CHAPTER 11
Aria's POV
Tears blurred my vision as I walked down the Hallway to my chamber but I didn't bother wiping them away. What was the point? No matter How much I cried the pain didn't fade. It clung to me like a second skin. Thick. Suffocating.
Just as I neared the corner that led to my chamber a Familiar voice sliced through the silence.
"Aria."
I Froze instantly.
His voice.
I turned slowly. My Heart lodged in my throat.
Alpha King Zaine stood there dressed in black silk. His Expression was tight and unreadable. His Sharp eyes roamed over me pausing briefly at the simple nightgown clinging to my wet skin.
His Brows drew together.
"Why aren't you wearing what I sent For you?" His voice wasn't harsh But carried a heavy weight of confusion and disappointment.
I swallowed hard. My throat tight with unshed tears.
Before I could answer the weight of the evening crashed down on me and without warning — I broke.
The tears I had been holding back fell freely. Hot and heavy down my cheeks.
Zaine's face darkened with concern. His frown deepened as he stepped closer.
"Aria?" His voice dropped — softer now. "What happened?"
The guards nearby stiffened. They glanced nervously between Zaine and me. It was clear they knew something but they looked terrified to speak.
Zaine's eyes narrowed sharply. "What is going on?" he asked again — firmer this time as his gaze snapped to the guards. "Answer me."
The guards shook their heads quickly. "Nothing happened Your Majesty" one said. "She came late that's all."
Lies.
I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. I couldn't even form words. The humiliation — the ache — it was too much. My mouth opened but no sound came out.
"Aria" Zaine called again. His voice gentler now as he cupped my cheek softly — forcing me to meet his eyes. "Tell me. What is wrong?"
Before I could respond another voice interrupted.
"What's going on here?"
I stiffened.
The Queen Mother appeared at the end of the hallway. Her face twisted with fake concern. Her royal blue gown swept gracefully behind her as she approached slowly — deliberately.
"Is something the matter?" she asked innocently before her eyes flicked to me — and darkened with contempt.
Zaine turned to her. "She came to my chamber late and not wearing what I sent her. Something happened."
The Queen Mother placed a hand over her chest and gasped softly. "Oh? That's strange..." She looked at me with narrowed eyes. "I saw her earlier tearing apart the beautiful gown you gifted her Zaine."
My entire body went cold.
"What?" I whispered in disbelief.
She nodded as if pitying me. "Yes. She ripped it apart in anger and threw it aside. I found the torn gown myself."
Before I could even defend myself she gestured and a servant hurried forward holding up a bundle of torn silver fabric.
My breath caught painfully. It was the nightgown Zaine had given me — the very one Amanda had ruined.
Zaine's face hardened as he looked at the ruined fabric. Slowly his eyes drifted to me.
I could feel my heart cracking.
"Aria" he said carefully — his voice laced with confusion and suspicion — "is this true?"
"No — no!" I shook my head quickly as panic overtook me. "No — that's not true. I didn't... I didn't do that. That wasn't me. Please listen to me. I have proof. Amanda — Amanda poured something on me. The dress was ruined yes but it happened before I even wore it. Mia helped me. She saw it. The dress was in my room — I can show you!"
Zaine's eyes softened just slightly but there was still tension in his jaw. He looked to the Queen Mother but she said nothing — only staring at me with cold triumph.
"Show me then" Zaine said flatly.
I didn't waste a second. I grabbed his wrist and rushed toward my chambers. He followed behind in heavy silence.
My Hands shook violently as I threw open my closet doors and rummaged through everything. My Stomach twisted painfully as panic settled deep into my bones.
The dress was gone.
"No... no" I whispered desperately as I searched every inch of the room. "It was here. I left it here. Mia — she saw it — she helped me--"
Zaine stood there watching me — his expression darkening slowly as each passing second stretched painfully long.
"Aria" he said quietly — too quietly. "Where is it then?"
I spun around. Tears fell freely from my eyes. "I swear — I am not lying. Someone took it. Mia — Mia knows. Let me get Mia--"
But when I called for Mia — there was no answer.
She wasn't there.
My heart pounded harder. "She was here — she helped me — she saw everything" I cried. My voice broke as I clutched at my hair in frustration.
Zaine's eyes darkened further. His disappointment weighed heavily in the air.
"You're saying Amanda did this" he said slowly — almost like he was trying to make sense of my words. "And yet — she is not here."
"She is!" I insisted desperately. "She was in your room earlier. I heard her laugh. She was wearing a red lacy gown. I swear Alpha Zaine — she was there. You can check!"
Zaine's eyes narrowed slightly. He turned and without another word began walking back toward his chamber. I hurried after him. My legs trembled beneath me.
The guards at his door straightened at the sight of him and quickly stepped aside.
He pushed open the grand doors and stepped inside.
Empty.
The large bedroom was dark and quiet. No sign of Amanda. No red lacy gown. Nothing.
My stomach dropped painfully. My lips parted in shock. "No... she was here. She was just here..."
Zaine turned slowly — his face stone cold as he looked down at me.
"Aria" he said. His voice heavy with disappointment. "Do not lie to me."
"I am not lying" I whispered brokenly. My Knees nearly gave out as the weight of humiliation and helplessness swallowed me whole. "I swear — I am not lying. I am not..."
But he said nothing.
His silence was worse than any cruel word he could have spoken.
He stared at me like he didn't know what to believe anymore.