The silence of my room was a stark contrast to the turmoil in my heart. I stood before the mirror, my reflection a haunting reminder of the past I had tried so hard to outrun. The youthful appearance gifted by my vampire blood was a curse in this moment, a mask that hid the truth from those who knew me not. I traced the lines of my face, the familiar features that should have been a beacon of comfort, not a source of confusion and pain.
"Fae," I whispered, my voice barely audible in the stillness, "we must find a way to make this right."
My wolf, Fae, was never one to back down from a challenge, but she understood the complexities of our situation. "What do you propose, Ariadne? We cannot let this stand."
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what needed to be done. "We need to speak with Harper. Alone. We must make her understand who I am and what she's mistaken."
Fae's growl resonated within me, a testament to her displeasure. "And if she refuses to listen?"
I met my own gaze in the mirror, determination burning in my eyes. "Then we will show her."
The decision made, I left my room with a renewed sense of purpose. The hallways of the pack house were empty, the morning light casting long shadows that seemed to mirror my own inner turmoil. I moved with a grace born of years of practice, my steps silent on the wooden floors as I made my way to Harper's quarters.
The door was unguarded, a fact that spoke volumes about the trust my son had in his future mate. I knocked softly, the sound echoing in the quiet corridor. For a moment, there was no response, and I feared she might refuse to see me. But then, the door creaked open, revealing Harper's wary face.
She looked at me with a mix of anger and apprehension, her posture tense as if expecting another confrontation. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice cold.
"May I come in?" I asked, my tone as gentle as I could manage. "We need to talk."
Harper hesitated, her eyes flicking to the hallway behind me as if checking for an ambush. With a sigh, she stepped aside, allowing me entry. The room was lavish, a testament to the wealth and status of the River Howl Pack. But it was the sight of Harper, her eyes rimmed with red from crying, that struck me the most.
"Harper," I began, choosing my words carefully, "I want to apologize for the misunderstanding. I never intended to cause you any pain or confusion."
She scoffed, turning away from me to stare out the window. "You think an apology will fix this? You've ruined everything!"
I approached her slowly, not wanting to invade her personal space but needing her to hear me. "I understand why you might have felt threatened, but you've mistaken the nature of my relationship with Carsten."
"Have I?" she snapped, spinning to face me. "You're young, beautiful, and you've been all over him since you arrived. How am I supposed to feel?"
I reached out to her, placing a hand on her arm. "Harper, look at me. Really look at me. Do I truly seem like a threat to you? Or perhaps, do I remind you of someone you've known?"
Her eyes narrowed, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of doubt in her gaze. "What are you saying?"
I removed a locket from around my neck, one that held a picture of Carsten and me from years ago. "This is Carsten when he was just a pup. And this," I pointed to the younger version of myself, "is his mother."
Her eyes widened as she took in the image, the realization dawning on her. "You... you're Ariadne? But how?"
"I come from a line of vampires," I explained, "a gift that has granted me a youthful appearance for many years. I've been gone a long time, dealing with my own grief, and in that time, you've become a part of Carsten's life."
Harper's shoulders slumped, the fight seeming to leave her. "I... I didn't know. I saw the photo and just... I thought..."
"I understand," I said softly, placing the locket back around my neck. "But now you do. And I hope we can put this behind us for Carsten's sake."
She nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Ariadne. I was wrong, and I... I don't know how to make this right."
I smiled, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Start by being the Luna our pack needs. Be a partner to Carsten, and we'll support you."
As I left Harper's quarters, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. The misunderstanding had been cleared up, and while trust would take time to rebuild, we had taken the first steps towards healing the rift.
Fae was quieter now, her anger subsided. "You handled that well," she admitted, a grudging respect in her tone.
"Thank you, Fae," I replied, a sense of peace settling over me. "Now, let's focus on the future. There's much to be done before the engagement ceremony."