《Lured by My Ex's Sister's Husband》 Wore 1 I stood in front of the chapel. Pink roses and white lilies decorated every corner. My favorite flowers. The guests were already seated. Soon, at the end of the red carpet would stand the man I once loved, waiting to marry his bride. Everything was perfect. Except I wasn¡¯t the bride. ¡°I really need to see Jace today.¡± I begged the bodyguard blocking the door. A beat¨Cup suitcase and two boxes sat at my feet. Everything I owned in the world. ¡°No you don¡¯t. Get out of here,¡± the bodyguard said icily. saw disgust in his eyes. Yeah I get it. No one has sympathy for the crazy ex who shows up at the wedding. But I have my reason to be here. ¡°If you don¡¯t let me see him, I¡¯ll just stand here and all the guests will see me,¡± I threatened under my breath. Jace wouldn¡¯t want that. Especially not today. Because today, he was marrying Delh Hart. She is the sister to Alpha Grayson Hart of Redstone Pack. A 100% high¨Csociety darling. All the guys in the world knew that marrying Delh would totally change their lives, including Jace. So he made the easy call¨Cmarrying thedy who could turn him from a small¨Ctown nobody into a golden boy. And dump the girl who stayed by his side forst 4 years when he had nothing. He didn¡¯t want any guests to see me here. Because I represented his broke, embarrassing past. He wanted me nowhere near his glittering new world. Tears stung my eyes as I thought of that. Like a knife was twisting in my chest. ¡°Let me in or I¡¯m starting to yell.¡± I choked. The bodyguard frowned. ¡°Wait here.¡± He finally called somebody. A few minutester, he waved me in. I wiped my eyes and struggled into the hall with my suitcase and boxes. Instantly, I felt out of ce. Everything reeked of wealth here. Expensive perfume. Manicured nails. Not a hair out of ce. It was everything you imagined about the upper¨Css and way more. And me? I was wearing a baggy T¨Cshirt and jeans. My sneakers had holes. ¡°God, a homeless. She stinks.¡± A woman mutter as I walked by. No it couldn¡¯t be. I just showered this morning. My hair still smelled like strawberries and coconut. But poverty had a scent, apparently. ¡°Mr. Carter is inside.¡± The guard took me to a closed door and warned, ¡°Make it quick.¡± 9:17 AM @ ¡î ¡°Thank you.¡± The room inside looked like something out of a movie. Marble floors. White carpet. A chandelier that probably cost more than my apartment. And there he was. The man I used to love. Adjusting his bowtie in front of a mirror. Jace was still heartbreakingly handsome. No wonder Delh fell for him. When he turned and fixed his gorgeous blue eyes upon me, I still felt my heart race. ¡°Hey, Jace,¡± I said quietly. And immediately, I wanted to punch myself. Hey, Jace?! That¡¯s the best I could do? His face was ice cold. ¡°You shouldn¡¯te, Aria.¡± he said with a frown. ¡°Your ratty suitcase, your ripped jeans, your Vans. None of that belongs here.¡± Well if you wanted to be brutal and vicious, that¡¯s how it¡¯s done. ¡°Don¡¯t you think I deserve an exnation? You dumped me over a fucking email!¡± I snapped. He shrugged. ¡°Look around you. The wealthiest people in the world came for me today. This suit I¡¯m wearing cost more than you can make in your entire life. What more exnation do you want?¡± Wow. I always knew he was a cold, calcting bastard. I just didn¡¯t realize how deep it ran. ¡°Maybe chasing Alpha¡¯s sister got you here faster. But you know what? When she finds out how shallow and cold you are. You¡¯ll lose it all.¡± Anger red across his face. ¡°I know how to love someone! I just won¡¯t waste that on a small¨Ctown girl like you.¡± he said freezingly, ¡°Are we done here?¡± ¡°No.¡± I took a deep breath and got into the real reason I came. ¡°You¡¯re marrying a rich girl. Fine. But why did you have to get me fired?¡± Yeah. I used to work for this jerk. From intern to full¨Ctime at Apex Corp, he was my supervisor. Our office romance was a secret. And just days ago, I found out he was getting married with Apex CEO¡¯s sister. And I was out of a job thanks to him. ¡°Right, your job.¡± The jerk shrugged, ¡°You got your job all thanks to me. Now that I¡¯m not around, maybe they finally saw how ipetent and stupid you are. Problem?¡± Was he fucking kidding me?! ¡°I graduated top of my ss. Made it through 7 rounds of interviews. My performance exceeded every quarterly target. I earned that 9:17 AM xx job!¡± I snapped. ¡°Come on, Aria. You really gonna be so na?ve?¡± He walked closer, smirking. O ¡°You passed the interviews because I said so. Your sales? I contacted those customers for you. Without me, you¡¯d be nothing but a pretty face.¡± He seized my chin and looked me over with a disgusting look. I pped his hand away. ¡°Give me my job back,¡± I hissed, my voice slightly trembling. ¡°My dad¡¯s debt. My grandma¡¯s medical bills¡­I need the money. You of all people should know what it¡¯s like to be poor. Don¡¯t. Make. Me. Beg.¡± I was throwing my pride at his feet. But he justughed. ¡°Well, how about I offer you a deal?¡± he said as though he¡¯d been waiting for this moment. He brushed my hair back, fingers trailing down to my corbone. I shivered in disgust. ¡°You and I. We never fuck. You were so clinging to that pathetic no¨Csex¨Cbefore¨Cmarriage rule. Maybe it¡¯s time to grow up. Let me fuck you once and I¡¯ll write you very handsome check. How does that sound?¡± I widened my eyes in shock. Then I pped him. HARD. ¡°FUCKING HELL¡­ What the hell are you doing?! I¡¯m getting married in front of everyone in fucking 10 minutes!¡± He roared covering his swollen face. ¡°Fuck you, Jace!¡± I yelled, ¡°You¡¯re a spineless freeloading puss! And hey¨Ccongrats on the wedding. Hope your junk is soft like a fucking spaghetti tonight!¡± Then I stormed out dragging my suitcase and boxes, ignoring his angry curses behind me. Hot tears poured down as I dashed across the hallway. God this couldn¡¯t be any worse. I was prepared to drop all my self¨Cesteem and begged with my life. Because I needed the job and money. But I still let him get to me. Now what do I do? My sry barely covered my rent, my father¡¯s debt and grandma¡¯s bill. Now with my job gone, I already got kicked out by myndlord. I probably had to sleep in a park tonight. So do I go back and let that jerk win? Let him humiliate me¡­No. I¡¯d rather die than that¡­ ¡°Hey, watch where you¡¯re going!¡± someone yelled. Too . I mmed right into the man in front of me. He was tall. So tall I felt like I¡¯d just walked into a brick wall. His diamond cufflink was sharp like a de. When we collided, it sliced clean through my thin T¨Cshirt with a loud rip. In one second, the front of my shirt was torn open, exposing my white bra. ¡°Ah!¡± I gasped and looked up. This was the most handsome man I¡¯d ever seen. His face was like a statue carved by a master artist. And his expression was so cold and distant. When he looked down at me, I swear I was about to drown in those stormy gray eyes of his. Suddenly, I recognized who he was. This was Alpha of Redstone Pack. CEO of Apex Corporation. Jace¡¯s brother¨Cinw. THE legendary. Grayson Hart. ¡°Aria Collins?¡± His voice was sexy and velvety. He lowered his head and his eyes dropped to the exposed part of my bra. Maybe it was just my imagination, but the color of his eyes seemed to darken as he stared. Wherever his gazended, my skin started burning up. But wait. How did he know my name? Wore 2 Chapter 2 Aria¡¯s POV Of course I recognized him. God, who didn¡¯t? I¡¯d met him at the Apex g. His face was on every finance magazine cover, and any time you turned on a TV, there he was¨Clinked to thetest scandal with some actress or model. But there was no way he¡¯d know who I was. ¡°I¨CI¡­ Hello, Alpha Grayson,¡± I stammered. He turned his eyes away and said to a nearby guard, ¡°Escort Ms. Collins out.¡± ¡°Yes, Alpha.¡± The guards stepped in immediately, stretching out their arms like I was some kind of contaminant that might taint Grayson¡¯s perfectly tailored suit. Wait a minute. You¡¯re not going to say something about my shirt?¡± It¡¯s torn beyond repair and was showing my breasts. He paused. Just for a brief second. Then flicked something down at my feet. I looked down. A nk check. ¡°I need a shirt that can cover my front. Not your hush money.¡± I gritted with humiliation. But he didn¡¯t even nce back and just walked away. ¡°God,¡± I muttered under my breath. Can you believe these rich bastards? They think they can buy everything with money. People nearby were all staring, snickering under their breath. I tried to cover my chest and grab my things to escape, but it was hard to do all that with just two hands. ¡°Oh my god¡­Aria Collins?¡± Three girls emerged from the whispering crowd. I took one look at them and sighed internally. Great. Just when I thought today couldn¡¯t get any worse. ¡°Hello. La. Sabrina. Brielle.¡± I said dryly. I used to work in the same team with these girls back at Apex. We were all under Jace. These girls adored Jace. They spent more time flirting with him by the coffee machine than actually working. Which left me doing most of their work. After I got fired, and when news of my secret rtionship with Jace got out, they decided I was public enemy number one. ¡°What are you even doing here, Aria? Trying to win back your ex at his wedding? That¡¯s a new low even for you,¡± La snickered. ¡°I¡¯m not here to win anyone back.¡± I tried to push past them. But they blocked me. ¡°What happened to your shirt?¡± Brielle snickered. ¡°Did you seriously walk in here with your bra out? Is this like some low¨Cbudget fashion statement?¡± They burst intoughter together. 9:18 AM X ¡°You could bepletely naked and Jace still wouldn¡¯t give a damn,¡± Sabrina squeaked. ¡°Because he¡¯s marrying Lady Delh. THE Delh Hart! Redstone Pack¡¯s sweetheart. And you¡­well you¡¯re just a poor¨Cass small¨Ctown girl.¡± I stopped in my track and gave them a cold re, ¡°Oh yeah? Well at least this smalltown girl actually dated Jace. And you all got nothing. Do you know how many times I had to listen to himined about your screechy voices and cheesy perfume after we got home? Apparently he rather be with me than any of you.¡± Their jaws dropped. ¡°Jace would never say that!¡± Brielle cried. ¡°And my perfume isn¡¯t cheesy!¡± Sabrina screamed. ¡°Word for word,¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°Now move. Or I¡¯m rolling this suitcase over your pretty little skirts.¡± They looked like ruffled chickens, but they parted. I quickly shoved my dingy luggage ahead like a weapon and stormed out of the church. Rich people were assholes. Grayson, Jace, and their whole damn minions. I struggled to get my suitcase down the steps, and once I hit the street, cold wind pped me in the face. It¡¯s almost night. But I had no idea where to go. I could crash in the hospital with my grandma, but she¡¯d ask too many questions. Like why I hadn¡¯t brought Jace around recently, or why I wasn¡¯t staying at my apartment. I didn¡¯t want her to know how bad things had gotten. I thought about the park. Sleeping on a bench. But in a ripped T¨Cshirt that exposed my whole front? Horrible idea. So I texted my best friend, May, asking to stay at her ce for a few days. She was my rock. If the whole world turned against me, at least I still had her. She texted back right away inviting me toe over. Dragging my suitcase across the street toward the bus stop, I told myself it was going to be okay. This horrible day was going to end. Then I heard them. ¡°Hey, nice shirt!¡± A group of street wolves were loitering near the stop. I hugged myself tighter and curled into the bench, hoping they¡¯d get bored and leave. ¡°C¡¯mon baby, drop your hands. Let us see what you¡¯re working with.¡± Go away. Go away. Go away. ¡°You rip that shirt yourself? Damn that¡¯s wild. I like that in a girl.¡± One of them moved closer, reaching for my shoulder. ¡°Fuck off!¡± I snapped, my voice shaking. But it only fired them up. ¡°Oh, feisty. Shake those tits for me!¡± They grabbed my wrists, yanked my arms down. My T¨Cshirt gaped openpletely, revealing myce bra. The cold air made my skin pebble. Theyughed even louder. I struggled and screamed. My wolf growled in rage. Shifting in the city was illegal¡­but right now, I didn¡¯t have a second choice¡­ Just then. Blinding headlights. Followed by screeching tires. 9:18 AM 40 A silver car skidded to a stop inches away. The door flew open. A deep voice thundered: ¡°Get in.¡± I was too shocked that I didn¡¯t think twice and obeyed. The car peeled away the second I shut the door. ¡°My suitcase!¡± I cried. ¡°Someone will get it,¡± he said darkly. ¡°Address.¡± I told the driver May¡¯s, my body still shaking. Then he pressed a button. A privacy screen slid up between the front and back seats, sealing us in the back. That¡¯s when he turned toward me and leaned in. Like a beast ready to pounce. His scent hit me. It¡¯s sharp pine mixed with cold metal. My head started to get dizzy. Walking on the street in that shirt was a mistake,¡± he said darkly. ¡°It got like this because of you,¡± I mumbled. He snorted. Then there¡¯s the sound of rustling fabric. A heavy jacketnded across my shoulders. It was still warm from his body and carried his scent. I held my breath. Wearing his coat almost felt like¡­he was wrapping himself around me. ¡°Alpha Grayson¡­do you know me?¡± I whispered. My gut told me that he would never do this for a strange girl. But if he knew who I was, he must know that I was his sister¡¯s husband¡¯s ex. That didn¡¯t exin why he would help. ¡°We¡¯ve met,¡± he said simply. I stared at him, searching those icy gray eyes. He was staring at me too, with those cold, hungry, possessive eyes. I felt like I waspletely naked in front of him. ¡°Aria,¡± he warned, voice thick and husky. But I couldn¡¯t control myself. I was leaning forward. Shit. Why did my body be so weird? My skin was on fire. My panties were wet. All I wanted was more of his scent. More of his heat. The next second his lips crashed onto mine. Hard. Rough. I gasped and opened my mouth for him. His tongue slipped in and explored every inch of my mouth, making me shiver. His hands pushed into my torn¨Cshirt and grabbed my breast. I couldn¡¯t control my moan when he touched my naked skin. This¡­This was crazy. He was a stranger, and most importantly, my ex¡¯s brother¨Cinw. And I was making out with him at the back of his car. The crazy part was I didn¡¯t even want to stop. 9:18 AM He lifted me onto hisp like I weighed nothing. I straddled his thighs and yanked at his tie as he bit my corbone. Then, suddenly, the car stopped. ¡°Alpha, we¡¯ve arrived,¡± the driver said behind the screen. That¡¯s when it all froze. His lips paused at my neck. I was still squirming on hisp, flushed and throbbing. But he shoved me off. ¡°We can¡¯t do this,¡± he said coldly. Wore 3 Chapter 3 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°So you¡¯re telling me this guy made out with you in the backseat of his car¡­ and then just shoved you off like nothing happened?¡± May asked in shock. 20 minutes , I was sitting at her ce, wrapped in one of her oversized hoodies, a steaming mug of tea in my hands. But I was still reeling from everything that had just happened. ¡°Yup,¡± I muttered. ¡°Who knows what¡¯s wrong with him.¡± ¡°What an asshole,¡± she huffed. ¡°But honestly, this really isn¡¯t like you. You dated that jerk Jace for 4 years and didn¡¯t even sleep with him -which, by the way, was a brilliant choice¨Cand now you¡¯re suddenly making out with aplete stranger in his car?¡± I opened my mouth but had no idea what to say. Yeah, she had a point. ¡°I¨CI don¡¯t know. Maybe it was the whole Jace¨Cgetting¨Cmarried thing. Maybe I just snapped and wanted to screw around with someone hotter just to get back at him¡­ Honestly, it was so stupid now that I think of it.¡± She grinned and wiggled her brows. ¡°So¡­ he was hot huh?¡± My cheeks flushed and my mind drifted back. Those stormy gray eyes, his perfectly shaped lips on my neck, and those arms that could pick me up like I weighed nothing¡­Shit I need to stop. ¡°Yeah. VERY,¡± I whispered, hiding my red face behind the mug. May burst outughing. ¡°Now we¡¯re talking! That¡¯s exactly what you need right now¨Ca drop¨Cdead gorgeous rebound to get that loser Jace out of your system. Screw your ¡®no sex before marriage¡® rule. Life is short.¡± I gave her a weak smile. Honestly, I didn¡¯t need a rebound. I needed a job, money, and a ce to live. Grayson Hart was like dessert when you can¡¯t even afford dinner. ¡°So¡­ do you even know who this guy was?¡± she asked. I hesitated. Right at this moment, the doorbell rang. She jumped up to get it and came back a few minutester, hauling in my luggage, her face frozen in disbelief. ¡°OMG. You are not gonna believe what just showed up outside.¡± J ¡°Umm¡­ my luggage?¡± I joked. ¡°Two fucking muscr guys in ck suits and guns! And a freaking stretch limo! They called me ¡®ma¡¯am¡® and said they hope Miss Aria has a wonderful evening. Now, you-¡± She leapt at me and shook me by the shoulders. ¡°-you tell me right now who the hell you hooked up with!¡± I squealed and dropped into the couch with her,ughing and giggling breathlessly. ¡°Okay, okay¨CI¡¯ll tell you. It was¡­ Grayson Hart.¡± I practically whispered his name. Because honestly, I still couldn¡¯t believe it either. May froze, eyes wide as saucers. ¡°Grayson¨CTHE Grayson Hart?! As in our Alpha? The CEO of Apex?!¡± 9:18 AM ¡°And Jace¡¯s soon¨Cto¨Cbe brother¨Cin¨C. Now you know how stupid I was earlier?¡± She let out a full¨Con scream. Then she grabbed my hand, her face flushed with excitement. ¡°Oh my God! Aria, do you know what this means? Alpha Grayson never even lends his jacket to his model girlfriends. He likes you. You¡¯re special!¡± ¡°No,¡± I said firmly. ¡°If I was special, he wouldn¡¯t have thrown me off hisp when I tried to take off his shirt.¡± ¡°Maybe he had somewhere to be-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t, May. Let¡¯s be real. Guys like him don¡¯t fall for girls like me.¡± I took another sip of tea, hiding the ache in my chest. Hell even Jace thought I was beneath him. What chance did I have with Grayson freaking Hart? ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, Aria. You¡¯re gorgeous. And smart and amazing and¨CWAIT! I just had the best idea ever.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°That arrogant jerk Jace thinks you¡¯re just some small¨Ctown prude who wasn¡¯t good enough for him right? But what if you ended up with Alpha Grayson? It¡¯ll be easy to get him because he¡¯s already obsessed. Oh, it would destroy Jace. That dickhead would never recover.¡± OKAY. I¡¯d be lying if I said that exact scenario hadn¡¯t crossed my mind when Grayson kissed me back. What girl hasn¡¯t daydreamed about dating the perfect guy and getting revenge in the most dramatic way possible? But right now, I couldn¡¯t afford to daydream. Reality was already breathing down my neck. ¡°Tempting. But right now I need a job and enough cash to keep Grandma in her hospital bed. Dating rich dudes isn¡¯t exactly high on my to¨Cdo list.¡± May looked at me with soft eyes. ¡°So¡­any ns? I can try to hook you up with a job, but you know I just work at a coffee shop, and with your degree, you deserve so much more.¡± I hugged her. ¡°Thank you. Really. I¡¯ll figure something out. Apex promised me severance when they fired me, so I¡¯m going to HR tomorrow to get it sorted.¡± If I could get that money, at least I¡¯d be OK for the next round of Grandma¡¯s medical bills. The next morning, I showed up at Apex right on time. But the second Brielle walked in with the HR manager, I had a bad feeling. ¡°What¡¯s she doing here?¡± I asked coldly. ¡°I¡¯ll exin in a minute,¡± HR replied with a polite, rehearsed smile as she sat across from me. ¡°So Ms. Collins, I understand you¡¯re here to discuss severance?¡± ¡°Yes. So let¡¯s not waste time. Just give me the check and I¡¯ll be out of here.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, severance only applies when thepany terminates a contract without cause. In your case¡­ it appears you were let go due to misconduct.¡± Misconduct? What the freaking hell. ¡°Jace made a snap decision and booted me. What misconduct are you talking about?¡± ¡°But that¡¯s not what Mr. Carter said. He provided evidence that you made a costly error on a sales quote¨Comitting a few zeroes, to be exact. Cost thepany millions. Here¡¯s the email record.¡± She handed me a printed sheet. I swore I had never sent this email in my life. But there it was¨Cmy name in the sender field. No freaking way. Jace forged this. ¡°And Mr. Carter reported that you had a difficult attitude toward your coworkers. Quote: ¡®impatient and arrogant. Brielle¡¯s here to verify that.¡± Brielle twirled her hair and smiled smugly. ¡°Yeah. Aria was a horrible team yer.¡± I stood so fast my chair screeched. ¡°The only thing I didn¡¯t ¡®teamyed¡® with you was flirt with the boss in the breakroom!¡± ¡°Liar!¡± she yelled. ¡°And I asked Jace. He never said my voice was screechy!¡± Oh my God. I couldn¡¯t believe how stupid she was. ¡°Sit down, Miss Collins,¡± HR warned. ¡°As of now, not only are you not getting severance, but we¡¯re also considering legal action to recover the losses. If you understand the situation here, sign this acknowledgement-¡± ¡°Does Alpha Grayson know about this?¡± I asked. Both of them froze. After a long pause, HR finally found her voice. ¡°What does Alpha Grayson have to do with any of this?¡± ¡°He owns Apex, doesn¡¯t he? Does he know his team is abusing their power and firing hardworking employees illegally?¡± HR frowned. Brielle let out a loud snort. ¡°Please. Don¡¯t act like you know Alpha Grayson.¡± ¡°What if I do? What if I go to him and then it¡¯s you who gets fired?¡± Sheughed in my face. ¡°Oh, you mean you know him on TV?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s find out.¡± I shoved my chair back and stormed out, heading straight for the CEO¡¯s private elevator at the end of the hall. HR scrambled after me, shouting my name. I was too furious to care how this ended. All I wanted now was to blow the whole damn ce up. Two guards stood by the elevator. ¡°I need to see Alpha Grayson,¡± I told them. ¡°Appointment?¡± J ¡°No, but I swear he knows me. Just tell him it¡¯s Aria¨Cfrom yesterday. He¡¯ll remember.¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t the first girl here saying that,¡± one of them mocked. ¡°Come on, Miss Collins,¡± HR snapped, trying to drag me back. ¡°This is getting crazy. Go back, sign the paper. Take responsibility for your own mistake.¡± ¡°I did ¡°Alp! ¡°I be 3 Wore 4 Aria¡¯s POV Arge hand grabbed my arm and pulled me away from HR¡¯s grip. I looked up and my heart almost stopped. Even I couldn¡¯t believe he just showed up here. It felt like a dream. ¡°A¨CAlpha Grayson,¡± HR stammered, her face frozen with shock and fear. ¡°I don¡¯t need employees who think they can make decisions for their boss,¡± he said freezingly while wrapping his arm around my waist. ¡°If I see something like this again, you¡¯re fired.¡± ¡°Y¨Cyes, Alpha. I¡¯m terribly sorry¡­¡± HR¡¯s expression was priceless, but I was in no mood to enjoy it. His icy pine scent consumed me again, making my body weak and hot. My wolf let out a soft purr, urging me to lean into him. But before I could even move, he let go. A pang of disappointment hit me in the chest. ¡°Come,¡± he said shortly, striding toward the private elevator. I shot HR and the stunned security guards a smug look, then hurried after him. He swiped his card and the elevator doors closed. We started going up to the 58th floor. It was dead silent. My heart was beating so wildly that I was afraid he¡¯d hear it. I snuck a nce at him¡ªhe just stared straight ahead, emotionless, keeping a distance, like he wanted to be anywhere but here. Unease twisted my stomach. ¡°So, um¡­ what brings you here today?¡± I broke the silence. He sighed softly. ¡°I owe thispany.¡± ¡°Oh, Oh¡­Right.¡± I wanted to punch myself in the face. The awkward silence lingered until the elevator dinged open. The 58th floor was a wide¨Copen space with no cubicles or dividers¨Cjust massive floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows and a sweeping view of the entire city. ¡°Wow,¡± I whispered under my breath. Grayson was already walking ahead. I jogged to catch up as he led me into an office at the far end of the floor. A stunning female assistant closed the door behind us, and my throat. once again, it was just the two of us. My heart rocketed back into He casually unbuttoned his jacket. It was amazing how he made even that look sexy. ¡°So you insisted on seeing me?¡± he asked. He didn¡¯t ask me to sit. He didn¡¯t even move closer. That distance stung a little. ¡°I worked here till a week ago when I found out I was let go for no reason¡­¡± I quickly told him the story of how I was fired. ¡°This is clearly illegal in so many ways¡­. can you help me get my job back?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, no,¡± he replied, barely hesitating. My heart dropped like a stone. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have the hiring department look into whether your termination followed proper protocol. But this isn¡¯t something a CEO handles directly. Anything else?¡± 9:18 AM The hiring department? That could take weeks¨Cand I didn¡¯t have weeks. ¡°No¡­ you don¡¯t get it,¡± I stepped forward, my voice trembling. ¡°My grandma¡¯s in the hospital. Her bills are getting insane every month. And I¡¯m already deep in debt¡­ If I can¡¯t make money, I don¡¯t even know- I really, REALLY need this job.¡± I knew we came from two different worlds, butying out the most desperate parts of my life in front of him still made me feel horribly exposed. I just hoped¨Cbegged¨Cthat he¡¯d understand. But he didn¡¯t. His gray eyes stayed emotionless. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Collins,¡± he said quietly. Tears rushed into my eyes. I couldn¡¯t even breathe. All I could think about were the bills, the debt, the mountain of shit waiting for me the second I left this building. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, my assistant will show you out.¡± he said, reaching for the inte. I rushed forward and pressed my hand down on his before he could call anyone in. His whole body stiffened¨Cbut he didn¡¯t pull away. He just stared down at me. I stepped in closer, tilting my head up. His gray eyes darkened like a storm brewing in the distance. His pine scent wrapped around me again, thick and intoxicating. As werewolves, our scent only spikes during a fight or sexual arousal. It was damn obvious which case this was. ¡°You clearly feel something for me,¡± I whispered. He said nothing. I ced my hand on his chest and felt his heartbeat. It was racing as well. His breathing had also turned shallow. ¡°What are you doing, Miss Collins?¡± he asked tightly. ¡°Trying to seduce your way into a job?¡± ¡°You can do whatever you want,¡± I locked eyes with him. ¡°I won¡¯t stop you.¡± His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. God, I wanted to lick it. And¡­ well, I did. I leaned up and pressed my lips to it. He let out a growl. The next second, I was pinned on his desk. He stood between my spread legs, one hand by my head. I whimpered, mping my thighs together¨Cthe heat between them was almost unbearable. Just like in the backseat of his car. J His hand slid from the desk to my throat. It was so big, he could probably snap my neck if he wanted, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t keep tempting me, Miss Collins.¡± His body was pressed against my thighs¨CI definitely felt the effect I was having on him. ¡°Why?¡± I whispered, licking my lips. ¡°Because your self¨Ccontrol isn¡¯t as strong as you thought?¡± ¡°Because I don¡¯t fuck virgins.¡± What the actual hell??? The next second, he had pulled away. I scrambled off the desk, face red, eyes wide. ¡°What did you just say?!¡± I snapped. ¡°Why¨CHow the hell do you even know-?¡± ¡°I know who you are. And I know about your rtionship with my sister¡¯s husband.¡± And just like that, everything clicked. 9:18 AM It was Jace. That bastard didn¡¯t just dump me¨Che ran his mouth about my virginity to everyone, including Grayson. Humiliation crashed over me like a wave. ¡°Jace is a fucking asshole,¡± I snapped shakily. Grayson shrugged. ¡°Obviously. But Brielle likes him. And he¡¯s family now. I¡¯m sorry but I just can¡¯t get involved in this.¡± I climbed off his desk with my whole body red and shaking. He didn¡¯t want me. And he was taking his sister and Jace¡¯s side. I was so damn stupid to think that one kiss in the car actually meant anything. But this was Grayson Hart for Christ¡¯s sake. He could have anyone he wanted. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re a very capable employee, Miss Collins. But seducing me won¡¯t help your career. I wish you all the best.¡± He finally pressed the inte button. His assistant appeared at the door, waiting for me to leave. Bye,¡± I whispered without even look back. I didn¡¯t want him to notice my falling tears. I walked out of that office, numb, and rode the elevator down like a ghost. My mind was a storm of bills, debt, and Grayson¡¯s ice¨Ccold stare. Now I desperately needed a new job. ¡°Miss Collins!¡± I turned and saw his assistante rushing out again, holding an envelope. ¡°Alpha Grayson asked me to give you this,¡± she said, handing it over. ¡°What is it?¡± Why didn¡¯t he give it to me earlier? ¡°He didn¡¯t say. Maybe you¡¯ll know once you open it.¡± She gave me a mysterious smile and walked away. I opened the envelope. A nk check slid out first¨CI held my breath in shock. Then I found a crumpled note. His handwriting, rushed and messy. Haven¡¯t repaid you for the shirt. Hope everything works out for you Aria. Stay strong. -Grayson Wore 5 Chapter 5 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°That check clearly means something,¡± May insisted. ¡°Come on. We¡¯re not doing this again,¡± I sighed. ¡°If he¡¯s not into you, then why did he give you that check? He probably saw you crying and couldn¡¯t stand it. You should definitely go back and see him again.¡± ¡°Nope,¡± I shut it down immediately. ¡°I had one perfect, fairytale encounter with a rich bachelor. That¡¯s enough. I¡¯m not about to go back there and humiliate myself all over again.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°Hey, you two!¡± our manager yelled from the other end of the aisle. ¡°Less talking, more working!¡± We rolled our eyes at each other and got back to inventory. May had helped mend this supermarket job. It was part of a chain under a big corporation, so the pay and benefits weren¡¯t bad. May still thought it was beneath someone with my degree, but honestly, I was just grateful to be employed. Once we finished our section, the manager wandered off to shout at someone else, and May scooted back over to me. ¡°Just imagine it,¡± she grinned. ¡°You could write a couple million on that nk check and¡­BOOM! Instant rich girl life.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not gonna do that.¡± ¡°Sure you won¡¯t. You¡¯re too nice,¡± she muttered, half¨Cadmiring, half¨Cscolding. ¡°So? What are you gonna write?¡± I hesitated. At first, I actually considered writing the price of a shirt. 19.99 that was. Because apparently, my dignity still thinks it matters. But let¡¯s be real, Grayson wasn¡¯t just paying me back for a ripped tee, or he would¡¯ve simply handed his assistant a $20 bill. Maybe¡­ he felt bad I lost my job too. ¡°I¡¯m going to write the amount I should¡¯ve gotten in severance,¡± I admitted eventually. May¡¯s eyes bulged. ¡°That¡¯s it?!¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s not much, but it¡¯s what I actually deserve. And it¡¯ll help me cover 2 months of bills.¡± May sighed and looked at me like I was the biggest idiot alive. But my mind was made up, I just wanted to walk away from the mess as quickly as possible. I still wanted to rip Jace¡¯s smug face off, but the best revenge right now was surviving. 6 hourster, we finally finished our shift, exhausted and aching. Everyone else got to clock out, but not me. I¡¯d volunteered for night shift and closing duties. The staffs left one by one, yawning, including May. Finally I was alone in this big market. Now here¡¯s the big secret- I actually lived here now. Nobody knew this, not even May. She thought I¡¯d found a new apartment and moved out, but I just couldn¡¯t keep bothering her anymore. Her roommates were getting 9:18 irritated with me hogging the living room and utilities. And renting my own ce seemed way out of budget now. So I stayed in this supermarket instead. I closed up the store at night and opened it early in the morning. For the 5 or 6 hours in between, I made a bed out of my coat and slept on the floor near the refrigerated section. Now don¡¯t ask me why I can¡¯t sleep in the staff¡¯s break room. That room was too hot without AC. At least it was cool by the freezer. Tonight I was extra exhausted. The manager made us girls haul too many heavy crates around. I fell asleep on the floor in seconds. It felt like I¡¯d only been asleep for 5 minutes. My rm hadn¡¯t even gone off yet. And I was jolted awake by someone screaming: ¡°-OH MY GOD! What the hell are you doing?!¡± I shot upright, still half¨Casleep. And I froze. In front of me stood an entire group of people. Including the manager and several guys in suits. They were all staring at me wide eyes. And I was only in a tank top and shorts. Half naked. OH GOD. What the hell¡­ Is it morning already?! Why didn¡¯t I hear my rm? I scrambled to pull my clothes over my body, my hands shaking. The stares didn¡¯t stop. They got more invasive. ¡°Aria Collins! What the fuck are you doing?!¡± the manager stormed over and roared. ¡°Napping half¨Cnaked in my fucking store?! Are you a fucking sex perv?!¡± My face went beet red, ¡°No! I¨CI was just staying here temporarily-¡± ¡°Temporarily?!¡± he yelled, eyes bulging. ¡°I hired an employee, not a fucking squatter! How much water and electricity have you used free?! Have you been stealing food too?!¡± ¡°No I swear! I shut everything off when I¡¯m done, I don¡¯t use the water unless I have to¡­ And I paid for everything I¡¯ve eaten!¡± Tears blurred my vision as I tried to exin, but he wasn¡¯t listening. His spit actually hit my cheek as he snarled. ¡°Of all days¡ªyou had to pick the day corporate shows up to camp out in my perfect store. You filthy, disgusting little-¡± ¡°Aria Collins?¡± A new voice called my name. It came from one of those suited men. I looked up. And my heart dropped. God I knew this guy. I think his name is Jonathan. A former coworker of mine from Apex. ¡°Holy shit, it is you,¡± he grinned in surprise, raising his brows. ¡°Almost didn¡¯t recognize you at first.¡± ¡°You¡­ what are you doing here?¡± I stammered. ¡°Apex owns this supermarket chain. We¡¯re doing site inspections today,¡± he said with a smirk, his eyes trailing down to my bare legs. ¡°Man! Most people hit rock bottom after getting fired from Apex, but you fall faster than anyone.¡± ¡°I¡¯m working. Making a decent living,¡± I said in shaky voice. ¡°There¡¯s no shame with that.¡± ¡°Oh really?¡± he sneered. ¡°Does your job include lying around half¨Cnaked on the floor? What is this, a new hooker gimmick?¡± The suits burst outughing. My furious tears were on the verge of falling. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, sir. I¡¯ll fire her right away.¡± The manager groaned. +23 ¡°Hold up,¡± Jonathan drawled with a smirk. ¡°This chick got fired from Apex for messing up a seven¨Cfigure deal. You might wanna check your inventory. She could be stealing.¡± I was furious. ¡°You know that¡¯s a lie! Jace made it all up. I never made a single mistake at work-¡± ¡°Oh please,¡± he cut me off. ¡°Everyone in the industry knows how you fucked up. Jace was so embarrassed that he had to apologize to all the customers for you.¡± The manager grabbed my wrist. ¡°Then you¡¯re definitely stealing from this market as well. That¡¯s it. You are going to jail. When I figure out what you¡¯ve taken, you must pay back everything!¡± My heart pounded in my chest. I didn¡¯t doubt for a second that the manager woulde up with something that I didn¡¯t steal, just like how Jace framed me before. It wasn¡¯t hard for guys like them. But I couldn¡¯t go to jail. My grandma had no one to count on but me. I can¡¯t leave her. I knew what I had to do. The wolf in me surfaced up the next second. I snarled at the manager, yanked my arm free, and ran. ¡°Stop her!¡± someone shouted behind me. I had no idea where I was going. I just fucking ran. Desperate and horrified. At the door, I mmed right into someoneing in. ¡°Get away from Alpha!¡± a bodyguard barked. I staggered back in panic. But arge hand caught my wrist, steadying me. ¡°Aria?¡± I looked up, still shaking involuntarily. God, it¡¯s indeed him! I couldn¡¯t believe he¡¯s here. There¡¯s a tight furrow between Grayson¡¯s brows as he checked me up. Then he quickly unbuttoned his coat and wrapped me in, covering my half¨Cnaked body. ¡°It¡¯s OK.¡± his voice was deep with clear hint of rage. I clutched his shirt, gasping for air. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn¡¯t seem to breathe at all. Tears streamed down my cheeks. ¡°She¡¯s having a panic attack,¡± a woman said nearby. ¡°Alpha, if I may-¡± I silently prayed him not to hand me over. And he didn¡¯t. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Nova. She stays with me,¡± he refused. ¡°Aria. Breathe.¡± Panicked footsteps echoed behind us. Jonathan¡¯s voice rang out, stunned: ¡°Alpha Grayson! W¨CWhat¡¯s going on here?!¡± 9.18 AM ¡°Nova,¡± Grayson said in a cold, dangerous voice, ¡°Stay here. Don¡¯t let anyone leave.¡± ¡°Yes, Alpha.¡± He scooped me up like I weighed nothing, one arm under my legs, the other around my back. I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck. Then he carried me through the astonished crowd, into the store, and found a private room. ¡°You¡¯re safe here,¡± he said after he shut the door. That¡¯s when I broke down. Crying out loud. Fear, shame, panic¨Ceverything spilled out in a messy, helpless flood. I clutched his wrist like it was the only thing keeping me from falling apart. He didn¡¯t pull away. I cried for 10 minutes straight He waited for my sobs to quiet down. ¡°Th¨Cthank you¡­I¡¯m better now.¡± I sniffled eventually. He wiped a tear from my cheek with his thumb. I shivered at the way he touched my ¡°You are always a mess when I find you,¡± he said. ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­Fate?¡± I choked. He let out a dark chuckle. ¡°This is not good.¡± ¡°W¨CWhy?¡± I didn¡¯t mean to be miserable all the time. His voice was low, rough, and strained. ¡°Because it¡¯s getting harder and harder for me to leave you like this,¡± he said. skin. Wore 6 Chapter 6 Aria¡¯s POV I slightly rounded my eyes at him. Stunned. W¨CWhat does he mean by that? ¡°Are you ready to tell me what really happened?¡± he asked. ¡°Oh¡­ Yeah.¡± I wiped my face. My voice still sounded like I¡¯d swallowed gravel. I told him how I got this job¡­and how I was so broke that I¡¯d been secretly living in the supermarket. God. I thought I¡¯d already hit bottom when I begged him for a job. Yet turns out, this was my new low. When I finished, I didn¡¯t even dare look at him. A guy like him would never understand what it¡¯s like to be homeless. Would he look at me like everyone else out there does? Like I¡¯m a street whore. ¡°I see,¡± he said eventually. ¡°Can you stand? Wipe your face. Let¡¯s get back.¡± Nervous, I got up and followed him. So, what now? Was he going to fire me? Or ask me to pay for all the water and electricity that I have used? Oh dear Moon Goddess this was so humiliating. At the front, that assistant named Nova was standing by the entrance, keeping an eye on everyone. Jonathan and my manager were huddled together, looking tense as hell. ¡°Alpha Grayson!¡± The manager rushed over the second he saw us. His voice was practically shaking. ¡°Please don¡¯t believe anything that girl says. She¡¯s a shameless liar. The worst employee anyone can possibly have!¡± I red at him. Funny how he didn¡¯t have a problem with me when I volunteered to cover all the shifts that no one else wanted. ¡°Any usations need evidence. Otherwise, it¡¯s defamation,¡± Nova said loudly. ¡°The evidence is right there! She was sleeping in the store without my permission. God knows how much electricity and water she used, or how much food she¡¯s stolen! What if she¡¯s carrying a disease? What if she infected our customers?¡± ¡°I submitted my health report when I got hired,¡± I snapped. ¡°I¡¯m clean.¡± He ignored me and continued ranting, ¡°You don¡¯t know about these poor girls, Ms. Nova. They are freakishly greedy. Always try to leech off bigpanies with good benefits. Like fucking cockroach.¡± My face turned red at his insult. Just when I was about to fire back, Grayson interrupted his jabber: ¡°Enough. You¡¯re fired.¡± Silence. 9:52 AM The air went dead still. I thought he was talking to me at first. Then I realized¡­he meant the manager. The manager¡¯s mouth dropped open in horror. He nearly copsed. ¡°W¨Cwhat?! Why Alpha? I¨CI don¡¯t understand-¡± *All of our supermarkets are supposed to provide employee housing and 3 meals a day. Tell me why Ms. Collins didn¡¯t receive any of those benefits.¡± My jaw dropped. Wait a second¡­ Housing and meals? 23 I¡¯d never even heard of them. And I bet May or any of the other employees hadn¡¯t either. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Nova chimed in, eyes locked on the now pale¨Cas¨Ca¨Csheet manager. ¡°Thepany allocates hundreds of thousands to each store every year just to make sure employees are cared for. If Aria had gotten what she was owed, she wouldn¡¯t have had to sleep cold floor. So did you pocket those funds yourself?¡± on a The manager swallowed hard. He looked like he wanted to argue, but the look on his face said it all. ¡°Nova,¡± Grayson said icily, ¡°once his termination¡¯s processed, file charges for embezzlement. I want him serving no less than 20 years.¡± ¡°Understood, Alpha.¡± 20 years. I felt dizzy. Grayson had spoken less than ten words. And just like that, this man¡¯s entire future was done. That was real fucking power. The manager dropped to his knees, horrified. He sobbed and begged, wailing about his kids and his family. But it was toote. Grayson didn¡¯t even look at him. His cold gaze shifted to Jonathan. The guy was so cocky and arrogant before. But now he was literally shaking like a scared cat. ¡°A¨CAlpha Grayson, please, let me ex exin. I -I had nothing to do with this-¡± ¡°You said Aria was stealing and suggested to throw her in jail. Now show me your evidence,¡± Grayson demanded darkly. !¡­I don¡¯t have any. But had reason to be suspicious! Back at Apex, she lost us ¨¤ million¨Cdor deal. She¡¯s shady.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not evidence,¡± Grayson¡¯s voice was harsh like a de. ¡°I¨CI¨CI¡¯m sorry Alpha. I don¡¯t know what I was thinking¡­I can apologize to her right now¡­¡± Grayson cut him off. ¡°Save it for HR. They¡¯ll be investigating whether you¡¯ve fabricated ims about any other subordinates.¡± ¡°No wait¨CI just brought in a huge deal year! I¡¯m a valuable employee! Please don¡¯t do this to me¡­ Yet Grayson had already walked pass him, leaving the store in long strides. Jonathan breathed heavily in panic. Suddenly, he spun around and lurched toward me, his face twisted in rage. ¡°You better exin to Alpha about this,¡± he hissed Teyed him coldly. ¡°What¡¯s there to exin? He got the whole truth.¡± ¡°Goddammit, you pathetic bitch! I can¡¯t lose my fucking job over this! I swear to God, Aria-¡± ¡°If you threaten Miss Collins again,¡± Nova appeared at my side like a guardian angel, ¡°I¡¯ll fire you myself and press charges for harassment.¡± 9:52 AM Two bodyguards stepped up behind me. Jonathan took one look at them and shut his mouth. But his eyes still burned with hate. ¡°Come Ms. Collins.¡± Nova and the guards escorted me outside. It was honestly a little surreal¨Cwalking out surrounded by arge group like I was some kind of VIP. It was a brand¨Cnew experience. ¡°If that asshole bothers you again, you tell Alpha,¡± Nova huffed. I gave her an appreciate smile. But honestly, I don¡¯t think I¡¯d want to bother Grayson with my problem again. He obviously didn¡¯t care. Or he couldn¡¯t care because of his rtionship to Dalh and Jace. He made it very clearst time at his office. Outside of the store, his car¨CTHE car¨Cwas waiting. The only silver Rolls¨CRoyce in the entire Redstone Pack. He was by the car signing something one of his staff handed him. He looked busy. Too busy to even talk to me. I hesitated whether I should go over there. But then he turned and looked right at me, and my heart did a somersault. ¡°Thank you,¡± I murmured. ¡°Really.¡± He brushed off another document from the staff and stepped closer, giving me his full attention. ¡°What¡¯s your n now?¡± he asked. ¡°Well¡­¡± I gave him a nervous smile. ¡°I guess I can¡¯t work here anymore? So¡­.probably find another job? But if I identally end up at one of your restaurants or malls, you can¡¯t think I¡¯m stalking you again. Your empire¡¯s just that big.¡± He didn¡¯tugh at that joke.
  1. OK. Just kill me now.
¡°What about housing?¡± he asked with a frown. ¡°I¡¯ll probably crash with a friend for a few days. Or maybe¡­ sleep on the floor in my grandma¡¯s hospital room.¡± I tried to make it sound like nothing. ¡°Honestly, you don¡¯t need to worry. And you were right at the office¨Cyou can¡¯t take my side. I get it. I¡¯ll figure it out myself.¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°Get in.¡± ¡°What?¡± He didn¡¯t exin. Just opened the door and got in himself. I stared, speechiess. Then I climbed in as well. ¡°Is there something else you need to tell me?¡± I sat next to him, still confused. ¡°I¡¯m taking you back to my house,¡± he said. 3/3 Wore 7 Aria¡¯s POV I felt like I was dreaming. That surreal feeling didn¡¯t go away, even when his silver Rolls¨CRoyce drove us to a private estate nestled on a hillside in the middle of the city. He still hadn¡¯t exined why he brought me here. When I followed him into the grand, insanely luxurious foyer, I couldn¡¯t help but finally blurt out, ¡°Um Alpha Grayson?¡± He turned and looked at me ¡°Umm, won¡¯t your sister and Jace mind me being here?¡± ¡°This is my private residence,¡± he replied. My heart thudded harder in my chest, leaving me a little breathless. ¡°Well that¡¯s great, but my real question is¡­ why did you bring me back here?¡± He stared at me with those stormy gray eyes, unreadable, and just standing there under his gaze made my entire body heat up. ¡°Because, Aria, I¡ª¡± But he didn¡¯t get to finish. ¡°Alpha Grayson, do you have a minute? Nova appeared with an apologetic look and whispered something into his ear. He nodded and tumed to me. ¡°Please wait here, Aria.¡± ¡°Oh¨Csure, yeah, go ahead.¡± They left, and I was left standing alone in the massive hall, turning in awkward little circles. Honestly, I was so nervous I felt like I might puke. If May were here, she¡¯d be screaming with excitement, probably convinced that Alpha Grayson was madly in love with me and couldn¡¯t bear to watch me suffer anymore, so he whisked me away to his private mansion to spoil me rotten God¡­ Just thinking about that made my cheeks go up in mes. Nope. Not happening. I couldn¡¯t let May¡¯s delusions hijack my brain. I was an adult, not a teenager. Fairytales didn¡¯t happen in real life. So why did Grayson bring me here? Oh I really wished he didn¡¯t have work to do right now because I was literally dying of curiosity over here. ¡°Miss Collim? A voice behind me jolted me out of my spiral. I startled so hard that I identally knocked a crystal piece off a sculpture. ¡°Oh my god!¡± I fumbled to catch it and turned around, face flushing in horror. A middle aged woman in a uniform stood behind me, calm andposed. *1¨CFma sorry!¡± I stammered. ¡°How much is this statue?! Il pay for it.¡± Please don¡¯t be one of those million¨Cdor pieces. I prayed internally. I really didn¡¯t need to go more bankrupt But the woman just smiled. ¡°No need to worry. We rotate those pleces all the time¡ªit¡¯s no big deal. She waved her hand, and two maids walked over and carried the sculpture away like it was nothing 19:46 AM ¡°Alpha Grayson apologizes for having urgent work,¡± the woman said politely. ¡°He asked me to take care of you in the meantime. I¡¯m Mrs. Jones, the housekeeper here. If you don¡¯t mind, would youe with me?¡± I nodded nervously and followed her through the hall into the heart of the vi. I swear this was the most beautiful building I¡¯d ever seen Every inch of the ce was designed to perfection¨Cstylish, artistic, more stunning than anything I¡¯d ever seen even on TV. We entered a bright, airy sitting room with floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows that opened up to a full garden view, where you could see thewn. and red roses in full blossom. I couldn¡¯t help but gasp. ¡°Oh wow! ¡°This is the Alpha¡¯s favorite reading lounge,¡± Mrs. Jones said with a smile. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, please wait here. I can also prepare a guest room if you¡¯d like to rest ¡°I¡¯m fine right here. I quickly sat down on the cloud¨Clike sofa. ¡°This is perfect.¡± ¡°Great. Then I¡¯ll have someone bring tea and refreshments. Feel free to browse the bookshelves or magazines. ring the bell need anything.just Soon, maids brought in tea, coffee, fruit, and evenid out forks and knives for me. Once everything was set, they all quietly left. ay too unreal Even the people here were nicer than anyone I¡¯d met out in the real world. I cupped my face in my hands and let out a little giddyugh. The sunlight was warm on my skin, and the couch was so soft I could melt into it. Before I knew it, my eyelids started getting heavy. I gave up trying to fight it and fell asleep. And that turned out to be the best nap I¡¯d had in forever. Way better than passing out on the cold tile floor of a supermarket. So much better that when I finally started waking up, I almost didn¡¯t want to leave my dreand. I yawned, stretched, and slowly opened my eyes some point, someone had even The golden light of sunset was now spilling through the windows. Crap¡ªI must¡¯ve slept for hours. At so covered me with a soft nket. Across from me, Grayson was sitting with aptop on hisp, his face perfectly sculpted by the orange glow of dusk. ¡°Uh, you¡¯re done with work?¡± I sat up quickly, instinctively wiping at theer of my mouth. Thank god it was dry. Drooling in front of Grayson Hart would¡¯ve been the final nail in my dignity¡¯s coffin. He closed theptop and looked at me, amusement flickering in his eyes. ¡°How was your nap?¡± ¡°Good¡± I admitted, dierks hot. ¡°Better than I¡¯ve had in a long time: ¡°Then do you w To stay here? My mouth dropped open in shock WAIT WHAT ¡°What the Hold on¡ªdidn¡¯t you say you don¡¯t sleep with virgins!¡± I blurted. 9:46 AM ¡°I still don¡¯t,¡± he replied coolly ¡°Then why do you want me here¨Care you suddenly in need of a maid He chuckled, then pushed a document across the table. ¡°Take a look at this first.¡± I picked it up. It was a contract. A literal contract between me and d him. ¦°¦± something? The first few pages listed an absurd number of perks: a weekly allowance that made my eyes bug out, full ess to the house. board, apensation money once the contract terminated. I could even write in conditions. my own And at the very end. I finally saw the two things he asked of me room and
  1. I had to be avable whenever he needed me, and stay close.
  2. He gets to decide when the contract ends.
¡°1. I don¡¯t understand.¡± I looked up from the document, stillpletely lost. ¡°You just want me to be around you? That¡¯s it! Can¡¯t anyone do that?¡± He didn¡¯t seem like someone whockedpanionship. He crossed his hands on his knee, resting his chin on his fingers, and stared at me. The way he sat looked exactly like a predator lying in wait. And I¨Cyeah, I was definitely the prey. ¡°My doctor diagnosed me with severe insomnia,¡± he said. ¡°I haven¡¯t had a decent night¡¯s sleep since 9. Sometimes it makes me I shivered. From his tone, I had a feeling ¡°irritable¡± was putting it mildly. ¡°But you seem totally normal most of the time.¡± He was mo was more elegant andposed than anybody I knew. ¡°Extreme episodes are rare. And I make an effort not to let outsiders see it. But your scent calms me. Just being around you seems to help I stared at him, stunned. As wolves, we all had our own unique scent. May Even alurac¨ª a mate. that mine smelt like coconut ice¨Ccream. Our scent could express emotions, or But healing? That was new. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s that simple? Just stay close to you and you¡¯ll get better?¡± ¡°Appears But we need to keep testing. My medical team is desperate already, and before my condition gets worse, I¡¯m willing to try anything¡± I but my lip ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s okay to tell me all this? Isn¡¯t this a top secret?¡± This kind of information could be worth a fortune to his enemies. Wore 8 Aria¡¯s POV That sentence made my heart race like crazy. ¡°Anything you want to add to the contract?¡± he asked. I thought for a second. The financial terms he was offering were already more than generous¨Cenough to pay off my debts and even move my grandma into better nursing home. If I really had anything to ask for¡­ ¡°Can we not have sex during the contract period?¡± I asked. He raised an eyebrow, and I immediately felt my face heat up. ¡°I know this makes me sound like a hypocrite, given..what happened before,¡± I stuttered. ¡°But I was desperate back then and did something really stupid without thinking it through.¡± ¡°Of course. If that¡¯s what you want. He leaned back, lookingpletely unbothered. I still felt the need to exin. ¡°I know the whole ¡®no sex before marriage¡® thing sounds ridiculous. But where I¡¯m from, that¡¯s part of our belief. It¡¯s what my mom taught me too.¡± Until she abandoned us, anyway. ¡°You¡¯re from Frostpine Pack, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I respect your beliefs. It doesn¡¯t affect our agreement at all,¡± he said calmly. I felt a little embarrassed. Honestly, what was I thinking? Even if I hadn¡¯t brought it up, he wouldn¡¯t want to sleep with me anyway. He had way too many better options. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, can I take this as your agreement to sign?¡± he asked. ¡°Y¨CYeah. Of course.¡± ¡°Then sign here.¡± He leaned forward to point out where I needed to sign. I instinctively leaned in too. That¡¯s when I caught it again. The strong scent of pine. As I said, our scent only got s stronger when we were either fighting, mating, or¡­ aroused. I snapped my head up, looking at him. And yet his expression stayed perfectly calm,pletely at odds with what his scent was giving away. ¡°Think carefully. Once you sign, there¡¯s no backing out,¡± he warned. He was watching me with those dark gray eyes. A spark ran through my whole body. I let out a nervour Laugh. ¡°What¡¯s there to regret? The chance is golden.¡± I quickly grabbed the pen and scribbled my name down. And a strange feeling bubbled up inside me. Well, who would have guessed? I was now officially tied to Grayson Hart. ¡°So¡­ Do you want to sniff me now or something!¡± I asked after the signing. He chuckled lightly. ¡°Not now. Like I said, most of the time I¡¯m fine, 9:46 AM ¡°Well.. great. He nced at his watch. ¡°Maids will show you to your room. Sleep well. I want you fully rested and prepared for this job.¡± He made it sound like I was about to start some grueling physicalbor. I was getting more and more curious about what I needed to do exactly. The maids had filed into the room, ready to take me away. But I didn¡¯t want to leave yet, I wasn¡¯t ready for this perfect day to end yet. And yet I had no reason to stay. He stared at me and then suddenly moved. Before I could react, he had walked up to me and cupped my face with one hand. My heart almost burst out of my chest. A quick kissnded on my cheek, and a secondter, he had pulled away. ¡°Sleep well, Aria,¡± he said, his voice a low, sexy murmur. I had the best night¡¯s sleep of my life that night. The soft mattress, the silk sheets, the scented candle on my nightstand¡­everything was perfect. When I woke up in my new room feeling brand new, the maids were already waiting at the door with breakfast, politely offering to set the table for me. And after an amazing breakfast, I found myselfpletely free. My supermarket job was obviously gone. I didn¡¯t have any new assignments from Grayson yet, I was basically free to do whatever I wanted. So after a litle hesitation, I pulled out my phone. He had given me his personal numberst night¨Cfor work emergencies, I assumed I wasn¡¯t sure if I could text him anytime I wanted. Are youing home for dinner tonight?] I sent. He replied almost instantly. (Why?] II¡¯m cooking. Wondering if you¡¯d want to join? No pressure though! I know you¡¯re busy.] [OK. I¡¯ll be there.] My heart fluttered. His response made my day. I quickly asked if he had any allergies, but he didn¡¯t reply. Probably busy again. I left the mansion in a hurry and rushed to the nearest grocery store. After a quick thinking, I decided to keep the dinner menu simple yet ssic bruschetta for the starter, roast chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans for the main. Mrs Jones was surprised to see me carry bags of groceries into the mansion, ¡°You went shopping for food, Ms. Collins? Maids could have done it for you.¡± ¡°No I want to do it myself,¡± I replied with a sheepish smile. ¡°I¡¯m cooking dinner for Alpha Grayson.¡± She raised her eyebrow even higher. ¡°Have you asked Alpha Grayson first? Yeah. Why?¡± ¡°Well..¡± She was trying to find a delicate way to put it. ¡°Because Alpha Grayson has a very high standard for food. I can¡¯t remember how many chefs we have fired.¡± 9:46 AM OK now I¡¯m sweating But I had already asked Grayson, and the frozen chicken was melting in the bag as we speak. There¡¯s no turning back. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best,¡± I told Mrs. Jones, trying to hide my panic. ¡°Of course, Ms. Collins. Kitchen is this way,¡± Cooking wasn¡¯t hard for me. I was independent at a very young age, and I liked to study various recipes during my free time. But I had only cooked for myself and grandma. Having a very picky Alpha taste my food¨Cthat¡¯s a first. So I spent the entire afternoon hustling around in the huge kitchen, trying to make every detail perfect. The time flew by, at 7:30 sharp, I heard engine noise from the front door. A car had just pulled up. The timing was great because the roasted chicken was just done to perfection. I rushed to the front door to greet him without even taking off my apron. My heart was racing. ¡°Hey. Wee back!¡± I blurted out as the door swung open. Yet the next second, I froze. Because it wasn¡¯t him who just walked in. It was a tall woman in a Chanel suit, blonde curls, absolutely stunning¨Clike she¡¯d just stepped off the cover of Vogue. Fucking hell¡­ It¡¯s Delh Harl 3/3 Wore 9 Arba¡¯s POV Delh Hart. My ex¡¯s wife, Grayson¡¯s sister. She stared at me and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± ¡°I¨CI¡¯m Aria. Aria Collins,¡± I stammered. She frowned impatiently. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for your fucking name, OK? I asked what you¡¯re doing here. Are you the new kitchen help?¡± Okay. So she didn¡¯t recognize me. Jace must¡¯ve gone out of his way to erase my existence. She¡¯d already tossed her coat and bag at me like I was her personal hanger. The heavy coat hit me so hard I stumbled. ¡°What smells so good? I¡¯m starving!¡± she yelled. I chased after her into the kitchen, just in time to see her scoop into the chocte cake I¡¯d spent all afternoon making. The perfect ze was instantly destroyed. ¡°Wait¡± I blurted out. She turned to me, clearly annoyed. ¡°Are you seriously yelling at me?¡± I took a deep breath. Honestly, I had mixed feelings. My ex dumped me for her, and she was obviously so gorgeous and so ssy. And now I was even caught up in somethingplicated with her brother 1 don¡¯t know. Everything was just so fucked up. But I still decided to stand my ground. ¡°I¡¯m not yelling. I just wanted to let you know that cake was for Alpha Grayson.¡± ¡°So!¡± she scoffed. ¡°Everything my brother owns is mine. Who the hell are you to scold me in this house?¡± ¡°I was just hoping you could ask first before. She waved a hand and smashed the entire cake to the ground. The dessert I poured my heart into was now a chocte disaster. I let out a little cry. ¡°I don¡¯t like your damn attitude,¡± she said coldly. ¡°You¡¯re just a maid. And I¡¯m the one who runs this ce. Now get the hell out here because you are fired.¡± My hands curled into fists, shaking slightly with anger. She¡¯s even meaner than on reality show! ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± That deep,manding voice came from behind us, I whipped around. At some point my new boss hade back. He was standing in the doorway, watching us. ¡°Where did you even find this awful maid?¡± Delh shrieked. ¡°She actually tried to stop me from eating a goddamn cake. How dare she! I want her fired immediately!¡± ¡°Apologize,¡± Grayson said coolly. I sucked in a little breath. My eyes stung. But then I realized¨Che wasn¡¯t looking at me. He was looking at Delh. He was telling HER to apologize, Not me. ¡°Wha¨CSeriously Grayson?¡± Delh rounded her eyes in shock. ¡°You¡¯re telling your sister to apologize to an inegal!¡± ¡°Aria isn¡¯t an omega. She¡¯s my assistant. I invited her here today. And your entitled behavior is beneath the dignity of the Hart family. So 114 0:46 AM apologize to her right now.¡± His voice was calm but carried enough weight to silence the whole room. Delh looked at me like she¡¯d swallowed a lemon. ¡°Fine¡­¡± she muttered eventually, ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± I said quietly. ¡°Now go sit in the dining room, her brother ordered, ¡°You didn¡¯t tell anyone you wereing, so don¡¯t expect the maids to have your dinner ready.¡± She scooped up her coat and bag and scurried out of the kitchen like she couldn¡¯t get away from him fast enough. Grayson finally turned to me. ¡°Sorry about the cake. I¡¯m sure it was delicious.¡± Something in my chest clenched. I had worked so hard on it I wanted him to like it, to see his face when he took the first bite. But now it¡¯s ruined. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± I said with a weak smile, shrugging. ¡°She¡¯s a Hart. I guess she¡¯s just used to having whatever she wants. I don¡¯t take it personally. That¡¯s a failure in her upbringing. My parents spoiled her too much. I¡¯m trying to correct that now. But regardless of who she is, no one should treat you like that.¡± No one had ever said anything like that to me. In the real world, people like me were expected to be pushed around. My wolf hummed with contentment. I quickly looked away, blushed, and changed the subject. ¡°Looks like she doesn¡¯t know who I am? Or my connection to Jace?¡± ¡°No. And to avoid trouble, I suggest you don¡¯t bring it up. I nodded in agreement. Jace was ancient history. Thest thing I needed was drama with his new wife¨Cthe rich and powerful princess of the pack ¡°And I¡¯d also prefer if you didn¡¯t mention the contract to anyone. Including my sister,¡± he added deeply. ¡°If anybody asks in the future. you are my assistant.¡± I nced at him knowingly and lowered my voice. ¡°You don¡¯t want your family to know about your condition? You don¡¯t want them to get worried?¡± He didn¡¯t look like he wanted to talk about it. ¡°They don¡¯t need to know. Now, let the maids bring out the rest of the food. I can¡¯t wait to try what you made.¡± When we walked into the dining room, Delh was already seated and sneakily nibbling on the appetizer. She quickly set down her fork when the saw us ¡°What? I was hungry,¡± she muttered. ¡°You still need to wait for the guests to sit down before eating, Grayson said sternly. A maid pulled out the chair for me, right next to Delh. Judging by her expression, she wasn¡¯t thrilled that I got a seat too¨Cbut after ncing at Grayson, she swallowed her . ¡°Why aren¡¯t you having dinner with your husband tonight?¡± Grayson asked after taking his seat. ¡°Not every newlywed couple wants to be glued together, you know,¡± she replied sweetly. ¡°I just wanted to spend time with my dear Brother¡± But he wasn¡¯t buying it. ¡°This is about the prenup, isn¡¯t it? You two fought about it?¡± 1 paused mid¨Cbite, ears fully engaged. the prenup Of course. Every rich family signs one. Especially when a poor kid like Jace married the richest girl in the world. 9:46 AM But I knew Jace¡¯s too proud and too ambitious. He¡¯d hate the idea to the g gut.. ¡°Come on, Grayson. Is a prenup really necessary?¡± Delh pleaded. ¡°Jace made a good point actually. If we¡¯re truly in love, why should I care about sharing everything with him?¡± ¡°If he really loves you, your rtionship should be enough. He shouldn¡¯t be obsessed with your money.¡± ¡°Please? I¡¯m begging you. I just don¡¯t want to fight anymore. I brought it up tonight and he got so pissed. We were supposed to have a fancy date and he just mmed the door and left- ¡°I don¡¯t like him,¡± Grayson cut her off coldly. ¡°I made that clear the first day you brought him home. And if he dares m a door in your face in question if he¡¯s even remotely the right person for you.¡± Delh lowered her utensils, clearly too upset to eat. ¡°Get him to sign the prenup.¡± Grayson said forcefully. ¡°Or you walk away from him.¡± She looked like she might burst into tears. I forced down a bite of sd and sighed quietly To be honest, I kind of felt bad for her. Sure, she was ten thousand times richer than me but she was still getting hurt by the same jerk who¡¯d once hurt me. I knew exactly how that felt. My sigh must¡¯ve been louder than I thought, because Delh snapped her head toward ¡°Why the hell are you sighing? Are you mocking me?¡± she asked sharply Grayson immediately frowned. I shook my head. ¡°No, I¡¯m not mocking. I just think¡­ women in love tend to lose sight of things.¡± ¡°What the hell¨Care you seriously calling me blind?¡± ¡°Are you not?¡± I shot back. ¡°Alpha Grayson is your brother. He¡¯d never hurt you. But how long have you even known Jace? He clearly knew what kind of position he put you in when he refused to sign the prenup and he didn¡¯t care about it at all. If he really loves you, why can¡¯t he make thepromise?¡± Delh stared at me, stunned. Grayson¡¯s gaze softened. He nodded at me. ¡°My point is,¡± I said gently, ¡°if he really hates that prenup, at least he should be here with you tonight and tell Alpha Grayson himself- not ditching you and forcing you toe beg your brother on your own? Delh gripped her fork, silent. I half¨Cexpected her to stab me in the eye with it. Instead, after a long pause, she gave a loud huff. ¡°You¡¯re a good cook,¡± she mumbled. ¡°Th¨Cthanks,¡± I said, surprised. ¡°Now I see why my brother hired you¡± She nced at me sideways. ¡°I don¡¯t like being lectured, but¡­ some of what you said actually makes sense.¡± I smiled and let out a quiet breath of relief. ¡°d I can help.¡± ¡°Help! Please, don¡¯t tter yourself,¡± she rolled her eyes. ¡°You seem to know a lot about rtionship stuffs. Do you have a boyfriend?¡± was speechless. It¡¯d be the end of the world if she discovered in my ex was actually her husband. Fortunately, Grayson stepped in. ¡°That¡¯s enough question. Now have your dinner.¡± After dinner, Delh left. I had no idea what she¡¯d say to Jace, but I really hoped she¡¯d stand her ground. Honestly, she deserved better than that controlling, gold¨Cdigging jerk. Iwas in the kitchen helping the maids clean up. They were all praising my food and asking questions about my recipe. But then, suddenly, everyone went quiet. 9:46 AM I looked up. Grayson was leaning against the doorway, watching me. ¡°Dinner was excellent. I really enjoyed it,¡± he said. The maids curtsied and quietly exited, leaving the two of us alone. I fidgeted, gripping my apron nervously. ¡°I¨CI¡¯m d you liked it.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard today. I hope you rest well tonight.¡± I took that as his cue to dismiss me. ¡°I will. And you too¨Cgoodnight, Alpha Grayson I untied my apron and started to walk past him toward the door. But he didn¡¯t move. His broad frame blocked the only exit. ¡°I hope you are ready,¡± he said deeply. blinked, perplexed. ¡°What¡­ what do you mean?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll rest in my room tonight.¡± AD Wore 10 Aria¡¯s POV That sentence hit me like a bomb. ¡°I¨CI¡¯m sleeping your room?¡± I stammered. ¡°But why how¡­?¡± His handsome face was expressionless, as if he hadn¡¯t just said somethingpletely insane. ¡°You will stay by my side whenever I need. you. That¡¯s what the contract says. ¡°Right, but- ¡°Mrs. Jones will prepare you.¡± With that, he turned and walked away. My mouth fell open. One hand flew to my chest¨Cmy heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of my body. That¡¯s when Mrs. Jones appeared at the door with her usual gentle smile. ¡°Miss Collins, this way please.¡± I followed her like I was sleepwalking, climbing staircase after staircase. My room was on the third floor, but she led me up to the fifth- somewhere I hadn¡¯t stepped foot before. ¡°Everything above the fifth floor is part of Alpha¡¯s private quarters,¡± she exined as we walked. ¡°That includes his office and his bedroom. No one is allowed up here without his permission¨Cnot even you. From now on, you¡¯re only allowed to spend the night on the fifth floor when Alpha Grayson calls for you.¡± I nodded stiffly, then followed her through a long corridor until we stopped in front of a door. ¡°You¡¯ll need to bathe before seeing Alpha,¡± she said, opening it for me. ¡°Everything you need is inside, including fresh clothes. When you¡¯re ready, just press the bell¨Csomeone¡¯lle escort you to the bedroom.¡± She was about to leave. But I was about to break out of nervousness, so I stopped her. ¡°Has anyone done this before¡­ I mean¡­ what exactly am I supposed to do?¡± my voice was shaking. She looked surprised, then a flicker of pity passed her eyes.. on will be ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Every girl who¡¯s spent the night here has had to go through this. It¡¯s not personal. And I¡¯m sure Alpha Grayson gentle.¡± I think she got the wrong idea. I mean, if I was here for a one- -night stand, I¡¯d still be scared out of my mind¨Cbut at least I¡¯d know what to expect. But right now? I had no idea what was going to happen. And the unknown¡­ is terrifying I clutched my shirt and went into the bathroom, where I found an entire set of bath and skincare products. I stood under the hot water for ages, scrubbing myself over and over again. I even shaved. It wasn¡¯t until I smelled like a damn rose garden that I finally stepped out. Wrapped in a towel, I stood in front of the mirror and studied at my bare body. Jane ward to say I had a beautiful body¨Clong legs, a tiny waist, delicate corbones, and yet my breasts and ass were round and plump. 1 also gut sufi, smooth skin with an intoxicating smell of coconut. man would die happy on top of this body. Hit when he realized he couldn¡¯t pop my virginity without a ring, he got angry¨Cand cursed me to die a fucking prude, Grayson¡¯s a man, tou. Sure, he agreed to the no¨Csex use. But would be get angry just like Jace? 9:46 AM I let out a shaky breath and got dressed. Thankfully, the pajamas waiting for me were modest¨Ca long gown, not some revealing lingerie. When I was done, I pressed the bell. The door opened up but no one was there. I stepped into the hallway, confused. Then, at the very end of the corridor, a single light flicked on¨Cright above a pair of heavy double oak doors. It¡¯s telling me where to go. At this point, it was like everyone in this house had vanished. No maids. No Jones. Just me¡­ and the master of this ce. I walked toward the light, legs trembling, palms freezing cold. My brain was too overwhelmed to think. I finally reached the doors and pushed them open. Inside was pitch ck. THE I froze by the door, not sure what to do next. Then I heard a voice from in the shadows: Come in. And close the door.¡± I obeyed. As soon as the door shut, the scent of pine tree mmed into me like a tidal wave. It was violent. Almost like it¡¯s attacking me. I copsed against the door, my whole body going weak. Something was wrong with Grayson. I could feel it in his scent. It wasn¡¯t just arousal¡ªit was anger, restraint, and something¡­ darker. ¡°Sit on the edge of the bed,¡± he ordered from the darkness. I couldn¡¯t move. His aura was too strong. Every werewolf has an instinct to submit to their Alpha¨Cand right now, I was trembling just from the weight of his presence. Amp flicked on. He was sitting on the couch, watching me coldly. ¡°In this room, when I give an order, you obey it immediately, Or I can¡¯t promise what might happen,¡± he growled, voice low and rough. I flinched, then forced myself to stand straight. One step at a time, I walked to the edge of the bed. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t far. I made it. He didn¡¯te over right away. Instead he just sat there, staring at me with those dark, emotionless eyes. ¡°Unbutton your dress,¡± he said. My hands shook as I undid two buttons¨Cjust enough to expose my corbones. ¡°All of them,¡± he said. I bar my hip to stifle the gap, then undid one more button. Half my chest was already exposed. My hand hovered over the next one. I ¡°I had an agreement,¡± I whispered. ¡°You said you¡¯d respect my condition- ¡°Keep going¡± voice was cold and forceful. My ryra widgard, burning with tears threatening to fall. But I obeyed. I undid the rest by nightgown gaped open, exposing the bare skin between my breasts and down to my stomach. He was watching me intensely the whole time. That gaze made my skin crawl. ¡°Now Hands behind you. On the mattres. Sit up straighu.¡± 9:46 AM I followed the This is what I want¡ªAhh!¡± He suddenly leaned down and bit my neck. I screamed. Pain shot through me like a lightning bolt. For a second, I thought he was going to kill me because a bite to the neck is the deadliest werewolf attack. It¡¯s never done lightly. But then I realized he didn¡¯t pierce my throat. Just my skin. ¡°This is what you wanted,¡± he said mockingly. trembled. I wanted to push him away, but he barked, ¡°Keep your hands on the mattress.¡± I stayed still¨Cchest out, back straight¨Clike I was offering myself to him. Humiliation washed over me. He kept sucking on my neck, inhaling deeply. Once the pain dulled, I could feel his lips brushing over my skin¨Cand the heat pooled low in my belly and traveled down to Iny area. The tingle made me shiver. Then¡­ he moved lower. bottom His mouth reached the center of my chest. My nipples were still covered by my gown, but he didn¡¯t undress me further. He just bit the top of my cleavage and left a mark. 1 was panting. My nipples were rock hard, brushing against the fabric with every breath. It wasn¡¯t enough. I wanted someone to grab my breast and suck them. Hard. I was wet. My juice had soaked my new underwear. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t want this,¡± he said, his voice full of cruel amusement. He must¡¯ve noticed the change in my body. I felt humiliated. ¡°I still don¡¯t And you promised to respect this.¡± His hand tightened suddenly around my throat as if enraged. I let out a strangled gasp. He released me just as quickly, ¡°You used body wash?¡± he asked coldly. _Y¨Cyes.¡± ¡°From now on, only rinse with water before you see me? I got it immediately. The body wash masked my scent. And my scent.. was the only thing of value I had. The shame hit me like a wave. I¡¯d never felt more like a tool in my life. Thank god the room was dim¨Che couldn¡¯t see the tears buming in my eyes. He kept breathing in my scent, fiddling with my body like it was nothing. Eventually, the pine scent in the room faded slightly, and he finally pulled away. ¡°That¡¯s enough for tonight. Your bed is next door,¡± he said roughly, his voice hoarse. I jumped off the bed, wrapping my gown tightly around me. ¡°That¡¯s it! You don¡¯t need to sleep with your nose buried failed at hiding the sarcasm in my tone. ¡°Don¡¯t push it, Aria,¡± he snapped. my neck?¡± I 9:46 AM ? I bit my lip and escaped the room, I wanted to go back downstairs to my room. But I didn¡¯t dare disobey his order. When I copsed into the guest bed, the tears finally came. I buried my face in the pillow and cried, silently. I felt so stupid for ever feeling butterflies for him. I thought he was elegant,posed, noble¨Ceven patient with someone like me who had nothing. I thought he was perfect. But I was wrong. Tonight made it painfully clear. I know nothing about Grayson Hart. AD Wore 11 Aria¡¯s POV I seriously thought about asking Grayson to terminate the contract But after tossing and turning in bed all night, I still couldn¡¯t make up my mind. By 6:30 in the morning. I dragged myself out of bed and went downstairs to get breakfast. To my surprise, Grayson was already sitting in the dining room, sipping his morning coffee and reading the news on his tablet. ¡°Good morning,¡± he said when he saw meing down the stairs. Morning,¡± I mumbled. His face was that chance now. If anything that happenedst night crossed a line for you, you¡¯re free to walk away. Right now.¡± My fingers curled around the edge of my shirt. I fell into silence. He didn¡¯t rush me just waited, patiently. Finally, I whispered, ¡°Do you even remember what you didst night? B¨Cbecause the youst night and the you now. ¡°Are very different?¡± he said calmly. ¡°Butst night is also part of who I am. Now I¡¯m in control of that darkness¨CBut not always. So think carefully. Next time it happens, it¡¯ll only get worse.¡± A chill ran through me. The feeling of being used, humiliated¨CI still hadn¡¯t gotten over it. And now he was telling me it could get worse? ¡°What exactly happenedst night?¡± I asked quietly. ¡°Why did you lose control?¡± -You don¡¯t need to know.¡± His reply was cold. I bit my lip. He was using me like a tool¨Cignoring my feelings, my dignity¨Cand I wasn¡¯t even allowed to ask questions. He was locking me out of his world. ¡°I choose not to end the contract,¡± I said. Surprise flickered in his eyes. I stared into those beautiful grey irises, my heart racing again. Sure, money yed a part in my decision but at the end of the day¡­ I was hooked. beautiful and dangerous. And I wanted to get closer. I wanted more. ¡°You have no idea how d I am to hear that, he smiled. Then he slid a piece of paper across the table toward me. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± I asked. ¡°A list of open positions. You can choose any of them. I¡¯m assuming you don¡¯t want to stay home cooking forever!¡± he said, sipping his 9:47 AM ? coffee. I scanned the list¨Cand my eyes went wide. Holy shit. These jobs were on a whole other level! Some of them were literally Jace¡¯s dream positions. And now Grayson was casually offering them to me. ¡°Wait, you mean if I pick one. I just get the job? No interviews? No vetting?¡± I stammered. ¡°Correct,¡± he said with a charming smile. ¡°But, I thought you didn¡¯t want to interfere with my job stuff.. at least that¡¯s what you said in your office¡­¡± He paused. ¡°Things changed, didn¡¯t they? Back then, we hadn¡¯t signed the contract. You weren¡¯t mine yet¡± He did it again. He didn¡¯t say anything romantic, and yet it still felt like he was spoiling me and I was somehow special. I hated it. Isa So do you have any suggestions?¡± I asked, avoiding his eyes. . ¡°Where do you think I fit best?¡± ¡°Marketing. It matches your background the most. But if you want to stay far away from Jace ¡°No need,¡± I blurted out He raised an eyebrow. I took a deep breath. ¡°He already fucked up my life once. I won¡¯t let him do it again. Send me to marketing. I¡¯ll show him who the real top sales closer is.¡± This time, I was taking back everything I lost Grayson smiled¨Cand it was devastatingly handsome.. ¡°That¡¯s my girl,¡± he said. Third Person POV Jace was in a terrible mood today. Last night, he was supposed to take his rich and beautiful wife to a fancy restaurade. They¡¯d enjoy thousand¨Cdor caviar and a bottle of absurdly expensive wine while admiring the city skyline. But instead, she brought up the prenup, Way to ruin the night, Delh. A prenup? Seriously? They were married¨Cweren¡¯t loving couples supposed to share everything! She said that in her damn vows! So he mmed the door in her face and walked out. If she wanted to bring up ridiculous ideas, then she deserved a little punishment. One night apart should be enough to make her rethink He slept in his own apartment and came into work this morning. The second he stepped into the office, his phone buzzed with a message from her. [Sorry babe, bert the prenup is non¨Cnegotiable. My brother insists on it But this doesn¡¯t change anything¨CI still love you.] ¡°FUCK!¡± he roared, chucking his phone at the wall. It exploded into pieces. Fucking bullshit. She wouldn¡¯t even share a dime of her Hart family wealth. What kind of ¡°love¡± was thath 9:47 AM Chapter II And Grayson Hart. Fucking arrogant bastard. Grayson just got lucky and was born into the right family, handed all that money and power on a silver tter. If he had been born a Hart, he would¡¯ve done even better. Way better. So just wait. One day, he¡¯d rece Grayson. He¡¯d be the one in control of the entire Hart. Knock Knock Knock Jace instantly wiped the fury from his face and stered on his usual charming smile. ¡°Come in La waltzed in, wearing a tight bodycon dress with cleavage spilling out of the neckline. ¡°Wanna grab lunch together, Jace?¡± ¡°Of course. One second She smirked and leaned against his desk, fingers trailing along his bicep. ¡°I thought you¡¯d forget about me once you married Delh.¡± ¡°Come on. Nothing¡¯s changing between us. He¡¯d his chance to fuck her, but never did. She was a hot slut, sure, but had a big mouth. Too risky. Thest thing he needed was her bbing. But if Delh kept ying hardball with that prenup, he wouldn¡¯t mind using La to blow off some steam ¡°Hey, did you hear?¡± she said casually as he grabbed his jacket. ¡°Jonathan got fired.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± Jonathan was one of his boys. They hit the same strip clubs. ¡°You¡¯re not gonna believe this. He ran into Aria while doing a site visit at one of the Apex grocery stores. Turns out she started working there after she got fired. But something happened, and boom¨CJonathan was out, and she got rehired as Marketing Director!¡± Jace¡¯s jacket slipped from his hand. He red at her ¡°No fucking way.¡± ¡°I know! I couldn¡¯t believe it either. Didn¡¯t you give HR proof she tanked a million dor deal? How the hell is she back?¡± ¡°You must¡¯ve heard wrong,¡± he snapped. you ¡°I swear I didn¡¯t. I literally just saw her in the marketing department before I came here. Today¡¯s her first day¨CWait! Where are y going?!¡± He shoved past her and stormed out the door. He sprinted down the hallway and skidded to a halt near the marketing floor. And there she was. Wearing a crisp white suit and matching heels, she glowed. Her beautiful face was lightly made up, and her smile was radiant. She looked more confident and captivating than ever. Every guy she passed turned their head. No. Fucking. Way. Wore 12 Third Person POV Jace couldn¡¯t take his eyes off Aria, She was standing just a few feet away, chatting with the head of the Marketing Department Gary. That guy was a total snob¨Calways looked down on him, even after he married Delh. But now? Gary was all smiles with Aria, practically falling over himself to be nice. Jace¡¯s fists clenched, his nails digging into his palm. Rage boiled in his chest, so hot it nearly wiped out all reason. How the hell was Aria back at this ? He¡¯d made sure her career was over. That million¨Cdor deal? The one that vanished? He sabotaged it. He spread rumors, got people, talking, made her colleagues doubt her. He crushed her¨Cnot just to get her out of the way, but to punish her for daring to walk away from him. For not begging toe back. And yet here she was. Not just surviving. Thriving, Glowing. HOW??? He watched as Aria wrapped up her conversation and headed for the front doors. Hastily, Jace ducked behind a potted nt to avoid being seen. Once she was outside, he slipped out too, trailing her from a distance. On the busy street, he stared at her back as she strolled toward the intersection. Something twisted in his p gul Her outfit¨Che knew that white zer. It was a limited edition piece, retailing for at least five thousand yuan. And the pearl earrings? Those babes were real. No doubt about it. Aria Collins could barely afford a basement apartment a few months ago. Where the hell was she getting this kind of money now? And then, right as she stepped off the curb, all his questions were answered. A silver Rolls¨CRo -Royce pulled up beside her. The driver jumped out, bowed slightly, and opened the door for her like she was a princess. Jace stood frozen, half¨Chidden behind a billboard, jaw practically on the ground. That car¨Che recognized it immediately. There was only one Rolls¨CRoyce like that in the entire Frostpine Pack. And she got in. She got in that damn car. Aria Collins just got into Grayson Hart¡¯s cart Fuck. Fuck. FUCK! His brain short¨Ccircuited. How the hell was this happening! That broke¨Cass bitch..How did she know Grayson Hart, the most eligible bachelor on the? He dumped her when she needed him the most on purpose. She was supposed to crawl back to him, beg him for mercy, let him watch her squirm. Yet t instead, she traded up. ¡°That bitch,¡± he growled, punching the wall hard enough to make his knuckles bleed. ¡°Fucking gold¨Cdigging slut. This won¡¯t over. He¡¯d make damn sure she paid for betraying him. Anu¡¯s POV 9:47 AM Chapter 12 The past few days had been amazing. Thanks to Grayson, I was back in the marketing department. But this time, I wasn¡¯t reporting to Jace. My new supervisor was a guy named Gary At first, I was worried he¡¯d resent me being parachuted in out of nowhere. But turns out I couldn¡¯t have been more wrong. ¡°Don¡¯t stress it,¡± Gary said with a snort. ¡°Everybody here hates that shortcut¨Ctaking leech Jace. When he fired you, I knew something was fishy. You were one of our top performersst quarter¨Cthere¡¯s no way you lost that million dor deal by ident. I smelled a setup a mile away. I¡¯m just d you¡¯re back now. You can finally clear your name. ¡°Thank you, Gary,¡± I said, genuinely moved. He patted my shoulder hard enough to knock the wind out of me. ¡°Now go crush him. We¡¯re directpetitors with Jace¡¯s team. In marketing, it ain¡¯t about whose wife has more money. We speak in numbers,¡± His words lit a fire under me So for the past few days, I¡¯d been grinding nonstop. I wanted tond a huge contract before the month ended. I wanted results, I wanted everyone to see I earned my way back fair and square. Buttely..there¡¯s something weird. I kept getting this feeling. Like someone was watching and stalking me It wasn¡¯t constant, but it happened often enough to make me uneasy. Especially on mymute to and from work. I¡¯d nce over my shoulder, feel eyes on me. but when I looked, there was no one there. Grayson told me to tell him if anything happened. And he already had a driver picking me up and dropping me off every day, so my safety wasn¡¯t really an issue. I just didn¡¯t want to bother anyone over a bad gut feeling. Maybe I¡¯d mention it the next time I saw him? Although, I hadn¡¯t seen him since that breakfast. ording to Mrs. Jones, he¡¯d flown to the other side of the world for business. No one knew when he¡¯d be back. I told myself I wasn¡¯t allowed to miss him. Luckily, work kept my mind off him¨CMost of the time: A week passed like that. Then May called me out of the blue, asking to grab a coffee. ¡°Where are you? I¡¯m already at the caf¨¦,¡± she said.. I tucked the phone between my shoulder and ear while quickly straightening my desk. ¡°Sorry a meeting rante. I¡¯ll be there in five.¡± ¡°Take your time, Apex¡¯s golden girl,¡± she teased. ¡°Did you bring an umbre? It¡¯s pouring our ¡°Nope. But it¡¯s only a few blocks. I¡¯ll make a dash for it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ming to get you. No way am I letting you catch a cold before I hear all the juicy gossip tonight¡± She hung up before I could argue. I chuckled to myself. May really did spoil me sometimes¨Csaying no to her was impossible. I rode the elevator down with a few coworkers, chatting about random things, then said goodbye as I stepped into the lobby. Sure enough, rain wasing down hard outside. I held my briefcase over my head like a shield, and jogged out into the storm. I figured if I met May halfway, she wouldn¡¯t have to walk too far in the rain. The sidewalk was slick. I kept my head down, carefully dodging puddles. I wasn¡¯t paying attention to anything else. That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t see iting. A hand yanked my shoulder and dragged me into a side alley. ¡°Ah- 19:47 AM I screamed, but a hand mped hard over my mouth and shoved me against the wall. ¡°Shut up,¡± a cold voice hissed near my ear. My eyes widened in horror. He was wearing a ck raincoat, hood pulled low over his face¨Cbut I¡¯d know him anywhere. Jace What the hell was he doing?! ¡°You slut,¡± he sneered. ¡°I had some respect for you, you know? You might be a boring prude but at least you held on to your own belief But the second I wasn¡¯t looking, you threw yourself into another man¡¯s arms.¡± ¡°W¨CWhat..? ¡°How do you like sucking Grayson Hart¡¯s dick?¡± he snarled. AD Wore 13 Aria¡¯s POV How did he even find out about me and Grayson? I didn¡¯t even tell May. ¡°Say something, Arial¡± Jace roared. ¡°So this is how you betray me, huh? You were never pure and innocent¨Cyou were just saving precious pussy for the richest guy who¡¯dnd your His hand mped tighter around my throat, making it hard to breathe. ¡°Stop¡­¡± I choked out. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. Me knowing Grayson¡­ it¡¯s just a coincidence.. ¡°A coincidence?¡± he sneered, his voice dripping with hate. ¡°Yeah, right. More like you nned this from the start. Because that¡¯s what you are a gold¨Cdigging bitch¡± ¡°What did you tell him, huh? Did you tell him about us? Is he helping you get revenge on me now? Don¡¯t tell me even that prenup crap was also your doing!¡± 1 had absolutely nothing to do with that prenup. But it didn¡¯t matter. Jace would never believe it. He needed someone to me, and was the easiest target.. ¡°You¡¯re a fucking slut, Aria, you know that?¡± he spat. ¡°We were together for four fucking years and you didn¡¯t let me rouch you. Yet the moment we broke up, you jumped right into Grayson¡¯s fucking bed!¡± ¡­F¨CFunny, Thissed, still gasping for air. ¡°You¡¯re calling me a gold¨Cdigger, but aren¡¯t you the one who married Delh for her money? I¡­. If anyone¡¯s for sale here, it¡¯s you¡± His eyes widened like he couldn¡¯t believe I just said that, ¡°What the fuck did you just say?¡± ¡°You¡¯re mad I¡¯m with Grayson, but you¡¯re the one who ditched your girlfriend and marry into money. Don¡¯t talk to me about morals, Jace. You¡¯re the one who¡¯d sell his soul for a fat bank ount.¡± ¡°Shut up! SHUT UP!¡± he yelled, his face twisted with fury. ¡°That¡¯s different! Delh and I we¡¯re in love- ¡°You love her money,¡± I cut in. ¡°That¡¯s the only kind of love a selfish bastard like you could ever understand. His grip on my throat tightened, like an iron chain around my neck. ¡°Don¡¯t act like you fucking know me!¡± he growled. ¡°Now you fucking listen. Leave Grayson. And don¡¯t even think about messing with my life. You might think you¡¯vended a rich guy, but I¡¯ve got ways to crushiyou I stared him down, refusing to flinch. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go straight to your darling wife. I bet Delh would love to hear how you dumped your long¨Ctime girlfriend and married her in less than a week¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± His eyes went red with rage. ¡°Stop ying dirty, Jace,¡± I snapped. ¡°We both work in the marketing department now. It¡¯s a fair game, Let¡¯s see who¡¯s the one surviving off connections,¡± He¡¯d burned me once before. I wasn¡¯t giving him a second chance. I would face him head¨Con. And I¡¯d win. He suddenly let out a coldugh. His lips twisted into something cruel. ¡°You against me? Please. You are just a dump little girl with nothing but a pretty face! All the achievements you¡¯ve got so far is because you know when to separate your fucking legs. You know what? Now that Grayson had popped your virginity, you wouldn¡¯t mind me taking the second round, would you?¡± His other hand slid around my waist, grabbed me hard, then started moving up toward my breast. ¡°Get off me!¡± I screamed, thrashing violently. 19:47 AM Chapter 13 He pressed his knee between my legs, pinning me in ce. ¡°This suit,¡± he hissed. ¡°he bought it for you after sex? It had to be a pretty rough fuck for him to get you something this pricey.¡± ¡°NO¨Cfuck off?¡± ¡°Oh, you like? I got money too now. Come on, open those legs for me- ¡°GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER!¡± The voice exploded from nearby. Before I could react, someone rushed in and smacked Jace in the head with a swing of a heavy umbre. Jace groaned, stumbling back and loosened his grip. May stepped in front of me, gripping the umbre like a sword, trembling with fury. ¡°Back the hell off, you sick psycho¡± she roared ¡°Fuck! You crazy bitch ¡ª¡ª¡± I already called the cops! Keep going and we¡¯ll take a little trip downtown. I¡¯m sure your lovely wife Delh would love toe bail) out.¡± She swung the umbre again. ¡°now get lost!¡± Jace clutched his head, shooting a venomous re at me. He hesitated for a second, then finally stepped back. ¡°This isn¡¯t over,¡± he spat before turning and leaving the alley my God, are you okay?¡± May dropped to her knees beside me. frantic. -Oh my I grabbed her in a tight hug, nodding as my body trembled ¡°Yeah.. Oh thank God.. How did you even find me?¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t picking up your phone, and when I got to your office, they said you already left. So I started looking. Damn it, Aria, I thought Jace was just a dick¨CI didn¡¯t know he was an actual psychopath¡± I took a shaky breath. ¡°Did you really call the cops?¡± ¡°No. I just said that to scare him off. But you have to tell someone.¡± ¡°Tell who?¡± I muttered. ¡°He¡¯s Delh¡¯s husband. An upper¨Css golden boy now. No one will believe me.¡± ¡°Are you kidding me? You¡¯re just gonna walk it off?¡± she cried. ¡°Aria, he¡¯s absessed. He¡¯lle after you again. You have to tell Alpha Grayson. He¡¯ll help.¡± ¡°Grayson is Delh¡¯s brother. Who do you think he¡¯d side with?¡± ¡°You, of course! You¡¯re together, right?¡± I sighed. you I¡¯d promised Grayson not to tell anyone about our contract. So all I said to May was that I was his assistant and was currently staying at his house to better assist him. And while May was always a romantic, always dreaming up love stories, she didn¡¯t buy it. To her, the moment I said I was living under the same roof with Grayson, it meant we were in some kind of fairy tale romance. ¡°I¡¯m fine, May,¡± I whispered. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of Jace.¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re brave. But this isn¡¯t just about being brave. It¡¯s about being safe I pulled her into another hug. ¡°And I will be safe. Come on, we¡¯re both soaked.¡± She grumbled, still furious as she cursed out Jace under her breath. I linked arms with her, and we walked out of the alley together. Just as we were about to cross the street, headlights cut through the rain. Out of nowhere, a sleek ck car swerved to a stop in front of 947 AM c Chapter B ¡°Hey watch it!¡± May cried angrily, The driver jumped out, holding an umbre as he opened the back door. And then, like he stepped straight out of a dream, Grayson emerged from the car. I froze in shock, mouth slightly open like an idiot. He was supposed to be on the other side of the world. Yet here he was He took the umbre from the driver and held it over my head, blocking the rain. His brows were furrowed, face unreadable but definitely stern ¡°The driver said you never showed up at the pickup spot.¡± ¡°Oh, um, right.¡± 1 scrambled to find my voice. ¡°I didn¡¯t need a ride today. Forgot to tell him. Sorry¡± ¡°And the umbre?¡± he asked, eyeing my soaking wet clothes. Forgot that too,¡± I muttered. Yet his face only got darker. ¡°Lying is a bad habit, Aria.¡± ¡°W¨CWhat? I don¡¯t understand¡­¡± ¡°There are fresh finger marks on your neck.¡± His voice was icy. And there was a storm looming in his eyes. I shivered under his intense gaze. Just while I was hesitating what to tell him, May blurted out beside me ¡°It was Jace Carter! He attacked her. Right in that alley!¡± Ìï Wore 14 Aria¡¯s POV I shot May a re. Why would you tell him?! She stuck her tongue out at me, then turned right back to Grayson, ¡°That scumbag followed Aria all the way here, grabbed her by the neck, and threatened her! Who knows what he would¡¯ve done if I hadn¡¯t shown up in time?¡± ¡°This is May, I mumbled reluctantly. ¡°And May you know who this is.¡± ¡°O of course! It¡¯s such an honor to meet you, Alpha Grayson.¡± She was stammering so hard her voice turned high and squeaky. Grayson gave her a brief smile. ¡°Nice to meet you. Aria¡¯s lucky to have a friend like you¡± May blushed, her face p practically glowing. Watching her melt under his charm made me sigh inside¨CTraitor. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte,¡± Grayson said in that low,manding voice. ¡°My driver can take you home.¡± ¡°Actually¡­¡± I opened my mouth to tell him May and I had ns to hang out tonight.. But before I could say a word, May yanked on my sleeve with a grin and cut in. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can head home by myself.¡± ¡°Wait, I thought you were dying for those gossips,¡± I whispered into her ear. ¡°Girl, please,¡± she whispered back, giggling. ¡°He obviously just got back and came straight to find you. I¡¯m not about to third¨Cwheel your billionaire love story. Rain check?¡± ¡°How many times do I have to tell you¡­there¡¯s no love story!¡± Yet all she did was given me a wink, waved, and jogged off into the night. *Get in the car. Grayson¡¯s cold voice cut through the air like a knife Nervous, I scrambled into the backseat, slipping in beside him. He sat there, stone¨Cfaced, his sharp profile unreadable¨Cbut the tension in the car was thick. ¡°Um- how was your trip?¡± I tried to break the ice. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°So was it exhausting? I mean, I heard long flights can really ruin your mood. Though I¡¯ve never been on a ne for more than two. hours myself- ¡°Aria. Please stop talking to me right now.¡± I mped my mouth shut, cheeks burning. Thank God the car was dark, so he couldn¡¯t see how red and embarrassed I was. Neither of us said a word for the rest of the ride. When we got home, I shuffled in behind him as the omega house staff greeted us by the entrance. I figured he didn¡¯t want to see me anymore tonight, so I quietly turned to sneak back to my room. ¡°Where are you going?¡± 1 froze mid¨Cstep and turned around He was frowning at me again like I¡¯d done something terribly wrong. ¡°Uh to my room?¡± 2:47 AM ¡°Come.¡± He didn¡¯t wait. Just turned and walked deeper into the house. I had no choice but to trot after him. He took me to the living room. A doctor and two nurses were already waiting there. ¡°Alpha, I came as soon as I heard,¡± the doctor said, a little breathless. ¡°Are you hurt!¡± ¡°Aria was attacked tonight. I want a full and thorough check¨Cup.¡± I blinked. ¡°Me? O Oh
