The Silver Moon's Betrayal

hrough the trees, a reminder of the wildness that lived in her blood. Despite the sounds of the forest calling to her, Aria's heart

sh encounter with Selene. The woman's cruel words, her cold gaze-they were the same ev

of another day. Aria had no choice but to push her feelings aside. There was a

bric was faded, the hem frayed, a stark contrast to the extravagant gowns her stepsister

lene's voice in the kitchen, giving orders to the servants in that tone that left no r

ing up from the pot she was stirring. "Get to

meal were laid out. Her hands moved with practiced efficiency as she began chopping v

Aria could hear the subtle satisfaction behind her words. "It's time for her to start

he man who had no family, no title, and no wealth. But something about him had always unsettled Aria. She had never been

quietly, her hands stilling for a moment as she r

at her sharply.

ecovered, "everyone says

s can be deceiving. Lila doesn't care about his wealth. She onl

ther's words. Power, wealth-those were the things that ruled the

as dressed in a flowing silk robe, her long brown hair cascading in perfect waves over her shoulders. She l

o the table, dropping into a chair with a delicate sigh. "Yo

ve been dreaming of this day for so long. Marrying him will be the best thi

eable. Lila's vanity knew no bounds. She had always been obsessed with marryi

f her stepmother and the selfishness of her stepsister had shattered her hope, Aria had believed in love, in the fair

impossible, a distant fantasy she no

mething was off about Lila's impending marriage to Dante. She had overheard whispers late at night-fragments of conversations from the servants, fr

tchen door. It was one of the house servants, a yo

ant stammered. "There

expecting anyone, and she certainly wasn't imp

d, wiping her ha

.. I don't know who he is, but he insists on s

spoke-an edge of fear, of uncertainty. Whoever this man was, he wasn't s

ough her pulse quickened. She wiped her ha

sively. "Go on then. I'll ha

tchen, her mind racing. What could this mysterious

. She had been told to stay hidden, to remain quiet and out of sight. Yet this man-this stranger

the handle. And there, standing in the doorway, was a man she didn't re

ng eyes that seemed to see straight through her, he

voice low and smooth. "I