Aria decided to wake Tristan up. She reached out her hand to gently shake him, but his eyes snapped open before she could. They had returned to their dull brown hue.
Even though Tristan couldn’t see, he imdiately noticed the car was no longer moving. "Are we already at your school?" he asked.
"Yes," Aria replied, feeling an inexplicable shift in the atmosphere. Perhaps it was in her head, but he seed colder than before. "I’ll be going now."
"Okay," Tristan said.
Aria glanced down at her hand, still held firmly in his. "You need to let go of my hand first," she said softly.
For a mont, Tristan tightened his grip before finally letting her go. "I’ll send soone to pick you up at six and take you to my villa," he added, his tone even.
Aria nodded, then rembered he couldn’t see her. "Okay, I’ll leave now," she said quietly before stepping out of the car.
Once Aria was gone, Cole turned to Tristan. "Are you alright, Alpha?"
Tristan’s expression remained unreadable. "Find out who Aria’s grandmother is and what’s wrong with her," he commanded.
"Yes, Alpha," Cole replied.
Tristan shed his jacket, his eyes gleaming faintly with gold. "You’re free to handle your company matters," he said in a low, calm voice.
"What about you?" Cole asked, frowning as he watched Tristan’s body begin to fade.
Tristan’s smile was enigmatic. "I have unfinished business to attend to." His body vanished completely,a his golden eyes flashing one last ti.
Looking at the discarded jacket, Cole sighed and started the car.
....
As soon as Aria entered her dorm room, Hailey grabbed her and pulled her onto the bed. "So, did you really marry Alpha Tristan?"
Aria nodded, though her thoughts were clouded by Tristan’s sudden change in behavior, but Hailey’s voice brought her back to reality.
"You need to et Alpha Milton today," Hailey said. "We can go together this evening."
"I can’t go in the evening," Aria replied. "Tristan is sending soone to pick up at six. I’ll have to go this afternoon."
"But what about your test?"
"A test is the last thing on my mind right now," Aria said, her voice shaky. "I need to convince Milton that I still plan to kill Tristan. I’m scared, Hailey. What if he realizes I’ve changed my mind?"
"He won’t," Hailey reassured her. "You’ve already done the first part of his plan by marrying Tristan. Just keep playing the role. Look desperate—make him believe you need his help. He’ll never suspect you."
Aria took a deep breath and nodded. "You’re right. I can do this—for my grandmother."
Hailey placed a comforting hand on Aria’s shoulder. "Rember, you’re a Luna now, the wife of Alpha Tristan. Don’t let anyone intimidate you. Keep that in mind when you et him."
Aria smiled faintly. "Thank you, Hailey."
Hailey hugged her tightly, her heart heavy with worry. If her father or Alpha Milton ever found out she was helping Aria, she’d be disowned and banished. But she couldn’t stand by and watch her best friend beco a pawn in their deadly ga.
........
In the Shadow Moon Pack, Alpha Milton sat in his office, staring at a photograph of a young woman. A knock on the door broke his focus, and he quickly tucked the picture away.
"Co in," he said.
Jacob, his beta, entered with a wide grin. "John Calhoun is dead."
Milton’s expression darkened. "Are you sure?"
"One hundred percent," Jacob confird.
Milton leaned back, his eyes narrowing. "Do you know who killed him?"
"It was the Ferals."
Milton sighed, rubbing his temples. "The Ferals again. If they could take down soone as strong as Calhoun, they’re becoming a real problem. They’re no longer afraid of anyone."
"I agree," Jacob said. "But look on the bright side: now that Calhoun is gone, your son can take over the Desert Pack and rge it with ours. That will make us even stronger."
Milton shook his head. "It’s not that simple. If I push for my son to take over, the Elders might suspect I had sothing to do with Calhoun’s death."
"Then what’s the plan?" Jacob asked.
"Nothing for now," Milton said. "My son married Calhoun’s daughter, and Calhoun left no heir. Jas will figure it out on his own. My priority is seeing Tristan dead."
Jacob smirked. "Hailey told Aria managed to make Tristan marry her. Honestly, I don’t understand how a weak girl with no pack could convince a man like him."
Milton remained silent, his thoughts swirling. Tristan had rejected the won chosen by the Elders, only to marry Aria. Why?
The only reason Milton had chosen Aria for this mission was because that ’crazy woman’ had insisted she was the key to killing Tristan.
Now, with Tristan married to her and his pack witch demanding Aria be handed over after completing her mission, Milton couldn’t shake the feeling that there was sothing about Aria he didn’t yet know.
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