Mated To My Mate's Worst Enemy (ARIA) novel Chapter 153

Chapter 153

ARIA

Finished

Sera laughed again, clearly delighted by my fear. “Oh, I won’t tell him just yet. Where’s the fun in that? No, I have a plan, you see. I’m going to taunt it over you. Lord it over you. Keep you in anxiety, wondering when the other shoe will drop. Maybe I’ll send a note with evidence to Ivory instead. Let her be the one to reveal your betrayal to Alpha Kael. That would be poetic, don’t you think? The woman you’re so jealous of being the one to expose your secret visits to your ex-mate.”

Rage flooded through me. The calculated cruelty of it—not just exposing my mistake, but doing it in the way that would cause maximum damage. Using my own insecurities and fears as weapons against me.

I lunged toward her without thinking. Just pure anger and desperation driving me forward. I needed to stop her. Needed to prevent her from destroying everything I’d been trying to build.

But Sera was faster. Her hand connected with my face before I could reach her-a sharp, stinging slap that snapped my head to the side. Then she grabbed my hair, her fingers tangling in the strands, pulling hard enough to make my eyes water.

“Don’t forget your place,” she hissed, her face close to mine. “You might play at being Luna in Shadowmere, but here? In Blackwood? You’re still the pathetic omega who couldn’t keep her own mate satisfied. Still the woman everyone pities or despises. Still nothing.”

Just then, one of Sera’s guards appeared at the garden entrance. “Luna Sera,” he called. “There’s a visitor waiting for you in the inner courtyard. The one you’ve been expecting.”

Sera’s expression shifted-the rage and cruelty giving way to something more calculating. She released my hair, shoving me backward slightly.

“Duty calls,” she said. “But don’t worry, Aria. We’ll continue this conversation soon. And remember—you have to come to breakfast. It would look very bad if you avoided it. People might wonder what you’re hiding. What you’re afraid of.”

She turned and walked away, her guard following. Leaving me standing in the garden, my face stinging from her slap, my scalp aching from where she’d pulled my hair, my mind reeling from everything she’d revealed.

She knew about my visit to Damon. She was going to use it against me. And she was going to drag it out, making me suffer with anticipation before finally revealing it in whatever way would cause the most damage.

I stood there for several minutes, trying to regain my sense of normalcy. Trying to stop shaking. Trying to figure out what to do. I could confess now-run back to the guest quarters and tell Kael everything before Sera could. But what would that accomplish? He’d still be disappointed. Still be hurt by my deception. Still question whether he could trust me.

Or I could wait. Hope that somehow Sera’s plan would fall apart. That she’d lose her evidence or change her mind or something would happen to prevent her from exposing me.

But that was foolish thinking. Sera had no reason not to follow through. She wanted to hurt me. Wanted to

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14:37 Thu, Dec 25

Chapter 153

Finished

destroy what I’d built in Shadowmere. This was her revenge for what she perceived a role in Dameif’s

downfall.

Finally, I forced myself to move. Made my way back through the house without looking at the picture frame or the necklace. Back to where Tom was waiting patiently.

“You okay?” he asked, concern evident in his expression. “You look upset.”

“I’m fine,” I lied. “Just… difficult being back here. Lots of memories.”

Tom didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t push. Just walked with me back toward the guest quarters, providing silent support through his presence.

As we approached the building, I saw activity outside. Nina was there, looking tense and worried. And Kael -Kael was pacing, his expression dark with concern and what looked like barely controlled anger.

They were looking for me. Had probably woken to find me gone and immediately assumed the worst—that Sera had done something, that I’d been taken or hurt or worse.

“Luna Aria!” Nina called out when she spotted me. “Thank the gods. Alpha Kael has been-”

“Where were you?” Kael interrupted, striding toward me. His hands came up to grip my shoulders, his eyes scanning me for injuries. “I woke up and you were gone. No note, no indication of where you went. In enemy territory, Aria. Do you understand how dangerous-” He stopped abruptly, his thumb brushing against my cheek. “Your face. Why is your face red? Did someone hit you?”

The mark from Sera’s slap. I’d forgotten about it in my rush to get back.

“I’m fine,” I said quickly. “I just took a walk to clear my head. I couldn’t sleep, and staying in bed wasn’t helping. I needed air.”

“Alone?” Kael’s voice was tight. “You went walking alone through Blackwood Pack territory?”

“Tom was with me for part of it,” I said, gesturing to where Tom stood a respectful distance away. “I wasn’t completely alone.”

“That’s not the same as having security,” Kael said, his concern morphing into frustration. “Aria, we’re guests here. Possibly unwelcome guests. You can’t just wander off without protection.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, and meant it. “I wasn’t thinking clearly. I just needed to move. To think.”

Kael’s expression softened slightly at my apology. His hands moved from my shoulders to cup my face, tilting it up so he could examine the mark on my cheek more closely.

“Who hit you?” he asked again, and now there was steel in his voice. “And don’t tell me no one did. This is clearly from someone’s hand.”

I could tell him. Could reveal what Sera had done. Could use this as proof of her hostility, her willingness to physically attack me.

But if I did, he’d confront her. Would demand answers. Would potentially escalate the situation into full conflict between our packs. And Sera would use that confrontation as the perfect opportunity to reveal my secret—to frame it as justified revenge for what I’d done, visiting her imprisoned mate behind everyone’s back.

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14:37 Thu, Dec 25

Chapter 153

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