Between Two Alphas

Aria’s POV

"He’s dangerous... ruthless... a true Alpha in every way. I should stay away. I should forget him. But my heart has always belonged to him."

I gritted my teeth as my hands tightened around the basket I was carrying. The ceremony preparations were in full swing, with servants scurrying around, setting up decorations and arranging feast tables for the grand event that’s happening in five days.

Alpha Cole has passed away two weeks ago, and a few days from now, his son Kian would be crowned as the new Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack. Like any servant, I was expected to stay in the background. As always.

But my eyes betrayed me.

They found him instantly—Kian, standing tall in the center of the training grounds, his shirt soaked in sweat as he sparred with another warrior. His movements were sharp, calculated, and ruthless.

Every punch, every strike, was a display of dominance. He was the perfect Alpha—strong, feared, and untouchable.

And yet, my foolish heart ached for him.

“Aria!”

I jumped as a sharp voice pulled me from my daze. One of the older servants, Marta, glared at me with narrowed eyes.

“Stop gawking and get back to work! The future Alpha doesn’t have time for weaklings like you.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I lowered my gaze, mumbling an apology before hurrying toward the feast tables.

Lila, my only friend in this pack, gave me a knowing look as she helped place plates on the long wooden table.

“You were staring at him again, weren’t you?” she teased, her voice low enough so only I could hear.

I sighed, pretending to focus on my task. “No, I was just—”

“Don’t even try to lie,” she cut in, smirking. “You’re hopeless, you know that? He’s going to be Alpha in a few days. If you don’t tell him how you feel now, you might never get the chance.”

I froze. “What?”

She shrugged, her hazel eyes twinkling mischievously. “Just go and tell him. What’s the worst that could happen?”

I swallowed hard, my pulse quickening at the thought. “Are you crazy? Kian barely notices me. I’m just a servant.”

“So what?” Lila placed a hand on her hip. “You’ve loved him for years, Aria. What if—just what if—he feels something for you too?”

A bitter laugh bubbled from my throat. “That’s a fantasy, Lila.”

But even as I said the words, a tiny spark of hope flickered inside me. Kian had never mistreated me like the others did. He had never raised his hand against me or spoken cruelly to me.

Maybe… just maybe…

“No more excuses,” Lila said, nudging me toward the Alpha’s quarters. “He just finished training. Go now.”

My stomach twisted into knots, but before I could talk myself out of it, my feet started moving.

As I approached Kian’s chambers, my hands clenched into fists to stop them from trembling.

My heart pounded so loudly I feared he might hear it from inside. I reached his door, hesitated for a moment, then knocked gently.

Seconds passed.

Then a deep, commanding voice came from inside. “Who is it?”

I swallowed hard. If I answered, he might turn me away before I even had the chance to speak. So instead of replying, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

“I—”

The words died in my throat.

I froze.

The sight before me sent a sharp pain through my chest, stealing the breath from my lungs.

Kian was sitting on the edge of his massive bed, his muscular frame relaxed, his golden eyes dark with lust. And perched on his lap was a woman–completely naked.

Her hands were on his shoulders, her lips curved in a seductive smirk as she trailed her fingers down his chest. She giggled, pressing herself closer to him.

My entire body turned cold.

Kian hadn’t even noticed me yet. He was too focused on the woman in his lap.

My heart shattered into a thousand pieces. I had been a fool. A complete and utter fool.

I had come here with the ridiculous hope that he might see me. That he might feel even a fraction of what I felt for him.

But he already had someone.