Writers POV

A few weeks passed by and she hardly ever sees Aiden. He's been so busy for the past couple of days that he comes to their room after she falls asleep and leaves before she wakes up. After coming back from her penthouse, she thought about what Mia had asked her to do and she was thinking maybe she should stop running from him and her life and give it a chance. But Aiden was proving it to be difficult for her, she doesn't know nor she understands what's gotten him so caught up lately. It's almost like he lost all his interest in her. She somewhat felt angry and mad at him, but isn't she supposed to feel relieved that he isn't bugging her? She doesn't have the answer. The sun was shining brightly in the sky outside and she was sitting in the living room on a couch with a book in her hand. This is how she's been spending her days recently: reading, snacking, and sleeping. She just put her concentration on the book when Megan addressed her

"My lady," she bowed respectfully and Ariel nodded in acknowledgment and she continued

"His Highness requests your presence in the pack dining hall,"

"For what?" She asked confused

"To have lunch with His Highness and the Royal pack." Ariel pulled her lips in a firm line and turned her attention to the book,

"I don't wish to join him," Ariel said her voice void any emotion

"His Highness said he won't take no for an answer, My Lady."

They were cut off by an irritating female voice.

"Aiden?"

"Baby where are you?" The muffled voice soon came closer

"Where is Aiden ?" The voice asked Megan, and they turned to face the source of the loud voice. She had long blonde hair, a fair complexion, brown eyes, full lips, and a slim figure, and she appeared to be in her early twenties. She was dressed in well-fitted clothes and wore high stilettos, which made her appear taller than she actually was. Her face was scowling, and she was scanning her surroundings for something, or rather someone. Ariel recognized the person right away! That cafeteria girl who was clinging to Aiden when Ariel first saw him. The girls' gazes finally fell on Ariel, and she scrutinized her from head to toe and her face scrunched up with disgust

"Who's this pig? What is a filthy human doing here!"

Ariel looked at her, displeased with her dismissive comment. Okay, she was dressed in an oversized hoodie and shorts, her hair was messy, her face was bare of makeup, and she looked like she was hit by a truck, but that doesn't give her the right to call Ariel a pig.

"I could ask you the same," she replied standing up towering over her petty figure even though Ariel was bare feet. She crossed her arms over her chest and eyed the girl from head to toe as she did. The girl shifted uncomfortably and looked elsewhere

"I'm your future Queen, thank you very much." She replied and Ariel rolled her eyes at the girls' arrogance

"Oh really! I thought Prince Charles was the heir. Isn't he the next in line to the throne?" She asked mockingly turning towards Megan who just nodded

"Don't tell me you're Prince Charles. Lord I always thought he was a man in his seventies." Ariel fake gasped and she became red with anger but she also felt overwhelmed by Ariel's powerful presence

"How dare you talk to me like that you pi..."

"Don't finish that sentence," Ariel warned and she glared at her

"Who do you think yo...."

"I thought you were looking for someone," Ariel rolled her eyes

"Megan,"

"Yes, My Lady?"

"Please show His Highness Prince Charles where Aiden is," Megan tried hard not to laugh at the look on the girls face

"Of course, My Lady," Megan called for another maid and asked her to take the Girl where Prince Aiden was.

"I'm leaving but I'll see you soon! I'll make sure you pay for how you disrespected me!"

"Sure," Ariel shrugged and she left a spoiled child denied of chocolate

"Who was that?" Ariel finally asked Megan as the girl left fuming with anger

"That was Julia, My lady," Ariel hummed in reply

"Should I inform His Highness that you don't wish to join him for lunch?"

"On second thoughts, give a few minutes." Megan bowed and Ariel left for the bedroom she shares with Aiden.

She took a shower and dried her hair and herself. She was dressed elegantly in high-waisted white dress pants, a black shirt, and black flats. She wore her hair in a high bun and left a few strands of hair with her bangs, giving her a messy yet formal appearance. She moisturized her face, applied mascara, and applied a nude lip tint. She exited the room, satisfied with her appearance, and found Megan waiting for her.

Megan gave her a curt nod, pleased with how she looked and surprised at how quickly she pulled it off. Ariel had her supernatural speed to back her up, but she wouldn't say that out loud, so she just winked at Megan and walked down the stairs, through the hallway. Megan guided her to the packhouse that is located just ten minutes away from the castle.

As they entered the packhouse, it was quiet and empty, indicating that all of the pack members were in the dining hall. As they made their way towards the dining room, the servers and other staff members who weren't in the dining hall peered in, wondering who Ariel was and admiring her beauty. They soon arrived at two grand double doors guarded by two Royal guards. They bowed and opened the doors for Ariel as soon as she arrived. The quiet chatter in the room died down and they fell silent, all eyes on her, including Aiden's. He sat at the head of the table, emotionless and expressionless.

