Mated To My Mate's Worst Enemy (ARIA) novel Chapter 154

Chapter 154

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Breakfast was held in Blackwood’s formal dining hall—a large room with high ceilings and windows that let in the morning light. The table was set elaborately, far more formally than necessary for what was supposedly just a morning meal. But I recognized the display for what it was: a power play. Sera showing off Blackwood’s resources, reminding us that we were in her territory, subject to her hospitality and her rules.

Kael sat at my right, his posture tense despite his diplomatic expression. Nina was positioned strategically across from us, her eyes constantly scanning the room for threats. The Blackwood elders occupied other seats, their faces carefully neutral. And Sera sat at the head of the table like a queen holding court, that knowing smile playing at her lips.

But there was someone else present that I hadn’t expected. Someone whose stomach drop even further than it already had.

presence made my

Luna Margaret. Sera’s biological mother. My stepmother, though I’d never thought of her that way and she’d certainly never treated me like a daughter.

She sat beside Sera, eating her meal with delicate precision, her expression serene and pleasant. As if this was just a normal family breakfast rather than a carefully orchestrated trap.

Margaret had been the one who’d told me to go mate with Alpha Kael months ago. Had presented it as if she was doing me a favor, helping me escape Damon’s obsession. But I’d always suspected her real motivation was eliminating me as competition for Sera. Getting rid of the inconvenient omega who’d complicated her daughter’s bond with Damon.

Seeing her here now, sitting beside Sera with that pleasant smile, confirmed that this whole situation had her fingerprints on it. Whatever Sera was planning, Margaret was probably involved.

The meal progressed in tense silence at first. Staff brought out course after course-fresh fruit, pastries, eggs prepared in various styles, meats, breads. More food than anyone could reasonably eat. Another display of Blackwood’s abundance.

Sera picked at her food delicately, occasionally glancing at Kael with that flirtatious expression she’d worn yesterday. Then at me, her smile becoming more predatory. She was enjoying this. Enjoying our discomfort. Enjoying the power she held over the situation.

“So,” she said eventually, breaking the silence. “Shall we discuss the matter you came here for? The investigation into who visited Damon at the neutral dungeons?”

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“That would be appreciated,” Kael said, his tone carefully controlled. “You indicated you had information that would be illuminating.”

“I do,” Sera confirmed. She took a sip of her tea, deliberately drawing out the moment. “Though I have to say, I find it interesting that you’re so concerned about who visited my mate. Shouldn’t I have the right to see him? To check on his welfare? To ensure he’s being treated humanely?”

“If you wanted to visit him officially,” Nina interjected, her voice sharp, “you could have arranged it through proper channels. The fact that someone went covertly, using false credentials, suggests the visit wasn’t innocent.”

“Does it?” Sera asked innocently. “Or does it suggest that your protocols are unnecessarily restrictive? That you’re making it difficult for people to exercise their basic rights to maintain connections with imprisoned loved ones?”

“We didn’t come here to play riddles with you,” Nina said, her patience clearly wearing thin. “We’re here on serious business. If you have information, share it. If you’re just wasting our time to create drama, we can leave.”

Sera’s smile widened slightly, as if Nina’s frustration pleased her. But she turned her attention back to Kael, ignoring Nina entirely.

“Tell me, Alpha Kael,” she said, her tone becoming almost conversational. “How well do you really know your Luna? How much of her past are you actually aware of? How certain are you of her loyalties?”

The questions were clearly meant to plant doubt. To make Kael question me, wonder what secrets I was keeping, suspect that my connection to Damon and Blackwood ran deeper than he knew.

And watching Sera’s face, seeing the calculated way she was manipulating the conversation, I suddenly realized something. She wasn’t planning to reveal my secret directly. Not right now, anyway. She was playing with us. Stalling. Creating tension and uncertainty.

Which meant she was either waiting for something, or she had a bigger plan that required keeping us here longer than necessary. This vagueness, this game of hints and implications-it was all diversion. Distraction from whatever she was really planning.

“I know my Luna well enough,” Kael said firmly. “And I know that you’re deliberately avoiding giving us the information you claimed to have. If you’re not going to share it, we’re leaving.”

He started to stand, clearly intending to call Sera’s bluff and end this manipulation.

“Wait,” Sera said, and for the first time, there was something genuine in her voice. Not warmth or kindness, but actual urgency. As if Kael’s willingness to walk away had disrupted whatever game she was playing. “Don’t be so hasty. I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

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“Then tell us,” Kael demanded, still standing. “No more games. No more vague implications. Just give us the information.”

Sera sighed dramatically, as if disappointed that he wasn’t playing along with her manipulation. “Very well. Though I think you’ll find the truth… uncomfortable. Perhaps we should discuss this after dinner instead? Give everyone time to digest their breakfast properly?”

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