Chapter 50 050

Chapter 50 050
Chapter 49

Aria's POV
Things were better between us after our argument. Drogo made an effort to include me in decisions and I spoke up more when something bothered me.

But three weeks later, I found something that shattered the progress we'd made.

I was looking for one of Drogo's maps to show a visiting Alpha the territory boundaries. He'd mentioned keeping them in the chest by his desk, the one he usually kept locked.

The chest was open. He must have forgotten to lock it that morning.

I pulled out the maps and was about to close it when I noticed a bundle of letters tied with string, tucked underneath some old reports. The handwriting on the top envelope caught my attention.

It was my father's handwriting.

My stomach dropped. Why would Drogo have letters from Aldric hidden in a locked chest?

I knew I shouldn't read them. Knew it was a violation of privacy. But my hands were already pulling the string loose, unfolding the first letter.

It was dated eight months ago. Before Aldric and I had reconciled. Before the alliance was even proposed.

Drogo,

I appreciate your discretion regarding our previous conversations. As discussed, Aria cannot know about our arrangement until the time is right. She's too headstrong to understand the necessity of what we're planning.

I'll continue to provide intelligence on the Eastern Pack movements as agreed. In return, I trust you'll honor our agreement regarding Aria's eventual return to Northern Pack territory for the proposed union with Alpha Kade's nephew.

This benefits both our packs tremendously. I know you see that, even if Aria won't initially.

Keep this between us until we can present it as the only logical option.

-Aldric

I read it three times. My hands were shaking so badly I could barely hold the paper.

Drogo and my father had been planning something behind my back. Something involving me and a union with someone from the Eastern Pack. They'd been coordinating for months.

I grabbed another letter from the bundle. This one was more recent, dated just six weeks ago.

Drogo,

Kade's nephew has agreed to the arrangement. The marriage would solidify peace between all three packs permanently. I know Aria will resist, but she'll understand eventually that this is bigger than her personal preferences.

We should discuss timing. After her school project is established might be best. She'll be less likely to fight it if she feels she's accomplished something here first.

Let me know your thoughts.

-Aldric

There were five more letters. Each one detailing plans for my future that I knew nothing about. Plans made by my husband and my father working together.

The maps fell from my hands. I couldn't breathe.

Drogo had looked me in the eye every day for months knowing he was planning to send me back to my father. Knowing he'd agreed to some arranged marriage with a stranger.

Every conversation we'd had about partnership, about being equals, about building a future together, had been a lie.

I heard footsteps in the hallway. Drogo was coming back.

I shoved the letters back in the chest and grabbed the maps. When he walked in, I was standing by the window pretending to study them.

"Found what you needed?" he asked.

I couldn't look at him. "Yes. Thanks."

"You alright? You look pale."

"I'm fine. Just tired."

He accepted that and went to his desk. Started working on correspondence like nothing was wrong. Like he wasn't actively betraying me.

I left with the maps and went straight to find Beth. She was in the training yard working with some of the older students.

"I need to talk to you," I interrupted. "Now. Private."

She saw my face and immediately dismissed the students. We walked to the edge of the fortress where no one could overhear.

"What happened?"

I told her about the letters. About everything Aldric and Drogo had been planning. Beth's expression went from concerned to furious.

"That bastard," she breathed. "He's been lying to you this whole time."

"I don't know what to do. Part of me wants to confront him immediately. But another part thinks I should gather more information first. Figure out how deep this goes."

"How many people know about this arrangement?"

"I don't know. The letters only mentioned Drogo and Aldric. But there could be others involved."

"What about this nephew? Do you know anything about him?"

"Nothing. I've never even heard Kade mention having a nephew."

We sat in silence for a moment. My mind was racing through every conversation, every decision, every moment from the past months. Recontextualizing everything through this new horrible lens.

"The alliance," I realized suddenly. "The whole alliance with Aldric. Was that just part of setting this up?"

"Probably. Get you comfortable with your father being around again. Make the transition smoother when they finally told you."

I felt sick. "And the school. Drogo encouraging me to build it, letting me pour everything into it. Was that just to keep me distracted?"

