Chapter 5 The Morning After

ARYA

Elira clung to his side like an accessory. She wore silver. Of course she wore silver. It matched the decor perfectly. Something I hadn’t told anyone but Ryker about. I was surprised he had even listened and remembered enough to tell her about it.

She smiled brightly when our eyes met. Full of confidence. That made it worse.

“Elira,” I said evenly as they reached me.

“Luna,” she replied with the sweetness of sugar about to rot your teeth.

“Thank you for coming,” I told her, even though she didn’t RSVP. I’d left her off the list on purpose. Yet, here she was.

“I wouldn’t miss it,” she said, her gaze flicking to Jaime with a familiarity that I could never dare to show. “It’s a special night after all.”

Jaime didn’t say a word. He looked past me to the staircase, to the guests, to anywhere but me.

Not even a happy anniversary out of his mouth.

I turned before my expression cracked and gestured for them to enter.

As they stepped further into the hall, I stayed beside Jaime.

Before he could walk away like I knew he had the intention of doing, I spoke.

“Shall we greet the guests?” It was a subtle reminder to him that we were married. And people expected us to look the part of a happily married couple even if we were anything but.

We were supposed to see the more prominent guests together. Something I’d made clear in the notes I’d left with his assistant. But the tension between us was sharp enough to cut through silk.

Still, I tried.

“We should speak with Councilman Bardon,” I said softly, glancing toward the grey-haired man from the Lycan King’s court. “He represents the capital. It would mean something if we stood together.”

I reached for Jaime’s hand, a small, subtle gesture meant to bridge the gap between husband and wife.

He let me touch him for all of three seconds before he shifted his hand. It was not obvious that anyone would notice, but enough to get his point across. He didn’t want me touching him. He moved us so we stood side-by-side instead.

As if I were a pack warrior and not his wife.

Elira stood just behind us, watching. Her lips barely moved, but her expression said it all ‘You’re still trying?’

I straightened my spine. I could do this. I had to.

Councilman Bardon noticed us approaching and smiled broadly. “Alpha Jaime. Luna Arya. Congratulations on five years. We were sorry the King couldn’t attend personally, but he’s grateful for the hospitality.”

“Of course,” I said, my voice even. “Please extend our gratitude to His Majesty.”

Jaime gave a tight nod. “Your presence is appreciated, Councilman.”

Bardon’s eyes lingered on me. “The arrangements tonight… They’re reminiscent of High Court traditions. Were you trained there, Luna?”

I blinked. “No, Councilman. Just… an interest in formality.”

His expression grew thoughtful. “Hmm.”

I couldn’t tell if that was suspicion or curiosity, but Jaime didn’t comment.

“Your children will be lucky to have such a well educated mother. Although I see you’re taking your time. It is good to enjoy your youth before you have little pups running around and taking all the attention.” He tipped his head toward Jaime. “You have a smart wife, Alpha Jaime. Not many alphas can say that these days.”

Jaime only gave a tight nod to the comment in a perfunctory gesture and moved on to the next guest, forcing me to decide to either follow or be left behind.

That moment with Councilman Bardon left something buzzing under my skin.

He saw me. Not as the wife of an alpha. Not as a ceremonial figure. But as someone who maybe mattered. He even called me smart.

And yet, to the man whose name I carried… I was just another face in the room.

The dinner went smoothly as expected. I planned it down to the minute. From seating arrangements to which wine was poured with which course.

I moved through the room, checking in with the serving team, nodding politely at questions from elders and representatives from neighboring packs. Everyone seemed pleased.

Everyone except the one person who mattered.

Jaime barely looked my way.

He sat with Elira, and though they didn’t touch, their closeness was undeniable. She leaned in when she spoke to him, and he listened with that soft, focused look that I’ve never been the recipient of.

At one point, I heard my name faintly mentioned.

I turned and spotted two women near the drink table, both Lunas from respected alliances.

“Is that her?” one whispered. “I thought Elira was Luna.”

“No,” the other replied with a smirk. “Elira just fits better next to him. She’s a true Northern woman.”

My hands clenched around the edge of the wine tray I was adjusting.

I made myself get through the rest of the night with a silent mantra. Smile. Serve. Float. That’s all I was tonight. A shadow in a beautiful dress.

At the end of the event, most guests had left. The cleanup crew had begun to quietly reset the space.

I stayed behind to ensure nothing was out of place, running through the checklist in my mind.

That’s when Ryker appeared beside me, a glass of sparkling water in his hand. I hadn’t seen him all night.

“You really pulled this off?” he asked, his voice quiet.

I blinked at him. “Of course I did.”

He looked around with a proud smile. “It’s flawless.”

Something in my chest stuttered.

No one else had said that, apart from the councilman. Not even Jaime. Especially not Jaime.

Ryker didn’t say it like it was small talk. He said it like it mattered.

“Thank you,” I said softly.

He gave me a smile that didn’t ask anything of me. “You make this place shine, Arya. Whether anyone notices or not.”

I felt the words settle in a part of me that hadn’t been touched in a long time.

I went back upstairs after he left. I was alone again. I began to unpin my hair, my hands moved mechanically, but my mind was far away. Thinking of all the things that seemed to be weighing down on me heavier now. I had thrown a beautiful celebration. For a man who didn’t care. For a marriage that has never been real, I barely got a nod of recognition.

Even if he didn’t care to do it for me, it was the pack’s reputation I was saving.

I caught my reflection in the mirror. The dress. The smile I wore all night. It all looked perfect.

And none of it felt like me. None of it was for me. I started to wonder if this is how I'm expected to spend the rest of my life. Living like I didn't matter. Like I didn't exist.