  1. no. I¡¯m fine. Jace didn¡¯t even break the skin-¡±
¡°Miss Collins,¡± the doctor said with a smile, the examination won¡¯t take long. But Alpha will only rest easy if we confirm you¡¯re okay.¡± ¡°I am okay! Really. This is too much! I could run around the house right now just to show you how healthy I am¡ª¡± ¡°Aria. 1 shrank into myself. The authority in his tone left no room for argument, And just like that. I was surrounded by the medical team. Blood pressure, pulse, blood samples¡­ the whole thing. They treated me like I was made of ss, hovering like I¡¯d shatter at the slightest touch, After what felt like forever, the doctor finally reached his conclusion. ¡°Alpha Grayson, Miss Collins is fine. No major injuries¡± ¡°Told you.¡± I muttered. But Grayson ignored me and stared at the doctor. ¡°And the bruising on her neck?¡± ¡°Just mild contusions. Miss Collins has very delicate, sensitive skin¨Cit bruises easily. I¡¯ll prescribe a topical ointment. Apply it for a week, and I¡¯lle back for a follow¨Cup.¡± ¡°That¡¯s really not necessary¨C1 started. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure she has time for it,¡± Grayson said. Then the medical team packed up their stuff and left. That left me with him alone in the living room. The tension in the room spiked again. I sat there with my head hung low, nervously ying with my fingers. The silence! It¡¯s killing me. Finally he stood and walked over, towering above me. With one hand, he tilted in chin up, his fingers firm but gentle, forcing me to look up at him¨Cand exposing the marks on my neck. ¡°I was very angry at you tonight,¡± he said darkly. ¡°Yeah..I can tell.¡± I murmured. ¡°You made a mistake. Now tell me what it was¡± My heart started racing. ¡°I¨CI should¡¯ve stayed away from Jace. He¡¯s married to your sister now. I shouldn¡¯t have even spoken to him¡ª¡± ¡°Wrong¡± ¨ª gulped, my mouth dry. ¡°II shouldn¡¯t have led to you. I should¡¯ve told you the truth right away. ¡°Wrong again His hand was steady on my on my jaw, his palm warm against my cheek. I couldn¡¯t resist the temptation. Before I knew it, I was already leaning into his touch 9:47 AM Yet he pulled away immediately. ¡°Bad girls don¡¯t get to cuddle.¡± My cheeks burned. ¡°Sorry. But I really don¡¯t know¡­¡± ¡°Your biggest mistake,¡± he said, voice low and dangerous, ¡°was letting someone hurt you¨Cand acting like it was no big deal.¡± I stared up at him, speechless. ¡°I made it clear the night we signed our contract You belong to me now. I have total control over your time, your mind, and your body. Without my permission, no one¨Cnot even youself¨Cis allowed to damage what¡¯s mine.¡± Harsh Possessive. Way too much for any normal man to say. But he was no way near normal. He was Grayson Hart. Somehow, when he said it, every word made my knees weak and my heart race. In this entire chaotic world, being in his arms was the only ce that felt safe. NOW Now say you understand and remember everything I said,¡± he demanded forcefully. ¡°I¨C1 understand,¡± I whispered. ¡°Good. Anything else you¡¯ve been keeping from me?¡± ¡°No..Well¨CJace did say something before he left. He said if I didn¡¯t stay away from you, this wasn¡¯t over. What should I do about it! ¡°Nothing. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± His tone was ice¨Ccold. Oh Jace. He¡¯d be su screwed. ¡°This is good, Aria. You being honest with me. His fingers brushed my cheek again, then moved to gently rub my ear. The sensation sent shivers down my spine. I almost moaned. But I quickly bit my lip to stop it. His gray eyes had darkened. I sensed my chance. ¡°It¡¯s been 2 weeks. Alpha, did you miss my scent? I slowly tugged my cor down, exposing one naked shoulder under his gaze. He growled in his throat ¡°Greedy girl¡± ¡°I know you want this,¡± I smiled. I was being bold. Maybe reckless. But I knew he¡¯d indulge me. Or so I thought Instead of grabbing me and pinning me to the couch like I wanted, he pulled away. ¡°Not tonight, Aria. I want you fully rested tonight.¡± he said in a strained voice, I let out a quiet sigh and stood. ¡°Then.. goodnight, Alpha Grayson ¡°Goodnight.¡± Tran straight back to my room, locked the door behind me, and threw myself on the bed. I put one hand into my pants ats and underwear and found my folds It¡¯s drenched wet I turned and buried my face into the pillow, while gently sliding two fingers into my pussy. The void and longingness had finally been filled. I groaned and breathed softly, and started fingering myself. This was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t be doing this. My identity, the education I¡¯d received. Nothing allowed me to masturbate while thinking about my Alpha But I couldn¡¯t help it. Orgasm reached fast and hard. My body trembled with pleasure. My toes curled up let myself fal up on the sheet. And with his name o on my lips, I finally AD Wore 15 Aria¡¯s POV No surprise¨CI barely slept that night. Sure, my body felt rxed after the release. But my mind was tense. Because I knew I did something I shouldn¡¯t have. So the next morning I got up early, hoping to sneak out before Grayson woke up. But to my shock, when I tiptoed downstairs, he was already there, sitting in the living room with a cup of coffee. Does this man ever sleep?! ¡°Where are you going?¡± he asked, frowning at me ¡°Um work? I mumbled. It¡¯s the weekend.¡± 1 froze. Crap. After everything that happenedst night, I totally forgot what day it was. Just as I was debating whether to awkwardly crawl back to bed, the front door mmed open and the sharp ck of heels echoed through the house. Delh stormed in, crying and yelling ¡°Grayson, you assholet¡± she shouted. Grayson set his cup down and looked at her, all seriousness now ¡°Aria, go back to your room,¡± he said coldly. ¡°No! Stay right there!¡± Delh screamed at us both. ¡°What, afraid people will find out what you¡¯ve done? Isn¡¯t your little assistant benefiting from all it too!¡± I stood there blinking,pletely lost. What were they talking about? ¡°If you keep throwing a tantrum here, I¡¯ll have you thrown out,¡± Grayson said,pletely unfazed. Then I¡¯ll tell Mom and Dad!¡± she sobbed. ¡°Seriously, Grayson, why do you hate Jace so much? You actually fired him from his position as department manager! Do you know how humiliating that is for him¨CFOR US I sucked in a breath. Jace got demoted? I still remembered when he first became manager. We were still together then¨Che was over the moon, threw a huge party at his ce for all his coworkers, popped fancy champagne like he was king of the world. After he married Delh, everyone thought it was just a matter of time before he made it to VP. But now? He was knocked all the way back down to a regr employee, That¡¯s the same position he had when he first joined Apex, 4 ¡°He never deserved that position, Grayson said tly. ¡°Not one major project under his name the whole time he held it.¡± ¡°But he was trying!¡± Delh cried, tears streaming down her pretty face. ¡°He¡¯s been prepping for that summit in two weeks¨Che nned to visit all the clients and finally close a major deal! But now you¡¯ve ruined everything!¡± ¡°His life got ruined and he sent you to do the begging?¡± Grayson sucered. ¡°My decision is final. You don¡¯t work at the familypany, Delh. You have no say in this.¡± 9:47 AM Delh sobbed harder. I felt a little bad for her, honestly, She used to be the ¡°it girl¡± of our world¨Cevery night after work, we would crowd around the TV to watch her personal reality show. Showing off new designer bags, custom sports cars she was our dream Now she was crying over that trashbag Jace. She didn¡¯t deserve this. ¡°Her!¡± she suddenly snapped, whipping around to re at me. ¡°You say Jace isn¡¯t qualified, but you¡¯re letting her rece him? How many years of experience does she even have? 1 froze Me? Rece Jace! As manager? That was- insane! Apex managers were expected to have at least ten years of experience. And once promoted, the sry hit nearly seven figures. That was way out of my league. -I didn¡¯t know anything about that¡­¡± I stammered ¡°It¡¯s just a draft list. Nothing¡¯s been decided, Grayson said icily. ¡°And you, Delh, you had no business looking at that internalpany list. Jace gave it to you, didn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°So what if he did- ¡°He¡¯s manipting you. Using you to try and control the entire Hart family. I won¡¯t let that happen,¡± Grayson said, rising to his feet and staring her down. ¡°Cool him down. Get him to sign that damn prenup. Or I¡¯ll kick him out of mypany And with that, he walked out of the living room without sparing her another nce. I tried to follow his lead, quietly turning to leave too. ¡°You! Stop right there!¡± Delh¡¯s voice rang out like a whip. I sighed and froze halfway up the stairs, turning slowly to face her. w n She red at me like she wanted to w my face off. ¡°It¡¯s barely GAM. What the hell are you doing here! Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re living here now!¡± ¡°Uh.. there was an urgent work issuest night,¡± I lied smoothly. ¡°The boss called me in, and we worked through the night¡± She narrowed her eyes. ¡°My brother really thinks highly of you. But let¡¯s be real¨Cyou¡¯re just a young assistant. What makes you qualified to take Jace¡¯s ce?¡± ¡°What makes me not?¡± I shot back. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m young. But go ahead and check my record at Apex. I¡¯m just as capable as Jace was. Why is it that when a man gets a promotion, it¡¯s talent, but when a woman does, it¡¯s favoritism?¡± She stared at me, eyebrows tightly knit. Then, without warning, she grabbed my arm. ¡°Come with me.¡± ¡°What? Where are we going?¡± ¡°To go shopping. I¡¯m¨Cin a terrible mood and you¡¯re going to stay with me until I feel better!¡± Let me just say this: shopping with Delh is madness. She drove us downtown in her neon¨Cpink Ferrari, weaving through trafic like she owned the road. When we reached the most expensive mall in the city, her security detail charged into the luxury stores, throwing out all the customers just so we could shop alone. 9:47 AM I stood there watching her march through racks, yanking down five¨Cfigure dresses and tossing them on the floor. ¡°These are garbage. Bag the rest,¡± she ordered the staff. They did exactly that. Champagne was brought out. We sat on plush couches while they boxed up half the store. ¡°Do you even think about how much you spend in a day?¡± I couldn¡¯t help asking. She probably blew more in a morning than I made in a decade. ¡°Why would I think about it? It¡¯s not like I money.¡± She said , sipping champagne, and then suddenly wheeled around to me ¡°Oh wait¨C1 just thought of something! I haven¡¯t bought you anything yet. Time to give you a full makeover!¡± ¡°What? No, no way!¡± I panicked. ¡°I can¡¯t afford any of this stuff.¡± ¡°Who said you¡¯re paying?¡± She snapped her fingers at salesgirl. ¡°Hey, you! Get my friend some real clothes. The limited edition.¡± Before I could protest, two staff members practically kidnapped me into the fitting room. Then I became their personal mannequin, trying on outfit after outfit I¡¯d only ever seen in disy windows, then stepping out for Delh to sec. By the tenth one, I had enough. ¡°Okay, seriously. I¡¯m done¡± Delh giggled. ¡°Yeah I agree. Because we just found the prefect dress! Look at you! So pretty. I nced in the mirror. She wasn¡¯t wrong I was wearing a silver¨Cblue gown, strapless, with a dramatic fishtail that hugged every curve. Tiny pearls and gems shimmered on the fabric as I moved. It looked like it was made for me. But No. I shook my head hard. I couldn¡¯t get sucked into this. I didn¡¯t belong in this world. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful, but I can¡¯t afford it. I¡¯m taking it off.¡± But before I could even touch the zipper, Delh rushed over and stopped the. ¡°No! You¡¯re wearing that tonight, We¡¯re going out for dinner, and there¡¯s no way you¡¯re walking into a fancy ce dressed in jeans.¡± ¡°Bur-¡± ¡°No buts,¡± she said firmly, sounding way too much like her bossy brother. ¡°Now go buy me a coffee. Consider it payment.¡± And just like that, she shoved me out the boutique door, ordering me to walk a block away to get her coffee. I sighed and headed for the cafe. Everyone on the street was staring at me. My face had gone tomato red. The attention was killing me So I ran up to the coffee shop as quickly as possible and headed back, When I got to the boutique, I saw a group of security guards standing outside, whispering into their earpieces. As soon as they spotted me, they approached fast, ¡°I saw her. Stand by.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± I asked, frowning. ¡°Ma¡¯am, that dress you¡¯re wearing hasn¡¯t been paid for.¡± W47 AM Chapter 15 ¡°Oh my friend is right inside. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll pay for everythingter.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no one inside who matches your description of a friend, one said sternly. That¡¯s ridiculous. I leaned to peek inside, ready to point out Delh. But she was gone, along with her guards. The pink Ferrari she drove was also gone. Suddenly, I felt ice in my veins. This is theft,¡± the guard snapped. ¡°No¨Clisten. I can just take it off right now.¡± I tried to exin. They didn¡¯t listen. Two guards grabbed my arms and mmed me against the wall You just stole a thirty¨Cthousand¨Cdor dress. We¡¯re calling the cops.¡± Wore 16 Ana¡¯s POV ¡°Name¡± ¡°Aria Collins.¡± ¡°Age.¡± ¡°You realize the amount you stole is enough tond you in prison for over two years?¡± I red at the man across from me. ¡°I told you already¨CI didn¡¯t steal anything. I was at that boutique with a friend. She asked me to step out and grab her a coffee. When I came back, she was gone.¡± This was the fourth hour I¡¯d been stuck at the police station. I was drained. But no one here wanted to hear my side of the story. They were all convinced I was nothing but a shameless thief. The officer scoffed and tapped his clipboard. ¡°I¡¯ve seen plenty of girls like you. No self¨Cesteem, no boundaries. You think stealing a pretty dress is your ticket to a better life? Those things don¡¯t belong to people like you¡± ¡°So I guess cops just assume someone¡¯s guilty with zero proof now.¡± ¡°Watch your tone!¡± he barked. ¡°I do have proof. The dress was on your body and it wasn¡¯t paid for. That¡¯s evidence.¡± ¡°Ask the staff,¡± I said, trying to stay calm. ¡°They saw me with my friend. She said she¡¯d pay for the dress when I gol back- ¡°We already asked,¡± ed,¡± he cut me off ¡°Store clerks said you walked in alone, tried on the dress, and ran out while they weren¡¯t looking.¡± I inhaled sharply and rubbed my face in frustration. As much as I didn¡¯t want to believe it¡­ Delh set me up. She sent me out for coffee and disappeared on purpose. And now I was the one left behind,beled a thief. ¡°Look, you can check my records,¡± I said quietly. ¡°I work at Apex. I have a real job. I¡¯m not the kind of person who¡¯d sneak into a luxury store and steal- ¡°I¡¯m not checking anything. You¡¯re full of crap and wasting my time. You said she was your friend. Do you even have her number?¡± I froze. Of course not. I¡¯d only seen Delh a few times. We weren¡¯t actually friends. ¡°Thought so,¡± he said smugly. ¡°You¡¯re just another shameless liar and a thief. 1 sank into the chair, exhausted. I hadn¡¯t eaten all day, hadn¡¯t had water in hours. I was starving. Cold. And across the room, a few scummy¨Clooking street wolves were eyeing me like prey, whistling andughing. I didn¡¯twant to deal with any of them. ¡°I want to make a phone call,¡± I said. ¡°To who? Gonna call in your little gang to raise hell?¡± ¡°No. I want to call my guardian,¡± I said, I could call him that, right? ¡°I do have the right to to one phone call, don¡¯t I?¡± 9:47 AM Chapter lo He shot me a look, then tossed a phone onto the tabl I quickly typed in his number. The call picked up after the very first ring. ¡°Miss Collins, is something wrong?¡± The voice wasn¡¯t his¨Cit was Nova ¡°Oh, hi Nova,¡± I said awkwardly. ¡°Is Alpha Grayson around?¡± ¡°He¡¯s currently at a family dinner. It¡¯s a private Hart gathering, very y strict, and no one is allowed to bring phones. Is it urgent?¡± I hesitated. ¡°Not exactly.. but kind. Can you just let him know I¡¯m at the Central Police Station? Got into a bit of a situation.¡± ¡°What? You were arrested? Her voice shot up in pitch. ¡°Sort of. It¡¯s not a big deal, really. If it¡¯s too much trouble, just forget ¡°I¡¯m going in right now. Alpha Grayson must hear about this,¡± she said firmly. I could already hear her heels clicking across the floor. ¡°Hang tight, Miss Collins¡± When When the call ended, I handed the phone back. The cop narrowed his eyes at me! ¡°Someone actuallying for you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe.¡± ¡°You¡¯re delusional,¡± he sneered. ¡°What, you think you¡¯re some rich heiress now?¡± Then he yanked me up from the chair. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Maybe a night in holding will snap you back to reality. He dragged me into a holding cell where four or five other detainees were already crashing for the night. I was locked up next to a disgusting little sink and toilet that reeked so badly it made me gag. ¡°Why do you have a problem with me?¡± I shouted at him. ¡°Girls like you deserve this,¡± he said with a nasty grin before whistling and swaggering off. I waspletely spent. Hunger was gnawing at my stomach like fire, and the smell in here¨Cmade it impossible to even rest my eyes. ¡°Hey, I like your dress,¡± someone whistled at me. I ignored it. ¡°C¡¯mon. That dress looks pricey. How many men do you have to ride to afford something like that? They thought I was a prostitute. The irony hit me like a p¨Chow excited I¡¯d felt earlier to wear that dress. How beautiful it made me feel. And now? I felt disgusting. Cheap. Ashamed. ¡°Piss off.¡± I muttered. ¡°Whoa, feisty, I¡¯ve got cash for a blowjob one. Half¨Cprice, maybe? You do smell like a piss now,¡± The whole cell burst intoughter. I leaned against the wall, eyes closed, trying to block it all out. At feast an hour had passed. Then, I heard the footsteps. Fast, Heavy, Getting closer. ¡°Movel Now! Get her out of there!¡± 9:47 AM ? Several officers came running, panicked, including the fat one who locked me up. They fumbled with the keys, trying to unlock my cuffs¨Cbut they dropped them in their haste. ¡°Hurry up, you idiot! He¡¯s almost here!¡± But it was already toote. The pressure in the air shifted. A massive wave of power¨Clike a tidal wave¨Crushed through the room. Even before he entered. Grayson¡¯s aura mmed into the cell like a freight train. Everyone groaned in pain, wolves copsing to the ground, shaking. I gasped, heart racing, and looked up¨Cjust in time to see him walking in. He looked like something out of a dream. Towering, deadly calm, and so out of ce in this grimy little cell. He walked straight to me. Alpha, the keys- Nova started. But he didn¡¯t need them. With one flex of his wrist, the metal cuffs snapped like twigs. Then he scooped me up in his arms, easy as breathing. ¡°I¨CI can walk,¡± I whispered. He ignored me and strode out of the cell, holding me tight In the station lobby, every single wolf was frozen in ce¨Ctoo overwhelmed by his presence to even move. ¡°I want the name of the one who brought Aria in,¡± he said, voice like steel. ¡°And the one who locked her up Everyone flinched in silence.) Until finally, someone cracked. ¡°I¡ªit was Caleb. I saw him interrogating the girl¡­¡± The fat tremble. cop¨CCaleb¨Cwas dragged out. He fell to his knees in front of Grayson, shaking so badly his rolls of fat jiggled with every ¡°P¨Cplease, Alpha, I didn¡¯t know! The order came from your house. Lady Deh¨CI thought she had the authority. I didn¡¯t know this girl ¡°Nova¡± Grayson ordered. Nova didn¡¯t hesitate. Her first kick sent Caleb sprawling. The second¨Cheel first¨Cright on his shoulder. Something cracked, and he screamed in agony. ¡°Continue,¡± Grayson said,pletely unmoved. I stared in shock,pletely frozen. Sure, werewolves were more physical species. And I knew there were still wars ragin raging around the world. But I¡¯d never seen this before. Never seen power and violence wielded so casually. Caleb was already on the floor, broken and bleeding, but Nova kept going. I wanted to look away. To beg her to s to stop. But I couldn¡¯t move. I couldn¡¯t even speak. 0:47 AM A warm hand covered my eyes, shielding me from the sight. ¡°Sorry I waste,¡± he said, gently stroking my hair. And in his voice. I heard the force of the dark. It made me shiver. AD Wore 17 Chapter 17 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°No¡­ stop. I finally forced the words out between my teeth. ¡°We barely even started.¡± his voice was cold as ice. ¡°No, I¡¯m begging you. Please, make it stop.¡± I clutched his hand, shaking. He paused. Then said, ¡°Nova, take him out.¡± ¡°Yes, Alpha.¡± His hand was still covering my eyes. I heard footsteps, the sound of someone being dragged. And then silence. When he finally let go, the officer was gone. Only a faint smear of blood remained on the floor. vaf 1 flinched again, but Grayson pulled me into his arms ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± My legs felt weak, but I followed him as we walked out of the station. On our way out, I noticed the looks people were giving us¡ªevery single one filled with fear and awe We went to the door. But instead of his silver Rolls¨CRoyce, what was waiting outside¡­ was a helicopter. 1 stared,pletely stunned, as he picked me up and helped me inside. ¡°Why the helicopter?¡± I asked. ¡°I was a bit far from where you were,¡± he said simply. ¡°Alpha wanted to get here ASAP¡± Nova added with a grin as she climbed in behind us. ¡°By the time I managed to sneak into the dinner. it was alreadyte. And that ce is at least three or four hours from the city by car. He couldn¡¯t wait that long. A chopper was the fastest option. The old Alpha, Luna, and a bunch of high¨Cranking guests were all there¨Cbut the second Alpha heard about you, he walked out. Didn¡¯t care what anyone said.¡± ¡°Nova¡± Grayson cut her off warningly. She zipped her lips with a finger and faced forward. ¡°Will this cause problems for you?¡± I asked quietly, worried. ¡°That dinner sounded¡­ important.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not your concern,¡± he said calmly, absentmindedly twirling a strand of my hair between his fingers. The helicopter flew through the night sky. The city below sparkled like a sea of neon, breathtaking and surreal, I¡¯d never seen skyline from this high up, and for a moment, I just leaned against the window,pletely mesmerized. the ¡°You like it?¡± he asked behind me. ¡°Yeah I¡¯ve barely flown in my life.¡± I was just a small¨Ctown girl. The only time I¡¯d ever been on a ne was when I left Frostpine Pack four years ago. ¡°I¡¯ll take you flying myself one day,¡± he said I looked up at him, surprised. One day. 1 liked how that sounded. 9:47 AM Chapter 17 Like we had time. Like this was more than just a c a contract ¡°But for now, we¡¯rending.¡± The chopper hovered for a moment, then descended onto the hilltop beside his vi. I was exhausted. All I could think about was grabbing a sandwich and some warm milk, taking a hot bath, and crashing face¨Cfirst into bed. But the moment we stepped out of the helicopter, I heard a familiar voice screaming from inside the house: ¡°LET GO OF ME¨Cget your filthy hands off I¡¯m Delh Hart, you omega scum!¡± 1 froze. Grayson gave Nova a subtle nod, and she gently tugged my hand. ¡°Miss Collins, this way. She led me toward the side. I nced back and saw Grayson striding straight through the front doors. *What¡¯s going on?¡± I whispered. ¡°Aren¡¯t we going inside?¡± ¡°Oh, we will. Through the side entrance so nobody can see us,¡± Nova replied. ¡°Things are about to get¡­ ugly. Alpha doesn¡¯t want you caught in the middle of it.¡± She took me through the side, up a hallway, and then into an open balcony overlooking the grand hall. She pulled aside a gauzy curtain and gestured for me to look down. What I saw made me cover my mouth in shock Delh was being held down by several guards in front of Grayson. Her hair was a mess, her clothes disheveled, and her face streaked with tears. ¡°What the hell happened?¡± I whispered. ¡°Lady Delh¡¯s little ¡®prank earlier today pissed Alpha off. She¡¯s in serious trouble, Nova whispered back. ¡°But they¡¯re siblings. Nova gave me a smirk. ¡°The Hart siblings aren¡¯t like normal siblings. Just then, I heard Delh yelling, her voice shrill and furious: *Grayson, have you lost your damn mind?! It¡¯s the full moon banquet and you drag me out in front of everyone like a criminal¨Cwhat the hell are you trying to do?!¡± ¡°You did a stupid thing. There are consequences, Grayson said coldly. Delh squirmed furiously. ¡°I know why you¡¯re doing this. It¡¯s that damn assistant of yours. You are getting back at me for her. God, how the hell did she get to you-?¡± ¡°Delh Hart,¡± he said, voice like a de, slicing the air. ¡°Push me any further, and it¡¯ll getawhole lot worse.¡± Delh mped her mouth shut and burst into sobs. An older wolf with gray hair stepped forward to stand beside her ¡°Alpha Grayson,¡± he said politely. The old Alpha and Luna sent me with Lady Delh to better understand the situation. Regardless, Delh is the heiress of Redstone Pack. Punishing her over a minor offense seems¡­ unwise.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t minor,¡± Grayson snapped. ¡°She brought a maniptive, power¨Chungry idiot into our family and has been defying me over and over because of him. Let this slide, and she¡¯ll destroy everything the Hart family stands for,¡± The elder sighed. ¡°And what punishment does Alpha intend to give Lady Delh?¡± ¡°Ten . And one month of house arrest.¡± Gasps echoed around the hall. Delh¡¯s eyes went wide with tears. ¡°That¡¯s crazy. Mommy and Daddy didn¡¯t even hit me before! Elder Russell, tell him he can¡¯t do this -I¡¯m supposed to travel to Europe with Jace for the summit. He can¡¯t lock me up! ¡°Two months,¡± Grayson growled. ¡°Time away from that man will do you good.¡± Elder Russell stepped in again. ¡°Alpha, physical punishment is unnecessary, Delh is still your sister¨Cplease don¡¯t humiliate her like this. ¡°Then maybe next time she¡¯ll think twice before humiliating someone else,¡± Grayson said coldly. ¡°You¡¯re doing this to avenge her!¡± Delh cried, sobbing. I swear, I didn¡¯t really hurt her¨CLeven like her a little! It was all just a stupid joke! I was going to tell the cops to let her go even if you hadn¡¯t curtain open and ran out. Aria, no- Nova tried to stop me, but I was already halfway down the stairs. -Stop!¡± I rushed between Grayson and Delh, shielding her with my body. ¡°Wait, please. You don¡¯t have to do this.¡± Grayson¡¯s jaw clenched, fury zing in his eyes. ¡°Who said you coulde down here?¡± he growled at me. ¡°She¡¯s telling the truth,¡± I said quickly. ¡°She didn¡¯t really hurt me. I¡¯ve been through worse in public school. I wasn¡¯t injured anyway. So isn¡¯t tenshes too bit much?¡± ¡°Yeah, listen to her Grayson,¡± Delh sobbed from behind me. Grayson suddenly grabbed my arm, his grip like iron. I winced from the pain. That¡¯s when Elder Russell spoke up. ¡°So this is your assistant, Alpha Grayson? I don¡¯t believe I¡¯ve met her. Would you mind introducing ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Grayson growled. ¡°But I¡¯m sure the old Alpha and Luna would be very curious to know who she is.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll tell them it¡¯s none of their business,¡± he snapped. Then turned to the guards. ¡°Tenshes. Now, Lock her in the dark room after. But he wasn¡¯t listening anymore. He pulled me with him, storming off down the hallway. I stumbled behind him, barely able to keep up. When I tripped and nearly fell, he just scooped me up and stormed faster. He pushed open the door to my room and threw me inside. Then mmed the door shut behind us. ¡°What the fuck made you think you have a say in thi He had me pinned to the wall in seconds, his hand on my throat, his eyes zing with fury. ¡°Who the hell do you think you are?!¡± Wore 18 Aria¡¯s POV I was trembling under his grip. I hadn¡¯t expected him to be this angry. ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to go against your decision,¡± I said, my voice shaking. ¡°I just wanted to tell you the truth ¨C ¡°I told you not toe downstairs,¡± he snapped. ¡°You disobeyed me. You got involved in my family matters. You think pleading for Delh¡¯s forgiveness makes you some kind of saint? You don¡¯t have that right, Aria.¡± His words hit me like knives, sharp and brutal, and each one pierced straight into my chest. ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant¡­ I just thought, she¡¯s your sister, and what she did wasn¡¯t even that serious, so maybe she didn¡¯t deserve such harsh punishment- ¡°Don¡¯t bring your understanding of normal sibling rtionships into this,¡± he growled. ¡°You have no idea howplicated things are in this family.¡± I took a deep breath, trying not to flinch under the weight of his fury. I reached out and grabbed his wrist His skin was hot¨Cliterally burning hot. ¡°Is it.. is your family what¡¯s hurting you?¡± I whispered. ¡°All that pressure¨Cis that what keeps you up at night? You can tell me, I Lightning shed in his stormy gray eyes. He shoved me away. ¡°Don¡¯t try to understand me,¡± he said hoarsely. ¡°What are you doing now? I saved you. I gave you a job. I gave you money. And now you think we are in some kind of romance show? That you¡¯re special?¡± ¡°No! I ¡°You¡¯re not. You never were. I stopped breathing. My eyes widened as heat burned behind them. Tears welled up, stinging from the shame and rage. Maybe I didn¡¯t have the right to interfere. But everything I said meant well, I wasn¡¯t trying to be a hero. I just cared. I didn¡¯t deserve to be punished for that. One tear slipped free andnded on his hand. He flinched. Then suddenly let go of me like he¡¯d been burned. ¡°Aria.¡± ¡°Do you feel better now?¡± I snapped, swiping at my tears. ¡°Does hurting the one person who actually cares about you make you feel He clenched his jaw, looking darker and angrier than before. ¡°This isn¡¯t working,¡± he said abruptly. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t keep someone around who doesn¡¯t follow the rules of our contract.¡± It felt like someone had dropped a ten¨Cton weight on my chest. My heart physically hurt. 0:47 AM ? ¡°I didn¡¯t break anything! There¡¯s nothing in the contract that says- ¡°You know what you did,¡± he said coldly. Then turned to leave. I grabbed his sleeve. ¡°You¡¯re punishing me when I didn¡¯t even do anything wrong. You know it isn¡¯t fair.¡± His whole body tensed. For a second, I thought maybe he¡¯d hold me. That maybe he wanted to. But the next moment, he shoved me aside roughly again. ¡°We need some space from each other,¡± he said, then walked out and mmed the door behind him. I sank to the floor. The moment he said he e wanted to end the contract, my world cracked apart The pain was unbearable. so much worse than I expected. I hadn¡¯t realized just how much I cared. How much I needed him. How much I wanted to stay. God, how stupid could 1 be? I sat there for I don¡¯t know how long, until 1¨Cheard the sound of a roaring engine downstairs. I scrambled to the window just in time to see his car speeding off into the night, He left. And it was obvious he was getting away from me. I¡¯d really messed everything up this time. Eventually, after sitting there in silence for what felt like hours, I wiped my face and started packing my stuff. He said it was over. He hadn¡¯t told me to leave yet, but I figured I should be ready. I didn¡¯t have much. By dawn, I¡¯d packed everything I owned into one suitcase. A soft knock came at the door. ¡°Come in,¡± I said quietly. The door creaked open, and Mrs. Jones appeared in the doorway. ¡°Miss Collins, I was wondering if you¡¯d like some breakfast¨Cshe froze, eyes going wide as she saw the half¨Cpacked room. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Are you¡­ packing?¡± ¡°Alpha Grayson said it¡¯s over.¡± Saying it out loud made the paine rushing back all over again. She frowned, then her voice softened. ¡°Don¡¯t rush anything. Would you like toe down for some food? Maybe some French toast and hot tea?¡± I could tell she was trying tofort me. And I didn¡¯t want to reject her kindness. So I stood up. ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Jones.¡± We walked to the kitchen together. She personally made me a hot breakfast, and the smell of butter and sugar actually made me feel alive again. ¡°Don¡¯t be so down, Miss Collins,¡± she said, drizzling maple syrup over my te. ¡°I¡¯m sure Alpha didn¡¯t really mean it.¡± gave a tired smile. ¡°He said it himself. And it¡¯s fine, really. You don¡¯t have to do this. I¡¯m sure tons of girls havee and gone this ce. You¡¯re probably used to it.¡± She tilted her head thoughtfully. ¡°Yes, but¡­¡± 19:47 AM ¡°But!¡± ¡°Usually, when a girl angers the Alpha, she¡¯s the one who gets to leave the house. Not the Alpha.¡± I blinked, confused She smiled gently. ¡°What I mean is¡­ I¡¯ve seen a lot of women pass through here. None of them eversted long. And none of them¨Cnot one¨Cever made the Alpha smile like you did.¡± Now that¡¯s just ridiculous. Grayson didn¡¯t look happy. Ever. And he literally just told me I didn¡¯t mean anything to him. Before I could argue, we heard footstepsing down the stairs. We turned to see Delh dragging herself into the kitchen, looking like a wreck. ¡°I smelled waffles,¡± she muttered I¡¯ll get another te ready,¡± Mrs. Jones said quickly, disappearing toward the stove. Delh dropped into the chair across from me, staring at me. After a moment of awkward silence, she mumbled, ¡°Hey. Thanks for sticking up for me yesterday.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t forgiven you. What you did was shitty.¡± She scratched her head, frustrated. ¡°I know. I know! I was just pissed you got Jace¡¯s job, I thought I don¡¯t know, maybe messing with you would make me feel better. I didn¡¯t expect the police to go that far. I mean, cuffing you to a toilet?¡± ¡°And that wasn¡¯t even the worst part,¡± I said, looking her dead in the eye. ¡°Do you even know what having an arrest record means for someone like me? I might never be able to get another job. My whole life could fall apart just like that. You didn¡¯t think it through. Because unlike me, you never have to work for money.¡± She looked like she¡¯d just been pped. ¡°What the freaking hell? You want me to feel guilty?!¡± ¡°Tra just telling you the truth.¡± She stared at me. Then suddenly grabbed my wrist ¡°Hey. Let me make it up to you!¡± ¡°By getting me arrested again?¡± I mocked I ¡°No, no! I swear, this time¡¯s different. I literally got whipped ten times yesterday. I won¡¯t dare,¡± she said urgently. ¡°Juste on a trip. with me. A little getaway abroad. You could use it, right?¡± I just stared at her in shock. Who offers an overseas trip like it¡¯s a quick Target run? ¡°That¡¯s insane. I have a job, remember? And aren¡¯t you ou grounded?¡± ¡°I know Grayson already filed your leave. And anyway, he left Redstone Packst night. He¡¯s not here so who¡¯s gonna stop me?¡± She was unbelievable, If Grayson had explicitly told me not to leave the house, I¡¯d never dare disobey. But with Delh? I never stood a chance. Somehow, she got my passport through Mrs. Jones. Then ordered her bodyguards to drag me into the car. Half an hourter, we were at a private airport. An entire team was waiting just for us. 9:47 AM The whole thing felt insane as me dragged me to the ne. ¡°Seriously. This isn¡¯t some weird kidnapping n that ends with me in trouble again, right?¡± ¡°For thest time, NO!¡± she cried. ¡°And I¡¯ve got someone very special I want you to meet.¡± Wait. 1 I suddenly had a bad feeling. ¡°Delh. Who exactly am I supposed to meet?!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± She shoved me onto the ne. Inside the private cabin, there was only one person And when he saw me, his expression instantly twisted into something dark and furious. ¡°What the fuck are you doing here?¡± Jace barked. E Wore 19 hapter 19 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°I want this woman off my damn ne,¡± Jace snapped, standing up with a re. I stared back at him,pletely unfazed. ¡°Aria¡¯s my friend. Why are you being such an ass to her?¡± Delh snapped. ¡°Did you two know each other back at Apex or something! ¡°No,¡± we said at the exact same time. Of course we¡¯d met. We even used to date. The only person who didn¡¯t know that was Delh. Yet I could tell that neither of us wanted to tell her. Jace didn¡¯t want his messy past exposed, and 1¨Cwell, I just wanted to avoid drama. She already suspected something was going on between me and her brother. Thest thing I needed was her finding out I¡¯d also dated. her husband. Delh, I thought this was supposed to be a private trip. Why¡¯d you bring someonepletely unrted?¡± Jace tried to soften his voice, but it still came out stiff. ¡°Like I said, Aria¡¯s my friend. You never want to go shopping or pick up outfits or any of those stuffs with me, so at least let me bring someone who does¡± ¡°But, honey, I¡ª¡±¡ä¡ä ¡°Okay, it¡¯s settled,¡± Delh cried, and then she shoved me further into the cabin. I took the seat farthest from Jace. He kept ring at me like he wanted to throw me out mid¨Cair. Luckily, Delh wouldn¡¯t stop. chattering about all the things we¡¯d do once wended. ¡°Your husband doesn¡¯t exactly look thrilled to have me here,¡± I whispered to her. ¡°Maybe I should leave- ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous,¡± she said, patting my hand. ¡°Jace is just in a mood. First the prenup, then that job thing. it¡¯s not about you.¡± ¡°So he still hasn¡¯t signed the prenup?¡± Her face darkened. She sighed. ¡°Nope. And you saw how Grayson was about it. He¡¯s not gonna let it go.¡± ¡°Your brother¡¯s just trying to protect you. A prenup would guard your assets. ¡± ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that?¡± she muttered. ¡°But Jace and I just got married and our rtionship could suffer from things like that. And my brother? Well Grayson doesn¡¯t give a damn about that. God he¡¯s so bossy. Always takes control. Always makes the decisions for everyone.¡± I didn¡¯t know what to say to that. So I just stayed quiet. She nced at me and gave a small, tired smile. ¡°You¡¯re right. I don¡¯t have to worry about money¡­ but you see, I¡¯ve got plenty of other problems. Being part of this family? It¡¯s not for the faint of heart¡± ¡°Delh¡­ have you ever considered-¡°I hesitated. ¡°What?¡± 1 I wanted to ask if it ever urred to her that maybe the reason Jace was so against signing the prenup was because he didn¡¯t truly love her. That he was after her money all along. But I could already tell Delh believed in love the same way May did¨Cblindly, romantically. She wouldn¡¯t question her husband for a second, even if he was a ass, ¡°Just talk to him again. If he really loves you, he¡¯ll agree. That¡¯s all I could say to her. She finally smiled. That¡¯s the n. I¡¯m going to keep him in a good mood this whole trip. Maybe then he¡¯ll finally say yes.¡± 9:47 AM Then she held out her hand to me. ¡°Hey,e on. I have to show you my flying wardrobe, We need new looks before wend.¡± The ne was already in the air, heading for a destination I still didn¡¯t know of Delh dragged me into the back cabin, and I was nearly stunned to death. There was a whole walk¨Cin wardrobe. There had gotta be hundreds of items. Dresses, bags, shoes, jewelries. All neatly arranged ording to color and season ¡°You had all this flown in from home?¡± I gasped. She casually flipped through racks. ¡°From home? No these are all straight from the mall. I told them I wanted this season¡¯s collection and they stuffed the closet.¡± Okay, I officially hated rich people. Delh spent half an hour picking an outfit and finally settled on a rose¨Cpink slip dress, which she said was ¡°a hundred times better than that silver¨Cblue thing fromst time¡± Then she sat me down in front of the vanity and started curling my hair and doing my makeup. It can do this myself,¡± I said, reaching for the brush. She dodged me. ¡°Nope. Sit still. This is part of my apology, remember? Besides, I¡¯ve always wanted a sister to do girly stuff with. Having an older brother is so boring. Especially when that brother is Grayson¡± I let out a small done, she spun me toward the mirror ¡°Tada!¡± she grinned. Ta¨Cda, indeed. In the mirror, I saw a girl in a pink dress embroidered with whitece roses My lips and cheeks were blushed pink, giving me a fresh, glowing look. My hair was curled in soft waves, cascading over my shoulders. ¡°Wow, Delh this is¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m an artist, aren¡¯t I?¡± she said proudly. ¡°Now you just need the shoes,¡± She handed me a pair of white strappy heels so tall they gave me vertigo, ¡°No way. I never wear heels¡± These are Christian Louboutin! And you are not wearing those busted sneakers.¡± We were wrestling over the shoes. Suddenly, the door to the changing room flew open. Jace stomped in looking totally pissed. ¡°Delh, what the hell are you doing back there- He stopped mid¨Csentence. His eyesnded on m on me, and his expression changed from furious to stunned, I could tell he¡¯s in awe with my look. Try knocking next time, Jace,¡± Delh cried. ¡°What if Aria was changing?¡± ¡°S¨Csorry,¡± he coughed, suddenly awkward, ¡°But she looks amazing, doesn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Anyone would look good in clothes that expensive,¡± he muttered. ¡°You¡¯re such a jerk. Now stay here and help her put on the heels. I¡¯m going to grab the champagne.¡± 9:48 AM ?. She waltzed out of the cabin humming. The moment she was gone, Jace closed the distance between us in two angry steps. His jaw was clenched tight as he hissed. ¡°What the hell are you trying to pull?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want your wife finding out about your past, you¡¯d better keep your distance,¡± I warned. ¡°Fuck you, Arial What¡¯s your game, huh? First you fuck Grayson, then you try to steal my job, and now you¡¯re cozying up You just want to ruin my life don¡¯t you!¡± to my He was so close, I could feel his hot breath on my face. I took a step back, but he followed, pressing me against the wardrobe. ¡°Back the fuck off!¡± I snapped. ¡°I have zero interest in your pathetic life. This is all just one big coincidence¨CI told you that!¡± wife? He grabbed my wrist, hard. ¡°Yeah, right. You think I¡¯m stupid? You are more ambitious than I thought Aria. So go ahead. Bring it on you cunning slut. I¡¯ve got plenty of ways to destroy you- ¡°What the hell are you two doing?¡± The voice cut through the room like a de, We both froze and turned. Delh was standing in the doorway, holding a bottle of champagne, staring at us with wide, shocked eyes. And we were standing way too close 37/3 Wore 20 Jace immediately let go of me. ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡± he said quickly. ¡°That did not look like nothing! Delh snapped, stepping into the room. ¡°You were just holding her hand!¡± My heart shot straight into my throat. In that split second, I made a decision¨Cif Delh figured it out, if she realized what had once happened between me and Jace. I¡¯d tell her the truth. I was done lying to her. But instead, she said¡­. ¡°Jace, are you giving Aria a hard time because of work stuff? That¡¯s not fair¨CGrayson made that decision, not her. And she¡¯s my friend now. I won¡¯t let you bully her.¡± 1 let out a shaky breath. Relief washed over me¡­ and a bit of disappointment too. This thing between me and Jace¨Cit was a ticking time bomb. The only question was when it would blow Jace visibly rxed too. He muttered something under his breath, probably ¡°ridiculous,¡± and stormed past us, leaving the room. Still in a bad mood.¡± Delh huffed. ¡°I guess it¡¯s just the two of us enjoying this champagne.¡± ¡°Where are we going. Delh?¡± I finally asked the one question that had been bothering me all day- She just gave me a mysterious smile. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± Two hourster, the ne finallynded. And I learned we were in a ce called Silver Creek Pack, somewhere in Europe, A sleek limo picked us up right on the runway and whisked us away to a hotel that looked more like a castle. Lined¨Cup luxury cars sparkled at the entrance, and guests dressed in elegant designer outfits were slowly making their way inside. ¡°Oh, we¡¯re right on time!¡± Delh beamed, grabbing my hand and dragging me forward. ¡°Wait¨Cwe¡¯re here for an event?¡± ¡°A ball! Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve never been to a ball before, Aria.¡± She pulled me through an arched doorway into a massive ballroom. My jaw dropped. A golden domed ceiling, chandeliers dripping with crystal, glittering tableware, in flowing gowns¨Cit was like something out of a fairy tale. I couldn¡¯t believe I was actually here. ¡°Champagne?¡± a server offered, stepping up to me with a silver tray. I hesitated. ¡°Um.. how much is it?¡± I whispered. At a ce like this, I figured the price tag was gonna be insane. I wasn¡¯t about to blow my entire paycheck on a ss of bubbly. That¡¯s when I heardughter¨Cloud, mockingughter. A group of young people pushed through the crowd and came straight toward us. ¡°Oh my God, Delh, where¡¯d you find this mega maid?¡± one of the girls sneered. ¡°She looks so cheap she¡¯s making you look tacky.¡± ¡°How much is it?¡± a guy mimicked me in a high¨Cpitched voice. ¡°That¡¯s the most embarrassing thing I¡¯ve heard all night. If she were my omega, I¡¯d whip her.¡± My face burned with shame. Chapter 20. ¡°Rack the hell off,¡± Delh said coldly. ¡°Aria¡¯s not an omega. She¡¯s my friend. Now get lost before I pour this whole tray of champagne. on your heads,¡± The group scowled and made a few rude faces before finally walking off,ughing to themselves. ¡°Assholes,¡± Delh muttered, then handed me a ss of champagne. ¡°Here. And for the record, everything here is free. But 1 already felt incredibly ufortable, It reminded me of Jace¡¯s wedding all over again¨Cthat feeling of not belonging. Like I was a pebble tossed into a pile of diamonds. ¡°Maybe you should stay.¡± I murmured to Delh. ¡°But if you don¡¯t mind, I think I¡¯d like to leave.¡± She looked shocked. ¡°Leave? We just got here! And you¡¯re all dressed up! Come on, the ball¡¯s about to start. We¡¯re here to have fun.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how to dance. I don¡¯t think I¡¯m gonna have much fun.¡± ¡°Oh, but you will. Trust me. Just stay a little longer¨Cyou¡¯ll see. I¡¯ve got a huge surprise nned for you.¡± A¡­ surprise? frowned. If there¡¯s one thing I didn¡¯t need tonight, it was surprises, I just wanted peace and quiet. ¡°Thank you, Delh, really. But I just want to find a quiet ce to sit down.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake, she¡¯s a total buzzkill.¡± Jace¡¯s gruff voice cut in as he stomped over. ¡°Let her do whatever. Delh,e on¨Cwe¡¯re dancing.¡± He grabbed her hand and dragged her off in the opposite direction. Delh gave me a helpless look over her shoulder and mouthed, ¡°Stay here.¡± I sighed and looked around. Everyone else was chatting in little groups, sipping drinks, ¡°Hey, were you kidnapped or something?¡± someone said beside me. I turned. A tall guy with fiery red hair and icy blue eyes was standing there. He was ridiculously good¨Clooking ¡°Something like that,¡± I uttered. He shrugged. ¡°Samne,¡± Then he held out his hand. ¡°Dance?¡± ¡°Uh, I don¡¯t dance.¡± ¡°Pretty girls standing alone at balls look stiff, no o matter how pretty they are,¡± he said sharply, then turned and walked off to another girl. She giggled and eagerly epted. I sighed. This ce.. the people¡­ the atmosphere.. it all made my skin crawl. Just as I was setting my ss down, ready to quietly slip away, the music changed. The ballroom lights dimmed. All at once, conversations stopped. People turned, looking in one direction like something¨Csomeone¨Cimportant had just entered. I followed their gaze automatically. A tall figure was walking into the ballroom. He wore a ck tuxedo. His broad shoulders, lean frame, and calm confidence made him look like he owned the entire world. The crowd in the center parted wordlessly, bowing their heads and stepping aside without needing to be told. Like he was royalty. The chandeliers cast light into his gray eyes¨Ceyes that looked like they held whole gxies. I inhaled sharply as the girls around me gasped in whispers: ¡°Oh my God¡­ it¡¯s Alpha Grayson!¡± ¡°What¡¯s he doing here? I thought he never showed up to these kinds of events.¡± ¡°Do you think he¡¯d dance with me if I asked?¡± Grayson¡¯s presence was electric. Every woman in the room seemed to gravitate toward him like moths to me. He stood there for a moment, calmly adjusting his cuff. And then, suddenly, he lifted his gaze- And our eyes locked across the ballroom. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest. He raised an eyebrow, looking surprised. Then He started to cross the dancefloor ¡°Oh my God, he¡¯sing over,¡± a girl next to me gasped breathlessly. ¡°Is he¡­ is he going to ask me to dance? I think I¡¯m go ¡°Maybe it¡¯s me,¡± her friend squealed. No. It wasn¡¯t either of them. His eyes never left mine. I knew exactly who he was walking toward He wasing for me. gonna faint.¡± Wore 21 Chapter 21 Ara¡¯s POV The closer he got, the louder the whispers became. 00 By the time he was just a few steps away, one of the girls beside me squeaked, ¡°A¨CAlpha Grayson, it¡¯s such an honor- But he didn¡¯t look at any of them. Instead, his eyes locked straight on mine. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Everyone whipped their heads toward me with wide eyes like ke Why the hell is she talking to the Alpha? ¡°I¨CI had something to do here.¡± I stammered. ¡°You followed me?¡± His voice dropped dangerously low as he narrowed his eyes. ¡°No! I swear. I didn¡¯t even know you wereing here!¡°. He didn¡¯t respond right away, just kept staring at me like he didn¡¯t buy a single word I said. Whatever excitement I felt when I first saw him just evaporated. I remembered how badly we¡¯d fought not long ago¨Cand the way he told me we need space. Maybe he was already nning to kick me out of the vi, and now I¡¯d suddenly popped up here like some clingy stalker. ¡°Alpha, aren¡¯t we supposed to dance?¡± A tall, stunning girl appeared at his side, onto his arm with practiced elegance. She was gorgeous¨Cmodel¨Clevel gorgeous. Perfect body, perfect dress, perfect everything. Her existence alone made half the girls in the room self¨Cconscious. My breath caught as I looked at Grayson and his perfect date. Disappointment hit me like a freight train. For a second, I even wanted to flee. ¡°Aria, you shouldn¡¯t be here,¡± he said coldly, eyes still on me. ¡°I¡ªI know. I¡¯m sorry. This was a huge mistake¡­¡± My voice was shaking. ¡°I really didn¡¯t know you¡¯d be here. I¡¯m sorry¨CI¡¯ll leave now.¡± I turned quickly and walked away, heart pounding- I was so humiliated. Even my wolf was whimpering deep inside.. But then I heard footsteps behind me, And a hand caught mine! ¡°Wait,¡± he said. He nced back at the tall girl. ¡°You can go. Everyone around us looked at him like he¡¯d lost his mind¨Cincluding the tall girl. And, obviously, me ¡°You¡¯re sending me away?¡± she hissed, ring at me like I was a roach. ¡°Seriously? You¡¯d rather dance with this¡ª? ¡°Brenda,¡± he cut her off, voice sharp. ¡°You heard me.¡± She bit her lip in fury and stormed off, heels clicking like gunshots. Grayson gently pulled me forward¨Cand suddenly, I was in his arms. And we were gliding into the middle of the dance floor, I couldn¡¯t believe it. I was dancing. With him. I didn¡¯t know the first thing about dancing, but he made it so easy. One hand rested on my waist, the other holding my hand, guiding 1/3 me through the steps so e so effortlessly I felt like I was floating. ¡°Why did you ask me to dance?¡± I whispered. ¡°Do I need a reason?¡± ¡°Well, yeah¡­ You already had a date. A perfect one,¡± I muttered, tasting jealousy like a mouthful of lemon. ¡°I guess it was the way you looked at me. All desperate and pleading He smirked. ¡°Felt like not inviting you would¡¯ve been a crime.¡± My cheeks burned. ¡°I did not look at you like that.¡± He let out a softugh, and then, after a brief pause, he said, ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re here, Aria My heart nearly exploded. ¡°I swear I wasn¡¯t following you. It was Delh- ¡°I know. I¡¯ll deal with herter for breaking grounding orders. But at least she did one thing right tonight. His voice softened like velvet. ¡°You look beautiful.¡± could¡¯ve floated off the floor right then and there. Some part of me knew I shouldn¡¯t let him affect me this way. It wasn¡¯t healthy¨Cthe way he could crash and lift my y world in a second. But let¡¯s be honest. I had zero control He had total control of me. The song ended way too soon. It felt like we¡¯d just started. I wished we could stay for one more song, but Grayson had let go of me and guided me to the edge of the dance floor. And that¡¯s when I realized how many people were watching. Some had literally crowded around the edge, standing on their toes to get a better look And unlike the reverent way ¡°Hey, Arial¡± way they looked at him, the way they looked at me was¡­ critical, Judgmental. Delh appeared like a happy whirlwind, Jace trailing behind her looking like he¡¯d swollen a fly. ¡°I saw your dance! It was amazing! Why did you say you couldn¡¯t dance? You were incredible- *Delh Hart, you need to exin why you are here,¡± her brother¡¯s sharp voice cut her off. Delh instantly wilted under his stare. ¡°I¨CI know I¡¯m grounded¡­ but the summit¡¯sing up, and Jace had business here, so I figured¡­ why note with him¡­..¡°. Grayson¡¯s eyes shifted coldly to Jace. ¡°So you knew she was grounded. And you still brought her here. That means you knowingly defied my orders.¡± Jace¡¯s face turned an ugly shade of gray. ¡°She¡¯s not in high school anymore. Isn¡¯t ¡®grounding¡® a little over the top?¡± he muttered. ¡°What¡¯s appropriate is up to me. Or are you under the impression that you make the rules in the Hart family now?¡± Jace¡¯s jaw twitched. He looked like he was biting back every insult he wanted to spit out. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare, Alpha Grayson,¡± he said finally, voice full of sarcasm. ¡°And I see you¡¯ve got time toe dance, but no time to sign the prenup,¡± Grayson added, eyes narrowing. ¡°That¡¯s a family matter, Alpha Grayson. I hardly think this is the appropriate time or ce- 243 0.48 AM my business. That prenup ensures Hart property stays in the right hands. Away from people with questionable motives.¡± Jace turned a dark purple. I stared at him coldly. For someone with his massive ego, this must¡¯ve been devastating But I mean he deserved it. ¡°Grayson, please, not tonight.¡± Delh begged. ¡°Aria¡¯s here, you¡¯re clearly happy. Can we just not fight for once?¡± ¡°Get it done,¡± Grayson repeated coldly before wrapping his arm around my shoulders and turning to leave. But I caught Jace¡¯s eyes before we walked away. His gaze was sharp¨Cice cold, hateful. And for the first time in a while, I felt a flicker of real fear. Once we were far enough away. I leaned closer to Grayson and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m a bit worried about Jace. He hates that Delh and I are getting close. He thinks I¡¯m trying to ruin his life. I¡¯m scared he might do something reckless..¡± ¡°He won¡¯t But Don¡¯t worry. Losing his manager title was enough to keep him in line. Il make sure he signs the prenup. Without power or money, he can¡¯t do much.¡± I didn¡¯t say anything. But inside, I wasn¡¯t convinced, Grayson might be underestimating just how far someone like Jace could fall. Especially when they¡¯ve got nothing left to lose. Wore 22 Arba¡¯s POV That night, we stayed at the castle¨Clike hotel. For the first time in my life, I spent the night in a presidential suite. My room was right next to Grayson¡¯s. And yet¡­ even in that huge, soft, luxurious bed, I still couldn¡¯t sleep. My mind just wouldn¡¯t shut off. Jace¡¯s threats were still echoing in my ears. And knowing him, he was definitely the kind of guy who¡¯d do anything to get standing in his way, Leould only pray I¡¯d never have to cross paths with him again¨Cand stay as far away as possible. I didn¡¯t fall asleep until deep into the night. And when my phone rang the next morning. I was still half¨Casleep. Yawning, I grabbed my phone. It was an email From Apex Headquarters. I stared at the screen for 3 seconds¡­ and then let out a scream. rid of someone The next second, I jumped out of bed, bolted out of my room, and ran straight down the hall to Grayson¡¯s door. I jammed the doorbell with my thumb like a maniac The door opened almost immediately. He was already dressed, looking calm and put¨Ctogether. ¡°What¡¯s wrong-?¡± ¡°I GOT PROMOTED TO MARKETING MANAGER!¡± I screamed, waving my phone in his face. He blinked in surprise, then smiled. ¡°Congrattions.¡± ¡°Oh my god. My god! Do you know what this means? Most people work their whole careers at Apex and never evene close to this. title. I can¡¯t believe I got it in just four years!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked harder than most people. You deserve this, Aria¡± 1 sucked in a breath, trying to calm my racing heart. My checks were burning as I looked up at him. ¡°And¡­ thank you. I know you had a big part in this He raised an eyebrow. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Well, I know without you, someone with my experience would never be considered. This promotion is your way of making it up to me -for what I lost because of Delh and Jace.¡± ¡°No. You¡¯ve got it all wrong¡± His voice was steady. ¡°All I did was submit your name to HR as a candidate. The final decision Wis entirely by them and the marketing VP. They chose you because they were impressed¨Cby you.¡± 1 froze, staring at him with wide eyes. Wait really! made I thought the rumors Jace¡¯spread about me hadpletely ruined my career. But it turns out, not only did I not lose anything because of Jace¨Chis sabotage backfired and ended up pushing me even higher. Now I was his superior. Talk about karma. ¡°Wow. I can¡¯t believe this,¡± I murmured. ¡°I always believed you could do it,¡± Grayson said softly, his grey eyes sparkling. ¡°But don¡¯t get toofortable. Your first six months as a manager are a probationary period. You¡¯ll need to prove your worth with real numbers if you want to keep the title.¡± I nodded hard. ¡°I will I promise.¡± He checked his watch. ¡°I¡¯ve got to head to the summit now. The car¡¯s waiting downstairs.¡± I stepped aside quickly. ¡°Right, sorry! Don¡¯t let me keep you ¡°No I mean we should find time to properly celebrateter.¡± He gave me a smile that made my heart skip a beat. ¡°How about dinner at 82 I¡¯ll have my assistant send you the location.¡± 9:48 AM ? I almost melted under that smile. ¡°Y¨Cyeah.. I¡¯d love that.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll see you tonight, Aria.¡± As soon as he shut the door, I ran back to my room, jumped onto the bed, and screamed into my pillow like a lunatic. Work, the contract, my rtionship with him¨Ceverything was moving so great! He hadn¡¯t said a word about ¡°keeping our distance¡± again. Maybe that meant he changed his mind¡­ maybe it meant I could still stay by his side. It was only morning, but the day already felt magical. After rolling around in bed and grinning like an idiot for a while, I finally pulled myself together and got dressed. I decided to keep this good energy going. Use the luck while itsted. I decided to visit a client, And I moved fast. Half an hourter, I was already in a cab heading toward a private estate in the northern area of Silver Creek Pack. On the way, I skimmed through the client profile again. The client¡¯sst name was Elrod. Incredibly wealthy family. Landing them would be a massive win. But they were known for being arrogant and picky¨CApex had sent dozens of people to negotiate, and none had seeded. Creek But since I was already in Silver Creek, it felt wrong not to give it a shot. Even if my chances were also slim. The cab dropped me off at the giant iron gate. I walked the long road to the estate under the zing sun, sweating like crazy, and it took nearly 30 minutes just to reach the house. The butler with an iron face received me. After exining why I was here, he made me wait another hour before finally saying the master would meet me by the pool. Weird ce for a business meeting. But I wasn¡¯t going toin. At least I got to meet this mysterious master. A man was swimmingps when I got there. A line of omega staff stood nearby holding towels and drinks. I stood there politely, waiting. I figured he¡¯d get out soon. But when he got close, he suddenly did a turn and kept swimming like I didn¡¯t even exist. I mean, seriously? Another 20 minutes passed. I started to lose my patience. Suddenly SLPASH! Soineone dumped a huge chunk of water right on me. ¡°Ahhh!¡± I screamed, soaked and stunned. What The Actual. Hell! I wiped water off my face and heard loudughter. The swimmer had floated over to the edge and was nowughing so hard he was practically choking. My face turned red with embarrassment and anger. ¡°Mr. Elrod, what was that supposed to mean- Suddenly I stopped. I recognized that face! It was him. The red¨Chaired, blue¨Ceyed guy from the ballst night¨Cthe one who asked me to dance and got refused. ¡°Recognize me now?¡± he grinned, shing perfect teeth. ¡°You looked hot and miserable. Thought I¡¯d help you cool off.¡± ¡°Wait¡­ it¡¯s you? Mr. Elrod?¡± I was so stunned that I forgot all about my anger. ¡°Oh my god, if I¡¯d known who you werest night- ¡°You¡¯d have danced with me?¡± he snorted, climbing out of the pool. Water rolled down his perfect chest and abs. He looked like a swimsuit model. Then I noticed that his swim trunks were way too tight. I quickly averted my gaze, face burning ¡°So, I heard you¡¯re here to pitch me something?¡± he asked. ¡°Ummm, yes. I¡¯m Aria Collins from Apex¡¯s marketing department. If you have a moment, I¡¯d love to talk about a natural gas development ¡°psodood He casually toweled off, took an iced tea from an omega, and flopped into a lounge chair. ¡°Sure, I¡¯m all cars.¡± He raised an eyebrow at me. I stared at him. He wanted me to pitch here? By the pool? While he was pratically half¨Cnaked? ¡°Ares you gonna talk or what? I don¡¯t have all day,¡± he clicked his tongue. ¡°K¨Cright. Of course I forced a smile. Noptop. No projector. I handed him printed slides and he didn¡¯t even reach for them. So I could only talk. Thankfully I had the whole thing memorized. But after 20 minutes of presenting, I noticed he had shut his eyes. ¡°Mr. Elrod, are you even listening?¡± He yawned. ¡°God, you¡¯re still going? You really like to hear yourself talk, huh?¡± 1 bit back my growing irritation. ¡°Do you have any questions about what I¡¯ve said so far?¡± He suddenly turned to face me. ¡°Actually, I do¡± ¡°Please go ahead¡± ¡°I heard you¡¯d let §Ñ§á§å§à§á§Ö fuck you to close a deal. That true?¡± I jumped up, the papers in myp scattering everywhere. ¡°Excuse me?!¡± I snapped. He smirked. ¡°Also heard you lost a multi¨Cmillion¨Cdor contract and had to sleep around to make up for it. That also true?¡± ¡°That¡¯splete bullshit. Where the hell did you-¡± ¡°I told him.¡°A new ew voice answered. Ispun Jare around as a man walked in. He stepped out from, smirking and strode over to hug the master here. ¡°Zane Elrod, look at you! Haven¡¯t changed a bit.¡± ¡°Hey man! I missed you.¡± I stood there, eyes wide. You¡¯ve GOT to be kidding me. Wore 23 Aria¡¯s POV I couldn¡¯t believe this. How the hell did Jace even know the heir of a family like this? And if they were really this close, then my chances of closing this deal had basically dropped to 0. ¡°What are you doing here, Jace?¡± I asked under my breath. That bastard looked back at me with smug little smirk, pure satisfaction written all over his face. ¡°I¡¯m here for business of course. The difference is, unlike you, I¡¯m doing it the decent way ¡°What the hell did you say about me? I never did anything inappropriate during work- ¡°Oh cut the crap.¡± He stared at me coldly. ¡°We all know exactly how you stole that manager position from me. That Zane Elrod whistled. ¡°Wait, what? This chick took your manager title? Ouch! How the hell¡¯d you let that happen man?¡± ¡°Because apparently I don¡¯t have a hole between my legs.¡± They both burst out simultaneously. My fists curled at my sides as I red at them. ¡°Mr. Elrod, I can promise you that nothing Jace said is true. Feel free to call Apex and ask about my sales numbers¨CI treat my work seriously. And if you actually listened to my pitch, you¡¯d know exactly what I bring to the table. ¡°Right¨Cyour brilliant strategy that lost Apex millions,¡± Jace sneered. ¡°And then had me clean up after you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s aplete lie. That deal never- ¡°Of course you¡¯d deny that. Especially now that you¡¯ve had our dear Alpha wrapped around you finger.¡± God do I want to fucking p him! And he was ring right back at me as well. For a second it felt like we were about to full¨Con fight. ¡°Alright, alright, enough.¡± Zane drawledzily. ¡°God, I hate tension during business. If you two want to win me over, maybe start by entertaining me a little?¡± ¡°Of course, bro. Anything you say.¡± Jace grinned like a loyal puppy. Disgusting. ¡°Then let¡¯s go somewhere else. The air¡¯s getting a little stiff here.¡± Zane stretched and stood up. ¡°Wait here. Gonna change real quick.¡± And with that, he disappeared into the house. ¡°You need to leave,¡± Jace snapped the second Zane was gone. ¡°Why am I the one who has to leave? I got here first. You go.¡± He seized my wrist abruptly, tight. ¡°You have no fucking idea how to handle rich pricks like him, Aria. To men like Zane, women aren¡¯t human beings¨Cthey¡¯re fucking toys. I¡¯m doing you a favor by telling you to walk away before you get crucified!¡± I red at him. ¡°Oh right, women as objects. That must be your motto as well Considering how you dumped like trash and treat his wife like an ATM.¡± ¡°So this is what this is¨Cyou are jealous.¡± He snorted. ¡°You¡¯ve god to be kidding me right now- -I know why you¡¯re hanging around Delh. You¡¯re still trying to work your way back into my life.¡± He leaned in closer, voice low in my ear. Well, it¡¯d be lying to say I haven¡¯t thought about you too. Delh¡¯s so spoiled, privileged. She never made me feel the same way as 04 AM you did. But you¡¯ve got to stop getting my attention by getting in my way. It¡¯s not working.¡± What the actual fuck?! Can you even believe this punk? I yanked my wrist away and shoved him back hard. ¡°You piece of shit. This isn¡¯t about you. And this isn¡¯t some stupid high school drama, I¡¯m herepeting fair and square. Got it?¡± His jaw clenched. ¡°You really think you stand a chance?¡± ¡°Won¡¯t know unless I try, asshole,¡± We red at each other, breathing hard. And that¡¯s when Zane came back out, fully dressed. ¡°Jeez, you two still going at it?¡± he yawned as he walked over, slinging an arm around Jace¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Alright, enough fighting. Time to have fun!¡± was already mentally bracing myself for whatever chaos Zane had nned. But turns out I¡¯d underestimated that guy. I thought he¡¯d take us to some conference room in the estate, maybe sit us down for lunch while we took turns pitching Yet instead, he took us to a strip club. A fucking strip club. In broad daylight! I was in total disbelief when we walked into that dimly lit space. Sure, it looked fancy, but it was still a strip club. I must be the only women in the room wearing a top. ¡°W¨Cwait, Mr. Elrod, are you sure we¡¯re at the right ce?¡± I struggled to walk alongside Zane. ¡°This is hardly the ce to discuss business don¡¯t you think? ¡°This is how I do business. There¡¯s the door if you don¡¯t like it,¡± He said . -But- ¡°Oh rx, sweetheart,¡± heughed, throwing an arm around my shoulder and even stealing a kiss on my cheek. ¡°Look around¨Cnobody else seems as uptight as you.¡± I stood there, frozen, Jace followed us in, raising his eyebrows and giving me a smug ¡°told you so look. I gritted my teeth and forced ayself to keep going. I wasn¡¯t going to let that bastard win. Not today. They gave us the highest VIP booth in the room. Almost immediately a girl wearing nothing but a thong climbed into Zane¡¯sp, moaning as she ground her hips and pulled his hand up to her breasts. ¡°What about you, my man?¡± Zane yelled over the loud music, ¡°You know me. The usual, Jace grinned. Zane whistled and snapped his fingers. Another girl with short hair slinked over and wrapped her arms around Jace¡¯s neck. ¡°You¡¯re married!¡± I biased under my breath. ¡°And are you my wife?¡± That jerk rolled his eyes at me, ¡°OK now I must ask, Zane turned to me, his blue eyes shing with mischief. ¡°I figured the girl who couldnd Grayson Hart must be a real freak in bed. But here you are¨Cacting like some uptight little prude. How did you do it?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t get close to him because of how I look or what I wear,¡± I snapped. 2/3 9:40 AM ?. ¡°No way. What else do you got besides those pointy tits and big ass?¡± The whole booth erupted withughter. Even the dancers were giggling I shot up from my seat, my body shaking with anger. ¡°Mr. Elrod, I do want your business. But if all you¡¯re here for is to humiliate me, please stop right now.¡± He smirked. ¡°Do you also call stop halfway through in bed? Way to disappoint your customer.¡± Okay. I¡¯m done. I grabbed my bag, spun on my heel, and stormed off. Yet he suddenly called out: ¡°Alright, alright. Aria, wait¡± I paused, in my track, ¡°I¡¯ll be honest with you. The thing is¡­ I¡¯m not a huge fan of Grayson Hart,¡± he saidzily. ¡°Swore I¡¯d never do business with anyone close to him. But admire how persistent you are. So how about this: you do one more thing for me, and I¡¯ll sign.¡± turned around, suspicious. ¡°What thing?¡± He gave me a grin It was goddamn handsome¨Cbut his eyes were pure cold malice ¡°You want to pitch right? Yeah you can pitch¨Cjust do it while you¡¯re stripping yourself on this table. I promise you¡¯ll have my undivided attention this time. How does that sound?¡± I stared at him.. And then I suddenly dropped my bag, ripped off my zer, and marched straight up to him. He whistled, eyes lighting up with excitement. ¡°Now we¡¯re talking- I snatched a bottle of wine and dumped the entire thing on his head. ¡°How about a sshdown for you to start with?¡± I snapped. ¡°How do you like that, asshole!¡± 3/3 Wore 24 Aria¡¯s POV The whole ce went dead silent. All the strippers were staring at me, mouths covered, some looking genuinely horrified. ¡°Aria!¡± Jace suddenly jumped up, and¨Cfor the first time¨Chis voice actually shook. Zane wiped the liquor off his face, staring at me. The smirk was gone. All that was left was a terrifying kind of coldness. ¡°Do you have any idea what you just did?¡± he asked in a soft, scary voice. ¡°Actually, I do,¡± I gritted. ¡°And I also know what you just did. You humiliated me in front of everyone, simply you don¡¯t like Alpha Grayson. Or because your little bro Jace whispered some trash about me. But you don¡¯t even know me. What the hell did I do to deserve this?¡± He frowned¨Cbut I wasn¡¯t done. ¡°I was here first. I brought a full proposal. I stood there and gave you a proper pitch. What did Jace bring besides strippers grinding on yourp? Did he even say one word about business? Or do you just like him more because he parties harder?¡± No one said a word, I took a breath, tossed the empty bottle to the side, and started walking off the raised VIP tform. ¡°Security,¡± Zane¡¯s cold voice rang out behind me. Then I heard the sound of guns being cocked. The men in ck suits who came with Zane suddenly pulled out their guns. He aimed at me and fired. BANG BANG. BANG BANG. BANG. I screamed. I thought I was dead. Then a few secondster, I realized I wasn¡¯t. The bullets had flown just inches past my legs. The whole club was in chaos. Screaming, shouting, total panic. Then, just as fast, the guards fired into the ceiling¨Cand everything dropped into dead silence again. I stood frozen in ce, too scared to m to move. He was insane. Zane Eirod is an actual psychopath. A fucking lunatic! I heard his footsteps behind me¨Cslow, dragging. Then he appeared in front of me, hands in his pockets, smirking as he looked down. ¡°I could shoot you dead right now. You know that?¡± he asked. I said nothing. Cold sweat trickled down my spine. ¡°Of course, killing you means I¡¯d have to deal with Grayson¡¯s fury¨Cand that¡¯s definitely a hell of a mess. But still. I could do it.¡± I swallowed hard ¡°I¡­ I know.¡± ¡°Then why haven¡¯t you apologized yet?¡± My nails dug into my palm, pain anchoring me. The word ¡°sorry¡± was right there on my to my tongue¨Cbut at the second, I said: ¡°No¡± He arched a brow. ¡°I¡¯ve got a gun to your head. What the hell is wrong with you?¡± 9:48 AM ¡°Apologizing means I admit everything you said about me. That I¡¯m the kind of woman who would sleep with I¡¯d strip down and dance just to impress you, But I¡¯m not that person.¡± Zane stared at me¨Cexpression unreadable. He kept staring. A whole minute passed in silence. Then he said, ¡°People¡¯s opinions really matter to you huh ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯ve never had anyone call you a shameless bitch to your face,¡± I muttered. Heughed. ¡°N ¡°Not a shameless bitch. But a useless bastard? Yeah, I¡¯ve heard that plenty Then, out of nowhere, he held his hand out to me. 1 blinked. ¡°What ¡°The contract,¡± he said impatiently. