Chapter 215: The Trap Waiting for Her
Ken stopped mid-step and turned back.
The door hit the wall behind him as he pushed inside again.
Before he could say another word, Arianna laughed.
"I knew you’d come back," she said with a smug smile. "You can’t resist me, so stop pretending."
Ken’s jaw tightened.
In two quick strides, he was beside the bed. His hand slammed against the bedframe next to her shoulder, trapping her where she sat. Arianna didn’t flinch. She only lifted her eyes to meet his, the smile still resting on her lips.
"Did you think I was joking?" he said.
Her gaze snapped past him toward Brooklyn, then back, sharp with heat.
"This about her?" she shot back. "You’re really doing this to me because of her?" A short laugh slipped out, bitter and breathless. "We were already something before she ever showed up, Ken. Don’t stand there like you don’t know that."
Ken didn’t blink.
She tried to seduce him, but he didn’t give in.
"Don’t try that again," he said quietly.
Arianna’s chest rose fast, but she kept going anyway. "You don’t get to just erase me," she said, pointing between them. "I was here before her. Before all of this..."
Ken’s hand moved.
Fingers closed around her wrist and pulled it down in one clean motion.
"Enough," he cut in.
He stepped in, closed the distance, and grabbed her arm. With a sharp turn, he angled her toward the door and pushed.
Arianna stumbled into the hallway. Her shoulder hit the wall before she caught herself, fingers digging into it as she steadied. Her jaw tightened, heat flashing through her chest.
Inside the chamber, Brooklyn gave a quiet laugh, leaning back like nothing had happened. The door swung shut on its own weight, sealing the moment away.
Ken didn’t even glance at her.
He turned his back and walked off.
Moonfall came and went.
By the next moonrise, the company he had called earlier showed up.
No notice. No words exchanged.
They pulled the chamber door free.
Metal scraped and groaned as it came off the hinges. A reinforced panel went up in its place, locks clicking in one after another until the sound stopped for good.
When they finished, only Ken and Lyn had access to the chamber.
Ken and Brooklyn got ready for their date that high moon without much talk.
He reached for his clothes, paused, then chose. Brooklyn did the same, smoothing out fabric, then stealing a quick glance at him. Their eyes met for a second, then drifted away again.
The chamber stayed quiet, stretched thin with something neither of them named.
When they were finally dressed, Ken held out his hand. Brooklyn took it, and they walked out together.
At the parking slot, they stopped.
Arianna stood by the passenger door of the car they had picked. She leaned slightly against it, like she’d been waiting there a while.
"I know him more than you," she said, then laughed.
Ken and Brooklyn didn’t move. They just stared at her.
Arianna tilted her head, still laughing. "The moment he left the feeding chamber, I already knew where he was going. I changed fast and beat you here."
Ken exhaled through his nose and rubbed his forehead. "My heart... get in the car."
Brooklyn stepped forward.
Arianna didn’t budge.
"Ken, I want to go with you guys," she said.
She glanced down at her gown, then back up, tugging it slightly as she moved toward the car. She opened the back door and slid in.
A cigarette came out of her box, already between her fingers. Ken’s voice cut in before she could light it. She paused, held his stare for a second, then slipped it back into the pack.
Ken kept checking Lyn in the rearview mirror, like he was trying to figure her out. She caught him once, smirked faintly, and looked away. He exhaled through his nose and focused back on the road.
He pulled into McGregor Restaurant and parked. Arianna was out before the engine fully stopped.
Her feet hit the ground, and she was already lighting up her cigarette as she walked off. Music spilled faintly from inside, and she swayed into it like she owned the space.
Ken and Lyn didn’t slow down. They headed straight for the VIP section.
They dropped into the sofa when they got there.
"When are you getting rid of her?" Ken asked, leaning back as they waited.
"I don’t know," she said, eyes on her device as it lit up. "But she won’t last more than five days in my house."
Brooklyn’s device buzzed on the table. He reached for it and smiled when he saw Emma calling.
"Emma," Ken said.
He slid the ringing device toward her.
She smiled, picked it up, and leaned a little closer to Ken so he could catch what was happening on the call.
"Honeymoon Luna," Lyn said with a grin.
Emma didn’t sound amused.
"What is it, Emma?"
"Hi, Ken."
Emma brushed past Lyn’s voice like it wasn’t there and lifted a hand at her sibling.
"Where’s that talented motherfucker?" Ken asked.
