Mated To My Mate's Worst Enemy (ARIA) novel Chapter 188

Chapter 188

ARIA

Finished

The rest of the tour passed in a blur of anxiety and forced composure. I smiled when appropriate. Nodded when the elders made observations. Stayed close to Kael like the supportive Luna I was supposed to be. But my mind kept returning to that laboratory scene. To the easy familiarity between Kael and Ivory. To the way the elders had looked at her with genuine affection and concern.

To the inevitable comparison I’d be facing.

By the time we finally reached the quarters that had been prepared for the elders, I was exhausted from the constant performance. From maintaining perfect posture and appropriate expression and the careful balance between confident and humble that being Luna required.

“We’ll let you settle in,” Kael said to Bridget as servants finished arranging the final touches in the suite. “Dinner will be served in two hours. We can continue discussions then, or you’re welcome to rest and observe the pack informally as you prefer.”

“We’ll join you for dinner,” Bridget decided. “But we’ll spend the intervening time conducting preliminary observations. Walking through the pack grounds. Speaking with members informally. Getting a sense of the daily reality rather than the carefully presented tour version.”

Her eyes flicked to me when she said “carefully presented, and I felt the critique underneath her words. She knew we’d shown them our best side. The organized, efficient, impressive parts of pack life. Now they wanted to see what lay beneath that surface.

“Of course,” Kael agreed. “The pack is open to you. You have full access to observe and assess as you see fit.”

The elders nodded their acknowledgment and we were dismissed. Finally. Finally I could breathe without the weight of their assessment pressing down on every inhale.

Kael and I walked back toward our chambers in silence at first. The pack house seemed to be returning to something resembling normal activity, though everyone still moved with heightened awareness. The elders were here. The elders were watching. Every action could be observed and judged.

“That went well, I think,” Kael said eventually, though his tone was uncertain. “They seemed impressed with the medical facilities. With the pack’s organization. With Ivory’s innovations.”

Of course they were impressed with Ivory. Everyone was always impressed with Ivory.

“Did you know she was deaf?” I asked, unable to keep the question contained. “When you went to help her with the plant. Did you realize she couldn’t hear?”

“Not immediately,” Kael admitted. “I noticed she was speaking too loudly, that her responses seemed off. But I didn’t understand why until Aryada identified it. She must have been working like that for hours. Unable to hear warnings or approaching footsteps or anything. It’s a miracle that plant didn’t seriously hurt her.”

“She said she always tests compounds on herself first,” I said. “That she documents everything. That it’s safer than involving others.”

“It’s not safer,” Kael said, frustration evident in his voice. It’s reckless. If something goes wrong, if a compound proves too dangerous, she could be seriously injured or killed and no one would know until it was too late. I’ve tried talking to her about it. About involving assistants, about not being the test subject for

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Chapter 188

every experimental treatment. But she’s…”

“Stubborn,” I supplied.

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“Dedicated,” Kael corrected. “In ways that blur the line into self-destructive. She genuinely believes the risk to herself is more acceptable than the risk to anyone els. That her knowledge and skills make her the only appropriate test subject.”

We reached our chambers and entered, the door closing behind us with a soft click that felt like temporary reprieve. I moved immediately to the window, looking out at the pack grounds where I could see some of the elders already walking among the buildings. Observing. Assessing. Judging everything and everyone.

“Aria,” Kael said behind me. “What’s wrong? And don’t say nothing. You’ve been tense all day. Even before the elders arrived, something’s been bothering you.”

I turned to face him, and the concern in his expression made my chest tight. He cared. He genuinely cared about whatever was troubling me. But caring didn’t change reality. Didn’t alter the fundamental truth that I was inadequate compared to what he’d lost.

“The elders remember Ivory,” I said quietly. “They blessed her eight years ago. They care about her. And now they’re back to find that she’s not Luna. That you bonded with someone else. Someone they’ve never met. Someone who doesn’t have divine blessings or extraordinary abilities or any of the qualities that made her suitable for the position.”

“You are suitable,” Kael insisted.

“Am I?” I challenged. “Really? Because standing next to her today, watching her handle that aggressive plant and apologize to beings who clearly adore her, listening to them critique her methods with genuine concern for her welfare-I felt like a fraud. Like I’m playing at being Luna while the real one conducts brilliant research and saves lives and earns the respect of creatures who can sense every inadequacy.”

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