Oops Alpha, Wrong Luna-Chapter 23

Kael’s POV.

My boots froze on the stone floor, my heart pounding hard, the words I’d overheard burning in my ears: "I’ll make him hate you, Aria."

The guest room door was cracked open, dim light spilling out, and I shoved it wide, my voice booming before I could stop it.

"Hate who?"

My eyes locked on Aria, my Luna, her silver gown dirty from the Fang Pack fire, her blue eyes wide with fear, her hands trembling. freewēbnoveℓ.com

Beside her stood Celeste, her twin, her dark hair perfect, her face pale but smirking, like she’d been waiting for me to walk in.

They both froze, bowing low, but Aria’s trembling made my chest tighten. She was scared, caught in her sister’s trap, and I hated seeing her like this.

I knew the truth; Aria was my Luna, not Celeste, hiding behind her sister’s name. I’d known since the mate bond sparked, her scent, her nervous glances, so different from the Celeste I’d been told about.

But I was playing along, waiting for her to trust me enough to tell me herself. She didn’t know I knew, and I wasn’t going to push her, not yet.

"Hate who?" I asked again, my voice sharper, my eyes flicking between them.

My wolf, Zeus, growled low, sensing Celeste’s threat, ready to protect my mate.

Celeste lifted her head, her smile sly, her eyes glinting like she saw a chance to ruin everything.

She opened her mouth, her voice starting soft but eager.

"Alpha Kael, I need to tell you—" she began, ready to spill Aria’s secret, to turn me against my own mate.

I cut her off, my voice cold, hard as stone. "Leave. Now." My glare pinned her, my fists clenched, Zeus snarling, ready to snap.

I wasn’t letting her hurt Aria, not with words, not with lies. She’d already caused enough trouble, showing up here, throwing threats.

Celeste’s smile faltered, her eyes widening. "Please, Alpha," she said, her voice shaking but pushing. "Just let me speak. You need to know—"

"Enough!" I roared, stepping closer, my voice shaking the room, my eyes burning into hers.

"The only reason I haven’t snapped your neck is because you’re my Luna’s sister. Disrespect me again, and I won’t hold back. Get out." My words were ice, my wolf close, his growl rumbling in my chest.

Celeste flinched, fear flashing across her face, and she scrambled up, her bag slipping, her steps quick as she ran out. The door banged shut behind her, the sound heavy, final.

The room went quiet, the air thick with tension. I turned to Aria, my heart still pounding, my wolf pacing.

She stood there, biting her lower lip, her eyes wide, uneasy, like she was scared I’d heard too much.

She shifted toward the door, ready to run, her hands shaking. I grabbed her hand, gentle but firm, stopping her.

Her breath hitched, her eyes meeting mine, and my chest ached at the fear in them.

"Are you going to tell me what happened?" I asked, my voice softer now, but still sharp. "What were you and Celeste talking about?"

She stuttered, her eyes blinking fast, her words a mess. "I... it was... nothing," she said, her voice small, shaking.

She couldn’t look at me, her gaze dropping to the floor, her hand cold in mine. My heart twisted, a mix of protectiveness and frustration.

I knew she was Aria, knew she was hiding, but seeing her so scared, so trapped in her lie, made me want to pull her close, tell her it was okay.

But I couldn’t; not yet. She had to come to me, to trust me with the truth. Forcing it would break her.

I nodded, letting go of her hand, my jaw tight. "Go back to the room," I said, my voice calm but firm.

"I’ve got things to handle." I acted like I hadn’t heard Celeste’s threat, like the name Aria didn’t mean anything.

I wanted her to feel safe, to know I was on her side, no matter what. She nodded, her eyes still down, and hurried out, her steps quick, her gown trailing on the floor.

I stood there, my fists clenched, my mind racing. Celeste’s words echoed, her threat to make me hate Aria.

She didn’t know I already knew, that I’d chosen Aria, my true mate, over her games. But her being here, in my pack, was trouble.

The fire at the Fang Pack, Nicholas’s clean skin, Celeste’s sudden arrival; it all felt connected, a web of lies and danger closing in.

My chest ached, my wolf growling, wanting to protect Aria, to keep her safe from her sister, from Nicholas, from whatever was coming.

A knock at the door snapped me out of it. I turned, my jaw tight, and saw Beta Brian standing there, his brown eyes serious, his hands fidgeting.

"Alpha," he said, his voice low. "The elders are waiting in the throne chamber."

I nodded, my heart heavy. "Let’s go," I said, my voice rough. I followed him through the packhouse, my boots echoing on the stone floors, the air cool but heavy with tension.

The halls were quiet, most wolves still asleep or on patrol, but I could feel eyes watching, sensing my mood.

My arm throbbed from the fire, my mind spinning with questions. Celeste’s threat, Aria’s fear, the fire that nearly killed us—it was too much, and I needed answers.

We reached the throne chamber, its heavy doors carved with snarling wolves. Brian pushed them open, and I stepped inside, my head high, my face hard.

The elders stood, their gray hair and stern faces bowing low as I entered. I sat on the throne, the wood cold under me, and they sat too, their eyes sharp, judging.

"What do you want?" I asked, my voice flat, my patience thin after everything; Celeste, the fire, Aria’s shaking hands.

Elder Marcus, his scarred face grim, spoke first. "Did the deal with the Fang Pack go through?" he asked, his voice low, like he already knew the answer and didn’t like it.

I leaned back, my jaw tight, Zeus stirring. "No," I said, my voice hard. "It didn’t."

The room erupted, the elders’ voices rising, angry and loud. "You failed us!" Elder Thanos snapped, his eyes flashing.

"We needed that alliance! How could you let it fall apart?" Others joined in, their words sharp, accusing, like I’d betrayed the pack.

Their voices piled on, each one louder, their faces red with fury.

My blood boiled, Zeus snarling, ready to lunge. I slammed my fist on the throne’s arm, the sound booming, silencing them.

"How dare you?" I growled, my voice shaking the room, my eyes burning into theirs.

"You disrespect me, your Alpha? You want death?" My wolf was close, his growl rumbling in my chest, my hands clenched so tight my knuckles were white.

I wasn’t just angry; I was done. Done with their complaints, their doubts, their blindness to the danger around us.

Aria was out there, scared, hiding her truth, and they were yelling about a deal?

The elders froze, their faces pale, their eyes dropping to the floor. They knew their place, knew I wouldn’t hesitate to remind them.

The room went quiet, the air thick with fear, their breaths shallow.

I leaned forward, my voice low, dangerous, my eyes sweeping over them. "If you’ve got nothing else to say, speak now. Let’s end this charade."

Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om