Mated To My Mate's Worst Enemy (ARIA) novel Chapter 183

Chapter 183

ARIA

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The crowd shifted uncomfortably. I saw Margo’s expression become troubled. Saw Nina’s jaw tighten.

Kael’s grip on my hand became slightly firmer. “Healer Ivory is attending to medical duties. She sends her apologies for not being present to welcome you personally.”

It was a diplomatic answer. Technically true but clearly incomplete.

Bridget’s expression suggested she knew there was more to the story. “We will speak with her during our visit. There are matters we wish to discuss regarding her gifts and their proper use.”

She turned her attention back to me, and I felt the full weight of her assessment. Like she was peeling back layers, examining everything I was and everything I wasn’t.

“Luna Aria,” she said, making my title sound like a question. “We look forward to learning more about you. About how you came to hold this position. About whether you are… suitable for such responsibilities.”

The last word carried implications that made my stomach clench. She wasn’t just asking if I was adequate. She was outright questioning whether I belonged here at all.

“The pack is honored by your presence,” I managed to say, keeping my voice steady through sheer force of will. “We welcome your assessment and guidance.”

It was the right thing to say-formal, respectful, acknowledging their authority. But Bridget’s expression suggested she’d heard the tremor underneath my words. Had sensed my fear despite my attempt to hide it.

“Come,” Bridget said, addressing Kael. “Show us to appropriate quarters. We have much to discuss. Much to assess. And we will begin our evaluation immediately.”

Kael bowed slightly and began leading them toward the pack house. I moved to follow, but Nina appeared at my elbow, her presence grounding even as her expression screamed worry.

“The last time they were here,” Nina said quietly, so only I could hear, “Ivory almost died. Whatever their presence triggers, whatever they assess-it’s never simple. Never safe. This visit is dangerous, Aria. For everyone.”

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“You’re not helping,” I muttered back.

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“I’m being honest,” Nina countered. “Which you need right now. And Aria-you need to convince Kael to read Sera’s note. The one with the name of who visited Damon. We need to give that information to the elders, let them include it in their investigation. Whatever they discover will have more weight than anything we uncover on our own.”

My heart stopped. The note. The paper with my name on it. Nina wanted me to convince Kael to read it and hand it over to beings who could sense lies.

“I don’t think—” I started.

“It’s not a request,” Nina interrupted. “It’s necessity. The Ghost Council’s authority supersedes everything. If they investigate Sera’s involvement in the attacks, if they uncover evidence of treaty violations, they can enforce consequences that our pack alone couldn’t. But they need all the information. Including whoever visited Damon.”

She looked at me intently. “You understand why this is important, right? Why we can’t hide evidence from them?”

I understood. I understood perfectly. Nina was telling me, without quite saying it directly, that the elders would discover my secret anyway. That hiding it would only make things worse when truth inevitably emerged.

That I needed to confess before they uncovered it themselves.

“I’ll talk to Kael,” I heard myself say. “About the note. About giving them all the information.”

“Good,” Nina said, relief evident in her expression. “Because whatever they’re here to assess, we need to be completely transparent. Any deception, any hidden complications-they’ll find them. And the consequences for deliberate concealment are severe.”

She squeezed my arm once, then moved away to coordinate security as the elders were led inside.

I stood there in the courtyard, watching the crowd slowly disperse, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me.

The Ghost Council was here. Beings who could sense lies, who had the authority to remove Alphas and judge Lunas, who remembered when Ivory was the one everyone expected to hold my position.

They were going to assess me. Compare me to their blessed prodigy. Determine whether I was suitable or whether I was just a political convenience who’d stumbled into responsibilities she

couldn’t handle.

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