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you came here for?¡± I could barely believe it. anyone for a deal. That But I quickly pulled out the contract I¡¯d brought, handed it to him along with a pen. He signed his name with a messy flourish and Tossed it back to me, ¡°There. Now I¡¯m not such an asshole. I stared at him, stunned. ¡°Oh my god, I I- ¡°ZANE!¡± Jace stormed over abruptly, absolutely livid, ¡°What the hell, man?! You just handed her the deal? I thought we were doing business!¡± Zane crossed his arms and lookedpletely unbothered. ¡°Were we? ¡®Cause I don¡¯t recall you saying a single word about actual business. Meanwhile, she came in with a full pitch.¡± ¡°I thought we were rxing, setting the mood! That¡¯s how we always do things!¡± ¡°Okay, okay, easy Jace.¡± Zane pped him on the shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s just a small deal. No need to go nuclear. Let me help you down¨Clet one of my girls take care of you.¡± He snapped his fingers at a dancer, and she wiggled her way over. But Jace shoved her aside so hard she almost fell. chill the fuck ¡°This isn¡¯t just some deal!¡± he growled, his eyes practically bloodshot. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s small to you, but it¡¯s fucking important to me! Grayson treats me like shit, like I¡¯m beneath him. I need this win. Do you understand? I need this goddamn deal more than anyone!¡± Zane¡¯s face went cold. ¡°Are you yelling at me?¡± he asked. ¡°No, of course not- ¡°Yeah this deal is nothing to me. I could give it to anyone¨Ceven one of those naked chicks in this room. But I get to fucking choose. So if you raise your voice at me again, we¡¯re gonna have some serious problems man.¡± Jace¡¯s face turned beet red¨Clike someone had pped him across the mouth. ¡°So what¡¯s it gonna be? You sticking around to party? Or should my guards throw you out?¡± I¡¯ll stay.¡± ¡°There we go!¡± Zane burst outughing, throwing an arm around him. ¡°Shit, now I¡¯m in the mood to drink. Come on, everyone¡ª including you, Aria! Turn the music up! It¡¯s time to fucking party!¡± We went back to the booth, and the club instantly came back to life. Dancers swarmed Zane, and the crazy hastard popped a bottle of champagne, spraying it everywhere while screaming. Meanwhile, I pulled out the contract again, checked the signature at the bottom¨Cyep, it was real. Then I folded it up fast and went to 9:48 AM grab a drink. I still couldn¡¯t believe it. Jace was in the corner, clutching a ss, sulking like a loser. As I walked by, he suddenly grabbed my arm. ¡°You must feel real proud right now,¡± his breath reeked of booze. ¡°Cut it off. I didn¡¯t expect him to sign either, but I worked hard for it. I deserve this.¡± ¡°The fuck you do!¡± he growled. ¡°You just got lucky again because Zane also wants to get in your pants, that¡¯s all!¡± I stared at him, speechless. ¡°Seriously?! I just met Elrod literally today. We barely even talked!¡± He tightened his grip on my shoulders. ¡°But you gave him th the signal. Every time you walked, the way you wiggle your butt, flipped your goddamn hair, made eye contact with them¨Cyou were practically inviting them to fuck you! ¡°You¡¯re drunk, Jace- ¡°I should never have broken up with you up with you!¡± he snapped. ¡°Should¡¯ve never let you go off seducing other men. And now you¡¯d rather get on your knees and suck some stranger¡¯s dick than even look at me!¡± med to p him. He grabbed my wrist and shoved me. He shoved too hard and the floor was slick. My foot slipped¨Chard¨Cand I crashed into the rail behind us. The next thing I knew, I was flipping over the edge. Our booth was 10 meters off the ground. And I fell straight from the top. Ìï Wore 25 Chapter 25 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°AHHH¨CT Screams rang out all around me as I fell. My wolf saved me at thest second, but I stillnded hard and twisted my ankle badly. ¡°Arial¡± 1 heard Jace shout, panicked. In a sh. Zane was already at my side. He gently scooped me up in his arms. ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked. I was trembling from the pain. ¡°Yeah¡­No God it hurts¡­I t I think 1 I twisted my ankle.¡± ¡°Twisting your ankle from ten¨Cmeter fall? Did you forget you¡¯re a werewolf?¡± he teased. ¡°Not a goddamn warrior, okay?¡± I muttered. Jace came running over too, visibly freaked out. He reached for my foot to check the injury. ¡°Fuck¡­ are you okay?¡± But Zane blocked Jace¡¯s hand ¡°Did you try to kill her?¡± he asked sharply. I froze. So did Jace¨Chis face twisted in shock and fury. ¡°WTF did you just say?!¡± ¡°Lasked if you pushed her on purpose and tried to kill her.¡± ¡°NO!¡± Jace shouted. ¡°God, what the hell is wrong with you?! Why would I want to kill her?!¡± Zane stood up straight, eyes locked on Jace. That usual yful grin was gone¨Chis expression turned cold. Almost scary. ¡°You said yourself this deal meant everything. Aria got it and you didn¡¯t. Maybe you wanted to get rid of the obstacle.¡± ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake. She¡¯s a damn werewolf! If I wanted her dead, I¡¯d poison her drink, not push her off a fucking balcony!¡± Jace snapped. Zane turned to nce at the edge where I fell ¡°Shended barely half a meter from that statue. One wrong angle and she¡¯d be skewered like a kebab.¡± I followed his gaze and shivered. He was right. Less than half a meter away was a decorative statue holding a sword. If I¡¯dnded on that. I¡¯d rather not to think about it. Jace snarled, ¡°OK, but still! I wouldn¡¯t kill someone over a damn contract! Do you really think I¡¯m some kind of psycho?!¡± ¡°I saw you push he. I would nevery hands on a girl like that. So why did you do it, Jace?¡± Jace¡¯s face went red. His nostrils red. He was quiet for a moment, then finally muttered through gritted teeth, ¡°Whatever man. Believe whatever the fuck you want. But seriously, Zane? What¡¯s with the white knight act? She¡¯s Grayson¡¯s bitch, not yours. You just met her. What¡¯s in it for you to defend her like that?¡± ¡°I felt like it,¡± Zane shrugged. ¡°Honestly, just stay away from her, okay? Or I might just go have a chat with Grayson about all this¡ªeven if thinking about that makes me wanna puke.¡± Jace looked like he was about to explode from pure rage. ¡°You ready for the hospital?¡± Zane bent down to ask me. I nodded and tried to push myself up, but he just scooped me into his arms again like it was nothing. ¡°Wait! You don¡¯t have to ¡°Rx. This isn¡¯t the first time I¡¯ve carried a girl like this. Just a shame it¡¯s not to the bedroom.¡± He smirked. 040 AM ? He carried me outside. A spons car was already parked at the entrance. He slid me into the passenger seat before jumping into the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Buckle up. We¡¯ll be at the hospital in 107 And with that, the car sped off, ¡°And hey, thank you. For the contract. And for standing up for me back there,¡± I said sincerely, ¡°No big deal,¡± he shrugged, There was our question I couldn¡¯t stop myself from asking ¡°Aren¡¯t you and Jace¡­ friends? Weren¡¯t you worried what you said back there might ruin things between you two?¡± Hewcoffed. ¡°Friends? Please, 1 don¡¯t have as many friends as you think, And Jace¡¯s certainly not one of them.¡±¡° Ok then. Poor Jace. He probably thought he was best buds with a rich heir, but turns out the guy never respected him at all ¡°Besides,¡± Zame added, ¡°even if he was my friend, I¡¯m not gonna stand by and watch him try to kill you.¡± I blinked. Thenughed. ¡°Come on, Jace would never. You totally got it wrong ¡°You sure? Half a meter, Aria. That¡¯s all it would¡¯ve taken.¡± A chill crept up my spine, but I shook my head. ¡°No. Not a chance, Jace might insult me, set me up, make up lies, but murder? He isn¡¯t capable of something like that,¡± ¡°Underestimating the people you think you know is dangerous. They¡¯re the ones who know where to hit hardest,¡± Zane said quietly and nced at me. ¡°How can you be so naive? I thought Grayson¡¯s girl should be at least half as hypersuspicious as he is ¡°Stop the car?¡± I suddenly shouter. ¡°What! What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Alpha Grayson! I was supposed to have dinner with Alpha Grayson tonight. Oh my god¨CIpletely forgot!¡± I cried in panic. I checked the time. It was almost 9 pm. I was over an hourte. Zane burst outughing. ¡°Holy shit, you stood up Grayson! That¡¯s a first.¡± I grabbed his arm. ¡°Forget the hospital¨Ctake me to the restaurant now!¡± ¡°No can do. I¡¯m not your personal chauffeur,¡± he grumbled. ¡°Then I¡¯ll jump out here and walk.¡± I reached for the door. Okay, okay! Geez, you¡¯re insane. Finel Give me the address.¡± I did. Then I spent the entire ride begging him to go faster. But of course, we hit traffic, and it took nearly an hour to get By the time we arrived, it was almost 10. there. I hopped out on one foot and rushed to the restaurant entrance. But when I gave the receptionist the name of the reservation, she gave me an apologetic smile. ¡°He already left a long time ago.¡± Of course he did. I was two hourste¨Cwhy would he still be waiting for me? This was something I¡¯d been looking forward to for so long. And Ipletely blew it. I walked out of the restaurant, devastated, Zane was leaning against his car, arms crossed. ¡°No luck, huh?¡± he smirked. ¡°God, I¡¯m so stupid,¡± I mumbles. I was almost too miserable to speak. ¡°He must be so pissed.¡± 0:48 AM Zane snorted. ¡°Grayson? Please. That guy doesn¡¯t have actual emotions. He¡¯s not wasting energy being mad at you. You think he heartbroken or angry or something? More likely he¡¯s already moved on to the next ten hot girls waiting in line.¡± I shook my head, not even bothering to answer. Õ¾ he¡¯s He suddenly moved closer, throwing an arm around my shoulder with a huge grin. ¡°Hey, since we¡¯re both free now, how about I take you on a date instead?¡± ¡°Get off me, Mr. Elrod¡± Come on, soon you¡¯ll see that I¡¯m a lot more fun than Grayson- That¡¯s when it happened. Suddenly, a car across the street roared to life and swerved toward us, tires screeching. It skidded right up to Zane¡¯s car and mmed the brakes, blindin us with its headlights. ¡°WTF! What¡¯s wrong with you?!¡± Zane shouted. The driver¡¯s door mmed open and a tall figure emerged Aria. Get in the car,¡± Grayson said coldly, dark eyes locked on Zane. Ìï Wore 26 Gravson.¡±¡°¡± Zane sand night.¡± Grayson¡¯s face darkened It¡¯s not what meed been sitting wating for me for two whole hound held me back Galinend couldn¡¯t make it on time. Sh bim to sign me of ¡°She tried really hand, you kn got a bell of a body bancos. danced. I even camed her out of a club. No wonder you picked her. 1 jerked away from him, furcos Let go of me! Why would you say something like that Grayson suddenly stored over. Before I could make sense back onto his cu I dumped what¡¯s happening his trone hadnded on Zane¡¯s t mouth and gasped. That¡¯s the first time I saw him getting physical mming him vas mad. Like rea?y mad one actually managed to push Then I was pulled ¡°Wow.¡± Zane coughed wiping blood free Grayson Kart over the edge 13 mething to wo Grayson said nothing. He dragged Bowand his car My ankle was screaming in pain, but I didn¡¯t dare say a word. time I might my fork her Grayson!¡± ¡°This only makes me more e more interested The car doormped shut, and Grayson hit the gas so hard that the car roared down the street. I shrank into the passenger seat. The asso tette. I didn¡¯t even dare to breathe. So bow long were waiting 15 He stared straight ahead face as cold as stone. The car ¡°Look, I¡¯m really sorry. I was focused on the deal. I lost track of time ¡°You should¡¯ve stayed away from Zane Elrod¡± be cut me ¡°I didn¡¯t know about your history with him! I¡¯m sorry. All I knew was that he¡¯s a major client. That¡¯s it.¡± ¡°And you danced with him, drank with him, let him get close.¡± he snapped Zane Elrod is a fucking predator. You think just because you got the contract and he¡¯s going to leave it at that? He¡¯s going to make you pay for itter.¡± I stared at him in disbelief. ¡°Want Are you seriously using me of quid pro quo? You bought of person?¡± ¡°I know what kind of person Zane n cord? You really think I¡¯m that kind ¡°And I backed out the moment I got what I needed Nothing happened. That was work. Alpha Grayson¨Cyou know that.¡± He growled darkly. ¡°And your job also includes keeping me stable. Not making things worse.¡± I bit my lip, feeling a deep, aching frustration twist inside me. ¡°So what do you want from me? Stay in my room, do nothing, and be avable whenever you¡¯re in a bad mood so you can szut my neck and calm down!* ¡°I that keeps you out of trouble, sure.¡± he said coldly ¡°So I¡¯m just an object to you then¡± I asked, voice trembling He didn¡¯t respond, just pressed harder on that gas. The car swerved dangeroudy through traffic. My stomach churned. 13 PASAM By the time we got back to the hotel, I was on the verge of throwing up. I jumped out of the car the moment it stopped, ignoring the pain in my ankle, and stormed inside without even looking back. He followed, his presence like a storm cloud right behind me. WE 201 into the elevator. The ride up was silent and tense, like the air was about to shatter. Finally, the elevator reached the top floor¨Cjust the two of us on this level, with our rooms side by side. ¡°Good night,¡± I said tly I turned and walked toward my door. He didn¡¯t respond, but I could feel his eyes burning into me. I reached my room, swiped the key card, and opened the door. Just as I stepped in, I heard footsteps. The next second he had grabbed my arm and spun me around, pinning me against the wall ¡°You really thought I¡¯d let you walk off like that?¡± he growled. ¡°Let me go! This isn¡¯t fair But he didn¡¯t let go. He leaned down and kissed me. It was a hot and rough kiss. His lips practically crashed onto mine. I gasped, and his tongue immediately seized the chance and slid into my mouth, exploring every corner of my mouth in a possessive manner. He¡¯s kissing me Grayson Hart was kissing me. This couldn¡¯t be real. But it was. My heart was pounding so hard that it made my whole body shake. My knees turned soft. I could feel myself slowly sliding down. He immediately lifted me off the ground. My legs instinctively wrapped around his waist as he carried me toward his room, his lips now trailing down to my neck. ¡°Did he kiss you like that? ¡°he nibbled the sensitive area on my neck, ¡°No_no! I said I didn¡¯t even know Zane¡­..¡± He pped my butt hard, as though he¡¯s punishing me. ¡°And Jace Carter?¡± ¡°N¨CNo¡­.nobody¡¯s like you please. I groaned, wiggling my butt. He kicked his door open with one swift motion and carried me in. Right across from the entrance was a hallway table with a vase on it. We couldn¡¯t make it to the bed¨Che swept the vase off with one motion and put me down on the table. The height was perfect. My legs dangled off the edge, instinctively tightening around his waist. He didn¡¯t wait for me to get undressed myself. He ripped my shirt apart in my swift move. When he buried his head to my corbone, I felt a soft, pricking pain. I couldn¡¯t help but throw my head back, panting and moaning. He was rough, fierce, and dominant. But none of those were as scary as those negative emotions that I felt from his scent. I could feel that dark force closing in on me, and it made my wolf agitated. ¡°W¨CWait¡± His hand kept moving down. When his finger reached my upper thigh, I started to panic. ¡°No stop.. He didn¡¯t stop. He slipped one hand right into my panties. And without any warning or pre games, he thrusted one finger right into my pussy. Chapter 26. I screamed. Pleasure shot me like lightning. My mind went nk. As a virgin I¡¯d never been through something like this. This was too much. ¡°No! Oh god. P¨CPlease stop- ¡°You are fucking wet,¡± he said, nibbling my year while breathing in my scent. And he started fingering me I sat on that high table with my body shaking like a leaf in the wind. I couldn¡¯t close my legs because he was standing right in front of me, and my pussy was wide open for him His long finger thrusted hard and deep. Soon he added another finger. I gasped and copsed against the wall, feeling the stretch of my inner wall ¡°No, please¡­don¡¯t¡­¡± I sobbed, grabbing his wrist with one hand. ¡°I didn¡¯t agree to this¡­you promised¡­¡± ¡°You agreed to stay close to me whenever I need you,¡± he growled. He curled his finger. I trembled, a gush of juice wet his finger. ¡°Y¨CYes. But no sex. I can¡¯t have sex with anyone before I¡¯m married You¨CYou know about that. You promised. Remember?¡± I sobbed. My pussy was sucking his finger. Lcouldn¡¯t help it. He growled. Suddenly he seized my waist and pinned me against the wall, staring at me furiously. I looked back at him in fear. His gorgeous grey eyes had turned pitch ck. He looked like a monster. Nothing like the man Lused to know. *But there¡¯s something else I can do.¡± I whispered. I fumbled to untie his pants. Then I ced my shaky hand on his hard cock, Wore 27 A¡¯s POV I gasped when I took hold of it. God it¡¯s huge. It¡¯srger than anything I¡¯d seen on the inte. He suddenly growled and buried his head down to my neck, biting and kissing my neck in a very rough manner. That¡¯s probably the part of my body that he liked the most¨Cprobably because that¡¯s where my scent was the strongest. I raised my head, moaning softly, and started stroking. I had no idea how to do it. How to make him feel good. So I could simply move my hand up and down along his cock. It¡¯s throbbing in my hand. And getting even huger. He suddenly bit down harder. I cried out in pain, but he had no intention of letting go. He pinned me on that high table and fingered me ruthlessly. He fingered so damn hard that the whole table was shaking violently, its legs creaking loudly underneath me. ¡°God Oh no..please. Ahh stop!¡± I was screaming, crying, kicking my legs trying to get away from this mind¨Cblowing pleasure. But he grabbed my waist. The next second I was thrown over the edge. The raw sensation exploded in me. I could feel my y inner wall clenching his finger as my juice gushed out. I fucking squirted, even wet his pants. He growled and grabbed my hand on his cock and forced me to stroke harder and faster. He cum on my body. His seeds drippled down my naked chest and belly as I still trembled from my orgasm. ¡°Stay¡± I froze, halfway through buttoning up my shirt, and looked up at him. He had just stepped out of the bathroom. His eyes were back to their usual stormy grey. I could no longer sense any of the dark emotions in his scent ¡°I thought you were fine now,¡± I said quietly. ¡°Get in bed. He dropped the words and walked straight into the bedroom. I bit my lip, then cautiously followed him in. It¡¯s so weird between us right now. I couldn¡¯t even bring myself to look at him ¡°Umm¡­¡± I cleared my throat. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± He raised his brow at me ¡°Should I stay here till you fall asleep and then¨CAHHI I yelled. He suddenly tossed me onto the bed and climbed on top of me. ¡°If it were any other girl tonight, I¡¯d have fucked her already,¡± he groaned and brushed his nose against my neck. I squirmed nervously. ¡°But¡­ but you didn¡¯t. Because because of the contract ¡°Right. The contract.¡± He snorted, his voice held a trace of mockery. He twirled a lock of my hair around his finger, ying with it idly. ¡°So I assume you¡¯re fine with what happened tonight?¡± ¡°This is what I signed up for, isn¡¯t it?¡± 1 murmured. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± I paused, sneaking a nce at him, and then said, ¡°You know, it¡¯s not like I¡¯ll never have sex in my entire life. If I meet someone I love and we n to get married or something, of course I¡¯ll sleep with him.¡± 9:48 AM I had no idea why I said that. It sounded stupid the second it left my mouth. But I said it anyway. His expression didn¡¯t change at all. ¡°I told you. I respect your choice,¡± he said ndly. Then he rolled off me, switched off the lights, andy down beside me. He grabbed my hand and gently lifted my wrist to his nose, taking a deep breath. ¡°Goodnight,¡± he said. When I finally woke up, the sunlight outside the curtains was way too bright. I grabbed my phone and nearly screamed¨C11AM!! I never slept thiste And I slept surprisingly well. His pine wood scent still lingered in the air, clinging to the sheets. I even had a dreamst night: my wolf was chasing another giant ck wolf in the woods, and we were rolling in the pine needles. It¡¯s such an amazing dream. 1 siniled to myself before hopping out of bed and heading to the bathroom to freshen up, When I came out, voices wereing from the living room. Was it him? My heart gave an excited little flutter. I walked over quietly and cracked the door open. I saw Grayson first. Fully dressed in his suit and looking cold and distant. Across from him were Delh and of course¨CJace. He looked like shit. Delh looked over first. I instanily wanted to shut the door but it¡¯s already too . She saw me and jumped up. ¡°ARIA!!¡± she shrieked. ¡°What happenedst night?!¡± ¡°Nothing!¡± I answered quickly. ¡°Your top¡¯s unbuttoned,¡± Grayson said, I swear I saw the tiniest smirk sh across his lips. I reached up to feel my corbone¨Coh god it¡¯s sore. Like, super sore. It must be covered by hickeys. My cheeks burned as I fumbled to button all the way up. Delh was giggling stupidly as I sat down next to Grayson. Jace red at me like I¡¯dmited some serious crime. ¡°We were talking about the contract you signed with Zanest night,¡± Grayson said. 1 frowned. ¡°What about it?¡± ¡°Zane was drunk. He had no idea what he agreed to.¡± Jace said, his tone ice¨Ccold. ¡°Which means that when he sobers up, he might refuse to go through with it. That could be a problem for us. We should revoke the whole thing before it¡¯s too makes no sense.¡± Jace¡¯s jaw clenched. This is about professionalism! If every employee did what you did to close deals, Apex would be a joke in the industry!¡± I stood up so fast that the chair scraped against the floor. *I didn¡¯t cross any lines and you know that. This is just you being such a sore loser.¡± Delh looked awkward. She tugged at Jace¡¯s sleeve, but he shook her off. ¡°We¡¯re not canceling the contract,¡± Grayson said, his voice leaving no room room for area Jace¡¯s face twisted. ¡°That¡¯s it? I don¡¯t think it¡¯s fair- argumen Zane called this morning to follow up on next steps. He was clear, sober, and very eager to move forward.¡± Jace¡¯s face went ck like he just got pped. I whistled a happy whistle internally. Thank you, Zane. You king of timing- ¡°Any more objections? Jace said nothing, just sat there fuming like he was gonna explode. Delh gave him a nervous side¨Ceye before suddenly pping her hands together.¡± raquick ¡°Okay, let¡¯s talk about something fun!¡± she said way too brightly. ¡°Jace and I were just nning to head to the summer house for a getaway. You and Aria should totallye. ¡°I have work,¡± Grayson refused instantly, ¡°Come on,¡± she whined, ¡°Mom and Dad are always saying we don¡¯t spend enough time together. It¡¯s the perfect chance. And you could get to know Jace better¡± Crayson let out a low, sarcasticugh, Jace¡¯s face went heet¨Cred. ¡°If you say no, I¡¯m calling Mom and Dad. You know exactly what they¡¯ll say,¡± she threatened, Grayson frowned. I could tell that he¡¯d rather go hiking in the desert with no supplies than go on a getaway with Jace. But Delh didn¡¯t budge. And after 10 minutes of her begging and puppy eyes, he finally gave in with a frustrated sigh.. ¡°Fine. Two days. No more he said. ¡°YES!¡± Delh squealed, grabbing my hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go packing, Arial We¡¯re going on vacation!¡± And just like that, the mood flipped. One second we were fighting over contracts, the next we were packing bags. And 30 minutester, we were in the car. A few hours after that, we pulled up to the Hart family¡¯s summer house. I knew the Harts were rich, but I didn¡¯t realize they were own¨Ca¨Cvi¨Cin¨Cevery¨Ctown rich. And this ce? It was jaw¨Cdropping stunning Perfectly trimmed English¨Cstyle gardens, a white mansion that looked like something off Pinterest, a giant pool and tennis court out back. And inside was decorated in Mediterranean vibes, sunlight everywhere, and a team of maids so efficient they made the ce look untouched. Crayson went off to take a call as soon as we arrived, Jace disappeared too. That lek me with Delh touring around the house. ¡°So¡­ She started, dragging out the word as we wandered through the sunny living room, ¡°You and my brother made some major progressst night?¡± I coughed awkwardly. She snorted. ¡°Fine, you don¡¯t have to say it. I knew you weren¡¯t just his assistant.¡± She sighed and looked at me hopefully. ¡°But can you do me a favor? Help smooth things over between me and Jace?¡± ¡°Things aren¡¯t getting better?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a nightmare. The worst!¡± she muttered. ¡°He came back Not your fault¡± She slumped onto the couch beside me. ¡°I just don¡¯t know what to do anymore. We¡¯ve only been married a few months and it already feels like the magic¡¯s gone. He¡¯s angry all the time, short¨Ctempered, distant. It¡¯s like we¡¯re stuck and can¡¯t climb out.¡± I bit my lips. Because he doesn¡¯t love you! That¡¯s why. I yelled internally. But how was I supposed to tell her? ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just a rough patch,¡± I said. ¡°All rtionships take work.¡± She gave me a shaky smile. The sadness in her eyes made my chest ache. ¡°Yeah you¡¯re probably right.¡± A maid came by with tea and pastries. We sipped and chatted while she brightened up, talking about pre¨Cmarriage adventures¨Cfashion, fancy cars, European trips. She looked like herself again, the socialite from TV. An hourter, Grayson returned. And Jace finally showed up too, probably forced by Delh ¡°Aren¡¯t we eating? I¡¯m starving. Jace grumbled. ¡°Dinner¡¯s almost ready, Delh said, giving him a bright smile. ¡°Hey you know what would be fun?¡± ¡°Dinner and bed her jackass husband deadpanned. No, dummy. Let¡¯s y truth or dare. All four of us. It¡¯ll be so much fun!¡± AD Wore 28 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°Truth or dare? What are you live?¡± Jace scoffed ¡°Come on, it¡¯ll be fun! We¡¯ve never yed before, and I¡¯m sure Aria¡¯s curious to learn more about Grayson, Delh said, giving me a pleading look I hesitated. Truth is I did want to know more about Grayson. But from past Lexperience, I also knew he had serious boundary issues. I wasn¡¯t sure if my questions would upset him. Yet to my surprise Grayson agreed first. ¡°I¡¯ve got nothing else to do. Sure.¡± He sat down on the couch, and I quickly took a seat next to Delh, Jace still looked pissed as hell but he joined us eventually. A maid brought over a beer bottle while Delh exined the rules: ¡°I¡¯ll spin the bottle. Whoever it points to has to choose truth or dare We all went to high school. Just spin it already,¡± Jace grumbled. ¡°Okay, here we go.¡± She spun the bottle. It twirled around several times beforending on Grayson ¡°Truth,¡± he said. ¡°Alright! I¡¯m going to ask something juicy,¡± Delh giggled. Then she fired away with her question. ¡°Tell us. Have you ever had sex with more than one person in a day?¡± I nearly choked on my lemonade. Seriously, Delh? That¡¯s what you want to ask your big brother??? He answered calmly, without hesitation, even giving her a pick¨Ca¨Cbetter¨Cquestion¨Cnext¨Ctime look. ¡°Wow, Aria, you still want to hang out with this yboy?¡± she wrinkled her nose. I gave an awkward smile. I knew Grayson had a past. It would be weird if he didn¡¯t. I was just curious about how much more was out there that I didn¡¯t know of. Then Grayson spun the bottle. This time it pointed to me. ¡°Ask her about her most recent orgasm!¡± Delh blurted out. I almost fainted. God, Delh! Why does everything have to be about sex with you?! Though I did know the answer to that question¡­.. ¡­I was sitting on a high table, legs spread wide apart for him. My pussy in¨Cfull disy¡­His long fingers moved quickly in and out of me.. His smoky gray eyes locked onto mine like fire. It made me cum so hard and so easily¡­ ¡°No, yo you can¡¯t ask the question. It¡¯s Alpha Grayson¡¯s turn,¡± I cleared my throat and nced at Grayson. He was staring at me too, his eyes a bit dark. I wondered if he was also thinking about the answer to that question. ¡°Alright, Grayson, I¡¯m giving you the right to ask the question. Make it a good one¡± Delh demanded. 9:48 AM ? ¡°Why did you break up with your ex?¡± he asked. Oh now that¡¯s a good question. ¡°Because he dumped me for a rich girl. He said I couldn¡¯t help him in his career and that no man would want to get stuck with someone as broke as me. Jace¡¯s face turned ugly. He red like he wanted to kill me ¡°Wow, what a jerk,¡± Delh gasped. ¡°I can¡¯t believe a guy would say that,¡± ¡°Actually, there are more men like this than you can imagine. Some might even be around us.¡± I hoped she¡¯d catch on, but she didn¡¯t. She simply shook her head. Awful. I bet he¡¯s a spineless wuss. Please tell me you¡¯re not still talking to him anymore.¡± ¡°ENOUGH!¡± Jace snarled, cutting us off. ¡°God how long are you going to keep talking about this? It¡¯s one question at a time,¡± Delh pouted. I spun the bottle again, and this time it pointed to Jace. I¡¯m giving the right to ask the question to Delh,¡± I said. I knew Delh had her own issues she wanted to solve with Jace, and I was happy to give her the opportunity. ¡°No, you can¡¯t do that,¡± Jace said darkly. ¡°Uh, what does the judge say?¡± ¡± ¡°The judge approves,¡± Delh said decisively, then stared at her husband, ¡°Jace, babe, when on earth are you going to introduce me to your parents?¡± What? I blinked in surprise, They¡¯re already married, but she hasn¡¯t met Jace¡¯s parents? Jace¡¯s face tightened, irritated. ¡°Are you kidding me? That¡¯s what you want to ask in truth or dare?¡± ¡°Well, because every time I ask you, you keep dodging. I just don¡¯t get it. Do they even know about me?¡± His voice was stiff, ¡°Of course, habe. They¡¯re just very busy, so they haven¡¯t had time.¡± You said they spend most of the year traveling in Europe. Now that we¡¯re in Europe, let¡¯s find a time to meet them. What do you say?¡± I let out a loud Of all people, I know that was a big ass lie! His parents traveling in Europe! Please. His mom works as a cashier at a supermarket, and his dad is an alcoholic living on welfare. His only sister ran away at 15, and someer saw her in the red¨Clight district. How could a family like that afford to travel in Europe? ¡°Something wrong. Aria? Why youughed?¡± Delh gave me a suspicious look. Jace stared at me deathly. ¡°Oh, sorry, I¡­ I choked. ¡°I quickly took a big sip of lemonade. ¡°Change the question, or I¡¯m not ying anymore. Jace warned. ¡°Alright,¡± Delh pouted. ¡°Then how about this¡­who was your first love? Why did you fall for her?¡± My body stiffened. This question might sound harmless. But Jace imed that his first love was me. 2/4 9:48 AM ¡°Well, my first love.¡± Jace dragged out the words and nced at me. I quickly looked away, Damn it, Jace, stop looking! ¡°My first love was a sweet and innocent girl. We supported each other through tough times in the big city. We even talked about getting a dog together and moving to a suburban house with awn and a doggy door. Our favorite thing to do was hunt for vinyl records at fleat markets on weekends.¡±¡± My heart skipped a beat. God those good times. I can¡¯t believe we really had those times. I also can¡¯t believe he still remembers. ¡°She sounds great. Seems like you two have a lot of history.¡± Delh sounded jealous. Jace shrugged, ¡°But then she turned into a gold¨Cdigging bitch. Left me for a richer guy. I don¡¯t regret it at all.¡± I clenched my ss tightly. You jerk, Delh giggled and leaned over to kiss him. ¡°Of course you don¡¯t regret it, because now you¡¯re with me.¡± Jace finally got through that question. He spun the bottle again, and this time it pointed to Grayson. ¡°I don¡¯t have any questions,¡± Jace said. ¡°I¡¯m sure Aria 1 has something she wants to ask,¡± Delh snickered I did, but I was hesitant. I wasn¡¯t sure which one was appropriate. After a long pause, I finally chose my question: ¡°Do you still talk to your ex?¡± It was a bit of a loaded question. Because I knew he had hookups. I just didn¡¯t know if he had ever been in a serious rtionship, especially since he seemed to havemitment issues. He nced at me lightly. ¡°Yes.¡± My heart sank. I hoped he¡¯d say more, like what kind of person she was, why they were together, and why they broke up. But he didn¡¯t seem interested in borating. ¡°On how¡¯s I doing by the way?¡± Delh asked. I? Is that his ex? ¡°Good. She¡¯s been busy with her gallery,¡± he said. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s wonderful. Next time shees to Redstone, I¡¯d love to visit her new exhibition,¡± Delh said cheerfully. ¡°I let her know.¡± I felt like I had swallowed a lemon. Grayson spun the boule again. This time, it pointed to Jace. ¡°Dare.¡°Jace said quickly. He probably didn¡¯t want to give Delh another chance to interrogate him. -Oh, you think you can get away that easily?¡± Dells giggled, thenmanded, ¡°Show us a photo of your ex¨Cgirlfriend.¡± 1 froze, and so did Jace. Even Grayson frowned. ¡°No way.¡± Jace quickly refused. 9:49 AM Truth or dare doesn¡¯t work like that. You can¡¯t refuse.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any photos of her on my phone Then look her up on social media. You remember her name right?¡± 1 clenched my skirt nervously. Jace suddenly stood up and red at his wife, ¡°God! Why the hell are you always so obsessed with the past?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a harmless little joke. Why are you so angry?¡± she stood up too. ¡°What are you afraid to show me? Are you still protecting her? Now I have to know who she is!¡± AD Wore 29 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°You¡¯re fucking ridiculous!¡± Jace shoved his chair back and stormed off without another word. Delh copsed into the seat he left behind. She covered her face with both hands and started sobbing softly ¡°That¡¯s how he treats you?¡± Grayson demanded. ¡°Enough¡± Delh¡¯s eyes were already brimming with tears. ¡°As the Hart family¡¯s heiress, you shouldn¡¯t let anyone treat you like this. Something needs to be done about this.¡± His voice was low/full of warning ¡°Stop it! I don¡¯t want to hear it!¡± she suddenly jumped up, shouting through her tears. ¡°Why do you always have something to say about my life? I¡¯ve been stuck in your shadow ever since we were kids. And now I¡¯m married but I still can¡¯t escape your goddamn control? You know nothing about rtionships Grayson. It¡¯s not like your own marriage was so perfect either!¡± With that, she spun around and bolted out the balcony door. I just sat there, stunned, my brain still stuck on what Delh had said. She said Grayson¡¯s marriage wasn¡¯t perfect¡­ He¡¯s married?! ¡°Aria, would you mind going to talk to Delh?¡± he asked. I blinked and was suddenly snapped out of my daze. ¡°Of course.¡± I stood up and said. ¡°Thank you. She might actually listen to you.¡± I hesitated, wanting to ask more about that whole marriage thing. But he had already gotten up and left the living room. I headed outside, following the path from the living room¡¯s sliding doors down a wooden walkway that led toward theke. I found Delh at the very end of it, curled up and crying into her hands. I walked over slowly. ¡°Hey¡­Are you alright?¡± She said nothing. Just sobbing. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad. You know Alpha Grayson was only-¡± she ¡°Trying to protect me?¡± She whipped her head up, her eyes zing with anger. ¡°If you¡¯re just here to defend him, then don¡¯t bother!¡± I sighed. ¡°Is it possible you¡¯re just mad at Jace? You don¡¯t get why he won¡¯t let you meet his parents, and you don¡¯t understand why he¡¯s to moody all the time. So maybe you¡¯re taking it out on Alpha Grayson.¡± She sniffled, and then shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Aria.. maybe you¡¯re right. Sometimes¡­ sometimes I wonder if Jace even loves me. Hell I think he might care about that ex of his way more than he ever cared me? ¡°That¡¯s not true. They¡¯re over.¡± I said without hesitation. ¡°How would you know?¡± she asked, narrowing her eyes. How would I know? Because I was in that rtionship myself. ¡°Well,¡± she went on bitterly, ¡°then let me tell you this¨CJace¡¯s phone password is still her birthday. When we moved into our vi, he brought this one box with him and never let me touch it. I snuck a look once. It was filled with all their vinyl records, and even pictures of them together. I told him to throw it all out, he refused. We had a huge fight about it.¡± 0:40 AM My heart skipped a beat. ¡­He kept those things! Why on earth would he do that? I thought he hated me ¡°What kind of girl do you think she was, Jace¡¯s ex?¡± Delh asked darkly. Delh, I really don¡¯t think it matters what she was like. They¡¯re done¡± ¡°No! It fucking matters. Because she¡¯s still haunting my Jace!¡± she snapped. ¡°If I could find her..if I ever know who she is, I swear to the Moon Goddess that I will ruin her. I¡¯d erase her from this goddamn world so she¡¯d never upy even a second of Jace¡¯s mind again!¡± My body turnedpletely cold. Just imagine¡­ if she ever found out Jace¡¯s ex was sitting right in front of her..I didn¡¯t even dare think about it. ¡°Right now you just need to focus on you and Jace,¡± I said stiffly. She let out a long breath. ¡°You¡¯re probably right. Well, I guess I should go find him and apologize for pushing his buttons. She gave me a tired smile and slowly made her way back along the boardwalk. I stayed behind, staring out at theke. My mind was spinning with so ways to confess the truth to her, but every single scenario I came up with a feeling like a disaster was waiting to happen It was already dark out, but I wasn¡¯t ready to go back yet. Not ready to face the sad Delh, and moody Jace and Grayson and his past. It was summer, and even after sundown the air was still warm. I dipped a toe in theke, testing the water. Then I stripped off my clothes, left them in a pile by the edge, and jumped in wearing only iny underwear. The water was surprisingly warm, almost like a hot spring. I swam a fewps, enjoying the peace, then floated near the shore to catch my breath. Theke was far from the vi, surrounded by trees. No one was around. It waspletely quiet except for the gentle ssh of water and rustling leaves. I was so lost in the moment, so rxed. That I didn¡¯t notice anything. Until a shadow loomed over me. I saw the reflection on the water first, the ripples warping their face. I jerked my head
¡°Who-¡± Before I could even finish the sentence, a hand suddenly grabbed the top of my head and shoved me under the water! Wore 30 Chapter 30 Aria¡¯s POV I screamed, but the next second, someone shoved my head underwater. Ice¨Ccoldke water gushed into my mouth. I choked, sputtering, and started thrashing, trying to fight my way back to the surface. Whoever was holding me down was strong. Much stronger than me. They clearly aimed to kill, shoving me deeper and deeper. T¡¯kicked and struggled, but it was useless In panic, I tried to call out my wolf. But how damn ironic¨Cshe hated water. If she came out now, she¡¯d drown us both faster. Seconds ticked by like hours. My chest felt like it was going to explode. I couldn¡¯t keep my mouth shut anymore. The second I opened it, bubbles rushed out My limbs started to go limp, my body growing weak. Was I dying? I forced my eyes of open, trying to get a look at my attacker. I wanted to see this fucking face. But the water warped their face¨CI could only make out a blurry shape¡­. Now even my vision was starting to fade¡­ I felt my hands drop. My body gradually sank to the bottom of theke. The murderer stood up, gave me onest cold look, then turned and walked away, Damn it That it? SPLASH!!! Right before everything went ck, I heard a loud ssh. Someone had jumped into theke after me. The water moved aroundme, someone was swimming fast towards. Then I felt an arm around my waist. He held me firmly against his chest and we swam to the surface. s me. __ARIA!!!¡± Next thing I knew, I was on the shore. Someone was pressing down on my chest, giving me CPR. Voices blurred together around me. I could hear people talking, screaming. moving My body jerked. I coughed a mouthful of water and finally felt better. Slowly, I opened my eyes, shivering. First thing I saw was a pair of deep, gorgeous grey eyes. Full of worries, I was in his arms. He was soaking wet from head to toe. The white shirt clung to his strong frame, water dripping down his handsome face. When our eyes met, he let out a breath and pressed his forehead against mine. Thank god,¡± he said hoarsely. I blinked. Tears slipped down my checks. I suddenly wrapped my arms around his neck and sobbed, ¡°Oh my god. I almost. Lalmost ¡°I know. But you¡¯re okay now. He held me tight like he wanted to squeeze me into his body. 0:49 AM ? Then I heard crying. I looked over and saw Delh, covering her mouth, sobbing in shock. Then there was Jace. Standing next to her, holding her close. For some reason, when I looked at him, he quickly looked away. There were giards, maids, even a couple of doctors surrounding us. Pretty sure the entire estate was here. ¡°Aria you scared the hell out of us!¡± Delh cried. ¡°Grayson said you hadn¡¯te back yet and I just thought you got lost or something. So we came out to find you and saw you sinking in theke¡­ Oh god I can¡¯t imagine it, if we were just a few minutester¨Cif Grayson hadn¡¯t insisted oning out and looking for you-¡± Twould¡¯ve died. No doubt about it. I gave another shudder. Grayson¡¯s arms instantly tightened around me. ¡°What happened?¡± he asked. Silence fell. Everyone was staring at me, waiting. Maybe even the killer was somewhere in the crowd. Someone tried to kill me,¡± I said. it a weak scream and nearly dropped to the ground, Jace grabbed her in time. Gasps. Then Delh let out a ¡°Tell me everything. Grayson said, his voice like a storm brewing. T¨CI was swimming, and I was tired, so I leaned on the edge to rest. Then someone came from behind and shoved me underwater. They didn¡¯t stop no matter how much I struggled. I cked out¡­ and the next thing I knew, you were pulling me out. ¡°Did you see who it was? Man or woman?! 1 shook my head weakly, ¡°No¡­ just someone really strong ¡°Security¡± Grayson snapped. A nervous middle¨Caged man jogged over, sweating. ¡°T¨CI¡¯m so sorry, Miss Collins. We checked all the cameras¡­ but there was no sign of anyone suspicious.¡± ¡°Check again, Grayson said coldly. *Maybe they¡¯re just really good at avoiding cameras?¡± Delh cried. ¡°Call the police! Get the officers to search every inch of this ce! Don¡¯t stop till they find someone!¡± ¡°Yes, Lady Hart!¡± ¡°Or maybe¡­ I raised my voice slightly, ¡°maybe the person¡¯s already inside. That exins why they can sneak up without anyone noticing. It¡¯s someone from the estate¡± The air went tense and 5¨CSomeone from the estate?¡± Delh¡¯s voice was light like a whisper like she¡¯s afraid to scare someone. ¡°But¨CBut you just got here today. You don¡¯t even know anyone here. Who would do something like that?¡± Thit my lips. Zane¡¯s words echoed in my head. Underestimating the people you think you know is dangerous. They¡¯re the ones who know where to hit hardest. I let out a shaky breath and looked straight at Jace. 9:49 AM He was already watching me, face dark and slightly panicked. When our eyes met, he froze. Then suddenly he snapped, ¡°Why the hell are you looking at me like that?!¡± ¡°Where were you just now?¡± I asked. His face turned red. ¡°What the hell are you doing? You think I¡¯m the murderer? That I try to kill you? Are you fucking insane?!¡± ¡°Wait, what¡¯s going on?¡± Delh gasped. ¡°Babe rx I¡¯m sure she doesn¡¯t mean that. Right Aria?¡± ¡°Ask this psycho. That¡¯s definitely what she meant!¡± ¡°Aria, tell him you didn¡¯t mean it I¡¯m not the only one who¡¯s thought this,¡± I said, voice trembling. ¡°Zane asked you the same thing. At the bar, you pushed me and I fell. Almostnded on that sculpture. If I hadn¡¯t been lucky. I¡¯d already be dead already. ¡°That was a damn ident! God I can¡¯t believe this. You and Zane¨Cyou¡¯re both paranoid freaks!¡± Then tell me. Where were you just now?¡± I pursued. Are you serious now Aria?¡± Delh shrieked. ¡°You think my husband tried to kill you? Christ I can¡¯t believe I called you my friend! Jace would never do something like that!¡± The thing is, I didn¡¯t know what Jace was capable of anymore. ¡°Enough, Grayson growled. ¡°No! Grayson, you tell your little whore to shut her damn mouth! Jace is my husband and part of the Hart family! She thinks just because she¡¯s chasing some pathetic contract with him, she can use him of murder? Please! He doesn¡¯t even want her stupid contract let alone- ¡°I SAID ENOUGH!¡± Grayson¡¯s Alpha aura exploded. Everyone around us flinched and bent over in pain. Delh went pale and finally shut up. ¡°Answer her question, Jace,¡± Grayson said coldly. Jace clenched his jaw. Before he could speak, Delh jumped in. ¡°He was with me! From the moment I left Aria to when you came looking for her, he was with me the whole time. Happy now?¡± My heart sank That meant¡­. it couldn¡¯t have been Jace So someone else out there hated me enough to want me dead. ¡­But who?2 ¡°That person probably doesn¡¯t even exist! It¡¯s all just a pathetic little act just trying to get your attention Grayson. Do not fall for it!¡± Delh said angrily while ring at me. ¡°I almost died and you think I was faking it?¡± I couldn¡¯t believe this. ¡°Please. I¡¯ve seen women do way worse to get my brother¡¯s attention. You aren¡¯t the first!¡± ¡°Shut it now.¡± Grayson hissed. And then he looked over to the security. ¡°I want patrols doubled tonight. Guards at every exit and outside every room. Expand the search until you find this person¡± ¡°Yes, Alpha!¡± Grayson lifted me into his arms again and started walking back toward the house. Omega maids scrambled to follow. Behind us, Delh shouted angrily: ¡°Hey! What the hell? She¡¯s not even gonna apologize to Jace?!¡± I shivered and tried to get down, but Grayson said quietly, ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± He carried me across the long wooden boardwalk and back into the vi Only when we got to the room did he finally set me down gently on the bed. The maids swarmed in, helping dry me off and get me changed. He was about to leave when I grabbed his hand. ¡°You also think I faked it?¡± I asked quietly. He brushed his hand over my hair. ¡°No¡± ¡°Maybe maybe I got it wrong with Jace. Maybe I should apologize to Delh.¡± ¡°You had every right to suspect him. Don¡¯t worry ¡°But if it wasn¡¯t him, then¡­ who was it?¡± I whispered. Someone out there wanted me dead. And I had no idea who they were or why. ¡°Go to sleep now,¡± he ordered. ¡°I¡¯ll find that person for you, Aria. Wore 31 Chapter 31 Third Person POV. ¡°Can you believe what Aria said? She actually used you of hurting her! God, I¡¯ve never heard anything more ridiculous in my entire life! I can¡¯t believe 1 ever treated her like a friend¡­¡± Delh was right on Jace¡¯s heels on their way back to the house. She was still ranting nonstop. But Jace hadn¡¯t said a single word on the entire walk. His face was dark, his mind somewhere else. Delh didn¡¯t stop. ¡°I won¡¯t forgive her this time. I swear! Seriously, that¡¯s like the worst kind of betrayal! I¡¯m starting to see why you hate her so much-¡± ¡°Are you done talking?¡± he suddenly exploded. She jumped, startled by his outburst. Her expression turned hurt and confused. ¡°Why are you yelling at me? I¡¯m on your side!¡± ¡°Thanks for the support,¡± he snapped. ¡°but it doesn¡¯t mean shit when your dear brother still thinks I¡¯m some fucking criminal does it?¡± He stormed off toward the garage. She tried to grab his arm. ¡°Wait! Where are you going?¡± He shook her off hard. ¡°Leaving this damn house. I¡¯m done with all of you Harts. Better walk off before you start thinking I¡¯ll actually kill someone yourself!¡± She yelled something behind him, but he wasn¡¯t listening. He was already out the door. The Porsche Delh had bought him a few days ago was parked right in the garage. He climbed in, mmed the door shut, and hit the gas. The engine roared as he sped away from the estate. His heart was racing, palms slick with sweat. He needed to get out¨CFAST. Every second under Grayson¡¯s cold, dead stare felt like torture. He needed to talk to someone. 40 minutester, Jace¡¯s car pulled into a small town and stopped in front of a run¨Cdown bar. It was still early, so the ce was almost empty. Only one yawning bartender was behind the counter, polishing sses. ¡°Is he here?¡± Jace asked. The bartender jerked his chin toward the shadows beside the bar. There, slouched in a booth, was a scruffy man nursing a beer. He was muttering to himself, like a lunatic. Jace walked over and grabbed him by the shoulder, spinning him around. ¡°What the fuck did you do, Jonathan?!¡± Th drunk gave a shudder. Then his eyes lit up. ¡°Oh hey, man! Right on time! Come on, we gotta celebrate-¡± ¡°No fucking celebration!¡± Jace growled, shoving the beer out of his hand. ¡°Just fucking tell me where the hell were you today? What did you do a few hours ago?!¡± Jonathan let out a sloppy burp andughed, It hadn¡¯t been that long since he got fired, but Jonathan already looked like a different person. The once¨Cpolished Apex executive was now just a pathetic drunk reeking of booze. Jace didn¡¯t think they¡¯d ran into each other either. Last night, after losing the deal with Zane, Jace stormed out of the house and randomly wandered into a pub. He almost didn¡¯t recognize the man who came stumbling over to hug him. But it was Jonathan. His best bud back at Apex. So they started drinking. Talking. They both fucking hated Aria. And Grayson. Why wouldn¡¯t they? Because of those two, Jace lost his manager title. And Jonathan? Fired, lost his penthouse, his sports car¨Cno one wanted to hire a guy with a sexual harassment record. He was now down to cleaning toilets at a small pub. Aria and Grayson pretty much ruined their lives! Jace couldn¡¯t remember everything he said that night. Probably a lot of bitching about Aria. And maybe, just maybe! He said something like ¡°God, I wish she was dead.¡± Bute on. Who the hell takes drunk talk seriously? ¡°Stopughing you dumbass and answer the fucking question!¡± Jace shouted, grabbing Jonathan by the cor, his voice shaking. ¡°You don¡¯t understand -something huge happened today-¡± ¡°Oh what? That chick almost drowned? Big deal,¡± Jonathan snorted with a shrug. Bib red Jace stumbled back like he¡¯d been hit. He stared at Jonathan, his face drained of color. ¡°Fuck¡­ oh my god. It was you¡­¡± ¡°Even easier than I thought,¡± Jonathan slurred proudly. ¡°When I came outta the woods, she was just there, floating in theke,pletely unaware of anything. Didn¡¯t even summon her wolf when I pushed her under. Took less than 2 minutes to drown her ass¡­¡± ¡°What the fuck did you do?!¡± Jace suddenly mmed him into the bar, smashing his back against the counter. ¡°Who the fuck told you to kill her? Who said you could hurt her?!¡± ¡°What¡¯s your fucking problem?!¡± Jonathan shouted. ¡°You forget already? You¡¯re the one who said you wished that bitch was dead. I¡¯m doing you a favor!¡± ¡°No. NO!¡± Jace was shaking. ¡°You almost killed her. You nearly took her away from me¡­¡± Jonathan blinked, then gave him a weird look. ¡°From you? Are you fucking serious? She¡¯s Grayson¡¯s bitch now. That uptight act she pulled with you? Total bullshit. She¡¯s now a slut for him! Why? ¡®Cause she thinks you¡¯re beneath her. Only a rich guy¡¯s dick is what she wants! Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re still hung up on that skanky chick-¡± ¡°Shut up. Shut the fuck up!¡± Jace roared. Jonathan spat to the side, then red at him. ¡°Now what did you mean by ALMOST? Don¡¯t tell me she¡¯s still alive.¡± Jace copsed into a chair. He gripped his hair, breathing hard. ¡°Yeah she¡¯s alive¡­ Grayson saved her.¡± Jonathan¡¯s face twitched. ¡°Shit.¡± ¡°Now Grayson¡¯s got everyone searching for the attacker. You get what that means, right? He¡¯s onto you. He¡¯s onto us, man!¡± ¡°Well I¡¯m not afraid of him!¡± Jonathan barked. But his pale face said otherwise. ¡°You should be,¡± Jace growled. ¡°He could crush you like a fucking ant. Grayson¡¯s not just powerful¨Che¡¯s connected. Every Alpha in the region and west to him. It won¡¯t take long before he finds you.¡± Jonathan stared at him, swallowing hard. ¡°So you¡¯re ditching me now? Don¡¯t forget this how¨Cyou¡¯re the one who said you wanted her dead. I just made it happen!¡± ¡°Shut up you dumb fuck.¡± Jace shoved a folder into his chest. ¡°There¡¯s a fake ID and everything you need in there. Get out. Leave the territory before they find you.¡± He shoved Jonathan away and stormed out of the bar. ¡°You know that bitch deserves to die!¡± Jonathan cried behind him. Jace didn¡¯t respond. Back in his car, he wiped the Porsche¡¯s GPS history clean, then sat with his head in his hands, taking a moment to steady his breathing. Then he drove off. By the time he got back to the estate, it waste. But the gates were still lit up Jace pulled up and rolled down the window. ¡°Open the gate.¡± ¡°Where were you, sir?¡± the security asked. ¡°I¡¯m your fucking master you dumbass. Open the fucking gate!¡± he snapped. The guard didn¡¯t move, just eyeing him icily. Then a tall figure stepped out from the shadows and walked up to the car. Grayson. ¡°Out. Now.¡± Jace swallowed hard but eventually obeyed. and guarded. ¡°Look, Alpha Grayson, I just went out for a drink. Today was insane so I needed to clear my head, no big deal¨CAHHH!!!¡± Before he could finish, Grayson punched him across the face, sending him flying backward to the ground. Pain shot through his whole body as he struggled to get up, but Grayson stomped on his chest, pinning him down again. He¡¯s freaked out. He tried to shift, but Grayson suddenly let out a terrifying long howl. His alpha aura swept across the air, freezing everyone in ce. ¡°I¡¯m giving you one chance to tell me the truth.¡± Those smokey grey eyes had turned pitch ck. Almost like the devil had risen. Wore 32 Chapter 32 Third Person POV ¡°W¨CWhat truth?! I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about!¡± Jace shouted, struggling beneath Grayson¡¯s boot. Grayson fet out a coldugh and suddenly put more weight into the foot pressing down on Jace¡¯s chest. A sickening crack echoed through the air. His bone broke. Jace let out a loud scream as blood dripped from the corner of his lips. ¡°I know you had something to do with what happened today And I know you met someone tonight. You better tell me who it was now¨Cbecause if you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll find out anyway.¡± Jace choked on blood, coughing. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me¡­ I would never¡­ never hurt Aria¡­¡± Grayson grabbed his cor and hauled him to his feet, then mmed him hard against the car. Jace gasped, staring into Grayson¡¯s rage¨Ctwisted face. ¡°Would never hurt her? Don¡¯t think I¡¯m as easy to fool as Delh!¡± Grayson growled, his voice dangerously low. ¡°I know you stalked her. Threatened her. You even shoved her the other day and nearly made her fall to her death. You¡¯ve got a thousand reasons to want her gone. And the biggest one? You¡¯re terrified as hell she¡¯ll tell Delh all about your pathetic past.¡± Jace¡¯s lips trembled. Then, his lips twisted into a sneer. ¡°No Grayson. I¡¯ve got an even bigger reason. One you¡¯re too much of a coward to admit¡­I still have feelings for Aria.¡± Grayson caught his throat in an iron grip. ¡°You married my sister!¡± Jace coughed,ughing icily. ¡°And you think you¡¯re any better? You¡¯re acting like you care about Aria, but she¡¯s really just some toy to mess with! At least she was my real girlfriend. We had a past. A real one. Something you¡¯ll never have!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell Delh about this,¡± Grayson said darkly. ¡°Oh yeah? Good luck. Like she¡¯s actually gonna believe a word you say.¡± Jace gave a crooked, bloody smile. ¡°And maybe you shouldn¡¯t piss me off either, because if you do, Delh won¡¯t forgive you. She¡¯s already pissed about how you¡¯ve been treating metely.¡± Grayson stared him down with icy disdain. Jace shivered under his gaze but tried to maintain a defiant face. ¡°Take him to the warehouse.¡± Grayson suddenly ordered turned on his heel. The guards rushed over, grabbing Jace by the arms and dragging him across the estate. ¡°Let go of me¨CFUCK¨CGrayson! What the hell are you doing?! GRAYSON!¡± Someone stuffed a cloth into his mouth. Jace¡¯s shouts turned into muffled cries. They dragged him deep into the estate, far from the mansion, to a warehouse where no one would hear even the loudest screarn. The door mmed shut behind them.¡± ¡°What the fuck do you want from me?!¡± Jace roared. They shoved him onto the ground. Grayson tossed a document and a pen in front of him. The prenup. The one Jace had refused to sign. ¡°Sign it.¡± ¡°You wish! I¡¯ll never fucking sign that thing!¡± Jace spat. Grayson stared down at him with calm fury. ¡°You don¡¯t love Delh. You married her for the money. But I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t get a single damn cent from the Hart family.¡± ¡°Fuck you, Grayson! You think you¡¯re some mighty fucking god? You just got lucky being born into the right family. If I were a Hart too, i¡¯d be ten times the man you are!¡± Grayson let out a cold, mockingugh. ¡°But you¡¯re not. You¡¯re just trash. Your whole family¡¯s trash. Marrying a rich girl is the best thing that ever happen to you but it still won¡¯t change your fate.¡± He stomped on Jace¡¯s right wrist. ¡°Sign it.¡± Jace shook violently, struggling. ¡°Fuck you¨CAHHH!¡± Grayson snapped his wrist without hesitation. ¡°You psycho! I¡¯ll tell Delh everything you did to me!¡± Jace screamed in agony. ¡°Delh¡¯s the only card you¡¯ve got left. Too bad though¨Cshe doesn¡¯t run the Hart family. I DO.¡± Grayson¡¯s voice was ice. ¡°Now sign the goddamn thing. You¡¯ve still got your left hand.¡± Sweat drenched Jace¡¯s shaking body. One of the guards raised a gun to the back of his head. ¡°Or I shoot you right here. After what you did to Aria, you deserve to die a million times over.¡± The warehouse fell into silence, broken only by Jace¡¯s ragged sobs of pain. After a long moment, he gave up. He snatched the pen and scrawled his name across the prenup. ¤¤¤Á Grayson picked it up, checked the signature¨Cstill fresh and stained with blood¨Cand handed it to one of the guards. ¡°Give this to thewyer. Make sure it¡¯s activated immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, Alpha.¡± ¡°Did you check his dashcam?¡± ¡°We did. Bastard wiped everything.¡± ¡°Widen the search. Contact the local Alphas. I want every surveince camera scanned. I need to know who he met with tonight.¡± ¡°Understood. And when we find that person-¡± ¡°Bring him to me. I¡¯ll deal with him myself.¡± The chill in Grayson¡¯s voice made Jace tremble again¨Cthis time, more from fear than pain. ¡°I told you, I didn¡¯t meet anyone!¡± Jace, choked out. ¡°Save it. When ! find him, both of you are fucking dead.¡± Grayson kicked him aside like garbage and stormed out. ¡°Leave him here. His wolf will handle the healing.¡± ¡°Yes, Alpha.¡± The warehouse door mmed shut. Jacey t on his back, blood still dripping down his face. The searing pain in his wrist made him want to scream. But more than pain, he felt rage. Pure, consuming rage. He fucking hated Grayson. WHY? Why did that bastard get everything? Why did Aria fall for him? All Grayson had was money. That was it. Meanwhile Jace had worked so hard. He even married a woman he didn¡¯t love, just to climb thedder. Grayson didn¡¯t have a fraction of his ambition. And now it was all ruined. That prenup sealed his fate¨Che wouldn¡¯t get a single cent from the Harts. All the sucking up to Delh had been for nothing. ¡­No. He wouldn¡¯t give up. There¡¯s something else he could do. And he wouldn¡¯t just get the Harts¡® money¨Che¡¯d take everything Grayson had. Including Ar¨ªa. Jace pushed himself off the floor, limping toward the warehouse door. He mmed into it with his shoulder and stumbled into the dark night. With every step, the shame and fury inside him grew. He knew exactly what he was going to do next. He dragged himself up the stairs and into the bedroom he shared with Delh. She opened up the door and screamed. ¡°Jace? Oh my god babe!! What happened to you?!¡± Jace copsed, and Delh rushed to catch him. ¡°Doctor! Where the hell is the doctor?!¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Jace grabbed her wrist. ¡°Delh¡­ baby¡­ tell me¡­ do you love me?¡± ¡°Of course babe. More than anything! Why would you even ask? Who did this to you?!¡± ¡°Would you fight anyone for me?¡± ¡°Of course¨Ceven my own parents. You¡¯re the most important person in my life.¡± She held him tighter. ¡°Please, just tell me what happened. Don¡¯t keep me in the dark.¡± Jace knew this was a huge gamble. But after the prenup, he had nothing left to lose. He cupped her face, looking into her tearful eyes. ¡°Sweetheart¡­ there¡¯s something I need to tell you¡­ a secret¡­¡± Wore 33 Chapter 33 Aria¡¯s POV I felt like someone was chasing me in my dream. I couldn¡¯t see his face, but I could feel it- he wanted to kill me. I was running blindly, stumbling all the way until I ended up at Grayson¡¯s vi. But the gates were locked. I pounded on them with all my strength, but no one came to open the door. Then I looked up¨Cand I saw it. He was standing by the window on the second floor all along, staring down at me with cold, emotionless grey eyes. I screamed, begging him for help. He didn¡¯t move. And the killer was already right behind me- ¡°Ahhhh-!¡± I screamed myself awake from the nightmare. Someone immediately wrapped me in a hug. I was shaking in his arms, gasping for breath. It wasn¡¯t until that familiar scent of pine wrapped around me that I started to calm down a little. ¡°Nightmare?¡± he asked in a soft voice, stroking my sweaty forehead. I let out a shaky breath. ¡°Yeah¡­It was bad.¡± ¡°I heard you calling my name in your sleep. What¡¯s it about?¡± I hesitated. He grabbed my chin and tilted it up, forcing me to look at him. The room was dark¨Cthe curtains were still drawn¨Cbut his gray eyes were gleaming cold and bright in the shadow. ¡°Tell me.¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°I dreamed¡­ that the killer came back. I ran to the vi to ask for your help, but no one answered the door. And you were just standing there at the window¡­ watching me like you didn¡¯t care.¡± He froze. Then he brought his fingers sliding down my face, brushing my neck, then pausing over my heart. A secondter, his lips were on mine, kissing me like he needed to remind me I was his. I clung to his shoulders and kissed him back with everything I got. Deep down I knew what I was really afraid of. That I didn¡¯t matter to him. That he¡¯d walk away and leave me. ¡°¡­You were right,¡± he whispered against my ear. ¡°Jace is involved in all this.¡± My heart skipped a beat. ¡°He wanted to kill me? Seriously?¡± ¡°No. Not him. But someone he knows. I caught him sneaking out tonight. I¡¯ve already got people looking into who he met. Don¡¯t worry¨CI won¡¯t let him hurt you again.¡± So Jace really was involved. I couldn¡¯t figure out what he was thinking I didn¡¯t want to believe he would actually hire someone to kill me. Chapter 33 But right now, I didn¡¯t want to waste my thoughts on Jace. 1 buried myself deeper in his arms, savoring this moment just lying with him in the dark, feeling safe. ¡­Do you think I should apologize to Delh?¡± I asked in a quiet voice. ¡°She seemed pretty upset earlier.¡± ¡°No. She needs to realize that she married a jerk.¡± He covered my eyes with his hand. ¡°Stop worrying. It¡¯s only 4 in the morning. Try to get some more sleep.¡± We kissed gently. It was honestly the most wonderful feeling in the world. Sleepiness washed over me again, i drifted off in his arms. When I woke up again, it was already light out. Grayson was still beside me. I had a feeling he hadn¡¯t slept at all¨Cbut of course, staying up all night didn¡¯t put a dent in his perfect looks. ¡°I know it¡¯s a bit rushed, but I need to leave today,¡± he said while I was still yawning in his arms. ¡°You can stay here as long as you want. I left a whole security team to keep you safe.¡± ¡°I¡¯ming with you,¡± I said immediately. He nodded like he expected that. ¡°Then pack up. Flight¡¯s this afternoon.¡± I stretched and hopped out of bed, already feeling a hundred times better than I didst night. Honestly, his scent was the best medicine in the world. ¡°Should we let Delh know we¡¯re leaving?¡± ¡°No need. She and Jace already left.¡± I paused and frowned. Not having to share a ne with Jace was a huge relief. But the fact that Delh left without saying anything was also a bad sign. Feeling uneasy, I texted her several times while packing. I asked if we could talk after getting back. But she never responded. That afternoon, we boarded the flight back home. After nearly ten hours, we¡¯d flown across half the world back to Red Stone Pack. It felt good to be back. Especially after all the crazy shit we¡¯d been throughtely. I could finally breathe again. Mrs. Jones was already waiting for us at the gate with a group of servants. Her usual smile made my heart swell. ¡°Wee home, Alpha. Miss Collins.¡± I replied with a big smile. Grayson simply nodded. His face was as cold as ever. ¡°I¡¯ll be in the study.¡± He strode inside. I ran up to hug her. ¡°I really missed you. Look¨CI brought you some honey from Europe. It¡¯svender¨Cvored!¡± Sheughed and took the gift. ¡°This vi just hasn¡¯t felt the same without you and the Alpha. If you¡¯re not too tired, I was to make a cake for afternoon tea. I think the Alpha would enjoy that.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± I immediately agreed and followed her into the kitchen. She helped me tie on an apron and we started discussing the recipe. But before we could get too far, Grayson showed up in the kitchen again. ¡°Aria. Do you have a minute?¡± His voice was cool, his face still unreadable. ¡°Uh¡­ sure? What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Come with me.¡± He dropped that and left. shoping we could use this honey 23.04 IVI I nced at Mrs. Jones, suddenly nervous. ¡°What did I do?¡± ¡°You should go,¡± she whispered urgently, giving me a gentle push. I quickly untied my apron and followed Grayson up the stairs. He was headed straight for my room. My mind started racing¨Chad I done something that upset him? But I couldn¡¯t think of anything. I hadn¡¯t lied about my safety. I hadn¡¯t gotten involved in his personal business. I seriously had no idea what this was about. He pushed open my bedroom door and stepped inside. Then he turned around to face me, hands in his pockets, just watching me like he was waiting for me to confess. I looked back at him, bewildered. ¡°You have nothing to say?¡± he asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Uh¡­ should I?¡± His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied me. My back was starting to sweat. Then he said: ¡°All your stuff is packed.¡± ¡°Oh yeah! Well that¡¯s because¡­¡± I froze mid¨Csentence. Then it hit me. Right before our trip to Europe, we¡¯d had that huge fight. He mmed the door and said we needed space. I thought that meant we were over¨Cso ! packed all my stuff. Of course we made upter, and I forgot all about it. So this was what this¡¯s all about? ¡°Because?¡± he pressed. ¡°¡­Remember that fight we had? I thought you were ending things with me. So I packed¡­ just in case,¡± I muttered. His jaw clenched. I could practically feel his scent thickening in the air. Oh no. Not a good sign. quickly moved closer and wrapped my arms around his waist. He didn¡¯t push me away. But his body was still stiff. ¡°You¡¯re mad because I packed without asking?¡± I made my guess. His expression was unreadable. ¡°Only I get to decide when this contract ends.¡± ¡°I know! I wasn¡¯t trying to end it. I just thought you wanted to. Remember? You said¡ª¡± He cut me off with a kiss. Hard and possessive. I kissed him back immediately, standing on tiptoe. Then he spooned me up and carried me over to the window. We kept kissing as he sat me down on the windowsill, bending down just for me. I panted, threading my fingers through his thick hair. ¡°You¡¯re really mad might leave right? You don¡¯t want to lose me? He bit my lip. ¡°You sound a little full of yourself.¡± ¡°Then may I ask my dear Alpha¡­ what were you doing in my room anyway? I thought you¡¯d be in your study.¡± ¡°I came to give you this.¡± I felt something cool press against my corbone. I looked down¨Cand gasped. It was the most beautiful blue crystal ne I¡¯d ever seen. Even prettier than those luxury ones I saw in jewelry magazines. It sparkled in the sunlight like gentle ocean waves. ¡°I thought it suited you.¡± he stared deep into my eyes. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might fly out of my chest. If this were a dream, I¡¯d give anything not to wake up from it. ¡°Do you like it?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± I bit my lip and gave him a little wink. ¡°So¡­ do you wanna see me wearing nothing but the ne?¡± Wore 34 Chapter 34 Aria¡¯s POV His answer, obviously, was yes. Half an hourter, I reached my orgasm right there on that windowsill. My legs were still shaking from the aftershocks as he slowly pulled his long finger out of me. That ne he gave me sparkled on my bare chest like the ocean. I could barely stand. He had to carry me into the bathroom. So yeah, my dessert date with Mrs. Jones was definitely rescheduled. That night, we slept together again. It was starting to be a habit. As I curled up in his arms, drifting off, I was actually horrified that I might get addicted to this. I don¡¯t know if my scent helped him sleep better, but there was one thing I knew for sure- Whenever I fell asleep beside him, I¡¯d dream of that giant ck wolf ying with my little wolf in the woods. And it made me feel so, so safe. When I woke up the next morning, he was already gone from bed. There¡¯s no surprise to that because the man wakes up at ungodly hours. While the rest of us are still brushing our teeth, he¡¯s probably already closed a business deal and signed off on a merger. I yawned my way through my morning routine and headed back to my room to get dressed. When I came downstairs to wait for the driver, I found Grayson still at the dining table. He gave my stunned face a quick nce and then checked his watch. ¡°It¡¯s 8:50. You know you¡¯re going to bete at this hour.¡± ¡°No way that¡¯s when I always go to work¡­ Hold on a second. Why are you still home? I thought you were already at the office.¡± ¡°I¡¯m driving you today,¡± he said like it was the most normal thing in the world. ¡°Now let¡¯s go.¡± And by ¡°driving me,¡± he meant literally. He was behind the wheel. And I sat in the passenger seat, utterly speechless. ¡°Why so shocked?¡± he asked as we pulled out of the garage. ¡°No, I mean¨Cis this even real? Did the Alpha of Red Stone Pack just be my personal chauffeur?¡± His eyes stayed on the road, but the corner of his lips lifted into a faint smile. ¡°We live under the same roof. We work in the same ce. It¡¯s the most efficient way to go. Plus it¡¯s greener this way.¡± Wow. Grayson Hart talking about energy conservation. What¡¯s next? ¡°But what about your driver?¡± ¡°I gave him the morning off, I prefer spending themute alone with you.¡± I had to bite my lip to keep from giggling stupidly. The car stopped at a red light. I took the chance and reached over andced my fingers through his. ¡°Aria, that¡¯s not safe,¡± he warned. Chapter 34 I pretended I didn¡¯t hear him and turned my head away to look out the window. He didn¡¯t pull his hand away. We ended up holding hands the whole way. When we were close enough to the Apex building, I spotted some coworkers getting off the subway, ¡°Hey, pull over here!¡± I said hastily. He frowned but listened. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I appreciate the ride, but we can¡¯t be seen together,¡± I said, grabbing my bag and shing him a yful grin. ¡°This was fun. But I¡¯ll see you Alpha Grayson.¡± 1 reached for the door. nit. He immediately leaned over and pped a hand on i ¡°So that¡¯s it? You are going to use and ditch me?¡± His eyes narrowed dangerously. My heart skipped. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°Definitely. You¡¯re about to find out what happens when you treat your Alpha like a freaking Uber driver.¡± He leaned in for a kiss. But I dodged swiftly. After sneaking a quick kiss on his lips, I jumped off the car as quickly as I could. ¡°See you tonight at home!¡± I shouted over my shoulder before mming the door and running off. There was no way he¡¯d chase me down the street, no matter how mad he was. God messing with the Alpha was so fun! Just imagining his face made me grin like an idiot the entire way into the Apex lobby. Apparently, word of mending the Zane deal had already spread. When I stepped onto the marketing floor, everyone turned to look at me. Then came the thunderous apuse. I froze in ce, blushing. I had never seen something like this before. ¡°Ahh Aria! Finally!¡± Gary marched over with his face red from excitement. He pped a big hand on my shoulder, and announced to the entire floor: ¡°Now this is what a top sales rep should look like! One month in and she¡¯s alreadynded our most difficult client. Let¡¯s give her another round of apuse!¡± The apuse got louder. Some people were even shouting my name. My face had be tomato red. ¡°Thanks, Gary. I couldn¡¯t have done it without your help.¡± ¡°Nah I didn¡¯t do anything. It¡¯s all you. And here¡¯s something else you need to know: thepany¡¯s hosting a big shareholder showcase. Your new project¡¯s front and center. Better get ready for it now because you¡¯ll be pitching to all the shareholders!¡± What! 23:54 Mon, 21 Jul My heart nearly exploded. It¡¯s just one big news after another. 1 barely managed to squeak out another thank you before Gary walked off grinning. And that high carried me all morning. 60% People kepting by my desk, trying to figure out how I did it. I kept telling them I just got lucky, but no one believed me. They were convinced I had some magic trick. 3 girls stuck with me during lunch hour. They were still digging for answers. ¡°I swear.¡± I told them for the millionth time. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything special. Mr. Elrod practically handed me that contract himself. It¡¯s pure fuck.¡± ¡°Well, Mr. Elrod must really like you then,¡± one girl said, slightly jealous. ¡°I heard another sales rep once tried to wash his car and even drank the rinse water to try and entertain him. And guess what? Still didn¡¯t get the deal.¡± I gagged. Seriously. Zane¡¯s kinks were next¨Clevel. Being held at gunpoint was probably the least weird part of it. We had reached the elevator. There we ran into a group of marketing folks¨Cincluding Brielle. My former coworker on Jace¡¯s team. Brielle spotted me and almost instantly her face turned bitter. ¡°¡­Look at her. She¡¯s so miserable right now,¡± a girl giggled behind me. ¡°I heard her team leader Jace tried tond the same deal but failed. He bragged to everyone how he was Zane¡¯s best buddy. But now you¡¯ve got the contract and he¡¯s got nothing! Now he¡¯s too embarrassed to even show up.¡± I ignored Brielle and tried to walk past her. But she stepped in my way. ¡°You have no shame!¡± she shrieked. ¡°Excuse me but I don¡¯t have time for your dramas,¡± I said icily. ¡°You slept your way into that deal again, didn¡¯t you? I know it that¡¯s how you do everything! But don¡¯t get cocky though. When people find out how you really got that contract-¡± ¡°They¡¯ll see that everything was clean and legit,¡± I snapped.¡± see how well it worked out for him.¡± ¡°Seriously. Still trying to take me down with these lies? Jace tried that too. Now you could Almost everyone presentughed. Brielle¡¯s face turned crimson. ¡°You know nobody in thispany will ever take you seriously! Once a whore, always a whore. You¡¯re just a pathetic little joke-¡± Before she could finish with that mean cursing, a deep voice cut her off. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± I spun around. Grayson was standing a few steps away with his team of assistants. He was frowning at us. There was amotion. Everyone bowed and greeted him in a panic. And Brielle looked like she was going to faint. ¥´¥ë Grayson¡¯s cold eyes scanned the crowd. ¡°I expect professionalism. No shouting or curses in the workce.¡± There¡¯s around of mumbled apologies. Then his eyesnded on me. ¡°Ms. Collins?¡± I shivered and straightened up. ¡°Yes, Alpha?¡± ¡°Good job on the deal.¡± I held my breath, my heart thudding like a war drum. ¡°T¨CThank you Alpha.¡± The crowd buzzed with whispers, and I could feel all the curious, jealous eyes on me¨Cprobably because I was just a low¨Clevel employee but actually got praised by Alpha Grayson himself. But they didn¡¯t know¡­ no one did. No one knew what we really were to each other. We had to pretend we were strangers. All distant. But I was a 100% sure that he was flirting with me just now¡­ God it felt so thrilling. He gave me a long, intense look before turning away with his assistants. The crowd gradually dispersed, leaving Brielle standing there all embarrassed and awkward. ¡°Oh my god, did you see Brielle¡¯s face? She looked like someone literally smacked her!¡± The girls and I found a spot in the sky garden and sat down with our lunches. They were still buzzing with excitement about what had just happened. I was a little lost in my own thoughts. ¡°Aria, even Alpha Grayson knows your name now. That¡¯s huge!¡± one of them said, her eyes full of envy. ¡°Uh¡­ maybe, but I doubt he¡¯ll even remember me¡­ excuse me for a sec.¡± I stood up quickly and snuck to the side with my phone. Then I started texting quickly. [WHAT WAS THAT???] He replied almost instantly. [What was what?] [You were flirting with me just now.] I used. [I was just giving an employee a little well¨Cdeserved recognition. How is that flirting?] I bit my lip and typed back even after: [You were doing it with your eyes.] This time, the reply didn¡¯te right away. Just when I started wondering if I¡¯d pushed it too far, my phone buzzed again [Did it work?] My heart thumped so hard it felt like it might explode out of my chest. Before I could even reply, another message came through: [You know the code to my private elevator. I¡¯ve got a little time during lunch.] 28154 Mon, 21 Jul 7 D Wore 35 Chapter 35 Aria¡¯s POV I quickly bit my lip to stop a gasp. Then I quickly shoved my phone back into my pocket, and walked back to the girls like nothing happened ¡°Hey, something just came up¡­ one of my clients suddenly messaged me. I need to run back to the office.¡± I threw out the most believable excuse I could think of. They all looked disappointed. ¡°What you can¡¯t even spare one lunch break? We were dying to hear how you closed the deal with Mr. Elrod.¡± ¡°Sorry, but it¡¯s really urgent. Rain check, okay? Catch youter!¡± I hurried off and headed back into the building. I¡¯d only ever taken the CEO¡¯s private elevator once¨Cback when I got fired from Apex and had to beg Grayson for help. That time, the mean receptionist gave me a hard time. Yet this time I found out that the mean receptionist had been reced. A new girl gave me a warm smile as i approached. She didn¡¯t stop me at all. Maybe she¡¯d received orders? Islipped past quickly, heart pounding at the thought of any of the colleagues might catch me going into the CEO¡¯s private elevator. Lucky for me though no one was around. Into the elevator, I typed in the code. The elevator started moving up. When the doors slid open, I ran straight into Nora. ¡°Oh hey Arial Coming to see Alpha Grayson?¡± ¡°Uh, yeah. Is he in?¡± ¡°Of course. He¡¯s waiting for you.¡± She gave me a knowing smile and even winked. I could feel my face flush instantly. ¡°Umm, thanks,¡± Grayson was indeed in his massive office. But he had his headphones on when I stepped in, clearly still in a meeting He looked serious and focused. He gave me a quick nod, pointed to the couch and quickly returned to whatever his team was saying Now this was frustrating. I thought he had some time for mel I wandered around for a bit, and then slowly moved closer to him. Standing behind his back, I wrapped my arms around his neck and gently blew into his ear He froze mid¨Csentence. ¡°Everything alright, Alpha Grayson?¡± someone asked on the call. ¡°All good,¡± he replied calmly and went on like nothing happened. I grinned silently on his shoulder and kept pushing my luck- Slipping one hand down his shirt, and running my fingers across his chest, Damn, his body was insane. Smooth skin. Rock¨Chard pecs. I could feel his muscles shift under my touch¡­ Suddenly, he grabbed my wrist. Stop. He gave me a stern warning look. But I already knew him too well to know where the line was, and how to tease just short of it. So I leaned in anyway and gently licked the edge of his ear Then it got out of control Heyanked me into hisp so fast I let out a surprised yelp. ¡°Ahh!¡± The people on the other end of his meeting definitely heard me, because the whole line went awkwardly quiet. OK now I was probably out of line. I tried to get up, panicking a little, but he tightened his grip around my waist. ¡°Go on,¡± he told them gruffly, before mming the mute button. ¡°Sorry! I didn¡¯t mean¨Cahl¡± He swept everything aside and shoved me down on his desk.. My upper body hit the surface while my legs dangled off the edge, and he stepped between them. Just like that, my whole body heated up. ¡°You think that was funny?¡± His voice was cold, even stern. But his hands were already under my skirt and came straight to my bottom area. He pressed on my clit, hard. Thet out a soft gasp.¡±No, no¡­not funny! I¡¯m sorry.¡± His thumb kept rubbing my cilit across my panties, Soon my juice wet the thinyer of fabric. He stared me down, examining my heated face. ¡°You think just because the contract forbids me to fuck you, you can do whatever you want to provoke me.¡± I bit my lip, breathing heavily. He put more pressure on his thumb, even stuffing part of the fabric into my hole, I moaned pleadingly. ¡°You need a good fuck to behave, don¡¯t you?¡± he demanded. ¡°No.. please I said I¡¯m sorry. Please.¡± I wanted him to shove his long finger into me and end this torturing void. Yet instead, he simply pulled hand ou ¡°You¡¯ve had enough pleasure from this rtionship. I say it¡¯s enough,¡± he said coolly. I sat up and used him n with my eyes. ¡°You are ying dirty!¡± ¡°You know how much I want to put you over this desk and fuck you hard, and yet you are taking advantage of the fact that I can¡¯t how who ying dirty?¡± It was obvious he wasn¡¯t nning to give me what I wanted. I bit my lip, sitting up with a pout. For a second, I actually considered giving in on my one non¨Cnegotiable¡­ but deep down I knew how stupid that would be. ¡°Let me know when you change your mind,¡± he said with a smug little smirk. ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± I shot back, just as stubborn. I hopped off the desk, my body nowpletely cooled down from just moments ago. Now I knew this was a power y. He wouldn¡¯t ask for it. Too proud. And I wouldn¡¯t bend either. This would keep going till one of us would eventually give in¡­ Or this whole thing would fall apart. He pulled me back into hisp. ¡°So I heard all your coworkers are obsessed with your new deal?¡± ¡°They¡¯re all really nice,¡± I smiled. ¡°And Gary told me I¡¯ll be presenting at the shareholder meeting soon. Can you believe that? Me. On stage. At the shareholder meeting!¡± He chuckled. ¡°Well, let me hit you with another surprise¨CMy parents will be attending that meeting. ¡°What?!¡± I practically screamed, nearly falling off hisp. ¡°That excited?¡± ¡°No¨Cnot excited. More like¡­terrified.¡± I murmured. His parents. The legendary former Luna and Alpha of Red Stone Pack. They were the true royalty. The kind of people you only heard about in whispers. They didn¡¯t do media. They didn¡¯t show up at events. They were myths in tailored suits. And now I was going to meet them. Worse¨CI¡¯d have to speak in front of them. ¡°Do they know about¡­ us?¡± Lasked in a low and strained voice. ¡°Of course not,¡± he said tly. Yeah, figures. I wasn¡¯t his girlfriend or anything. ¡°Please tell me at least you¡¯ll be in the audience? Like, for moral support?¡°¡± He gave me an evil little grin. ¡°That¡¯s the other thing¨CI¡¯ve got a negotiation that oveps with the meeting, I won¡¯t be there I groaned and flopped against his chest. ¡°Noool is it toote to back out?¡± Chapter 35 ¡°The Aria I know doesn¡¯t back out. Besides, I¡¯ve got a way to boost your confidence.¡± He slipped something into my pocket. It was a ck.card. ¡°You think confidence can be bought?¡± ¡°Confidence can¡¯t be bought. But killer clothes, shoes, and jewelry can. You know what they say¨Cevery soldier needs good armor. He kissed my forehead. ¡°Your CEO just gave you the afternoon off, Go shopping for your shareholder debut outfit.¡± ¡°Can I have youe with me?¡± I asked hopefully. ¡°No. I¡¯ve already dyed my meeting long enough.¡± He nodded toward his still¨Cmuted conference call I watched him reconnect to the meeting and knew our little lunch break was officially over. Not wanting to disturb him, I stood and quietly left his office. So now I had a free afternoon¡­ and a no¨Climit credit card. And a killer outfit to find. nly one person came to mind for this kind of mission: Delh. Only I pulled out my phone and texted her. [hey I¡¯m back. wanna go shopping? ? We can talk.] But just like all my other messages¡­This one went unanswered too AD Comment Wore 36 Chapter 36 Aria¡¯s POV Since Delh was still nowhere to be found, I ended up going to the mall alone with that magical ck cand in my pocket. It was my first time walking into a luxury boutique by myself. Really intimidating. it¡¯s hard to focus on shopping when every sales is staring at you like they¡¯d afraid you¡¯d steal But the moment I pulled out that ck card, their attitude flipped in an instant. After a couple hours of shopping, I was sent off like royalty, with the sales and security guards carrying my bags and escorting me all the way to a cab. I checked the time. Still early, So I decided to stop by the hospital and visit Grandma. ¡°Hey Aria girl, I missed you!¡± May wrapped me in a tight hug. She sometimes worked part¨Ctime as a nurse aide at Grandma¡¯s hospital, and today just happened to be her ¡°I missed you too. How¡¯s nanny doing today?¡± She sighed.