"Or to give you something to feel accomplished about before they took it all away." Beth grabbed my shoulders. "Listen to me. You need to be smart about this. If you confront Drogo now, he might accelerate whatever timeline they have planned. Or he might lie and convince you those letters mean something different."

"So what do I do?"

"Gather information. Figure out who else knows. Find out more about this nephew and what the actual plan is. Then you decide how to handle it."

She was right. But every instinct screamed at me to march back to our quarters and demand the truth.

"I can't pretend everything's normal," I protested. "I can't look at him knowing what I know."

"You have to. At least for a few days. Just until we understand the full situation."

I spent the rest of the day avoiding Drogo as much as possible. When I couldn't avoid him, I kept conversations brief and focused on pack business.

That night at dinner, he noticed something was off.

"You've barely said anything all evening," he observed.

"I'm just tired. Long day with the students."

"Are you sure that's all?"

I forced myself to meet his eyes. Saw concern there that looked genuine. Which made everything worse because I didn't know what was real anymore.

"I'm sure. Just need sleep."

He accepted that but I could tell he didn't fully believe me.

Later, lying in bed next to him, I stared at the ceiling and tried not to scream. He reached for my hand like he always did before sleep.

I let him take it because refusing would raise questions. But his touch made my skin crawl.

This man who I'd trusted with everything. Who I'd fought beside and bled for. Who I'd believed when he said we were partners.

He'd been planning to give me away this whole time.

The next morning I waited until Drogo left for patrol. Then I went back to the chest. Carefully removed all the letters and brought them to Beth.

"I need you to read these. Tell me if I'm misunderstanding something."

She read through each one carefully. Her expression grew darker with every page.

"You're not misunderstanding," she confirmed. "This is exactly what it looks like. They've been planning this for almost a year. The marriage is supposed to happen in three months based on this timeline."

Three months. I had three months before they expected me to agree to marry a stranger and leave Shadow Peak.

"There's more," Beth pointed to one of the later letters. "Look at this part. Aldric mentions that if you refuse, they have contingency plans. Something about using pack law to enforce the arrangement."

"What does that mean?"

"I'm not sure. But it sounds like they're prepared to force you if you don't go willingly."

My hands clenched into fists. "I won't go. I don't care what plans they've made. I'm not leaving Shadow Peak and I'm definitely not marrying someone I don't know."

"Then we need a plan. Because Drogo and Aldric clearly have one."

We spent hours strategizing. Beth suggested we reach out to some of the other allied Alphas. Sera from Riverside Pack had been grateful for the school partnership. She might support me if this became a public conflict.

"But we need proof," Beth warned. "If you accuse Drogo without evidence, he'll deny everything. You need those letters and anything else you can find."

I went back to the chest that afternoon. Searched more thoroughly this time. Found notes in Drogo's handwriting about the arrangement. Details about bride price and territorial concessions. Calculations about how the marriage would benefit Shadow Peak politically.

It was all there in black and white. My husband had sold me for political gain.

That night Drogo tried to initiate intimacy. I couldn't do it. Made an excuse about not feeling well.

He looked hurt but didn't push. "Is something wrong? You've been distant for days."

"I told you, I'm just tired."

"Aria, talk to me. What's going on?"

I almost broke. Almost threw the letters in his face and demanded answers. But Beth's voice echoed in my head about being smart, about gathering information first.

"Nothing's going on. I'm fine."

He didn't believe me but what could he say? He was keeping secrets too.

The following week was torture. Pretending everything was normal while planning my next move. Watching Drogo interact with the pack, make decisions, play the part of devoted Alpha and husband.

All while knowing he'd agreed to send me away.

I started copying the letters. Hiding duplicates in different locations in case something happened to the originals. Building a case.

Beth helped me identify allies. People in the pack who were loyal to me specifically, not just to Drogo as Alpha. We were careful about it, not wanting to tip anyone off.

Ten days after finding the letters, I was ready to confront him.

But before I could, everything exploded in a way I didn't expect.