Aria's POV
It had been six days since I arrived at Nightshade Manor, though it felt like a lifetime.
I did everything I was told. I kept to the east wing, the one assigned to me. I ate in silence, rose before dawn, helped the house staff where I could. I obeyed Raine's rules to the letter: Do not speak to him unless spoken to. Do not linger near him. Do not seek his presence.
And yet… I felt him everywhere.
His scent lingered in the corridors. His voice echoed in my head, even when I tried to forget it. I told myself it was only fear that made me notice him so much. But deep down, it felt like I was lying to myself.
The bond between us wasn't real, not like the one I'd lost with Kael. And still, every time Raine's shadow passed down the hall or his boots clicked faintly on the marble floors below, my heart betrayed me.
The Alpha of Nightshade was impossible to ignore.
"Don't stare too long, dear. He doesn't like to be watched."
I jumped slightly, nearly dropping the silver tray I was polishing. Cara stood by the door, her hands buried in her apron. Her gray hair was pulled into a severe bun, but her eyes were soft — the kind that had seen too much and learned to say little.
"I wasn't staring," I said quickly, though I could feel the warmth rise to my cheeks.
Cara gave a knowing smile. "You wouldn't be the first girl in this house to say that."
I frowned, setting the tray down carefully. "What do you mean?"
She hesitated, her gaze flicking toward the door as if afraid someone might be listening. Then she sighed. "The Alpha doesn't keep company. He barely speaks, barely eats. But that hasn't stopped hearts from trying to reach him."
I swallowed. "And what happened to them?"
Her smile faded. "You don't want to know."
The fire in the hearth crackled softly between us.
"I only asked because…" I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "He doesn't seem cruel. Just… distant. Cold, maybe. But not cruel."
Cara's eyes softened, though her voice dropped to a whisper. "That's exactly what makes him dangerous."
I looked at her, confusion furrowing my brow.
She stepped closer. "Listen to me, Aria. You seem kind. Too kind for a place like this. The Alpha carries a darkness you can't see, one that takes whatever warmth comes near him and burns it to ash. If you value your life, you'll keep your distance."
Her words settled like frost in my chest.
"I'm not foolish enough to love him," I said quietly.
Cara gave a weary smile. "The foolish never mean to. That's why it's called a curse."
Before I could respond, a shadow flickered across the hallway and heavy footsteps echoed.
Cara stiffened. "Go," she hissed under her breath. "He's coming this way."
I turned just as Raine appeared at the end of the corridor, his expression unreadable. His gaze brushed over us — briefly, impassively — before continuing toward the main hall.
Even after he passed, the echo of him lingered. My heart wouldn't steady.
I hadn't taken three steps down the corridor before his voice stopped me.
"Aria."
I turned slowly. Raine stood at the end of the hallway, broad-shouldered and composed, silver eyes still unreadable.
"Come to my study," he said. "We have business to finalize."
My pulse quickened. Business. That was what I was to him — a transaction.
I followed in silence as he led the way through the winding halls. The Nightshade manor was a maze of shadow and light — every corridor lined with portraits of past Alphas, their faces proud and grim. The air grew colder the deeper we went, until we reached a tall, ironwood door etched with faint silver runes.
He pushed it open, and I stepped into a room that smelled of parchment and ink
Books lined the walls, thick volumes bound in black leather. Maps and ledgers covered the desk, alongside an open quill pot and a faintly glowing sigil carved into the wood. A contract lay in the center, its ink shimmering faintly.
"The terms," Raine said simply, motioning to the parchment. "It must be done properly. The elders require an oath sealed in ink a day before the ceremony."
I stepped closer, my heart pounding. "Ceremony?"
His gaze flicked to mine. "We'll be married tomorrow. It will be brief and everyone will head back to their respective duties afterward."
It shouldn't have hurt. And yet, it did.
"I see," I said softly, forcing calm. "That's… very sudden."
He said nothing, merely uncapping the quill and dipping it into the ink.
"I would have liked to know sooner," I continued, surprising myself with how steady my voice sounded. "Just so I could prepare. I'm still getting used to this place, and—"
"Then get used to it quickly."
His words cut through mine like a blade.
I blinked, caught off guard. "I only meant—"
He set the quill down and met my gaze fully for the first time. The force of it stole my breath. "You seem to misunderstand your place here, Aria. I do not share my plans. I do not explain my decisions. You are here to fulfill a purpose, not to understand me."
The words stung, more than they should have.
"I understand," I said quietly. "It won't happen again."
He regarded me in silence for a long moment. Then his jaw softened. "Good," he murmured, sliding the parchment toward me. "Sign."
I read it quietly as my fingers brushed the page. My name appeared beside his in silver light.
When it was done, he rolled the scroll and sealed it with the Nightshade crest — a wolf entwined with a crescent moon.
"It's finished," he said simply.
I wanted to say something — anything — to break the silence between us. But his expression left no room for words.
As I turned to leave, his voice came again, quieter this time.
"Stay away from the west wing after sundown."
I reasoned that must be where his chambers were located. I had no reason to hesitate or question his warning. I planned on keeping to my business like he'd told me to.
Leaving the study, I passed by the halls and saw that preparations were already in place for the wedding. I then headed back to my room to ready myself for tomorrow.
***
The ceremony took place beneath the Moon Stone Altar — a towering pillar of pale crystal that glowed faintly in the cold night air.The elders stood in a circle, their robes whispering in the wind, chanting words older than any of us. The moon hung full and white above, watching like a silent witness to our union.
There were no flowers.No vows.No promise of love.
Only duty.
When Raine's hand brushed mine to complete the bond, his touch was as cold as frost. I could sense his power even then, a deep, steady pulse beneath his skin.
"By the decree of the Nightshade bloodline," the high elder intoned, "let this union bind the Alpha and his Luna, that their lineage may endure."
When it was over, Raine turned away without a word. The elders congratulated him. The guests murmured polite blessings. And I — the new Luna — stood alone beneath the moonlight, wondering how something so divine could feel so empty.
Later, after the guests were dismissed and the candles in the great hall burned low, I found myself walking beside him down the corridor toward our chambers. The manor was quiet now, filled only with the echo of our footsteps.
He said nothing.Not a word since the ceremony.
The silence between us stretched. I clutched the hem of my gown, summoning the courage to speak.
"Raine?"
He didn't look back. "What is it?"
"I…" I hesitated, my voice barely above a whisper. "I was hoping we could talk. Just for a while."
That made him stop. Slowly, he turned, his silver eyes cutting through the dim light like shards of glass.
"Talk?" His tone was low, almost disbelieving. "About what?"
I swallowed hard. "About us. About what's expected of me. About… anything."
For a heartbeat, he said nothing. Then he took a single step forward, the air between us turning colder. "There will be no such thing."
The finality in his voice was like a door slamming shut.
"I told you before, Aria," he continued, his gaze hard as steel. "Stay out of my way. Do what is required, nothing more."
And then he turned and walked away — his cloak brushing past me. I stood there in the hall, still dressed in my wedding gown, hearing his footsteps fade in the distance.
I thought to myself then. This was definitely the beginning of a sentence.