  1. d. ¡°You caught her on a rough day.¡±
She led me to the lounge and pointed through the ss. Grandma sat alone by the window, staring nkly outside like she was lost in another world. I swallowed nervously and slowly walked over. ¡°Hey Grandma¡­ did you miss me?¡± Her clouded eyesnded on myce. After a long pause, she suddenly grabbed my hand and squeezed it. re back!¡± she panted. ¡°Jolene, you¡¯re Jolene was my mom¡¯s name She didn¡¯t recognize me anymore. ¡°No, Grandma¡­ it¡¯s me. A, your granddaughter-¡± But she suddenly started shaking my body. ¡°Jolene you cruel little wench, why did you leave home? Yeah you married that drunk, gambling bastard and you were all miserable and everything. I get it¨Cyou wanted to escape but what about Aria?!¡± ¡°Grandma calm down! Mom¡¯s not here ¡°You left Aria with that monster. Did you care nothing about your baby girl? Oh Aria Aria¡¯s had such a hard life. Look what you did, Jolene She yanked on my hair, screaming at the top of her lungs. May and a couple of nurses had to rush over and quickly wheeled her away. I couldn¡¯t even stand up. Tears streamed down my face as I curled up and cried into my knees. ¡°¡­Hey.¡± May came back and handed me some tissues. I wiped my face, sobbing. ¡°Her condition¡¯s getting worse, isn¡¯t it?¡± May sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not getting any better, that¡¯s for sure. The doctor said if this keeps up, they might ask you to consider a higher¨Clevel care facility.¡± I want grandma to be in good hands as well. Yet it also meant more money. But if it¡¯s for Grandma, I¡¯ll do anything. She was the one who took care of me when Mom left, protected me until I was old enough to stand on my own. She¡¯s my everything. ¡°I¡¯ll figure something out,¡± I said, biting my lip. ¡°So¡­ how¡¯s it going with Alpha Grayson?¡± I let out a bitterugh. ¡°Same as always. When it¡¯s good, he¡¯s like the best lover in the world. When it¡¯s bad¡­ it¡¯s really bad.¡± She looked at me, worried. ¡°Are you sure you want to stay with someone like that? I know I joke about you two all the time, but seriously¡­ things with those rich bastards neverst. And you need someone to hold your hands and understand your life. What kind of future do you have with him anyway!¡± I let out a sigh None. There¡¯s absolutely no future between me and Grayson. All we have is a damn contract. I can¡¯t let myself forget that, no matter how good he treats me sometimes. ¡°But I can¡¯t leave him May. Not yet. Only he can give me the money I need.¡± So I had to work harder Then maybe someday, when I¡¯ve saved up enough, I might have more options. After visiting Grandma, I threw myself into work I worked my ass off for the shareholder conference. Went over my speech again and again till it¡¯s perfect. Time flew by, and before I knew it, the big day had arrived. Apex had booked the grand ballroom of the best hotel in the city. Luxury cars started lining up at the entrance in the afternoon. Security was tight. Because the richest and most powerful groups of people in the world had arrived. I showed up wearing the new outfit I picked out a blush pink business dress. Professional but still fresh and youthful Hopefully it would give me the confidence boost I needed. ¡°Oh hey Arial You look amazing!¡± Gray rushed over to shake my hand. He looked super hyped today. ¡°You¡¯re gonna kill it today. I can feel it. The whole team is rooting for you ¡°Thanks.¡± I smiled and then looked around.¡°¡­By the way, have the old Alpha and Luna arrived yet!¡°¡± ¡°Oh yeah, this is their family business so they were one of the first to show. Look.¡± He pointed. Seated in the most prominent spot in the room was a couple surrounded by bodyguards and servants,pletely separate from the other guests. They were the most aristocratic, arrogant, and intimidating people you could imagine. He looked like he stepped straight out of a history book¨Csilver cane, wless tur, not a single hair out of ce. And she was elegance turned into stone. Perfect skin, signature blood¨Cred lips, and those icy gray eyes. Grayson had her eyes. But at least sometimes you could see a bit of warmth in his eyes from time to time. There was none in hers I swallowed hard. God does she look scary. Suddenly, as though she knew I was peeking, Mrs. Hart turned and looked straight at me. Our eyes met across the room, Almost instantly, I felt like someone had whipped me across the face. I looked down immediately. ¡°Scary, huh?¡± Gary c chuckled next to me. ¡°DO NOT make eye contact. It¡¯ll piss them off. They think everyone else in the world is a lowly omega.¡± ¡°Yeah sure.¡±¡± I snuck another nce. She wasn¡¯t looking at me anymore. But the pressure was still there ¡°Don¡¯t worry about them. Just do your best. If you¡¯re lucky, maybe you¡¯ll even impress them tonight. Good luck,¡± Gary said. I took a deep breath and nodded. I know it¡¯s stupid¡­ but that¡¯s exactly what I wanted¨Cto impress them. They¡¯re Grayson¡¯s parents. I wanted to them to like me. Which meant I had to nail my presentation. The ballroom filled up quickly. Soon the host came over and told me to get ready backstage. I¡¯d be the first one up to pitch. Standing in the shadows at the side of the stage, I whispered my script under my breath for thest time. I was rubbing the sapphire n at my throat without even knowing, it helped calm me down. Like he was right here with me. *.. And now,dies and gentlemen, please wee the load for the Gas Development Project¨CMiss Aria Collins! That¡¯s my cue. I took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage. The spotlight was blinding.. But it¡¯s actually great, I couldn¡¯t see a single in the crowd, and that helped. My pounding heart slowly calmed down, and I started to speak: ¡°Thank you, everyone. It¡¯s an honor to stand here tonight and present this project¡­¡± Everything after that flowed naturally. It was my project. I knew it inside and out. The presentation went smoothly, I started to feel confident, even powerful. My voice became strong. I even won a few rounds ofughter form the audience. I knew I was doing great. Then I reached the closing part of my speech. ¡°A lot of people have asked how Inded this deal. And I can answer that now¨Cit¡¯s because-¡± A sharp voice cut through the room at this moment: ¡°BECAUSE YOU¡¯RE A BIG SKANKY WHORE?¡± ¡­What? I turned, stunned. A tall figure had appeared on stage. Her beautiful face was twisted with fury and disgust. I couldn¡¯t believe this ¡°Delh? What are you- SLAP! She smacked me. Hard. The sound echoed through the microphone across the entire ballroom. People gasped. My mind went nk. Then I heard her voice, shrill and furious: ¡°Let me tell you how she really did it. She¡¯s a slut who¡¯d let anyone ride her. She not only seduced my husband¡­she seduced my brother Grayson tool E AD No Ads Comment Wore 37 Chapter 37 Aria¡¯s POV No. This can¡¯t be happening. Why would she do this to me? ¡°Delh! This has to be some kind of misunderstanding. Why are you¡± ¡°Shut up, you bitch¡± she snapped. ¡°How many lies are you going to keep telling me? I never should¡¯ve taken you a friend in the first ce!¡± ¡°I never lied to you! You really were my friend That just pissed her off even more. Her voice rose in pitch and fury. ¡°Liarl Are you seriously gonna stand there and say you weren¡¯t my husband¡¯s ex? That you never tried to seduce him?¡± ¡°Look, I did date Jace, yes. But after we broke up. I never did anything inappropriate with him, I swear!TM¡± But she wasn¡¯t listening. She yelled even louder, ¡°And the worst part is, you didn¡¯t just go after Jace. You went after my brother too! How many men do you need whore?¡°, ¡°No, Delh- ¡°Don¡¯t bother denying it. I¡¯ve got the proof!¡± She pointed toward the big screen. The slideshow that had been showing my project suddenly switched to something else. Photos of me and Grayson Photos of us at the vi, him picking me up from work, shots of us in Europe, and even one from a few days ago where I was sitting on hisp in his office. I had no idea how we were even photographed. Gasps and murmurs erupted from the audience. I felt like the blood in my veins had frozen. *You knew about us, Delh,¡± I whispered, my voice shaking. ¡°You even supported us, remember? What changed?¡± She gave me a disgusted look. ¡°That was before I realized you¡¯re a shameless, low¨Css slut who¡¯ll sleep with anyone to get what she wants. Someone like you doesn¡¯t deserve my brother.¡± Her words hit like knives. They sounded way too familiar, Like something Jace would say. ¡°He got to you, didn¡¯t he?¡± I said sharply. ¡°Jade told you something, didn¡¯t he? He¡¯s manipting you, Delh. Do not fall for it.¡± ¡°Shut the fuck up. Why would I trust you over my ry own husband?¡± She pressed the clicker again. The screen changed. Now it was a video, A video of me and Zane at the bar, drinking and standing close together. Then a video of us by his car, his arm around my shoulder ¡°You all want to know how thended the project?¡± Delh screamed across the ballroom. ¡°it¡¯s simple!¡± She pointed at me, voice ringing o ¡°She let them fuck her. That¡¯s it! The proof is right there on the screen!¡±
  1. NO.
No, no, no. Eworked hard for this.
  1. s. I stayed up night after night revising that proposal. Maybe i got a bit lucky, but i never slept with Zane.
¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± I shouted. ¡°He just gave me a ride home after a couple drinks and that is it! Nothing else happened. I¡¯m not that kind of person¨CI would never-¡± But my words were drowned out by the murmurs in the crowd. My coworkers downstage stared at me like I was a monster. Just days ago, they were patting me on the back, cheering me on. Now they looked like they wanted to drag me outside and burn me at the stake. I heard them whispering ¡­.God, I knew she was a slut¡­ ¡°Come on, there¡¯s no way she could¡¯vended that deal without using her body. Even Jace couldn¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°She tried to seduce Alpha Grayson too! That¡¯s fucking disgusting¡± The chaos grew louder. Suddenly someone threw something at me a water bottle. Then came a notebook. A pen. Whatever they could throw. One hit me square in the forehead. I felt blood start to drip. ¡°Stop! That¡¯s enough¡± someone shouted, I recognized Gary¡¯s voice. ¡°What the hell are you all doing? This is a shareholder meeting, not a goddamn witch hunt!¡± Delh stood tall on the stage, her voice ice¨Ccold. ¡°This is very much about thepany, Gary. She used sex tond a business deal. I¡¯m officially voiding her contract.¡± No. She had no right! Twiped the blood from my face and red at her. ¡°Everything you¡¯re using me of is a lie. And you don¡¯t even have the authority to vold anything. This project benefits Apex. You have no reason to destroy it.¡± *I¡¯m not destroying it I¡¯m restarting it. Once your contract¡¯s voided, we¡¯ll have someone more professional handle negotiations with Mr. Elrod. This time, everything will be clean and fair-¡± I cut her off. ¡°More professional? You mean your dear husband? Newssh¨Che¡¯s a useless puss! When I worked under him, I wrote all his damn proposals¡± ¡°LIARI¡± she shrieked, her face flushed. ¡°Then call him here,¡± challenged. ¡°Let¡¯s present our understanding of the project to the shareholders and see who actually knows what they¡¯re talking about.¡± Jace. That fucking coward. Still hiding behind his wife. Letting her fight all his battles. Delh clenched her fists. ¡°I don¡¯t need to bring him here. You¡¯re not even worth his time.¡± ¡°Oh really? Or is he just too scared?¡± I stepped closer, ¡°Because he knows the second he shows his face, I¡¯ll destroy him.¡± Delh looked ready to explode. But just before she could respond, a deep voice echoed through the room- ¡°Mrs. Hart would like to speak.¡± There¡¯s an instant silence. Everyone shut their mouth and turned to look. The Harts still sat there with the grace and poise of royalty, like none of the chaos had touched them. Their butler stood beside them and announced in a booming VOICE: ¡°Arrest Aria Collins.¡± A team of guards marched up the stage, twisted my arms, and cuffed me. I was too shocked to even resist. ¡°What did I do?!¡± I screamed, ¡°I didn¡¯t break anyws! You can¡¯t arrest me!¡± But the former Luna still didn¡¯t look at me. Like I was some kind of insect beneath her notice. It was the butler who answered for her. ¡°You offended the Alpha family. And in this world, the Harts are thew. Take her away!¡± No. ¡­Grayson, help me¡­ Third Person POV On a private jet heading toward another pack, Grayson sat on the sofa, eyes locked on the tablet streaming Apex¡¯s shareholder meeting. His expression was unreadable, but his normally grey eyes were darkening fast¨Cturning into a dangers shade of ck. His Beta Harold sat across from him, nervous, Grayson didn¡¯t lose control often, but when he did, it was terrifying And this time Harold could tell¡ªit was going to be bad. ¡°Call Nora. Tell her to stabilize the situation.¡± Grayson said, his voice cold and quiet. ¡°Yes, Alpha.¡± Harold hesitated. ¡°But¡­ are you sure you want to waste your time saving that girl? You saw the video with her and Zane. In my opinion, she doesn¡¯t exactly seem all that innocent- CRUNCH. The tablet in Grayson¡¯s hand shattered like a piece of tin foil He slowly looked up at Harold, his eyes pure ck. Harold stiffened instantly and shut his mouth. ¡°Tum this damn ne around,¡± Grayson growled. ¡°Yes Alpha!¡± A Wore 38 Nora squeezed my hand. ¡°Hang in the In there. Alpha Grayson already knew about this. He¡¯s on his way back.¡± Theld my breath in shock. Hope suddenly burst through my chest like fire. He¡¯sing back! He¡¯sing to protect me¨Cfrom his own family. Just like that, all my fear vanished. I have nothing to be afraid of anymore. The soldiers shoved me into a car and mmed the door shut. We raced out of the hotel. The windows were all covered¨CI couldn¡¯t see where they were taking me. Then after what felt like an hour of endless shaking and bumps, the car finally stopped. The door opened. A cold looking soldier barked at me, ¡°Out¡± I climbed out slowly and looked around. A massive, ck gothic castle towered over me. Tall spires stabbed into the sky. The dark windows looked like hollow eyes, watching over me like ghosts. It was the most terrifying, majestic building I¡¯d ever seen. I didn¡¯t need anyone to tell me where I was. This must be the Harts¡® residence. This ce had the same vibe as the former Alpha and Luna¡­it reeked of wealth, power and ruthlessness. ¡°Move.¡± I was shoved inside. The grand hall I stepped into could probably hold a hundred people. Chandeliers glowed overhead. On the leather sofas sat four people. They all turned to me the second I walked in. Right beside Delh sat that fucking lying bastard Jace. I red at him. He returned an indifferent look. ¡°Who brought her here!¡± the former Luna asked with a frown. This was the first time I heard her speak. Her voice was just as I had imagined¨Celegant, icy, terrifying. ¡°I did,¡± Delh gritted. Her eyes¡¯s full of hatred when she looked at me. ¡°I¡¯m not done with her yet. Public humiliation was so not enough. She needs to be punished more.¡± ¡°Then cut off her hand. Burn her face. Make her disappear. I don¡¯t care. Just don¡¯t bring her into our house and ruin our good carpet.¡± ¡°No! Those are still not enough! Uhhi want to rip her fucking heart out!¡± Delh screamed. She stormed over in heels and yanked my hair back, forcing me to look at her. ¡°I can¡¯t believe how long you yed me like a fool you disgusting bitch!¡± ¡°What did I even Seabout? Don¡¯t let that jerk get in your head!¡± I shouted. ¡°You lied about everything!¡± she cried. ¡°I sat there pouring my heart out to you¨Cabout Jace¡¯s ex, about our marriage, about my family and 16:25 Frl, B Aug you just sat there and listened without even a damn word! I knew you wereughing at me when I told you things. You¡¯re a big, fany Sa ¡°No Delh I just didn¡¯t know how to tell you about me and Jace. Because I knew he would twist everything and try to make me the bad person. Actually he¡¯s been trying to get back at me ever since we broke up- ¡°Another liel¡± she shouted. ¡°It¡¯s you. You¡¯re the one who¡¯s been holding a grudge. You¡¯re the one who wanted revenge on Jace because he dumped you!¡± ¡­What the hell? I turned to re at Jace. That bastard just looked at me with cold, empty eyes. ¡°What the hell did you tell her?!¡± I yelled. ¡°Don¡¯t talk to my husband Delh yanked my face back toward her. ¡°You know exactly what you did. Jace dumped you and you couldn¡¯t handle it. So you came after me and my brother. You manipted both of us just to hurt him. You seduced Grayson and asked him to give Jace a hard time on practically everything! Jace didn¡¯t have the heart to expose you¨Cbut you took advantage of his kindness¡± WTF. I couldn¡¯t believe what I was hearing That¡¯s the story he led her?! at¡¯s the He turned everything upside down. He made himself the victim. ¡°Jace said I seduced him?¡± My voice shook with rage. ¡°Fucking ridiculous. I¡¯ve moved on a long time ago but he kept stalking me even after the breakup! He begged me toe back¨Cas his mistress! And you know what he said about you? He said you¡¯re spoiled and entitled and he¡¯s so sick of sucking up to you¡ª SLAP. Delh smacked me hard, sobbing. ¡°No! Liar! Shut up!¡± I snapped: ¡°Think about it, Delh. Why wouldn¡¯t he sign the prenup? That scumbag does not love you¨Che only loves your money. Your brother might be the only person who actually cares about you. And Jace¡¯s been trying to turn you against your brother ever since you got married so that one day he can control the entire Hart family-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her, babe!¡± Jace shouted. ¡°Shut up!¡± Delish screamed. THUD. THUD THUD. The old Alpha mmed his cane on the floor. The heavy sound silenced the entire room. ¡°Enough Delh,¡± His voice echoed in the huge living room, deep and intimidating. ¡°All this fuss. Just because of one lowborn woman. Ridiculous.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t how we raised you, Delh,¡± the former Luna added. ¡°You¡¯re better than this. She isn¡¯t worth your anger.¡± Delh sniffled, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Daddy, Mommy¡­I just got so angry. I didn¡¯t know what to do¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s got nothing but a pretty face,¡± the old Luna said. ¡°Slice it up and she won¡¯t be seducing anyone ever again.¡± What? FIGO AUY No¡­NO! Soldiers grabbed my shoulders. One pulled out a knife. I wanted to scream but they shoved a clog into my mouth. Jace looked like he had something to say¨Cbut he nced at Delh and kept ins mouth shut. Tears of horror filled my eyes. They meant business. No, No, Stop- ¡°Make it good. I don¡¯t want anyone to recognize her after the job. Not even her own parents,¡± the Luna ordered. ¡°Yes Madam Hart.¡± The knife came slicing down toward my face. And almost at the same time- BANG! Somebody knocked down the front door. Wore 39 Chapter 39 Aria¡¯s POV Grayson stormed in with Nora and an entire squad of soldiers closely behind him The second he entered, the air changed. His Alpha aura mmed into the room like a tidal wave, and the massive crystal chandelier above us exploded into glittering shards. A split secondter, the soldier holding me down screamed. The knife in his hand went flying across the room, and his arm¨Chis entire arm- was chopped off ¡°Grayson¡± the former Luna barked. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing!¡± Grayson whipped around and let out a terrifying wolf roar that shook the walls and ceiling. I almost went deaf. Everyone froze. Intimidated. Delh¡¯s face went white. ¡°What is this? Are you literally starting a war with your own family?¡± He ignored her Instead, he crouched down and scooped me up from the floor. One tug, and the handcuffs snapped like twigs. ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked, his voice low and rough. ¡°Y¨Cyeah,¡± I breathed out. His scent hit me hard, warm yet overwhelming. It made my by knees weak, but not in a romantic way. More like dizzy, about¨Cto¨Cpass¨Cout kind of way. a fucking question Grayson!¡± Delh screamed. ¡°Look at me¨CHave you lost your damn mind?!¡± Grayson slowly turned to face her. The expression on his face could literally scare people to death. His eyes were pure ck now, no trace of gray left. ¡°I lost my mind?¡± His voice was ice. ¡°It¡¯s you who barged into a shareholder meeting earlier and kidnapped my woman in front of the whole damn world. And if I had been one secondte earlier, you would¡¯ve drawn a fucking cross on her face. Now who¡¯s fucking insane here, Delh?¡± ¡°Wait a second¡­your woman?!¡± Delh shouted, pointing a finger at me. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious, Grayson, Look at her! She¡¯s street whore! She almost became homeless before you picked her up from the street. And you¡¯re the Alpha of Red Stone Pack for fuck¡¯s Grayson let out a sarcastic . ¡°Says the one who married a fucking leech herself. Let that bastard feed you more crap into your head, Delh. One day he¡¯ll bleed you dry and dump you like a piece of crap¡± Delh¡¯s face turned pale. She cle her fists at her sides and let out a hysterical scream at her brother: ¡°You just can¡¯t stand to see me happy you selfish jerk! You want my marriage to fall apart just like yours! You are ruining my life!l!¡± Grayson ignored her. He looked over his shoulder and gave his order: ¡°Take Lady Delh and her husband away 1/4 ¡°Yes, Alphal¡± ¡°I dare you!¡± Delh snarled, her whole body tensing as she shifted hallway Fangs. ws. Gleaming eyes. ¡°You gonna flog me again, Grayson!¡± she cried. ¡°Screw you! I¡¯m not letting you do it again because I¡¯m also a Hart by blood! A Heiress You ¨C can¡¯ty a single finger on mel The tension was thick enough to choke on. I held my breath, standing close to Grayson as the two siblings stared each other down. They looked like they¡¯d charge at each other and start a brutal fight at any second. That¡¯s when the old Alpha finally stood up. ¡°Grayson. Delh, I need a word with both of you. Alone,¡± he said in a deep voice. ¡°I don¡¯t have the time, Grayson snapped. ¡°You¡¯ll make time for your father. No need to drag the Elders into this mess, don¡¯t you agree?¡± Grayson growled, baring his fangs. ¡°Is that a threat?¡± ¡°No,¡± the old Alpha replied. ¡°Just a father asking his son for a moment. You¡¯re not seriously gonna refuse to even talk to your own family because of her, are you?¡± Silence stretched between them. Finally, Grayson stepped away from me. I immediately started to panic. No¡¯l don¡¯t want to leave him. Yet before I could grab his hand, he pushed me toward Nora. ¡°Keep her safe,¡± he said to Nora. ¡°Yea Alpha.¡± And without looking back, he followed the old Alpha and Luna deeper into the castle. Delh shot me a venomous re, then stormed after them ¡°Maybe I should go too¨CJace quickly stood and tried to join them. ¡°No. You stay.¡± Delh shoved him back into the couch before disappearing. -Just like that, the room cleared, ¡°So..it¡¯s just you and me now. I sneered. That son of a bitch sat there looking like a cornered rat. He kept looking at the hallway every few seconds *Yeah just keep looking Like anyone¡¯s ever gonna invite you to that family meeting¡± mocked. ¡°You are so fucking pathetic.¡± ¡°Shut the hell up!¡± he hissed, looking desperate. ¡°I had no choice, okay? if you and Grayson hadn¡¯t tried to shove that damn prenup down my throat, none of this would¡¯ve happened. It¡¯s you¡­You left me no choices¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s always a choice. You just chose to be a fucking jerk.¡± We red at each other. And in that moment it was clear: the bottle was on. It wouldn¡¯t stop until one of us was in hell. ¡°Grayson¡¯s not gonna let this slide,¡± I said coldly He gave me a twisted smile. ¡°Hold that thought, Aria. You might have overestimated your value in his heart.¡± I didn¡¯t answer.
  1. r. I didn¡¯t have to.
Grayson was here for me, I think that spoke louder than anything Third Person POV The four members of the Hart family stepped into a private meeting room one after another. An omega quietly shut the door behind them. ¡°Control your damn husband, Delh,¡± the old Moha said in a low, cold voice. Delh¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°What the hell papa? You¡¯re taking his side now?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m speaking for the good of the family,¡± the old man growled. ¡°Look at the mess that idiot pushed you into. You exposed a scandal in the middle of a shareholder meeting and turned the Harts into aughingstock. Don¡¯t even try to deny it¨CI know he was behind this.¡± Delh shut her mouth but looked visibly pissed, her face full of defiance. The old Alpha went on, ¡°Last month you bought him a five¨Cmillion¨Cdor watch. The month before that, it was a sports car. And before that? A few vis in Europe.¡± ¡°So now I can¡¯t even buy nice things for my own husband? Delh snapped. ¡°Let me finish,¡± the old Alpha said darkly. ¡°You can spoil him with shy gifts all you want¨Cbut that is it. You don¡¯t let that man affect the family¡¯s reputation. You don¡¯t let him make any huge decisions. Understand?¡± Delh bit her! p and shot a bitter re at Grayson. ¡°Fine, Dad. Maybe you have a point. But what about him?¡± she asked angrily. ¡°He beat my husband half¨Cdead for that whore. Aren¡¯t you going to say something about that?¡± The old Alpha turned toward Grayson and opened his mouth to say something, but Grayson cut him off. ¡°Choose your words carefully, Father. I¡¯m not in the mood.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still your father, Grayson.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m the current Alpha. The highest ranking male in this pack. DO NOT test me. Not even you.¡± The old Alpha frowned. He¡¯s clearly not used to being challenged. That¡¯s when the old Luna spoke up in a calm voice ¡°Let me just ask you something, son. What exactly is that girl to you?¡± *She¡¯s mine,¡± Grayson growled. ¡°Of course. But I mean, is she just a flingt Someone you have fun with when you feel like it? Or is she something more?¡± Grayson¡¯s brows twitched with impatience. ¡°Where are you going with this mother?¡± ¡°Fine. Let me be straightforward then,¡± the old Luna said. ¡°Would you ever introduce her to the world as your girlfriend? Would you evra consider making her the next Luna of Red Stone Pack!¡± Silence. Grayson narrowed his eyes. The air in the room suddenly grew tense. Everyone fell quiet, watching him, waiting for his answer nervously ¡°¡­Of course not.¡± He said it inly after a short pause. ¡°You know that ever since I, I¡¯ve lost all interest in marriage.¡± Everyone in the room visibly rxed. It was obvious¨Cthat was the answer they were hoping for ¡°That¡¯s all I needed to hear,¡± the old Alpha said. ¡°Then keep your rtionship with her under control. Once you¡¯ve had your fun with her, let her go.¡± ¡°I know what to do,¡± Grayson replied coolly ¡°You too, Delh,¡± Luna turned to their daughter. ¡°Stop letting that idiot drag you into this nonsense. We Harts control others¨Cwe don¡¯t let anyone control us.¡± Got it, Mom,¡± Delh muttered. The old Alpha stood up with the help of his cane. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve wasted enough energy on this crap. Go deal with your own messes. We¡¯re done here. Grayson gave a small nod and turned to leave. Delh quickly followed him out ¡°-Grayson!¡± She caught up with him in the hallway. Her beautiful face looked twisted and cold under the dim lights. ¡°This isn¡¯t over.¡± she hissed. ¡°Don¡¯t push it,¡± he said, shooting her a frosty re. ¡°No. I¡¯ve let you have your way my whole life. Even when you clearly thought I was an idiot, I kept my mouth shut. Because you¡¯re my brother. But Jace made me realize¨CIm done being a pushover.¡± She straightened her back and stepped in front of him, a cold smirk on her lips. ¡°if you can¡¯t run thepany properly, I don¡¯t mind stepping in as the rightful heir¡­I also have the right to Red Ston remember? But her little act of defiance didn¡¯t get the reaction she wanted. Grayson looked down at her and let out a soft Jace won you over,¡± he said quietly. ¡°You¡¯re both brainless idiots.¡± ¡°What the hell you asshole- But he was already walking away. His fall figure quickly disappeared at the end of the hallway. and Apel. 15:25 FM18 Aug Wore 40 Chapter 40 Aria¡¯s POV 1 waited anxiously in the hall. What would his parents say to him? Honestly, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess. They¡¯d probably say is through for me. I¡¯d heard that kind of thing enough times to know. I was brash, not worth the trouble he was going But what really mattered was¨Cwhat does Grayson think? ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Nora whispered to me, ¡°Alpha Grayson won¡¯t let anyone hurt you.¡± I forced a smile. ¡°Thanks¡± ¡°Today he was supposed to be in another pack for some really important business, but he turned his ne around just for you. I¡¯ve never seen him care about a girl like this.¡± Mrs. Jones had told me the same thing. Normally I¡¯d feel ttered. But today I didn¡¯t know what had gotten into my head and I just blurted out ¡°Then what about i?¡± Nora froze. For a second, panic flickered across her face. ¡°Wait a second¨Cwhere did you hear that name?¡± The way she reacted made my stomach twist. ¡°She was his ex wife, right? Why does no one know he was married before? What happened between them?¡± She swallowed hard, lowering her voice. ¡°if I were you, I wouldn¡¯t bring up that name again¡­Especially not in front of Alpha Grayson.¡± It felt like something heavy was pressing on my chest. I was about to ask more when Grayson and Delh came back. Jace immediately jumped off the couch and rushed over. ¡°Babe, what¡¯d they say? Can we finally kick her out of the pack tonight?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll get another chance,¡± Delh replied quickly. ¡°What? You¡¯re just letting her walk away?¡± Jace snapped, gripping her hand tight, ¡°I thought we agreed on this¨Cno more being pushovers.¡± know, I know. I promise I¡¯ll help you get everything back,¡± she whispered, stroking his cheek. Grayson didn¡¯t even look at the lovebirds. He walked straight to me with long strides. And before I could react, he scor and stormed out. His Rolls Royce was already waiting outside. The driver came forward to open the door, but Grayson didn¡¯t stop. ¡°Wait¨Cwhere are you going?¡± I gasped. He ignored me. Just kept walking faster. We passed through the massivewn outside the castle, through the iron gates, and into a pitch¨Cck forest. And then, in the blink of an eye, he shifted. me up bridal¨Cstyle §²§¡§¯§ª§¯§¡¡± TIFO HU I screamed as I was tossed into the air, but the next moment Inded on his huge, furry hack. The wolf charged straight into the woods, sprinting at full speed. This woll¨Cthis was the exact same one I saw in my dreams. Massive, with thick, jet¨Cck fur and powerful limbs. When he ran, it felt like the entire forest trembled underneath his paws. *Alpha Grayson! What the hell are you doing?¡± I yelled into the rushing wind. He didn¡¯t answer. He just ran even faster. I could feel it¨Che needed to let something out. But being carried like this was awful. I had to grip his fur tightly just to avoid flying off, and the wind sting in my face made it nearly impossible to breathe. 10 minutes in, I couldn¡¯t take it anymore. son, stop! -I think I¡¯m gonna throw up!¡± ¡°Alpha Grayson, He kept running. Then suddenly, he leapt across a ravine with a huge burst of speed. I screamed at the top of my lungs. ¡°Stop! Please! I can¡¯t- He mmed to a ston I was thrown off his back. I thought I¡¯d definitely end up with a couple of broken bones, but instead Inded on a soft patch of moss. My stomach churned. I scrambled to a tree and threw up. He shifted back and then came to crouch down beside me. He wiped the sweat from my forehead. ¡°G¨CGod¡­what the hell is wrong with you today?¡± I groaned. He looked down at my pale face. ¡°You can¡¯t even handle a little speed.¡± ¡°Sorry I wasn¡¯t born with Alpha blood or trained as a warrior,¡± I gasped, stl feeling sick. He didn¡¯t say anything, Just kept stroking my face, a strange unreadable look in his eyes -So¡­ what did your parents say to you?¡± I asked carefully. ¡°You don¡¯t need to know,¡± he replied, his voice cold, Well that¡¯s hurtful ¡°Why not? I was literally kidnapped by your sister today. The wholepany now thinks I¡¯m a joke world thinks I¡¯m some desperate, shameless whore. And I can¡¯t even ask what they said to you?¡± He stood up, towering over me The moonlight outlined his body, making him look almost god¨Clike. ¡°You just need to follow my orders. I¡¯ll keep you safe,¡± he said in a deep voice. I blinked the rest of the 16:25 FM,8 AUD ¡°Wait¨Cwhat do you mean by ¡°follow your orders¡®?¡± ¡°Starting tomorrow, you¡¯ll be transferred to a different branch office. Away from Jace ..What the actual fuck. I blurt out in shock. ¡°What the¨Cpoll¡± His expression turned icy. ¡°No?¡± ¡°Of course not! What were you thinking?¡± I shouted, jumping to my feet. ¡°Jace set me up! Delh smeared me I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. And now I¡¯m the one who has to run away from them? That just make everyone think their lies are true!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make sure no one dares speak about you again,¡± he said coldly. ¡°But I can¡¯t let this madness go on. Separating you from Jace is the best solution. ¡°Best for you. But what about me? Did you ever consider what I want? My voice was shaking. ¡°Even Deh¡¯s willing to fight for Jace. But you He suddenly grabbed my shoulders and shoved me against a tree. ¡°At least your ex is married to my sister. Who the hell are you?¡± he sneered. Who am 17 Well that¡¯s a damn good question. Everyone around him kept telling me I was special But this¨Cthis wasn¡¯t how you treat someone special. ¡°¡­So I¡¯m just an object to you, aren¡¯t I?¡± My voice trembled. His grip on my shoulder tightened. He looked furious. ¡°I¡¯m d we¡¯re finally on the same page.¡± He replied ruthlessly. I couldn¡¯t believe it I couldn¡¯t believe I let him hurt me again. All he did was pushing me away. Kept proving over and over how wrong we were for each other. And yet, I always fell for those brief, tender moments. How fucking stupid. ¡°You¡¯re lying¡± I choked as tears streamed down my cheeks. ¡°You turned your ne around for me. You stormed your parents¡® house for me. You saved my life- He cut me off, annoyed. ¡°Those things were nothing to me.¡± ¡°No! You gave me that ne because you said it suited me. I know you put thought into it. Why can¡¯t you just admit ¡°Admit what? The you¡¯re the love of my life and I can¡¯t breathe without you?¡± he snapped. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. This whole thing is a deal You give me what I need, I pay you with money. That¡¯s it.¡± 0.20 ¡°Then I want to end the contract,¡± i blurted, His pupils shrank. Rage flickered across his face. For a moment, even I was scared. Then he let out a deafening wolf howl that sent the entire woods of birds flying into the sky. ¡°You don¡¯t get to say that he roared, My lips trembled. Tears blurred my vision. He cursed under his breath. ¡°I¡¯ve spoiled you too much. Starting now, stop having those stupid fantasies.¡± Then he shoved me aside and turned to leave. A few steps in, he shifted into a wolf and vanished into the darkness. I copsed to the ground, sobbing with my face in my hands. I couldn¡¯t believe he just left me here. In the middle of nowhere. I didn¡¯t even know how to get back. Eventually when I¡¯d cried myself dry, I stood up and prepared to find my way home. One way or another, I had to face it. But then I heard the low hum of a helicopter circling overhead. A voice echoed from a loudspeaker, calling my name. I stepped into an open area and waved toward the sky. The helicopter descended with Nora in it. She told me she was under orders to bring me back. G Wore 41 Chapter 41 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°Alpha Grayson asked me to bring you back¡­ he¡¯s still worried about you¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t, Nora.¡± I curled up in the helicopter seal, too tired to pretend. ¡°He already made it clear, fold me to give up on my stupid fantasies¡± Nora looked like she wanted to say something but held back. Her face was full of sympathy and helplessness¨Cbut sympathy was thest thing I needed right now. ¡°I know it¡¯s not my ce to say this, but Alpha Grayson¡­ he¡¯s really lonely and hurting. We all hoped he¡¯d find someone who could make him happy. And we all thought that person might be you.¡± ¡°Well, clearly I¡¯m not,¡± I muttered. I knew Grayson was messed up. The insomnia, the mood swings, the way he¡¯d sometimes shut downpletely. He probably had some kind of trauma in his past that i didn¡¯t know about. But that¡¯s the thing he never let me know. He shut me out of his world like i didn¡¯t deserve to be part of it. And he kept telling me how insignificant I was to him. Maybe he¡¯d open up to I since he married that woman. But nevertheless, I wasn¡¯t her. I couldn¡¯t get into his heart. I was done trying Done caring. 1 swore to myself that this was thest time I¡¯d let him hurt me. Nora dropped me back at the vi. Grayson didn¡¯te home that night. This was just one of his many properties¨Cdisappearing from my world was probably the easiest thing in the world for him. The next morning at 8 am, my rm went off. Reminding me that it¡¯s time for work, I sat on the bed for five whole minutes, debating, And then I got up. Walking into Apex like nothing had happened was definitely terrifying. But screw it. I may have gotten dragged out of the office by security yesterday, but I wasn¡¯t charged. I wasn¡¯t fired. Nobody could stop me from showing up for work As for what people thought of me¡­ lose Well, let¡¯s just say that I already knew what it felt like to lose everything once before. I¡¯d almost had to sleep in a grocery store once. I wasn¡¯t afraid of judgment. I made it to Apex just in time to clock in The office was buzzing when I walked in. But the second i stepped through the door, everyone went dead silent. Every pair of eyes turned to me. ¡°Morning,¡± I said with a faint smile. U VIZU Nobody responded. The way they looked at me was like was a stray dog that wandered into a party. ignored them and headed for my desk. But then a female coworker stepped into my path. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea for you to be here today,¡± she said with fake polite smile. ¡°Well I disagree,¡± I replied icily. I remembered her. Just days ago, she¡¯d been hanging around my desk asking how I closed the Zane deal. imed we were friends. I didn¡¯t me her for switching sides les. But she had no right to block my way. ¡°Everyone saw what happened yesterday. The former Luna came and had you arrested¡­ It¡¯s all over the news- ¡°If I were guilty, I¡¯d be in jail right now, not standing here. That¡¯s enough to prove innocence don¡¯t you think?¡± She looked vexed. ¡°What¡¯d the world think of Apex ill we keep a potential criminal here? W You can¡¯t be that selfish!¡± out yours. Now move.¡± ¡°Nobody here gives a damn about my life. So forgive me for not giving a damn about yours. I I pushed past her. My desk was by the window. Last time I was here, it had been neat and full of carefully organized documents. But now everything was gone. My personal items were nowhere to be found. Half my files were torn up. The other half scattered all over the floor. Spray¨Cpainted in nt red letters across the surface of my desk was one word: WHORE. I stared at it for a few seconds, then slowly turned to face the office. ¡°Who did this?¡± I asked loudly. My voice echoed through the silent room, No one answered. Half of them looked away. The other half stared back at me with smug amusement. ¡°I¡¯ll ask one more time. Who did this? If no one speaks up, I¡¯ll pull the security footage and call the police.¡± ¡°Call them to arrest you?¡± someone muttered, The office burst into mockingughter. ¡°Come on, Aria, this is a workce,¡± said that same obnoxious woman, smirking ¡°Stop causing drama and just pack up your stuff. Some of us still have work to do.¡± ¡°Me causing the drama? It¡¯s you who trashed my desk¡± 10.20 ¡°Then clean it up and sit down. What¡¯s the big deal?¡± she scoffed. I walked right up to her and grabbed her wrist. She flinched in fear. ¡°You and I we are going to HR. Right now,¡± ¡°Me? Why me? I haven¡¯t done anything¡± she shouted. ¡°You look pretty guilty to me. Even if it¡¯s you, someone else did. And I¡¯ll go through everyst one of you until I find out.¡± I raised my voice to the entire floor. They want to cause trouble? Very well then, I¡¯m all gamed. A chorus of boos and jeers filled the air. The woman tried to yank her arm back, but I held tight That¡¯s when Gary stormed out of his office. ¡°What the hell is going on out here? It¡¯s work hours for fuck¡¯s sake!¡± That woman beat me to it and yelled, ¡°It¡¯s Arial She just stormed in this moming and started screaming at everyone. Nobody can work with her being here¡­¡± ¡°Alright alright. Shut your big mouth and get back to work. I¡¯m not stupid you know?¡± Gary said sullenly before turning to me. ¡°And you, Aria In my office. Now.¡± I shoved that woman aside, noticing with satisfaction the red bruise blooming on her wrist. She was cursing under her breath but Fignored her. I just lifted my chin and followed Gary into his office. ¡°What¡¯s with the fucking wrestling out there?¡± he asked once the door shut. ¡°They destroyed my stuff. Ripped up my files. And spray painted my desk. I¡¯m just standing my ground.¡± He stared at me, then let out a long sigh. ¡°Look Aria, I know you¡¯re tough. I respect that. But right now, it feels like you¡¯re fighting the whole damn world. And that¡¯s not a fight you can win ¡°I¡¯m not looking for a fight. I just want to sit at my desk and do my job. Minding my own business. I¡¯ll keep my head down, Gary. You can pretend I¡¯m not even here.¡± He hesitated, looking frustrated. ¡°Damn it. It¡¯s not that don¡¯t want you here, okay? It¡¯s just=¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± The door New open again. Delh walked in, nked by her army of secretaries. She wasn¡¯t wearing her usual pink dresses and flowery skirts. Today it was all ck. Sharp lines. Killer heels. She looked sharp. She strode into the office like an arrogant Queen. ¡°I¡¯m here to announce two personnel changes. First, I am now the official Vice Director of Marketing. And second¨Cyou¡¯re fired Ana Collins¡± ¡°Is that Alpha Grayson¡¯s decision?¡± asked icily. 16:26 Fri, 8 Aug ¡°Don¡¯t you dare throw his name at me!¡± she snapped. ¡°I¡¯m officially part of Apex now. I have equal authority. So go pack your things turn in allpany documents¨Cespecially anything rted to the Elrod contract¡± ¡°I thought you already robbed everything¡± mocked. ¡°Yet clearly you¡¯re still hiding things. I want everything. Now¡± Hiding things? I frowned. Then it hit me. There was a very important budget report I never uploaded to thepany system. It was stored on my personalputer. Without it, Apex had no clue how to move forward with Zane¡¯s deal. I suddenly burst intoughter. ¡°What the hell are youughing at?¡± Delh shrieked. ¡°Jace sent you to u to steal my work, didn¡¯t he? Because he doesn¡¯t know how to proceed without my report? Thought he was a hundred times better than me. Why doesn¡¯t he handle the damn budget himself?¡± Delh was practically shaking with rage. ¡°He doesn¡¯t need to! The report already exists, and it¡¯s on yourputer. It¡¯spany property. You have to turn it over!¡± ¡°So I do all the work, close the deal, and now you¡¯re firing me and expecting me to just hand over everything?¡± ¡°Yes. What are you gonna do about it? Call the cops?¡± Iughed bitterly. ¡°Hell no, I won¡¯t call the cops. They all work for your family anyway. But I will call Mr. Elrod. Do you think he wants to work with someone who can¡¯t even produce a budget sheet?¡± Her face turned red. st won this round. And I knew I just ? Wore 42 Chapter 42 Aria¡¯s POV Delh stormed out, fuming. She would probably try to figure out that budget sheet on her own, which meant that I didn¡¯t have much time ¡°Can I go back to work now?¡± Lasked Gary. He let out a long sigh, clearly frustrated. ¡°Seriously, what¡¯s the point of going up against the Harts? Crushing you would be as easy for them as stepping on an ant.¡± ¡°Call me stupid, but I¡¯m just not okay with being treated like trash.¡± I walked out of his office and returned to my desk. First, I spent about ten minutes reorganizing the mess¨Cpapers everywhere, documents torn up, everything out of ce. I even tried wiping off the huge, awful word they had spray¨Cpainted across the desk. But no luck. It wouldn¡¯te off. After a while, I gave up People were still watching me. I could feel their stares, but I ignored every single one of them. Then I sat down at that disgusting desk with myptop and got to work. The first thing I did was locate the budget sheet, the one Delh would do anything to get her hands on. I went through it again, fixed a few numbers, and backed it up on both my external hard drive and my cloud storage. Then I deleted it off myptop. Now, even if Delh sent someone to steal or even rob myputer, she¡¯d get nothing. After that, I started preparing all the files needed to move the project forward. I knew this project inside and out. There was no one who could do this better than me. A few hourster, I had everything done. I even drafted a speech for the first official meeting between both sides. I sent Zane an email too, I wasn¡¯t sure if he¡¯d reply, but at least he¡¯d know what happened. Everything was ready. I had all the documents proving that i was essential to this project. Now I just needed someone with the power to keep me here. I sat there holding myptop, hesitating ¡­Should I reach out to him? Or no? He was so cold and cruelst night. He told me straight up that he was going to transfer me to another branch. Yeah, he protected me but it was obvious he had no interest in wasting energy defending me against his family. Even if I could prove the project was mine, I doubted he¡¯d care, Damn it, we were obviously in a cold war. And I really didn¡¯t want to be the one to break the silence first. But I didn¡¯t know who also to turn to. I stared at the screen frozen for a long time. The clock was almost hitting lunchtime when I finally stood up with determination. Screw it. I needed his help He promised me in the contract that he¡¯d give me anything I wanted. Well, this is what I want. If he wanted to keep sniffing me ke some horny dog when his got an insomnia, then he should at least gheme what I was owed. I grabbed myptop and headed toward the CEO¡¯s private elevator The receptionist started watching me the moment i approached. I was used t elevator that look by now, so I ignored her and stepped into the I punched in the code. It buzzed¨Cincorrect password. What? I stared at the panel and typed it in again, slower this time. Still wrong. ¡°Um, Miss Collins?¡± The receptionist walked up, her eyes full of awkward sympathy. ¡°Sorry, but¡­ the elevator code was changed. It was just updated this morning. I froze like someone dumped a bucket of ice water on my head. I couldn¡¯t believe it. He actually changed the elevator code just to avoid me Why couldn¡¯t he just tell me to get the hell out of his life? Or just throw me out of his house? That would¡¯ve been easier. ¡°Could you at least tell Alpha Grayson I¡¯d like to see him?¡± I asked, my voice slightly shaking. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry¡­ but I can¡¯t¡± ¡°Please. I just need to say one thing.¡± But she just shook her head apologetically and returned to her desk. She was probably under strict orders to keep me out. Just like that, I lost my only way of contacting him. I stumbled away from the elevator,pletely numb, my brain scrambling for a n. Without him, there¡¯d be absolutely no one to help me, Delh would have an easy win. He knew this and that¡¯s why he was avoiding me. That¡¯s when I heard someone call my name. ¡°Hey, Arial¡± It was Nora. She jogged over ¡°You wanna go upstairs? I can take you Hope flickered in my chest¨Cuntil she added, ¡°But Alpha¡¯s not in today.¡± 214 16-26 Fri, 8 Aug ¡°Not in? Where is he?¡± She looked ufortable. And I instantly realized I didn¡¯t have the right to know anymore. ¡°Did you need to talk to him? Maybe I can pass the message?¡± I took a deep breath. ¡°Yeah, I need him to know I want to stay on the Zane project. I was there from the beginning, no one knows it better than me. Definitely not Delh or her stupid husband.¡± ¡°Aria, we all know you¡¯re the best. But that¡¯s not the issue. The problem is Lady Delh already made up her mind to giftwrap this shiny project and hand it over to her husband. And Alpha clearly doesn¡¯t want to argue with her about it. Even if Jace screws the whole thing up, the Harts won¡¯t care¨Cit¡¯s not a big deal to them.¡± I clenched my jaw. Yeah, maybe this was just another game to them. But why did they have to steal my project? I¡¯d poured everything I had into it. It was the best thing that happened in my career, I thought it could help me be more independent help me take better care of my grandma. ¡°Nora, please. You know what it¡¯s like to work your ass off only to have someone else take the credit. I know fighting back probably won¡¯t change anything, but I just can¡¯t let it go. You¡¯re the only one who can help me.¡± She hesitated. Then she muttered under her breath, ¡°What the hell, Yeah, I help you. Some of us are tired of watching rich assholes win all the time.¡± I nearly jumped and hugged her. ¡°Thank you. I seriously can¡¯t thank you enough! So¡­ where is he?¡± She gave me a tight smile. ¡°I can tell you. But you¡¯re not gonna like it.¡± I followed the address Nora gave me to the most expensive street in the city. The top floor of the tallest building housed a private club. Members only. I showed Nora¡¯s membership card to the doorman downstairs. He gave me a long, suspicious once over before letting me through. *This ain¡¯t the kind of ce for a decent girl, you know?¡± he said as I stepped into the elevator. I didn¡¯t understand what he meant. Until I saw the inside of that club. It was dark despite the sunlight outside, clearly built for 24/7 partying. The moment the elevator doors opened, i and shing lights. I had no idea where I was¨Cbr where to go. with ring music I wandered through the chaos,pletely overwhelmed. The ce was gross. People were making out everywhere, grinding on each other in corners, even moaning on random couches. The more I saw, the colder I felt. I couldn¡¯t believe he was here¡­No¡­This wasn¡¯t like him¡­ IUZU Finally, I found a private room at the back and pushed the door open. ¡°Hey! Is this the girl we called?¡± A stranger grabbed me the second I stepped inside. His body heat made my skin crawl. ¡°No¨Cno, let go of mel I¡¯m here to see Alpha Grayson!¡± The manughed and shouted into the room, ¡°Alpha, one of your little pets came looking for you!¡± I followed his gaze. There, on the biggest couch, he was on top of a girl, kissing her and rubbing her breast in a rough way that¡¯s definitely going to hurt, but she seemed she actually enjoyed it. Her long legs were wrapped around his waist, her fingers tangled in his hair, her body arching into his begging for more. And behind him, there¡¯s another girl dressed in nothing but a thong kissing his bare back. Wore 43 Chapter 43 Aria¡¯s POV Ipletely froze My brain couldn¡¯t even process what I was seeing. In my mind, he had always been noble, elegant¡­ okay, sometimes cold and cruel, but still with a certain kind of untouchable pride. I knew he had a lot of girlfriends, but I never pictured him like this. So messed up. 50 gross. Entangled with multiple women, drowning in lust.. I bent over and gagged. ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t throw up on my d damn shoes!¡± the man holding me yelled. Then without warning, he dragged me across the room and tossed me onto the floor right in front of the huge couch. ¡°What should we do with her Alpha? Kick her out, or let her join us?¡± heughed, eyes glinting with cruel amusement. I tried to crawl away with panic rising in my throat, but he blocked my way. Grayson finally lifted his head from the girl beneath him and stared at me. His expression scared me. He looked more like a wild beast that had lost its mind Then he grabbed my wrist and yanked me toward the couch ¡°You just threw up.¡± his voice was dark. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do I disgust you now?¡± ¡°No¡­this isn¡¯t you His grip tightened until I cried out in pain. ¡°Then what the hell did you think I was? A noble, respectable Alpha? Wrong! This is who I really am. This is how I¡¯ve always spent my nights before you fucking barged into my life!¡± I shook my head hard, tears already burning at the corners of my eyes. I didn¡¯t know what to say. His face twisted darker. ¡°I told you to stay away from Zane because he¡¯s a disgusting fuckboy. And now you see this. I¡¯m even worse than him. So what now? Are you disappointed?¡± ¡°No¡­ no,¡± I whispered. He cursed and shoved me away. ¡°Tell me why the hell you¡¯re here.¡± I sat there, frozen. I hade here ready to fight for what I deserved. I had everything prepared¨Cproof, arguments, all of it But in this ce¡­everything here¡­ I couldn¡¯t even open my mouth. Everyone in the room was staring at me, those half¨Cnaked men, barely dressed women.. they all looked entertained, like they were watching a joke y out ¡°Alpha, your little pet looks scared,¡± someone whistled, Laughter erupted around the room. ¡°She¡¯s obviously here for you, Alpha Grayson. What else? She wants to keep you all to herself,¡± a girl giggled as she wrapped her arms around my neck from behind. ¡°You¡¯re just one naive little idiot, aren¡¯t you? Nobody can keep Alpha Grayson, Better give up on that thought now before he gets tired of you.¡± ¡°Let go of me!¡± I shaved her off. Then I took a deep breath, looking at him, pleading, ¡°I can¡¯t talk here. Can we go somewhere private, please?¡± Yet that just made everyoneugh harder. ¡°You wanna sneak off with Alpha? What about the rest of us?¡± one of the girls sneered ¡°Why should he go with with you? Wi What makes you special?¡± ¡°She¡¯s smart, this one. Better be careful Alpha, or this littlemb might trap you when you¡¯re not looking!¡± a man cackled. Their mocking made my cheeks burn with shame, Grayson stayed on the couch, one arm around the naked girl beside him, his fingerszily ying with her hair. His handsome face wore a smirk that cut like a knife. ¡°You heard them. That¡¯s a ridiculous request,¡± he said. ¡°Say it here. Or get the hell out.¡± I stared at him, my chest heavy with sadness and rage. ¡°Fine.¡°I bit down hard on the words. ¡°I came here to ask that you let me stay on Zane¡¯s project. I know it best. I can help you earn the most profit Jace will just screw it all up. Even if you n to transfer me after, at least let me finish what I started. I earned that much.¡± There were more boos and jeers, but Grayson lifted a hand to silence them. ¡°You¡¯re really doing everything you can just to stay near Zane, aren¡¯t you?¡± His gray eyes were cold as ice. I stared at him, stunned. ¡°This has nothing to do with Mr. Elrod. I¡¯m just fighting for what I¡¯ve worked for!¡± He scoffed like he didn¡¯t believe a word i said. Or worse like he didn¡¯t care. ¡°So you¡¯re here to make demands.¡± Something like that I need your help.¡± I murmured. ¡°Then tell me,¡± he sneered, ¡°why the hell should I give it?¡± Hell I don¡¯t know. Maybe because he used to be so gentle, so thoughtful, so affectionate. He used to do all these small things that made my heart melt. But now I wasn¡¯t even sure which version of him was real. ¡°When we signed the contract, you said you¡¯d give me whatever I wanted. And this¡­ this isn¡¯t even that b trembling. il for you,¡± I said, my voice He let out a low, mockingugh. ¡°Right, I did say that. But the contract also made something else clear, I¡¯d give you whatever you want || you met my needs first.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t?¡± I asked, barely able to breathe. 10:26. Fri, 8 Aug ¡°Have you?¡± His gaze was sharp. ¡°Let¡¯s find out.¡± Suddenly he lunged forward and yanked me onto the couch. His fingers gripped my chin as he kissed me¨Chard and rough¨Cwhite his othe hand slid inside my shirt. ¡°No¨Cstop! Let me gol¡± I screamed.. ¡°Every girl in this room would crawl to me without being asked, ready to raise their fucking ass in the air. So what makes you think you¡¯re so special huh?¡± he hissed in my ear. ¡°No¡­fuck you, you asshole!¡± ¡°They¡¯re right. I¡¯ve been way too soft on you. I let you cross the line. That ends now.¡± I couldn¡¯t even hear what he was saying anymore. I could only feel their eyes on us. I was terrified. ¡°You said you¡¯d respect me,¡± I gasped as his hand moved down my waist. ¡°I told you¡­if you ever wanted to sleep with me, you¡¯d have to marry me first¡ª¡± ¡°And you think you¡¯re worth that?¡± he growled. AD 9 Comment Wore 44 Chapter 44 A¡¯s POV I pped him. Hard. ¡°No, I don¡¯t deserve it. But you sure as hell don¡¯t either. Because you¡¯re a freaking monster¡± The red mark blooming across his cheek said everything about how much force lused, I didn¡¯t even realize I had it in me A wave of angry growls echoed through the room. A few of the guys crouched low, baring their gleaming wolf fangs at me. ¡°Alpha, she fucking hit you!¡± one of them growled, ¡°Unforgivable. Hand her over to us¨Clet us deal with her¡± ¡°Tear her apart!¡± some she¨Cwolves shrieked. One of them lunged for me, trying to drag me off the couch. But Grayson suddenly whirled around and let out a deafening wolf snart. ¡°BACK OFF¡± He braced both arms on either side of me, snarling at the crowd. The room fell into stunned silence, then slowly, cautiously, they all backed away. Grayson sat up. He yanked a shirt off the couch and slipped it over his chest full of hickeys. His hair was a mess, which somehow made him look hotter. But you couldn¡¯t imagine someone this beautiful having such a dark soul. Then he grabbed the girl in the thong and gave her a long, rough kiss. She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said coldly, ring at the room. ¡°This whole damn thing¡¯s ruined anyway.¡± I sat on the couch, still catching my breath. Just as he turned to leave with that girl hanging on him, I called out- ¡°Wait! So¡­what is this?¡± He turned slowly, his eyes like ice. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°What are we now? You clearly enjoy theirpany more. So why the hell do you still need my by your side?¡± His jaw clenched. The anger on his face deepened. ¡°if you want to end the contract, just sa say the word,¡± I said, my voice shaky. Deep down, I almost hoped he would. There was something broken inside him¨Csomething no one could fix. Maybe ending this was best for both of us¡­ ¡°You want me to end it so that you can run off to Zane the second you¡¯re free?¡± he snapped. My mouth fell open. I couldn¡¯t believe what was hearing. ¡°You¡¯re crazy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going home now. Nora will sort your work out. But from this moment on, you stay far away from Zane and his goddamn project¨Cer I¡¯ll fucking bury you two both.¡± With that, he stormed out with the rest of them, leaving the room empty. HM, & Aug Isank into the couch, clutching my head. Honestly I don¡¯t get it¡­ How did things get this bad? I copsed onto the couch, holding my head in my hand, I couldn¡¯t believe how things had turned out. When I signed that contract, I thought I was the luckiest woman on earth, I never expected it to be my worst nightmare. ¡°Miss, Alpha asked us to take you home.¡± Two bodyguards showed up in the doorway. I let out a bitterugh. I let out a bitterugh. ¡°What, I¡¯m not even free to move around on my own anymore?¡± *Please don¡¯t make this difficult.¡± I wiped my tears, stood up, and followed them out. A car was already waiting downstairs. The door opened up and Nora stepped outside. ¡°Thanks, boys. I¡¯ll take it from here,¡± Nora said. They hesitated. ¡°Alpha told us to take Miss Collins home ourselves.¡± ¡°Oh yeah? And who knows Alpha¡¯s orders better, you two or me?¡± They exchanged a look, then stepped aside. ¡°Appreciate it,¡± she added with a smirk. She shaved me into the car and mmed the door. Then we took off, tires screeching as she sped out of the lot. ¡°Thanks foring for me, Nora,¡± I muttered. ¡°But I don¡¯t think he¡¯s changed his mind.¡± She nced at me through the rearview mirror. ¡°Maybe, But isn¡¯t it a little early to give up?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Lady Delh is having a huge party, She made a grand announcement that the project with Mr. Elrod is now officially theirs. Jace is supposed to give a big speech tonight, and oh¨CLady Delh already promoted him to VP.¡± What the actual hell? She seriously thought Apex was her personal yground? ¡°And Alpha Grayson¡¯s okay with this?¡± I asked, my voice sharp. Nora¡¯s response was careful. ¡°Over the years, Alpha has had¡­ episodes. When he¡¯s not in the best state, the Old Luna usually takes overpany matters. She¡¯s the one who signed Jace¡¯s promotion papers.¡± So it really was like they said. The Harts didn¡¯t care about the project¨Cprobably pocket change to them. at they cared about was crushing people like me. ¡°Is there anything I can even do now?¡± I asked nervously. ¡°Well, what I can do is drop you off at the event. What you do after that is up to you.¡± ant to go.¡± I didn¡¯t even hesitate ¡°I want ¡ê16:27 Fri, 8 Aug She gave me a small encouraging smile in the mirror. ¡°I figured you would. Buckle up. Thirty minutester, we arrived. The street in front of the hotel was a full on traffic jam, parked with luxury cars. Delh clearly invited ever rich person she knew just to show off her dear husband¡¯s ¡°aplishment.¡± Nota dropped me off at the hotel entrance. Tons of guests were already waiting to be let in. I scanned the area and spotted guards and soldiers everywhere, many of them visibly armed, Did I have a n? No. But I knew I had to sneak in first. Only then could I have a shot at exposing Jace for the fraud he really was I waited until the dooman was b busy checking two guests¡® invitations, then quickly slipped past him with my head down. ¡°Hey, miss!¡± Shit. I pretended not to hear him and sped up. ¡°Miss A hand grabbed my shoulder and spun me around. ¡°Every guest needs an invitation. Where¡¯s yours?¡± the guard snapped. ¡°I¡¯m a hotel staff. Just delivering something.¡± ¡°The hell you are!¡± He yanked off my baseball cap, exposing my face. ¡°Aria Collins. Ha! Lady Delh warned us you¡¯d show.¡± ¡°Where is she?¡± I snapped. ¡°She doesn¡¯t have time for trash like you. We are holding you until the event¡¯s over.¡± ¡°Trash?!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you steal Mr. Carter¡¯s project? Try to seduce him and Alpha Grayson? Congrats because you¡¯re famous now. People say they¡¯ve never seen a more shameless woman.¡± Istruggled hard. ¡°Let go! You have no right to detain mel ¡°Of course we do, you clearly came here to cause trouble. We¡¯re not letting you ruin Lady Delh and Mr. Carter¡¯s big day.¡± He reached out to twistm my arm. But someone else grabbed his wrist first. ¡°Who said she¡¯s here to cause trouble?¡± Azy, velvet smooth voice cut through the noise. The guard red. ¡°And who the hell are you? ¡°Zane Elrod. Your guest of honor.¡± Zane appeared beside me like magic. He draped an arm over my shoulders with a smirk. ¡°And this beautiful here is my Wore 45 Chapter 45 Aria¡¯s POV I gasped under my breath. What the hell was he doing here! Even the guard looked more shocked than I was. ¡°Mr. Elrod¡­ of course, you¡¯re very wee. B-but thisdy, she doesn¡¯t¡± ¡°I need your approval to choose my plus one now?¡± Zane¡¯s voice was icy. ¡°N¨Cno, of course not.¡± ¡°Then get the hell lost, Zane snapped. ¡°Delh and Jace practically begged me to show up at this ridiculous event. And if you piss me off now, I¡¯ll turn around and leave right now.¡± The guard swallowed hard, then quickly stepped aside. He muttered something into his mic and rushed into the venue. I was sure he was going to alert Delh and Jace. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I whispered urgently. He shrugged. ¡°I got that email you sent me. You literally sounded like a lost kitten in distress. I had toe see what was going on.¡± I cringed at theparison. ¡°Well¡­ thank you. But I thought-¡± ¡°You thought me showing up at Jace¡¯s party meant I was supporting him hijacking your project!¡± He raised a brow. ¡°Aria Collins, do you really think I¡¯m that much of an asshole?¡± I gave a small smile. ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m seriously grateful you¡¯re here, Mr. Elrod¡± Seriously am. If it weren¡¯t for him, I¡¯d bepletely screwed tonight. He gave me a ridiculously flirtatious grin, then threw an arm around my shoulder and steered me toward the exit. ¡°Alright, time to go.¡± ¡°Go where? But the party¡¯s in there¡± ¡°Ugh. Look at you¨Cjeans and a t¨Cshirt, seriously? You call that party attire?¡± He gave me a judgmental once¨Cover. 1 tugged awkwardly at my shirt. After spending all day fending off vicious coworkers and battling Alpha Grayson, I had zero energy left to care about my outfit. ¡°So, I¡¯m giving you a makeover before we go in. You can¡¯t show up looking worse than Delh, right?¡± He dragged me out of the hotel. Parked out front was a cherry red sports car¨C50 Zane, ¡°But the party already started¡­¡± I said as he thut my door. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t dare begin without me. And tonight, I say they wait.¡± He grinned as the engine roared to life. He took me to a members only boutique. The staff clearly knew we wereing¨Cthey were already waiting outside the moment his shy car pulled up. 16:27 Frl, 8 Aug We got full VIP treatment. Every other customer was turned away, and every staff member catered exclusively to ¡°I¡¯ll pay you back.¡± I muttered as he flipped through the catalog for me. He looked up and shed me a wicked smile. ¡°You sure? Maybe check the price tags before you say that.¡± Timmediately got suspicious. ¡°Wait¨Chow much are these?¡± He turned the catalog toward me and pointed at the prices. My eyes nearly fell out of my head. One barely there top for over ten grand!! Why can¡¯t they just reb a bank or something? That¡¯d be easier. ¡°I can¡¯t let you buy these for me, Mr. Elrod. It¡¯s too much¡ª¡± ¡°Oh, just stop right there.¡± He rolled his eyes. ¡°One of the few joys rich people have is spending money. I¡¯m not letting you take that away from me. He waved a salesperson over. ¡°Bring her these to try on.¡± Okay, I had to admit¨CZane had excellent taste. The dresses he picked for me were absolutely gorgeous. But some of them were also borderline scandalous. One silver gown had a slit plunging all the way to my navel. Just walking out of the fitting room in that thing took serious guts. ¡°Uhm. Mr. Elrod? I really don¡¯t think this is¡­ my style.¡± I carefully stepped outside, blushing. He actually paused when he saw me, his eyes lit up. ¡°What the fuck are you talking about? This is exactly how you should look. Hold on, I need a photo.¡± He whipped out his phone. I panicked and lunged forward to stop him, but he¡¯d already snapped the picture. ¡°Hey! I didn¡¯t say you could take that. And what are you doing now???¡± I dove toward him, but I was toote. He¡¯d already sent it to someone. ¡°Who did you send it to?¡± I demanded. If he sent that topne of his evil friends so they could have a goodugh about it, I was gonna kill him. He grinned and held up the screen. Fuck. It¡¯s even worse. He sent it to Grayson. ¡°Unsend it!¡± I was officially pissed. ¡°Toote.¡± He shrugged. ¡°What, scared? I just wanted to show off how hot you look with me. What you so nervous about?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not nervous,¡± I said through gritted teeth. ¡°You¡¯re literally shaking like a baby deer. Don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s so controlling that he even dictates s who you hang out with?¡± 16:27 Fri, 8 Aug er ?? I didn¡¯t respond. But Grayson¡¯s warning was burned into my brain ¡°If you go near Zane again, it bury both of you. Those were his exact words. The thought alone made my blood run cold. Zane watched my reaction closely, then let out a coldugh. ¡°So he really did han you from being m me? That I¡¯m a fuckboy? A dirtbag? Like he¡¯s any better.¡± me What¡¯d the fuck did he say about ¡°He¡¯s my boss. I really don¡¯t need to piss him off¡­¡± ¡°Bullshit. He clearly treats you like he owns you. And very badly at that,¡± Zane said gruffly. ¡°Where was you to face those jackasses alone?¡± I said nothing. I didn¡¯t want to exin. I was already too drained to rehash it all. Zane saw the depressed look on my face and cursed under his breath. onight yway? Why¡¯d he leave ¡°Fuck,¡± he muttered, getting up. ¡°Alright. Pull yourself together. Tonight, we¡¯re not leaving until you get a good win.¡± He insisted I wear the silver dress, scandalous slit and all. I gave up fighting him. On the way back to the hotel, I checked thepany¡¯s social media. They just posted a new campaign add video. And guess who starred in That fucking asshole Jace Carter. In the video, he looked polished and powerful, dressed in a sleek suit and speaking right into the camera like he owned the world ¡°¡­I know what it feels like to be underestimated. To be betrayed. But I¡¯m still here. The deal that I led with Zane Elrod is not just a win¨Cit¡¯s a legacy. One that will bring Apex to heights we¡¯ve only dreamed of with my wife Delh¨Csharp, fearless, and just as relentless we¡¯re ready to rebuild Apex from the inside out. Thispany deserves leaders who fight, who bleed, who deliver.¡± ¡°Bullshit!¡± I blurt out. He was the one who¡¯d been betrayed? Ridiculous. The real victim here wasn¡¯t even in that damn video And all that crap about rebuilding thepany¡­Was he seriously plotting a coup against Alpha Grayson? ¡°That bastard.¡± I hissed, then turned to Zane. ¡°It¡¯s almost ten. You seriously think they¡¯re still there?¡± Zane gave me a cold grin. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry. They wouldn¡¯t dare leave.¡± We drove into the hotel soon. To my surprise, none of the luxury cars had left. All the guests were still inside. Our car pulled up at the front door. Zane got but first and opened mine like a gentleman, just as group of people rushed outside. ¡°Mr. Elrodi¡± Delh led the way in her morous dress and high heels, Jace right behind her, along with a crowd of guests. She looked both excited and relieved when she saw Zane. ¡°We heard you came earlier and left! I was worried. Thought something happened ¡°Oh, nothing happened. I just stepped out to pick up my plus one,¡± Zane said smoothly, reaching into the car. ¡°Ready, darling. I ced my hand in his and stepped out in my silver gown. ¡°Good evening, Lady Delh. Mr. Carter,¡± I said, smiling coolly at them. And the looks on their faces were precious. Wore 46 Chapter 46 Aria¡¯s POV Delh stared at me like she didn¡¯t even recognize me anymore. Next to her, Jace looked stunned for a second before his eyes changed. Dark Hungry. He now looked like he wanted to peel me out of this silver gown. Same look that¡¯s shared by many men present, ¡°What is she doing here?¡± Delh spat.) ¡°I just said¨Cshe¡¯s my plus¨Cone,¡± Zane said with his arm still wrapped around my shoulders ¡°No, no freaking way! I will not let her into my party! You don¡¯t even know the kind of outrageous stuff she¡¯s done ¡°Oh, you mean those crazy usations you made about Arial¡± Zane cut her off impatiently. ¡°But what the hell does that have to do with me ¡°She¡¯s not a decent woman Mr. Elrod!¡± ¡°Yeah yo you told everyone that she likes to hang out with guys. But honestly, I kinda hopes she flirts with more guys and hopefully she is willing to include me next time.¡± There were a couple of amused chuckles and murmurs. Delh¡¯s face turned an ugly shade of red. I pinched Zane¡¯s arm. What the hell¡¯s doing? I brought him here to help salvage my reputation, not destroy it even more. Zane cleared his throat and continued. ¡°Anyway, why are we still standing here? Seriously, even your brother wouldn¡¯t block me at the door like this. Delh red at me like she wanted to w my face off. And I just stared back at her with ease. This whole party was to celebrate the project with Zane¨Cthere¡¯s no way she¡¯d dare tum him away at the door, Just as I expected, after a tense moment, Delh gritted through her teeth, ¡°Fine, Mr. Elrod. If you must bring her. ¡°Wonderfull Let¡¯s go.¡± Zane beamed and offered me his arm. Careful on the steps, babe.¡± We walked toward the hotel entrance. Guests lined the red carpet, along with a few photographers. Most eyes zeroed in on me, and I could feel their judgment. But honestly, when you¡¯re walking in with the most powerful man in the room, the stares don¡¯t sting quite as much. Now my only fear was that those photos would end up in Alpha Grayson¡¯s hands. And he would see me walking arm in arm with Zane. In this dress. What the hell, Zane already sent him a picture anyway. I¡¯d worry about his reactionter. We stepped into the venue, and almost immediately, a small crowd of guests swarmed over to greet Zane The Elrod family was extremely influential, but they almost only stayed in Europe and kept ¨¤ los person, everyone wanted to butter up to him. And during the chatting Zane ever missed a single chance to introduce me.
