Aria’s POV
"They’re saying you’re going to be the new Luna."
The words echoed in my skull like a death sentence.
I stared at Elara. My mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.
No sound came out.
"Aria?" Elara leaned closer. Concern replacing excitement on her face. "Are you okay? You look like you’re about to pass out."
"I..." My voice came out strangled. "What are you talking about?"
"The ceremony!" She whispered urgently. "Everyone saw it! The Alpha carried you out in his arms! Like some kind of romantic movie! People are saying he left with you before even finishing the selection process!"
My stomach dropped.
Oh God.
OH GOD.
"He carried me out in front of everyone!?" The words barely made it past my lips.
"YES!" Elara grabbed both my hands now. "Right through the middle of the ballroom! In front of EVERYONE! All the Luna candidates! The elders! The entire pack! He just scooped you up and walked out like you were the only person in the world!"
The room tilted.
I gripped the edge of my desk. Tried to steady myself.
"So naturally," Elara continued, "everyone’s talking about it. Wondering who you are. How you know the Alpha. Why he chose YOU over all those other women."
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "So? Is it true? Are you going to be Luna?"
"NO!" The word burst out too loud. Too desperate.
Several heads turned in our direction.
I lowered my voice. "No. Absolutely not. There’s been a mistake. A misunderstanding."
"I was drunk!" I hissed. "I had too much to drink and he was just... he was just helping me home. That’s ALL."
Elara’s face fell. "Oh."
"There’s nothing between us. Nothing romantic. Nothing... Luna-related."
"But people are..."
"People are WRONG." I stood up. Too fast. My chair rolled backward and hit the wall. "I need to... I need to talk to him. Right now."
I didn’t wait for Elara’s response.
I turned toward Kael’s office.
The glass wall showed an empty room. No Kael. No one.
My hands were shaking. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.
How could this happen?
How could ONE moment at that stupid ceremony turn into THIS?
I pressed my palm against my forehead. Tried to think.
Okay. Okay. Deep breaths.
Kael would fix this. He had to. He’d just... tell everyone it was a misunderstanding. That I was just his assistant. That there was nothing romantic happening.
Right?
The elevator dinged.
I looked up.
And there he was.
Kael Blood Crown.
Walking onto the executive floor like he owned the world.
Because he kind of did.
He was wearing another perfectly tailored suit. Black again. White shirt. No tie. His hair was styled but a few strands still fell across his forehead.
He looked...
I shook my head. Cleared the thought.
Focus, Aria.
His eyes found mine immediately. Like he’d been looking for me.
Something flickered across his face. Too fast to read.
Then that calm, professional mask slipped into place.
He walked toward his office. Straight past my desk. Didn’t stop. Didn’t speak.
Just opened his door and disappeared inside.
I stood there. Staring at the glass wall.
At his silhouette moving behind the frosted sections.
Should I follow him? Demand an explanation? Ask what the hell we were going to do about the rumors?
My feet were already moving.
Carrying me toward his door before my brain caught up.
I raised my hand. Knocked.
"Come in."
I pushed the door open.
Kael was at his desk. Already working. Phone pressed to his ear. His free hand flipping through documents.
He glanced up. Saw me. Made a gesture that meant "wait."
I closed the door behind me. Stood there like an idiot.
The conversation dragged on. Something about territory negotiations. Trade agreements. Things I should probably be paying attention to.
I wasn’t.
I was too busy spiraling.
Finally, FINALLY, he hung up.
Set the phone down. Looked at me directly.
"Morning." His voice was calm. Professional. "Did you need something?"
The formal address stung.
"I..." I swallowed hard. "Can we talk? About what happened at the ceremony?"
His eyebrow rose. "What about it?"
"What about it?" My voice pitched higher. "Kael, everyone thinks I’m going to be Luna!"
"Do they?"
"YES!" I stepped closer to his desk. "They’re all staring at me! Whispering! Asking questions! Elara just told me the whole company is talking about it!"
He leaned back in his chair. Steepled his fingers.
That infuriating calm expression.
"And?"
"And?" I stared at him. "And we need to fix this! We need to tell everyone it’s not true! That I’m just your assistant! That there’s nothing between us!"
Silence.
He just looked at me. Those black-gold eyes giving nothing away.
"Kael." I pressed my palms against his desk. Leaned forward. "Did you hear me? We need toâ€""
"I heard you." His voice was soft. Measured. "But I don’t see the problem."
My brain short-circuited.
"You... you don’t see the problem?"
"No."
I blinked. Once. Twice. Three times.
"Kael. Everyone thinks I’m going to be LUNA. That’s a HUGE problem!"
"Is it?" He tilted his head slightly. "I didn’t announce to anyone that you’re Luna. I didn’t make any official statements. I simply carried you home when you needed help."
"But"
"People will talk." He shrugged. One shoulder. Casual. "Let them. What do you care what they think?"
"I care because it’s a LIE!" My voice rose again. "I’m NOT going to be Luna! I’m just your assistant! And now everyone thinks..."
I trailed off. Couldn’t finish the sentence.
Kael studied me for a long moment.
"Being my rumored girlfriend doesn’t have any downsides," he said finally. "If anything, it might make your job easier. People will be more respectful. More careful around you."
I stared at him.
"Are you SERIOUS right now?"
"Completely."
"Kael, this isn’t a joke! The ELDERS won’t allow this! They’ll never accept someone like ME as Luna! I’m..." I gestured at myself helplessly. "I’m nobody! I’m from the Shadow Moon bloodline! I don’t even have a wolf anymore!"
"Too bad." He was right in front of me now. Close enough that I could smell him. "Speaking of this..."
He paused. Those eyes locked onto mine.
Searching. Demanding.
"How did your wolf disappear?"