Mute

Caspian’s POV

As Aria tilted her head up to meet my gaze, I was taken aback by the boldness in her eyes. Gone was the frail girl who used to tremble in my presence, replaced by a woman who exuded confidence and strength. She signed with determination, ‘Not the frail girl anymore who trembled in front of you? Not the naive little omega who worshiped the ground you walked on?’

Caught off guard, I struggled to recognize the woman standing before me. This wasn’t the same Aria I once knew. She seemed transformed, as if some newfound courage had taken hold of her, guiding her words and actions.

The corners of Aria’s mouth twitched as she signed, “Why have you grown silent, Caspian?”

I sucked in a harsh breath, grappling with the realization that I had played a part in breaking her spirit. I wanted to apologize, to mend what I had shattered, but instead, the words that escaped my lips were hollow promises. “You will be taken care of and given everything you need while you are still recuperating.”

But Aria shook her head, her hands moving swiftly in sign language. “I do not want anything from you, Caspian. And I never will.”

Her words pierced through me like a dagger, reminding me of the irreversible damage I had inflicted upon her. As she stood there, bold and defiant, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret for the pain I had caused. Yet, I knew that no amount of remorse could undo the past or erase the scars I had left behind.

As Aria’s hands moved with lightning speed, she signed her intention to leave the pack once she healed. “I will leave,” her hands flew, her fingers darting through the air with

urgency.

My heart clenched at her words, but I couldn’t let her go. Not again. “No,” I said firmly, my voice echoing with determination. “You’re not leaving. I won’t let you.”

Aria stood her ground, her gaze locked with mine. With a swift motion of her hands, she signed, “You don’t have any say in my life anymore, not since you rejected me.”

My firmness faltered for a moment, but I couldn’t back down. “I am your Alpha, Aria!” I shouted, my voice rising with frustration. “You will not disobey me.”

A smirk danced on Aria’s lips, a silent challenge in her eyes. But before she could provoke me further, a wave of dizziness washed over her. She stumbled, her balance

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wavering, and then she fell.

Fear surged through me as I watched her collapse. “Aria!” I screamed, rushing to her side. I gathered her limp form in my arms, panic clawing at my chest.

“Aria, wake up,” I pleaded, my voice cracking with desperation. But she remained unconscious, her pale form a stark contrast against the dark floor.

Summoning the doctors, I watched helplessly as they rushed to her side. They lifted her gently, placing her on the bed as they hurriedly assessed her condition.

“She needs rest and treatment,” they said, their voices urgent. “She’s not fully well.”

Guilt gnawed at me as I watched them work, knowing that I was the cause of her distress. I had argued with her, pushed her to the point of collapse. And now she lay before me, fragile and vulnerable.

As they tended to her, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of self-loathing. I was supposed to protect her, to keep her safe. But instead, I had only brought her pain.

And as I looked at her unconscious form, pale and still, I knew that I would do whatever it took to make things right. No matter the cost.

That evening, I opted to remain indoors instead of joining my family and men for dinner. The relentless stream of questions from Ellen was beginning to wear on my patience, and I needed solitude to contemplate my recent decisions.

Did I make the right choice by rejecting Aria and choosing Ellen as my Luna? At the time, it seemed like the logical decision-to select a Luna from a royal family and cast aside the omega I once considered merely a bed warmer. Yet, as I reflected on it now, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had made a grave mistake. My heart yearned for Aria, and I only realized the depth of my feelings for her after she left.

As I retreated into my study, I issued a stern warning to my beta to ensure that no one disturbed me. The weight of my thoughts pressed down on me, and I needed time to sift through them without interruption.

Soon enough, my father, who was still feared and respected within the pack, strode past the guards outside my door and entered the room.

His presence commanded attention, and I listened intently as he imparted his wisdom. He cautioned me against making rash decisions as a new Alpha, reminding me of the responsibility that rested on my shoulders.

I nodded solemnly, acknowledging his words but refraining from offering any

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immediate response. My father’s guidance had always been a cornerstone of my leadership, and now was no different.

“Young Alpha, engaging in a skirmish with another Alpha in your pack was foolish,” my father admonished, his voice tinged with concern. “What if you had been killed?”

I bristled at the implication. “Are you suggesting I should have stood idly by while an innocent woman was murdered?” I demanded, my frustration mounting.

My father’s response was blunt, causing a surge of indignation to course through me. “She holds no significance. Risking your life to save her was reckless,” he asserted. “As Alpha of the Light Shadow pack, your duty is to prioritize the safety and stability of our pack above all else.”