  1. le. So now that Zane was here in
Every time a new person walked up, he¡¯d pull me closer and say, ¡°Have you met my beautiful date? This is Aria Collins.¡± 16:27 Fri, 8 Aug Of course, I got plenty of raised eyebrows. These people were thinking about the nasty rumors Delh spread about me. I could ted from their faces Then one guest said to Zane after I was introduced, ¡°We all know who Miss Collins is. We thought she was with Alpha Grayson at the moment So we¡¯re all a bit surprised to see her here with you.¡± Zane raised a brow. ¡°Oh? So are they currently in a rtionship? ¡°Uh¡­no. Not in a rtionship. This guy probably wanted to say I was Grayson¡¯s bitch but didn¡¯t have the guts to say it in front of Zane ¡°Then w why the hell should worry about what Grayson thinks? He can¡¯t stop me from pursuing such a beautifuldy¡± Zane tightened his grip on my waist with a grin. I replied with a small smile. ¡°And I think Grayson¡¯s only Aria¡¯s boss. Nothing else,¡± Zane continued. ¡°Right darling?¡± ¡°Well¡­yeah. You can say that I said. The guests all stared at me skeptically. Then before they could ask more questions, we were interrupted by Delh¡¯s voice. She had walked up to the stage with a mic in hand, smiling sweetly at the guests. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for being here. Tonight is a big moment for my husband, Jace Carter, so why don¡¯t we let him say a few words about this exciting project?¡± There was a thunderous apuse as Jace took the stage. He¡¯s literally glowing with pride. The lights dimmed until only a spotlight remained on him. ¡°Thank you, thank you! Now, let¡¯s talk about the future. Years a sago, I had this vision¨Cconnecting Apex with European resources¡­¡± He went on and on like the whole thing had been his idea from day one. And the most ridiculous part¨Cthose were my slides he¡¯s using! Can¡¯t write your own damn thing genius?! Heaned toward Zane. ¡°Those are my slides, Thissed under my breath. Zane raised an eyebrow. ¡°Shit for real?¡± ¡°Yeah. And he¡¯s using the speech I wrote. Every word of it!¡± Zane let out a coldugh. ¡°Then why the hell are we letting him keep talking¨CLIGHTS!¡± His voice cut through the room like thunder, drowning out Jace¡¯s speech. The lights snapped back on, Jace stood frozen onstage, caught mid¨Csentence. ¡°What the hell happened?¡± he cried in shock. I replied in a loud voice, ¡°Those slides you were using? They are mine. So is your speech. You basically stole my entire project!¡± The crowd burst into chatter. Jace¡¯s face turned red. ¡°That¡¯s just ridiculous! Why would I steal anything from you? I was your mentor Everything yo shouted. vabout business came from me!¡± he ¡°And yet you¡¯re the one stealing from your former student,¡± I said without flinching. ¡°Why don¡¯t we settle this with a live debate?¡± Zane suggested suddenly. ¡°What?¡± both Jace and I said. ¡°The person who truly came up with this project will obviously know it best. You both exin your vision for it. Let everyone hear it for themselves.¡± ¡°With pleasure,¡± I said immediately, striding toward the stage. I was going to crush that lying bastard. AD Comment Send gift Wore 47 Chapter 47 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°Fuck off Aria. Don¡¯t make a fucking fool of yourself,¡± Jace hissed at me the moment I stepped up I gave him a cold smile. ¡°You¡¯re just scared I¡¯ll make you look like a total clown when I¡¯m done. Because you and I both know who this project actually belongs to His face turned an ugly shade of gray. ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Delh¡¯s shrill voice cut through the hall. She shouted toward security. ¡°Drag this woman out. I won¡¯t let her mess with my party¡± ¡°I dare you.¡± Zane spoke up in an ice¨Ccold,manding voice. He stood there with his arms crossed, sweeping a warning look across the security guards. ¡°I¡¯m the one deciding if this partnership continues or not. I said I want to hear Aria speak, so Aria¡¯s going to speak. Anyone got a problem can just fuck off.¡± Silence lell over the entire room. Everyone was sneaking nces between him and Delh. Delh was clenching her fists so hard that her long nails looked like they were about to snap. ¡°Mr. Elrod,¡± she said with a bitter smile, ¡°are you sure you want to waste your time on that bitch? She screwed Jace, and then my brother. But both of them eventually realized what a fucking whore she is. You will just be her next stepping stone.¡± Zane let out a bark ofughter. ¡°Well, not every man¡¯s that insecure. I actually like being someone¡¯s stepping stone.¡± Then he turned to me, his face serious ¡°Continue, Aria.¡± Inodded. Then I yanked the mic right out of Jace¡¯s hand and turned to face the crowd: ¡°So Mr. Carter had given you a brief overview of this project. But seriously, anyone could¡¯ve Googled what he just said. That doesn¡¯t prove he has anything deep understanding about the project. And the truth is his empty head doesn¡¯t have any deep understanding about anything¡± The room burst intoughter. I smiled too and kept going ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, he left out three critical points tonight, and they are absolutely essential for investors. Let me break them down for you I went on, filling in every single key point Jace had skipped. The more I spoke, the more confident I became, leven started adding in new ideas I hadn¡¯t included in the original proposal, sharing my vision, my passion, my drive. The looks from the audience began to change as well. They weren¡¯t dumb. It didn¡¯t take them long to realize who actually understood the project¨Cwho was the brain behind it. The judging, skeptical stares were gone. People started leaning in, nodding, actually listening, And that was the moment had dreamed about. It felt even better than when Grayson had handed me the job, when he had promoted me. Because this time, I stood herepletely on my own merit When I finally finished, the room was silent for a second, Then Zane started pping, ¡°Wonderful sphi Brilliant¡± The rest of the room quickly exploded into apuse. I gripped the mic and smiled. Then turned to Jace, He was still standing at the edge of the stage, but his face looked like it had been dunked in ash. ¡°Well, Mr. Carter,¡± I said sweetly, ¡°anything you¡¯d like to add?¡± He stormed forward and snatched the mic back. ¡°Well, of course! What I¡¯d like to say is- Everyone stared at him, waiting He stuttered. ¡°What I meant to add was¡­ the key thing about this project is¡­ damn it, I mean. ¡°if you¡¯ve got nothing to say, then don¡¯t waste our time,¡± I cut in tly ¡°Next time trying up with your own idea instead of stealing someone else¡¯s.¡± Jace¡¯s face turned scarlet with embarrassment. The crowd erupted intoughter, with a few gasps mixed in. ¡°Wait a second,¡± one guest raised his hand. ¡°We all thought Jace Carter was the one behind this project. He even did the promo video. Why does Miss Collins seem to know it better than him?¡± y work.¡± Ishrugged. ¡°Simple. He stole my ¡°That¡¯s a fucking liel¡± Jace shouted. Sweat glistened on his forehead. ¡°I was the one who reached out to Zane first few hathway across the world for that meeting! I brought him the contract!¡± Zane raised his voice, talking over him, ¡°And yet the person I actually signed with was Aria. Ever wonder why?¡± ¡°Because she seduced you! Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡± Delh shrieked. ¡°You were about to sign the deal with my husband until that slut swooped in and stole it. She always gets what she wants with her slutty body. Disgusting. Zane¡¯s face turned cold. His usual yful charm was gone now. His blue eyes locked on Delh like daggers. ¡°Enough,¡± he said icily. ¡°I¡¯m so sick of women like you going out of their ways to ruin another woman¡¯s life. Why can¡¯t you just admit Aria¡¯s damn good at what she does? Apex is lucky to have her.¡± Delh¡¯s lips trembled ¡°She¡¯s not that good¡­ I won¡¯t buy it¡­ ¡°Let me be very clear,¡± Zane said sharply. ¡°Aria Impressed me with her proposal. Nothing else. Jace¡¯s pitchcked vision,cked originality.
  • That¡¯s why I passed on him. I might enjoy messing around with pretty girls, but I don¡¯t fucking gamble mypany¡¯s future over them.¡±
The room fell dead silent But now¡­everyone was looking at me differently. Zane¡¯s one statement had done more for my name than anything I could¡¯ve said. They trusted him. And finally I was no longer that whore who slept her way up. 1 let out a shaky breath internally ¡°Mr. Elrod! My husband and I would like a private word,¡± Delh snapped. She looked like the was seconds from losing in. Zane shrugged ¡°Sure.¡± He gave me a quick nod, and quickly lifted my dress and ran to his side. We followed Delh and Jace out of the hallroom and into a side The second the door shut, Delh fired away ¡°Mr. Elrod, let¡¯s do this anymore, It really doesn¡¯t matter who the project belongs to.¡± ¡°Oh and why¡¯s that?¡± I snapped. Jace shot me a nasty look. ¡°Because at the end of the day, this thing belongs to Aper. And Delh is Aper¡¯s new VP now. She can assign anyone she wants to run this thing¡± Rage surged through me. ¡°And you are just going to ruin everything I¡¯vee up with ¡°I¡¯m free to do whatever I want yes,¡± he sneered. ¡°And don¡¯t forget you still work for Apex. Don¡¯t bite the hand that feeds you¡± ¡°Oh. So that¡¯s how you want to y this?¡± Zane raised an eyebrow. ¡°We¡¯re really sorry about the chaos tonight, Mr. Elrod,¡± Delh said quickly. ¡°But I assure you, our coboration won¡¯t change- ¡°Oh, it¡¯ll change. Because of this.¡± Zane reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a stack of papers¨Cthe contract I had signed on behalf of Apex. Then, right in front of them, he tore it into shreds. ¡°NO!¡± Delh screamed. Even I gasped and mped a hand over my mouth. What the hell¡¯s going on? ¡°The deal is dead.¡± Zane shrugged. ¡°You¡¯d really blow up this whole thing for her? You need this project just as much as we do!¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t need Apex. There are plenty ofpanies out there.¡± Zane smirked. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll just help Aria start her own firm. Make her CEO. That¡¯d be a hell of a lot more fun, don¡¯t you think?¡± My head was spinning. This was getting crazy. ¡°Then you are going against Apex! Against the entire fied Stone Pack!¡± Delh shrieked, her voice shaking with anger and a bit of fear. ¡°When Grayson finds out this- -¦° Comment diza datin you ju Wore 48 Chapter 48 Aria¡¯s POV Delh and Jace both went pale in a second. Just moments ago, they were still acting all high and mighty. Yet now they looked like two kids who just got caught doing something they shouldn¡¯t have. ¡°And where¡¯s your big brother anyway?¡± Zane asked. ¡°He really doesn¡¯t give a shit about you two ruining hispany and his pack, does he ¡°My brother¡¯s busy,¡± Delh gritted through her teeth, Zane let out a sharpugh. ¡°Well awesome. Then I¡¯ll just go ahead and take away his precious little thing¡± He wrapped an arm around my waist and steered me to the door. I nced back at the shredded contract on the floor onest time. A sudden wave of regret washed over me. What a waste. I had poured so much into that project, only to have it blown up like this We went back to the banquet hall, where the guests were still gathered. Zane raised his voice to the crowd, ¡°Party¡¯s over! Go home now. Apex and Lare no longer in business.¡± Gasps and shocked murmurs spread through the crowd. ¡°What happened? We thought the project was a done deal!¡± one guest said in disbelie ¡°That you will have to ask your awesome new VP, Zane replied with a mocking smile. ¡°Later guys.¡± We left the buzzing hall and headed to the hotel exit. That¡¯s when we heard a sharp ck of heels. Then Delh¡¯s voice shrieked from behind. ¡°This isn¡¯t over, Aria Collinsi I turned around to look at her. Her once wless makeup was now smudged with sweat, her hair a bit messy, and that pretty face of hers was twisted with anger. ¡°What more do you want? The project¡¯s already dead, thanks to you,¡± I said coldly. ¡°I¡¯m the Red Stone¡¯s heiress you bitch! You made the wrong choice going up against me,¡± she snarled. ¡°Just walt. You fuck with my life. I fuck with yours. Everything you love, everything you care about, I¡¯ll fucking take it all away.¡± 1 frowned. In my opinion she¡¯d already wrecked my life. My job, my reputation¡­even Grayson wasn¡¯t done speaking to me anymore. What else could she possibly do? ¡°Be my guest,¡± I said tly and turned away Reporters¡® cameras shed wildly as I followed Zane into his car. His sport car roared back to life and he asked, ¡°So, Miss Collins, anywhere you¡¯d like to go?¡± I seriously don¡¯t know. But after everything that had happened today, I felt like I was finatly¡­ free. I didn¡¯t want to think about anything I di want to have some fun. I leaned back in the seat and smiled at him. ¡°don¡¯t know. I just want to get the hell out of here. Away from all these people Mayb once. Got anything in mind?¡± He shed that charming grin. ¡°You¡¯re asking the right guy. Buckle up, habe He mmed the gas, and the car shot forward like a rocket. Igasped, gripping the seat as vio sped away, leaving the reporters in the dust. Thad no clue where he was taking me. The drive was long, and somewhere along the way, Imust¡¯ve dozed off. When I woke up, someone was shaking me gently. ¡°Aria, hey¨Cwake up,¡± I groaned, blinking up at Zane¡¯s face. He was leaning over me, smirking. ¡°Time to wake up, Sleeping Beauty. We¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s here?¡± I mumbled, rubbing my eyes as I turned to look outside the window. And then I froze. God it¡¯s the ocean. We were by the sea. Waves crashed in the dark, and I could hear the tide roaring nearby. A massive cruise ship sat docked in the harbor, glowing with bright lights and pulsing music. It looked like a full¨Cblown party was happening onboard. what the hell is this?¡± I stammered, shocked. ¡°You said you wanted to rx,¡± Zane said, unbuckling my seatbelt. ¡°A friend of mine¡¯s boat was passing through here. So I figured we¡¯d hitch a ride.¡± Before I could fully process that, he was pulling me out of the car and dragging me to that ship. No, that thing was no ship, more like a mansion on water. It had to be five or six stories highl ¡°Wait, where are we?¡± I asked urgently just before we boarded! As far as I knew, the Red Stone Pack wasn¡¯t anywhere near the coast. Which meant we were not even on Grayson¡¯s territory anymore? Zane threw an arm over my shoulders, lookingpletely chill and rxed. ¡°Does it matter? All you need to know is I¡¯m taking you somewhere fun.¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t just disappear, I should at least tell someone about this. Like my grandma or May?¡± ¡°Rx. I won¡¯t borrow you too long. Just promise the¨Cwhen you¡¯re with me, I get your full attention. No distractions.¡± He held out his hand. ¡°Now give me your phone.¡± If he wasn¡¯t Zane, I¡¯d probably think I was being kidnapped right now. After hesitating for a second, I handed him my phone like he asked. Right then, it started to ring And on the screen, it said: Alpha Grayson My heart nearly stopped. 16:28 Fri, 8 Aug Zane let out a whistle, ¡°Well, well, look who linally sobered up. Can you imagine what he wants to say to you?? ¡°I¨CI don¡¯t know,¡± I stammered, panicking. ¡°Don¡¯t pick up.¡± ¡°Why not? He can¡¯t bite you through the phone.¡± The ringtone kept going and the air felt like it was getting thinner around me. I could practically feel those cold gray eyes staring throde screen, pressing down on the ¡°Turn it off,¡± I begged, breathing hard. ¡°Nope. I wanna hear what he has to say¡± ¡°Don¡¯t-¡°I gasped, but it was toote. He answered the call. There was a moment of silence. Then his voice came through, deep and icy, with a storm looming behind it ¡°Where are you?¡± Zane cut in, ¡°She¡¯s with me.¡± The silence on the other end stretched long. I held my breath, my whole body cold. Even without seeing him, I could feel the way the temperature in that room must¡¯ve dropped tem degrees ¡°You¡¯ll regret this, Elrod.¡± Zane let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Did you see the photos, Hart? She looked real happy with me, didn¡¯t she? She¡¯s never like that with you.¡± I looked at Zane, pleading with my eyes for him to stop. But he didn¡¯t. ¡°You can kiss her farewell because she¡¯s noting back to you.¡± ¡°Put Aria on the phone,¡± Grayson demanded, I reached out to grab the phone, but Zane pulled it away. ¡°No, she doesn¡¯t want to talk to you. Go fuck yourself, Hart.¡± And with that, he end the call and threw my phone right into the ocean. ¡°No!!!¡± I shrieked, lunging toward the railing, but it was toote. My phone was gone, sinking into the sea. I spun on him, furious. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you?! I just bought it!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get you a new one,¡± Zane said, pulling me info his arms. ¡°He might¡¯ve been tracking your phone. We need to be careful¡± ping into my chest. I could always feel Grayson¡¯s dark emotions. And this time I could tell he was angry. Like furious. I bit my lip, unease creeping I was starting to get scared of what woulde next. ¡°Why did you say that to him? The part i¡¯th not getting back to him anymore?¡± I frowned. ¡°Just something to keep him on edge. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re mad.¡± 16:28 Fri, 8 Aug ¨C ? ? I took in a deep breath. ¡°I just didn¡¯t mean to cause you trouble.¡± Zaneughed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sometimes, poking the bear is the fun part. Let him stew in jealousy for a while. Come on- crash. He took my hand and led me to the ship. Third Person POV¨CEarlier That Day The room was pitch dark. Only a single strip of sunlight slipped through the curtains, casting a thin beam across the messy bed and Grayson¡¯s bareback, Hey face down. His muscles were sharp and defined but covered with scars. Some were fresh sex marks, but the others were more horrific. Bite marks, burns, knife or bullet wounds¡­anything you A buzzing sound echoed through the room. could imagine. The girl curled up in the corner of the bed woke up. She tiptoed across the floor littered with clothes and empty bottles and found the buzzing phone. She checked the screen, hesitated, then brought it over. ¡°Alpha¡­ uh, Alpha Grayson?¡± He didn¡¯t move. She touched his shoulder gently ¡°What?¡± he didn¡¯t look up. his voice was hoarse.¡± ¡°Your Beta¡¯s been calling¡­like 20 times already.¡± ¡°Turn it off. Then you can leave.¡± She looked a bit disappointed, but she knew his rule. So she started gathering her clothes. Then there was a knock at the door. Mrs. Jones¡¯s voice came from the hallway. ¡°Alpha Grayson! Sorry to disturb you, but it¡¯s urgent.¡± He sat up abruptly. Bloodshot eyes, dark circles. He looked like he hadn¡¯t slept in days. He stormed across the room and yanked the door §à§â§Ö§á ¡°Speak¡± Mrs. Jones quickly handed him a tablet. ¡°Thepany¡¯s stock has dropped sharply in thest hour. Because of this.¡± He nced at the headline: Apex loses Elrod partnership after chaotic press event. Anger shed across his eyes. He scrolled down, eyes scanning the rest of the article. Then he froze It was a photo. Her With Zane She was wearing a silver gown. That damn thing clung to her body so well that you could literally see everything, her slim waist, her ass, her long legs. And that low neckline exposed a great deal of her chest, Half of her breasts were in disy Everyone fucking man in the background were staring at her. Like they wanted to jump on her any second. And she had no idea about their lust. Grayson could feel his inner beast waking up. Fuck. She looked radiant. Stunning Confident. Nothing like the broken girl who¡¯de begging to himst time. She was smiling. With her arm hooked through Zane¡¯s. She looked like she had fallen for him. ¡°My phone,¡± Grayson growled, eyes still locked on the photo. The girl rushed over and handed it to him. He dialed her number. She should¡¯ve been home. He told her to go home. But she clearly defied his order. And now she¡¯s with that man. The line connected. But it wasn¡¯t her voice that answered. Instead that man told him that she didn¡¯t want to go back to him anymore. She¡¯s leaving. Then the call was ended. He dialed again, but it was already powered of ¡°The elders and managers are all waiting to speak to you,¡± Mrs. Jones said, watching his reaction carefully.¡°The market¡¯s in chaos. Everyone is panicking. They really want to know where you are, and why you haven¡¯t been out to deal with thepany business-¡± Grayson suddenly grabbed her by the neck. She gasped. The other girl screamed and stumbled backward in terror
  1. er. FIND THEM!¡±
¡°I don¡¯t care about anything else,¡± he growled. ¡°Tine her. Wore 49 Chapter 49 Aria¡¯s POV This yacht was insane. Like, actually built for partying, nsaw a full¨Csled tennis court. You could live on it fo had everything you could possibly think of¨Cbars, theaters, a pool, a casino, and levens two weeks straight and not get bored. As soon as we got on board, Zane took me to meet his friends. A handsome guy who greeted Zane with a loudugh and a hug. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to see you outside Furope. Does your Alpha know you can off?¡± ¡°Why would care what he thinks?¡± Zane scoffed, then pulled me over. ¡°Come meet my girl, Aria ¡°Oh, so your p girl,¡± the guy raised his brows at me, giving Zane a teasing look. ¡°She must be something special if she got the Zane Elrod to I felt a little awkward because¡­well, Zane and I weren¡¯t really like that. *Fuck off,¡± Zane shoved him yfully, chuckling, ¡°Anyway, we¡¯re nning to hang out on the boat for a few days. That cool?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, totally.¡± His friend suddenly pped his hands together, ¡°Hey¨Cwe¡¯re just about to start another round of Texas Hold¡¯em. Why don¡¯t you join us?¡± ¡°What? No way¨C1 don¡¯t gamble,¡± I said, startled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you can learn from the best. Your man here¡¯s the king of gambling¡± Before I could protest, he dragged us into the casino and practically forced me into a chair, I was halfway standing up again when Zane gently pushed me back down, sitting beside me. et,¡± he whispered in my ear, ¡°we¡¯re here to have fun.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget,¡± ¡°Losing money isn¡¯t my idea of fun,¡± I whispered back urgently ¡°How much is one round, anyway?¡± ¡°Rx, nothing crazy. Just ten grand per bet.¡± Ten Thousand. Dors?! I nearly fell out of my chair. That was straight up insane! My dad used to be a total gambling addict. I remember him blowing our rent and my college fund at bar poker nights with fifty¨Cdor minimums. So this? This could easily get me bankrupt. ¡°Listen Zane. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m ying this- But Zane had already tapped the table for the dealer to deal us in. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯re not onna lose.¡± Nervously, I looked at the cards I had gotten. It was trash. My heart raced, and I was just about to fold when Zane let out a tiny cough next to
  1. me.
I nced at him. He winked and licked his eyes toward the chips, Wait¡­ was he telling me to raise Thesitated, then somehow, I did exactly what he was hinting at And just like that, he started guiding me through every round. Not just the first one¨Cwon the next few ton, Pretty soon, the chips in front of me were stacked into a mini mountain. ¡°Congrats,¡± the dealer said, pushing another pile my way. My head was spinning I had, like, nearly a million dors sitting in front of me. ¡°Damn, your girl¡¯s just as good as you,¡± his friend gasped, utterly impressed. ¡°Beginner¡¯s luck,¡± I muttered, heart pounding ¡°Umm Zane? Maybe we should grab a drink?¡± ¡°Of course, babe.¡± He stood up right away. ¡°What? You two don¡¯t get to just win and walk out!¡± Zane rolled his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s called being smart. Later, bro,¡± He took my hand and we quickly left the casino. As soon as we were out of the door, we nced at each other¨Cand both burst outughing. ¡°Oh my god, I was seriously scared he¡¯d realize we were cheating.¡± I gasped, clutching my chest. My heart was still racing ¡°And what¡¯s he gonna do¨Ccut your cheating hands off?¡± Zane joked. ¡°Come on, we need to celebrate.¡± He pulled me into the bar and ordered us two drinks. ¡°To freedom,¡± he said, clinking his ss with mine. I took a sip. Fucking hell, that was strong. ¡°You¡¯ve got a little money now,¡± Zane said, resting his chin on his hand and staring at me. ¡°It¡¯s not a lot, but enough for you to stand on your own. You could leave Grayson.¡± I froze. Shit. He was right. I had a million bucks now. I could literally just walk away, I could take Grandma with me, move to another city, and start over. It was crazy. I¡¯d worked my ass off to make money, risked my life and reputation, and still I got nothing, yet in the span of one poker game, i earned more than I ever dreamed of. How ironic. Yeah,¡± I murmured. ¡°Yeah you¡¯re probably right. I guess I could walk away.¡± And Grayson probably wouldn¡¯t even care. 16:28 Fri, 8 Aug 0 He¡¯d made it clear that I meant nothing to him. It disappeared, he might get mad for a second, but he wouldn¡¯te ¡°So what¡¯s your choice?¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to keep the money. I want you to have it.¡± Zane raised a brow. ¡°Me? Why? You don¡¯t seriously think I need a million?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°Then what is it? if this is just an excuse to stay with Grayson, it¡¯s a prettyme one¡± he frowned ¡°No! That¡¯s not it. I just¡­ I know you really ly wanted that partnership too. And like belh said, yourpany needed that expansion, know you were disappointed when it fell through. So just hope this money can make up for it somehow.¡± I finished. And he just kept staring at me with no expression. Shit. Did 1 just offend him? Make him feel insulted? This was such a dumb idea. The silence dragged on and I started squirming in my seat. ¡°You know what? Forget it. A million¡¯s nothingpared to the deal you lost. M figure something else out- He suddenly grabbed my wrist. ¡°¡­You¡¯re really something, Aria Collins,¡± he said in a low voice. His green eyes were locked on mine, glowing with something strange and beautiful. It made my palm wet. ¡°Every woman I¡¯ve ever met just wanted to take from me. You¡¯re the first to give me e something,¡± he murmured. His gaze was so intense I had to look away. I gave a short, nervousugh. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really. It¡¯s not like I earned that money anyway. Keeping it just felt weird.¡± He chuckled. ¡°But now I get why Grayson wants you so badly! ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know what you mean,¡± I whispered. I was just a normal small¨Ctown girl. Red Stone Pack probably had a million others like me. He leaned in, and suddenly we were just inches apart. I could even see my own reflection in his pupils. ¡°You¡¯re nothing like any woman around us. And now, I kind of want to keep you for myself too.¡± His voice was husky. And I caught the escent of him for the first time. It smelled like leather and whiskey. He tilted his head, leaned in to kiss me- Iflinched away. His lips brushed the corner of my mouth *So it¡¯s because of Grayson?¡± he murmured by my ear. ¡°No¡­ not exactly¡­ I don¡¯t know,¡± I stammered. ¡°You¡¯re my client. Doing this with you just feels wrong¡± He paused. Then burst outughing 10-28 ¡¤FTI, & AUD 7-7 ¡°God! All those people spreading rumors about you should see how straighced you really are ¡°Just¨CIt¡¯s not that you¡¯re not attractive,¡± I blurted. Heughed hardes, ¡°That doesn¡¯t actually make me feel better. But for the record, our deal¡¯s off. I¡¯m no longer your dient t ¡°You¡¯re¡­ probably right,¡± I mumbled. ¡°Se il try to kiss you again, would you still pull away?¡± he teased. hat to say.
  1. y. So I stayed silent.
I didn¡¯t know what to Heughed again. ¡°Never mind. The moment¡¯s passed.¡± He downed the rest of his drink, then stood up. Relieved, I followed him up. e said. ¡°But next time I try to kiss you, I hope you¡¯re ready for it,¡± he s ¡°Come on, next party¡¯s starting Zane was amazing. Being around him was fun and easy. I never had to worry about saying the wrong thing because he never got mad. Ever We partied for three, maybe four days? I lost track. I¡¯d ditched my phone, cut myself off from the outside world. Time blurred together. Grayson had to know I was gone by now. But he probably didn¡¯t even care. I¡¯d crossed his sister and his family, blown a huge deal¨Che was probably d I vanished. The only thing I was worried about was Grandma and May: I hadn¡¯t visited the nursing home in over a week. They were probably worried sick So on the sixth¨Cmaybe seventh¨Cday, I went looking for Zane. I needed to borrow his phone to call May and let them know I was okay, The staff said he was in the lounge with his friend. I walked up to the door, and was just in time to hear someone inside yell- ¡°You¡¯ll get us all killed, Zane Elrod!!!TM 1 AD Comment Wore 50 Chapter 50 Ara¡¯s POV froze outside the door, Zane¡¯s voice still sounded casual. ¡°You¡¯re overreacting, Carlos.¡± ¡°Am 17¡± Carlos snapped. ¡°That girl¡¯s face is all over the port checkpoints. The news is running 24/7 coverage of her disappearance. Anyone friendly with Red Stone Pack is out there looking for her. Tell me again I¡¯m overreacting!¡± What the hell? I pped a hand over my mouth to stop myself from gasping Zane¡¯s tone became cold. ¡°That¡¯s just Grayson Hart being his usual asshole self. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re afraid of him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s Grayson fucking Hart. Of course I¡¯m afraid of him! You should be tool¡± Carlos growled. I could hear him pacing ¡°And now the two of you are on my ship. That puts this mess on me. So tell me who the hell is that girl?¡± There was a pause of silence. ¡°She¡¯s someone Grayson treated unfairly, Zane finally said. ¡°And what is she to you? Your girlfriend? Fianc¨¦e?¡± ¡°She¡¯s n not any of those. She hasn¡¯t said yes¨Cyet¡± ¡°Oh my god, Zanel¡± Carlos exploded. ¡°We¡¯re risking our fucking lives to protect some girl who¡¯s not even yours? What the hell are we doing? say we drop her off at the next port and hand her back to Grayson!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t¡± Zane¡¯s voice was sharp now. ¡°Aria wasn¡¯t happy with him. I¡¯m giving her the space to choose. Stay ore with me¡± ¡°Damn it, Zane! So your girl hasn¡¯t even made up her mind, and you¡¯re willing to risk everything for her?!¡± I couldn¡¯t listen anymore. I shoved the door open and marched inside Both men spun around to look at me. ¡°Carlos, can I talk to Zane alone?¡± I said, my heart pounding in my chest. ¡°Umm¡­ sure.¡± Carlos gave Zane a warning look before leaving the room, I didn¡¯t waste time. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± and it was just us now. Zane shrugged, looking just as ¨Cback as always. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to Carlos. He¡¯s being dram Things are not that serious.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a fucking snowke, Zanel¡± I snapped. ¡°I need the truth so I can make real decisions. Tell me what¡¯s going on.¡± His cool mask cracked just a bit He muttered a curse under his breath, then sighed. 16:28 Fr 8 AUTTOI ¡°OK fine¡­The night we left, Grayson locked down every checkpoint. He¡¯s been looking for you nonstop Bekery, he made ORGAN hiding you is his enemy.¡± I stumbled back a step, my hand over my mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t believe this,¡± I whispered. I thought Grayson wouldn¡¯t care that I left Sure, maybe he was pissed about me and Zane, but I figured it was more about his ego than me Hell he didn¡¯t even bother to fight for me when it came to the project and I told him how important that was to me, But now? Now he¡¯s practically dered to the world that he wants me back. What¡¯s he even thinking? ¡°Aria, listen to me Zane stepped closer. He gripped my shoulders and stared straight into my eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t let this mess with your head. I asked you before if you¡¯d leave him. I¡¯m asking again. Do you want to?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t drag you into this. You heard Cartos¨Cthis is serious- ¡°I can handle it.¡± Zane cut me off. ¡°We stick to this course for one more day and we¡¯re out of Grayson¡¯s reach. Then I can get you to Europe. You¡¯ll be safe there. Your grandma, your friend- figure it out. Just tell me your decision.¡± My decision? How was I supposed to think clearly right now? ¡°No, Zane, this is all too much! I thought we were just blowing off steam for a few days. I¨CI have to go back. You don¡¯t know the full story. Me and Grayson¡­ we have a contract. Between the two of us, I need him more¡­ Zane swore. ¡°I know! It always starts that way¨Che¡¯s powerful, charming. But then the darkness creeps in. His mood swings, his control issues -until you¡¯re so deep in it you can¡¯t even leave. It¡¯s already happening, Aria. Can¡¯t you see it?!¡° I stared at him, lost He was right. Grayson¡¯s vtility, his possessiveness, his moments of rage¨Cthey were already starting to weigh me down. But give up everything I¡¯d built in Red Stone Pack because of that? It was too much. ¡°Listen to me,¡± Zane said urgently, tightening his grip on my shoulders: ¡°I¡¯ve known Grayson for a long time. Longer than you know. I know what he¡¯s like in rtionships. Did you know he had a wife?¡± My h heart skipped. ¡°i?¡± I blurted. ¡°Yeah. We all used to be friends. And those two were madly in love, but it still ended¨CVery badly. You really think things will end differently with you?¡± Hearing that Grayson was once madly in love with someone else felt like a knife in the ch I couldn¡¯t even imagine it. Maybe because he never loved me like that, ¡°What happened between them?¡± I asked, breath catching ¡°That¡¯s not the point here! The point is you have one chance to leave him. Take it.¡± I swallowed hard, trying to respond, But before I could say anything, the floor suddenly lurched beneath my feet nearly fell. ¡°What was that?¡± I gasped. That wasn¡¯t waves. The chandelier above us was swinging violently. Zane grabbed me just in time to steady me. Then we heard it¨Can explosion, followed by screams from above. ¡°Fuck,¡± Zane cursed. ¡°We have to gol¡± He yanked me out the door. ty was chaos. Guests ran in every direction, panicked and shouting. Zane pulled me through the crowd, into the lobby, and up onto The hallway the deck. Iscreamed. Our ship was surrounded. Over a dozen boats had pulled up on all sides. The sts we heard were from cannons. And now overhead I could hear the chop of helicopter des closing in. ¡°Zane¨Cis that him?-AHI¡± The ship tilted hard again. I mmed into a wall, but Zane caught me before I hit the ground. Then he hoisted me up onto his back and ran At the edge of the deck were intable lifeboats, strapped to the rails. That¡¯s where we were headed. More explosions, more screaming. Zane dropped me down and started unhooking a raft I grabbed his hand. ¡°We can¡¯t get away! Look¨Cthey¡¯re everywhere!¡± ¡°We will. Trust me!¡± ¡°No, Zane¨CI can¡¯t let you get hurt. Or your friends. Or all the people on this boat- Zane didn¡¯t answer. He finished unstrapping the raft, grabbed my arm, and yelled over the chaos, ¡°On the count of three, you jump. One- two- BANG! The gunshot rang out before he could say three. The bullet hit the lifeboat. It deted instantly. We both whipped our heads around. The helicopter had reached us. From the opeh side door, someone leapt down andnded cleanly on the deck. Grayson stood up slowly. His gray eyes were icy, locked on us like a predator sizing up his prey. A storm raged in them. Fear shot down my spine like electricity. 16:28 Fri, 8 Aug ¡°Give her to me, Zane,¡± he said. Wore 51 Chapter 51 Aria¡¯s POV literally stopped breathing. I¡¯d never been this scared of him before, Zane pulled a gun from his pocket and pointed it straight at him. ¡°What if I say no?¡± Grayson let out a lowugh, the kind that made your skin cal. He wasn¡¯t even slightly threatened. It was like Zane¡¯s gun actually amused him. ¡°That¡¯s a really dumb choice,¡± he said, his voice soft but dipping with danger ¡°Why the hell do you still want her back, huh?¡± Zane shouted. ¡°You don¡¯t even give a damn about hert Where were you when your sister humiliated her? When everything she worked for got ripped away? Do you have any idea how much she cried because of your ¡°That¡¯s none of your damn business, Grayson snapped. ¡°It is my business. Because I was there for her. I did what you wouldn¡¯t. If you had even hall a conscience, you¡¯d let her go Grayson¡¯s eyes flicked between us. When his gazended on me, a chill ran down my spine. ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t break your promise to me, Aria,¡± he said, his voice terrifyingly cold. ¡°But you still chose to betray me. The contract¡¯s still binding. And yet here you are¨Cmessing around with someone else.¡± ¡°No, it it¡¯s not like that I blurted. ¡°Yeah we¡¯re together now. What are you gonna do about it, asshole? Zane barked, I wished Zane would just stop. Poking the beast never ended well. And judging by the way soldiers on the surrounding boats were now aiming their gar atus, there really wasn¡¯t a way out of this, ¡°Come here.¡± Grayson held his hand out to me. His storm¨Cgray eyes locked on mine, and it felt like I was being swallowed whole by a dark fog. ¡°Come to me, Aria. Now, Then maybe think about letting him lide.¡± Zane grabbed my hand tighter. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to his bullshit. Remember what I said to you? This is your only chance Grayson let out a chillingugh. ¡°Be smart Aria. Or at least be smart for your grandma and your best friend May.¡± It felt like someone punched me in the chest. ¡°What did you do to them?!¡± Iscreamed. ¡°Your grandmother¡¯s at the St. Mary¡¯s hospital. May volunteers there sometimes. Am I right? You shouldn¡¯t have left them behind, A Rage and panic surged up my spine, No. No way. Was he seriously using my grandmother and May to threaten me? That wasn¡¯t the Grayson I knew¡­ but how well did I ever know him to begin with21 ¡°Go fuck yourself, Grayson Hart! That¡¯s low even for you!¡± Zane exploded. ¡°And you still wonder why people leave you? First I, now Aria¨Cbecause you¡¯re one fucking monster Then i saw it. Chapter 51 A red dot. From a sniper scop Centered Light on Zane¡¯s chest. ¡°WATCH OUT!!!¡± Escreamed. 1shoved Zane as hard as I could when a gunshot rang out. And in the same split second, pain exploded in my chest. Like fire ripping through my bones. I screamed in pain. My legs gave out. I copsed to the floor There were voices¨Cshouting, yelling¨Cbut I couldn¡¯t make any of it out. The pain drowned out everything the only thing could feel was warmblood soaking through my clothes A pair of strong, familiar arms wrapped around me. I was pulled against a chest that smelled like pine woods. That scent used to make me feel so safe and secure. Now it only terrified me ¡°No¡­no¡­ let me go¡­¡°I sobbed, but he did the opposite and hugged the even tighter. I was too weak to fight him off. ¡°Get me a doctor¡± he roared, carrying me as fast as he could I groaned in pain as he walked. My ears were pressed to his chest so i could hear his heartbeat¨Chis heart was thumping like it had gone wild. Then heard him reared. ¡°Who fired that fucking shot, kill him!¡± ¡°Yea Alpha!¡± My teeth ttered. His ruthlessness terrified me. My ¡°Swear to me¡­¡± I gasped, reaching to clench at his shirt. ¡°Swear you won¡¯t hurt Zane¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re still worried about him he growled. ¡°Swear!¡± His jaw clenched, hard. He didn¡¯t say yes, but he didn¡¯t say no other. And right now, I¡¯d take that. The pain tore through me again. Everything went ck. I must¡¯ve been out for a long time. When I woke up, my surroundings hadpletely changed, I was now in a sterile white room. Probably a hospital, A doctor was lea checking my wound. ¡°How is she?¡± I heard Grayson¡¯s voice, low and Light, from nearby. urme ¡°It¡¯s a through¨Cand¨Cthrough, Alpha,¡± the doctor said. ¡°It shattered multiple ribe it¡¯s definitely painful. She¡¯ll need surgery! recovery soo y immediately if we expect a ful ¡°Then do it. Now. If she doesn¡¯t recover all of you are fucking dead.¡± A sharp sting in my arm. Someone injected something¨Cprobably a sedative, I fought to stay awake, blinking hard. He was beside me now, holding my hand gently, and garing into my eyes. Was that¡­ worry ¡°How are you feeling?¡± he asked softly. ¡°My grandmother and May¡­¡± I mumbled. ¡°They¡¯ll be fine if you cooperate,¡± he said, voice cold again. His pip on my hand tightened. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have taken that buffet for Zane. It¡¯s fucking stupid.¡± ¡°I need to call my family,¡± insisted, my voice barely a whisper ¡°Just to make sure they¡¯re okay.. His jaw twitched with fury. ¡°You don¡¯t trust me?¡± I stared at him, stubborn. He cursed and stood up. ¡°Worry about yourself for now. No calls, no contact, not until you¡¯ve recovered. Then we¡¯ll talk about the consequences of your betrayal.¡± He had no right to cut me off from my family! I wanted to scream at him. To tell him he was insane. But the sedative kicked in. And I passed out again. The surgery went sessfully during my sleep. My wolf would hell the rest of the wound. And apparently I was ready to be checked out of the hospital. But I still wasn¡¯t allowed to leave. Grayson had locked me inside the hospital room. No phone. No contact with the outside world. I couldn¡¯t even beg him to set me free because he hadn¡¯t showed up since. I had no idea what was happening to the people i loved. And it was driving me insane. Finally, on the fourth day, the door opened up. I thought it was him. But instead Ms. Jones walked into the room. ¡°You look much better now Aria,¡± she gave me a warm smile. ¡°The Alpha asked me to bring you some clean clothes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m shocked he remembers I¡¯m even here,¡± I said sharply ¡°I almost thought he nned to keep me locked in here forever.¡± She gave me a look of pity. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have tried to run away from him. You really struck a nerve this time.¡± But I didn¡¯t try to escape. It had been all just a stupid misunderstanding Zane and I were just trying to get away for a few days. None of this was supposed to happen. But now¡­any sort of exnation was polulleys. ¡°Still. No normal person would react like this,¡± Imuttered. She sighed. ¡°You should know the darkness inside him, Aia. He¡¯s the strongest one born into the Hart family in a century. But that kind of pow takes toll on him. That¡¯s why he brought you close in the first ce, He wants you to help him¡± ¡°Well, clearly I haven¡¯t been much of a help,¡± I said bitterly. Then I sat up straight, staring at her. ¡°Mrs. Jes, need to ask you something I need to borrow your phone.¡± Her eyes went wide. ¡°No. Absolutely not. The Alpha gave strict orders.¡± ¡°He said I had to recover. Fine. I can stay here. But why does he have to cut me off from the world? What¡¯s he trying to hide!!¡± My voice rose in anger. ¡°He¡¯s just trying to protect you¡­ ¡°Please,¡± I begged, reaching to grab her hand. ¡°Just one call. That¡¯s all I¡¯m asking, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m running away.¡± She stared at me for a long time. Finally, she sighed and pulled her phone from her pocket. ¡°Five minutes,¡± she said, cing it on the bed before slipping out of the room. I grabbed the phone and called May She picked up after one ring ¡°Hello? ¡°May, it¡¯s me!¡± Aria?¡± Her voice shot up, full of panic. ¡°Oh my god, where the hall have you been?! You¡¯re everywhere on the news! The whole damn world¡¯s been looking for you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long story. Anyway, are you okay? How¡¯s grandma?¡± I was ready for her to say everything was fine. That I had nothing to worry about But no. ¡°I¡¯ve been going crazy trying to find you Aria. Those motherfuckers pulled your grandma out of the nursing home! She hasn¡¯t seen a doctor in days, they¡¯re not giving her any of her meds. She¡¯s not doing well!¡± My brain nked. ¡°Wait a second. Who are they?¡± ¡°Who do you think? The only person capable of it/Alpha Grayson!¡± Chapter 52 Aria¡¯s POV Wore 52 Chapter 52 Aria¡¯s POV My hand was shaking, sweat slicking the ph ¡°No. That can¡¯t be tre¡°1 said automatically. ¡°He might hate that I ran from him, but he¡¯d never hurt my family. He wouldn¡¯t go that far. That¡¯s¡­..chaty not who he is.¡± ¡°Are you slyst defending him?¡± May¡¯s voice broke with disbelief. ¡°The days ago, a group of soldiers charged into the nursing home and dragged your grandmother out in front of everyonel that poor olddy- she had no idea what was going on. She just kept asking where you were as they wheeled her away¡­¡­ I pped a hand over my mouths. Tears streamed down my cheeks. Oh no, Grandma. ¡°The doctors and I tried to stop them, and you know what they said? That it was your fault. That your grandmother didn¡¯t deserve good care or decent meds. That you should¡¯ve never crossed Alpha Grayson or his family. And get this¨Cthe one leading them was Beta Harold Tell me who else but the Alpha can order the Beta around?¡± She was right. In a pack, only the Alpha gives orders to the Beta So it had to be Grayson. He¡¯s punishing me for escaping. I clutched the bed sheets, my tears falling onto my fists. I couldn¡¯t believe it I worked so hard to give my only family a good life. And now, the one hurting her the most turned out to be me. ¡°So where are you now?¡± I asked, my voice choked. ¡°We¡¯re still in the hospital. They¡¯ve locked us in like prisoners. Your grandma had another sessionst night. I pounded on the door for help, but no one came¡­Aria, they¡¯re going to kill her ty your don¡¯t do something ¡°No. No. I won¡¯t let that happen.¡± I bit down my tongue hard until tasted blood. ¡°You need to figure something out. Fast. I bribed a guy on the meal shift just to get this phone. I may not get another chance to call you. You need to get us out before your grandma¡¯s time runs out. ¡°I know, I know.¡± I pressed the phone tighter against my ear, as if that would bring me closer to them, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, May, for everything I put you through¡­ Please, please take care of her. I¡¯m begging you.¡± ¡°I will. But I can only do so much. So be quick.¡± She hung up. I wiped my face with my sleeve, barely catching my breath before Mrs. Jones came back into the room. ¡°Finished your call?¡± Inodded and handed the phone back, called the hospital. They said my grandmother is doing well Alpha Grayson hasn¡¯t made things hard for her, has ¡°Of course not,¡± she replied with a smile. ¡°Once he learned was at a nursing home, he personally made sure that she be looked after with the best services and medical attention. You have nothing to worry about Lies. tant, disgusting lies Seriously, these rich people. They really t ly think the rest of us are just idiots waiting to be yed. ¡°need to speak to Alpha Grayson,¡± I told her. She looked reluctant. ¡°That¡­ might not be possible. The Alpha¡¯s been very busytely, I¡¯m not sure he¡¯ll have time ¡°He had time to send helicopters and a fleet to cover our ship. He had time to show up in person with a gun to drag me back. And now he doesn¡¯t have time to see me? Or is he just too much of a reward to face me?¡± She was stunned by my sharp to tone, and she gave me a strained look. ¡°Please don¡¯t provoke him, Aria ¡°I won¡¯t Just pass on my request¡± She sighed and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡± As soon as she left, I started pacing around the room. I couldn¡¯t even sit still with all the anxiety boiling in my blood Those bastards How dare they touch my grandmother?! Uhh i hated them so much! Every single one of them! I¡¯d swallowed it down when Delh and Jace stole everything I worked for, I¡¯d swallowed it again when Grayson chose to protect his family over me. But they crossed a line messing with my family. May said time was running out- knew it. Grandma¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t good, and she couldn¡¯t survive long in that kind of ce, especially without proper care or medication. I thought about calling the police. But how fucking ironic. The ones doing this basically ownedw enforcement. And I was locked in this very room myself. What could I possibly do for them? I walked slowly to the window and looked down, Fuck I was at least ten floors up. I wasn¡¯t sure my wolf could survive a fall from that height. She wasn¡¯t that strong¡­. ¡°Thinking of escape again!¡± -A cold voice sliced through the air behind me. I whipped around. He stood in the doorway, staring at me with a detached, icy look. He wore a ck coat, sharp and sleek, and the color made him look cold and pale¨Clike winter itself had walked into the room ¡°Jumping out of a window isn¡¯t a great n,¡± he said, stepping in and closing the door behind him. ¡°You¡¯d break both your legs. His gray eyes swept over me. ¡°You look better, Aria.¡± My wolf growled at him in fury. Every instinct told me to grab the vase and smash it into his perfect, arrogant face. FIL But I held it back Not now Ineeded him to work with me. ¡°I¡¯ve fully recovered,¡± I said evenly ¡°Good, And Jones said you wanted to see me His face was unreadabile. ¡°Yes. Because you haven¡¯t given me a chance to exin since dragging me back¡­ and I think I deserve that much¡°I took a deep breath and continue, ¡± didn¡¯t n to run away with Zane. Aber Delh¡¯s party, I felt awful. So Zane offered to take me out to chill out and I said yes. That¡¯s all it was¡± He let out a cold So I wasn¡¯t going to answer that. ¡°Even if you hadn¡¯te for us, I would¡¯vee back. Youpletely overreacted so I¡¯m asking you¨Cplease, stop punishing Zane. Stop punishing my family He suddenly closed the distance between us, his eyes zing with rage. ¡°That ship was one mile from crossing continent lines. One more mile and I¡¯d lost you forever. That¡¯s not fucking overreacting ¡°I told you I¡¯de back! Don¡¯t you t trust me at all!!¡± His hand came up and cupped my cheek. His palm was so hot that it burned against my skin. ¡°Do you deserve my trust, Aria?¡± His voice was low and lethal asked you to transfer to another branch to stop causing drama¨Cyou didn¡¯t. I told you toe home¨Cyou defied me and showed up at that damn party with Zane. I gave you onest chance to walk back to me and you took a bullet for him instead. Everything you¡¯ve done¨Cit screams fucking betrayal!¡± I found myself shaking. From head to toe If he wasn¡¯t holding me up by my neck, I would¡¯ve copsed. ¡°So you think I¡¯m a traitor then. And traitors need to be punished?¡± I gasped. ¡°My grandmother and May¡­ that was you, wasn¡¯tit?!¡± ¡°They¡¯re the only people you care about,¡± he said coldly. That¡¯s it. He admitted it He was the one who hurt them I screamed andunched at him, my woll snapping. I sank my teeth into his shoulder, hard His eyes red with shock and rage. He seized my arm. But to my horror, the bite I just gave him had begun to heal right in front of my eyes. Fuck. Fuck he and his strong w woll ¡°You want to fucking kill me? For Zane?¡± he growled at my ear. ¡°But don¡¯t you forget I¡¯m your Alpha! You can¡¯t hurt me.¡± Tears of anger streamed down my face. ¡°So what? Only you get to hurt me then! Just because I¡¯m poor and weak and you get tramp over me however you want?!¡± He cursed and roared toward the door. ¡°Doctor Where the fuck is the doctor?¡± I struggled, wing at him. ¡°I want to end this goddamn contract I¡¯m done Leave me and my family alone!¡± ¡°No fucking way,¡± he shapped, mming me onto the bed. ¡°I decide when this ends.¡± 23.29 Fri, 8 Aug The door burst open, and the doctor rushed in, holding a sedative, I screamed and begged, but they still jabbed the n like a fucking animal. Tears spilled again as the world went blurry, I stared up at him and whispered, ¡°Please don¡¯t hurt them¡­. But his s voice was cold and heartless ¡°We¡¯ll talk when you¡¯ve calined down.¡± Fuck. Him This time they didn¡¯t knock me outpletely. Just left me woozy, dazed on the bed. Soon night fell. Another day had gone waste. And my grandma was still out there suffering. The door creaked open again. A nurse walked in, wearing a mask and holding meds. ¡°More sedatives?¡± I said weakly. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just knock me outpletely?¡± She didn¡¯t answer. She locked the door, then stopped to my bedside. ¡°Miss Collins?¡± she whispered, leaning in ¡°I work for Mr. Elrod, He sent me to find you (AD Comment Wore 53 Chapter 53 Aria¡¯s POV What? Zane? ¡°How is he?¡± I asked urgently. ¡°Mr. Elrod is fine,¡± she said. ¡°But he¡¯s really worried about you. He sent me to check on you.¡± She pulled a tiny earpiece from her pocket. ¡°He wants to talk to you.¡± I slipped it in with shaking hands, my breath catching, ¡°Hello¡­ Zane?¡± ¡°Arial¡± His voice¨CGod, it made my eyes sting. ¡°We you okay? That bastard didn¡¯t do anything to you, did he?¡± ¡°No¡­I¡¯m okay. But my grandmother and May¡­ My throat tightened. ¡°Wee you still at Red Stone Pack!¡± He let out a coldugh. ¡°Grayson let me go. But not before he called my Alpha. Now my own pack is hunting me down like an international fugitive. I can¡¯t even go home¡± God. Gult mmed into me. ¡°Zane, I¡¯m so sorry. This is all my fault. I never should¡¯ve dragged you into this ¡°That¡¯s enough. I made my choice. And I don¡¯t regret one bit.¡± He paused. ¡°In fact, I want to ask you again¨Cdo you want to leave here with me?¡± froze. He was still asking me that? ¡°I¡¯m heading to a small pack in Europe toy low. I can¡¯t fly or take a train¨Cthey¡¯le watching everything 11 hitch a ride in a cargo truck, then switch to a small boat to cross. You cane along¡± Sweat started forming on my back, ¡°I can¡¯t keep dragging you down with me. Look at what happenedst time.¡± ¡°That only happened because he caught us. This time, everything¡¯s nned. I¡¯ve got a smuggler I trust. You said Grayson¡¯s hurting your family and friends, right? Bring them too. Let them be safe.¡± My heart mmed so hard it made me nausOUS Thatst thing he said got to me. Grayson was using Grandma and May to control me. As long as we stayed here, they¡¯d live under his control forever. But that changed if we left Zane. It might be my only chance to save them. God. If I had known who Grayson truly was, I never would¡¯ve signed that damn contract. ¡°So what do you say, Aria?¡± Zane said, voice low and urgent. ¡°You know I¡¯m dead serious¡± ¡°Time is short, Miss Collins,¡± the nurse whispered near my ear. ¡°They coulde check the room any minute.¡± Fuck Screw it. ¡°Yes¡± I blurted out ¡°What? Did I hear that right? You said yes?!¡± ¡°You heard me.¡± I swallowed hard, probably owe you the whole world after this¡­ but if you¡¯re still willing to take me, then go with you.¡± I felt dizzy. This was insane. But deep down, I knew was making the right choice. Staying with Graj was way throu ¡°Hell yes!¡± Zane growled. ¡°Okay, listen carefully. We¡¯ve got to move fast. You need to get out of that hospital room before dawn, 11l be wa Cng at Partne Tower F5, second floor, off Central Avenue.¡± Shit. Getting out wasn¡¯t going to be easy¨Cthere were soldiers right outside my door. But I had to try. ¡°What about my familyLasked urgently. ¡°I¡¯ll send someone to get them. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the hallway, getting closer, ¡°We have to go¡± the nurse hissed¡­ *See you soon, Aria. Good luck.¡± The nurse yanked the earpiece away and shoved it back into her pocket¨Cjust as the door burst open. A bodyguard stormed in ¡°What are you doing in here for so long?¡± he eyed the nurse, suspicious Lacted fast. I smacked the cup of pills out of her hand and shouted, ¡°I¡¯m not taking another damn pill. These things you feed me are making me so dizzy and weak all the time!¡± The nurse straightened and gave the guard a cold look, ¡°See? She wasn¡¯t ying along¡± The bodyguard trusted our little act. His tone softened. ¡°No one¡¯s trying to hurt you, Miss Collins, But missing one dove probably won¡¯t kill you. You just need test He motioned for the nurse to leave with him. As she reached the door, she nced back and mouthed two words at me Before sunrise.. After they left, I chocked the clock. It was a little past 1 a.m. Thad maybe 4 or 5 hours to pull this off What the hell was I going to do? I rolled over in bed, eyes darting around the room for anything useful. Then I saw it. My untouched dinner te on the tray, and the small metal fork and butter knife beside it I got up, grabbed the knife, and ran my fingers along its serrated edge. No, I couldn¡¯t fight a guard with this. But there was something I could do to myself There was no time for hesitation. I took the knife and locked myself in the bathroom. Standing in front of the mirror, I pulled my gown off one shoulder and ripped the bandage away. My shoulder wound had been stitched, but it wasn¡¯t fully healed. The flesh underneath was raw and red. Traised the kille and aimed it at the wound. Shit, this was going to hurt. Ishoved a towel into my mouth. Then hard and fast, I drove the knife straight into the wound. FUCK!!! I nearly passed out. The pain exploded, my vision went ck for a second. But didn¡¯t fail I held on I threw the knife into the trash and stumbled out, mming the ency call button. The door few open instantly. The bodygated rushed back in, followed by Zane¡¯s nurse ¡°My wound¨Cwhispered. ¡°It opened again¡­ ¡°Holy by fuck! What the hell¨Chow did this happen?¡± The bodyguard looked horrified. ¡°Il Alpha finds out he¡¯ll kill us for not taking care of her Then why hy are you standing here?¡± the nurse barked ¡°Go get a doctor! Now!¡± He took off, nearly tripping over himself. The nurse helped me onto the bed and whispered, ¡°That¡¯s smart.¡± Then she started pushing the hospital bed out of the room. it waste. No doctors around. Everyone was in a panic, running to get help. No one questioned her as she rolled me down the hall We got into the elevator. But instead of pressing the surgical floor, she hit the button for the basement. ¡°There¡¯s a car packed in the basement. It¡¯ll get you to Parking Tower 15. She pressed a key into my palm. ¡°Can you drive?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll manage. Thanks.¡± The second those elevator doors opened, I bolted. There¡¯s no time. Any minute now, they¡¯d realize I was gone. I found the car, jumped in, and sped out of the hospital and toward Central Avenue. The streets were empty, streetlights flickering over the pavement. Not a single car or soul around, I hit a red light and finally exhaled a shaky breath, Then- Aroar of engines shattered the silence. Blinding headlights. A fleet of ck cars flew past in the oppositene, not even slowing for the red light The one in front was a silver Rolls Royce. My heart stopped, I quickly ducked under the wheel, pulse racing They didn¡¯t see me. The cars howled past, heading for the hospital. ¡­It¡¯s him. He must¡¯ve already heard my wound. Now he¡¯sing for me. Even faster than I thought I stared at the taillights vanishing in the rearview mirror, wiped the tears from my cheeks, and mmed on the gas ¨C 23:23 Fr? 8 Aug: Goodbye, Alpha Grayson Wore 54 Chapter 54 Aria¡¯s POV I pulled into the second floor of the parking garage. There was a huge cargo truck parked in theer. ¡°Arial¡± May came running out from behind the truck, screaming my me. The second I saw her, my tears just poured right out. I wrapped her in the tightest Tm sony Fm so, so sorry¡­¡±I choked I didn¡¯t know what else to say. She had a peaceful life back at Red Stone Pack, andpletely ruined it. All because I was stupid enough to sign a deal with the devi She held my face in her hands. ¡°Stop. This isn¡¯t your fault. Walt¨Cwhy do I smell blood? Oh my god, your shoulder¡± Blood had already soaked through my shirt while I was driving Half of me was painted red. ¡°Did that son of a bitch do this to you?¡± sher esnapped. ¡°No, no he didn¡¯t. It¡¯s it¡¯splicated¡­¡± ¡°Honestly, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he did, came another sullen voice Zane stepped out from behind the truck with a small first¨Caid kit. His expression darkened the second he saw me. Without a word, he ripped open my bloody shirt and started treating my wound fast and rough. Bleeding¡¯s stopped,¡± he said shortly. ¡°Once we reach the first stop, I¡¯ll get a doctor to check on you¡± He helped me up. ¡°You think you can go ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± I gritted out. Then I noticed the bruises on his face. He was limping too. ¡°You looked awful What happened?¡± ¡°Grayson, obviously. Beat the crap out of me,¡± Zane rolled his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m guessing if he really does catch us this time, host skin me alive, then hang me to death¡± Fear stabbed through me. ¡°Then we can¡¯t get caught. No matter what.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t he smiled. ¡°Everything¡¯s nned out this time.¡± He whistled, and a scruffy¨Clooking man popped his head out the driver¡¯s window and gave me a little wave. ¡°That¡¯s David. He¡¯s transporting a load across.. the border. We¡¯ll just hide in the back.¡± Inodded nervously, Zane then led me to the truck. ¡°There¡¯s someone else I think you¡¯ll want to see. Inside the truck, past stacks of crates, a small space had been cleared. There was a hospital bed. And my grandmother tay ¡°Grandma!¡± I gasped, stumbling toward her. She stimed, eyes fluttering open just a little. ¡°Jolen¡­¡­¡­. is that you?¡± she murmured. She thought I was my mom again May whispered behind me, ¡°They wouldn¡¯t give her her meds. She¡¯s gotten worse these past few days.¡± ¡°My guy also said she¡¯s severely malnourished,¡± Zane said coldly. ¡°Looks like Grayson¡¯s been treating her like crap. Honestly, even I¡¯m shocked, hi shred of humanity when I first met him. But even that was gone now.¡± I clutched Grandma¡¯s hand, tears slipping silently down my face, Grayson was always cruel. But he was brutal to me. Maybe because I never deserved any of his love or affection. Thank god I realized that before lost everything. ¡°Jolene, where are we going?¡± grandma asked in a hoarsenice d¡­ once we get there, we¡¯ll be free. Everything¡¯s gonna be okay¡± ¡°To a new ce,¡± I whispered. ¡°It¡¯s a long way, but¡­once we ¡°So you¡¯re bringing me this time?¡± she mumbled, almost smiling: ¡°Good. Don¡¯t forget your daughter okay? Poor little Aria¡­ she didn¡¯t deserve this life¡­ she deserved so much more. Oh grandima. Though I was just a nobody from a small town, she always believed I deserved the best the world could give ¡°We need to go.¡± Zane said. ¡°Are you ready?¡± I wiped my face and nodded. ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s do it.¡± David loaded us in, then shut the doors. I felt the truck start to move, rolling slowly out of the garage. I packed out through a small crack between the crates. Familiar streets blurred by. The Apex building in the distance got smaller and smaller. A deep ache pressed down on my chest. When I first came to this ce, I thought I¡¯d build a future here. Make something of myself. But that was just a dream. lended up pissing off the most powerful man here¡­ and now I was running for my ¡°I know how you feel,¡± May said quietly beside me. She was staring out too, her expression heavy. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have gotten dragged into this. I¡¯m so- it out,¡± she said, squeering my hand. ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m local anyway. And hey, maybe a fresh start will be good for me. Might even make a fortune, who knows?¡± Zane sat across from us and grinned. ¡°And you¡¯ve got me, remember? No way i¡¯d let two lovely worry about money. Once we¡¯re sale, I¡¯ll make sure everything¡¯s taken care of May giggled stupidly and nudged me. I pretended not to notice. It was clear May had fully switched sides¨Cfrom Team Grayson to Team Zam We all dozed off not long after that, rocked by the phovement of the truck. It only stopped once to refuel. By midday, we reached our first checkpoint us snapped awake. Zane had briefed us earlier this would be our first big hurd All 3 of us ¡°Maybe he hasn¡¯t realized you¡¯re ¡®re gone yet,¡± May whispered. Her grip on my hand was cold and mmy. But I wasn¡¯t that Imotioned for her to look through the crack. There was a long line of vehicles ahead. Cops was questioning every single one, And shifted werewolves were ining everything downt. Security was on highest alert. ¡°He knows,¡± aid quietly. Achill can down my spine, ¡°This is way more intense than before,¡± Zane muttered. ¡°He¡¯s definitely fucking pissed now.¡± ¡°We can hide in here, but what about our scent!¡± May asked, panicking. ¡°Those guards can smell us from miles away?¡± *This truck¡¯s loaded with spices. It should cover most of it,¡± Zane said. ¡°Wof these soldiers are low¨Clevel. Their noses aren¡¯t as sharp like Alpha sa Commis So just stay calm. Don¡¯t panic. Don¡¯t release your scent.¡± We all went silent. The truck crawled forward slowly with the line, About 30 minutester, it was our turn. ¡°Driver out. Show your ID, a solder came over and ordered. ¡°Open the back.¡± May gripped my hand tight. I squeezed back, trying to keep her calm. David followed instructions. When the doors opened, the crates hid us from view 1 heard a low growl. A woll Please let the spices be enough. ¡°We might have to unload everything for a full inspection,¡± the soldier said. What? My heart skipped a beat. May let out a tiny squeak. Zane immediately reached over and mped his hand over her mouth. He stared at us, slowly shaking his head. ¡°What? That¡¯ll take forever. I¡¯ve got a delivery deadline, Davidined. ¡°Come on, man. Is that really nece The soldier scoffed. ¡°You know why we¡¯re doing this? Our Alpha¡¯s losing his damn mind over some girl who keeps running from him, says if we don¡¯t bring her back, we¡¯re all fucked. So yeah, it¡¯s necessary.¡± ¡°Love makes guys crazy,¡± David muttered, ¡°Look, I¡¯m in a hurry. How about you help me out¡­and I pive you a little something in return?¡± We couldn¡¯t see it. He must¡¯ve slipped the soldier some money. After a beat, the soldier whispered, ¡°Fine. Go. And be quick before someone else sees.¡± We all hold our breath till the truck had officially left the check point. ¡°God we made it! We are out!¡± May threw her arms around me,ughing and crying at the same time. Iughed too, patting her back. ¡°Yeah. We¡¯re okay. ¡°Time for you to rest easy,¡± Zane grinned, checking his watch. ¡°We¡¯ve got 4 more hours till the boat ride. Once we¡¯re on that boat, we¡¯re gone for good May passed out again, leaning on the crates. She looked totally wiped. But the emotional rollercoaster we¡¯d been through, I couldn¡¯t sleep ¡°Can¡¯t sleep?¡± Zane slid over beside me, his voice low. Inodded. ¡°Hey¡­Can I ask you something?¡± ¡°Yeah anything.¡± ¡°Grayson and his ex¨Cwife. What really happened?¡± He blinked. Then frowned. ¡°Seriously? You¡¯re still thinking about him? You got out. Move on.¡± ¡°I am moving on,
