LOVING THE ENEMY ALPHA

Chapter 1

"You're holding back," Aria snarled, her emerald eyes flashing with irritation. "Fight me like you mean it."

The scent of blood and sweat hung heavy in the training ring as Aria Blackwood dodged another vicious swipe from her sparring partner's claws. Marcus, a seasoned warrior twice her age, showed her no mercy despite her being the Alpha's daughter, which was exactly how she preferred it.

Marcus hesitated for a split second, and then she struck. Her fist connected with his chest, sending him stumbling backwards. Before he could recover, she swept his legs, dropping him to the dirt with a satisfying thud.

"Good," came a familiar voice from the sidelines. "But it could have been better."

Aria spun around to face her father, Alpha Damon Blackwood, whose massive frame filled the training ring entrance. Even in his human form, his presence still commanded absolute respect. The Silver Crest pack members who'd been watching the sparring match immediately dropped their gazes and stepped back.

"At least I got the job done," Aria replied, wiping blood from her split lip with the back of her hand.

"In a real fight, there would have been no hesitation." Damon stepped into the ring, his steel-grey eyes staring deep into hers. "Show me the combination again, properly this time."

The watching pack members exchanged glances. Everyone knew better than to interrupt when the Alpha was training his heir, despite the tension. At seventeen, Aria had already surpassed most adult wolves in combat, but Damon still pushed her harder than anyone else.

"With respect, Alpha," Marcus coughed from the ground, "perhaps we should---"

"Perhaps you should remember your place," Damon's voice dropped to a dangerous growl. "My daughter will lead this pack someday, so she doesn't need coddling."

Aria felt her wolf, Kestra, nod with both pride and frustration. "He's right," Kestra whispered in her mind. "But his methods..."

"Are necessary," Aria finished the thought. She'd been training since she could walk, studying pack law since she could read, and the burden of being the only heir to the second-largest pack in the region meant that there was no room for error.

"Again," Damon commanded.

This time, Aria moved with fluid precision, dealing blow after blow to Marcus until he yielded with a pained grunt.

"Better." Damon's approval was barely a nod, but it meant everything. "Come find me later in the conference room to discuss alliance negotiations with the Northern packs."

As Aria towelled off her sweat and blood, she caught whispered conversations among the pack members.

"...should be planning her eighteenth birthday, not more politics..."

"...never seen an Alpha push their child so hard..."

"Enough," Aria commanded with irritation. Despite her youth, her Alpha presence was still undeniable, "Don't you have training of your own to attend to?"

The pack members scattered, leaving only Aria and her father in the ring.

"They question you because they don't understand," Damon said quietly, his harsh demeanour softening slightly. "The pack needs to know their future Alpha can handle anything, that is what's most important."

"I know." Aria's voice was steady, but inside, Kestra paced restlessly.

That's enough for today," Her mother, Celeste intervened, stepping into the ring. "Aria has other things to prepare for."

Damon looked like he wanted to argue, but something in his mate's expression stopped him. "Fine. Go ahead, but don't forget to attend the meeting in the conference room today."

"Got it," Aria replied, nodding.

As the crowd dispersed, Celeste linked her arm through Aria's. "Walk with me, sweetheart."

Aria let herself take off the leader mask she always had to wear, then walked freely with her mother.

They headed toward the packhouse, a massive structure that housed the Alpha family.

"You know," Celeste said conversationally, "most seventeen-year-olds would be excited about turning eighteen tomorrow. Birthday parties, friends, maybe thinking about finding their mate."

Aria glanced at her mother. "I am excited."

"Are you? Because you've been so focused on pack business that I'm not sure you've even thought about what turning eighteen means for you personally."

They climbed up the stairs to the family wing, passing portraits of previous Silver Crest Alphas. Someday, Aria's picture would join them as the first female Alpha in the pack's history.

"I think about it," Aria said quietly.

"And?"

"And I wonder if my mate will understand what he's signing up for." She paused outside her bedroom door. "Being mated to a female Alpha isn't exactly traditional."

Celeste's expression softened. "The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes, Aria. Whoever she's chosen for you will be perfect for who you are, not who others think you should be."

"I hope you're right."

"I know I am." Celeste squeezed her hand. "Now, come with me. I have something to show you."

Curiously, Aria followed her mother to the master bedroom where she went straight to the walk-in closet and emerged with a garment bag.

"Before you say anything," Celeste said, unzipping the bag, "I know you hate pink."

She pulled out the most stunning dress Aria had ever seen. An elegant emerald green silk that perfectly matched her eyes, it was exactly what she would have chosen for herself.

"Mom..." Aria breathed, running her fingers over the silk.

"I may have let you think I was planning pink and white decorations," Celeste admitted with a smile. "But I've known you for seventeen years, so I used emerald and gold, just like our pack colours."

Aria held the dress up to herself and looked in the mirror. For once, she didn't see the future Alpha or the dutiful daughter. She just saw a girl who was about to turn eighteen.

"It's perfect," she whispered.

"I just know you'll look so beautiful," Celeste said, tears threatening to spill over. "My little girl is all grown up."

"Don't cry," Aria murmured, though her own eyes were suspiciously bright.

"These are happy tears."

"Still, tears are tears. Save them for after the party."

Celeste laughed and wiped her eyes. "So practical all the time, just like your father."

As Aria changed back into her training clothes, she felt something she hadn't experienced in a long time, pure excitement.

Tomorrow night, she would celebrate her eighteenth birthday. Tomorrow night, she might meet her mate and everything would change forever.

"Thank you," she told her mother seriously. "For everything. The dress, the party, for believing in me even when I don't believe in myself."

"That's what mothers are for," Celeste replied. "Now, your father wants to discuss a few things with you before dinner, and the caterers need final numbers for tomorrow night."

Aria nodded, slipping back into her role as future Alpha. But underneath the responsibilities and expectations, she felt expectant.

"Tomorrow, I meet my mate."