HIS LUNA BY MISTAKE, A MOTHER BY FATE

Aria's POV

His presence filled the room, heavy and commanding. He stood firm and I could feel his fierce eyes burning into my skin.

Before, I would have shivered the moment I heard his voice, and my pulse would have hammered loudly in my ears. But not that night.

My shoulders were squared confidently, my spine was straight, and my gaze locked on him without a flicker of fear. Kael's presence pressed against the room, heavy and suffocating, but the tremor I once felt in his presence had vanished.

His eyes scanned the room, lingering on me longer than necessary.

"What the hell is going on?" His voice was low, controlled, and carried weight. His eyes were fixed on me, and it took me a moment to realize the question was directed at me.

"I don't know," I shrugged, my tone deliberately casual, my arms crossed over my chest.

His gaze faltered for a split second, surprise flashing across those sharp eyes of his before he covered it with the familiar mask of cold authority. Kael wasn't used to being answered so dismissively-especially not by me.

He took a step forward, his gaze not leaving mine. The tension in the room grew thicker, but I stood on my ground, refusing to lower my gaze.

"Kael..." Cassandra's cries broke through, making him halt in his steps.

Kael's eyes softened, concern washing over him.

"Cassy, what's wrong? What happened to your cheek?" He asked, observing her slightly bruised cheek.

"It's her. She slapped me," she muttered amid her fake sobs.

"She slapped you?" He uttered in disbelief, doubt clawing at him.

Anyone who heard I slapped Cassandra would have had the same expression on their face. I was the obedient dog who wagged its tail at its owner despite being hurt.

But not anymore.

"Is it true you slapped her?" Kael asked, his voice dangerously low as he turned to face me.

"Yes," I simply said, my tone flat and unapologetic. "I slapped her."

The words hit him like a punch to the face. His face hardened and his jaw tightened. Cassandra noticed that, and she increased the volume of her sobs dramatically.

I caught a faint flash of triumph in her teary eyes before she buried her face against Kael's shoulder.

"She not only slapped Cassandra, Kael, she even went as far as disrespecting me!" my mother-in-law added.

"What?"

"Yes, Kael. She refused to make dinner and when Mum tried to correct her, she rebelled by slapping Cassandra," Jack chipped in.

I smirked at how neatly they had interwoven their lies to make me look like the sinner.

"Is that what happened?" Kael asked, his voice low and controlled. He held my gaze, waiting.

"Will my explanation change anything?" I asked flatly. "You will believe them over me after all. So whatever they said is true. I did everything."

The words rolled out of my tongue like poison.

Kael's eyes narrowed, a flicker of irritation crossed his face.

"You..." he tried speaking, but for the first time, I cut him short.

"So, since we are all agreeing on the story tonight, let's make it complete," I tilted my head, locking eyes with them.

"I, Aria, the Luna of the Silverfang Pack, henceforth refuses to cook for this family. All household chores will be done by the maids," I coldly declared.

Silence enveloped the room.

Not the ordinary one, but the one that made everyone aware that something had shifted.

"What did you just say?" Kael's expression darkened, his chest heaved as he stared at me like he was seeing a stranger.

"You heard me," I met his gaze without hesitation.

"Says who?" His mum butted in.

"Says me, the Luna of the Silverfang Pack!" I blurted, my fist clenched by my side.

Cassandra's sobs quieted slightly, the Dowager Luna's body stiffened.

"You don't get to make decisions like that," Kael said, his tone sharpened.

I let out a soft chuckle.

"Really? And why is that?"

"Because I am the Alpha," his eyes narrowed, and the room held its breath for a moment.

"True," I nodded slowly. "You're the Alpha. But you seem to be forgetting something important."

I took a step closer to him, leaning in.

"That I am your wife, the Luna," I whispered, but my voice was audible enough for them to hear.

A flicker flashed through his eyes.

"And according to the Sovereign Codex, chapter seven, clause twelve," my voice steadied as I walked away from them.

"A Luna is not subjected to servitude within her own pack. She has equal authority to the Alpha within the pack domain," I paused, allowing my words to sink into their brains.

"Her duties are to the pack and not to the personal comfort of the Alpha's family. Any attempt to reduce her to a maid will be considered a direct violation of the pack law."

Silence.

The air became stiff.

No one dared to utter a word.

For the first time since I had known Kael, he looked shaken. His eyes searched mine-sharp, suspicious, and dangerous.

"You're overstepping your boundaries, Aria," he warned.

Aria?

For the first time in three years, he called me by my name.

Not 'hey' but 'Aria'.

A devilish smile curved up my lips.

"Am I? Or maybe I am stepping into something I should have all along."

Silence stretched between us, and then I turned away, dismissing them like they meant nothing.

"I've said all that needed to be discussed, and if any of you have an objection to my new rule, you can take it up with the Sovereign Codex."

"I think it's high time I called it a night," I said, grabbing my handbag and walking out of the dining room.

I paused briefly, turning around.

"Since you have all insisted on not eating the food prepared by the staff, I have done you a favor by ordering for you. Your orders should be here anytime soon. Do enjoy yourself."

I walked away. My steps slow and steady.

Behind me, I could feel it-a shift in power.

The beginning of something far more dangerous than they were prepared for.

I was no longer the Luna who used to cook for the family.

I was the Luna who would destroy them for killing my child.