Luna Forsaken (Arya and James) novel Chapter 164

164 A Seat at Blackbirth 3

Arya’s POV

The afternoon moved quickly after that.

Servants came and went.

Messages arrived.

Guards checked routes.

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Maxwell’s Beta passed through twice with updates and timing revisions in that clipped, efficient way of men who had run security for years and trusted no event with Union wolves to stay simple.

By the time I finished dressing, the house was alive with departure energy.

I stood before the mirror for a final look and almost did not recognise myself.

The dress fit like it had been made for me.

The halter neck sat comfortably, secure without choking, and the fabric skimmed my

body in a way that felt elegant instead of exposing. The deeper cut at the front showed more cleavage than I was used to, yes, and the open back made me hyper-aware of every movement, but somehow the whole look felt light, not vulgar. Beautiful, in a way I had not allowed myself to feel in a long time.

I turned slightly, checking the fall of the skirt.

A complete contrast to what I would have worn.

But it worked.

I made it work.

The jewellery sat cool against my skin, catching light with every small motion. My hair was styled back enough to reveal my shoulders while soft strands framed my face. Subtle, polished, unfamiliar.

I touched the edge of the dressing table and held my own gaze in the mirror.

This was not the woman they had dragged through lies and humiliation.

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Not the woman who cried in a hall while people watched and judged.

Not the woman in chains.

She still lived inside me.

She always would.

But tonight she would walk into Blackbirth standing.

A knock came. “Arya?”

“Come in.”

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Maxwell entered first, already dressed in formal dark wear that made him look every

inch the Alpha he was, controlled power, old authority, grief and strength woven into

one face. His Beta came in behind him, equally prepared, eyes sharp even while polite.

Maxwell took one look at me and went still.

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then his expression softened with something like pride. “You look beautiful.”

My throat tightened unexpectedly. “Thank you.”

His gaze dipped once, taking in the dress properly, and a knowing look flashed in his

eyes so quickly I almost missed it.

He knew.

Of course he knew who sent it.

He chose not to comment.

Instead, he stepped further in and said, “Before we leave, there are two things you need

to remember.”

I straightened, immediately alert. “All right.”

“First,” he said, “I will introduce you to everyone as my adopted daughter. Not a guest.

Not a rescued wolf. My daughter.”

The words landed heavily.

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I nodded slowly. “Thank you.”

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He waved off the gratitude with a rough exhale. “You don’t thank family for acting like

family.”

That nearly broke something in me.

I looked away for a second and collected myself.

Maxwell continued, voice turning practical again. “Second, David will be there.”

My eyes lifted back to his face. “Your son.”

He nodded once. “My son.”

The Beta shifted near the door but said nothing.

Maxwell’s mouth tightened. “He and I… do not always agree. He’s been away more than

he’s been home. He hears things. He believes the worst too quickly when pride gets

involved.”

I read between the lines easily enough. “He may not like me.”

A humourless huff left Maxwell. “He may be rude. Ignore him if he starts. Let me handle

him.”

I held his gaze. “I can handle rude men.”

“I know,” he said quietly. “That’s not why I’m warning you.”

Something in his tone made me pause.

There was old pain there.

Old father-son hurt.

The kind that sat beneath anger and made everything sharper.

I nodded. “I’ll be careful.”

His shoulders eased slightly. “Good.”

The Beta checked his watch. “Alpha, we should move if we want to arrive before the

main introductions.”

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Maxwell nodded. “Let’s go.”

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The drive to Blackbirth was long enough for nerves to return in waves.

The vehicle moved through winding roads and deeper territory, past stretches of

guarded boundaries, old forest, and stone markers bearing pack insignia that grew more

frequent the closer we got to Blackbirth land. Security tightened as we passed each

checkpoint. Men recognized Maxwell quickly; some looked into the back once and then

looked again when they saw me.

I kept my face neutral and my spine straight.

Outside the window, evening gathered in layers of gold and blue.

Inside, the silence came and went.

Maxwell spent part of the drive reviewing names I should remember, reminding me who

mattered, who pretended to matter, and who would smile in public while counting what

I was worth to them in private. His Beta occasionally added a detail, a warning, a

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