"You should head to dinner. I'll be there in just a second," Hillary says, his words quick and uneven, urgency laced into every syllable.
He moves toward the door but before he can make it two steps, Victoria's hand seizes his.
Her grip is sharp, her anger curling hot and heavy beneath her skin as she notices the direction of his glance, the restless way he seems ready to chase after Aria.
"Let's go to dinner first, and then you can do everything else. Your mom just called for us," she says, her tone rises with sharpness. "If you keep acting like this, I'm really going to think that something is happening. And if you keep this up, I'll turn down the marriage. It doesn't matter if we're fated mates or not." The words burst from her, sharp and unrestrained, her emotions spilling before she can gather them back.
But inside, she knows the truth. She would never leave Hillary now, not after she has him, not after fate has aligned their lives. And definitely not leaving him for a servant. How can a mere servant compete with her over a man?!
As the echo of her own words lingers, she scoffs inwardly, Turn down the wedding? Leave him? She knows she wouldn't. Not now. Not ever.
Her words, however, startle Hillary. He halts mid-step and turns toward her. "What do you mean? What are you talking about?" The alarm in his tone is clear, his confusion thick as he tries to make sense of the threat she has just voiced.
Victoria holds her ground, her jaw set. "I'm talking about the fact that you're not even trying to show that you want this," she says. "All I feel from you is that I'm unwanted. Every time I look at you, it seems like your mind is somewhere else. If you're not interested in me, then just say it. Then we can tell our parents to stop with all those preparations. It's a waste of time." Her words press down on him, relentless, until he feels them pinning him in place.
Her confrontation jolts Hillary back to himself, dragging his thoughts from the fog he has been lost in.
He is supposed to be the Alpha, there is no question about that. His destiny is tied to the title, but without his fated mate beside him, the role is nothing but an empty shell.
An Alpha without his mate is of no use to the pack. His strength would falter, his wolf would weaken, and with a weakened wolf, he would fail as a leader.
If he pushed Victoria away now, the pack might have no choice but to strip him of the title altogether.
The weight of it crashes down on him, cold and heavy. He knows he cannot afford to risk it.
And worse still, he knows what might happen if Victoria continues to feel neglected. She could very well drag Aria into the open.
Even without proof, the mere whisper of a connection between him and a servant girl would be enough to light the pack on fire.
His parents, the elders, the pack itself.. they would make a scene out of it.
And the truth is, he doesn't even understand why his parents keep Aria confined within the walls of the pack house.
So he swallows it all, forcing his voice steady. "Sorry about that," he says at last, softening his tone as he takes Victoria's hand. He leads her out the door with careful calm. "It's just going to take me some time to get used to this. You know I haven't dated all my life."
His words come as an attempt at peace, at reassurance, though the unease in him does not vanish.
Victoria's face brightens, a wide smile spreading as though his effort has soothed her. "No problem," she says easily. "I'm patient enough. But at least I want to see you trying." Her voice carries warmth now, her eyes softening as if choosing to believe him.
They walk together down the long hallway, their footsteps echoing against the polished floor as they make their way toward the dining hall.
Just as they reach the tall door, Hillary pushes it open. But Victoria's gaze flickers past him, catching sight of Aria rushing quickly down the corridor.
Victoria stiffens, her expression tightening. She unhooks her hand from Hillary's arm, stepping aside smoothly. "I… uh… I'll use the bathroom and be back in a minute," she says, her tone casual.
He walks inside, and Victoria turns quickly, following Aria with determined steps. She watches as Aria darts through the back door, disappearing into the cool air of the backyard.
Victoria follows, her eyes narrowing as she sees Aria stagger, clutching her stomach. Aria bends suddenly, throwing up violently, her body trembling with the harshness of it.
Her hands press against her middle as if steadying herself, her face pale, her movements weak. She sways slightly, her body listing as if overcome with dizziness.
"What?!" Victoria mutters under her breath, disbelief cutting through her voice.
She strides forward, her footsteps quick and unyielding until she stands close enough for her words to strike.
Aria hasn't noticed her yet, too caught in the moment of weakness. Victoria's voice cuts the silence sharply. "Are you pregnant!? Why are you swaying like that? I want an honest answer right now. Have you ever slept with Hillary?" she demands, her tone fierce, startling Aria into spinning around to face her.
Aria's eyes widen, shock and confusion flooding her features. But Victoria doesn't stop. Her words come harsher, sharper, venom riding in every syllable. "...Are you pregnant or something?! I don't care if you're carrying a doll inside you, but if I ever find out it has anything to do with Hillary, I'll end it together with you!"
The threat lands heavy between them. Aria stands frozen, her heart hammering as her mind races.
Her eyes widen even more, as if some realization is pressing at the edges of her thoughts, something she hadn't dared to consider.
Wolf pregnancies always reveal themselves immediately, with clear signs from the very first day. The symptoms strike fast, undeniable.
And here she is.. weak, nauseated, dizzy. For a fleeting moment, the thought claws at her, too sharp to ignore.
But she pushes it away just as quickly. No. It cannot be. She is just tired, weighed down by stress, by exhaustion, by everything that has happened.
That is all this is... fatigue, nothing more. She will not let herself believe otherwise.
Her voice is steady as she speaks back. "No. I can't believe you're still thinking about something like that. Do you want me to scream it out for you to hear? There is nothing between Alpha Hillary and me. There never was, and there never will be! So stop trying to make me jealous by acting clingy to him when you see me!" Her words hold no hesitation, her gaze locked firmly on Victoria's.
"I would be a fool if I ever had feelings for him, because there are never relationships like that. With all due respect, just stop. I know even Alpha Hillary would be disgusted and angry if he ever heard what you're thinking about him."
And with that, she walks past Victoria.
She rushes back toward her duties, leaving Victoria standing rooted in place.
By the time Aria returns to the dining hall, carrying a tray stacked with dishes, Victoria is already back inside.
She sits close beside Hillary, her face calm, her posture composed, as though nothing has happened at all.
She moves through the room with practiced focus, carrying dishes across the long table, serving whoever calls for her.
Hillary's mother's voice rises over the soft clatter of plates and chatter of the room. "My son has never dated his whole life. It's a good thing you've decided to enter that stage before you marry each other. Ah, what a saint. You two were really meant to b..."
But her words break off abruptly when the dish in Aria's hand slips when she hears the words, her grip falter. The bowl tilts, spilling steaming soup that splashes across her skin.
Pain sears her hand. She winces sharply, forcing the dish down onto the table with a trembling motion.
In an instant, Hillary is already on his feet. His chair scrapes back, his body moving before his mind can catch up.
His face twists with worry, his hand halfway outstretched toward Aria.