Aria's POV
***Centuries later***
The dawn of my eighteenth birthday came with silver light spilling through my window and the faint hum of the forest beyond the packhouse. I lay awake long before sunrise, staring at the ceiling, listening to my own heartbeat.
Eighteen.The age of promise.The age when every wolf hopes to meet their fated mate.
For years, I had imagined what it would feel like — that spark of recognition, the pull of destiny the Moon Goddess bestows only once. Maybe, if the Goddess hadn't forgotten me, tonight would be my turn.
But as soon as I stepped into the corridor and saw servants rushing about, my hope dimmed a little. The packhouse was buzzing with activity — not for my birthday, of course, but for Alpha Kael Draven's betrothal dinner.
His engagement to Selene Frost, daughter of the neighboring Alpha, was all anyone could talk about. Their union was to strengthen alliances, expand territories, and solidify Kael's power. It was the kind of match people like me could only dream of — the kind of love story that was never fated, only arranged.
I adjusted my worn apron and hurried downstairs, keeping my head low as other servants brushed past. I'd lived in this house for twelve years, but it had never truly felt like home.
My parents had been warriors — brave, loyal, and foolishly devoted to this pack. They died defending the northern borders when I was six. Alpha Draven, Kael's father, had taken me in afterward. He said no child of Silvercrest should suffer for their parents' loyalty. For a time, I believed him.
But when he died, and Kael took his place, everything changed.
The kindness vanished. The warmth of this house turned to ice. Kael saw me as a burden, an unwanted reminder of his father's soft heart. I became the pack's errand girl, the nameless servant who swept floors and poured wine, invisible among wolves who once called my parents family.
Still, I endured. Because somewhere deep down, I clung to the hope that the Goddess had a reason for keeping me alive.
I headed to the kitchen to meet Lena, the head maid. Her grey eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, and they scanned me like she was already tallying mistakes I hadn't yet made.
"Here," she said, thrusting a folded piece of paper into my hands. The paper was stiff from being handled so many times, ink smudged along the edges. "Your orders for the day. No mistakes, no excuses. Do you understand?"
I nodded quickly, my fingers tightening around the list.
"You'll start with the silverware in the east wing. The dining hall must shine before the sun rises fully. After that, the guest chambers. I want linens folded exactly the way Lady Selene taught us — corners sharp, edges crisp. And don't forget the side hall — the portraits must be dusted, and the floor waxed again. If Kael notices even a smudge, it's your neck on the line."
"Yes, Lena," I said, bowing my head.
She grunted, satisfied. "Good. I don't care if it takes all morning. Move fast, move silent, and don't let anyone see you."
I tucked the parchment into my apron, already memorizing the order of tasks. The list was long — longer than usual.
Lena watched me, her expression softening slightly. "You may be a servant, Aria, but that doesn't mean you're weak. Keep your head up, even if no one else does."
Before I could answer, a voice rang out behind me.
"Aria."
I froze at the sound of my name. Selene stood in the hallway, radiant even in her morning gown. Her hair shimmered like spun gold, and her eyes — cold, blue, perfect — fixed on me with faint amusement.
"Alpha Kael and I will be entertaining guests tonight," she said, her tone smooth but distant. "You'll be serving drinks during the event. Make sure everything is flawless. I won't tolerate embarrassment on our engagement night."
"Yes, Luna-to-be," I murmured, lowering my gaze.
She smiled — not kindly. "Good girl."
As she turned away, the scent of roses and power lingered in the air, and I caught a glimpse of Kael at the far end of the corridor. He was speaking to his Beta, his expression sharp and commanding. Even from a distance, he radiated authority — dark hair tousled, jaw set, his presence magnetic in a way that made the air feel heavier.
Our eyes met for a fraction of a second.Then he looked away — as if I were no more than a shadow.
I swallowed the ache in my chest and returned to my duties. The servants whispered about how perfect the pair looked together, how blessed the pack was to have a union so strong. I tried not to listen.
But as I polished the silver tray I'd carry tonight, I couldn't silence the quiet wish echoing in my heart — that when the moon rose, and the Goddess revealed fated bonds, I might finally be chosen too.
I never expected that the night would turn out to be so cruel.
***
By the time the moon rose over Silvercrest, the packhouse had transformed. Lanterns of silver flame hung from the rafters, casting a warm glow across the grand hall. Laughter and music filled the air, the scent of roasted venison and spiced wine mingling with perfume and wolf musk.
I stood at the edge of the room, balancing a tray of crystal goblets, careful to avoid notice. The glittering gowns, the polished boots, the powerful alphas and betas exchanging toasts — this was their world, not mine. I was only here to serve it.
Selene moved through the crowd like a queen already crowned. Her laughter rang like glass — sharp and perfect. Everywhere she went, eyes followed. And at her side…
My gaze flicked toward the dais where the Alpha sat. His presence dominated the room, commanding without effort.
I forced myself to look away, gripping the tray tighter. My palms were slick with sweat.
"Keep your head down," I whispered to myself. "Pour, smile, leave."
I moved between guests, offering drinks with polite nods. A few smiled kindly, others ignored me altogether. It didn't matter. This was what I was used to — being invisible.
Until it happened.
It was sudden — a pull so strong it knocked the air from my lungs. My vision blurred, my knees trembled, and the world tilted on its axis. A heat spread through my chest, a wild rhythm thrumming in my veins.
Then came the scent.
Familiar. Magnetic.Like rain after drought. Like home I'd never known.
Every part of me — my mind, my body, my wolf — reacted at once.
A jolt shot through me — fierce, undeniable, ancient. My wolf stirred weakly within me, howling in recognition, clawing at the edges of my soul as if trying to reach him.
Mate.
And that was when I saw him. Across the room, his eyes met mine and my heart sank.
Oh no.