I couldn’t suppress my protest. “Do not dismiss her life so callously, Father,” I interjected, my voice laced with defiance. “Aria deserves to live just as much as anyone else. She is innocent and undeserving of any harm.”

Caspian’s father fixed me with a penetrating stare, his eyes seeming to bore into my very soul. “Caspian, I know you better than anyone else,” he began, his voice low and measured. “I’ve raised you to be the man you are today.”

His words sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of vulnerability wash over me. How had he seen through the carefully crafted facade I had maintained for so long?

Then, like a thunderbolt from the heavens, he dropped the bombshell I had been dreading. “And I know that you have feelings for Aria,” he stated matter-of-factly, his gaze unwavering.

I felt as though the air had been knocked out of my lungs. My father’s words hung heavy in the silence that followed, and I struggled to find my voice amidst the turmoil raging within me.

“Why do you say this, Father?” I finally managed to choke out, my words barely above a whisper. Despite the shock coursing through my veins, I couldn’t deny the truth of his assertion. Deep down, buried beneath layers of denial and self-deception, I knew he was right.

Although caught off guard by my father’s revelation, I knew it wasn’t a lie. My feelings for Aria had always been there, lurking beneath the surface, waiting to be

acknowledged. And now, with my father’s piercing gaze bearing down on me, I could no longer hide from the truth.

He didn’t hesitate to drive the point home. “You could have sent men to confront Brent

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and secure Aria’s release. Instead, you chose to confront him yourself. You risked your life for a girl who isn’t even your fiancée.”

His words echoed in the confines of my mind, a stark reminder of the reality I had been desperately trying to ignore. I remained silent, unable to offer a rebuttal. My father was right-I had never considered the possibility of being in love with Aría until that very

moment.

A weary expression crossed my father’s face as he continued, his voice tinged with a note of warning. “Remember, Ellen comes from royalty. She’s the daughter of my former beta and trusted friend. Do not hurt her. Whatever feelings you harbor for the mute omega, Aria, must be extinguished. She’s not suitable for you. She’s an orphan, a mere s**t in this pack, and to make matters worse, she’s mute.”

My jaw clenched involuntarily at the disparaging remarks about Aria. “Don’t speak of her in that manner, Father,” I interjected, my tone firm. “She may not have noble blood, but she is a person, entitled to dignity and respect.”

My father’s gaze hardened, his tone unyielding. “Ellen possesses everything Aria lacks. Do not jeopardize your future with her for the sake of a fleeting infatuation with the mute. Once Ellen becomes your wife and Luna, you must sever all ties with Aria.”

A bitter chuckle escaped my lips as I met my father’s gaze head-on. If only he knew the truth-that Aria had been my mate all along, that I had used her to warm my bed until I callously rejected her. Her departure had opened my eyes to the depth of my feelings for her, and I regretted my actions more than words could express.

Caspian’s father’s voice resonated in the dimly lit room, his words carrying a weight that seemed to press down on my shoulders. “I repeat, do not hurt Ellen,” he reiterated, his tone stern and uncompromising. “She’s a good woman. She will stand by you, will make a fine Luna. She’s the perfect fit for you.”

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Without missing a beat, I responded, my voice firm and resolute. “I’m never going to hurt Ellen,” I asserted, my words ringing with sincerity. “I love her.”

But my father’s penetrating gaze held mine, unwavering and astute. “I can see it in your eyes, Caspian,” he remarked, his tone soft but penetrating. “No matter how much you try to hide it, your feelings for Aria are there. You need to get a grip of yourself, use Aria to your satisfaction, and then leave her when you marry Ellen.”

The mention of Aria’s name ignited a spark of anger within me, and I lashed out without thinking. “Aria is not a prostitute,” I retorted, the words leaving a bitter taste in my mouth as I spoke them. The truth behind my father’s words cut deep, reminding me of the shameful way I had treated Aria in the past.

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My father’s expression remained stoic, his silence a silent reproach. “I won’t say much in this case,” he finally declared, his tone heavy with disappointment. “But I expect you to do the right thing, Caspian.”

As he turned to leave, his hand briefly rested on my shoulder in a gesture that felt more like a burden than a reassurance. Left alone in the quiet confines of my room, I couldn’t shake the weight of his words, each one a reminder of the tangled web of emotions I found myself entangled in. With a heavy sigh, I knew that I needed to confront my feelings fo

r Aria, to make amends for the mistakes of my past, and to do right by both Ellen and myself.