Chapter 7 Family Discussions
Chapter Seven— Aria’s POV
Family Discussion
Everyone was in the room.
The space felt too tight, like the walls were slowly closing in on us. The lamps burned softly, but the light did nothing to warm the air. It only showed faces filled with tension, worry, and emotions no one wanted to speak out loud.
My parents sat close together on the couch. My mother’s hands were folded tightly in her lap, her fingers twisting around each other again and again. Her shoulders were stiff, as if she was carrying a heavy weight she could no longer bear. My father stood beside her, tall and silent, his jaw tight. He looked like a man afraid that one wrong word would break everything apart.
My four brothers stood around the room like guards. Some leaned against the wall, arms crossed. Others stood closer to me, not touching, but close enough that I could feel their presence. Their eyes moved carefully from face to face, watching, listening, ready.
And then there was Mina.
She stood in the middle of the room.
Her back was straight. Her chin was lifted high. Her hands were clenched tightly at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. At first glance, she looked calm. Strong. Proud.
But I could see it.
Her eyes were dark and restless. There was something boiling inside her, something she was struggling to keep under control. She was holding herself together by force.
The air felt heavy. Thick. Hard to breathe.
No one spoke for a long moment.
Then my mother finally broke the silence.
“Mina,” she said gently, her voice trembling despite her effort to stay calm. “Please… don’t do this.”
Mina turned slowly to face her. Her expression was sharp, almost tired.
“Don’t do what, mother?” she asked.
My mother stood up. Tears were already shining in her eyes, spilling over before she could stop them.
“Don’t force yourself into this marriage,” she said. “Aiden is an Alpha, yes. He has power. He has a name. But he is cruel. He is cold. And he doesn’t even seem to like you.”
The words fell into the room like stones.
I felt them hit my chest even though they were not meant for me.
Mina let out a soft laugh, but it was broken, bitter.
“Like me?” she repeated slowly. “Does liking matter now?”
“Yes,” my mother said quickly, stepping closer. “It matters. Your peace matters. Your happiness matters.”
Mina shook her head, her lips pressing into a thin line.
“Peace doesn’t feed you,” she said. “Peace doesn’t give you respect. Peace doesn’t make people bow when you walk into a room.”
She turned, her eyes moving around the space, landing on each of us one by one.
“If I don’t marry him,” she said, her voice rising, “who else should I marry? A Beta?”
She scoffed.
“A Lycan?”
Her laugh was sharp this time.
“No, mum. No. He is the one fit to stand beside me. He is an Alpha. He is the only one.”
One of my brothers stepped forward. His voice was calm, but there was strength in it.
“We all see it clearly,” he said. “He does not love you.”
Another brother nodded. “Position does not matter. Peace of mind does.”
A third spoke, quieter but just as firm. “You will suffer in that house.”
“No crown is worth your tears,” another added.
The room filled with voices then, overlapping, emotional.
“Think again, Mina.”
“You deserve better.”
“Don’t ruin your life.”
“Love matters.”
“Safety matters.”
Each word felt like it struck her again and again.
Suddenly, Mina’s face twisted.
Her shoulders began to shake.
And then she cried.
“Enough!” she screamed, tears streaming down her face. “Enough!”
The room went silent.
She lifted her hand and pointed at me.
“This is because she’s back, isn’t it?” she cried. “Your real daughter is back, so now you don’t love me anymore!”
My heart dropped hard.
The words hurt more than I expected.
“That’s not true,” my mother said quickly, rushing toward her. “Mina, please—”
“You don’t want me anymore!” Mina sobbed. “You found her, and now I’m nothing. Nothing at all!”
My father stepped forward, his voice firm, filled with pain.
“That is a lie,” he said. “We love you.”
“We raised you,” my mother cried, holding Mina’s hands tightly. “We love you as our own. That has never changed.”
They both looked at her like they were begging her to believe them.
“Please,” my mother whispered. “This is because we love you. We don’t want you to suffer.”
Mina covered her face, her crying growing louder, breaking the quiet of the room.
Everything felt too much.
Too many emotions.
Too many voices.
Too much pain.
The room felt small.
Too loud.
Too full.
My chest tightened until it hurt to breathe.
Slowly, I stood up.
“I… I’m sorry,” I whispered.
Everyone turned to look at me.
“I need some air.”
No one stopped me.
No one spoke.
I walked out quietly, my steps slow, my heart heavy like it was sinking deeper with every move. Behind me, voices rose again, but they sounded distant, like noise underwater.
I pressed my hand against my chest as I walked down the hallway.
I didn’t know where I belonged.
I didn’t know who was right.
All I knew was this:
Love—real love—should never hurt this much.
And yet…
it always did.