  1. Isaid quickly.
  2. y. ¡°But I need to know. Otherwise, I just keep wondering. So that i¡­ what was she like?¡±
Zane sighed, leaning back. ¡°Elegant. Beautiful. Confident. Her family wasn¡¯t as powerful as the Harts, but still noble. We all met back in Europe, during school¡± My heart sank. Of course she was perfect. ¡°Was it love at first sight?¡± ¡°Sort of Grayson¡¯s mental health¡¯s always been unstable. A doctor once said he needed a she¨Cwolf¡¯s presence to stay bnced. So ever since he was a kid, the Hart family had been searching the world for someone who could match him.¡± ¡°Let me guess. I was the only one?¡± ¡°Actually¡­ no,¡± Zane said. ¡°When Grayson was a kid living with his grandma in Europe, there was this little girl on the same street. She was also a noble and was perfect for him. He could only stay calm when she was around. The Harts even wanted them to marry once they came of age.¡± ¡°Then what happened?¡± Disappeared. Rumor was something happened to her mother¡¯s side of the family. They went back home. To Frostpine Pack¡± ¡°She moved away. My heart stopped. Wait Frostpine Pack? That was also my hometown. Wore 55 Chapter 55 Aria¡¯s POV I couldn¡¯t believe Grayson¡¯s first love was also from Frostpine. But that girl couldn¡¯t possibly be me. First of all, I didn¡¯t remember ever living in Europe with my mom. And second, I definitely wasn¡¯t some kind of noble. ¡°They never tried to find that girl again?¡± I asked, With the tail family¡¯s resources, finding anyone should be a piece of cake ¡°Of course they tried. But the moment she and her mother entered Frostple Pack, they vanished,¡± Zane shrugged. ¡°Guess they realized how much of a mess Grayson was and didn¡¯t want to be part of it Bitterness tightened in my chest. ¡°So he lost her and then met in college?¡± ¡°Yeah. Their spark was intense. You wouldn¡¯t believe how fast they fell in love. It was crazy. Within a year, they were madly in love, moved in together, got engaged, and married. All the stuff that takes other couples five years? They did it in one.¡± I knew I was torturing myself listening to this love story, but I couldn¡¯t stop. ¡°With their money and power, that should¡¯ve been a huge, fairy¨Ctale wedding But why have I never heard of Alpha Grayson being married?¡± ¡°I wanted to keep it low¨Ckey. She didn¡¯t like shy stuff. So they only invited only a handful of close friends and family. I was there. It was small, but honestly, you could feel the love in the room. At least back then.¡± I stayed silent, because I knew where this was going ¡°But not long after the wedding, things went downhill Fast. Their fights were so explosive, all of their friends knew. The way they loved hard? That¡¯s exactly how hard they shed too.¡± ¡°What did they fight about?¡± He gave a helpless shrug: ¡°Everything. From what teacups to use, to where they should live, I¡¯s scent helped calm him a little, but not enough. His mood swings were still spiraling. Barely 2 years in, she couldn¡¯t take it anymore and asked for a divorce. ¡°And what did he do?¡± It must be devastated. Considering how much he loved her. ¡°No clue what he felt deep down. But on the surface he kept it cool. He agreed right away. Said he¡¯d rather set her free than keep her miserable. Even till today he¡¯s still paying her a massive amount of alimony.¡± Jlet out a dryugh. Wow. He must¡¯ve loved her like crazy. Loved her so much he¡¯d rather suffer than trap her. And then look at how he treated me. All control, thyeats, and power ys. There was no love in it. None Zane must¡¯ve seen the change in my expression, He gently squeezed my hand. ¡°Don¡¯t let that asshole make you feel like you¡¯re not enough. As you can see, the guy doesn¡¯t even know how to love sorfoone properly¡± ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± I whispered. The only girl who might¡¯ve truly matched him was that childhood crush. But she disappeared. And every woman who came alter her¨Cincluding me¡ªjust wasn¡¯t good enough in his eyes. We stayed cramped in that hot truck for another 3 or 4 hours. Just when it felt like everyone was about to snap from exhaustion, the truck fruity the highway. We stopped. David came to open the doors, ¡°Congrats guys. We¡¯ve arrived,¡± he said. We helped transfer my grandma from the cot to a wheelchair and rolled her out of the truck And right away, the fresh air bit us like a blessing This ce was clearly far away from any big cities. All I could see were endless mountains and thick forests. It was ridiculously green and beautiful if you were looking for a ce to disappear, this was il ¡°Whoa,¡± May breathed looking around. Some color returned to her pale face. ¡°This ce is amazing ¡°I know,¡± Zane said, smiling. He pointed to a tall mountain in the distance, ¡°Our hi importantly, it¡¯spletely, one hundred percent safe.¡± i hideout is just past that ridge. It¡¯s a small, perfect pack. And more So¡­ how long are we staying!¡± May asked. ¡°Until the outside world calms down. I¡¯d guess anywhere between three weeks to two months. Don¡¯t worry, the ce maybe semote, but it¡¯s fully equipped. No caveman life for us. May and I exchanged a look andughed. ¡°Living in a ce like this¡­ we might never want to leave.¡± Zane said he was was going to check if the boat picking us up had arrived. I stayed behind with May and Grandma. I dug a from my backpack and started gently braiding Grandma¡¯s tangled hair. She looked so much better already, like just being out of that awful nursing home gave her life again, ¡°Hey¡­ did you tell your dad you¡¯re leaving? May leaned in and asked. ¡°No,¡± said quietly. ¡°Are you going to?¡± I took a deep breath. ¡°No. I don¡¯t think so.¡± When I brought Grandma to Red Stone Pack a few years ago, my dad had chosen to stay behind in Frostpine Pack. He was toofortable with his mess of a life¨Cdrinking, gambling, not having to do nothing useful. We never cut contactpletely. Every now and then, he¡¯d call me asking for money to pay off his debts. If I didn¡¯t help, he¡¯d threaten toe to where lived and make a scene. I¡¯d never been able to save anything. All my money either went to Grandma¡¯s care or paying off my dad¡¯s mistakes. But that stops now. ¡°I think I¡¯m gonna run¡­ I should run from everything, you know?¡± I told May ¡°My mom ran away and dumped all th for being selfish. But I still carried everything she lyft behind. But now I¡¯m done, I think I deserve a brand new life¡± ¡°Damn right you do.¡± May hugged me hard. ¡°You deserve the best.¡± That¡¯s when Zane came jogging back, waving it us ¡°Hey! Boat¡¯s here! Time to go!¡± he cried. We pushed Grandma¡¯s wheelchair and followed him, nsibility on me thated her Chapter 55 After a short walk along a rocky forest path, we reached the edge of a like. A deek catamaran was docked, waiting for us. ¡°My guy will take us the rest of the way by watre. We¡¯ll need to spend one night onboard. Tim sorry it¡¯s been such a long journey, but were a Zane told us ¡°You¡¯ve done so much already. Anything we can help with? ¡°Yeah, Aria, can you help me get the bags onboard?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± We loaded the luggage and Grandma¡¯s medicine onto the boat. It was quiet onboard¨Ctoo quiet. All I could hear was the gentle sloshing of water and wind rustling through the trees. There didn¡¯t seem to be anyone else aboard. ¡°That¡¯s weird. Where is he?¡± Zane mittered, heading toward the cockpit. ¡°Carlos Don¡¯t bezy ass,e out and give us a hand!¡± I followed him inside. Just ahead, the sliding cockpit door opened. A man stepped out. I knew instantly he wasn¡¯t Zane¡¯s guy. First because he carried a dangerously regal aura. The kind that screamed alpha and made your blood freeze. Second¡­ he looked exactly like Zane. Red hair. Blue eyes. ¡°Hello there.¡± The man smiled, and it was the creepiest damn thing I¡¯d ever seen. ¡°Not ona hi to your big brother?¡± Zane froze for two whole seconds. Then suddenly wheeled around and shouted: ¡°Aria¨CRUN!!! I didn¡¯t wait for him to say it again. I spun on my heels and bolted out of the cabin. ¡°May! May!¡± I screamed to her and Grandma up on the dock. ¡°Run! Get out of here! It¡¯s not safe A hand mped over my mouth from behind. I didn¡¯t need to turn around to know who it was. That tall, powerful body. The way his muscr chest pressed against my back. The cold scent of pine woods in the air around me. His voice brushed my ear like a racor AD Comment Wore 56 Chapter 56 Aria¡¯s lov I couldn¡¯t stop trembling I kept hoping this was all just a bad dream¨Cthat we were still in that delivery truck, on the run med Stone Pack, hearts full of hope for a new ite Bat it wasn¡® His presence was too real, too strong for this to be a da He suddenly spun me around, grabbing my chin to force me to look into his eyes. A cold chill shot through me the second out eyes met. ¡°Last time, you insisted you weren¡¯t trying to run away. You said you guys just went out for a drive,¡± he said, tightening his grip ¡°Then what about this time?¡± clenched my jaw, ring at him without saying a word. ¡°Answer mel¡± he suddenly roared. ¡°You and Zane had in that truck for nearly ten hours and ended up in this fucking ce. Don¡¯t tell me j another joyride! you call that ¡°No! This time, I was trying to run away from you, I snapped, my heart pounding painfully against my ribs. ¡°Because I¡¯m done with your With this can¡¯t stand it anymore¨Cno one can! I¡¯m taking my friends and my family and getting the hell away from you for good Before I could say another word, he crashed his lips against mine, silencing me. I could taste the rage in that rough kiss I struggled hard, furious, pounding my fists against his chest ¡°You signed the contract willingly. Nobody forced you to walk into my life, he growled near my ear. ¡°You were so damn happy when I pulled you out of that hellhole, You couldn¡¯t wait to grab that lifeline. So don¡¯t act like you didn¡¯t choose this.¡± ¡°You never told me what I¡¯d be facing¡± I shot back. ¡°Being broke and homeless would we been better than the humiliation I¡¯ve suffered at your side His hand mped around my wrist, rage flickering in his eyes. That¡¯s when I heard footsteps behind us. The red¨Chaired man dragged Zane out. And I froze in horror, Zane was all beaten and bruised, his imping legpletely useless now. ¡°Don¡¯t touch him!¡± I screamed, trying to break free. But Grayson tightened his hold, ¡°If you want him to live, you¡¯d better shut up,¡± he growled. The red¨Chaired man smirked at me, still gripping Zane¡¯s throat. ¡°Well, hello there, Miss Collins. I¡¯m Damian Elrod. Zane¡¯s brother. And also his Alpha Sal absolutely have the right to discipline my disobedient pack member.¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t do anything,¡± I said through a shaking voice. ¡°You have no reason to treat him like this¡­¡± ¡°Oh he absolutely did. Destroying the alliance between Silver Creek and Red Stone? Running away with Alpha Grayson¡¯s woman? That alone¡¯s worth a hundred deaths. This little bastard here got newves¡± I let out a furious growl at him. He made it sound like I was Grayson¡¯s property. Like was some kind of ve. These arrogant rich pricks always forgot that I¡¯m my adama person with free will. Zane suddenly raised his head and spat blood right into his brother¡¯s face. ¡­.Fuck you Damian. be hissed. ¡°You¡¯re a fucking son of a hitch you know that? i don¡¯t regret a damn thing doing all these Given a second chance, I¡¯d still make the same choice. I¡¯d still take Aria with me and nun. And we¡¯d make it the next time musely caught us Bistime because hack in dn ¡°Luck?¡± Damian suddenly burst outughing, ¡°oh no no no, Hell not This had nothing to do with luck. Listen carefully now we know your entire n The moment you pot into that truck, we knew.¡± Zane free. So did ¡°That pathetic trick you pulled at the hospital to feel the guards? You wouldn¡¯t believe that actually worked, truck? That¡¯s not even that clever, Truth is, we¡¯ve been tracking you since the moment you left Red Stone Pack; What And Zane, hiding people in a cargo. So the entire time we thought we were escaping¡­we were walking toward new life.. we were actually under their control all along? ¡°Then why¡­why let us get this far! Why not just grab us carlier?¡± I asked, my voice shaking ¡°You don¡¯t kill your prey right away,¡± Damian said lightly, grinsing, ¡°You y with it first. That¡¯s how you hunt¡± So everything we did every risk, every mile we ran¨Cwas just a joke to them. I let out a furious scream and thrashed against his grip, but Grayson didn¡¯t let go. Pain wed at my chest as I shouted at him, ¡°You son of a bitch- ¡°No Aria. You don¡¯t get to be hurt. You don¡¯t get to be mad,¡± he growled at me. ¡°I gave you a choice! From the hospital to the checkpoint, you had a hundred chances to turn around. But you didn¡¯t. You just kept going. You actually want to leave me!¡± ¡°Yes I did! Are you surprised? At least Zane is a decent, nice person. But you? You¡¯re just a fucking monster!¡± His face twisted into something terrifying¨Cbut I didn¡¯t care anymore. My rage had drowned out my fear. Damian let out a whistle. ¡°Shall we deal with the boyfriend first?¡± Grayson¡¯s cold eyes locked onto mine, piercing straight through my soul. ¡°Yes,¡± he said with zero hesitation. ¡°Do what you need to do. Let them see what betrayal leads to Damianughed and pulled out a gun. Without warning, he shot Zane in the leg Zane grunted. His face went ghost¨Cwhite. At this point, he¡¯s still clenching his teeth to hold back any painful moans. But Damian kicked him down and stomped on the fresh wound. That¡¯s what broke him. Zane finally let out a scream of pain. ¡°Stop! Let him go! STOP!¡± I roared, my voice breaking in despair. Damian ignored me and ground his heel into the bullet hole. ¡°Hey Zans. You wouldn¡¯t believe you are actually some noble like me, are you? That you actually have any real power? Now here¡¯s the cruel truth: You are no shit. Your mom¡¯s a whore. You¡¯re just one disgusting half¨Cbred.¡± Zane trembled on the ground, gasping for air. ¡°Fuck you, you sick freak¡­. 23124 Fri, 8 Aug -> JO Chapter 56 ¡°You¡¯ll never win against us!¡± Damianughed. ¡°You can¡¯t help her. You can¡¯t even save yourself. Your whole life is a pathetic joker¡± The torture continued. Grayson leaned down and gripped my chin again, forcing me to look straight at Zane¡¯s bleeding leg and the agony of his fa ¡°Watch closely, Aria.¡± His voice was cold and futhless. ¡°This is what happens when you try to run, when you try to dely me. Anyone you care about. This is what happens to them when you choose betrayal Wore 57 Chapter 57 In that very moment, the rage and hatred I felt for him burned hotter than anything else. My shaking hand reached into my pocket, and my fingers closed around the small de I always carried for protection. Without thinking, I pulled it out and drove it into his chest ¡°Go to hell, you fucking devil I cried. He returned a cruel smile, like he couldn¡¯t even feel that knife stal ¡°Didn¡¯t tell you already it¡¯s impossible to hurt your Alpha?¡± he teased. Then he grabbed my waist and yanked me against him. ¡°And if I¡¯m going to hell, you¡¯reing with me,¡± he growled i nd in a raspy yvole. Before could scream at him again, he threw me over his shoulder and leapt off the boat. I wanted to scream at Damian to stop hurting Zane, but I wasn¡¯t given the chance. Back at the shore, Grayson¡¯s men had already surrounded May and my grandmother. Each one of them was heavily armed. They were holding guns against them. ¡°No. No, no you can¡¯t¨CDon¡¯t hurt them!¡± I clutched Grayson¡¯s sleeve, my voice shaking. ¡°They had nothing to do with this. Let them go!¡± ¡°Start with the younger one,¡± he said coldly, ignoring my plea A soldier raised a gun at May¡¯s head She pped her hands over her mouth, tears spilling down her chocks as she trembled quietly, ¡°No¡± I screamed. ¡°Tell me you¡¯re sorry for betraying me. Tell me you regret it,¡± Grayson said, eyes fixed on mine. ¡°Swear to the Moon Goddess you¡¯ll never, ever break our contract again.¡± ¡°Fuck you¡­¡± ¡°Then say goodbye to your best friend.¡± His gray eyescked any human feeling. I couldn¡¯t believe this was the same man who once pulled me out of the darkness. What stood before me now wasn¡¯t human. monster¨Cand he was actually going to pull the trigger. ¡°Kill her,¡± he ordered ¡°NO!!¡± Ishrieked. May burst into sobs at the same time, her cries slicing right through my heart. ¡°You know what you need to say to have her live,¡± he pressed. Tears blurred my vision as I choked out, ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­I¡¯m sorry I betrayed you Alpha Grayson, I shouldn¡¯t have run. And I swear to the Moon Goddess won¡¯t¡­I won¡¯t ever try to leave you again¡­ ¡°And Zane,¡± he snapped, tightening his grip around my waist. ¡°Say you¡¯ll never pee him again!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll never see him again,¡± I whispered in tears. I didn¡¯t mean a single word of it What he did bad destroyed everything I once felt. There was no love left in me. Only fear and hate. He probably knew that. But he didn¡¯t care. But he did He didn¡¯t want love anyway. He just wanted a ything to toy with ¡°Good,¡± he said. Then he suddenly let out a howl that shook the earth. His limbs stretched, ck fur spreading across his body, and his muscles flexed. He shifted, turning into a massive ck wort The moment he did, his Alpha aura swept across the clearing Everyone around us dropped to their knees, intimidated, including The huge wolf loomed over me. This wasn¡¯t the gentle wolf from my dreams, the one that alwaysid with me on the soft bed of pine needles. No. This one was a terrifying beast, growling deep in its throat Then it mped its jaws o onto my clothes and threw me onto its back, with a powerful leap, it took off like a shadow streaking through the forest. ¡°Swear you won¡¯t hurt May or my grandma again I yelled against the wind, clutching at his fur Yet the ck wolf didn¡¯t answer. He just ran faster. He carried me out of the woods, up the mountain trails. Even the steepest paths felt like nothing under his paws. We were getting farther and farther from civilization, far from anyone who could help. Eventually, he reached a wide clearing on the mountain top and threw me down onto the thick moss It was so quiet out here The only sounds were the wind, the mountains, and the gurgle of & stream nearby. Not even wild animals could be heard. We werepletely alone. He shitted back into human form. Completely naked now since his clothes were gone from the shift. Sunshine shone on his perfect body. He looked godlike. He knelt in front of me and slowly wrapped one hand around my throat. I trembled, gasping for air as I stared back at him. A terrible sense of dread crept up my spine. ¡°You need to be punished for what you have done he murmured, brushing his thumb across my lips. ¡°No¡­ no, you can¡¯t¡­ You promised¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made you too many promises,¡± whispered, his voice dark. ¡°And gave you too much room. That must¡¯ve made you think you had a choice¡± I screamed and kicked, trying to get away. He caught my ankle and dragged me back. I was pinned to the cold ground underneath him He tore my clothes. I tried to kick at him again, but he was too heavy on me. He moved his hand to my breast and started stroking my nipple His burping hand scorched my skin, his pine scent smothering I couldn¡¯t think straight with his scent all around i I moaned, wiggling involuntarity as he held me down. His breath immediately became fast and rough. ¡°you¡¯re wet¡± he whispered into my ear His hand went straight between my legs, his finger slipping into my panties and felt my entrance. My body had betrayed me. My underpants were already soaked. ¡°No¡­¡± I whispered, trembling, I could feel we were losing control. Four seized my heart, ¡°Stop saying no to me,¡± he growled. He kicked my knees apart and settled between them. His huge penis throbbed against my entrance, ¡°You don¡¯t even like me! Why¨CWhy do you have to do this to mel ¡°Because y you are mine,¡± he answered darkly. I screamed, struggling, but it didn¡¯t stop him. Without warning. Without any sort of forey. He thrust his huge cock into my virgin pussy. AD Comment Send gift Wore 58 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°Fuck! You¡¯re Light,¡± he graded in my ear as he carried on sliding into me with difficulty. Until the whole thing was inept for the halls. The entrance was easy enough since I was already wet, but the stretching was painful. His size and hardness made me cry out lood I couldn¡¯t stop shaking. I¡¯d never done this with any of my boyfriends, not even Jace. This was brand new territory. And it was just mind blowing. He started moving. Moved slow Waiting for me to adjust to his size. ¡°Hold my neck,¡± he ordered. I involuntarily did as he said, wrapping my arms around his neck, trying to find an anchor. He leaned down and nted kisses along my cheeks, my forehead, and then traveled down my neck to my flushed chest. He caught my nipple with his mouth, his tongue circling on the hardened nipple. it sent a shock of pleasure through me. I could feel more juice pushing out of me as he moved. I started to crave more as wrapped my legs around his strong waist, my inner walls squeezing him hard ¡°Fuck!¡± he cursed and pulled me up into a sitting position, holding me against his muscr chest. That allowed him to thrust in even deeper. ¡°You are all wet for me, Aria,¡± he breathed, seizing me by my waist and throwing me up and down, mercilessly. ¡°Tell me you like it.¡± No, he¡¯s in too deep! It felt like his cock was touching my cervix every time he thrust in. I wanted to scream, to moan, but I hadn¡¯t forgotten that we were out in the wilderness. The same feeling of getting exposed surged up in me. Sol bit my lips, trying to stay quiet He must have noticed my attempt. ¡°Let it all out,¡± he ordered. ¡°No¡­¡±I winced back. ¡°Say my name Aria,¡± he demanded, holding me by my neck and stopping me from escaping ¡°Look into my eyes as fuck you!¡± He moved quicker. I tried to resist the urge to rock into the movement but failed: ¡°Ugh, oh god. Oh godi¡± ¡°You like it don¡¯t you?¡± he asked. He hands roamed over my body as he fucked me. ¡°You are mine, Aria. Say that t you are mine!¡± Pleasure started to wash over me like waves. He sensed it, and reached down and started rapidly stroking my clit ¡°Oh god. Oh god. Oh god,¡± she cried out loud, forgetting all about the same and that nonsense. Right now all could be was him and he was fucking mu ¡°Yes! Yes Alpha Grayson I¡¯m yours Orgasm welled up in me at the same time. He pressed harder on my clit and picked up the pace as I began to cum. ¡°Fuck!¡± he cursed My whole body was coursing with pleasure. This orgasm was harder and stronger than any one I had gotten before. overwhelming¡­differen I was still catching my breath when he suddenly rolled me around and put me on my fours. He spread my legs even wider and slid his cock into me again. ¡°N¡­Not¡± I shrieked, shaking, I was still recovering from the aftershock. This was too much! That¡¯s when I realized he still wasn¡¯t done yet. used to me fast, he gave a gentle p to my butt. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hold back anymore next time.¡± My mind went hazy If this was him holding back, how scary would he be fully unleashed? His sexy groan rang in my ears, making the squirm, ie was no longer gentle when we first began. Now he was rough, fierce and ruthless the liker squeeze my butt and yanked at my hair as he rode me, I screamed louder and louder, no longer pretending that I didn¡¯t like his roughness. God.. this was too much¡­I couldn¡¯t take it anymore. But could tell he was far from being satisfied. Soon, I couldn¡¯t think anymore, lost in the pleasure he gave me, I must have passed out somewhere in the middle. When I woke up, I found myself in a strange room. Wooden ceiling, cory furniture, and thick greenery outside the window told me deep in the forest. This ce looked like a hunter¡¯s cabin. I tried to move in bed. Godi Every inch of my body ached like I¡¯d been over by a truck. I forced myself to pull back the nket and look down my body. Every inch of my skin was covered in bruises and red marks, and the hickeys between my chest and thighs were far too many to count Letting out a shaky! ky breath, flopped back onto the bed, feeling drained. That¡¯s when I heard footsteps came from outside the room. A momentter, the door creaked open, and he walked in, holding a tray of breakfast. This was the youngest, most unguarded version of him I had ever seen His hair wasn¡¯t slicked back with gel like usual. It hung messily around his face, very sexy way. He was only wearing a pair of jeans, his upper body naked, showing off his muscr chest and perfect abs. There were a couple of bite marks and scratches I¡¯d left on him. ¡°Morning,¡± he said with a dazzling smile. The whole room literally lit up with that smile. Any woman would¡¯ve melted on the spot. But I justy there, staring at him with a cold, nk face. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure what you liked, so I just made something simple. Heat down by the bed. ¡°Pancakes, scrambled eggs, and some benes He was obviously in a great mood. I looked away from his face. ¡°You can just leave it on the table,¡± I said tly. He paused, then set the tray on the bedside table. ¡°How are you feeling? Want some ¡°I don¡¯t want anything¡± I pulled the nket over my head. ¡°Can you leave? want to take another nap.¡± His hand suddenly caught my wrist, stopping me from covering my head. The smile vanished from his face. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked, voice low and tight, ¡°What do you mean, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°This attitude. You¡¯re being cold and distant, He pulled me toward him, his grip tightening. ¡°Tell me what you¡¯re thinking¡±. A bitter smile curled on my lips. So now it wasn¡¯t just my body he wanted to control. He wanted my mind, too? Did he really think he was God of something? ¡°What I¡¯m thinking is none of your business,¡± I said bluntly. His whole expression shifted. The , the warmth, the hope he¡¯d walked in with ¡°What the belt is this, Aria?¡± he growled, yanking me closer so our eyes locked. ¡°I thought afterst night ¡°You thought just because you got my body, you automatically owned my heart too? Let out a coldugh. ¡°Wow What a charmingly outdated idea. His jaw tightened. He didn¡¯t say anything, just stared hard at me like he was trying to read my mind. ¡°Or is it because you know virginity is something that actually matters to me And now that you¡¯ve taken it, you think you¡¯ve won Myice dated to shake with rising fury. ¡°You think just because lost something I cared about, I¡¯m suddenly supposed to stick around like nothing matters anymond? ¡°No.¡± His hand moved up, gently cupping the side of my face. His voice was low and hoarse, know p people from Frostpine Pack believe in saving sex until after marriage. But things are different now for you. You will never get married. You¡¯ll never have another man. So you don¡¯t have to follow that rule anymore.¡± What the hell??? ¡°What do you mean I¡¯m never getting marned? Who gave you the right to decide that?¡± I shouted, my voice trembling with ¡°Because I already said so. You¡¯re mine,¡± he replied icily. ¡°That¡¯s not part of the original contract!¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s draw up a new o new one.¡± His hand drifted down to my corbone, where the bite marks he¡¯d leftst night still lingered. He traced them with a kind of sick tenderness. ¡°I was always the one who decided when our deal ends. Andst night, I decided I want you by my side. Forever.¡± Forever. I started shaking at that idea. I couldn¡¯t stop it. If he had said those words to me just a few weeks a sago, I might¡¯ve drowned in happiness But now? All I felt was terror. ¡°Forever by your side. But you¡¯ll never marry me,¡± I whispered. He stared at me, facepletely unreadable. ¡°I won¡¯t be allowed to marry either. I won¡¯t be allowed to have kids. I won¡¯t be allowed a family of my own. I¡¯ll just be stuck here with you¡­ what? Your mistress? Or your fucking ve?!¡± ¡°I make sure you have everything you want. You¡¯ll never have to worry about anything for the rest of your life,¡± ¡°No. That¡¯s not what I want. I want my freedom!¡°, His gray eyes darkened. ¡°Freedom? You already swore to me that you¡¯d be mine. What else do you need freedom for? Don¡¯t tell me you still want to go back to Zane ¡°This has nothing to do with Zanel¡± ¡°it better not,¡± he said coldly. ¡°Because i won¡¯t tolerate another betrayal from you.¡± 23:24 Fri, 8 Aug zr? Tears rolled down my cheeks. I couldn¡¯t believe my life had be this. That my entire future was now in his hands. He leaned in, kissing my my lips softly. Then he kissed the tears from my cheeks, What was he doing? Was he trying tofort me? Make it feel less homble? ¡°Just stay with me,¡± her murmured in that deep, husky voice. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll make you very happy.¡± 650 He picked me up and had me straddle him. His hardened cock throbbing between my legs. My pussy was still filled with his cum from earlier so it made his entrance pretty easy. I let out a long, shaky groan when he fucked into me. He didn¡¯t give me a chance to say no. He never did. Wore 59 Chapter 59 Aria¡¯s POV The second round of sex we had was long and exhausting. The man had stamina like a damn machine, I was seriously starting to think he didn¡¯t get fired. He finally had to stop in the middle because I was literally about to pass out. I was shaky, drained, and clearly low on blood sugar. ¡°You need food¡± He scooped me up and carried me to the table, dragging the breakfast te back in front of me. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry, Imuttered. Actually, my stomach had been growling like crazy, but I just didn¡¯t want to eat ¡°You have to eat. Or do you want me to feed you!¡± He picked up a fork and scooped some scrambled eggs like he actually meant it. And that¡¯s when I realized he was serious! If I didn¡¯t eat, this man¨Cthis cold blooded, ruthless Alpha¨Cwould absolutely hand feed me like a child. ¡°Okay, stop!¡± I blurted, snatching the fork out of his hand. ¡°I¡¯ll eat myself.¡± And so began the painful process of chewing and swallowing food with a knotted stomach. The truth, though, was that it tasted amazing, actually. Way too good for me to believe he was the one who made it. Because it didn¡¯t look like someone who oven knew where the kitchen was. He wouldn¡¯t let me sit on a chair, either. Now I was nted firmly in hisp whilete. He had one arm wrapped around my waist, and the other asionally brushed my hair back. He kept kissing the side of my neck, breathing in my scent like he was addicted to it. ¡°This doesn¡¯t feel like you,¡± I said after choking down a bite of pancake. ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked, twirling a strand of my hair between his fingers. ¡°All this clinginess Affection. Being¡­ gentle. Can you go back to how you were before?¡± I said coldly Honestly, I¡¯d rather have him be cruel. It was easier to hate him that way. ustay ty here with me like this, I¡¯ll always be like this,¡± he said softly, like he meant it. ¡°As long as you! ¡°Oh really? No more telling me I¡¯m worthless! No more orgy parties with random women?¡± I shot back. His body tensed instantly lost control sometimes. I¡¯m not proud of that. But it won¡¯t happen again.¡± Yeah¡­like I¡¯d ever believe in him again. Sensing my suspicion, he tightened his hold argund my waist. ¡°Things will get better, Aria. I know it. I always feel better when you¡¯re here.¡± I stayed silent But seriously, it his first crush in life and his ex¨Cwife couldn¡¯t heal him, why the hell did he think I could do it? And I was just a glorified prisoner to him. He kissed me again, deeper this time. I felt the shift in his breath, the heat rising from his body. And sure enough¡­ I could text him hard again ¡°Want to finish what we started?¡± he murmured against my lips. God, seriously? ¡°Are you for real right now? Is this how often a normal male have sex? He chuckled hoarsely. ¡°Maybe not. But it¡¯s your fault for being this damn attractive. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever get enough.¡± His hand was sliding down again. I caught his wist just in time. ¡°No. Not now. It¡¯s still¡­ sore. And swollen. I need a break.¡± His expression turned serious fast. ¡°Let me see.¡± treed restit ¡°What? No!¡± I gasped. ¡°I just r He frowned, then reluctantly backed of ¡°If it¡¯s still not better by tonight, I have to check if you need treatment.¡± My face turned bright red. So apparently that excuse was only good until sundown. ¡°So what do you want to do today?¡± he asked, stroking my hair. ¡°Wanna go hunting in the mountains? Or take a swim in theke? The water¡¯s perfect this time of year.¡± ¡°We¡¯re staying here longer?¡± I asked, stiffening ¡°Where are my grandmother and May?¡± ¡°They¡¯re fine. I just wanted more time with you here. We barely get any privacy But I wanted to see my family and friend so badly, just to make sure they were okay. Yet he didn¡¯t give me time to press for more answers. Instead, he was suddenly all excited, pulling out clothes for me and asking me to go hunting with him, Honestly, I just wanted to curl up in bed and wallow in my miserable mood. But then again, being alone with him in this bedroom? Probably even more dangerous, Going outside might actually be safer. So I got dressed and followed him out. And the moment I stepped outside, I realized just how deep into the mountains we were Towering peaks surrounded us. Thick forests were everywhere. We must¡¯ve been tucked into some remote valley. Even if shifted into my it¡¯d take days to find a way out. ¡°Why the hell is there even a cabin out here?¡± I asked. This wasn¡¯t exactly a tourist spot ¡°Ie here sometimes. To hunt. Sometimes i stay a week or two.¡± he said. So basically, even after all those hours of escaping, I was still running in circles inside his territory. It was enough to make me want to scream. He shifted into his woll, stretched out his massive body, and then looked down at me. He mind¨Clinked me: ¡°Want to ride on my back? Or are you shitting too?¡± ¡°Ride on the mighty Alpha¡¯s back? How would I dare?¡± I snarked. He growled low in warning. ¡°If you keep that attitude, Aria, we¡¯re going to have venous problems.¡± y wolf and ran, I didn¡¯t want to keep provoking him, But sometimes, I just couldn¡¯t control the anger burning in my chest. It would take a long time for Quart So I didn¡¯t respond. I just shifted. My well was small. Even smaller than most she wolves. But at least she was graceful and beautiful, with golden brown fur that shimmered in the sunlight. Grayson¡¯s ck wolf seemed to love her. He immediately came over when she finished shining, nudging her side gently, rumbling in his throat She didn¡¯t mind his touch. She nipped yfully at his neck and darted forward. He followed right after. ¡°Grey really likes your woll,¡± heughed through the mind¨Clink. I guess Grey was his woll¡¯s name. ¡°What¡¯s yours called?¡± he asked. ¡°Avery.¡± ¡°Grey sneaked into your dream to y with her a couple of times before. He was so rxed afterward.¡± I thought back to that dream¨Cwolves chasing each other through a pine forest. it had been one of the happiest and most rxed moments I¡¯d had in ages. I wondered if I¡¯d ever feel that free again. Our wolves started running. His woll was three times Avery¡¯s size, powerful and fast. He could¡¯ve easily left us in the dust. But he didn¡¯t. He ran besiderant, clearing obstacles, guiding the way. The scent of nature filled my nose as Avery sped up. Wind rushed through our fur. The forest bed shook underneath our paws. For a moment, all the heaviness in my chest faded. I felt¡­free. A rustling came from the trees ahead. Avery leapt forward with a snarl and pounced it was a young deer, She bit down, and it let out a low cry before dropping dead. Greytrotted over, growling low in approval. ¡°Well done,¡± Grayson said, a hint of amusement in his voke. ¡°¡°A deer,¡­ very cute.¡± Hey! We¡¯re not powerful warriors or Gammas. A deer¡¯s more than enough for us.¡± Avery shook out her fur proudly. She was clearly pleased with her each. ¡°Want to take it back to the cabin? We can roast it for dinner,¡± he suggested. Avery let out a soft growl of agreement. She picked up the deer in her jaws and walked ahead with her chin up proudly. Grey told close behind. licking the blood from her fur with great tendemess. We ran a little longer before heading back just before sunset I was beyond exhausted at this point. As a city wolf, this was the most physical activity i¡¯d done in ages. So as soon as we were back, I left the deer for him to handle and dragged myself to the bathroom When I came out, the cabin was already filled with the mouthwatering smell of roasted mest. And I found him standing in front of the TV, watching i How this remote ass cabin even had cable was absolutely beyond me. The anchor was saying. ¡­Apex is currently experiencing unprecedented chaos, Mier losing the Elrod partnership, every decision made by new VP Delh and her husband Ja has been under fire from shareholders and the public. Some say they¡¯re driving the world¡¯s biggestpany straight into the ground.¡± The screen cut to footage. Delh and Jace were getting out of a car, rushing into Apex headquarters under a wall of security, Protesters were screaming at themt, some even throwing things. The two of them looked like two rats in daylight. The anchor continued: ¡°And seriously, a former socialite and a pretty boy who¡¯s never seeded at anything. How can these two people lead thispany and this pack? The members have spoken. We want our true leader Alpha Grayson back!¡± I nced over at the man of the hour. He looked calm Completely unbothered by this chaos ¡°But where was Alpha Grayson anyway? He hasn¡¯t been seen in the public¡¯s eyes for weeks. Is he on a ssified military mission? Or is something wrong with his health? The public is growing more and more concerned.¡± Well. It¡¯s neither of those. He was just here in the middle of nowhere. Busy imprisoning me. ¡°Are you ok with this?¡± Lasked. ¡°Thepany¡¯s stock p price is in freefall during your absence.¡± ¡°Are Are you worried about me?¡± he said, amused. I shrugged. ¡°Not really. Just wondering when we¡¯re heading back.¡°¡°Why should lover get worried about him? It¡¯s not like he¡¯d ever go bankrupt He pulled me into his arms, kissing my hair. ¡°I think Delh and that idiot deserve to suffer a bit longer. Besides, I thought you¡¯d be happy?¡± -Why would I be happy?¡± ¡°I know they hurt you. I¡¯ll punish them for you. Zane¡¯s not the only one who can fight for you. I can do that too.¡± He said, possessively. AD Comment Wore 61 Chapter 60 Ana¡¯s POV ¡°Ch. How nice¡± My voice was t. He frowned at ¡°You don¡¯t look very excited.¡± Ishrugged. What he didn¡¯t realize was that it was way toote. If he had helped me back when I showed up at the club with in that proposal, he would¡¯ve been my savior. But he didn¡¯t. All he did was mock me, told me I wasn¡¯t worthy of his trouble And now I didn¡¯t believe him anymore, I really didn¡¯t think he¡¯d ever stand up for me against his family. ¡°Delh went too far,¡± he said in a low voice. ¡°She shouldn¡¯t have stormed into that stockholder¡¯s meeting and humiliated you in front of everyone. She also shouldn¡¯t have kicked you out of thepany. I¡¯m going to fix all those once we get back.¡± I let out a coldugh. ¡°Funny. Because that¡¯s not what you said before. Before you wanted to trante me to me to another branch,¡± He looked at me, eyes dark. ¡°True. Jused to think you weren¡¯t worth the trouble. But I was wrong. You are. And I¡¯m going to make sure you you want.¡± Fuck Let me trante that He didn¡¯t think I¡¯d ever leave him until I actually ran away. Now he¡¯s feeling threatened. So he wants to throw me a few bones. Keep me on a I¡¯m some fucking dog. Oh, and also, now that he¡¯s finally slept with me, he¡¯s extra motivated to keep his sex toy happy. Anger boiled in my chest. ¡°So you want to punish everyone who once hurt me?¡± I asked sharply. ¡°Yes,¡± he said. ¡°If that¡¯s what it takes to make you happy¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you start with yourself?¡± His brows snapped together. ¡°What?¡± aleash. Like -Lyanked myself out of his arms, ring ¡°My grandmother¨Cyou dragged her out of her hospital bed, cut off her meds and refused to let her see a doctor. If I hadn¡¯t gotten her out in time, she would¡¯ve died. And that was your doing! His jaw tightened. ¡°What the fuck are you talking about?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t act like you don¡¯t know about it! I shouted. You did it to hurt me To punish me for hanging out with Zane! Well, congrats because it worked. This single thing hurt more than anything Delh¡¯s ever done to mebined!¡± His face twisted with rage. He suddenly grabbed my shoulders and mmed me against the wall. ¡°I know you¡¯re angry,¡± he growled through gritted teeth. ¡°But you can¡¯t just me me for everything that¡¯s happened. I didn¡¯t do it!¡± I let out a sharpugh. ¡°Oh really? But that happened in your territory. And your Beta led the charge. Who else could it be?¡± don¡¯t know yet. But it wasn¡¯t me. I would never hurt the people you care about,¡± he s?aried. ¡°Bullshit I snapped. ¡°You admitted it back at the hospital You said you were going to hurt Grandma and May because about! You even pointed a gun at May! You¡¯re a fucking monster!¡± He crushed his lips against mine, silencing me. I tried to push him away, but he caught my wrists, pinning them above my head. By the time he pulled back, I was out of breath. He stated into my eyes, his voice low and threatening ¡°Let me say it one more time¨Cd know about this. Someone went behind my back.¡± ¡°Oh yeah?¡± I gritted. ¡°You¡¯re saying someone can actually under around your Beta? What are the odds of that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll find out about it. And whoever it was, they¡¯ll wish they were dead,¡± he said coldly, cupping my thin, his thumb brushing my lips won¡¯t let this rain what we have¡± I scoffed. What we had was nothing I was already convinced that the one who hurt my grandmother and May was him. No matter what he said, I¡¯d never trust him again All I had to do was remember how cruel he could be. ¡°Can you let go of me now?¡± w?¡± I twisted against him. I hated how his body was pressed so close. Too solid, too warm, too dangerous. But he didn¡¯t let go. ¡°is the swelling gone?¡± he asked hoarsely, eyes flicking downward. My heart skipped a beat. ¡°Not yet. I need to rest tonight.¡± ¡°Let me check.¡± ¡°What? No!¡± I gasped. ¡°I already told you- He kissed me again before I could finish, deeper this time, more demanding. My body betrayed me, softening against him despite my fury. He lifted me like I weighed nothing and set me down on the dining table. ¡°What about dinner¡­¡± I groaned, trying to protest as he trailed kisses down my neck ¡°We¡¯ll eat after,¡± he murmured. And just like that, he tore my clothes open again. ¡°Ah.. God¡­Oh god!¡± Iid on the grass, hands mped over my mouth, but moans still escaped my mouth. I couldn¡¯t help it. His touch made my whole body shake He was lying right next to me, propped up on one elbow, resting his cheek against his palm as he studied my face intently. His other hand had disappeared into my dress, His fingers were pressed right up against the erotch of my panties. There was already a wet parch forming It had been 5 days since we arrived at this little cabin. I didn¡¯t know if he¡¯d gonepletely crazy, or if he just didn¡¯t give a damn about his pack and responsibility anymore. Either way, he showed no sign of going back He didn¡¯t even turn on the TV again after that fight we got into. Like nothing happening in the outside world mattered to him anymore. His only focus in these past few days was me We were practically inseparable. Every morning, the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was those deep gray eyes of his. Every night, I fell asleep wrapped in his burning hot embrace. And his strategy was working. Since we were the only two people here, and I had no way of reaching out the outside world, I had no choice but to talk to him. No matter how furious still was. Thad tried ignoring him once, pretending he wasn¡¯t there when he spoke to me. But that didn¡¯t end well. He gave me one hell of a spanking to prove could never ignore my Alpha. And life out here was simple, really, Almost boring Most days, we shihed into wolves and ran through the mountains together, hunting down whatever we could find. And at night¨Csometimes even during the day¨Cwe were constantly having wild, passionate sex. In every ce you could possibly imagine. So far we had tried doing it on the dining table, in the shower, out in the woods, and up on the roof under the Milky Way. I was starting to wonder if he had a list of ces that he¡¯d like to explore. Like day, he suggested we came to theke for pic because the weather was so good. And one thing led to another, before I knew it, I was already shaking under his touch. icing my temporary distraction. He found the clit and rubbed it. I let out a surprised gasp. My hips jerked at the ¡°Focus,¡± he said hoarsely, probably noticing my contact ¡°You want me to put my finger into you?¡± he teased, his voice rough He kept his hand out of my underpants, still scratching the surface. He liked to tease me, to have me say it, to have me beg for it. Fucking devil. ¡°No¡­No.¡± I bit my lips, breathing rapidly. ¡°I want you¡­to stop.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Oh really?¡± He pressed harder into my clit, shoving the fabric into my pussy. I whined, my hips started to move, desperate for his touch. ¡°Or do you want me to fuck you with my cock?¡± he asked, biting my earlobe. There was no point answering that question. Because my body had answered for me. Every inch of my skin was hot and in heat. My pussy was so wet and ready. He pulled my hand to his cock, wrapping my fingers around it. ¡°Move up and down. Like I had taught you.¡± He pretty much had to teach me everything about sex because I had absolutely no experience and he had so much. He wasn¡¯t disappointed by my ignorance though. I could tell that he enjoyed the lecturing part the most. ¡°Yeah¡­that¡¯s it,¡± he groaned as my hand moved up and down on his erection. His huge dick throbbing harder. A bead of precum was forming on the top A thought suddenly crossed my head. If I could make him cum with just my hand. Would spare me the exhaustion! I stole a nce at him. His eyes were hall closed now, his lips slightly parted God he looked so fucking sexy while lost teh lust. No wonder women were all crazy about him. I started picking up the pace, stroking him harder. I even used my thumb to rub the tip of the cockhead, gently scratching it with my man. Bask every possible methed to speed up the process. Come on¡­Come on¡­Come on. His eyes suddenly snapped open. ¡°Are you trying to make me cum?¡± He sounded surprised and slightly amused. Shit. He caught me. Panicked, I fumbled for words. ¡°W¨CWhat are you talking about. I was just doing everything you asked me.¡± He narrowed his eyes at mo. And suddenly, he burst outughing. ¡°You are one naughty little wolf aren¡¯t you?¡± he caught my lips, still shaking withughter. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you are talking about,¡± I said stubbornly. ¡°Well let me tell you this babe. That amateur skill you got isn¡¯t going to work. You should try harder next time. I fumed. I was totally pissed by his arrogant attitude. ¡°Sorry I¡¯m such an amateur. Why don¡¯t you go to your former fuck buddies then? I¡¯m sure they are all a lot hotter and more experienced than I am¨CAHHH!¡± My outbreak was suddenly interrupted. He gave a firm tug at my a and pulled me straight into the water! SPLASHI We both fell into the warm summerke. My first reaction was to panic. Because I had just narrowly escaped being drowned just a month ago. Instinctively, I quickly put my arms around his neck, and my legs around his waist. I was clinging to him like a ko and it¡¯s just what he wanted. ¡°Oh¡­Ch god¡­¡± I groaned as he fucked into my pussy. The water made it easier for me to swallow his huge cock. So there¡¯s no pain and difort. Only strong, mind¨Cblowing pleasure. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me to find other women,¡± he nted wild kisses on my cheek, my neck, and my lips. ¡°You¡¯re the only one I want.¡± He seized my waist and guided me to grind his on his cock. ¡°Try! make me cum with your pussy. I guarantee you¡¯ll sess,¡± he chuckled. Ho¡¯s stillughing at me! Feeling challenged, 1 bit to my lower lip, and clumsily began bouncing up and down on his Suddenly, my ears caught the sharp crack of a breaking twig. 1whipped my head toward the direction of the sound, heart pounding in panic. Someone had stepped on a branch. He was in the woods! Chapter 60 There¡¯s someone there I gasped, clinging tightly to his neck. AD Chapter 61 But he didn¡¯t seem het ¡°You heard wrong.¡°He rocked his hips and thrusted even deeper into me ¡°Focus¡± ¡°No, I really heard I gasped, struggling to get the words out between breaths But he acted like he didn¡¯t hear me. He tilted his head down and kissed my neck, biting at the sensitive skin there, And then I heard it again. This time the soft rustle of footsteps in the grass. Oh god, someone WAS out there! And they were getting closer ¡°There¡¯s more than one person!¡± I whispered urgently into his car. Theke, the shadows behind the trees¡­ all of it suddenly felt like a trap, thought it was just the two of usouthere. Who were they? Were thany ens again? Assassins? And what the hell was wrong with him?! He was an Alpha! His hearing should be sharper than mine! I tried to squirm away from him, but he held me tighter, not letting me move. My body was tense with fear. I could feel my inner walls tightening around him involuntarily. ¡°Fuck!¡± he cursed under his breath. ¡°Damn babe, you¡¯re so light.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a joke, Grayson! There are people out there! What if they¡¯re dangerous?¡± He was breathing hard, his lips brushing along my jaw. ¡°Are you worried about my safety, baby?¡± ¡°I¡¯m worried about both of us getting killed!¡± I snapped. He smirked. Then suddenly he said, ¡°Stay right there¡± bing to me? I froze. Was he talking ¡°Back up. Fifty feet,¡± he added. And then I heard it again. The quiet shuffle of footsteps, retreating this time. I got it now. He wasn¡¯t talking to me He was talking to them. Those were his men. ¡°Are you fucking crazy?¡± I gasped under my breath. were people all around us. And he was still doing this? There w I kicked at him, but he just caught my leg His hand slid up, gripping my waist, fingers digging into my skin. Don¡¯t stop,¡± he growled, his throbbing cock growing harder in my pusty, ¡°I¡¯m not finished yet? ¡°No they might hear ust Probably even see int Then you better ride me hard. And you gotta be quiet. Can you do that?¡± 1 red at him. Only he could make thes into a game. But also knew that he¡¯d never stop unless I yed along Frustrated, I wrapped my legs around his waist and started riding. Buoyancy helped a lot. It was easier to go up and down in the water. Igrabbed onto his broad shoulders, using them as my anchor as I moved against him harder. Theke water rippled wildly around us. ¡°Shit¡­oh god you¡¯re fucking amazing,¡± he growled. ¡°I like how your tight pussy¡¯s swallowing my cock.Keep iting babe,¡± God! The things he said made my whole¨Cbody flush really hoped he could just shut up ¡°Are you c cuming? I¡¯m getting tired.¡°1 begged. He chuckled, taking i in how red my face had be ¡°Close. Now do you want a little help?¡± My head was dizzy. All I want right now is for him to stop this endless sweet torture. So I nodded without even clearly hearing what he sand Suddenly, he pinned me down against the shore and mmed himself deep inside me. I sucked in a sharp inhale at the deep pration. ¡°AM¡± He held me still as he started rapidly thrusting up into my body. This was much more intense than what I managed earlier. This was ruthless, relentless, hard fucking, Pleasure exploded like a bomb in my head. ¡°Oh¨Coh¨Coh¨Cgod!¡± I whined, high pitched and breathy, I had forgotten all about the people in the woods. He was the only thing I remembered. he dominated my world, ¡°You are mine Aria,¡± he growled in my ear, picking up the pace. ¡°Say it. Say that you are mine The pleasure was so strong that I was in tears. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Say it out loud and I¡¯lle for you,¡± he promised. His muscles were rock hard. I could tell he¡¯s close to an orgasm too. ¡°Yes.. Yes I¡¯m yours. I¡¯ll always be yours and yours only..Forever.¡± bobbed, knowing what he liked to hear. He let out a groan. His hand reached down to my clit. He rubbed it harshly and made me shake like a lead in the wind. ¡°Yeah that¡¯s right. Now cum for me babe.¡± he ordered. I screamed and felt my pussy mp down on him, my juice squirting onto his cock and into the water, He bit on my neck and mmed his cock into me he came, hard and strong, injecting every drop of his cum deep into my body. I was taking my sweet in the bathroom, drying my hair as slowly as possible while straining my ears to catch the voices outside. They were in the living r room. I could hear them taking Everything is ready, Alpha. The helicopter is on standby. It¡¯ll take you straight back to Red Stone Pack as soon as you¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Grayson¡¯s voice had returned to its usual calm and cold tone. I knew they were waiting! for me. But¡­Oh god. buried my face in the towel and let out a frustrated How the hell was I supposed to walk not there and face people after¡­ater what happened? I wished the floor would just split open and swallow me entirely ¡°Aria?¡± His deep voice came from outside the door. ¡°Umm yeah?¡± jerked my head up, ¡°Is everything okay in there? Do you need me toe in?¡± God not ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡­ I¡¯m , every single one of them looked away immediately. My checks lit on fire again. Damn it. I knew they must¡¯ve heard everything. I fucking me Grayson for this. ¡°Alpha, we are ready to move,¡± the dark¨Chaired man said. He was the only one who managed to keep his expression professional But Grayson didn¡¯t move ¡°Troy, this is Miss Collins,¡± he said, introducing me. I blinked. Even Troy looked surprised. We¡¯d passed each other several times at the mansion, but he never looked at me directly. I guess he just assumed I was anothere and go woman in Grayson¡¯s Me¨Cnot worth remembering. Until now Troy snapped out of his shock quickly. ¡°Of course. Nice to meet you, Miss Collins.¡± ¡°H¨CHi.¡± I gave him an awkward smile. Grayson wrapped an arm around my waist, ¡°From today on, Aria has the same security clearance as I do. She is important. I expect every one of you to keep her safe. Now everyone was staring at me, like I was some exotic animal they¡¯d never seen before. Shit this was a big deal. Grayson¡¯s personal security team only protected the Alpha. Not even the Luna. And now he was assigning them to me. ¡°Of course, Alpha,¡± Troy said quickly. Whatever surprise he had was gone in a blink. ¡°It¡¯ll be an honor to serve you, Miss Collins ¡°Yeah..thanks,¡± I murmured. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Grayson kept his arm around pe as we walked outside. The rest followed behind us. ¡°What was that I whispered to him ¡°What do you meant ¡°You just assigned your security team to me. That¡¯s a big deal. I¡¯m not that important Are you trying to keep an eye on my ¡°Do you need moniteilig? be asked colly Thit my lip. Of course after my failed escape attempt, he didn¡¯t trust me anymore. ¡°Trey¡¯s job is to protect you. But also, Aris¨Cdon¡¯t do anything stupid again.¡± The threat in his voice sent a chill down my spine. A helicopter was waiting for us on a clearing in the woods. We bearded together. As the helicopter led off, looked out the window onest time at the little cabin, where we¡¯d spent thest five days. It was shrinking fast, swallowed by the trees, I didn¡¯t know how to feel When he locked me in there, I was so lonely and so desperate to escape. But now that we were actually leaving felt strangely anulous. Because I knew I was going back to trouble And this time, there¡¯d be no running away A few hourster, wended in Red Stone Pack Troy stayed right behind us as we disembarked. ¡°There¡¯s already a crowd of reporters waiting outside.¡± he reported to Grayson. ¡°Our return should¡¯ve been ssified.¡± Grayson¡¯s voice was ice¨Ccold. ¡°Yes, but apparently the Elders and Beta Harold thought it¡¯d help with the stock price if people saw youe back.¡± Troy said, ¡°I¡¯ll have them removed immediately.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Grayson strode toward the exit. As soon as the ss doors slid open, a blinding wave of camera shes exploded in front of us. I suddenly realized we were still holding hands. I instinctively tried to pull back, but he held tight, refusing to let go. There were at least hundreds of cameras. I swallowed nervously Then it hit me. This was the first time I had ever appeared publicly by his side. ¡°Alpha Grayson, the whole pack is celebrating your return!¡± one reporter shouted over the chaos. ¡°Can your members kn absence? Was it like they said a health issue?¡± truth behind your roy snapped, ¡°Alpha Grayson will not be taking any questions-¡± Troy: ¡°No. Grayson¡¯s voice boomed over the noise. €23.25 FT. 8 ALQ ¡°I left to retrieve something very precious to me? Under the crowd¡¯s intense gazes, he turned to me, and gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. My jaw dropped. And so were the reporters. They even forgot to press their shutters. Wait a second was he telling the whole world that- I was his ¡°precious something?¡± E Wore 62 Aria¡¯s POV I couldn¡¯t believe it. Just two weeks a age, I was still invisible. And now, I had somehow be Alpha Grayson¡¯s ¡°precious thing¡± The stunned silencested a few seconds. And then a reporter stammered out a question: 5¨CSo what happened Alpha Grayson? Why did you have to leave to look for thisdy? Was she kidnapped?¡± ¡°Someone hurt her behind my back, Someone I once trusted. They¡¯ll pay for their betrayal very soon. With that, he wrapped an arm around my waist and led me toward the walling car. The security team closed in around us as Troy shouted at the crowd, ¡°Back up! The Alpha won¡¯t be taking any more questions!¡± The car door mmed shut, cutting off all the noise My heart was still racing. My palms were soaked with sweat. from outside. ¡°Why did you do that?¡± I turned to him abruptly and asked. ¡°Do what?¡± He lookedpletely calm and chill like nothing had just happened. ¡°Why did you tell them I¡¯m your¡­ precious thing? That¡¯s not like you. It¡¯s¡­weird¡± Weird was the only word I could up with. He raised an eyebrow. ¡°I don¡¯t need a reason for what I do. I said it because you are.¡± ¡°Precious how? Like a precious sex ve?¡± I snapped. His eyes darkened. ¡°I don¡¯t like you using that word Aria. ¡°Then what word do you prefer? Mistress?¡± my tone was sharp. ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m your girlfriend anyway. People will still think I¡¯m some girl you¡¯re keeping on the side withoutmitment.¡± ¡°So what is this? Are you asking for mymitment?¡± he narrowed his eyes. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± I snorted. ¡°I just don¡¯t like being called a slut.¡± ¡°They won¡¯t. I will make sure of that,¡± he growled. ¡°Not in front of your face, sure. But behind your back? You bet they will.¡± I turned away and looked out the window. ¡°So stop doing meaningless things- Letting people know how close we are does me no good. AT ALL¡± He suddenly grabbed my shoulders and turned my back to face him. ¡°Look at me,¡± he ordered, voice hard. ¡°So you don¡¯t want to be associated with me. Because you still want to be with some other man?¡± ¡°You are paranoid!¡± I shouted. ¡°You should start getting used to it,¡± he said coldly, like he wasn¡¯t even ashamed of his dark soul. ¡°Now answer the question.¡± He stared straight into eyes. There was no escape. Honestly, I kind of missed the old version of him the rold, distant one. At least that one was masier to deal with. ¡°So what if I did want that? it¡¯s not like you¡¯re ever going tomit to me. If I do want marrings or kids, I¡¯d have in find another His grip on my hand suddenly tightened, ¡°You can get that stupid idea nut of your head right now. Because your¡¯re already tied to me for t I clenched my teeth. ¡°You don¡¯t have the right ¡°You should¡¯ve figured out how much right I have right now. Especially after your failed ti escape ¡°He smirked. 1 just stay by my side. Marriage and titles are useless for you anyway. I was so angry I wanted to rip his arrogant face off ¡°Just because you don¡¯t want to get married doesn¡¯t mean other people don¡¯t I want something exclusive, which means literally any other man out there would be better than you you arrogant, cold, controlling He pressed a thumb to my lips, silencing me. ¡°Enough, I don¡¯t want to argue you today he hissed 1 jerked my face away and slumped back into my seat, fuming and heartbroken, Before I met him, my dreams were so simple. I wanted to get married before I turned 26, then have two kids¨Ca boy and a girl. i¡¯d give them the kind of happy family I never had. But Grayson shattered that with a single sentence. He sure wasn¡¯t going to marry me. And he wouldn¡¯t let anyone else marry me either. Now that he¡¯d publicly imed me, no man in their right mind would dare go against the powerful Alpha Grayson. I was trapped. It was so fucking frustrating ¡°You let your ex¨Cwife go when she wanted a divorce,¡± I muttered. ¡°Why can¡¯t you do the same for me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not her,¡± he said darkly. I looked down at my twisted fingers. A sour, swollen feeling sat heavy in my chest. ¡°You let her go because you loved her. You loved her enough to hurt yourself just to give her freedom. But you¡¯re more than willing to trap me in this dar hell ¡°Zane fed you that bullshit, didn¡¯t he?¡± he snapped ¡°I don¡¯t like anyone discussing myst marriage. And that includes you. Got it I didn¡¯t say a word. Screw him. He swore under his breath ¡°I¡¯m taking you home. And you¡¯ll stay there. No leaving without my permission.¡± Sure. Like he hasn¡¯t already taken every piece of freedom from me. What¡¯s one more lock on the cape? The car dropped me at the mansion gates and drove off without a second nce. I dragged myself through the front door, back to this bellhole i¡¯d just run from. The only thing looked forward to was seeing Mrs. Jones¡¯s warm, kind smile. But she wasn¡¯t there. Among all the servants lined up to great me, her familiar figure was misting ¡°Where¡¯s Ms. Jones?¡± asked the servants, frowning They all bowed their heads and stayed silent. ¡°Did you not hear me? Where is ¡°Mrs. Jones has been dismissed,¡± said a cold, elderly valce behind me, 1 turned around sharply. Aman in a tailcoat came down from the grand staircase. His hair was pure white, his face carved with deep lines knife marks, and he had the coldest, most judgmental eyes fid ever seen. The kind that made you feel like he saw you as a bug under his shor The kind that reminded me of Grayson¡¯s parents. I instantly hated him. ¡°Hello Miss Collins, My name is Tarry. The new head butler of this estate,¡± he announced smugly ¡°What do you mean Mrs. Jones was dismissed?¡± I snapped. He walked closer, hands sped behind his back, chin tilted high. ¡°Mrs. Jones went against the Alpha¡¯s direct orders. You were strictly forbidden from using any phones while at the hospital, yet she let you her personal cell. That call gave you the chance to escape. It was a serious breach of trust.¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t know who I was calling¡± I said quickly. ¡°Ilied to her. This isn¡¯t her fault. I want her back.¡± ¡°Impossible,¡± he said with a sneer. ¡°Why? I already exined. And I live here now, I should get a say in this.¡± ¡°You¡¯re merely residing here. Not the master of this house. And you have no right to dictate how it¡¯s He stepped closer, his cold eyes scanning me like I was some uncivilized animal. ¡°With all due respect, Miss Collins, your arrival has brought a great deal of disorder into this century¨Cold estate. Mrs. Jones enabled that chaos¨Cyour casual behavior, yourck of discipline, your ignorance of the etiquette. That¡¯s why she was let go. From today on, you and everyone here will be held to a much higher standard. Under my supervision.¡± WIF I red at him icily. Did he think he was my school principal? Or my goddamn father et me just tell you this. I won¡¯t be held by any of your stupid standards,¡± I said to him very clearly ¡°Let His face dropped. ¡°I¡¯m the butter of ¡°Yeah yeah I heard you. But despite your sharp tus and obnoxious attitude, the butler is still a servant. So go mop the floor or something and stop minding my fucking business.¡± Wow it felt so damn good letting it all out. And this Tarry guy¡¯s expression was absolutely precious. Wore 63 Send gift No Ads Chapter 63 Aria¡¯s POV God, it felt amazing not having to suck up to anyone in this damn house anymore. I¡¯d officially decided. Starting now, only my damn feng ¡°You heard me. That was a big fat fuck off to you,¡± I said with a grin and flipped him off. His entire face turned red with anger. ¡°How dare you!¡± he growled. ¡°You are by far the most vulgar, disrespectful, and dull woman I have ever seen around our Alpha. You do not deserve his affection- Iyawned. ¡°Your opinions mean absolutely nothing to me. Can I leave now?¡± I turned to head back to my room. Now the first thing on my to do list: figure out how to get Mrs. Jones back. I couldn¡¯t stand that arrogant old prick another day. ¡°Wait.¡± He rushed forward and blocked my w ¡°What now?¡± Ifrowned. way. I was sent here by the former Luna and Alpha. Since it¡¯s now a fact that you¡¯re staying by Alpha Grayson¡¯s side, they expect you to at least pay attention to your appearance and behavior¡± I guess he thought name¨Cdropping the old Alpha and Luna would somehow scare me. But it really didn¡¯t work as well as he thought. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the way I look or act?¡± I asked coldly. He gave me one of those nasty, judgmental once¨Covers. ¡°First of all, your outfit looks cheap¨Cyou look like a grocery y store cashier.¡± His eyes swept over my jeans andnded on my ts. ¡°We don¡¯t want you lowering the Alpha¡¯s status by wearing off¨Cthe¨Crack junk like that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to be the kind of women who wear heels and dresses at their own house. That¡¯s just not me,¡± I said tly. f course, he wasn¡¯t done. His is gaze moved to my hair But of cour ¡°And your hair. I get it, women from slums like you don¡¯t have time to care about the details. But hair says a lot about social status. You shouldn¡¯t have any strange styles or split ends. Weekly treatments are the bare minimum.¡± I really thought he¡¯d stop there But nope. ¡°And we need to work on your manners. You probably think living here gives you some sort of privilege, but it doesn¡¯t. You¡¯re not Alpha Grayson¡¯s date, nt of him. Never stand not even officially his mistress, and that puts you on the same level as the servants. Which means you should never wall to him. And never turn your back on him at any time Oh dear Moon Goddess. as a lot of ¡°Neves¡± That was a lot I let out a loud, scornfulugh ¡°Does Grayson even know you¡¯re here today?¡± Chapter 63 ¡°Don¡¯t call the Alpha by name he snapped, chest thing and trapidly. ¡°I understand that you grew up without yourck of mannen- Okay, that just crossed the ¡°Who told you I didn¡¯t have a mother asked icily. ¡°Everyone knew,¡± he snorted. ¡°She ran off when you were little, didn¡¯t she? And you never had a proper female role modd growing up, how and reckless other? I stared at him for one second. Then suddenly, I stepped forward and punched his straight in the nose, His fancy gold rinsmed sses went flying. He let out a wall and stumbled back. ¡°You crazy lible rat¨C1¡± ¡°The only manners I know are that you don¡¯t barge into someone¡¯s space, insult them from head to toe, and then throw in the fact that they¡¯re basically motherless orphan!¡± I snapped, clenching my fist. ¡°Next time you mention my mother, I¡¯ll break your fucking nose.¡± He was terally shaking with rage. ¡°Alpha Grayson will hear about all of this!¡± he roared. ¡°Go ahead. Tell your dear Alpha. Tell him to kick me out of this ce. I¡¯d never step into this fucking house again if he hadn¡¯t begged me toe back With that, I shoved past him and headed upstairs, going back to my room. as I closed the door, I turned on the TV. As soon ys that I had a chance to check on the outside world. It was the first time in days I couldn¡¯t wait to see what people were saying about Grayson¡¯s return, his little speech¡­and me, The second the screen lit up, the news was already covering it. ¡°Attention members, Alpha Grayson is finally back! The female anchor said excitedly. ¡°After all the worst¨Ccase scenarios were tossed around, after his sister nearly destroyed the pack¡¯s economy, he finally made a public appearance today. And within 5 minutes of that appearance, thepany¡¯s stock price skyrocketed.¡± The male anchor jumped in. ¡°So to Lady Delh and her husband Jace Carter, we say¨CPlease stop meddling in pack business. You two are both idiots Go back to filming reality show and leave grown¨Cup stuff to your big brother.¡± I let out a lowugh Looked like Delh and Jace hadpletely fucked up They went through all that effort to steal the project from me, only for the whole thing to go up in mes. Now the world knew how stupid they were. ¡°And we couldn¡¯t help but notice,¡± the female anchor continued, ¡°Alpha Grayson didn¡¯t return alone,¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. A woman named Aria Collins appeared with him in public¡± They shed a photo of me and Grayson at the airport God, my hair looked like crap. I looked like I just got off ate shift at a gas station. No wonder people were questioning why Grayson would cheese someons Thur So what do we know about her?¡± female anchor asked ¡°She works at Apes and appally used to date Lady Delh¡¯s husband, Jare Carter.¡± ¡°Ooh, the dramal¡± she gasped. ¡°We all know our Alpha has a bit of a yboy rep. He¡¯s dated many celebs and socialites, but this is the fru publicly acknowledged a rtionship. Now the biggest question¨CWill this girl be our future Luna? caught myself biting my nail as I stated at the scree ¡°No way in hell,¡± the male anchor said bluntly. ¡°How do you know? Alpha seems to really likel ¡°Not enough to call her his girlfriend,¡± he said with a smirk. ¡°Seriously, what does my precious thing even mean? Sounds like something you say to a booty call so you don¡¯t have tomit.¡± The female anchor burst outughing ¡°Exactly! And I bet no one in Red Stone would ever ept someone like her our Lona ¡°Of course not. The Harts only marry nobility. That¡¯s been their irond rule for centuries. It¡¯s why they keep producing powerful Alphas like Grayson. But Ania Collins? She¡¯s not just non¨Cnoble. She¡¯s not even middle ss: She¡¯s a full¨Cblown slum kid.¡± My eyes widened. They showed a slideshow of me. School photos from when I was a kid, pictures of me in Frostpine, even one where I was bargain shopping at a dor store. Where the hell did they get all that?! That was private. They had no right! ¡°Oh my god, look at her lining up for discount groceries,¡± the female anchor said with a shrillugh. ¡°Even I wouldn¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°Very disgracing, right? I can¡¯t believe any y man would still find her attractive after seeing those pictures.¡± ¡°God, let¡¯s just hope Alpha Grayson finds his real soulmate soon¨Csomeone beautiful, noble, someone who actually deserves to be Luna. And Ana Collins should just back the fuck off¡± It wasn¡¯t stopping. They kept airing more pictures, revealing more of my life. They even showed my home address, my grandma¡¯s care facility, May¡¯s workce. Everything about me was suddenly fair game for public humiliation, ¡°Fuck,¡± I growled. and called him. I grabbed my phone and ¡°You need toe home. Now I snapped as soon as he picked up. ¡°What happened?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯ll fucking tell you when you get here.¡± I hung up without waiting for a reply. Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect him to drop everything and run back just because of one angry call. That was mostly me blowing off steam. But 20 minutester, I heard a car outside. threw my door open and ran down the stairs. He¡¯d just stepped into the foyet, looking sharp and cold as ever. That old bastard Tarry popped out of nowhere to greet him ¡°Wee back home, Alpha Grayson,¡± he bowed. ¡°Now if you¡¯re not too busy, I¡¯d like to discuss a few things I cut in, striding straight up. ¡°What took you so long?¡± ¡°I came the second I got your call. Grayson stared at me with a frown, ¡°What¡¯s the emergency? Are you ill? Tarry cleared his throat loudly, jumping in again. ¡°As I was saying, Alpha, I had a very important message from the former Lund and Alpha- ¡°There¡¯s a fucking news broadcast dragging me through the mud,¡± I said loudly, cutting him off. ¡°Miss Collins!¡± Tarry barked, spinning toward me, red with rage. ¡°Can¡¯t you see the Alpha and I are speaking? Interrupting like that is precisely the behavior you need to work on!¡± I sneered. ¡°Alpha Grayson, your butter here just can¡¯t wait to talk to you. Tell him, who should fuck off? Meor him?¡± ¡°You stay, Aria.¡± Grayson said without hesitation, before giving Tarry a stern look. ¡°Keep your mouth shut when your musters are speaking. That¡¯s lesson for a butler, Tarry.¡± The old man turned purple in the face. ¡°You were saying?¡± Grayson looked back at me. ws program exposing all my personal info. Now the whole world knows my house number in Frostpine. That stunt you pulled at the airport ¡°There¡¯s a news caused this.¡± His face darkened immediately. ¡°I sec. That station will lose its broadcast license by tomorrow. You¡¯ll receive their formal apology¡± But I still wasn¡¯t satisfied. There¡¯s more steam to blow off -You want me in this house, right?¡± I asked. ¡°Of course. ¡°But I can¡¯t stand this old prick,¡± I turned my re on Tarry. ¡°Get rid of him for me, Grayson AD Wore 64 epter 64 Chapter 64 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°How dare you! I¡¯m the butter of this house! Tarry backed. I shrugged. ¡°So, a servant.¡± Servant? I¡¯ve worked in the Harts¡® residence for nearly 20 years, I was deeply trusted by the former Luna and Alphat My status is way be blurted out 1 let out a small chuckle and turned to Grayson ¡°Me Tarry just told me that in this house, I¡¯m basically on the same level as the maid who scrubber toilet. I¡¯m not even allowed to look your in the eye, say your name, or walk beside you He raised an eyebrow. Then he reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair beltind my ear in a very gentle way ¡°Really? He said that ¡°Oh, and not just that. Mr. Tarry also called me a slum orphan with no mother. A filthy rat. And apparently, I¡¯m the most vulgar, disrespectful, and boring woman you¡¯ve ever had around. Is that true?¡± Grayson froze for a few seconds, then slowly turned his gaze to Tarry. ¡°Is that true?¡± he asked, voice low, cold, dangerous. Under that kind of stare, Tarry couldn¡¯t help but shrink back ¡°T¨CTue. But she was being very disrespectful, Alpha! She even used violence¡­she punched me in the face! What kind ofdy does something so outrageous- ¡°You insulted your master. And she only punched you once. That¡¯s the lightest kind of punishment you can get,¡± Grayson said icily. ¡°M¨CMaster? But Alpha, she¡¯s not even your mistress! She holds no position in this house¡ª¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Grayson suddenly roared. His voice thundered through the hall. Every servant dropped their heads in fear. Tarry began to tremble. ¡°Miss Collins holds the same privileges in this house as I do. Your job is to serve her, make her happy, clear?!¡± Tarry wiped the sweat off his forehead and muttered, ¡°Y-yes, Alpha. I understand¡­ Say it to your other master, Grayson ordered. Tarry¡¯s face twisted in humiliation. But eventually he still turned to me, lowered his head, and mumbled, ¡°My sincerest apologies, Miss Collins. I misunderstood my ce. What I said waspletely inappropriate¡­I hope you can forgive me.¡± I looked down at his graying head and let out a cold little snort. What a pathetic old bastard. ¡°And those critiques about how I look and behave?¡± ¡°W¨Cwere all nonserise¡­ Please don¡¯t take them to heart¡­¡° ¡°So, I don¡¯t need to change anythin ¡°Of course not. It¡¯s clear that Alpha Grayson likes you exactly the way you are,¡± he said through gritted teath, Het the silence hang just long hnough to make him sweat, then turned to Grayson and caid- ¡°No, I still want him gobe ¡± ¡°Then he¡¯s gone,¡± Grayson replied immediately, voice t and firm. ¡°What?!¡± Tarry¡¯s head snapped up, face full of disbelief, already apologized! I never had to apologize to anyone at Tcrossed my arms, staring him down ¡°Well, I think your apology sucked. Honestly, everything about you annoys me so I hope you get lost, Problem? ¡°The former Luna ordered me to stay here it was hermand Grayson¡¯s cold voice sliced through his protest. ¡°Then go back and tell my mother to back the hell off my life: I still haven¡¯t had the talk with her about promoting Delh and Jace behind my back GUARDS! The guards at the entrance stepped in instantly, grabbing Tarry by the arms and dragging him away Tarry struggled with all his might. His perfectlybed hair was now a mess He shouted as they pulled him out, ¡°Alpha, listen to me! That woman is poison! She¡¯ll ruin your life¨C1¡± One of the guards mped a hand over his mouth and hauled him away ¡°Feeling better now?¡± 100 Grayson asked as he took my hand, gently stroking my knuckles with his thumb. I curled my lips. ¡°First it was that damn show. Then this man trying to insult me. Not exactly the warmest wee back ¡°I¡¯ll take care of everything for you,¡± he said without hesitation. ¡°You do realize all these problems are because of you, right? If I weren¡¯t with you, if I were free, I wouldn¡¯t have to deal with any of this mess.. He grabbed my chin abruptly, stopping me from saying more ¡°Stop talking g about being free,¡± he warned in a low grow. ¡°I don¡¯t like the sound of it.¡± I slipped out of his grip and gave a casual shrug His hand slid down to my waist and pulled me close again. ¡°I have something that might make you smile.¡± He pulled out a phone from his pocket and handed it to me. A new v phone? Was this supposed to be a gift? ¡°Open the gallery,¡± he said. I did. Then almost immediately, my eyes widened. There were photos and videos from earlier today¨Cof Grandma and May i gasped excitedly, bringing the phone closer to my face. Grandma was lying in a very fancy hospital room, lonking much beside her bed, grinning and waving at the camera. ¡°Where are they?¡± I asked urgently. ¡°A safe ce.¡± he said with a mysterious smile. There are only two numbers saved in that phone, One is mine. The other in yours COM, CH? once a day.¡± ¡°Only once??¡± He chuckled softly and pulled me body against his chest. ¡°Yes. Because I still want most of your attention on me,¡± I bit into my lower lip. ¡°When cant see them then?¡± He lifted his eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s a reward. And rewards have to be earned,¡± Then he swept me off the ground, wrapping my legs around his waist. I could already feel how hard he was beneath his pants. *D¨CDon¡¯t you have work to do¡­ You just got back¡­I said breathlessly, turning my head away to avoid his kisses. His breathing had turned rough. ¡°It can wait until tomorrow.¡± Wow even the workaholic Alpha Grayson was getting distracted now Maybe Tarry was right. I really was a bad influence. He carried me upstairs like I weighed nothing, holding me like a child. Along the way, we passed several servants. They nced at me in shock before quickly ducking out of sight. Probably never seen him lose control like that He kissed me hungrily as we reached his bedroom. The second the door shut with a loud kick from his foot, he threw me hard against it. AD Wore 65 Chapter 65 Aria¡¯s Pov The next morning, I was the first one to wake up. He was lying behind me, his warm chest pressed tightly against my back, one arm wrapped around my waist. The soreness between my legs was impossible to ignore. I let out a silent breath, staring at the corner of the room. That whole rule about how I wasn¡¯t allowed on this floor was like bullshit now. I couldn¡¯t even remember the ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± came his raspy voice beside my ear. He was awake I shifted a little, but he only held me tighter. Our bodies werepletely tangled beneath the sheets. ¡°Tell me,¡± he insisted. The more I got to know him, the more I realized just how possessive he really was. ¡°I¡¯m thinking how you forced me topletely betray everything I believed in,¡± I said quietly. He gave a soft scoff. ¡°That no sex rule was stupid anyway.¡± frowned. ¡°Your first love was from Frostpine Pack too. Would you say her beliefs were stupid?¡± He propped himself up and flipped me over to face him. His expression was cold in the dim light. Let me guess. Zane told you that again?¡± I shrugged. ¡°We had a lot of time to kill while we were on the run.¡± st time I¡¯d slept in my own bed. He exhaled sharply, clearly trying to keep his temper down. ¡°Frostpine Pack puts a lot of weight on bloodline purity. That¡¯s why toyal members- especially women¨Care forbidden from having sex before marriage. So they don¡¯t end up with bastards. But you¡¯re not royalty, Aria. You don¡¯t need to follow that rule,¡± Of course I knew that Honestly, I didn¡¯t even know why my mom insisted I follow it in the first ce. It¡¯s not like anyone would¡¯ve cared if Thad been sleeping around since was a teenager or had a kid in high school. But still¡­it was a principle I¡¯d clung to for over 20 years. And he was the one who made me break it I guess what pissed me off even more than losing my virginity¡­was how little he seemed to care. ¡°Besides,¡± he murmured huskily in my ear, ¡°you did enjoy the sex.¡± His hand slid from my waist down between my legs, circling my clit. My back arched as I gasped for air. My body was already getting ready for another hard fuck. ¡°You¡¯re so sensitive, babe. We¡¯re perfect together,¡± he whispered, ribbling my earlobe. ¡°Don¡¯t let that stupid rule ruin something this good.¡± ¡°And w what if I ask you to marry me?¡± I asked suddenly. His hand froze. Just like that, all the heat and spark in the dir vanished. ¡°You¡¯re asking?¡± he echoed, hit vairo dropping dangerously tow ¡°yeah, You think that rule is stupid, but I don¡¯t. So now I¡¯m asking the guy who took my virginity to marry me He actuallyughed like I¡¯d just said something ridiculous. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly,¡± he said lightly. I scoffed and pushed him off, jumping out of bed. His cous fromst night was still diding down my thigh¨Csticky and gross. Feeded a shower, ¡°You can nask me for anything. Except mariage,¡± he said from behind me, his tone like he was warning me not to get gready I didn¡¯t reply. I just headed straight into the bathroom. The hot water helped a lot. I could finally breathe again. Think straight He probably wouldn¡¯t let me go back to work anymore. So what now? Was I supposed to just stay locked up in this gilded cage, waiting for the day he got bored of me? Or until he found some properdy to marry? I had no idea. After I finished my shower, I stepped out with a towel around my hair. He wasn¡¯t in the bedroom anymore. A few maids were tidying up the sheets. The moment they saw me, they dropped what they were doing and bowed ¡°Lady Collins,¡± one of them said nervously. ¡°Alpha asked that you go to his study after you¡¯ve freshened I nodded and started heading toward the door. But then I paused and turned back to them. ¡°Don¡¯t call me ¡®Lady.¡± I¡¯m not one.¡± Everyone kept reminding me how lowborn I was. There was no poigt pretending otherwise. The maids exchanged a nervous nce. One of them mumbled, ¡°Y¨Cyes¡­ understood¡­mydy.¡± I sighed and walked out of the room. His study used to be off¨Climits to me too. But just like his bedroom, that rule had long gone out the window. I reached the study and knacked, then opened the door and walked in, Then I immediately froze. I¡¯d thought he would be alone. But no. There were at least 20 people inside. All of them dressed in expensive suits, elegant, powerful¨Clooking. They all turned to stare at me atonce And I was wearing¡­ a bathrobe. My hair was still damp. ¡°Sorry to interrupt,¡± I blurted, hastily trying to back out. ¡°Come in, Aria Grayson was sitting right in the center of the room on a plush anta, fully dressed, looking like a damni kes He reached a hand out to me and held my gaze steadily Was he out of his fucking minut? i shook my head hard at hen, ¡°Come,¡± he repeated Left with no choice, I sighed and quietly shut the door behind me, and walked toward him¨Cunder everyone¡¯s shocked stares. He pulled me straight into his. Then he just buried his face in my neck, inhaling deeply. There were gasps all around us. ¡°Alpha Grayson, with all due respect, this meeting is incredibly important¡­¡± middle aged man said respectfully. But his eyes were ring at me ket was some filthy rats ¡°You may continue,¡± Grayson saidzily. He started ying with a strand of my hair like it was the only thing he cared about ¡°I¡¯m afraid the matters of thepany and pack are top secret. We can¡¯t discuss them freely¡­especially with outsiders present Grayson¡¯s hand stilled. His cold p gray eyes locked on the on them. And he gave a strange, sharp all hurry to wee him onboard¡­That is betrayal ve to touch myp mypany nor my pack. Yet took my eyes off for 5 He didn¡¯t yell. But his voice was sharp and dangerous. It made my skin crawl. I was pretty sure everyone in this room felt the same way. Grayson¡¯s gaze shifted to one man in the room. ¡°Speaking of betrayal¡­Beta Harold.