The glimmer in his eyes as his gaze fell on her, however, did not go unnoticed by Ariel. She took each step confidently towards the empty seat beside him. Aiden's eyes followed her every move as she approached him; he stood up, drew out the chair, and helped her sit down with a blank expression. With an emotionless face, she sat down and looked over all the curious eyes. Respect, admiration, disbelief, jealousy, disgust, and a red fire for blood were all visible to her. She saw acceptance as well as disapproval in their eyes. Ariel noticed Julia's infuriated expression who was sitting in the middle of the table. The table was already set, packed with different kinds of foods, Aiden took some from the serving dish in front and placed them on Ariel's plate. It is a tradition that the Alpha starts the meal and feeds his Luna, only after that the pack members start eating. Aiden starts eating including her but the pack watches as if they were in some kind of trance,

"Eat," he commands and they don't move.

"We don't accept or want a human as our Queen or Luna!" One of the elder man speaks up and his comment sends a wave of rage through Aiden. Ariel could feel his rage, his anger build up inside but she continues eating. More of the elders and a few young females expressed their distress, but she doesn't give them any attention and continues her meal.

"Enough! She is my mate, the Moon blessed me with her and she will have her rightful place beside me as your Queen and Luna!" Aiden slams his hands on the table and the whole room falls silent.

"Your Highness. We will accept her but how would the whole Kingdom see her as a Queen when they'll find her as unworthy," One of the elder females said with her head held high with a filthy smirk on her face. Ariel took a glance at the elder's face and shrugged off.

"Very well, I will not force you all to abide by my decision, more like the Goddesses choice though you should. The challenge for the title is open. Anyone present in this room who thinks she is unworthy of the title given by the Moon," at his command a few young lycans stood up they one by one challenged Ariel

"I challenge you filthy pig for your position of authority and your mate," Julia challenged her with an arrogant smug face. Aiden's anger rises high at the remark, but he doesn't lose his cool. Ariel stares at her with death in her eyes and Aiden finally speaks

"Ariel, do you accept the challenges for your title and your mate?" Ariel stands up gracefully and replies

"I accept, but not for the title nor for you," she takes slow steps towards Julia until she's in front of her, towering over her figure

"But for you insulting me, calling me names." She bends and whispers in her ears

"Get the best night's sleep and enjoy the time you have until the sun rises tomorrow, I promise it will be the last light of day you'll ever see." Ariel stands straight with her head held high she speaks to the whole room

"By the night falls and the sun rises tomorrow, any other Lycans who thinks I'm not worthy to be here, challenge me and I will happily accept but remember if you do I promise you will meet the Moon" With that she strides out of the room when Aiden speaks again

"Tomorrow morning at the pack battleground." He follows Ariel out of the room and walks beside her.

"I'm looking forward to seeing you fight tomorrow," Ariel doesn't reply

"What's wrong?" He asks again but she doesn't reply

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine!"

"You don't look fine," he says and she glares at him

"I said I'm fine! Stop following me!"

"Okay," he shrugs and walks away leaving Ariel standing there in disbelief. She stares at his retreating back and if looks could kill he would have been six feet under now. He turns around and gives her a wink, she huffs in frustration and strides away towards the castle. She couldn't wait for the sun to set and rise again tomorrow, she'll have her blood, the one she and her beasts were longing for from the first time they saw her with Aiden. The memory of other woman touching their mate lit up the fire that was buried deep, the memory of Julia's lips touching his fueled up the fire, she saw red. She couldn't wait to rip her throat and watch the light of life leave her eyes. The thought of Julia's blood made her smile sinisterly and her beasts couldn't be happier. And after that, they're going to have a talk!

Aiden pushed open his office door to see his Beta on the couch. He stood up and bowed, and Aiden nodded and moved forward to sit behind his desk.

"How's the investigation coming along?" Aiden inquired about opening one of the numerous files on the table.

"We found nothing about the assassin or who hired him. It's almost like they vanished in thin air. On the other hand, there have been no reports of assassination in recent months."

"That doesn't mean we've given up looking for the hitman or the person who hired him."

"Of course, Alpha."

"What about the King's Guards who attacked my mate?"

"Your father denied any allegations against his Guards and we couldn't find out anything after that,"

"How are things with the Luna?" He inquired, and Aiden shrugged

"I'm a patient man, but my patience is wearing thin. I try and try, but she doesn't seem interested in what we have."

"Try harder man, show her your heart and she'll let you in her's,"

"I waited for her for over a century, I can wait for her for a couple of years. But it hurts to see how she's so distant, she hardly even shows some emotions to me."

"I may not have a bunch of experience with woman but she might be shielding herself and not trust you completely to let you in."

"I don't know and let's not talk about this right now we have work to do," Aiden dismissed the topic and dived back into paperwork

"Yes, Alpha," Liam had no other say in the matter so he just nodded

"By the way, make arrangements for tomorrow,"

"For what?"

"Ariel was challenged,"

"And you aren't worried about that?"

"She killed eight of the King's Guards and few of my warriors so, no, I'm not worried," he replies not taking his eyes off of the file in front of him

"And you didn't even question her or yourself how she possesses such strength?" Liam's question made him look at his Beta with the same question in his head. How come he hadn't asked her about this!

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Daisy Chaseley