Chapter 3 The Warning

You'll never survive this, little wolf. The whisper lingered in Aria's mind, cold and sharp, like a shard of ice lodged behind her eyes.

She jerked her head up, her eyes scanning the vast, dimly lit chamber. No one was there. Only shadows stretched across the polished floors, thrown by the soft glow of the moon filtering through the towering windows.

Her wolf stirred uneasily, pacing in her chest, claws scraping against her ribs. The bond hummed faintly, an unwanted tether pulling at her from a distance.

"Who's there?" she whispered, her voice trembling as it broke the silence.

No answer.

The shadows remained still, but her instincts screamed that she wasn't alone. Her hands curled into fists, her breath quickening. Maybe it was the bond playing tricks on her. Maybe the stress of everything—the King, the bond, his cold words—was breaking her mind.

But deep down, she knew it wasn't just her imagination.

The voice had been real.

A sharp knock at the door made her jump, her heart leaping into her throat. She stumbled to her feet, her pulse racing as the door creaked open.

A tall, broad figure filled the doorway. For a split second, she thought Kael had returned, but then the scent hit her—a bitter mix of cloves and metal.

The guard's cold eyes swept over her, his expression blank. "The King has sent me to escort you to your quarters," he said, his voice clipped.

Aria hesitated, still caught in the echo of the strange voice. She cast another glance around the room before nodding. "I—yes. I'm ready."

The guard said nothing else, stepping aside as she moved past him into the corridor.

The walk to her quarters was silent, save for the steady clink of the guard's boots on the stone floor. Aria kept her gaze fixed ahead, her thoughts racing. What had just happened in the King's chambers? What was that voice?

And what, exactly, had she gotten herself into?

Her quarters—if they could even be called that—were small and tucked away in a far wing of the palace. A narrow bed, a single chair, and a tiny table were the only pieces of furniture in the room. A single window overlooked the courtyard below, the soft glow of lanterns barely illuminating the gardens.

The guard stopped at the door and gestured for her to enter.

"This will be your room for the foreseeable future," he said. "You're not to leave this wing without the King's permission. Do you understand?"

Aria hesitated, but nodded. "Yes."

"Good." The guard's gaze lingered on her for a moment, his expression unreadable. "I suggest you stay out of trouble, Omega. The King's patience is thin."

With that, he turned and strode away, leaving her standing in the doorway.

Aria stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind her. The air felt heavy, the silence oppressive. She sank onto the edge of the bed, her hands trembling as she buried her face in them.

Stay out of trouble.

How was she supposed to stay out of trouble when trouble seemed to follow her every move?

Hours passed, though Aria wasn't sure if she'd slept or simply drifted in and out of restless thoughts. The moonlight through the window shifted slightly, marking the passage of time. But just as her breathing began to slow, her wolf stirred again.

Something was wrong.

A soft knock echoed through the room. Aria's heart leapt into her throat as she scrambled to her feet. Her gaze darted to the door, her pulse roaring in her ears.

"Aria."

The voice was low and urgent, spoken just loud enough to carry through the wood. It wasn't Kael's. It wasn't the guard's. It was feminine.

"Who—?" Aria whispered, her voice breaking. She took a hesitant step toward the door.

"Let me in," the voice said again, sharper this time. "Before someone sees me."

Aria hesitated, every instinct screaming at her to ignore it. But curiosity—or perhaps foolishness—propelled her forward. She cracked the door open just enough to see the figure on the other side.

A young woman, with sleek black hair and piercing silver eyes, stood in the corridor. She wore the uniform of a servant, but there was nothing servile about the way she held herself—straight-backed, poised, and radiating confidence.

"Who are you?" Aria asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The woman pushed the door open further, slipping inside before Aria could protest. She shut the door behind her and turned, her expression grave.

"My name is Lila," she said quietly. "And if you want to survive, you'll listen to what I have to say."

Aria blinked, stunned by the woman's boldness. "What are you talking about?"

Lila's gaze swept over her, sharp and assessing. "You're the King's mate. The entire palace is talking about it already. An Omega, of all things."

Aria flinched, but Lila didn't stop.

"Do you have any idea how dangerous that makes you?"

"I didn't ask for this bond," Aria shot back, a flash of irritation breaking through her fear.

"No one cares what you asked for," Lila said bluntly. "The nobles will see you as a threat to their power. The court will want you gone—one way or another."

The cold weight of Lila's words settled over her, making it hard to breathe. "What are you saying? That they'll… kill me?"

"If it comes to that, yes," Lila said without hesitation. "But they won't start there. They'll try to discredit you first, humiliate you, push you out of the palace. And if that doesn't work…" She trailed off, her expression darkening.

Aria's chest tightened, panic clawing at her throat. "Why are you telling me this?"

Lila's silver eyes softened slightly, though her tone remained firm. "Because I've seen what happens to people like you. Innocents who get caught in the crossfire of power struggles. If you're smart, you'll find a way to stay in the King's favor. It's the only way you'll survive."

"Stay in his favor?" Aria echoed, her voice rising. "He hates me. He thinks I'm weak, that I'm a liability."

"Then prove him wrong."

The words were simple, but they hit like a hammer. Aria stared at Lila, her mind racing.

"How?" she whispered.

Lila sighed, glancing toward the door as though expecting someone to burst in at any moment. "I don't have all the answers, but I know this: if you want to survive, you can't be the meek little servant they think you are. You need to find your strength. Whatever it is, use it. Because no one else here will fight for you—not even the King."

Aria opened her mouth to respond, but before she could speak, Lila straightened abruptly, her silver eyes narrowing.

"I've already said too much," Lila murmured. "Just… be careful, Aria. There are forces in this palace that would see you destroyed, and not all of them are human."

Before Aria could ask what she meant, Lila slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Aria sank onto the bed, her mind spinning with Lila's warning. But just as her breathing began to steady, the bond flared, sharp and sudden, like a spark of electricity surging through her veins.

Kael.

Her connection to him burned hot and vivid, pulling at her chest. He wasn't near, but he wasn't far either.

And wherever he was, danger followed.