¡± A man shot up from his chair, his face pale, forehead drenched in sweat. Wait, I knew that name. May told me he was the one who led people to the hospital and locked up my grandmother! ¡°Beta Harold, have you ever betrayed me?¡± Grayson asked coldly. ¡°O¨Cof course not! I¡¯m your Beta¨CI¡¯d never ¡°Yet you went behind my back and hurt Aria¡¯s family. Who gave you that order?¡± Theld my breath Walt¨Cbehind bly back? Did that mean the really had nothing to do with it Harold looked like he was about to pass out from the tension. After a long, heavy pause, he said their orders were the same as yours ¨C ¡°Give me a name.¡± mea Harold¡¯s teeth were chattering. ¡°Lady Delh¡­ and your mother.¡± I pped my hand over my mouth, eyes wide with shock and fury. e stammared, ¡°1.¡­¡­. I didn¡¯t have a choice, they told me th Before I could fully register everything, Grayson suddenly led me off hisp and ced me on the couch In the next second, he was in front of Harold. He seized Harold¡¯s neck with one hand and easily lifted the six¨Cfoot man off the ground! Everybody screamed. Harold let out a strangled cry, kicking and thrashing for air. ¡°Aria.¡± Grayson stared at the Harold¡¯s purple face, his eyes gleaming coldly. ¡°What do you think we should do with him?¡± I gripped the edge of the couch, half¨Cstanding. ¡°¡­I get to decide?¡± ¡°Of course. I told you. You can ask me for anything¡± AD Comment Wore 66 Chapter 66 Aria¡¯s POV I clenched my jaw. I hated this man. I wanted him to pay for what he did to my grandmother ¡°You should expel him,¡± I gritted, steeling my heart, Gasps of horror echoed through the room. Everyone red at me like I had lost my mind. Expel was the harshest punishment for a werewolf Once you¡¯re expelled, you¡¯re banned from living in any pack. You¡¯d have no identity, no official job. You¡¯d be forced to survive as a street wolf. For a former Beta? That was like a death sentence. ¡°You¡¯re crazy! I¡¯m Alpha Grayson¡¯s Beta¨Cyou can¡¯t just expel a Betal Harold roared, but there was a hint of fear in his voice. ¡°Quiet.¡°Grayson growled, tightening his grip. Harold immediately choked on his words, gasping for air. *Alpha Grayson, please¡­¡± a well¨Cdressed woman spoke up shakily. ¡°Despite what he did, Beta Harold has assisted you for many years. To expel him¡­ just for a woman¡­ that¡¯s madness.¡± Grayson¡¯s icy gaze swept across the room. ¡°No. This is about loyalty. I don¡¯t want anyone in my pack who takes orders from someone else even if that person is my sisfer or my parents.¡± No one dared speak again. Everyone sat there frozen, lowering their heads. ¡°So¡­ expel, you said?¡± Grayson asked me, voice cold. stroy his life. I think that¡¯s a fair punishment.¡± I clenched my fists, fighting the part of me that wanted to hesitate. ¡°Yes. It¡¯ll destroy But then he smiled. ¡°You¡¯re s so soft,¡± he said. I frowned, Soh? Expel was already brutal. What else did he want? Grayson¡¯s hand suddenly tightened, and Harold¡¯s eyes rolled back as he passed out. The tall man crumpled to the floor. ¡°Throw him in the dungeon, Grayson ordered. The guards moved in and Harold¡¯s body like he was a dead pig and dragged him away. Everyone in the room watched in horror. The woman who had spoken earlier trembled ¡°W What¡¯s going to happen to Beta Harold¡­}¡± ¡°That no longer concerns you,¡± Grayson said. He walked back to the couch and pulled me back into hisp. His voice was so but dangerous. ¡°As long as none of you betray me, you have nothing to worry about There was a deadly silence in the room, ¡°Anyone else want to report anything?¡± he asked casually. They all shook their heads, dearly terrified. ¡°Good. Then go clean up the pless you made while I was away Chairs scraped across the floor as they all stood and scrambled to leave. They all looked at me on the way out. It was a look I¡¯d never received before. Anger mixed with something even stronger -Fear, When the door shut, I turned to Grayson. ¡°They must all think I¡¯m some kind of siren now.¡± He chuckled and leaned down to me. ¡°That you are, babe, I¡¯m already under your spell.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s going to happen to Beta Harold?¡± But his expression stayed mysterious. He held my hand, stroking the back of itzily. ¡°You¡¯re too soft and sweet, it¡¯s better you don¡¯t know.¡± I narrowed my eyes at him. There was something dark in his eyes, something eerily familiar. That shadowed energy radiating off him made my stomach ¡°Wanna do something a little crazier?¡± he asked suddenly ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°Jace Carter¡¯s birthday is in a few days.¡± I blinked. Oh right. Jace was turning 28. It¡¯s his first birthday since marrying Delh. ¡°She¡¯s throwing a huge party for him. And we¡¯re going,¡± he said. ¡°What? No!¡± I snapped. ¡°There¡¯s no way in hell I¡¯m going to that thing and wishing that bastard a happy birthday. And not to mention your sister¡¯s gonna be there.¡± I still didn¡¯t know who was truly behind what happened to Grandma. Grayson or his sister¨Ceither way, that family had blood on their hands. if I had a choice, I¡¯d never see any of their damn faces again. He squeezed my hand. ¡°I know you¡¯re furious. But this event. You definitely want to be there.¡± There was something in his voice that sent a chill down my spine ¡°What are you going to do at the party?¡± I asked. ¡°You¡¯ll see. It¡¯s a surprise for you.¡± Thesitated, chewing on my lip. I didn¡¯t want to get dragged into their family drama again. But if I could witness these two gettin hat they deserve¡­it¡¯d be worth it. After a moment, I said, ¡°Don¡¯t make me regret paying yes.¡± He pulled me closer by the waist. ¡°You won¡¯t. You¡¯re gonna enjoy the show Lpromise.¡± *Fine. Just tell me when and where so I can be ready. I¡¯m guessing there¡¯s a dress code?¡± Yes. You need a gown. Let¡¯s see¡­ He nced at his watch. ¡°We still have time to go buy one now! Another new dress? I shook my head. ¡°No need. I still have the nines from earlier. I¡¯ve only wore them like one or twice But something I said must¡¯ve pissed him. His face darkened, ¡°You mean that silver dress that revealed your whole chest?¡± he growled I froze, then shot back, ¡°What are you talking about? It¡¯s just a low neckline. My chest is safer ¡°Bullshit. Zane picked that one for you, didn¡¯t he? His taste is trasic¡± Okay, now he was being unfair Tor your informations, I actually liked that dress. And speaking of Zane¡­how is he?¡± I¡¯d been worried about him. His brother Damian gave off seriously evil vibes. ¡°Stop worrying, You¡¯ll never see him again anyway,¡± he said coldly. Then he stood and offered me his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll pick something actually fit you.¡± I thought we were heading to a mall, likest time when Zane took me shopping But no We ended up on the top floor of a morous hotel, with a panoramic view of the whole city. The space was huge, and there was a long runway set up, like a fashion show venue. When we arrived, hotel staff and stylists had lined up. They bowed to us respectfully. ¡°What is this? Are we here to watch a show?¡± I whispered to Grayson. ¡°Yes. A show just for us He pulled me onto the only couch in the room. The curtains at the end of the runway pulled open, and a stunning model strutted out in a sleek ck evening gowns. She walked down the runway and stopped at the center posing spot in front of us. Twirling around. Showing off the dress. I looked between Grayson and the stylist, utterly confused. Wait. What was I supposed to do? p for her? The stylist quickly exined, ¡°Miss Collins, the models are here to showcase the dresses. That way you can see how they look in motion without having to try them on yourself. You can also choose any itent from the lookbook and request a model to demonstrate it.¡± My jaw dropped. God. This is how rich people buy clothes? ¡°But how is this helpful at all?¡± I gasped. ¡°These models are like ten times hotter than me. Everything looks good on them!¡± Graysonughed, probably thinking I was joking. ¡°You¡¯re more beautiful than all of them put together. Sol What do you think of this ck one?¡± My brain hadn¡¯t caught up yet, so I just shook my head. ¡°Lagree: Too in,¡± he waved the model away, and another one came but This whole process was like¡­ Insane And seriously, these models were too pretty. It was hard to focus on the clothes when their ¡°Can we take a break?¡°I asked after 20 minutes of torture, Fares were to distracting ¡°Sure.¡± Grayson squeezed my hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ve got the whole day.¡± God help me. During our break, he headed outside to take a call, and I went to the bathroom. When I came out of the stall, I saw a gorgeous model applying lipstick at the sink. Fucking holl, her waist was basically at the height of my chest! I nced at her face. And froze. Shit. That was Barbara Stansen! THE international supermodel. Fashion brand loon. Voted one of the world¡¯s sexiest women for 5 years. What the hell was she doing here? I couldn¡¯t control my excitement. I wanted to ask for an autograph. If I remembered right, May was a huge fan But before I could say anything, she spotted me first. And she turned to face me ¡°You Aria Collins?¡± she asked, raising a brow ¡°Umm, yeah?¡± She stepped closer, towering over me. God, she was tall ¡°You stay away from Alpha Grayson, hear me?¡± she said, voice low and sharp. ¡°He¡¯s my boyfriend.¡± E AD Comment Send gift Wore 67 A¡¯s nov She just said Grayson was her boyfriend? I blinked at her. Then I startedughing ¡°What the hell are youughing she snapped, clearly pissed. ¡°If you said you were his hookup, I might¡¯ve believed you. But no way you won his gutriend.¡± I shrugged. ¡°You¡¯re just jealous,¡± she scoffed. ¡°No. Just stating the facts. Alpha Grayson doesn¡¯t do dating¡± She stepped toward me, all appressive. ¡°That¡¯s because you don¡¯t know how good he was to me. He brought me gifts whenever he was back from a business trip. He always showed up when I needed help. He told me I could rely on him anytime.¡± ¡°Yeah, he does that for pretty much every woman he sleeps with,¡± I said tly. Including me ¡°No, you don¡¯t get it!¡± she snapped. ¡°He had dinner with my parents. He sent flowers to my mom every year on her birthday!¡± My eyebrows lifted. Okay¡­ now that was¡­unexpected. Grayson hated anything that even remotely smelled likemitment. He¡¯d do anything to avoid meeting a date¡¯s family. And yet he made an exception for her? She caught the flicker of surprise in my eyes and gave a smug little smile. ¡°See? I told you. It¡¯s serious between us. So do yourself a favor and back off, ¡°I would¡¯ve left already, if it wasn¡¯t for him refusing to let me go. I told her. ¡°What?¡± Her jaw dropped. ¡°You heard me. I tried to leave him. I even ran off with another guy. But he tracked me down and dragged me back by force. Said he¡¯d give me anything. as long as I stayed with him.¡± She let out an angry scream. ¡°That¡¯s a fucking lie! You¡¯re just making stuff up! He wouldn¡¯t do something like that!¡± ¡°Then ask him yourself.¡± I turned to walk away, but she grabbed my arm ¡°Wait. Aren¡¯t you even a little bit of curious about us?¡± she demanded. ¡°Not really.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Because I know you are not his special one.¡± were going to be jealous of anyone, it¡¯d be I, or maybe his childhood crush. But these girls? They were probably just as disposable as I was If I were I left her there, fuming and speechless, and pushed open the bathroom door. Grayson was already back when I returned to the lounge. I took my seat beside him like nothing happened But he turned to me, his brows tight together ¡°What happened?¡± he asked. Shit I hated how freakishly intuitive he was ¡°What are you talking about! Nothing happened.¡± I tried to brush it off Hisce darkened. He could always tell when I was hiding something. And he hated when hid things. Just when I felt he was about to push further, a noise broke out at the door. ¡°Ma¡¯am, you can¡¯t go in this is a private pent ¡°I¡¯m his girlfriend, Movel¡± Barbara shoved past the staff and strutted into the lounge. She spotted us, and gave a flip of her hair as she walked over ¡°Hey, I missed y I you,¡± she said to Grayson, fluttering hershes in full flirt mode. He said nothing. Just stared at her, his face cold as stone. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you returned my texts? Or my calls?¡± she pouted ¡°I invited you to my show in Europe. We could¡¯ve had so much fun.¡± ¡°I thought the message was clear,¡± he said icily. Her expression cracked. Damn. That was cold. She bit into her lower lip and stepped closer. I could smell her perfume now, or maybe it was her scent. Whatever it was, it was tempting ¡°I saw you on TV¡­ with her,¡± she sneered at me. ¡°Actually my whole family saw it. They were quite hurt, you know? They don¡¯t understand why you¡¯d rather be with this little slut than me and frankly speaking I don¡¯t either- He cut her off. ¡°Why the hell would I care what your family thinks She blinked, Shocked. ¡°Because you¡¯re my boyfriend? We¡¯re together? Obviously?¡± she gasped. I actually felt a little sorry for her. The way y she said that¡­she really believed it. It was kind of sad. And he had lost patience in her all along. ¡°Guards. Escort her out.¡± he ordered. ¡°Wait¨Cwhat? You¡¯re kicking me out?¡± she screeched. ¡°But I¡¯m your girlfriend. When was thest time we saw each other? Don¡¯t you want to hang out?? ¡°I¡¯ve never had a girlfriend,¡± he said without hesitation Told you, I thought ¡°Are you serious?! But you had dinner with my parents. You send flowers to my mom every year ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me your parents wereing to that dinner. And I have no idea about the damn flowers,¡± he snapped impatiently. ¡°Out Now¡± Two guards appeared beside her, gripping her arms. I gave her a sympathetic nce. Poor girl. Even a world¨Cfamous supermodel was nothing in his eyes. She waspletely ¡°I sald you liked melll¡± she suddenly screamed. I froze Grayson shot up from beside me, his face like a thunderstorm. ¡°What the fuck did you just say?¡± he demanded. Barbara was breathless but shouted back, ¡°i St. ir, She¡¯s your friend, right? She told me you were into me. She said you loved me and you were serious about this. That you talked about me all the timel So why are you suddenly acting like I¡¯m all crazy now?!¡± Iblinked, stunned. What What the freaking hell was happening? I St. ir was his ex wife. Why would she lie to another woman like that! ¡°Bullshit,¡± Grayson growled. ¡°No she really said that. I saw you on TV with her earlier and I was devastated. So I called I for some advice. She said I shoulde over to talk to you today. She gave me this address!¡± My jaw dropped. Okay. This just went from awkward to straight¨Cup insane. His ex¨Cwife pushed another woman toe here to confront him? What the hell was she up to? ¡°Fucking lunatic,¡± Grayson snapped. His eyes were full of disgust. ¡°Get her out of her. I don¡¯t ever want to see her again.¡± Barbara started crying, but I stood up ¡°Wait.¡± I said. Grayson frowned. I gave him a small smile. ¡°Ms. Stansen is an international super model. I¡¯d like her to do a few fittings for me. Might help me pick a dress faster Barbara¡¯s face twisted in rage.¡± ¡°Screw you! I am Barbara fucking Stansen! I¡¯d never walk for a bitch like you¡® ¡°Enough,¡± Grayson¡¯s voice was like a de. ¡°Go change. Don¡¯t make me call your agent.¡± Her face went pale. It was like someone pped her. After a few seconds of hesitation, she stomped her foot and stormed backstage I sat back down beside him. He took my hand again! But this time, I could tell his thoughts were elsewhere. Soon, the curtain opened again. Barbara walked out in a white gown. She was clearly furious and humiliated, but her walk She stopped in front of us and posed, her face dark. I stood up and walked toward the stage. ¡°Happy now? Is this what you wanted right? To publicly humiliate me?¡± she hissed, her eyes filled with tears of me. I perfect ¡°What else did Ista tell you?¡± I whispered so only the two of us could hear. ¡°W¨Cwhat?¡± ¡°Hurry. Just answer me. ¡°Nothing! She¨Cshe just used to call me after she talked to Grayson, She¡¯d say how much he missed me. And he was always asking about me. Though i did wonder why he didn¡¯t just call me himself¡­but they are very close. What I said must be true¡± So Barbara didn¡¯t even know I was his ex wife. And these two women were no friends at all. Poor b here was just i¡¯s fool. But for what? I couldn¡¯t figure it out. ¡°Did I ever mention me?¡± I asked, Barbara gave me a nasty look. ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself. You¡¯re not even worth mentioning.¡± Wow, Okay. ¡°One piece of advice? If I were you, I¡¯d stay far away from whatever¡¯s going on between I and Grayson.¡± ¡°Who the hell do you think you are to give me advice? Fuck off!¡± she spat I rolled my eyes and turned away ¡°I¡¯ve made my decision,¡± I told Grayson as I returned. ¡°I want the white dress she¡¯s wearing He frowned. ¡°You sure? We haven¡¯t seen everything yet ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± Because clearly, his mind was somewhere else. ¡°Alright then.¡± He gave in. ¡°The stylist will help you with adjustments. Go.¡± I went to find the stylist and had my gown li fitted. When I came back out, Barbara was gone already. ¡°How did And Grayson¡¯s face was unreadable as we left the building. d your ex¨Cwife know we¡¯d be here today?¡°! asked as we got in the car. ¡°It¡¯s her stylist today. She must have tipped,¡± He rubbed his temple, Of course she did. And clearly, y, they still talked to each other on a regr basis. ¡°I need to give her a call,¡± he said. I gestured for him to go ahead. He dialed. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s me. How¡¯ve you been?¡± His voice was different. Gentle. Caring. Like he¡¯s afraid of spooking her. There¡¯s a p pause. She¡¯s answering his question. I perked my ear up to listen. But damn I couldn¡¯t hear a single thing. ¡°That¡¯s rest¡°.. ¡°What else did t tell you?¡± I whispered in only the two of us could hear. ¡°W¨Cwhatt ¡°Hurry, Just answer me. ¡°Nothing! She¨Cshe just used to call me after she talked to Grayson, She¡¯d say how much ho missed me. And he was always asking about me. Though I did wonder why he didn¡¯t just call me himself¡­but they are very close. What i said must be true. was his ex-wife, So Barbara didn¡¯t even know I was And these two women were no friends at all. Poor bhme was just ¡¯s fool. But for what? I couldn¡¯t figure it out. ¡°Did I ever mention me?¡± Lasked. Barbara gave me a nasty look. ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself. You¡¯re not even worth mentioning,¡± Wow. Okay. ¡°One piece of advice? If I were you, I¡¯d stay far away from whatever¡¯s going on between I and Grayson.¡± ¡°Who the hell do you think you are to give me advice? Fuck off¡± she spat. Trolled my eyes and turned away. ¡°I¡¯ve made my decision,¡± I told Grayson as I returned. ¡°I want the white dress she¡¯s wearing He frowned. ¡°You sure? We haven¡¯t seen everything yet.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure. Because clearly, his mind was somewhere else. ¡°Alright then.¡± He gave in. ¡°The stylist will help you with adjustments. Go¡± I went to find the stylist and had my y gown fitted. When I came back out, Barbara was gone already. And Grayson¡¯s face was unreadable as we left the building. ¡°How did your ex¨Cwife know we¡¯d be here today?¡± I asked as we got in the car ¡°It¡¯s her stylist today. She must have tipped,¡± He rubbed his temple. Of course she did. And clearly, they still talked to each other on a regr basis. ¡°I need to o give her a call,¡± he said. I gestured for him to go ahead. He dialed. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s me. How¡¯ve you been?¡± His voice was different. Gentle, Caring. Like he¡¯s afraid of spooking her There¡¯s a pause. She¡¯s answering his question. I perked my ear up to listen. But damn couldn¡¯t hear a single thing ¡°That¡¯s great,¡± he continued. ¡°But I ran into Barbara Stansen today. And here¡¯s the crazy part. She thought she was my girlfriend, and apparently, you fed her that. Why did you do that Ida?¡± Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Wore 68 Chapter 68 Aria¡¯s POV Jace¡¯s mother¡¯s eyes widened at me. Her husband¡¯s jaw practically dropped like he¡¯d seen a ghost. After a long pause, she finally stammered, ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re¡­ ? Mia Collins?!¡± I gave a faint smile. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, hasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°No fucking way!¡± she snapped, her polite smile vanishing instantly. ¡°You¡¯re not that girl. Look at your dress your ne, your earrings Aria could never afford all that. A was just a ¡± ¡°A dull, stupid small¨Ctown girl! her husband finished for her. I smiled coldly. ¡°Well, funny thing about fate. One day you¡¯re broke, the next, you¡¯re filthy rich.¡± ¡°But not Aria! That girl¡¯s fate was sealed the day she was born!¡± Mr. Carter scoffed. ¡°Jace changed his fate. Why can¡¯t I?¡± I shrugged. ¡°I mean, just look at him now¨Chosting a birthday party in a centuries¨Cold mansion. Who would¡¯ve guessed the 3 of you used to cram into an apartment the size of a shoebox?¡± Their faces flushed with embarrassment. Just like Jace, they absolutely hated when people brought up their poor past. ¡°It¡¯s her! That obnoxious little tramp Arial¡± Mr. Carter growled, ring at me. His wife stared at my jewelry like a starving woman eyeing a buffet¨Cpart emy, part hatred. ¡°How the hell can you afford all those? Did you steal it ¡°Watch your tone,¡± Nova snapped beside me. ¡°The designers had to line up just to get Aria to wear their newest collections. It¡¯s a privilege for them.¡± ¡°Bullshit,¡± Mrs. Carter spat. ¡°I¡¯m sure you didn¡¯t get all this money the clean way. Who do you have to fuck to get the money? I knew you were a little tramp when you were with my son. I knew it ¡°And Jace¡¯s money came from some noble, respectable source?¡± I sneered, ¡°He sold himself to a woman. Kissed her ass, pleased her every whim, didn¡¯t dare talk back. And what does that make him? A male whore I guess?¡± ¡°FUCK YOU!¡± Mrs. Carter lunged at me, raising a hand to p me. But I caught her chubby wrist mid¨Cair and shoved her back Her husband rushed to catch her and shouted to the nearby guards, ¡°Security! Security! Get her out of here!¡± The guards rushed at us, but Nora shot them a cold re. ¡°Take a good look at the person standing before you. This is Ms. Aria Collins! You dare throw her out?!¡± The guards clearly recognized me. They became hesitant. I like a crow. ¡°I¡¯m the hostess of this party! I¡¯m Lady Delh¡¯s mother¨Cinw Just do as I say!¡± ¡°Do it!¡± Mrs. Carter screeched, her voice shrill! The guards looked between us again.. then wisely stepped back. ¡°Ms. Collins, you sure you don¡¯t need any assistance?¡± one of them asked politely. I smiled. ¡°No, we¡¯re fine. Thank you,¡± The guards nodded and retreated to the back. Chapter 68 The Carters looked ready to explode. ¡°Why are they listening to you?¡± she hissed. ¡°Like I said,¡± I replied with a mocking smile. ¡°I¡¯m not the same Aria Collins you used to know. So I suggest you show some respect.¡± She narrowed her eyes at me, clearly confused and suspicious. ¡°Wait a second. Why are you even here today? You¡¯re trying to get Jace toe back to you, aren¡¯t you! You¡¯re still hung up on him!¡± Talmost burst outughing. ¡°God, just rx. Only you think your son is some kind of prize. He¡¯s nothing to me.¡± With that, I lifted my dress and turned to leave But then Mrs. Carter grabbed my arm. She gripped so hard that her chunky gold ring dug into my skin. ¡°You filthy little bitch, she hissed, her voice low and venomous. ¡°You think just because you can afford a pretty dress and that makes you so awesome? Well let me tell you¨Cyou are still no shitl Jace is Lady Delh¡¯s husband, and he practically owes half of the Red Stone Pack now! So let me teach you a fucking lesson today.¡± She suddenly raised her voice and shouted for the whole room to hear: ¡°THIEFII CAUGHT A THIEFI¡± What? My eyes widened in shock. Her shrieking turned every head in the room, Guests all stopped talking and turned around to look Mrs. Carter yanked me forward by the arm and yelled again, ¡°My diamond ne is gonel This woman stole it!¡± is shekidding me right now I iyanked my arm back. ¡°Fucking ridiculous! I didn¡¯t take your damn ne.¡± She smirked, bringing her fingers to her thick neck. That¡¯s when I realized¨Cat some point, the tacky diamond ne, that had been resting on her chest really had disappeared. was still wearing it when I started talking to you. And now it¡¯s gone. If it¡¯s not you, then who else?¡± she barked. Her husband chimed in with a smug scoff. That ne was a gift from Jace. It¡¯s worth half a million! Something you couldn¡¯t afford in ten lifetimes!¡± ¡°Half a million?¡± Nova said sharply. ¡°Aria wouldn¡¯t even bother stealing that cheap crap¡± Mrs. Carter scoffed. ¡°You said half a million is cheap? But I¡¯m sure everyone here saw the news about her. She used to shop at dor stores. She has no money, no self¨Cesteem! Trash like her is born to steal¡± A few murmurs and stifledughs rippled through the crowd. Clearly, even though that show had been pulled down, my info had already made its rounds ¡°Somebody call the cops now! Mrs. Carter barked again. ¡°This filthy thief should be arrested and chargedi The guards hesitated on their spots. ¡°With all due respect, Mrs. Carter,¡± one said carefully, We really don¡¯t believe Ms. Collins would steal from you ¡°How would you know? I knew she took it she cut him off. And then she bent down, reached under my dress, and yanked something out. ¡°Look! My ne! found in her dress! She did steal¡± she screamed triumphantly, The room fell dead silent. Then came a chorus of shocked gasps. My heart skipped a heal. was that ne. But how the hell did it end up in my And then it hit me. She¡¯d shoved me earlier. She must¡¯ve slipped it in during that moment, just to frame me God, this woman was every bit as rotters as her son. ¡°Well?¡± she hissed at the guards. ¡°What are you waiting for? That¡¯s solid proof. Arrest her¡± ¡°Half a million dor theft,¡± Mr. Carter added mockingly. ¡°And she was stealing from the Lady Delh¡¯s mother inw. That crime is enough to lock her up for ten years.¡± The guards all looked at me, reluctant. Nova cursed and pulled out her phone. ¡°This is absolute bullshit. I¡¯m calling- But I raised a hand to stop her. No need for the big guy to deal with these clowns, I could take care of this myself ¡°You want me in prison?¡± I stepped toward Mrs. Carter, locking eyes wi with her. Her lips curled in a nasty smirk. ¡°Only there can you learn to respect the people above you.¡± I let out a coldugh and snatched the ne from her hand, holding it up to the light ¡°Well, too bad that n¡¯s not gonna work. Because this ne I said loud and clear to the crowd, ¡°is fake.¡± ¡°WHARE¡± The room exploded in gasps again. I smiled. ¡°To be precise¨Cit¡¯s ss. Probably worth less than ten bucks.¡± I¡¯d had a hunch earlier just looking at her jewelry. Now up close, it was obvious. Those were definitely not diamonds. ¡°Bullshit!¡± Mrs. Carter screamed, her face turning red. ¡°It¡¯s designer design. Very fucking precious! Jace told me exactly how much it cost!¡± ¡°You¡¯re just saying that to get away with the crime? Mr. Carter growled. ughed icily. These idiots. Just then, rapid footsteps approached. Two people shoved through the crowd. ¡°Mom? Dad? What¡¯s going on?¡± Jace asked, breathless Delh followed right behind him. The moment she spotted me, her face twisted with anger. ¡°Aria Collins! What are you doing here?!¡± Chapter 63 Perfect. Now everyone who needed to be here was here. ¡°Hey Jace,¡± I gave him a mocking smile. ¡°Wanna exin to everyone why you bought your mother! ? Wore 69 Chapter 69 Ara¡¯s POV For a second, the room fell into a total silence. Then, whispers and murmurs broke from everyer, with guests eyring Jace suspiciously. Jace¡¯s face turned red with rape. ¡°You¡¯re so full of shit, All That ne is real, damit I spent almost a million on it What does a smattor girl like you know about jewelry anyway?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Delh chimed in, standing next to her husband, ring at me. ¡°People like us don¡¯t wear fakes you idiot. We have all the money in the world! You are just trying to make Jace look bad in hont of everyone. I¡¯ll have you thrown out of this party right now!¡± She waved at the guards. But gave! her a cold smile. ¡°Not so fast, Delh. I came here with an invitation. You can¡¯t kick me out. And if you¡¯re so confident that ne is real, why don¡¯t we get it tested?¡± I caught a flicker of panic in Jace¡¯s eyes. Delh frowned. ¡°Tested? You mean send it to a gemologicalb? There¡¯s no need for that. I already told you it¡¯s real.¡± ¡°What, are you scared?¡± I taunted. ¡°Scared it¡¯ll turn out to be fake? Scared your family will be a joke in front of everyone?¡± Just as I predicted, she exploded. ¡°Scared? Are you fucking kidding me? I¡¯m Delh Hart. I don¡¯t even know what fear means ¡°Then why not test it? ¡°Fina! Let¡¯s fucking test it!¡± she snapped. ¡°Let¡¯s show everyone who the real joke is. You¡¯ll regret this, Aria Collins!¡± Exactly the result I wanted. But Jace didn¡¯t look so thrilled. He leaned toward her and whispered anxiously, ¡°¡­There¡¯s no need for that kind of mess, babe. Let¡¯s just kick her out.¡± ¡°No!¡± she cut him off sharply. ¡°I won¡¯t let her smear your name like this. I¡¯m sick of everyone painting her as some poor little victim and make you the bad guy. Tonight, we show people who the real liar is!¡°. Yet Jace¡¯s face turned pale. He forced a smile. ¡°Seriously babe, I don¡¯t care what anyone thinks. It¡¯s my birthday, I don¡¯t want the entire night to be about her- ¡°Oh don¡¯t worry,¡± she patted his hand sweetly. ¡°It¡¯ll be over in a minute. I didn¡¯t know what to get you as a gift, but this is actually perfect! Didn¡¯t you always say she was a maniptive little witch? Let¡¯s prove it. Publicly.¡± ¡°Yeah! Listen to your wife, son¡± Mrs. Carter barked. Ever since Delh showed up, she had gotten bolder, like Delh empowered her or something. ¡°You basically own half of Red Stone Pack, son You¡¯re practically the Alpha! Don¡¯t let that bitch walk all over you!¡± ¡°Yeah! Teach hor a lesson Mr. Carter cheered, pupping his fists up in the air. But Jace didn¡¯t look happy. ¡°Enough! Stop stirring shit, Mom, Dad,¡± he hissed under his breath. I gave him hall smile. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Jaco? I thought this is your golden chance to humiliate me. Or are you nning to go easy on me now?¡± He red at me, his jaw clenched. ¡°Bullshit! Anyone with a functional brain can tell who¡¯s lying here. I just¡­I just don¡¯t want to waste any of my time on you! The best will take forever, and I¡¯ve got better things to do on my birthday ¡°Actually, there¡¯s no need to wait,¡± a woman¡¯s voice rang out from the crowd. A beautiful and graceful womals in an elegant gown stepped forward. She gave us all smile. ¡°I¡¯d be happy to examine the ne night has have the results immediately.¡± She looked oddly familiar. I probably had seen her on a magazine cover Delh¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. She grabbed Jace¡¯s arms, beaming ¡°Oh, Jacel Meat Lady Sabrina. She¡¯s a world renowned jewelry designer. She designed many of my favorite pieces. We can totally trust her to test that ne? Jace said nothing. His face was stone cold. But I noticed a thinyer of sweat on his forehead. Lady Sabrina walked up to me and offered a small smile. ¡°Miss Collins, may I borrow the ne for just a moment?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Thanded it to her. ¡°Be careful with that!¡± Mrs. Carter shrieked by the side. ¡°That ne is worth nearly a million! And it was a gift from my son. Don¡¯t you dare drop it.¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Jace growled, clearly mortified. Sabrina¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°No need to remind me, Mrs. Carter. I¡¯ve handled pieces far more valuable than this. I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± She delicatelyid the ne across a silk scarf, then examined it under the light, turning it at different angles to catch the fire and color. Everyone craned their necks to see. No one dared speak. The tension had reached its peak. After 10 long minutes, she finally set the ne down and locked up at the crowd. ¡°It¡¯s fake,¡± she announced calmly. I smiled as the room went dead silent Two secondster, the crowd erupted. Gasps,ughter, gossip it all exploded at once. Jace stood frozen on his spot, fists clenched at his sides. His parents and Delh were all shocked with their mouths dropped open. ¡°Are¡­ are you sure?¡± Delh stammered after a long p pause ¡°it can¡¯t be fake. It just..just can¡¯t be-¡® ¡°I¡¯m one hundred percent sure,¡± Lady Sabrina said without hesitation. ¡°Honestly, I didn¡¯t even need 10 minutes. The imitation is that obvious. This thing is not even a synthetic diamond. It¡¯s just ss. Which means.. it¡¯s worthless. Very sharp eyes, Miss Collim¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± I replied politely IMPOSSIBLE!!¡± Mrs. Carter suddenly screamed. Her voice cut through the noise like a chainsaw. My ears actually hurt. She was now red faced, her nostrils ring as she red at Sabrina. ¡°You stupid woman What do you even know about jewelry 71 That thing is clearly real! Look how big it ist Look how it shines! You think fake diamonds can sparkle like that?!¡± Lady Sabrina¡¯s expression turned frosty. ¡°Size and shine don¡¯t matter in this case. And stop calling me an idiot right now.¡± ¡°Oh please. you are a fucking idiot! You¡¯re probably working with that bitch!¡± Mrs. Carter screeched. ¡°Delh! Hey, Delh! Are you seriously just going to stand there? Throw both of them out already!¡± Sabrina raised a perfectly arched brow. ¡°Lady Delh, is that really your future mother¨Cinw? I can hardly believe this.¡± Theughter got louder. Now everyone was snickering and whispering behind their hands. Delh stood stiffly, her face frozen like a cracked porcin mask. Jace multeted in anger, ¡°Shut up, Mom. Just shut pr But she kept ranting. ¡°Shut up? Why should I shut up?! These people are treating your family like shit, and you just let them you should be punishing them! Show them the power you got as Lady Delh¡¯s husband,¡± ¡°Jace?¡± Delish finally gritted through clenched teeth. ¡°I think your parents need some air. Can you escort them out?¡± ¡°Wait a second¡­you are throwing us out?¡± M talk some sense into your woman.¡± ¡°Dad!¡± Jaco roared. I¡¯d never seen Mr. Carter blurted. ¡°We¡¯re your husband¡¯s parents. You should be obedient to your husband¨Cand to us Son Delh look like that. It was like someone had pped her right in the face and she couldn¡¯t even p back. Absolutely precious Mrs. Carter still hadn¡¯t realized how much trouble she was in, She straightened her back and said proudly to the crowd: ¡°My son can throw you all out if he wants! He¡¯s practically the Alpha of Red Stone Pack! You all better start showing us some goddamn respect!¡± No one responded to that kind of bullshit. Instead, they all turned their heads toward the door A steady, measured set of footsteps echoed through the room. Then came a voice as cold as ice: ¡°No. Your son is no shit.¡± A tall man appeared in the doorway. He wore a sleek ck tuxedo that showed off every inch of his powerful body¨Cbroad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs. The chandelier overhead traced the sharp lines of his face in gold. He looked literally godlike. Grayson stepped into the hall, his eyes locked on me. And as he walked forward, every guest bowed to him in unison. Except for Jace¡¯s parents. They just stood there, ¡°What stiff and stupid like two overstuffed turkeys. t do you mean he¡¯s no shit?!¡± Mrs. Carter screeched. ¡°Who the hell are you?!¡± ed one arm around my waist and shot her a cold, cutting look. Grayson wrapped ¡°I¡¯m the one who owns the entire Red Stone Pack,¡± he said. ? Wore 70 Chapter 70 Mr. and Mrs. Carter were frozen, staring at Grayson like a pair of thinned cows. And the stupid man actually muttered under his breath, I don¡¯t care who you are, you¡¯re still not better than my son ¡°Dad¡± Jace snapped, clearly losing it. ¡°That¡¯s Alpha Grayson. THE Grayson Hart!¡± The two of them gasped like they just realized what¡¯s happening. ¡°You¨Cyou¡¯re Delh¡¯s brother, Ms. Carter squeaked, her face flipping into a bootlicking smile. ¡°Welltheit, I guess that makes us family¡± She wiped her hand on her dress, then awkwardly held it out to Grayson, Lalmostughed. Did she seriously think he¡¯d shake hands with her? Grayson didn¡¯t even nce at her hand. His voice was cold as he looked down at her. ¡°I don¡¯t remember ever giving Jace Carter half my pack¡° ¡°Well¡­ you know,¡± she said with a smug smile, ¡°because they¡¯re married now. Your sister and my son. Legally speaking, that means he owns half your family¡¯s fortune. My son¡¯s basically a millionaire now Grayson¡¯s lips curved into a mocking smile. ¡°Did your son forget to mention he signed a prenup?¡± ¡°What?¡± they both gasped at the same time. *P¨CF¨CPrenup? That¡¯s impossible! My son would never sign a damn prenup!¡± Mr. Carter roared. ¡°Tell him, Jace. Tell him you didn¡¯t sign anything, ¡®cause that¡¯s a vition of your fucking rights!¡± Jace clenched his fists, his face twisted in humiliation. ¡°I didn¡¯t have a choice dad¡­ He made me!¡± ¡°Oh my god¡­ I can¡¯t believe this,¡± his mother muttered, looking like the world was ending. ¡°So Hart family money isn¡¯t ours? Then¡­ then what¡¯s even the point of this marriage?!¡± Delh whipped her head toward her in disbelief, ¡°What did you just say? Are you marrying me, or my money?¡± ¡°Shut up, Mom!¡± Jace yelled. And he hurried to grab Delh¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her, baby. I married you because I love you. It¡¯s got nothing to do with the money. I let out a very loud snort. That¡¯s just the biggest Be I¡¯d ever heard. Delh, I don¡¯t understand why you let them into the party.
  1. y. These people don¡¯t belong here.¡± Grayson said freezingly
¡°What do you mean they don¡¯t belong here? They¡¯re my parents!¡± Jace yelled. Delh nced at her brother. Her face flickered between anger and fear. ¡°This is Jace¡¯s party. I¡¯m d you came, Grayson, but we¡¯re the ones who decide who gets to stay.¡± Grayson scoffed. ¡°If you¡¯re okay with th humiluiting you like that, then by all means.¡± He offered me his arm. I took it with a smile and we walked forward together like the real hosts of the party. Guests instinctively followed us, like we were the ones this whole event was actually about Not Delh and her ridiculous mess of a family. The band started ying again like nothing had happened. But the tension in in the air? Still there. Heavy. Electric. Grayson and I stood by the bar sipping champagne. A group of guests looked like they wanted toe say hi to their Alpha, but body gi barrier around us. No one could get close. ¡°So¡­¡°I asked, ncing at him. ¡°Did you bring Jace¡¯s birthday gi He smirked. ¡°Of course. He¡¯s going to love it.¡± I gave him a look. He still wasn¡¯t spilling the secret. Fine, I could wait for the big file. ¡°you¡¯ve met his parent,¡± he said, more of a statement than question. Ishrugged. ¡°Yeah, They hate me. Think I don¡¯t deserve their precious son. His mother literallypared me to a gum stuck to the bottom of your shot? Grayson leaned down and kissed the top of thy head. ¡°They aren¡¯tpletely wrong. Because you deserve someone much better.¡± I smiled, then nced across the room, Delh was standing with Jace in the corner, and they seemed to be in the middle of a heated argument ¡°Can you excuse me cuse me for a second?¡± Lasked, He nodded and let me go. ¡°Go talk to her. She owes you an exnation¡± I smoothed my princess. dress and walked toward them, 3 bodyguards trailing behind me. The crowd parted around me as I came through, like was a real They were still fighting when I got close. So I caught the end of their conversation. ¡°Seriously, Jace? Ake diamond? This is the most humiliating thing I¡¯ve ever been through in my entire life! I might as well just lock myself in the attic and never social¡¯s again!¡± Delh cried, covering her face in frustration. ¡°Fuck, that jeweler scammed me, okay?¡± Jace growled. ¡°How was I supposed to know it was fake? it¡¯s not that big a deal anyway. You still look stunning and you¡¯re the star of the night.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s not just the ne. Your parents¡­especially your mom! The things she said, the way she acted¡­it¡¯s so damn awkward.. ¡°What, you¡¯re ming my my parents now? MY PARENTS?¡± Jace snapped. ¡°I thought you wanted to meet them! They traveled all this way to see you and you¡¯re not even gratefull¡± Delh¡¯s fists clenched. ¡°Did theye to see me, or to sniff out my money?¡± ¡°Oh my god, my mom just misspoke! Can you let it go already? What do you want her to apologise or something?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t about apologizing, Jace. From the moment they arrived, they¡¯ve been telling everyone they own half of Red Stone Pack, that I should treat them like royalty¡­I just feel ufortable, okay?¡± He scoffed. ¡°But they¡¯re not wrong. If I was the richer one, and we got married, I¡¯d give you half of what I own too. It¡¯s our right. Your damn brother¡¯s the one who stripped us of that and tried to turn us against each other. This is all his fault.¡± Delh hesitated. ¡°But-¡± ¡°Babe, I just need you to be a little more patient with my parents. Sure, they¡¯re different, but they¡¯re still family. Trust me, they¡¯re way better than your screwed¨Cup family¡± I¡¯d heard enough. I stepped closer. Jace spun around the second he heard footsteps and scowled when he saw me, ¡°What the hell are you doing here?!¡± ¡°I need to talk to Delh.¡± I said coldly. ¡°My wife has nothing to say to you. Fuck of Excuse mel But i think it decide whether I have something to say or not, Deh cut him off, her voice sharp. ¡°And I think you. Jach He seethed, red at me onest time, and stormed off. I turned to Delh. ¡°Now you see why he didn¡¯t want you to meet his parents? Everything he told you about himself, about his family make you fall for him ¡°Shut up! Jace said you were the she snapped. ¡°You still can¡¯t tell who¡¯s lying?¡± I said coldly: ¡°Wow, You really are stuplit.¡± ¡°How dare you¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m done trying to pull you out of that shithole. You probably deserve it.¡± I stepped closer, staring her down. ¡°And it was you, won¡¯t it? The one who dragged my grandmother out of the hospital and stopped her from getting her meds.¡± Her face went pale. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about¡­ ¡°Oh, you know exactly what I¡¯m talking about,¡± I scoffed. ¡°I tried to be your friend, Delh. The kind of friend you¡¯ll never have in your fake little world. But you went after my family for a guy like him. I¡¯m telling you you will regret this.¡± Her chest heaved. ¡°Are you seriously threatening me now? Wow, you¡¯ve changed a lot from that poor little town.¡± ¡°I guess we all grow up sometime,¡± I said coolly. ¡°But you are wrong about something.¡± Her eyes locked on mine, fierce and unyielding. ¡°I¡¯m Delh Hart. I don¡¯t regret anything. I make sure Jace and will rule this pack one day because we fucking deserve it. Even Grayson will have to step aside for me one day.¡± Iughed at her face. ¡°In your dreams perhaps.¡± She shoulder¨Cchecked me hard as she stomped away, heading straight for the center of the hall. She snatched a mic from one of the servers ¡°Ladies and gentlemen! Wee to my husband¡¯s birthday party. I¡¯m your hostess, Delh.¡± That sugary smile returned to her face like a mask as she continued, ¡°Thank you foring from near and far. Drama aside, I know you all love me.¡± A fewughs rose from the crowd. People pped. he most exciting part first¨CPRESENTS!¡± ¡°Tonight we¡¯ll drink, dance, and have a st. But before all that let¡¯s get to the She motioned to the entrance. Four servers pushed in a massive tform piled sky¨Chigh with presents. It was so tall it nearly scraped the top of the doorframe. Holy crap. I¡¯d never seen that many gifts in one ce ever Delh reached for Jace¡¯s hand. He took it and smiled like nothing had happened. You¡¯d never guess they were just fighting minutes before. ¡°Now I want my dear husband to open his gifts. Let¡¯s see if you can guess which one is mine. Get it wrong and you¡¯ll be punished,¡± she giggled. ¡°There¡¯s no way ay I won¡¯t recognize your gift,¡± he said sweetly. He reached for the first box. And that¡¯s when Grayson¡¯s voice rang out: -Wait. You should start with the gift from your family first.¡± 23:28 Fri, 8 Aug He took a velvet box from the guard. It looked heavy and elegant. ¡°Happy birthday.¡± Grayson held the box out to Jace. His grey eyes glimmered cold like a de. The room fell silent. Everyone was watching, holding their breaths. Even I stood on my toes, trying to peek. What was in the box? Judging by the shape¡­ maybe a piece of art? A designer item? Jace swallowed hard. He looked nervous. But with everyone staring, he couldn¡¯t refuse Grayson. me,¡± he said with a forced Laugh. He undid the ribbon and opened the box ¡°Well, let¡¯s see what my brother¨Cinw got m And then, he froze. Panic gripped his face. Suddenly, he let out a furious yell and flung the box away. Something tumbled out t and rolled to Delh¡¯s feet¡­ I took one look and felt my stomach drop. You won¡¯t believe what it was. It¡¯s a fucking human head! Wore 71 Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Aria¡¯s POV There was a brief silence- Then someone screamed. Delh stumbled back in panic and copsed to the ground. She clutched her chest before vomiting all over the floor. ¡°Throwing up at the sight of a little blood. And you thought you could lead a pack,¡± Grayson said coldly. He walked over to me, took my hand, and checked my face. ¡°Are you alright?¡± I nodded, still trembling from the shock. ¡°Yeah¡­ yeah, I¡¯m fine.¡± That was one hell of a surprise gift. ¡°W¨CWhat the fuck!¡± Jace stammered, his voice shaking. He looked like he might throw up too. ¡°Are you out of your mind?! Why would you give me a¡­a fucking head? Who the hell is this guy anyway?!¡± ¡°Take a closer look,¡± Grayson said. ¡°You might recognize him.¡± Jace clenched his jaw and snuck a nce at the severed head on the floor- Then froze. ¡°No¡­ no, that¡¯s not possible¡­¡± His voice cracked in horror. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ Beta Harold?¡± The crowd erupted in murmurs. Delh peeked over and screamed as well, ¡°It is! That¡¯s really him! Oh my god, you¡¯re crazy. You killed your own Beta!¡± She scrambled to her feet and shouted to the people around her, ¡°Did you see what¡¯s going on here? My brother¡¯s lost his goddamn mind! He killed his own Beta and brought his head here as a gift. Who does that?! How can a lunatic like him lead this pack?¡± The crowd stirred ufortably. I instinctively looked at Grayson, nervous. When he gave the order to take Harold away that day, I thought the worst he¡¯d do was throw him in a cell or maybe assign him extra patrol shifts. I didn¡¯t think¡­ he¡¯d actually kill Harold. Because a Beta is like the soul of a pack. Right below the Alpha in importance. They¡¯re chosen by the Alpha and meant to work side by side, like brothers. You¡¯re supposed to respect your Beta. You definitely don¡¯t kill him without a damn good reason. What was Grayson thinking? ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Jace jumped in, clearly catching on. ¡°Alpha Grayson is unfit to lead. Actually, we should overthrow him right here, right now! Who¡¯s with me?¡± 1/4 Chapter 71 He threw his fist in the air, trying to rally the crowd into a revolt. Mr. and Mrs. Carter quickly responded. They pped, jumping up and down, acting like their son had already taken over the pack. But awkwardly¡­ no one else moved. Everyone stood still, tense and uneasy, all eyes on Grayson. Suddenly, Graysonughed. A low, icyugh that sent chills down my spine. ¡°Funny. You actually think you can climb above me?¡± he said with a dangerous smile. ¡°W¨CWhy not? You¡¯re a tyrant! We¡¯re doing this for the pack and the members,¡± Jace growled. ¡°You want to know why Harold had to die?¡± Grayson asked. His steel¨Cgray eyes locked on Jace as he stepped forward. Jace tried to stand his ground but ended up stumbling backward under the pressure of Grayson¡¯s Alpha aura. ¡°Because he was disloyal,¡± Grayson said in a voice like a de. ¡°He started taking orders from people other than me. He broke the most sacred rule of being a Beta.¡± Jace had now backed behind Delh, using her like a human shield. I rolled my eyes. Puss. ¡°You gave Harold orders and had him break into the hospital,¡± Grayson continued, ¡°kidnap Aria¡¯s grandmother, cut off her meds, and keep her from seeing a doctor. Harold knew I would disapprove and yet he still followed your orders. And kept me in the dark. That betrayal cost him his life.¡± He red down at the terrified couple. ¡°Disloyalty has consequences.¡± Delh was pale as a ghost, standing protectively in front of Jace. ¡°So this is about that tramp Aria again, isn¡¯t it?¡± she spat. ¡°You are just seeking revenge for your whore. You killed your own Beta for her. Everyone, are you really okay with this madness?¡± She looked around desperately, searching for someone¨Canyone¨Cto agree with her. But the crowd just frowned back. Then the jewelry designer Lady Sabrina raised her voice: ¡°With all due respect, Lady Delh, but this clearly isn¡¯t just about Miss Collins. The issue is that Beta Harold acted behind Alpha Grayson¡¯s back. He can no longer be trusted.¡± ¡°Behind his back?!¡± Jace¡¯s mother suddenly shouted. That woman really had the guts to speak in a pack meeting. ¡°He was following orders from Delh and my son. They¡¯re part of the Hart family too! They have rights to lead!¡± Sabrina gave her a disgusted look. ¡°Only the Alpha has the authority tomand a Beta. Your son¡¯s just some freeloading brat with zero power.¡± The crowd burst into mockingughter, People nodded in agreement. Jace¡¯s face turned bright red from humiliation. ¡°So Harold made one tiny mistake. And it deserved death? That¡¯s fucking brutall Chapter 71 ¡°You¡¯re damn right I¡¯m brutal,¡± Grayson said Icily. ¡°That means I don¡¯t show mercy to anyone. Not even my own family. His eyes moved slowly between Delh and Jace. ¡°So I¡¯ll ask you one question. Who gave Harold the orders to act behind my back?¡± he demanded. They froze. Delh clenched her skirt so hard her long manicured nails looked like they might snap. ¡°What difference does it make? We¡¯re mar We¡¯re in this together.¡± she snapped. gets a harsher punishment,¡± Grayson said, staring straight into his sister¡¯s eyes. ¡°So, was it you? ¡°It makes all the difference. The mastermin Delh hesitated. That¡¯s when I noticed Jace quietly tugging on her elbow, his face pale and nervous. ¡°Yes, it was me! So what?!¡± Delh suddenly spanned. ¡°I¡¯m your sister. What are you gonna do? Exile me? Kill me? Go ahead, Grayson! That would make you a devil in the world¡¯s eyes Grayson tilted his head, studying her panicked face. ¡°You¡¯re right. Your bloodline saved your life. So no, I won¡¯t kill you.¡± he said calmly. ¡°But I will strip you of your inheritance and your title.¡± What??? I gasped. And so did everyone else around me. Delh Hart¡­ stripped of her title? But she was one of the most famous socialites in the world. From the day she was born, she lived with the finest clothes, jewelry, and luxury. Her beauty, her power, her reputation¨Cit was all because she was the Hart family heiress. And now¡­ Grayson was taking it all away? To Delh, that might be worse than death. ¡°What?! No¡­ NO!!¡± She screamed. Her whole body trembled as she cried: ¡°You can¡¯t do that. You don¡¯t have the right! I was born with that title! You can¡¯t just take it from me!¡± ¡°Oh, but I can.¡± Grayson pulled a paper from inside his jacket and held it up for her to see. ¡°This is a formal order to revoke your privileges. Lawyers had reviewed it. The entire Elder Council signed it. just have to say one word¨Cand it bes official.¡± ¡°No¡­ no¡­¡± Delh sobbed, shaking her head like a broken doll. ¡°And you know what that means,¡± Grayson said, his voice cold and merciless. ¡°Tomorrow, you move out of the Hart Estate. You take nothing. No jewelry, no designer clothes, no credit cards. Everything will be frozen. You¡¯ll have to get a job, rent your own ce, buy your own clothes, shop for discount goods.¡± He paused, then let out a cold chuckle. *Though I wonder what kind of job you could get. Seeing as the only thing you¡¯ve ever learned over the years is host to spend money. Delh looked like she was about to faint in fear. ¡°Stop it, Grayson, pleate¡­ this can¡¯t be real¡­ * I¡¯ll ask onest time. Were you the one who ordered Harold?¡± he asked, She trembled all over. And then broke down, NO! It wasn¡¯t me! It was¡­It was Jace!!¡± she screamed. ¡°Delh!¡± Jace shouted in outrage. But that didn¡¯t stop her. ¡°It was him. It was all his ideal He made me go after Aria¡¯s grandmother to get back at her. I didn¡¯t even want to¨Cbut he forced me! And even before that, he was the one who framed Aria at work, said she lost the client and got her fired. Because he didn¡¯t want his ex¨Cgirlfriend working with him in the samepany. The truth is¨CAria did nothing wrong. She was actually one of the best employees¡­ She burst into tears, crumbling to the ground with her face in her hands. ¡°I can¡¯t lose my title and my money¡­ please don¡¯t take it from me, Grayson¡­¡± she sobbed. I clenched my fists, my body trembling slightly. Finally. After the darkest year of my life, after losing everything, after being called a slut again and again- They finally told the truth. God knows how long I¡¯ve waited for this moment. ¡°So, it¡¯s Jace Carter.¡± Grayson¡¯s voice was low and dark, like the stillness before a storm. He fixed his gaze upon Jace. Jace looked like he was about to faint. Delh cried out in a panic, ¡°But he¡¯s still my husband. And he¡¯s not a bad person. He hasn¡¯t hurt too many people, besides Aria. Please don¡¯t hurt-¡± ¡°Jace Carter shall be chopped off his wolf ws and expelled from this pack to be a street wolf.¡± AD Wore 72 Chapter 72 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°No¡­ no, no!¡± Delh stared at Grayson in horror. Her voice broke as she cried out, ¡°You can¡¯t do this to him. He¨Che¡¯s my husband¡­How can you exile him?! What about our marriage? What about me?¡± ¡°You still want to be his wife after all these?¡± Grayson said coldly. ¡°Honestly, I should¡¯ve never agreed to let you marry him in the first ce. Jace dropped to the ground with a thud, his face pale as a ghost, He mumbled, ¡°A¡­ street wolf? That¡¯s basically a homeless stray¡­I¨CI¡¯ll have no ID, no official job, I¡¯ll be digging through trash just to eat¡­ Everything I¡¯ve worked for, everything I¡¯ve built¡­it¡¯ll be all gone!¡± A loud, gut¨Cwrenching cry broke out from the crowd. Mrs. Carter threw herself onto her son. She grabbed his shoulders and shook him violently. ¡°No! No, tell them they are fucking insane! My precious son can¡¯t be a street wolf. You¡¯re supposed to inherit all of Apex and Red Stone Pack! You can¡¯t let these people do this to you!¡± she screamed. Mr. Carter rushed in front of them and spat at Grayson. ¡°Fuck you! My son is highly respected by all the members here. If you dare expel him, he can order the soldiers to arrest you!¡± It was so absurd that I actuallyughed. ¡°Go ahead, then,¡± I mocked. ¡°Give your order to the soldiers. Let¡¯s see who actually listens to you.¡± Mr. Carter really turned to face the guards and shouted, ¡°Protect my son! And throw Grayson Hart from this building right now!¡± Not a single soldier moved. They just stared back at him like he was a pathetic clown. ¡°Arrest this man,¡± Grayson ordered. That¡¯s when the soldiers stepped in. They surged forward, twisted Mr. Carter¡¯s arms behind his back, and shackled him without hesitation. ¡°No! Stop! Not my husband too!¡± Jace¡¯s mother shrieked in despair, but no one gave a damn about her opinion. Then she spun toward Delh and shrieked, ¡°YOU! Fucking do something! Are you just going to stand there and let them treat your husband and his family like this?!¡± Delh¡¯s lips trembled. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t know what to do. My brother already signed the order. No one can defy it¡­¡± ¡°Bullshit! You just don¡¯t want to save him. You never loved Jace, you cold bitch!¡± SLAP! She actually pped Delh across the face! Chapter 72 Gasps echoed through the hall. Delh covered her face, letting out a furious scream. ¡°You old hagl How dare you hit me?! ¡°Why the hell not?¡± Mrs. Carter panted. ¡°Jace¡¯s your husband. I¡¯m your mother¨Cinw. I can discipline you however I want. And I swear to Moon Goddess, I¡¯ll rip your pretty little face off if you don¡¯t help my son!¡± This was gettingpletely out of control. I even saw a few guests pull out their phones to start recording. ¡°Guards, get all three of them out of here,¡± I snapped. ¡°And please everyone, put your phone down.¡± The soldiers quickly shackled the entire Carter family and began dragging them toward the doors. Jace looked like he was already traumatized. He didn¡¯t even resist. His parents, on the other hand, hurled curses at Grayson the whole time until the soldiers finally gagged them. Delh still had the red imprint of that p on her cheek. She pulled herself up, humiliated, and ran out the doors in tears. The room finally fell into silence. But the guests were all standing on their spots awkwardly, unsure of what to do. They¡¯d alle here for Jace¡¯s birthday celebration. And now the guest of honor had been tossed into prison. ¡°I apologize that you all had to witness this family disgrace,¡± Grayson said, his deep voice echoing across the hall. There were murmurs of understanding. ¡°This pack has faced quite a bit of turmoiltely,¡± he continued. ¡°But I promise you. There will be no more chaos. I¡¯vee back as your Alpha, and I will ensure Red Stone Pack¡¯s power and peace it always has.¡± Wolf howls rose from all directions. Loud, unified, echoing. Members of the pack threw back their heads and howled in salute. One by one, the guests bowed low, showing respect to their Alpha. It was¡­ overwhelming to witness. I stood beside Grayson, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. ¡°There¡¯s still plenty of food and drink,¡± Grayson said. ¡°Please, enjoy the party. Don¡¯t let this grand asion go to waste.¡± And the music finally started up again. The guests visibly rxed and slowly returned to their conversations. Though I knew tonight¡¯s gossip would all be about Delh and her disgraceful husband and his family. ¡°Where did she go?¡± I whispered. ¡°She won¡¯t have gone far,¡± Grayson said coolly. ¡°Give her some space. Maybe she¡¯ll finally realize on how stupid she¡¯s beentely.¡± He looked down at me and caught my chin in one hand. His thumb brushing gently over my lips. I could feel the possessiveness in his touch. Like a dominant male ready to im its female. 10:36. Sun: 10 Aug Chapter 72 ¡°So. Now the truth is out. You know I wasn¡¯t the one who hurt your grandmother and your friend,¡± he said, voice low and gravelly ¡°Yeah,¡± I said quietly. *Then we can go back to how it used and your full heart.¡± I stayed quiet. to
  1. be. Back to the start of our contract. No more distance, no more coldness. I want all of you. Your body
¡°Aria?¡± he demanded, his tone turning sharper. I took a shaky breath. ¡°Getting rid of Delh and Jace doesn¡¯t fix what¡¯s broken between us¡­Things can¡¯t go back to the way they were.¡± Because those things really did happen. He had pointed a gun at May and my grandmother. He had taken my virginity against my will. He had made me realize that there¡¯d be no future between us and I¡¯d forever be a ything to him. If anything, everything that¡¯s happenedtely has shown me who he really is. His dark, controlling, and possessive soul. He¡¯s not the perfect man I once thought. So no¡­ we can¡¯t never go back. Grayson¡¯s grip on my jaw tightened abruptly, anger shing in his eyes. ¡°Do you always have to make everything so hard, Aria?¡± he growled. ¡°You could make it easy. Let me go. And everything else would fall into ce¡­¡± He didn¡¯t let me finish. He leaned in and crushed his lips to mine in a rough, dominating kiss. ¡°Never,¡± he growled when he pulled away. ¡°Like I said. The terms of our contract? They¡¯re forever.¡± Third Person POV In the deepest cell of Red Stone Pack¡¯s underground prison, Jace and his parents were huddled together. They¡¯d worked so hard to be upper¨Css people. And yet everything was ruined now. Mr. Carter¡¯s suit was torn, Mrs. Carter¡¯s hair was a tangled mess, and she¡¯d lost one of her shoes. ¡°Oh god¡­ oh god¡­ what should we do now?¡± Mrs. Carter wailed, her voice growing hoarse from crying for the past hour. ¡°Jace, how could you end up a street wolf? I already told everyone back home you were going to be Red Stone¡¯s future Alpha! What will they think of us now?¡± Jace sat in a corner alone. 3/5 Chapter 72 His arms wrapped around his head, silent. ¡°Say something, son!¡± she sobbed, pounding the floor with her fists. ¡°Tell us you have a n! You always have a way out¡­You can¡¯t let that bitch and her brother ruin us like this!¡± ¡°ENOUGH!¡± Jace suddenly roared. ¡°Will you just shut the fuck up?! Fuck¡­this¨Cthis is all your fault! If you hadn¡¯te here and embarrass me in front of everyone, none of this would¡¯ve happened!¡± ¡°Our fault?¡± his mother shrieked in shock. ¡°You gave me that stupid ne! You knew it was fake, didn¡¯t you?! That¡¯s how little you care about your poor mother¨Cand now you¡¯re ming me now?¡± Mr. Carter exploded as well. ¡°Listen to your mom! We paid for your damn school. We funded your entire life in the city so you could finally achieve something. We should be enjoying a fancy spa at a 5¨Cstar hotel at the moment, and look us now! We are looked in a goddamn dungeon! And you dare to me us?!¡± Jace raised his head slowly, his eyes bloodshot. He looked frantic. ¡°I said¨CSHUT UP!¡± His crazy roar echoed in the cell. ¡°You two fucking bastards. I¡¯m so fucking sick of you! You and that shithole you called home is nothing but a stain on my future! Do you know how much it¡¯s cost me to escape my past and origin?!¡± His parents stared at him in stunned silence. Jace¡¯s chest heaved. ¡°From now on¡­ stay quiet. Don¡¯t piss me off again. Because your lives may depend on me now.¡± Right that moment, light footsteps echoed down the corridor outside their cell. Jace jumped up and rushed to the bars. He saw a slim figure appeared at the end of the hallway, running toward them. He let out a long breath of relief, shaking. ¡°Thank god¡­ baby, I knew you¡¯de for me.¡± Delh dropped to her knees in front of the cell and grabbed his hands through the bars. Tears streamed down her cheeks. ¡°How could I note? You¡¯re my husband. God, Jace, I¡¯m so sorry¡­ Everything that happened¡­it¡¯s all my fault.¡± ¡°It is your fault!¡± Jace¡¯s mother shrieked behind him. ¡°You useless bitch, you threw him under the bus back there and now he¡¯s paying the price.¡± ¡°Shut up, Mom!¡± Jace snapped, tightening his grip on Delh¡¯s hands. ¡°This isn¡¯t Delh¡¯s fault. And I love her. I¡¯d take whatever punishment just to protect her.¡± His mother cursed in anger. But Delh burst into tears again, ¡°Oh Jace, I love you too¡­ God, if there¡¯s anything I can do to save you¡­ anything at all¡­ I¡¯ll do it.¡± Jace¡¯s gaze locked onto hers. ¡°Anything?¡± ¡°Yes. Of course. You¡¯ve always been the smart one. Please tell me you have a n.¡± AIC. 10:36 Sun, 10 Aug Chapter 72 ¡°¡­I do,¡± he said quietly. 3 His eyes gleamed with something wicked in the dark. ¡°But I¡¯m not sure you¡¯ll like it.¡± Wore 73 Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Third Person POV ¡°Just tell me!¡± Delh said urgently. ¡°I told you I¡¯ll do anything to save you, babe.¡± Jace tightened his grip on her hand, locking eyes with her. ¡°The only way to save me¡­ is to kill your brother.¡± For a long moment, everything wentpletely silent. Delh¡¯s face drained of color. She suddenly jerked back, trying to snatch her hand away, but Jace held on tightly. ¡°K¨CKill my brother? Are you out of your damn mind, Jace?!¡± she whispered sharply, fear shing in her eyes. ¡°You just said you¡¯d do anything to save me. Well, this is it!¡± he said urgently. ¡°No¡­NO! This is different!¡± she snapped in disbelief. ¡°I know you two have your issues, but he¡¯s still my brother for fuck¡¯s sake! He practically raised me, Jace. More than our parents ever did. I¡­ I can¡¯t do this to him.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t about issues anymore,¡± Jace growled. ¡°He tried to fucking kill me, Delh! That man has no heart.¡± Delh kept shaking her head, her expression twisted in pain. ¡°No¡­ He didn¡¯t mean to kill you. I mean¡­ you¡¯re still alive, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Oh, and expelling me, turning me into a street wolf¨Cthat¡¯s any better?¡± Jace snapped. ¡°He was going to chop off my ws, Delh. Do you even understand what that means? No hands, no legal status. I¡¯d have to beg in the streets like a dog. That¡¯s what he wanted you know? To watch me suffer. And that¡¯s worse than death.¡± His handsome face twisted with hatred, his eyes cold and venomous, ¡°I know you¡¯ve got a soft heart babe. But think about it. As long as he¡¯s alive, you¡¯ll always live in his shadow. Every decision you make will go through him. If he wants to split us apart, he can¨Cand he already has. Aren¡¯t you sick of that?¡± Delh¡¯s chest heaved as she struggled to breathe. She wanted to argue, to deny it. But no words came. Because Jace wasn¡¯t wrong. She had grown up under Grayson¡¯s shadow. Her education, her teenage boyfriends, her marriage¨Che always had the final say. He controlled her more than their parents ever did. And sure, he was usually right, but that didn¡¯t make it easier. Who wouldn¡¯t want a little freedom for once? Jace could see the internal war waging behind her eyes, and his voice turned softer, more tempting. ¡°Ande on. Isn¡¯t he a total hypocrite? He says I¡¯m not good enough to marry you, yet he¡¯s out there dating Aria? Aria! How is she any better?¡± ¡°Right¡­ Aria,¡± Delh muttered, her breathing quickening. ¡°She¡¯s worse. She¡¯d spread her legs for any guy who¡¯d have her. An utter tramp. And he¡¯s still with her¡­¡± ¡°Exactly. And that¡¯s Grayson. Cold, ruthless, even to his own family. He¡¯s a tyrant, Delh. There¡¯s no other way but to end it, once and for all.¡± 1/4 Chapter 73 Jace reached through the bars, gently brushing away the tears on Delir¡¯s cheek. ¡°And have you thought about this? Once Grayson¡¯s gone¡­YOU will be Alpha of Red Stone Pack¡± Delh froze. ¡°Me? Alpha?!¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Jace¡¯s voice turned low and sweet, like whispering a dream into her ear. ¡°You¡¯ll be the only heir left. Who else would lead Red Stone? And everyone here loves you. After Grayson¡¯s gone, they¡¯ll wee you as their new Alpha right away¨C¡± ¡°But you saw the news,¡± Delh cut in, panic rising in her voice. ¡°They all said we¡¯ve made a mess of things while Grayson¡¯s away. They want us gone.¡± ¡°Oh please. What the hell do those idiot reporters know?¡± Jace said dismissively. ¡°You and I both know you¡¯ve got a great vision for this pack. And the only thing holding you back was him. Once he¡¯s out of the way, you¡¯ll finally be free to lead.¡± Delh¡¯s breathing turned shallow and fast, torn and uncertain. Jace cupped her face ?n his hands, locking eyes with her. ¡°So tell me, babe¡­ if doing this means you save me and make your dreamse true. It¡¯s a win¨Cwin, right? Let¡¯s get rid of the only obstacle in our way.¡± There was a long, heavy silence. Even the Carters behind Jace were holding their breath, watching Delh nervously. ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°What did you say?!¡± Jace¡¯s face twisted with shock. Delh lifted her tear¨Cstained face. ¡°You¨Cyou¡¯re not wrong about another way to save you-¡± any of it. But¡­he¡¯s still my brother. I can¡¯t¡­ I just can¡¯t do it. If there¡¯s ¡°You stupid bitch!¡± Jace¡¯s mother lunged forward, shouting through the bars. ¡°As long as your brother lives, there is no other way! Everyone in this goddamn ce listens to his fucking orders. Are you that blind?!¡± Delh flinched and backed away. ¡°I know¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ but Jace, even if you be a street wolf, I¡¯ll still love you. I¡¯ll never give up on you.¡± Jace¡¯s face went pale. His mother screamed, ¡°Fuck out. Get the hell out of here! Who needs your stupid love? My son deserves a life of power and wealth, and you fucking ruined it! I should¡¯ve known you were a disaster from the start!¡± Delh sobbed as she stumbled to her feet, ready to run. ¡°WAIT!¡± Jace suddenly roared. He reached into his shirt, frantically pulling out a folded paper and shoving it toward her through the bars. ¡°Even if you won¡¯t do it for me¡­ at least do it for our child!¡± Delh froze mid¨Cstep. 214 10:36 Sun 10 AUG: O She turned back in shock. ¡°W what¡­ child?¡± Jace took a deep breath. ¡°I wasn¡¯t nning to tell you like this¡­ but remember the check¨Cup you did month? The doctor found out you¡¯re pregnant¡­You¡¯re two months along.¡± Delh¡¯s jaw dropped. So did Jace¡¯s parents. Slowly, her hand moved to rest on her lower belly, disbelief written all over her face. ¡°But¡­ but why didn¡¯t the doctor tell me?¡± ¡°I asked them to keep it a secret. I wanted to surprise you at my birthday party,¡± Jace said bitterly. ¡°But before I got the chance, Grayson fucking ruined everything.¡± Delh pped her hand over her mouth. Tears burst from her eyes again. ¡°A baby¡­ our baby¡­¡± ¡°Yes. OUR BABY.¡± Jace¡¯s voice was firm, intense. He clung to the bars, staring into her soul. ¡°Can you imagine how happy we would¡¯ve been if none of his had happened? Just the three of us, together. But now I¡¯m going to lose my hands. I won¡¯t even be able to hold my own child.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Delh sobbed. ¡°You want the father of your baby to be a street wolf? Is that what you want for our child?!¡± ¡°NO!!!¡± she cried, copsing to her knees. baby.¡± ¡°Then this is your only chance!¡± Jace shouted, gripping the bars tighter. ¡°Please¡­ do it for our Delh covered her face, shoulders shaking with silent cries. After a long, suffocating pause, she whispered so softly it barely be heard: ¡°¡­What do you need me to do?¡± The Carters exchanged an excited look. Jace¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. ¡°That¡¯s it, baby. You made the right choice.¡± She looked up, her eyes red and puffy, her voice hoarse. ¡°But my brother¡­ he¡¯s the strongest Alpha alive. No one¡¯s been able to hurt him since he came of age.¡± ¡°Even the strongest Alpha lets his guard down sometimes,¡± Jace said with confidence. ¡°Don¡¯t worry¨CI¡¯ve already got a n.¡± He leaned in, his voice low and fast. ¡°All you have to do¡­ is lure him out of that mansion full of guards and soldiers. Take him somewhere remote, somewhere no one else will be. Make sure he¡¯s alone.¡± Delh clenched her fists. ¡°And then?¡± ¡°Once he¡¯s out, I need you to get me out of this prison. And find me a weapon.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to attack him yourself?¡± she gasped. ¡°No¨Cno, that¡¯s too dangerous. Even if he¡¯s alone-¡® ¡°I told you¨CI¡¯ve got a n,¡± Jace said, grabbing her hand through the bars. ¡°And I¡¯ll have help. So don¡¯t worry. Just follow my instructions, and we¡¯ll make it.¡± Chapter 73 Delh bit her lip. Her eyes were still full of pain, but her voice was steady. ¡°I¡¯m ready¡­ Tell me what to do,¡± she said. Wore 74 Chapter 74 Aria¡¯s POV *Ngh¡­ I whimpered weakly as I propped myself on the nightstand, trying to keep my bnce. But it¡¯s so hard. Because his movements were ruthless. I was thrusted up and down from the back with a series of skin smacks behind me. His thighs hit my ass till my skin turned red. His cock prated my pussy without mercy. ¡°Ahhhhhh,¡± I groaned, biting into the pillow. He pped my butt, his voice hoarse and intense. ¡°Stop shaking.¡± I sniffed, doing my best not to copse and arching my back even more so he could fuck deeper into me. He obviously liked that. He groaned in the sexiest voice ever and squeezed my ass. Then thrust with his usual rough rhythm. He loved to take me hard and rough. Sometimes I couldn¡¯t even get out of bed after sex. I had to secretly admit it though, I liked this rhythm too. ¡°God¡­Oh god Grayson¡­harder, yes!¡± ¡°You like it babe?¡± he groaned. He yanked at my hair and pulled my upper body up, like my hair was the reins and he was riding me from the back. His other hand found my breasts and rubbed my hard nipples. Pleasure shot through my spine. I nearly screamed. ¡°No¨Cno Grayson. It¨CIt¡¯s too deep¡­¡± ¡°Fuck, your tight little pussy is sucking me,¡± he bit my earlobe, flickering my nipples. ¡°I think your body loves this. Hang on a bit longer for me, OK?¡± I sobbed weakly. Everyone second now was a sweet torture. How many orgasms had I had so far? 3, or maybe 4? I had lost count. Anyway this was getting too much! I was desperately hoping he could end it quicker. And that¡¯s when I heard crying. Probably from downstairs. Normally, this house was well soundproofed. But earlier, I had cracked the bedroom window open just a little¡­which was probably why I could hear the voices drifting up from downstairs now. Along with the sound of someone sobbing, I heard a familiar voice, muffled and trembling. ¡°¡­Please, I need to see him¡­ Just tell him I¡¯m here, please!¡± A chill ran down my spine. My mind snapped back into focus instantly. ¡°Wait¡­i¨Cit sounds like your sister.¡± But his voice was cold. ¡°Focus.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± He suddenly pulled his dick out and threw me on my back. He took his position between my legs. 10:36 SON 10 AUQ Job Chapter 74 ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have time to think about something else,¡± he said as he lifted and pushed my legs back. My pussy waspletely expose him that way. He rubbed my clit and for a brief moment, making me shiver, and slid his huge cock back in ¡°Oh, ngh¡­¡± I moaned. ¡°Oh god¡­¡± Being fucked from the back and the front were totally different experiences. I couldn¡¯t tell which way I liked better. But the front allowed me to see his face. It¡¯s so damn hot during sex. He started off with some deep, slow thrusts. I quickly forgot all about the voice and Delh and wrapped my legs around his waist, moaning He quickly ebbed into quick and harsh thrusts. Like literally pounding me. He pressed my legs down to the sides of my head so that my pussy his entire body weight. was wide open for him. Our skin pped together. He¡¯s basically mming himself into me with ¡°Oh! Oh god! Shit-¡­I¡¯ming!!¡± I shrieked, clutching the bedsheet, my toes curling. This was the strongest orgasm. I could feel it. ¡°Fuck!¡± he cursed. He grabbed my bouncing tits and squeezed them hard. ¡°Yes, cum for me babe. I¡¯ming for you too.¡± His cock was nted deep inside of me. Hard and throbbing. I got nowhere else to escape buty there and opened myself up for his release. With a deep groan, h¨¬s cum sshed inside of my cunt. It made my body jerk. Juice gushed out of my pussy and mixed with his sperm. He panted and leaned down to kiss me. His cock was still half hard, clogging my pussy, stopping his cum from dripping out. I pushed his shoulder. ¡°Wear a condom next time.¡± ¡°Why?¡± his voice was so sexy after a great fuck. ¡°Well for starters, I don¡¯t want to get pregnant.¡± He pulled his cock out andy down beside me, wrapping me in his arms. ¡°Is that such a bad thing though? Getting pregnant with my child?¡± Is he fucking kidding me now? ¡°Yeah it is a bad thing. Because I don¡¯t want my child to ow that her mother is nothing but a sex ve.¡± I said sharply. His face visibly darkened. I didn¡¯t want to argue with him right after the sex, so I quickly sat up and jumped off the bed. ¡°Your sister¡¯s downstairs,¡± I said quietly to Grayson. ¡°She came to see you.¡± He sat up as well, a dark expression clouding his face. ¡°I should just expel her and that damned husband of hers together.¡± After we both took a quick shower and went down, we found Delh sitting on the couch, her face buried in her hands, sobbing. Mrs. Jones had just brought her a cup of hot tea. (Yes¨Cafter I insisted, Mrs. Jones had gotten her job back.) As soon as Delh heard our footsteps, she jerked her head up to look at us. I narrowed my eyes and stared back coldly./ I was honestly curious what she was doing here. But it wasn¡¯t hard to guess. She¡¯s probably here to call me a shameless bitch again, me me for ruining her rtionship with her brother. Then beg Grayson to set Jace free from prison. 214 Chapter 74 Delh, Grayson said tly. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± She looked up at us, still crying. Her tear streaked face probably would¡¯ve softened any man¡¯s heart. But clearly Grayson wasn¡¯t any man. *If this is about Jace,¡± he said icily, ¡°just don¡¯t bother. Tears won¡¯t work. Comining to our parents won¡¯t work either. I already told them to stay out of it.¡± ¡°No¡­ no. I¡¯m not here to beg for anything,¡± she whispered. She wiped her tears, then shakily reached into her purse and pulled out a folded piece of paper, cing it on the table. ¡°I¡¯m here to tell you¡­I¡¯m pregnant, Grayson. You¡¯re going to be an uncle.¡± WHAT?! I couldn¡¯t hide my shock. And clearly, neither could Grayson. He strode forward, picked up the report, and his eyes widened just slightly. ¡°..,Two months?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Delh gave a pale smile. ¡°Do you know what that means? This will be the first child of the next Hart generation.¡± Grayson slowly sat down, his eyes still fixed on the paper. After a long pause, he said, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m happy for You Delh. But if you think this will make me forgive Jace-¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that!¡± she blurted, cutting him off. ¡°That¡¯s not what I want. Actually¡­ finding out about this baby got me thinking again. My child deserves to grow up in a healthy, upright environment, and they¡¯ll need a good role model in their life. And that person¡­ it just can¡¯t be Jace. It has to be you, Grayson.¡± He frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± She wiped her tears again, her voice trembling. ¡°Bing a mother made me realize just how insane I had beentely¡­I want to make it right. And I want to make it right with you, Grayson¡­ If it¡¯s still not toote.¡± He frowned tighter. And didn¡¯t answer right away. I looked at Delh¨Cher pale, tear¨Cstreaked face¨Cand felt a strange mix of emotions in my chest. Do I believe her? Honestly¡­ I don¡¯t know. Because here¡¯s the thing: people never change. At least not overnight. Just a day ago, she was still screaming at Grayson in front of everyone, saying she hated him, saying she¡¯d do anything to break free of him and be with Jace. And now she suddenly wanted to ¡°fix¡± their rtionship? Yeah¡­it felt fake. 3/4 Chapter 74 But then again, I¡¯ve never had a child. I don¡¯t know what kind of weight a baby can carry in a mother¡¯s heart. ¡°Grayson?¡± she asked softly, cautiously. ¡°So¡­what do you say? Do you still want to give it a try¡­for the baby¡¯s sake?¡± He slowly set the report down and looked at her. ¡°So? What exactly are you suggesting?¡± She let out a sigh of relief, a faint smile forming on her lips. ¡°Do you remember the little ski cabin on the snowy mountain? It¡¯s about a five¨Chour drive from here.¡± He nodded. ¡°Yes. We used to spend our winters there when we were kids.¡± ¡°Right. That one.¡± She leaned forward slightly, her eyes glimmering with eagerness. ¡°I was thinking¡­ maybe we could spend a day or two there. Like we used to. Away from this mansion, no maids, no guards. ALONE. Just you and me as family¡­So, what do you say?¡± Wore 75 Chapter 75 Aria¡¯s POV 1 frowned. I didn¡¯t like Delh¡¯s proposal. Because back in Red Stone Pack territory, Grayson was never seen without a small army of bodyguards following behind him. Not that he needed their protection¨Che was the most powerful Alpha after all¨Cbut still, having people around gave a sense of security. So the fact that Delh insisted on going alone to this remote, mysterious cabin in the mountains¡­ yeah, it made me uneasy. Grayson turned to me. ¡°What do you think, A?ia? You want to go skiing?¡± ¡°I was hoping we could go just the two of us,¡± Delh said quickly. ¡°No one else, just me and-¡± ¡°Aria isn¡¯t ¡®someone else,¡°¡± Grayson cut in tly. Delh hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile in my direction. ¡°Of course. If Aria wants toe, she¡¯s more than wee.¡± I didn¡¯t know whether to go or not. Maybe I was just overthinking everything. After a moment of hesitation, I said, ¡°I¡¯m fine with it. But shouldn¡¯t you check your schedule first? See if you¡¯re even free?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯ll talk to Nora and let you know, Delh.¡± With that, Grayson stood up and headed upstairs to his study. I was about to follow him when Delh called after me. ¡°Can you¡­ talk to him? Please?¡± Her face was pale, and she looked nothing like the smug, arrogant princess from the birthday party yesterday. I crossed my arms. ¡°Are you really trying to fix things with him?¡± Her expression shifted. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean? Of course I am.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. You tell me. I mean¡­can people really change overnight?¡± She let out a bitterugh and grabbed the pregnancy report from the table. ¡°You don¡¯t have a child, Aria. So of course you don¡¯t understand yet. But one day¡­ you¡¯ll realize you¡¯d do anything for your children. You might even change into a totally different person.¡± She left after that. Her figure looked small, even fragile, as she walked away. I watched her leave, and took a deep breath before going upstairs to find Grayson. By the time I reached the study, he had just finished a call with Nora. ¡°I¡¯ve cleared tomorrow and the day after. Looks like we¡¯re going on a quick vacation,¡± he said, holding out a hand to pull me onto hisp. 1/4 10:37 Sun 10 Aug. Chapter 75 I slowly walked over, but the unease on my face must¡¯ve been obvious. He noticed right away. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You don¡¯t look too excited.¡± I gave him a weak smile. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± ¡°You¡¯re worried !¡®ll go soft on them, huh?¡± he said, amused. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t. Jace Carter¡¯s already in prison. His execution¡¯s in 3 days. Without him around to poison her mind, Delh¡¯s not going to do more damage. She¡¯s still my sister, after all.¡± ¡°I know¡­ I¡¯m just worried. It¡¯s just the three of us, no bodyguards. And I¡¯m not exactly a fighter¡­¡± Heughed. ¡°You¡¯re worried about me?¡± I looked at him seriously. ¡°Safety isn¡¯t something to joke about.¡± Heughed even harder and pulled me into a kiss¡ªdeep, slow, full of warmth. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re worried about me,¡± he said huskily after there to protect you.¡± the kiss. ¡°But trust me. What could possibly happen in a ski cabin? I¡¯ll always be ¡°I¨CI don¡¯t know. And her pregnancy¡­doesn¡¯t it seem a little too convenient to you? Yesterday Jace was thrown into prison, and today she showed up with a pregnancy report¡­¡± ¡°Rx babe. You¡¯re too tensed. Maybe a quick getaway will ease you up.¡± He said casually. It looks like he¡¯d made up his mind already. And I knew my worry was stupid. What could hurt him in that ski cabin anyway? A bear? The cold? An fucking avnche? Definitely not. And Delh. I didn¡¯t think she had it in her to hurt her own brother, and even if she wanted to, she couldn¡¯t. But still¡­I couldn¡¯t shake off that strange feeling of foreboding. We left for the mountain the next day. It was a 5¨Chour drive from the city, but still within Red Stone Pack territory. At the base of the mountain, everything was still green and lush. But as we got closer to the summit, everything turned white with snow. Delh was already waiting for us at the cabin. She looked better than she had the day before. ¡°You¡¯re finally here!¡± she greeted warmly. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting.¡± Grayson helped me out of the car, ncing up at the building. ¡°It¡¯s been years. But this ce hasn¡¯t changed a bit.¡± ¡°I know right? Hey, wanna grab your skis and hit the slopes? We¡¯ve got a few hours before dinner.¡± Grayson checked his watch. ¡°How about tomorrow? I¡¯ve got some work to finish tonight. Aria, want toe with me or do your own thing?¡± ¡°I can entertain myself,¡± I shrugged. So Grayson was off to work. And that left Delh and I standing there awkwardly for a while. Then I finally broke the silence: Chapter 75 ¡°You don¡¯t have to stick around. I know you¡¯re here to fix things with Grayson, not with me¡± She gave me a mocking little smile. ¡°What¡¯s the difference? To get to him, I have to be friends with you too, right? You¡¯re just that important to him. Then she took a deep breath and gestured me toe with her. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll show you around. There¡¯s nothing else to do before dinner anyway.