Chapter 3 – The Chosen One
Aria climbed into the car, her hands shaking as she shut the door. The soft click echoed in the tense silence. Damon, the Lycan Alpha, sat beside her, his presence heavy and overwhelming. She couldn't bring herself to look at him. Just sitting so close to the man she was supposedly destined for made her chest tight with fear. Her mind raced. Should she reject him now? But what if he got angry? What if he hurt her—or worse? Stories about him—cruel, powerful, unstoppable—swirled in her head like warning bells. She wasn't ready to test which ones were true.
"Are you okay?" Damon's voice cut through the quiet, deep and calm, but not exactly kind.
Aria turned her head slowly, her face blank. Her lips parted, like she might say something, but no words came. She looked away, staring at the tinted window, and stayed silent.
The drive dragged on, heavy with unspoken words. The dark windows hid the world outside, making it impossible to know where they were going. Aria's thoughts spun, tangled with questions she couldn't answer. Why her? Why him? When the car finally stopped, she peered through the glass. A massive mansion loomed ahead, its tall columns and grand doors both beautiful and terrifying. It looked like a place from a dream—or a nightmare.
The car doors opened, and Aria stepped out, her legs unsteady. Damon walked ahead, and she followed, unsure what else to do. A long line of people—servants, secretaries, guards—stood outside the mansion's entrance, their postures stiff and formal. As Aria appeared, they bowed in perfect unison, their heads lowering like a wave. The sudden gesture made her flinch, her heart skipping a beat.
She stayed close to Damon, feeling small and out of place. Why had he brought her here? What was this?
Damon's voice rang out, strong and commanding. "From today, she is your Luna," he said, gesturing toward Aria. "Treat her with the same respect you give me."
The staff bowed again, their voices rising together. "Welcome, Luna," they said, clear and practiced.
Aria froze. Her stomach dropped. Luna? She hadn't agreed to that. No one had asked her. She wasn't ready to be their leader—or his mate. But here she was, announced like she'd already chosen this life, surrounded by strangers in a place she didn't belong.
Her throat tightened. She wanted to speak, to say this was a mistake, but her voice wouldn't come. She stood there, staring at the bowing figures, her heart pounding.
Damon led her inside, and the mansion's grandeur swallowed her. The foyer was massive, with gleaming marble floors, high ceilings, and chandeliers that sparkled like stars. Everything screamed wealth and power. Aria's sneakers squeaked softly as she followed, each step echoing in the vast space. She wanted to tell him she didn't belong here, that this was all wrong, but fear held her tongue.
Footsteps clicked on the wide staircase ahead. Aria looked up. A woman glided down the steps, her movements graceful and deliberate. A faint smile curved her lips, but her eyes were cold, calculating. Her heels tapped softly as she approached, stopping a few feet away.
"Is this the chosen one?" the woman asked, tilting her head to study Aria.
Aria's breath caught. She didn't know what to say. The woman's smile felt wrong, like a mask hiding something sharp. Her calm voice sent a chill down Aria's spine.
"Vera," Damon snapped, his tone hard. He stepped between Aria and the woman, his body tense. "What are you doing here?"
Vera laughed, unbothered by his anger. "Relax, Damon," she said, stepping sideways to keep Aria in view. "I just wanted to meet the girl you've finally claimed."
Her eyes narrowed, glinting with something dangerous. "Last I knew, you didn't believe in mates. What changed?"
Aria's heart raced. She didn't understand their history, but every instinct screamed that Vera wasn't just a visitor. There was something between her and Damon—something dark and unspoken.
Damon's jaw tightened. "You've said enough. Leave."
Vera rolled her eyes, her laugh light but mocking. She stepped closer to Aria, pausing just beside her. Leaning in, she whispered, "Let's see how long you last." Her breath brushed Aria's ear, making her spine stiffen with dread.
Then Vera walked away, her heels clicking sharply on the marble. She vanished around a corner, leaving a heavy silence behind.
Aria stood rooted to the spot, her hands clenched. Her skin felt cold, prickling with unease. Who was Vera? Why did her words feel like a threat? It was like Aria had stepped into a battle she didn't know existed.
"Are you okay?" Damon asked, turning to her, his voice softer now.
Aria looked up, her mouth dry. Her heart pounded, not with attraction but with raw fear. She saw the power in his dark eyes, the strength in his broad shoulders. He was everything the rumors said—dangerous, untouchable.
When he stepped closer, she backed away without thinking.
"I want to go home," she said, her voice quiet but firm.
Damon blinked, caught off guard. "What's wrong?"
"I just…" She took a shaky breath, shaking her head. "I need to go home."
He moved in front of her, blocking the hallway. His presence felt like a wall, immovable. "You're my Luna now," he said, his voice low. "You can't just leave."
Aria's eyes flashed with anger, a spark he hadn't seen before. "I'm not your Luna," she snapped, her voice trembling but fierce. "I didn't choose this. I didn't ask for any of it. I'm trapped here with you—the most feared man alive."
She turned, ready to storm out, but Damon's hand shot out, catching her wrist. His grip wasn't tight, but it was enough to stop her. His touch sent a jolt through her, unwanted and confusing.
"You believe the rumors?" he asked, his voice quiet, almost searching. Something flickered in his eyes—something she couldn't read.
Aria yanked her wrist free, her glare steady. "Yes," she said, her voice hard. "I do."
Without another word, she turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing in the grand hall. Her heart pounded, but she didn't look back.
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