Chapter 55
Aria’s POV
After they left, I stood in my silent apartment, staring at the boxes of wedding gowns and trying to process what the hell had just happened.
I quickly created a group chat and pulled in Rachel, Jennifer, and a few other women I’d gotten close to over the past weeks.
I typed quickly: [Emergency. Need you all tomorrow night. Black tie event. Sending money for dresses—don’t argue, just buy something gorgeous p>
The responses came flooding in immediately.
Diana:[WHAT p>
Rachel:[Aria what’s happening p>
Jennifer:[Is this what I think it is p>
I sent a generous amount to each of them with a simple message:[Long story. I’m getting engaged.Please come. I need friendly faces there p>
Rachel:[OH MY GOD ARE YOU GETTING ENGAGED p>
Rachel called immediately. “Aria Elizabeth Smith, you better start talking right now p>
“I know, I know. It’s insane. I’ll explain everything tomorrow, I promise p>
“Tomorrow? ARIA. You’re getting engaged TOMORROW and you’re just telling us NOW p>
“It’s complicated p>
“Who’s your fiancé? Did he propose? Wait, of course he didn’t propose—you would’ve told me immediately if he’d proposed. So what the hell is going on p>
I laughed despite myself. “My fiancé is the Alpha King p>
“YOU’RE JUST TELLING ME THIS NOW?!” Her shriek could’ve shattered glass. “WE’RE BEST FRIENDS, REMEMBER p>
“I didn’t expect it to happen so fast! I was planning to tell you when the timing was right. Besides, aren’t you supposed to be going abroad again p>
“How is that even remotely the same thing?” She paused, and I could practically hear her brain processing. “Holy shit. You’re marrying into the Royal Pack. Aria, do you have any idea p>
“I’m trying very hard not to think about it right now p>
“Okay. Okay. Deep breaths.” Her voice shifted into crisis-management mode. “We’ve got you. I’ll coordinate with the others—we’ll all be there tomorrow to support you. Do you need help with anything? Hair? Makeup? Last-minute cold feet coaching p>
“Just… be there. Please p>
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, babe p>
After we hung up, I tried to focus on work. I pulled up the V&A Group reports I’d been reviewing earlier, but the numbers blurred together meaninglessly.
All I could think about was tomorrow night. The ceremony. And Damian.
I looked at the boxes on my coffee table. At my phone, where Rachel’s enthusiastic messages were still coming through. At my own reflection in the darkened window.
For the first time in my entire life, I wasn’t being forced into something.
I was being invited. Welcomed. Claimed by people who actually wanted me.
The choice was still mine. I could walk away. Call it off. Tell Damian this was too much, too fast, too overwhelming.
But God help me, I didn’t want to.
My phone rang. Damian’s name lit up the screen.
I answered immediately. “Hi p>
“Hi.” His voice was warm now, the ice completely melted. “They’re settled. Finally. My mother tried to show me seventeen different flower arrangements on the drive back p>
I laughed. “Only seventeen p>
“She’s narrowing it down.” A pause. “Aria, I need you to know—I never wanted it to happen like this. You deserved better p>
“I know p>
“If you want to postpone, we can. I’ll handle my parents’ disappointment. Your comfort matters more than their timeline p>
Something dangerously warm bloomed in my chest, and I quickly pushed it down. “What if I don’t want to postpone p>
Silence on the other end. Then, carefully: “What are you saying p>
“I’m saying I took a deep breath. “I’m saying your parents might have ambushed us, but this is a good business arrangement. Mutually beneficial p>
“Business arrangement,” he repeated slowly.
“Exactly.” I forced my voice to sound crisp, professional. “You get your mate requirement fulfilled, I get security and status. Clean transaction p>
“But you deserve a real courtship.” His voice was rough now, emotion bleeding through. “You deserve romance. Proper dates. Time to be sure p>
“Romance is a luxury I can’t afford.” My heart hammered against my ribs, but I forced myself to sound calm. “This is a contract marriage. You haven’t forgotten that, have you p>
A pause. “Is that really all this is to you? A contract p>
“What else would it be?” I asked. The words came out sharper than intended, defensive. “We barely know each other p>
“Right,” he said quietly. “Of course p>
“So tomorrow night,” I continued. “We make it official. But I’d prefer something smaller. The people closest to us are enough p>
“Done,” Damian said without hesitation.
Then his voice grew serious.
“But Aria—once that announcement is made, there’s no going back. Contract or not, this becomes real p>
“I understand the terms of our agreement perfectly p>
I hung up before he could say anything else.
The silence in my apartment felt deafening. I stared at my phone for a long moment, then set it down with deliberate care.
“It’s just a contract marriage,” I said to the empty room. “Don’t expect more than what’s written on paper p>