that I had a chance. I had dreamed of being the Luna, of having Aiden by my side, of commanding respect, of having my family and him wrapped around me. But that dream… that dream had been stolen right before my eyes.
And Aria… she had done it so easily. So gracefully. Smiling, confident, unafraid. How was it possible that someone who had just appeared in my life could take everything I had wanted?
I walked back into the quiet of my room, the walls suddenly feeling too small, too confining. The fire of jealousy burned hotter with every thought. I could feel the sharp edge of my own frustration slicing through me. How dare she? How dare she take what was meant for me?
I sank onto the edge of my bed, hiding my face in my hands. The tears came first—not out of weakness, but from the fury and helplessness I felt. My love for Aiden, my obsession, my longing—it all twisted inside me, bleeding into this rage.
And yet… there was a plan forming. A way to turn this around.
I thought about the women in the pack, the elders, the relatives who were always eager for drama. If Aria had charmed them today, there were ways to whisper doubts, to make them question her. It wouldn’t take much. Just a careful word here, a hint of suspicion there. And soon… soon they would begin to see cracks where none existed.
I could manipulate this. I could spread whispers without seeming cruel. “Aria is pregnant with another man’s child,” I would say softly to those who already liked gossip. “Is she really fit to be Luna?” I’d ask casually to the elders, planting seeds of doubt that would grow slowly. Questions… not accusations. No proof, just suspicion.
I thought about my mother. She had always favored me, always encouraged me, always reminded me that I was the clever one. She could be persuaded to support me—carefully, delicately—if I framed it right. And she would. I could see it in her eyes even now, the tiny flicker of concern when she had watched Aria stand so confidently.
I stood up abruptly, pacing the room. My mind whirled with strategy. If I could make Aria seem uncertain, hesitant, weak… if I could show Aiden that she wasn’t as perfect as she seemed… maybe, just maybe, I could reclaim some control.
But there was one thing I had to accept: Aiden liked her. He trusted her. He had declared her his Luna openly. That truth stung more than anything. The fact that he had chosen her over me, over everything I had imagined for myself, was like a knife twisting in my chest.
I clenched my fists again, determined. If I couldn’t take him away… I could at least make her life difficult. I could remind her that I existed, that I had power, that I had connections in this pack. And if I played my cards carefully, I could make her see that nothing here was truly hers yet.
Then came a moment of quiet reflection, the tiniest flicker of fear. What if my plans failed? What if Aria was stronger than I thought? She had survived so many challenges, so many obstacles, and yet here she stood, radiant, poised, and untouchable. Could I really undo all of that?
I shook my head. No. I wouldn’t allow doubt to paralyze me. I had to act. The pack would see me as clever, cunning, careful, and I would use that to my advantage. Aria may have won today, but tomorrow… tomorrow the game would begin in earnest.
I thought about approaching the elders, planting my words with the utmost subtlety. I would be careful, gentle in tone, almost concerned for the pack. “I just hope Aria truly understands the responsibilities she carries,” I would say. “We wouldn’t want her decisions to harm the harmony of the pack.”
Then I thought about Aria herself, and I smiled faintly, wickedly. I would be watching her, always. I would learn her habits, her weaknesses, the things she couldn’t control. And one day… one day, she would see that Mina’s shadow was always there. Always.
But for now, I had to be patient. I had to wait. Let her bask in her moment, let her feel the approval of the pack and Aiden’s gaze. Because soon enough, I would find the cracks, and when I did… she wouldn’t be able to hide from me.
The fire in my chest burned brighter. This was only the beginning.