They all laughed.
"He went out," she said. "Actually, that’s why I called. We fought last moonfall."
Ken leaned in slightly. "What did he do this time, Moonlight? Say it. I’ll have him arrested."
Brooklyn let out a short snort beside him.
Emma laughed too. "It’s nothing serious. I just told him I’m not a pup and he shouldn’t treat me like one. I’m fine. I’m not sick anymore, for goddess’ sake. And I’m tired of staying locked in one place."
Ken’s face went straight. "Alright. I’ll call him right now."
He pulled the device away from his ear.
A beat later, he shook his head.
"She’s stubborn," he muttered.
Brooklyn heard it and laughed under her breath.
Ken looked at her, then cracked a smile. Brooklyn laughed harder, and he followed.
Across from Ken, Brooklyn shifted in her seat, smoothing her denim shorts. She took the device from him and glanced at the screen, her smile lingering from the joke.
"Is that why you ignored me when I waved at you?" Brooklyn asked, eyes narrowed at the screen. "It’s written all over your face. You’re upset, aren’t you?"
"I’m happy," Emma said.
She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
Brooklyn didn’t even blink.
Emma’s smile faded. Lyn shifted slightly away from Ken, lowering her voice.
"Emma," she called softly, eyes steady on her.
Emma’s gaze flicked away for a second, then back. "I called Elara earlier."
Brooklyn rolled her eyes before she could stop herself. She already knew.
"Yeah... but everything’s fine now," Lyn added quickly.
Emma leaned in a little. "Are you sure?"
Ken glanced between them. "What’s going on?"
"Nothing," Brooklyn said at once.
Emma forced another smile, tighter this time. She was about to speak when her brows pulled together. Her eyes drifted past the screen.
They all turned.
Arianna stood there, waving too hard, a bottle hanging from her hand. She swayed slightly, grinning like she owned the place.
"The latest High Queen Luna! Mate of a sovereign Alpha King!" she called out, voice loud over the music.
The smell hit before she get closer.
Brooklyn’s nose wrinkled.
"Hi, Arianna," Emma said flatly, already looking away.
Arianna leaned in anyway, talking over the music, throwing questions at her one after another.
Emma didn’t answer. She just kept her eyes on Brooklyn, ignoring her like she wasn’t there.
"Emma, I’ve got a copy of your novel. I love it!" Arianna said, rolling her eyes dramatically.
Emma lifted her chin. "I’ve got about a million reviews on my page already. People actually like it."
"Wow!" Arianna threw her hands up.
"Arianna, I’ll talk to you later," Emma said.
Arianna didn’t move. She stayed right there, clapping like she was still part of the conversation.
"Lyn, we’ve got a conference call tonight at 11 PM, GMT-7. Just the three of us. And please... give Ken an overdose of his sedatives. I don’t want him anywhere near it."
Lyn burst out laughing. Emma did too.
"Got it?" she asked.
"Of course," Lyn said, still laughing, and ended the call.
Arianna had already drifted off toward the bar. She slid onto a stool and kept drinking, like she’d never left.
Lyn asked it like she wasn’t joking this time.
"Does she drink too much, too often... like it’s become something she can’t really control?"
Ken watched her for a second.
"Yes," he said, already picking at his food.
They finished eating and left the restaurant.
Arianna was gone.
Ken barely looked around. "Come on, my heart. Let’s go. She’ll find her way."
"Wait," Emma said.
Her eyes caught movement near the entrance.
A barwolf shifted past the lights, Arianna slung over his shoulder like she weighed nothing. Her hair hung loose, one arm bouncing with each step.
Lyn moved fast.
She reached the car and yanked the back door open.
The barwolf stopped just long enough to adjust her, then dropped her inside with a dull thud before swinging the door shut.
Lyn stood there a second, blinking.
Ken didn’t even react.
"Where on earth did you meet her?" she asked.
"Her father showed up at our place with her. Kept going on about how perfect his only pup is. Ashley told me to give her a chance. That was it," Ken said.
"Alright." Lyn’s mouth tilted into a smirk.
He glanced at her. "What’s funny?"
She didn’t answer right away. A quiet laugh slipped out instead, her eyes drifting like she was already thinking about something else.
"Nothing," Lyn said softly.
She looked back at Arianna.
Then she smiled.
For the first time, she found herself feeling sorry for her.
Because whatever Emma and Elara were planning, Arianna had no idea it was already in motion.
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