"What's your name?"
I freeze mid-breath when her footsteps stop right in front of me. Her voice is close, so close I can almost feel the warmth of her breath brushing against my cheek.
I stiffen, spine rigid, forcing my tone to remain even as I answer without daring to meet her eyes. My gaze stays locked forward.
"Aria."
She chuckles softly, the sound light and unhurried, like it costs her nothing to be perfect.
The ease of it grates at me even as I notice against my will how flawless she is. That scent of hers drifts between us, a gentle but intoxicating sweetness, and I hate myself for noticing.
I can't stop my eyes from flicking toward her, just for a second. And... I just notice, saying she's beautiful feels like an insult to the truth, there's an elegance in her that doesn't need effort.
"You only have one name?" she asks, her eyes still fixed on me.
Why does she need my second name? Is it even necessary?!
"Aria Wolfe," I say, my voice clipped, hoping she'll lose interest. Deep inside, I pray she isn't planning to choose me as her personal servant. I've already decided I'm leaving…
"Aria Wolfe it is." She says it like she's sealing a decision, cutting my thoughts in half.
"Uuh… actually, she works for me, so maybe you can decide on someone else," Hillary's voice breaks through for the first time since this all began.
"Hillary," his mother scolds immediately, her tone heavy with warning. "You can have any other servant. Let Victoria choose whoever she feels comfortable with. If the person is going to be entering her room, it should be someone she's comfortable with."
Hillary's reply comes sharp, edged with hidden irritation. "Shouldn't I have someone I'm comfortable with too? I'm used to her being in my room, sending her for things, and she understands everything she's supposed to do without me reminding her. I don't have to repeat myself every day. Having someone else that is going to cost my time,"
There's no anger in his voice, but it's not soft either. It's unreadable.. controlled, but brimming with something restrained. The sound of it sends an odd shiver through me, though I can't tell if it's anger or pain.
He turns toward Victoria. "All of them will give you ultimate service. You can mold any of them into whatever you want just like I have mold my own in what I want. So come on, take another."
I don't understand any of this. Why does she even have to choose someone personally? As long as someone serves her well, why does it matter who it is? It's not as if anyone here would dare disobey her. Why couldn't the servant manager just assign someone instead of making this a show?
Victoria doesn't answer right away. She simply stands there, calm and unreadable, her gaze lingering. The silence is sharp enough to cut through the air, until Alpha Renon's voice fills the space.
"You can have anyone to serve you, so if it's her you want, then it's settled. Aria, you know what to do."
I can't. My chest tightens and the words tumble out before I can stop them. I step forward, bowing slightly.
"I was going to resign today… so maybe I'm not the best choice right now."
The hall goes quiet, like every sound has been sucked out of it. and I feel everyone's eyes on me
Then Luna laughs.. a soft, mocking sound. "Resign?" Her smile doesn't reach her eyes. "If the future Luna says she wants you to serve her, you think you can stand here in front of everyone and make demands like anyone cares about what you want and what you don't want? And… who told you you have the freedom to leave this pack?"
I freeze. My breath catches in my throat, burning. Did she just say I don't even have the right to leave?
What kind of day is this? Since I woke up, it's been one disaster after another, each one heavier than the last. And now, apparently, I'm not even free to walk away when I choose. Like I'm not a servant at all but a prisoner.
"Don't bother to explain," Alpha Renon's deep voice cuts through the tension. It feels like a physical blow, pressing down on me. "All she needs to know is that she is bound to serve here. Nothing more, nothing less. Don't bother to ask to leave or try to leave, and don't try to sneak away."
The words feel final like a sentence passed.
Is it just me they've bound here? Or is it the same for everyone? I can't think. My mind races to the memory of a girl who left once… so why was she allowed to go? And why are they sounding like this is something ancient, like something that was decided for me long ago maybe before I was even born?!
"Peter." Alpha Renon turns to the servant manager. "Get my son a new servant. You are all dismissed."
The dismissal snaps the room into motion. The others begin filing out immediately. I find myself walking too, my body moving without thought.. until Victoria's voice stops me.
"Not you. Aren't you supposed to show me around and my room and get things in order?"
My mind is still spinning, my thoughts tangled and heavy.
"Can I have her clear something in my room for a second, then she'll be back to you just now?" Hillary's voice pulls my gaze toward him. He steps closer, his tone neutral but edged with something that makes my heart clench.
"Are you going with her?" Victoria asks him.
"Yeah. Just something to get cleaned up. It won't take a second," Hillary replies.
Their voices blur in my ears, faint and distant. I can't focus on their words because my thoughts keep circling the same point: Bound here? What does that even mean? That I have no choice? That this is my life until they say otherwise?
And then, through the fog clouding my head, a thought cuts in... sharp, cold, uninvited.
If Hillary's sending me to his room, it isn't because he wants something cleaned. He wants a place where it's just the two of us. A closed space. A conversation.
I know he wants to talk.
But do I? Do I even have the strength left to hear his voice, to let his words reach me? Why should I? Hours ago, he told me he wasn't going to choose her, and yet here he is.. standing calm, letting the wedding draw near as if nothing between us ever mattered.
Why should I stand there and listen while he smooths over what he's done? Why should I give him the chance to unburden himself, to throw me whatever half-truth or excuse he thinks will make him feel less guilty... if guilt is even something he feels anymore?
If he cared, would we be here now? Would I be standing in this storm alone while he stands somewhere warm, untouched by the wind?
No. He can keep his words. I don't need them. And I won't let him make me carry his comfort while I'm drowning in the weight of his choices.
Before I can decide, Victoria's voice slides into the space between us, smooth and sweet. "If you're going too, then I'll join the two of you. Not to sound shameless, but I would like to see your room." he says to Hillary.
Her words are wrapped in politeness, but something about them makes my skin prickle. Somewhere deep in my mind, a realization lands like a blow... she doesn't sound clueless about what was between Hillary and me.
I can feel it.
She must know something or she is already suspecting something.
And just like that, a fresh wave of panic rises in me. My heart thunders against my ribs, and I don't even know what I should be worrying about more.. the fact that I might be trapped here, the fact that I have lost someone I love, or the fact that Victoria might already know far too much.