¡± The so¨Ccalled ¡°cabin¡± was more like a winter lodge, way bigger than I expected. It reminded me of their vi back in Silver Creek Pack. But this ce definitely held a lot more memories for them. As we wandered around the cabin, I saw family photos, childhood stuff, and everything. You could tell they¡¯d spent a lot of time here as kids. I even saw a picture of an 8¨Cyear¨Cold Grayson holding a pair of skis. God even as a little boy, he looked so serious and cold. When we passed the kitchen, I peeked inside on purpose. The cooks were in there prepping dinner. I let out a tiny breath of relief. It was nice to know we weren¡¯t the only ones here. Just the 3 of us in this isted cabin would¡¯ve been¡­ a little too creepy. Out in the garden, I was surprised to see a huge treehouse built in one of the bigger trees. ¡°Your dad built that?¡± I asked, astonished. ¡°Please,¡± Delh snorted. ¡°You think my dad had that kind of time? It¡¯s Grayson. He built it when he was still a kid.¡± I looked up at it, stunned. It was hard to imagine a child could aplish something this awesome. I remembered how badly I wanted a treehouse when I was little too. But my dad was either drinking or gambling, so of course that never happened. ¡°Come here. I think you should see this,¡± Delh said with a strange smile. She waved me over and pointed to something carved into the trunk. ¡°GH & CA.¡± GH¨Cobviously Grayson¡¯s initials. ¡°Who¡¯s CA?¡± I asked. ¡°The first girl he ever liked. From back when he was in Europe,¡± Delh smiled. ¡°You¡¯ve heard of her, right? They were both from royal families, a perfect match. And Grayson was obsessed with her. When he came back from Europe, he built this whole treehouse just for her. They were supposed to get engaged, but too bad she disappearedter.¡± I stared coldly at her. ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡± She stepped closer, voice dropping to a whisper. ¡°Is it really worth it? Staying by his side knowing that you will never be his favorite? You¡¯re not even his second choice. Because don¡¯t forget about his ex¨Cwife. You two will never have a future together.¡± I let out a dryugh. Did I need her to tell me that? Grayson had already made that crystal clear himself. Chapter 75 ¡°Instead of worrying about me, maybe worry about yourself a bit more? ¡± I said coolly. ¡°You are pregnant now Maybe fociis offfraising children so they don¡¯t turn out like his father.¡± Her nostrils red in anger. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me how to raise my child!¡± she snapped. ¡°Right back at you,¡± I said icily. She shot me a re, then stomped away. I let out a frustrated breath and turned back to look at the tree trunk, and the carved letters. Grayson must¡¯ve really liked that girl. Whether it was this mysterious ¡°CA¡± or his ex¨Cwife I, they both nobles. People who matched his status. They all belonged to a world I had nothing to do with. my phone. I want to call May. Grayson had allowed me to contact I shook my head to get rid of those depressing thoughts and pulled out my them every now and then, and I suddenly missed my grandma and best friend so much. But the call didn¡¯t go through. I frowned and checked my phone. No signal. Strange. I¡¯m pretty sure I still had signal on the way up the mountain. Which could only mean one thing¨Cwe were nowpletely cut off from the outside world. Wore 76 Chapter 76 Aria¡¯s POV 1 froze. Not being able to contact anyone outside made my nerves spike again. immediately headed back to the cabin. Just in time to run into Grayson as he stepped out of the study. ¡°There¡¯s no signal,¡± I blurted. But he didn¡¯t seem surprised at all. ¡°I know. It happens sometimes up here. Nothing unusual.¡± I took a deep breath, the unease in my chest growing heavier. ¡°Listen¡­ I¡¯ve got a really bad feeling about this. Can you ask Nova to send someone here? Just in case?¡± He looked at me, frowning slightly. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± I shook my head. I didn¡¯t know how to exin the feeling wing at me. My wolf had been growling anxiously in my mind all afternoon. She never acted like this without a reason. ¡°Just¡­ do it, okay? Please,¡± I begged. He pulled me into his arms and kissed my forehead. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you trust bodyguards more than you trust me to protect you,¡± he muttered. ¡°But fine. As soon as the signales back, I¡¯ll call Nova. Happy?¡± A little. My heart settled just a bit. That was when Delh walked out from the dining room and called to us, ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready.¡± The way she looked at me¨Ccold, t¨Csent a shiver through me. I bit my lip and followed Grayson inside. The dining table wasid out beautifully, full of dishes. I could tell right away many of them were Grayson¡¯s favorites. Delh clearly put in a lot of effort for this dinner. ¡°When was thest time we actually sat down to eat together like this?¡± Delh asked after we took our seats. ¡°You used to drop by the office to have lunch with me all the time,¡± Grayson replied. She let out a hollow, wistfulugh. ¡°And then I married someone you hated. You avoided me all together.¡± I stared down at my te, feeling the tension in the air starting to thicken again. ¡°Delh, don¡¯t bring him up,¡± Grayson warned. ¡°Why not? He¡¯s the elephant in the room, isn¡¯t he?¡± she said, voice trembling as she wiped the corner of her eye with a napkin. ¡°I just want to know¡­ Why did you hate him so much?¡± ¡°What is there to like about him?¡± Grayson¡¯s voice went ice¨Ccold. ¡°Honestly, Delh, how did you not see through him? Jace Carter isplete trash. He¡¯s cruel and heartless. Aplete narcissist. All he cares about is power and money. He used you.¡± ¡°No! No, he¡¯s not like that,¡± Delh said quickly, shaking her head, ¡°He¡¯s kind. He¡¯s respectful to women. Such a gentleman. He loves animals. He said one day we¡¯d have two dogs. He even volunteered at a shelter¡± ¡°And you believed that crap?¡± I cut her off, disbelief burning in my voice, Oh,e on. Both of them turned to look at me. I forced myself to stay calm, but I couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°How long were you two even married? If he wanted dogs so badly, why didn¡¯t he ever get them? Let me tell you why¨Cbecause it¡¯s all part of his fucking act! He doesn¡¯t give a damn about animals. And that volunteering gig? Did you ever actually see him at a shelter?¡± ¡°N¨Cno¡­ but he wouldn¡¯t lie-¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t he?¡± My voice rose. ¡°He told you his parents were nobles, right? You saw them at the party! Do they look like nobles to you? They were bottom¨Ctier scums just like Jace. If he can lie about that, you really think he wouldn¡¯t lie about doing charity work?¡± Delh clutched her silverware tightly, her whole body trembling. ¡°Stop¡­ Please, just stop¡­¡± I inhaled sharply. ¡°And respect women? Please. You saw how he treated me¨Clike trash. And I used to date this guy. That¡¯s who he is underneath, Delh. The moment you stop being useful to him, he¡¯ll do the same to you.¡± She covered her face, sobbing softly, shoulders shaking violently. ¡°I¨CI don¡¯t know anymore¡­ I don¡¯t even know what¡¯s real. He was so perfect when we were together. The best man I¡¯d ever met. Were all of those memories just¡­ lies?¡± I didn¡¯t know what to say. That was Jace¡¯s talent. He could be whatever you needed. I¡¯d fallen for it once too. ¡°But it¡¯s over now,¡± Grayson cut in icily. ¡°You don¡¯t have to think about it again. He¡¯s out of your life for good.¡± Delh looked up at him, tears in her eyes. ¡°Grayson¡­ Can¡¯t you at least show some mercy¡­for the sake of me and the baby?¡± ¡°Enough,¡± Grayson snapped, his tone instantly frostbitten. ¡°So that¡¯s why you wanted me here? To beg for him? I already told you it¡¯s not going to happen.¡± ¡°But¨Cbut the baby¡­needs a father-¡± she sobbed harder. ¡°The baby is better off without a father like Jace Carter.¡± Her cries grew louder. Grayson frowned, clearly trying to stay calm. Eventually, she got to her feet and wobbled over to the wine cab. ¡°¡­Sorry I lost it again¡­ Let¡¯s just have a drink. Then I¡¯ll shut up.¡± I stood up as well. The heaviness in the room was too much. ¡°I¡¯m going to the bathroom,¡± I murmured to Grayson. ¡°You okay?¡± he asked. I nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll be quick.¡± I stepped out into the hallway and let out a long breath. Shit that was intense. 12:36 Sun, 10 Aug I should¡¯ve known Delh hadn¡¯t given up on Jace. The real question was¨C What else did she n to do before his execution? Trying to calm my nerves down, I stepped outside to try calling May again. But still. No signal. I sighed and turned to head back. But before going to the dining room, I swung by the kitchen. I wanted to ask the maids to prepare a ss of warm milk. I¡¯d gotten used to it before bedtely. ¡°Hello? Anyone here?¡± I called as I stepped into the kitchen. The lights were on, but no one replied. I called again, louder this time, and walked further in. That¡¯s when my foot hit something soft. I looked down. And froze. My blood turned ice¨Ccold. 3 kitchen maids were lying on the floor, with blood trickling from their heads. Unconscious¡­or worse. I pped a hand over my mouth to stifle a scream. Someone else was here¡­Someone besides the three of us! My heart thundered in my chest as I looked around in panic. But the kitchen was dead silent. And outside the window, nothing but ck. Wait¡­Grayson! I whipped around and bolted out of the kitchen, sprinting back toward the dining room. I crashed in just as Grayson was taking a sip of his wine, and Delh was still holding the bottle. ¡°DON¡¯T DRINK THAT!!¡± I screamed, lunging toward him. ¡°Someone¡¯s here! They¡¯re here to kill you!¡± Delh snapped her head toward me, panic and hatred shing across her face. Grayson instantly stood up. And that¡¯s when I saw it- A shadow flickering just outside the window behind him. ¡°LOOK OUT!!¡± I tackled him, knocking him to the side. In the next second, the sound of gunfire shattered the window, echoing through the entire house. 12:30 SUN, TWAug Wore 77 Chapter 77 Aria¡¯s POV I felt the bullet graze the top of my head, shattering the vase on the table behind me. Delh let out a shrill scream. Grayson copsed under me with a grunt as I tackled him to the ground. ¡°Oh my god¨Care you okay?¡± I cried, heart racing. ¡°Stay behind me,¡± he said hoarsely. Immediately, I noticed something was off with his voice. I looked up¨Cand froze. His face had gone pale, and blood was trickling from his nose. No. No, no- The wine. It must be that wine Delh gave him! I whipped around, rage surging through me as I yelled at Delh, ¡°What the fuck did you give him?!¡± She was trembling, her whole body shaking. ¡°Just¡­ just a little wolfsbane. Nothing strong enough to kill him¡­¡± Wolfsbane. My blood ran cold. That was one of the deadliest poisons to werewolves. Even a small dose wouldn¡¯t kill him right away, but it could paralyze even the strongest wolf, maybe even leave permanent damage. I couldn¡¯t believe she did this to him. I red at her and screamed, voice shaking with fury, ¡°WHY?! What the hell is wrong with you?! He¡¯s your brother!¡± She stumbled back, tears spilling down her face. ¡°I¨CI know¡­But I didn¡¯t have a choice-¡± ¡°He¡¯s done everything for you! Even after you betrayed him like that, he still came all the way out here just to fix things with you. And you- you tried to kill him?!¡± Delh opened her mouth. But before she could say anything, a cold, menacing voice came from the doorway: ¡°Bullshit. Grayson Hart¡¯s a fucking tyrant. He doesn¡¯t care about anyone.¡± I snapped my head toward the voice, and saw Jace walked into the room with a gun in his hand. ¡­How is this possible? ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be in prison,¡± I breathed. He smirked. ¡°You can thank my darling wife for that. She set this innocent man free.¡± And just like that, everything clicked. 3.60% This¡ªthis whole thing was all a trap. Delh had lured us out here, far away from everyone else, to a ce with no cell signal. That way, no one could warn Grayson when she helped Jace escape. We also couldn¡¯t get any help. And Delh poisoned the drink. Because she knew Grayson wouldn¡¯t question anything she handed him. That¡¯s how much he loved her. And she used his love. thad never hated someone this much in my entire life. But it still wasn¡¯t over yet. Then I saw Jace turned his head and shouted out the door, ¡°Come on in, man. You¡¯ve been waiting for this, haven¡¯t you?¡± I stared in horror as another man strolled inside. He also got a gun in his hand. I almost didn¡¯t recognize him at first. It had been a while since Ist saw him. But then, I realized who he was. Jonathan. That Apex employee who had once tried to arrest me for sleeping on the supermarket¡¯s floor. Grayson showed up in time and stopped him. I heard that he got fired for thatter. I never thought I¡¯d see him again. Till now. ¡°Jonathan¡­¡± I whispered, my voice trembling. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Hey there, bitch,¡± he spat, face twisted in a snarl. ¡°I didn¡¯t get to fucking drown you at thekest time. But not this time. This time I¡¯m sending you straight to hell.¡± Chill shot through my spine. ¡°It¡­It was you?! That night in Europe¡­you were the one who tried to kill me?¡± I stared at him in disbelief. ¡°But why? What the hell have l done?¡± He snarled. ¡°You¡¯ve got some fucking nerve asking that! You ruined my life you know? You and Grayson Hart! I lost my job, my career, everything I worked for! All because of your little ¡®investigation.¡® Now I¡¯m stuck cleaning toilets at some shitty bar. So yeah¨Cyou two deserve to die.¡± He ranted like a madman, then suddenly fired a shot into the ceiling. I flinched hard. Grayson quickly reached for my hand and squeezed it. Jonathan turned the gun back on us. ¡°And you think you¡¯re so special, Grayson Hart? Alpha of Red Stone Pack, big man in the business world. No, NO! I¡¯m telling you¨Cyou¡¯re nothing but a spoiled bastard born with a good name. And you stepped on poor people like me to satisfy your ego, you fucking asshole!¡°. ¡°That¡¯s bullshit,¡± I snapped. ¡°You¡¯re not some innocent victim. You were a bully¨Cboth of you were! Grayson didn¡¯te after you because you were poor. He came after you because you bullied real innocent people like me. So stop ming the world because you totally deserve this miserable life you¡¯re having!¡± ¡°Shut up, bitch! SHUT THE FUCK UP!!¡± Jonathan shrieked, pointing the gun straight at me. But before he could shoot, Jace grabbed his arm. 12:36 Sun, 10 Aug ¡°I told you,¡± Jace growled, ¡°Not her.¡± Jonathan turned on him. ¡°Seriously? You still want this tramp? Hasn¡¯t she done enough?¡± Even Delh looked at Jace in disbelief. ¡°Yeah Jace? What are you doing now?¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Jace roared at his wife. Then to Jonathan, he hissed, ¡°Let¡¯s deal with the real problem first.¡± ..Fine,¡± Jonathan muttered, raising the gun toward Grayson. ¡°Wait!¡± Delh rushed forward, putting herself between us. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve got all the control. W¨Cwe don¡¯t have to kill him, right?¡± ¡°Carter, what the hell is your woman talking about?¡± Jonathan growled. ¡°Move, Delh!¡± Jace barked at her But she stood firmly on her spot, her arms spread wide. ¡°We can lock him up¨Cforever, if we want. We can strip him of Apex and the pack¡­ Isn¡¯t that enough? We don¡¯t need to take his life!¡± Jace cursed loudly and stormed toward her. With a huge noise, he pped her hard across the face! She let out a horrified scream. ¡°What¨Cwhat are you doing-¡± ¡°I¡¯m so fucking done with you!¡± he shouted. ¡°You stupid, needy, shallow bitch! The only reason I married you was for your money, and I ended up getting nothing! Not a damn cent! So you¡¯re fucking useless now. Get out of my fucking way!¡± Delh burst into tears. ¡°No, no¡­I don¡¯t believe this¡­You said you loved me! And I¡¯m carrying your child¡­You said we¡¯d stay together forever when everything¡¯s done¡­¡± ¡°I said those so you can get me out of prison,¡± Jace sneered. ¡°Now shut up and stay out of this.¡± Finally, the mask was gone. Jace had shown his true face. Delh stared at him in horror,pletely broken. He yanked her by the hair and dragged her aside, then turned to Jonathan. ¡°What are you waiting for? Fucking shot him now!¡± Jonathan kept his gun pointed at us, but his hands were shaking. He kept ncing at Grayson¨Cand no matter how hard he tried to hide it, there was fear in his eyes. ¡°W¨CWhy me?!¡± he stammered. ¡°Why can¡¯t you do it?¡± ¡°I thought you wanted this. I¡¯m giving you the damn chance!¡± ¡°You hate him too, don¡¯t you?! You kill him!¡± ¡°Fine! Fucking coward!¡± Jace shouted. He raised the gun. Aiming straight at Grayson. I instinctively threw myself in front of him, my whole body tense. But to my surprise, Jace didn¡¯t pull the trigger either. His hand trembled violently if he couldn¡¯t handle the weight of the gun. 12:36 Sun, 10 Aug And then, Grayson let out a low, hoarse, scornfulugh. ¡°Seriously? You think the two of you could kill me?¡± ¡°Why the hell not?!¡± Jace roared. ¡°Y¨CYou¡¯re standing right here! And you¡¯re drugged, you can¡¯t move¡­I¡¯m not afraid of you!¡± ¡°Your shaky voice says differently,¡± said Grayson icily. Suddenly, a shockwave of Alpha aura exploded through the room like a hurricane. Everyone stumbled, dropping knees to the ground. Jace tried to lift his gun again in horror. But it was as if an invisible force was pushing his arm down. ¡°No member can harm their Alpha,¡± Grayson said darkly. ¡°And you two soft wuss? You¡¯re not even close.¡± He slowly rose to his feet, towering over everyone like a war god. His eyes¨Conce smokey grey¨Cwere glowing gold. A sign that his wolf was taking over control. ¡°No¡­no¡­IMPOSSIBLE!¡± Jace screamed, backing away. ¡°You were poisoned¨Cyou shouldn¡¯t be able to move-¡± But his words were drowned out by a deafening wolf¡¯s roar. Grayson¡¯s body burst upward, transforming into a massive ck wolf that tore straight through the ceiling. Jace and Jonathan¡¯s horrified screams echoed through the shattered dining room as the wolf lunged at them. Wore 78 Chapter 78 Aria¡¯s POV The damaged rooftop crashed down with a deafening crack. Bricks and debris rained down like hellfire. I screamed, just before the ck wolf¡¯s tail swept me into a safer corner. Smoke and dust swallowed the entire world. All I could hear was the thunder of falling stones, men shouting, and wolf snarling, When the rumbling eventually stopped and the dust began to clear, I finally saw what was going on. Blood pooled across the floor. Jonathan was lying in it, groaning in pain. His arm was twisted at a sickening angle,pletely broken. And Jace. He had Delh in a chokehold, using her as a human shield with a gun pressed against her forehead. ¡­That fucking bastard! ¡°Back the fuck off!¡± he screamed at the ck wolf in front of him. ¡°Take one more step and¨Cand I swear I¡¯ll fucking kill her!!!¡± The ck wolf bared its fangs and let out a snarl so deep it shook the walls. Even I felt my knees wobble. Jace swallowed hard, his voice trembling. ¡°You don¡¯t want your sister to get hurt, do you?¡± ¡°Is your heart made of fucking stone?¡± I shouted, stumbling out of the corner, shaking with rage. ¡°Delh is your wife! And she¡¯s carrying your child!¡± Jace let out a cruel, twistedugh. ¡°Too bad but I don¡¯t give a shit about this spoiled bitch anymore. I¡¯d offer her unborn bastard child to the devil himself in exchange for a way out of here!¡± Delh closed her eyes, silent tears falling down her cheeks. Then Jace stared at me and licked his lip. ¡°The only woman I ever loved was you, Aria. Yet even you betrayed me. You let those rich men fuck the hell out of you just because they have the money-¡± A deafening roar of anger drowned out his voice. The ck wolf stepped in front of me protectively, shielding me with its enormous body. ¡°You don¡¯t know what love is,¡± I said to him coldly. ¡°And even if you did, your version of it makes me sick.¡± Jace red at me, pure hatred gleaming in his eyes. Then he barked, ¡°Back off! Stay where you are! Don¡¯t even think about following us, or I¡¯ll rip this bitch into pieces!¡± The ck wolf bristled, pacing anxiously. But didn¡¯t move forward. ¡°LET¡¯S MOVE!¡± Jace kicked Jonathan. The man groaned and dragged himself upright. Together, they started backing into the darkness outside of the house, dragging Delh with them. Grayson immediately shifted back into human form and pulled me into his arms. ¡°Are you okay?¡± he demanded, his voice low and rough. 60% ¡°I¡¯m fine. Are you?¡± I scanned him, worried. ¡°The wolfsbane. Are you sure it didn¡¯t affect you?¡± He still looked pale, but otherwise steady. ¡°The toxin¡¯s still in my system, but don¡¯t worry. Taking care of them is easy¡± His grip on my wrist suddenly tightened, a storm darkening in his eyes. ¡°That sorry piece of shit dared to say he loved you, right in front of me. No, a quick death is too easy for him now. I¡¯ll make sure he fucking suffers.¡± I shivered. Even though his rage wasn¡¯t aimed at me, every time Grayson let out that terrifying, feral side of him, I couldn¡¯t help but be scared. ¡°So what do we do now?¡± I asked urgently. ¡°They¡¯ve taken Delh. Should we call your men? Try to stop them on the way?¡± ¡°Too slow,¡± he said without hesitation. ¡°Their scent is still fresh. We¡¯ll catch them before they even leave this mountain.¡± To avoid drawing attention, we didn¡¯t shift into wolves. Instead, Grayson wheeled out a lightweight off¨Croad motorcycle from the garage. I climbed onto the back, wrapping my arms around his waist as we dove straight into the snow¨Ccovered forest. It was pitch dark now. The wind howled through the peaks, and animal calls echoed in the distance, making my heart race. The motorbike sped along the jagged mountain trails, climbing and dipping with terrifying speed. I held on tight. As long as I was with him, I didn¡¯t feel so afraid. We soon reached a peak. Grayson mmed the brakes right at the edge of a cliff. He swung a sniper rifle off his back and quickly set it up. Through the scope, he scanned the mountain below. I followed his gaze. And then I saw it too¨C3 small figures were moving across the slope. Jace, Jonathan, and Delh. ¡°Well?¡± I whispered. ¡°Do you have a shot?¡± His jaw was tight, his handsome profile depicted by the silver moonlight. After a tense second; he said coldly, ¡°No. They¡¯re keeping Delh in front. I might hit her.¡± He packed the rifle and jumped off the bike. ¡°Stay here. I¡¯ll deal with them,¡± he ordered. ¡°I¡¯m going with you!¡± I blurted. He shot me a sharp look. ¡°No. It¡¯s too dangerous. Stay here.¡± ¡°And you just drank wolfsbane. It¡¯s dangerous for you too,¡± I snapped. ¡°Unless you n to tie me to a tree, I¡¯m following you anyway.¡± He stared at me for a long second, furious, Then suddenly pulled me into a kiss, hard and desperate. ¡°Be careful,¡± he growled, shoving a gun into my hands. ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate to shoot anything you don¡¯t like.¡± I nodded and gripped the freezing gun tight. 12:37 Sun, 10 Aug We abandoned the bike and started downhill fast. Grayson moved like a shadow, agile and fierce. He was obviously born to chase through wild terrain. I pushed myself to keep up with him, my heart pounding.. Soon, we reached the base of the mountain. Ahead of us was a suspension bridge stretching across a deep gorge. At the bottom, a raging river roared. Jace and Jonathan were already halfway across the bridge. Jace was dragging Delh by her hair, and she was crying and fighting him every step. ¡°Just leave the bitch man!¡± Jonathan shouted, his face pale and soaked in sweat. ¡°Grayson could be behind us any second. We don¡¯t have time to waste!¡± ¡°You fucking idiot!¡± Jace roared. ¡°This is Grayson¡¯s goddamn turf. We¡¯ll never outrun him. But with her in our hands, at least we¡¯ve got leverage. Maybe even a ransom. She and that kid in her belly¡¯s gotta be worth something.¡± ¡°That¡¯s your child, Jace! How can you-!¡± Delh sobbed. Jace yanked her hair and pped her hard. ¡°Shut up, you useless whore! You¡¯re not some mightydy anymore. Watch your fucking mouth.¡± I cursed under my breath. That jerk! Grayson sprang forward the next second. And mid¨Cair, he shifted into the ck wolf again, roaring as he flew toward them. ¡°FUCK! It¡¯s Grayson!¡± Jonathan¡¯s scream shot up with fear. ¡°Run, RUN!!!¡± Jace cursed and tried once again to pull Delh in front of him like a shield. I quickly raised my gun and fired. The bullet hit his shoulder, blood bursting out in a spray. He screamed and dropped her. Yes! Turns out those Girl Scout shooting lessons weren¡¯t a waste after all. Delh scrambled free and bolted toward us. Grayson and I rushed to meet her. ¡°CUT THE BRIDGE!¡± Those two had reached the other side of the bridge. Jace yelled at his friend, ¡°Fucking cut it now! The gap¡¯s too wide. They can¡¯t follow us!¡± They both pulled out their guns and fired at the support ropes. With a sharp snap, the cables gave way. And the entire bridge came falling down. But Delh was still on it! She let out a piercing scream as her body dropped from the bridge. I saw her face clearly at that moment¨Cpure terror frozen in the dark. I didn¡¯t think. Instinct kicked in. I just leapt.. Midair, I shifted into my wolf,unching myself off the cliff and diving straight toward her. ¡°NO!¡± I heard Grayson roar behind me. Luckily, my jaws just barely caught the cor of Delh¡¯s coat. We mmed into the cliffside together but didn¡¯t fall. We were dangling. My back paws hadtched onto the jagged rocks. 1287 Sun, 10 Aug Delh screamed, clutching my fur, wing her way upward. She was almost at the edge when¨C BANG! A shot rang out from across the gorge. Then half my body went numb. It felt¡­ strange. Warm liquid ran down my side. My vision became blurred. Everything sounded so far away. I was losing control of my body. Then I copsed, maybe. Delh¡¯s scream echoed somewhere above me. Then pain finally hit, sharp and hot. ¡­Wait. Was I shot? ¡°You fucking shot her?!¡± Jace roared. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving empty¨Chanded!¡± Jonathan barked. ¡°It¡¯s fine! Without the bridge, he can¡¯t follow us-¡® ¡°No! No, he¡¯sing¨Che¡¯s still-!¡± Jace¡¯s voice rose into a panicked shriek. A snarl shattered the air, sending every bird in the forest flying into the night sky. A massive shadow leapt over me, straight across the gorge. That distance¡ªit wasn¡¯t possible. Not without the bridge. Not even for a wolf. But he did it. 29 With a thunderous crash, the ck wolfnded on the other side. He pinned Jonathan with one paw. And in one brutal, savage bite, he tore off the man¡¯s right arm. Then the left leg. Then the right. The screams were horrifying. Blood gushed everywhere. But the man wasn¡¯t dead yet, the torture continued. It was a nightmare worse than any horror movie you¡¯d seen. But my vision was fading. Everything was going blurry. With a shudder, I shifted back into human form. ¡°GRAYSON! Grayson,e back here!¡± Delh screamed somewhere nearby, sobbing. ¡°She¨Cshe¡¯s bleeding out!¡± A short momentter, I felt myself being lifted, cradled. I knew that scent, that warmth. He was here. His arms locked around me. His breath tangled with mine, and I smelled a strange emotion in his scent for the first time. ¡­He was actually scared. ¡°No¡­ no¡­ my love¡­¡± he whispered, lips brushing my cheek, rough and broken. ¡°You can¡¯t leave me¡­This contract is forever, you promised to me¡­¡± I wanted to say something. But I was so tired. Sun, Tu Aug Too tired. And then, like a hand pulling me into a cold, endless sea¨CI slipped into the dark. Wore 79 Chapter 79 Third Person POV A line of ck cars sped through the streets of Red Stone Pack just as the sun broke over the horizon. Their tires screeching as they pulled up in front of thergest hospital. The door to the lead car swung open, and Grayson jumped out, holding an unconscious woman in his arms. His face was stone¨Ccold, terrifying. The president of the hospital and a team of nurses were already waiting at the entrance. They rushed over immediately. ¡°Alpha Grayson, the OR is ready. We can begin the surgery anytime,¡± the president said quickly. The nurses reached out to take the woman from him, but he ignored them and stormed through the hospital doors with long strides. A crowd of people followed. Nurses, doctors, bodyguards. They all carried the same grave expressions. At the operating room doors, Grayson finallyid the woman down on a gurney. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cold forehead. ¡°Save her. No matter what it takes.¡± He said to the doctor, his voice hoarse and threatening. ¡°If anything happens to her, I¡¯ll bury this entire hospital with her.¡± The director flinched. ¡°O¨Cof course, Alpha Grayson. We¡¯ll do our very best.¡± The doors shut behind the gurney. The ¡°Surgery In Progress¡± light flicked on. Grayson sank into a chair directly across from the OR, elbows on his knees, his eyes fixed on the doors like nothing else in the world mattered. From the end of the hallway, Delh stumbled over. Her face was streaked with tears, her hair was a mess, and her clothes were torn nearly to shreds. ¡°H¨Chow is she?¡± she choked out, voice trembling. ¡°Did the doctors say anything?¡± Grayson said nothing. He kept his eyes locked on the door. Delh moved to touch his arm. But she hesitated, probably afraid. Then dropped her hands and covered her face, sobbing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ You were right. You were all right¡­Jace¡­H¨CHe really is a monster. I¨CI never should¡¯ve listened to him¡­¡± ¡°She never should¡¯ve saved you,¡± Grayson sald suddenly. She froze. Then he finally turned to look at her. His eyes gleamed with ice. ¡°And I wish you were the one bleeding out on that table.¡± Delh crumpled to the floor, muffling her cries behind her hands. 59% Just then, rapid footsteps echoed down the hallway. The former Alpha and Luna showed up, rushing toward them. ¡°Delh! Oh my God, sweetie, are you alright?¡± the former Luna cried, running forward to pull her daughter into her arms. Delh broke into tears again, clinging to her mother. ¡°And what did you just say to your sister?¡± the old Alpha snapped at Grayson. ¡°You wish your own sister were in the OP? That¡¯s your blood for fuck¡¯s sake. How could you say something like that?¡± The former Luna examined her daughter, worried. ¡°And look at you! Your skin¡¯s scraped, your clothes are all ruined! God where are the nurses? Grayson, how could you let your pregnant sister get hurt like this? What the hell happened?¡± Grayson didn¡¯t look at them. Didn¡¯t answer. He acted like they weren¡¯t even there. The OR door suddenly opened. A doctor stepped out, his uniform covered in blood. Grayson stood up instantly. ¡°How is she?¡± The doctor¡¯s face was tense. ¡°Ms. Collins¡® condition is¡­ not looking good. She has lost a lot of blood, and we¡¯re struggling to stop the bleeding.¡± Grayson¡¯s expression darkened instantly. ¡°Then give her a transfusion. And how hard is stopping blood loss anyway? Are you saying even that is beyond your capability?!¡± The doctor flinched at the pressure. He opened his mouth to exin, but the former Luna suddenly cut in with a shrill demand: ¡°Doctor! Get over here and check my daughter¡¯s wounds! She¡¯s Red Stone Pack¡¯s heiress. Her condition should be your top priority!¡± ¡°Mom,¡± Delh whispered. ¡°Aria¡¯s still in surgery. She¡¯s in more critical condition¡­¡± ¡°So what?¡± her mother snapped. ¡°Just look at those scratches on your perfect skin. You¡¯re in serious condition too!¡± She turned on the doctor. ¡°I¡¯m ordering you and your staff to treat my daughter right now-!¡± ¡°GUARDS!¡± Grayson suddenly roared. Immediately, soldiers stationed in the hallway all drew their guns and aimed them at the former Alpha and Luna. ¡°What the¨Care you all insane?!¡± the old Alpha shouted. ¡°How dare you point your weapons at your former Alpha and his family?!¡± ¡°Sorry, sir,¡± Nora said coldly, raising her own gun. ¡°We only take orders from the CURRENT Alpha.¡± Grayson ignored his parents¡® fury and turned back to the doctor. ¡°You were saying?¡± he asked hoarsely. The doctor swallowed hard. ¡°Miss Collins¡® physiology is¡­ unusual. Her blood type is extremely rare. We don¡¯t have a match in our supply. The only option is to find a direct rtive to donate. But even with a blood match, her body is struggling to clot. I¡¯m sorry. We may not be able to save her¡­¡± A deadly silence nketed the hall. Delh mmed her hand over her mouth and choked on a sob. 37 Sun, Tu Aug Grayson stared at the doctor, his eyes went pitch ck. ¡°So you¡¯re telling me I just have to sit here and watch her bleed out, and you worthless bastards can¡¯t do a damn thing?!¡± The doctor almost fell to his knees. ¡°N¨Cno, I mean¡­ we could try reaching out to specialized packs¡­ like the healers from White River Pack¡­¡± 157 ¡°Then why are you still standing here?¡± Grayson snapped. ¡°List everyone you think can save her. I¡¯ll make the calls now.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± The old Alpha snapped. He pushed past his wife and daughter and walked over to Grayson. ¡°That White River Pack has never respected us. Of all the packs in the world, they¡¯re the only ones who¡¯ve refused to submit to our rule. And you are begging them for help?¡± ¡°I¡¯d do anything for Aria,¡± Grayson said coldly. ¡°That¡¯s goddamn ridiculous!¡± the old Alpha thundered. ¡°If you were doing this to save family or a noble, I¡¯d probably understand. But that woman there is just a regr member. She¡¯s not worth the trouble!¡± ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± the former Luna added sharply. ¡°Ever since she came into your life, everything¡¯s gone to hell. The scandal with Jace Carter, all the drama¡­Delh, my guess is that she¡¯s part of how you got hurt too?¡± ¡°Mom! Dad!¡± Delh cried in panic. ¡°Aria saved my life! If it weren¡¯t for her, I¡¯d have fallen off that cliff and died. I think Grayson¡¯s right. We should get the best healer for her, no matter the cost!¡± But her parents clearly didn¡¯t care. Her mother scoffed. ¡°So what if she saved you? That¡¯s what a member should do for the royals.¡± ¡°She saved you and still let you get hurt. Shows how useless she is,¡± her father added coldly. ¡°Mom¡­ Dad¡­¡± Even Delh looked horrified now. ¡°You can all shut up right now,¡± Grayson said in a deadly tone. ¡°I¡¯ve made my decision.¡± ¡°How could you!¡± the former Alpha mmed his cane to the ground. ¡°I gave you this Pack to lead. Not to waste everything on saving a damn woman! Enough¨CI order you to stop this nonsense right now.¡± Grayson looked down at his father. Then he let out a freezing, humorlessugh. ¡°You seem to be confused about something, Father. You have no power here. No one listens to you anymore.¡± ¡°You dare speak to me like that?! I am the former Alpha-¡± ¡°Anc darl Comment icking t et wolv AD Wore 80 Chapter 80 Third Person POV The hospital corridor was silent as death. Grayson¡¯s parents stared at him, stunned. ¡°Y-You¡¯ve lost your damn mind.¡± The old Alpha pointed a trembling finger at him. ¡°Doing something like this for a fucking woman¡­ No. No way. We won¡¯t allow it-¡± ¡°Well then,¡± Grayson said, his voice low and dark. ¡°Try me.¡± His eyes turned pitch ck. In the next second, his aura erupted like a violent storm, sweeping through the hallway and knocking everyone off bnce. Delh clutched her chest and let out a heart¨Cwrenching scream. She could feel the bond to the pack being ripped apart. That could only mean one thing: she was being exiled. Only an Alpha had the power to do that. ¡°No¨Cno, stop¡­¡± she sobbed in pain. Her parents were all pale and shaking. They doubled over in pain as well. Yeah they were once the Alpha and Luna of this pack. But the one sitting on the throne now was their son. So not even they could resist the authority of the current Alpha. ¡°Enough¡­ enough¡­¡± the old Luna gasped. ¡°Grayson¡­ stop¡­¡± The crushing force suddenly vanished. Everyone swayed on their spots, panting for breath, their faces soaked in cold sweat, ¡°I told you already. I meant what I said.¡± Grayson said coldly, towering over his father. ¡°In the past I wasn¡¯t sure about how I felt about Aria, so you took advantage of my doubt. I let you people gang up on Aria. But not anymore. No one touches her again¡­Not even my so¨Ccalled family.¡± His father slowly lifted his head to his son, his eyes burning with bitter hatred. ¡°You¡­ you are a freak, you know that? I always knew there was something wrong with you growing up. You¡¯ve never felt normal emotions, never loved your family¡­No normal person acts like you.¡± ¡°Dad! How can you say that?!¡± Delh cried, her voice trembling. But Grayson didn¡¯t flinch. There was no pain in his eyes. Only a faint, icy smile at the corners of his lips. ¡°I was your precious son. Your golden boy. You were so proud because I was known as the strongest werewolf ever born,¡± Grayson said in a sarcastic voice. ¡°But now the moment I stop obeying you, suddenly I¡¯m the monster? What kind of parents are you?¡± ¡°We did everything we could as your parents!¡± the old Luna shouted, her voice sharp with a hint of fear and disgust. ¡°We raised you. We educated you. But how were we supposed to know you¡¯d grow into this dark, cold, and cruel thing? This is all your doing. Not ours!¡± Grayson narrowed his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re probably right about my darkness. But you never tried to help me from the very beginning. You never 59% tried to understand it. You only enjoyed the power I brought to this family. The status. The glory. But she¨CAria¨Cshe¡¯s the only one who ever truly cared about me. So don¡¯t me me for choosing her over you,¡± His parents looked furious. They opened their mouths to speak again, but this time, Delh¡¯s voice cut through the tension. ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± she snapped, ring at her parents. ¡°No matter what, Aria saved my life today. I owe it to her. And I¡¯m not going to let you stand there and keep her time. Nowe with me!¡± Without giving her parents a chance to argue, she grabbed them forcibly and dragged them out of the hallway. Grayson exhaled slowly, forcing down the storm raging inside him. Then he turned back to the doctor. ¡°Tell me what else you need to save her.¡± ¡°Right now, the most urgent thing is blood,¡± the doctor said with a tight frown. ¡°As I was saying, we have no matching blood for Miss Collins in our bank. We¡¯ll need donations from her immediate family.¡± Grayson nodded and signaled to Nora. ¡°You heard the doctor. Go find her parents and grandmother. Get them tested. Meanwhile, I¡¯ll contact White River Pack. I want their best healer flown in immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, Alpha.¡± Nora answered swiftly. ¡°Please hurry,¡± the doctor added. ¡°Miss Collins¡® condition is more critical than you think¡­ All we¡¯re doing is keeping her barely stable.¡± Nora rushed off. Grayson walked to the window and pulled out his phone. He scrolled down his contact list. He had the numbers of every major Alpha and powerful figure in the world, including White River Pack¡¯s Alpha. He dialed the number. No answer. He tried again. Still busy. Frustration started to twist in his chest. His father was right about one thing¨Ctheir rtionship with the White River Pack was a total disaster. Years ago, Grayson¡¯s father had tried to invade the White River Pack in order to gain ess to their powerful healer. His father failed, and the two packs had been enemies ever since. And now¡­ because of his father¡¯s idiocy, Aria might have to pay the price. Thinking about this, Grayson¡¯s grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles turned white. The rage inside him built fast, ck, and suffocating. He recognized this feeling. He was losing control again. But right now, the only person who could calm him down was lying on an operating table, bleeding out. I let Jonathan off too easy, he thought. ????? suy 59% Ripping off that bastard¡¯s limbs was far from enough. He should have skinned him alive. Locked that fucking bastard in a pit and let him rot. Let him scream in agony every day and night, until death became a mercy. That was the price he should¡¯ve paid for pointing a gun at Aria. His wolf snarled inside his mind, pacing restlessly, mming into walls in rage. Its eyes weren¡¯t gold anymore. They had be glowing blood¨Cred at some point. His wolf wanted to kill. They both did. ughter was the only thing that could numb the fury now wing at his insides. ¡°¡­Alpha?¡± A voice jolted Grayson back to reality. Nora had returned. She stared at him, horror flickering on her face. ¡°Alpha, are you alright?¡± Only then did Grayson realize¨Che had crushed the bricks with his bare hands. His palm was sliced open, blood dripping onto the floor. ¡°You¨Cyou¡¯re hurt,¡± she whispered in horror. ¡°Let me get a nurse-¡± ¡°No.¡± Grayson shook off the blood, ignoring the sting. ¡°Have you contacted her family yet?¡± Nora looked down, looking reluctant. ¡°I tried. Her grandmother was closest, but they¡¯re not a match. We tracked down her father in Frostpine Pack and took a sample of his blood¡­ but unfortunately, he¡¯s notpatible either.¡± Grayson clenched his fists, his blood dripping down faster. The Moon Goddess wasn¡¯t protecting his girl tonight. And that made him furious. He was desperately in need of some good news. ¡°Then find her mother. What are you still waiting for?¡± he said darkly. Nora flinched. ¡°That¡¯s actually¡­ what I came to report. We can¡¯t find her mother.¡± Grayson froze. ¡°What do you mean you can¡¯t find her?¡± His voice turned sharp. ¡°Expand the search. Dig deeper. If she were ever alive on this, you would find her.¡± His people could track anyone. That was the power of his influence. He didn¡¯t believe anyone could just vanish under his radar. But Nora¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°T¨Cthat¡¯s the problem, Alpha. I¡¯ve used every resource we have. All we found was that her mother¡¯s name is Jolene and she once lived in Frostpine Pack. But after she ran away from home¡­ she disappeared. Completely.¡± That was impossible. 12:37 Sun, 10 Aug Even dead people left a trail. So the only exnation was¡­ someone even more powerful than him had wiped Jolene off the map. But that¡¯s even more unlikely. Aria had always said she came from a small town, a broken family. Her parents shouldn¡¯t have that kind of power. He frowned, deep in thought. Then he said coldly, ¡°Keep looking. I don¡¯t care who¡¯s hiding her. Find it.¡± ¡°Yes, Alpha.¡± ¡°What about Jace Carter?¡± he asked. ¡°Give me an update.¡± Last night, he went back to check on Aria after the gunshot. So that cunning bastard slipped away again. But they were on Red Stone Pack territory. There weren¡¯t many ces for Jace to run. ¡°We¡¯re still pursuing him,¡± Nora said. ¡°But he vanished near the border. We believe¨Cw¨Cwe believe he may have had help¡­¡± CRACK! The light above them flickered. then exploded. Nora gasped, stumbling backward. Grayson¡¯s Alpha aura rolled through the air like a storm, choking the oxygen out of the room. ¡°You¡¯ve brought me too many bad news today, Nora.¡± He stared at her, his voice low, terrifying. ¡°Jace¡¯s got another help? That¡¯s just ridiculous. His only ally is dead. I tore his fucking head off myself.¡± ¡°W¨CWe¡¯re not sure yet, Alpha. But whoever it was, they were good. No trace left behind.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not an answer.¡± Grayson¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°I want Jace Carter found and brought back.¡± Nora nodded quickly. ¡°I¡¯m on it. I¡¯ll send out more men, more teams. We¡¯ll find him.¡± ¡°GO.¡± Grayson growled. As she hurried down the hallway, Grayson stood alone, his face dark. Jace¡¯s escape, his unknown aplice, the mystery of Aria¡¯s mother¡­Suddenly, there were too many secrets. And he hated this feeling. Wore 81 Chapter 81 Third Person POV But now wasn¡¯t the time to dwell on anything else. He had to save his Aria first. So he turned and walked back to the operating room to speak with the doctor. ¡°Obviously, having no matching blood source makes this very tricky,¡± the doctor said after he learnt the situation, frowning. ¡°But¡­ there is one temporary option. Something that might just keep Miss Collins alive.¡± ¡°Anything,¡± Grayson said immediately. ¡°An Alpha¡¯s blood carries powerful healing properties for their members. If Miss Collins were one of yours, a transfusion of your blood could stabilize her¨Cfor now.¡± Grayson held his breath. Right. That was actuallymon knowledge¨Csomething sacred between an Alpha and their own. The bond between Alpha and pack was more than symbolic. In critical moments, it could literally save lives. He hated himself for not thinking of this sooner. ¡°There¡¯s just one tiny problem,¡± the doctor added. ¡°I heard Miss Collins isn¡¯t originally from Red Stone Pack?¡± ¡°No. She¡¯s from Frostpine Pack.¡± ¡°Then it won¡¯t work. This kind of transfusion only works between an Alpha and his own member. We¡¯d have to find a way to officially transfer her into your pack. Typically, that means contacting Frostpine¡¯s current Alpha-¡± ¡°No need,¡± Grayson cut him off. ¡°There¡¯s a ritual. One that allows me to im her under my protection without needing approval from anyone else.¡± He should¡¯ve done it long ago. On the very day he decided she was his forever. The doctor gave a slow nod. ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s do this. If you¡¯re ready, Alpha Grayson, we can begin drawing blood. She needs it now.¡± ¡°Drawing blood?!¡± A startled voice cut through behind them. Delh hade back. This time alone without her parent. She stumbled closer, staring at her brother in shock. ¡°Why are you giving blood? What¡¯s going on?!¡± Grayson didn¡¯t even nce at her. As if she wasn¡¯t even there. The doctor answered instead, ¡°Alpha¡¯s blood might be the only way to stabilize Miss Collins¡® condition.¡± ¡°Well how much do you need?¡± 259% ¡°Uh¡­ around 7,000 milliliters.¡± ¡°7000?!¡± Delh¡¯s voice pitched up in panic. ¡°That¡¯s twice the safe amount for a single draw! Are you trying to kill him?!¡± ¡°No, Lady Delh,¡± the doctor replied calmly. ¡°But as I just said, this may be the only chance Miss Collins has. Even then it might not be enough. We still need a healer from White River Pack.¡± ¡°This is insane¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Grayson suddenly snapped, ring at her. ¡°Now you¡¯re pretending to care about me? Where was this concern when you handed me that ss of wine with wolfsbane in it?¡± Delh¡¯s mouth opened. But no words came out. Tears filled her eyes again, her voice breaking. ¡°I¨CI¡¯m sorry¡­ I just wanted to fix things somehow¡­¡± ¡°There is no fixing this,¡± he said freezingly. ¡°The pain I¡¯m currently in. The suffering Aria has gone through. All of it was you. So don¡¯t you dare cry in front of me. No one wants to see it.¡± She sniffled, trying not to let the tears fall. ¡°I just wanted to help¡­¡± ¡°Are you helping Jace escape again?¡± he asked suddenly. ¡°What?¡± Delh looked shocked. ¡°What are you talking about? I thought you already caught him¡­Did he get away again?¡± Grayson stared her down, his eyes sharp, trying to find any flicker of a lie. After a long moment, he said, ¡°Just stay away from Aria. That¡¯ll help enough.¡± And with that, he turned and followed the doctor into the operating room, never looking back once. Delh slumped into one of the hallway chairs, covering her face with both hands. She knew she¡¯d fucked up. Completely. The guilt was eating her alive, and no matter what she did now, it wasn¡¯t enough to make it right. She could feel it¨Cshe was losing her brother. She didn¡¯t even have this feeling when she and Jace tried to steal hispany and his pack. Back then, her brother might be a little disappointed. But he¡¯d still loved her. That was why he¡¯d gone to that ski cabin in the first ce. Why he drank the wine. But now? Now he hated her. Truly,pletely. Delh clutched her hair and let out a low, aching cry. But she couldn¡¯t lose him. Grayson had been her rock and her guiding star since they were kids. Without him, she didn¡¯t know who she even was. There had to be something¡­something she could do to win him back. 12:37 Sun, 10 Aug And then suddenly, she had an idea. She bolted upright, eyes shining with sudden hope, She pulled out her phone and quickly dialed a number. ¡°Hello?¡± Her voice trembled, nervous, hopeful, when the call was connected. ¡°i? Yeah, it¡¯s me. Delh¡­ I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m doing alright. Listen, there¡¯s something I think you should know¡­It¡¯s about my brother. About Grayson.¡± Aria¡¯s POV I was so cold. A deep, bone¨Cdeep chill, as if all the warmth in my body was running away and I couldn¡¯t stop it. My wolf was curled up in a corner of my mind, weak and fading. I could feel it. If this kept going, I wouldn¡¯t make it. But there¡¯s nothing I could do. I even started seeing people. People I loved. My grandmother. May¡­ even my mother. I hadn¡¯t dreamt of her in years. She gently touched my hair, her expression full of sadness. She told me she never wanted to leave me. But she didn¡¯t have a choice. And then even she faded away. He appeared by her side. He was still just as possessive. Holding me tight in his arms. He told me everything was going to be okay. That he wouldn¡¯t lose me. That no one¨Cnot even death¨Ccould take me away from him. And magically, I did start to feel better just as he said. I wasn¡¯t cold anymore. A warm liquid was flowing into my body, spreading through every inch of me. And with it came strength and power unlike anything I¡¯d ever felt before. My body stopped aching. My breath came easier. And slowly, my eyelids were so heavy anymore. I opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was the white ceiling of the operating room. Then I heard the beeping of machines. And then¡­ I smelled it. 1237 SUN, TU Aug That familiar scent of pinewoods. It wrapped around me like a nket. I turned my head slowly. He was lying beside me on another hospital bed, facing me. There¡¯s a smile on his lips, so handsome, so warm. A blood transfusion tube connected us. His blood was flowing into my veins. I blinked. Then tears spilled from my eyes, silently streaming down my cheeks. ¡°Hey, sleeping beauty.¡± His voice was low, rough with exhaustion, and yet gentle. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Look at us now¡­ we¡¯re really blood¨Cbound.¡± AD Comment Send gift Wore 82 Chapter 82 Aria¡¯s POV K59% ¡°So? What happened?¡± I asked softly. ¡°You were shot. Remember?¡± His voice was gentle, almost too soft. ¡°But it¡¯s fine now. You¡¯re getting better.¡± frowned. Something felt¡­ off. ¡°If I was just shot, then why did you give me your blood? Why couldn¡¯t someone else do it?¡± ¡°Because I didn¡¯t want anyone else to.¡± He looked at me with that unreadable expression. ¡°Don¡¯t you like the way things are now?¡± I didn¡¯t know. My head was still foggy. I couldn¡¯t think straight. Just then, a doctor walked in with a few nurses. They checked the machines, our vitals, and eventually removed the blood transfusion line. ¡°Everything went well. Miss Collins is stable now,¡± the doctor smiled as he looked over at Grayson. ¡°Um, doctor?¡± I asked weakly. ¡°What exactly happened to me?¡± In that split second, I swore I saw him nce at Grayson. And Grayson gave the tiniest shake of his head. The kind of shake someone does when they don¡¯t want something said out loud. ¡°You were shot, that¡¯s all,¡± the doctor said kindly. ¡°Once the wound heals, you¡¯ll be fine. Do you feel any difort elsewhere?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not sure. I just feel so weak. And my wolf¡­ she hasn¡¯t spoken to me. She¡¯s been sleeping, and I can¡¯t reach her.¡± They were definitely hiding something from me. I could feel it in my bones. But the doctor just nodded and said firmly, ¡°Healing takes time. Give your wolf some rest.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°Trust the doctor, Aria.¡± Grayson came to my bedside, took my hand. ¡°Whatever happens, I¡¯ll be right here.¡± They didn¡¯t want to tell me the truth. And I couldn¡¯t force it out of them. So I stayed in the hospital day after day. Grayson spent a lot of time with me, but he was busy too. Constant meetings behind closed doors, long phone callste into the night, endless paperwork. He was clearly nning something important. But no one would tell me what. And the weirdest part? Even though everyone kept saying I was healing, my wound wasn¡¯t. Not fully. It still throbbed. And that wasn¡¯t normal. At least not for a werewolf. Even one as weak as me. The more time passed, the more uneasy I felt. And that¡¯s when Delh came to visit. 359% I was lying in bed, flipping through a book when she walked in. She looked pale, tense, and honestly, a little scared, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I frowned, setting the book aside. ¡°Grayson wouldn¡¯t want you here.¡± I¡¯d heard him several times, warning the guards to keep his parents and sister away from my room. ¡°¡­I know.¡± She clutched her bag nervously. ¡°That¡¯s why I came when he¡¯s not around, I¨CI had to see you.¡± I stared at her coldly. ¡°Why? If you¡¯re here to ask where Jace is, don¡¯t bother. Your husband¡¯s quite something. He still hasn¡¯t been caught. Maybe he vanished off the face of the earth.¡± ¡°No¨Cno! That¡¯s not why I¡¯m here,¡± she said quickly, almost panicking. ¡°I know what kind of person he is now. I don¡¯t want anything to do with him anymore.¡± I looked into her eyes. Honestly? Any trust I¡¯d had in her was long gone. Thest time I gave her a chance, she invited us to that snow cabin. And look where that got us. ¡°Can I sit?¡± she asked quietly. She looked so fragile. Like a gust of wind could knock her over. Her hair was a mess, her nails chipped and unpolished. Nothing like the morous socialite she used to be. I sighed. ¡°Fine.¡± She quickly took a seat beside the bed, her eyes sad as theynded on my shoulder. ¡°Are you getting better?¡± ¡°More or less,¡± I mumbled. I didn¡¯t feel like telling her the truth. ¡°So? Why are you really here?¡± She bit her lip, then gently rested a hand on her belly. It wasn¡¯t showing yet. ¡°I¡­ I wanted your opinion¡­On whether I should keep the baby.¡± I sat up so fast it made my wound twinge. ¡°What? You¡¯re thinking about getting rid of it?¡± ¡°I¨CI¡¯ve thought about it¡­ I don¡¯t know,¡± she sobbed, voice breaking. ¡°How can I raise a child knowing who their father is? The same man who tried to kill their own uncle¡­God, I can¡¯t even imagine how they¡¯d face Grayson after, being born.¡± ¡°I know Grayson wouldn¡¯t me an innocent child,¡± I said firmly. ¡°He¡¯ll still love his niece or nephew. He¡¯s not the type to take things out on a baby.¡± She wiped her tears, still trembling. ¡°But I feel so guilty¡­ After what Jace did to you all, if I just go and have his baby without even asking you or Grayson, it¡­it just feels wrong.¡± I frowned at her. ¡°If you¡¯re hoping I¡¯ll say ¡®It¡¯s okay, I forgive you, go ahead and have Jace¡¯s baby,¡¯ then you¡¯re wasting your time.¡± My voice stayed cool. ¡°This is your decision. A hard one. And nothing I say will make it easier.¡± She looked stunned, like I¡¯d ripped the words right out of her heart. She covered her mouth and cried harder. ¡°I just¡­ I don¡¯t know if I can do it. This baby would be born without a father. And I know nothing about being a single mom! What if they turn out like Jace? What if they¡¯re¡­ a monster?¡± ¡°Hey.¡± I sat up straighter. ¡°You¡¯re the mother. You¡¯re the one raising them. And this kid? They¡¯ll never even know their father. So who do you think they¡¯ll really take after?¡± She sniffled, pulled out a tissue and wiped her eyes. ¡°I hope they turn out like Grayson. I¡¯d be lucky if he could guide them. But¡­ but he doesn¡¯t even talk to me anymore.¡± ¡°Well can you me him?¡± I said, not bothering to sugarcoat it. Her head dropped, her sobs going quiet and soft. I sighed. ¡°But I know this¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t want you to give up this baby because of him. Just¡­ don¡¯t do something you¡¯ll regret. Think about it. You could have a child who¡¯spletely yours. How cool is that?¡± She looked up and gave a weakugh through her tears. ¡°You really like kids, huh? I heard Frostpine Pack¡¯s kids take their mother¡¯sst name. And that moms are usually the providers?¡± I nodded. Frostpine Pack was one of the rare matriarchal werewolf packs. Many of our Alphas were women. Their children took the mother¡¯s name and were raised by strong, independent moms. But that was for royalty and nobles. It never had anything to do with me. ¡°You and Grayson¡¯s future kids would be beautiful,¡± she said quietly. I let out a short, dryugh. Me? Having kids with Grayson? I couldn¡¯t even imagine it. Commitment, marriage and family were probably the top 3 things on hie fear list. ¡°Hey since you¡¯re here, why don¡¯t you go say hi to your brother?¡± I asked. ¡°He should be in the next room, working.¡± She looked instantly tense. ¡°I¡­ can I? He probably doesn¡¯t want to see me.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the worst that could happen? He throws you out?¡± I smirked. ¡°Come on.¡± Honestly, I was dying to get out of that room anyway. So I led Delh out, down the hall toward therge meeting room at the end. Two guards nodded when they saw me and opened the door for
  1. us.
But what we saw inside wasn¡¯t what I expected at all. Instead of a meeting room, the room had beenpletely transformed into a media set. A camera crew stood by the walls, with a director, a boom mic operator, and lights all around. In the center, Grayson sat on a sleek couch, face¨Cto¨Cface with a host. Looks like they were doing an interview. Oh god he looks so handsome today. Wearing a tailored grey suit that perfectly matched his eyes, with his hair styled to perfection and every angle sharpened for the camera. 12:38 Sun, 10 Aug That polished, lethal charm would break the Inte. I just knew it. His eyes flicked over to us as we entered. When he saw me and Delh together, his brows furrowed slightly. I stuck out my tongue at him. £¤:59% ¡°This is Global News,¡± the host was saying, smiling at the camera. ¡°We¡¯re live right now with Alpha Grayson from Red Stone Pack. Thank you for joining us, Alpha Grayson.¡± Grayson turned back, giving a faint, polite smile. ¡°My pleasure.¡± ¡°We heard you¡¯re currently preparing a major event¨Cthe Global Medical Summit, is that right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± I blinked. Global Medical Summit? Was that what he¡¯d been so busy withtely? But it didn¡¯t sound like something he usually got involved in. The host seemed to wonder the same thing. ¡°But your past ventures were mostly in tech, real estate, and business. What made you turn to healthcare?¡± ¡°I wanted to explore new opportunities,¡± he said smoothly. ¡°And bringing pack leaders from around the world together could lead to real breakthroughs.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s no secret White River Pack is the global leader in medical advancement. And rumor has it, your rtionship with them is¡­ tense?¡± ¡°There were some unfortunate misunderstandings in the past,¡± Grayson said evenly. ¡°But I¡¯m hoping to change that. I¡¯d like to sincerely invite the Alpha of White River Pack to attend.¡± That was¡­ shockingly sincere. I¡¯d never heard him talk like that before. Whoever that Alpha is, they must be a big deal. ¡°And we noticed,¡± the host continued, ¡°that you¡¯ve been absent from Apex and the packhouse. You¡¯ve been staying at the hospital. Are you having a health issue?¡± ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m here for another reason.¡± He paused¨Cthen suddenly turned toward me. ¡°Aria, would you like to join us?¡± he asked, holding out a hand. ¡­What? I froze. Every person in the room¨Chost, director, cameraman¨Cwhipped their heads to look at me. Their faces mirrored mine: total shock. This is a live broadcast for god¡¯s sake! I thought in panic. Is he serious? He wants me to go over there? Sit next to him? In front of the whole 12:38 Sun, 10 Aug world? I didn¡¯t move until Delh gave me a gentle.nudge. I stumbled forward, awkwardly stepping onto the set. I sat beside him, my brain still empty. The bright studio lights practically melted my thoughts. God, my face probably looked like a total stunned idiot. The host recovered faster than I did. ¡°So¡­ is this youngdy the reason you¡¯ve been staying here? Is she unwell?¡± ¡°She¡¯s getting better,¡± Grayson said, reaching out and taking my hand. ¡°But when your girlfriend is in the hospital, you stay with her. Obviously.¡± My ears started ringing. Wait¡­ wait, what? What did he just call me?! Wore 83 Chapter 83 Aria¡¯s POV I almost thought I misheard him. Did he really just call me his girlfriend?! Did he understand what that meant? That meant we were serious. That this rtionship was exclusive. But I thought he¡¯d nevermit! The studio wentpletely silent. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw everyone¡¯s jaws hanging open. Literal O¨Cshapes. Grayson¡¯s words had clearly shocked every single person here. ¡°Wow¡­ this is very¡­ shocking,¡± the host finally said after a full thirty seconds of stunned silence. ¡°Alpha Grayson, I believe this is the first time you¡¯ve ever confirmed a rtionship publicly.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Grayson tightened his grip on my hand. ¡°Then Miss Collins must be someone very special to you.¡± ¡°She is.¡± His lips curved into the faintest smile. ¡°And recently, I¡¯ve be even more sure of that¨CI can¡¯t imagine my life without her.¡± My face burned. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might leap out of my chest. Part of it was from the heat of the lights, but the bigger part was him. His words. God this felt so unreal! I couldn¡¯t even tell if it¡¯s a dream or reality. The host turned to me with a huge grin. ¡°Miss Collins, do you have anything you¡¯d like to say in response? I think you¡¯ve just be the most envied woman in the world.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Crap. My brain stopped working. I must¡¯ve looked like aplete idiot on global television. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t really know what to say.¡± After stammering like a fool, I managed to blush my way through a sentence. ¡°But I can definitely tell you this¡­ it¡¯s not easy. From the moment we met to now, every step has been¡­ a lot.¡± Grayson squeezed my hand again. I looked up and found him staring right at me, His beautiful grey eyes reflected me¨Cmy red cheeks, my teary eyes, my stunned little face. ¡°That¡¯s right. It hasn¡¯t been easy,¡± he agreed, voice low and husky. ¡°But we are still here. We made it.¡± ¡°Yeah. We¡¯ve heard many rumors about Miss Collins too,¡± the host said thoughtfully. ¡°I bet there¡¯s been a lot of pressure from the outside world. But seeing the two of you sitting here, holding hands, so clearly in love¡­ I¡¯d say it was all worth it.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± Grayson said. 12:38 Sun, 10 Aug They then shifted the topic back to the medical summit they were talking about before I came in. But I couldn¡¯t concentrate anymore. I kept thinking about what just happened. About Grayson¡¯s love confession. That did just happen, right? I wasn¡¯t making it up in my mind. Parts of me wanted to pinch or p myself to make sure this wasn¡¯t a dream. Finally, after what felt like forever, the host announced we were off¨Cair. I let out a breath so sharp I nearly choked. My back was soaked in sweat. ¡°That nervous, huh?¡± he teased, looking way too amused. ¡°Are you kidding me? Do you even realize what you just did?¡± I sat up straight, whisper¨Cshouting. ¡°You better exin yourself¨Clike now- But my interrogation got cut short. The host practically skipped over to us, grinning ear to ear. ¡°Alpha Grayson, Miss Collins, thank you so much for doing this with us today!¡± Grayson stood and shook his hand politely. ¡°It was our pleasure.¡± ¡°We just did a quick analytics check. That livestream broke both our viewership and engagement records. We made history today! I¡¯m damn sure the entire world is talking about you two right now!¡± I felt dizzy. Oh god. So the whole world just saw me stuttering like an idiot. That¡¯s just great. ¡°Can we invite you both back sometime?¡± the host asked, eyes sparkling with hope. ¡°Maybe¡­ when you¡¯re ready to take the next step in your rtionship? Because I wasn¡¯t kidding¨Cpeople are obsessed! Now anything rted to you two bes instant headlines.¡± ¡°Thank you. But it¡¯s a little early for that,¡± Grayson said smoothly. His tone was polite, but distant. ¡°Now, if you¡¯ll excuse us.¡± He gave the host a quick nod and started heading toward the exit, holding my hand. Delh was still there, standing awkwardly near the wall. She straightened up nervously as soon as we got close. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Grayson¡¯s voice dropped several degrees. ¡°I was very clear. You are not allowed in this hospital.¡± She wrung her hands, face pale. ¡°I¨CI know¡­ but I really wanted to see Aria. A¨CAnd you. I wanted to say I¡¯m sorry. For everything¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that craps already. Don¡¯te and waste my time again.¡± His tone was brutal. Delh¡¯s eyes welled up again. She nced at me, pleading. I hesitated for a brief second if I should help her. Then, I turned to Grayson. ¡°You can¡¯t ban her froming to the hospital. She¡¯s pregnant. What if she needs to see a doctor too?¡± He frowned and shot me a disapproving look. ¡°It¡¯s her right,¡± I insisted. ¡°Everyone has the right to medical care.¡± 12:38 Sun, 10 Aug He let out a heavy exhale, clearly not happy about it. But he didn¡¯t argue. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± he huffed, yanking my hand and pulling me to the exit. Hooked back and saw Delh mouthing a quick ¡°thank you¡± at me. I winked and mouthed back: You¡¯re wee. I was practically dragged out of the room by him. And the second we were out- ¡°Ahh!¡± I gasped as Grayson suddenly swept me off my feet, princess¨Cstyle. ¡°Hey. Put me down! I can walk!¡± I pushed his chest, face burning. 459% There were still a lot of people around. Guards, TV staff. They all gave us a startled nce before quickly looking away like they¡¯d seen nothing. But Grayson obviously didn¡¯t care. He didn¡¯t even stop until we were inside my room. He set me gently onto the bed, then leaned over me, his eyes dark. ¡°I seem to remember telling you to stay in this room and rest.¡± his tone was dangerous. ¡°But for how much longer?¡± I groaned. ¡°I feel like a prisoner. Why is the recovery taking so long anyway? It doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡± His expression flickered¨Cjust for a quick second. ¡°Maybe because you keep sneaking around instead of resting. We need toe up with a punishment. In case you sneak out again.¡± 1 sat up, frowning at him. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t change the subject. That interview just now¡­what was that about?!¡± A hint of amusement flickered across his eyes. He sat beside me and took my hand. ¡°I thought I was very clear. Which part was confusing?¡± he asked, smiling. ¡°Everything! I mean¡­are you for real? You were serious about the¡ªthe girlfriend thing?¡± My voice cracked on thest words. My heart was thudding so loud I could barely hear myself. He reached out to cup my face. ¡°Aria, you have no idea what I went through. When I sat outside that operating room, waiting to hear if you¡¯d make it.¡± His voice was low and rough. ¡°That¡¯s probably the most powerless in my entire life. Because I just realized¡­I couldn¡¯t bear the thought of losing you. And I might¡¯ve never gotten the chance to tell you how I felt again.¡± I bit my lip, eyes stinging with tears. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly. You¡¯re not going to lose me.¡± I whispered. ¡°Thank the Moon Goddess.¡± He squeezed my hand. ¡°So the moment you opened your eyes, I promised myself¨CI wouldn¡¯t waste another second. I needed you to know how special you are to me. There¡¯s no denying it. You¡¯re the one. The only one.¡± Tears blurred my vision and slid down my cheeks. He leaned down and kissed them away, gently. ¡°But¡­ girlfriend?¡± I choked out between tears. ¡°Do you even know what that means? It means we¡¯re in a rtionship. A real one. Is that 12:38 Sun, 10 Aug Sun, To Aug really what you want?¡± ¡°It is,¡± he said without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯m not ready for marriage. I might never be. But I¡¯m sure I want this. I want you by my side. Forever.¡± The tears kepting. He wiped them away with his thumb, then cupped my face and looked straight into my eyes. ¡°And I want to ask your forgiveness. For how I hurt your family. For how I hurt you. So please¡­stop pushing me away because of it.¡± I sniffled. ¡°And if I say no? Do I still get to be free?¡± His expression darkened. After a beat of silence, he said, ¡°No. You are mine. Whether you agree or not.¡± I let out a wetugh through my tears. So possessive. So bossy. So¡­ him. Am I scared? Hell yeah I am. Letting myself fall into this again meant opening the door to more chaos, more danger. And in the end, I might still end up with nothing. Because this man might never marry me. But could I say no to him? Well, I didn¡¯t think there was a single woman alive who could refuse him. And I was no exception. ¡°So?¡± he asked, voice low, almost urgent. ¡°What¡¯s your answer?¡± I wiped my face and gave him a small smile. ¡°Can I ask for one thing as your girlfriend?¡± His breath hitched. ¡°Of course. Anything.¡± ¡°I want to be free from this damn room and hospital. And I want to see my grandmother and May. You¡¯ve got to stop using them to threaten me. You don¡¯t do that to your girlfriend.¡± He let out a low growl, then crushed his lips to mine in a fevered kiss. ¡°Anything you want, Aria,¡± he whispered into my ear, voice hoarse. ¡°As long as you stay right here by my side.¡± Grayson kept his promise. The very next day, I was told that May and Grandma would being to visit. And once my final check¨Cup was done, I could be discharged. I was thrilled. Finally! I got to see my family and friend again! It felt like my life was getting back on track again. That painful, dark chapter of my life was finally over. ???? ?????????? Of course there was still one tiny problem¨C My wound still hadn¡¯t healed. And no one could figure out why, not even the doctors. But there were so many great things happening at once, I pushed that tiny doubt to the back of my mind. The morning May and Grandma were supposed toe, I got up early, I changed out of my hospital gown, even put on a little makeup. I didn¡¯t want them to think I looked too pale or sickly. When the door opened, I practically jumped off the bed. ¡°Oh my god! I missed you so mu-¡± But I froze. Because it wasn¡¯t them at the door. It was a woman with flowers in her hands. And she was. By far. THE MOST stunning woman I had ever seen. Calling her pretty didn¡¯t evene close. She radiated pure, irresistible femininity. Her refined features, dark silky hair, and tall, graceful figure¡­Everything about her was just¨Cperfect. I think she can win over a man¡¯s heart with just a side nce or a tiny smile. And she made me feel like a little girl. And she was the real woman. I stared at her, stunned and frozen. Because even before she spoke up, I already had a guess who she was. ¡°Aria, right?¡± she said with a dazzling smile. ¡°Hi, hope this isn¡¯t a bad time. I¡¯m I. Grayson¡¯s ex¨Cwife.¡± Wore 84 Chapter 84 Aria¡¯s POV 239% 15 So, this drop¨Cdead gorgeous woman was Grayson¡¯s ex¨Cwife. And possibly the love of his life. My brain justpletely shut down. I stared at her nkly for what felt like forever before I finally stammered, ¡°H¨CHow do you know about me?¡± ¡°Oh, everyone knows about you, especially afterst night,¡± she said with a yful wink. ¡°The host was right. You really were the most envied woman in the world¡­ May Ie in?¡± Except she didn¡¯t wait for my answer. She walked right in and shut the door behind her. ¡°I brought you some tulips. Hope you get well soon.¡± She smiled and set the flowers gently on the table beside my bed. ¡°You like tulips, right?¡± ¡°They¡­ They¡¯re alright,¡± I mumbled. Honestly, I preferred roses. But for some reason, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to say that. ¡°Tulips are my favorite. Grayson used to buy them for me all the time. Our house was always filled with them.¡± Again, I had no idea how to respond. My wolf let out a growl in my mind. She was pissed. Right. Grow a spine, Aria. ¡°So¡­ what brings you here?¡± I finally found the courage to ask. ¡°Oh, I came to see Grayson. And since I was already here, I thought I¡¯d drop by to see you too,¡± she said casually. My eyes went wide. She did know I just became Grayson¡¯s girlfriend, right? Could his ex¨Cwife just visit him without asking me first? Was that a thing? Damn. I was officially in uncharted dating territory. I didn¡¯t even know if I was allowed to call her out for sneaking around with my boyfriend. ¡°So¡­ is he here?¡± she asked,pletely at ease. I had absolutely no intention of answering that. Luckily, the door opened again, just in time to save me. ¡°Surprise!¡± May grinned as she pushed Grandma into the room. ¡°May! Grandma!¡± I rushed forward and hugged May tight, then kissed the top of Grandma¡¯s silver head. She looked in a good state today. May gripped my hand. ¡°Oh my god, I finally get to see you! I have so many questions-¡± She froze mid¨Csentence. Her gaze flicked toward I, and her eyes lit up with surprise. ¡°Uh¡­ who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Th¨Cthat¡¯s Grayson¡¯s friend,¡± I muttered. ¡°Well, now that your family¡¯s here, I¡¯ll stop bothering you.¡± I smiled gracefully. ¡°I¡¯ll just call Grayson myself.¡± She gave me another dazzling smile, then walked out of the room with her phone in hand. ¡°O. M. G.¡± May mouthed dramatically after she left. ¡°Who was that? Since when do you know literal royalty?!¡± I gave her aplicated look. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ I. Grayson¡¯s ex¨Cwife.¡± May¡¯s jaw hit the floor. All her excitement vanished instantly. ¡°E¨CEx¨Cwife?¡± she choked out. ¡°The ex¨Cwife he was totally obsessed with?!¡± ¡°Yep. And she was the one who filed for divorce. If she hadn¡¯t, they¡¯d probably still be together.¡± I copsed onto the edge of my bed, my heart weighed down by a rock. I had always known I existed. But until now, she was just a name. A ghost from Grayson¡¯s past. Someone who lived in a world far, far away from mine. But now she was here. Real. Breathing. In the same hospital as me. Sitting with my boyfriend in his office right now, and I had no idea what they were talking about. God can¡¯t I just have one good day with him?! We literally just became official yesterday, and now his ex¨Cwife shows up? I couldn¡¯t believe the timing. ¡°So why are you still sitting here?¡± May suddenly yanked my arm. ¡°You need to go over there. At least find out what she wants!¡± ¡°You mean¡­ spy on them? That doesn¡¯t feel right,¡± I whispered. ¡°Oh my god, Aria Collins. You still care about morals at this point? That woman came here with one goal: to win Grayson back. And look at her -like she even needs to try.¡± Okay. That one stung a little. ¡°If she wanted him back, she could¡¯ve done it ages ago,¡± I muttered. ¡°She didn¡¯t need to wait until now.¡± ¡°Wrong. Before this, Grayson only did casual flings and one¨Cnight stands. No girl was ever a threat. But you? You just became his first official girlfriend yesterday. And on global television. You don¡¯t think that would make her jealous?¡± I held my breath. Honestly, I hadn¡¯t even considered that. ¡°So¡­ you think she came here because of me?¡± ¡°You bet your sweet ass she did. Oh and that woman is good. When there was nopetition, she kept him close, just enough to keep his attention. But now that a real threat showed up? Boom! She¡¯s in full attack mode. I swear, if you¡¯re not careful, she¡¯ll take him back by tomorrow.¡± A chill ran down my spine. Maybe May wasn¡¯t being dramatic, I¡¯s timing was way too suspicious. ¡°They¡¯re probably in his office. It¡¯s just next door,¡± I said quickly, already standing. ¡°Perfect. I¡¯ming too.¡± May jumped up right after me. We settled Grandma into my hospital bed. She was a little sleepy, so it was the perfect time for a nap. Then we slipped out of the room and tiptoed toward his office. 2:30 Aug € Conveniently, there were no guards at the door. Which, on second thought, made me even more suspicious. Did he send them away on purpose so he and I could chat privately? That made my stomach twist. May pressed her ear to the door and waved at me to do the same. I tossed my moralpass out the window and followed her lead. We heard soft voices from inside. ¡°¡­How have you been? Haven¡¯t heard from you in a while.¡± That¡¯s Grayson¡¯s voice. ¡°Not bad. I just bought a private ind. Been soaking up the sun and enjoying life. And the reason you haven¡¯t heard from me is because you never call.¡± ¡°Sorry. I¡¯ve been busy.¡± ¡°Busy with your little girlfriend,¡± she teased, a smile in her voice. ¡°I saw the interviewst night. Impressive. Since when did you get so romantic, Grayson Hart?¡± There was a pause. Then he asked, ¡°So what brings you here anyway?¡± ¡°Delh called me. She told me about your girlfriend¡¯s condition. Honestly, Grayson, how long were you nning on hiding it? I thought you and I can talk to each other about anything.¡± May gave me a puzzled look. I stared back at her,pletely stunned. My condition? What the hell was that? His voice turned cold. ¡°Delh shouldn¡¯t have called you. Not without my permission.¡± ¡°Oh,e on. She did the right thing. She probably knew you had too much pride to ask me for help. But seriously, how long do you think you can keep this quiet? Aria doesn¡¯t have the time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that bad,¡± he said, his voice strained. ¡°I¡¯ll get in touch with a healer from White River Pack before it gets worse. They¡¯ll help her.¡± ¡°They won¡¯t do it, Grayson. Not after what your father did to their pack. You think hosting some fancy medical summit changes anything? They won¡¯t evene. And Aria¡¯s only going to get weaker. Without a proper healer, without the right blood source, you¡¯re going to lose her.¡± My ears rang. Like someone just knocked me over with a hammer. W¨CWhat did she just say? I thought¡­ I thought I was just recovering from a bullet wound! Sure, it was taking longer than normal, but I assumed it was because my wolf was still weak¡­But what did she mean by lose me? ¡°I can help, Grayson,¡± I said firmly. ¡°I have a good rtionship with White River Pack¡¯s Alpha. I can reach out. I can set up a meeting. You know I¡¯m your only chance.¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t want you involved.¡± he growled. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. You finally found the woman you love. I want to help you keep her.¡± My heart stopped. I blindly reached for the doorframe to steady myself. But the door wasn¡¯t shutpletely¨Cit swung open. ??? ?? ????? With a loud thud, May and I both stumbled straight into the room and crashed onto the floor. Right in front of Grayson and I. Wore 85 Chapter 85 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°Aria! Are you okay?¡± Grayson stormed over and helped me up. May groaned as she scrambled up beside me. ¡°What happened?¡± His brows furrowed, eyes locked on mine. ¡°N¨CNothing¡­¡± I mumbled. Then I couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore. ¡°What were you two just talking about? What¡¯s going on with me?¡± ¡°You were eavesdropping?¡± I raised a brow. 615990 May shot her a re, then turned to Grayson. ¡°If you two weren¡¯t keeping secrets from Aria, we wouldn¡¯t have to eavesdrop. So seriously, what the hell is going on with her? Is she sick?!¡± Grayson cupped my face gently like he¡¯s trying to block me from the outside world, his voice soft. ¡°Nothing¡¯s going on. All you need to do is follow the doctor¡¯s instructions and there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± That sparked a ze of anger in me. Damn it, even his ex¨Cwife was involved now and he was still trying to hide things? I smacked his hand away and red at him. ¡°I¡¯m not a child, Grayson. You can¡¯t keep hiding everything from me. And seriously¨Cdo you think I¡¯m stupid? If my wound keeps bleeding for another 2 months, you think I won¡¯t notice something¡¯s off?¡± His frown deepened, clearly irritated. I stood to the side with her arms crossed, offering a delicate smile. ¡°Grayson, I know you¡¯re just trying to protect Aria. But clearly, she wants all the answers. You need to respect that.¡± God, I hated the way she said that. Like she was the one who truly understood Grayson. And I was just the irrational little girl throwing tantrums! But she wasn¡¯t wrong about one thing. I did want Grayson to respect me on this one. ¡°¡­Fine.¡± He let out a long breath after a beat of silence. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you needed to know because I believed this thing would go away quickly. But if you insist¡­ After the gunshot, you had a massive blood loss during surgery. Your immune system basically shut down. That¡¯s why the bleeding wouldn¡¯t stop, and why you¡¯ve been so weak. The doctor warned me that it¡¯s serious. And he¡¯s not just talking about the wound- there¡¯s also a series of immune¨Crtedplications thates after that.¡± Oh my dear Moon Goddess. I pped a hand over my mouth. May let out a quiet gasp beside me. I knew I hadn¡¯t been feeling righttely. I could feel how weak my wolf was. But I didn¡¯t realize things were this bad. ¡°B¨CBut how?¡­Why?¡± I stammered. ¡°I¡¯ve always been healthy growing up. I never had any immune issues. Maybe¡­Maybe the bullet was poisoned and that¡¯s what¡¯s causing all the troubles?¡± ¡°I thought of that too. We had the bullet tested. There was nothing wrong with it,¡± he said. I bit my lip, panic rising in my chest. He was putting it lightly but I knew if we didn¡¯t do anything, this thing was going to cost me my life eventually. 5921 Fucking hell. Just when I¡¯d finally started believing things were getting better. Life threw this at my face. Fate is such a bitch.. Grayson must¡¯ve seen the fear in my eyes. He took my hand and squeezed it gently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already given you my blood. That should stabilize you for a while. And in the meantime, I¡¯m reaching out to the healers from the White River Pack. They¡¯ll figure out what¡¯s wrong and cure you.¡± ¡°But¡­ aren¡¯t they like our enemies? I don¡¯t think they¡¯d want to help me¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s where Ie in,¡± I cut in. ¡°I¡¯ve been friend with White River Pack¡¯s Alpha for years. I can talk to him, convince him toe to the medical summit. Then, during the summit, I can introduce the two of you. Maybe there¡¯s a way for us to put the past behind us and get you the help you need.¡± My heart skipped a beat. And I blurted, ¡°No.¡± The room fell dead silent after that. After a few seconds, I blinked, slightly taken aback. ¡°Excuse me? What do you mean, no?¡± I swallowed, trying to keep my tone steady. ¡°I appreciate the offer. Really. But I don¡¯t want to owe you something so big. Let¡¯s be honest here, we barely even know each other.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s no big deal,¡± she said smoothly. ¡°It¡¯s just a few calls, a couple meetings. I¡¯d be happy to-¡± ¡°I mean it.¡± I cut her off. ¡°This is my problem, my disease. I can take care of it myself.¡± ¡°Aria,¡± Grayson said sharply, clearly not pleased. ¡°You don¡¯t need to turn this down just yet.¡± ¡°But I have decided already.¡± I stared him down, stubborn. ¡°You can¡¯t force me to see a healer if I don¡¯t want to.¡± Anger shed in his eyes. And then, I let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Oh. Okay. I think I get what¡¯s going on here.¡± She tilted her head, her tone airy. ¡°Grayson, your girlfriend clearly feels threatened by me.¡± I red at her. Grayson turned to me, his eyes wide. ¡°No. That¡¯s nonsense.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what this is. You¡¯re a man. So you don¡¯t get it.¡± She gave a light shrug. ¡°I told you, not everyone understands the nature of our rtionship.¡± ¡°So what even is your rtionship?¡± May snapped. ¡°No normal divorced couple still hangs out like that. Something shady is going on here.¡± I gave May a grateful look. Oh bless her my dear friend. So brave. I nced at her calmly, still looking calm and elegant. ¡°Grayson and I weren¡¯t like most couples. We didn¡¯t separate because of those ugly reasons like cheating, money, violence, or fight. I guess you could say that things never got bad between us. And that¡¯s why we can still be friends.¡± God, that just made the weight in my chest worse! ¡°Then why did you even get a divorce?¡± I demanded. 59% ¡°I was the one who asked for it. I was young and¡­I wanted to explore life beyond marriage.¡± She cast a regretful nce at Grayson. ¡°I¡¯ve always felt guilty for leaving him. So believe me when I say I want to help you, Miss Collins, I want Grayson to be happy. Even if it¡¯s not with me.¡± My hands clenched into fists. Wanted to explore life beyond marriage¡­ What kind of bullshit excuse was that?! She made it sound like there was still some unbreakable bond between them. And I was just a temporary stand¨Cin. Someone to fill her shoes when she didn¡¯t have the time. I snapped my head toward Grayson, fury bubbling inside me. How could he not hear it? How could he possibly believe they were ¡°just friends¡°?! He finally spoke up, his voice low. ¡°I, give us a moment. I¡¯ll talk to you after.¡± She shrugged. ¡°Sure. I¡¯m staying at the hotel. But don¡¯t take too long. I¡¯ll need time to contact White River Pack¡¯s Alpha.¡± With that, she turned to leave. And before walking out, she even gave me one of those perfectly polished smiles, like everything we just said didn¡¯t matter at all. The moment the door closed behind her, I spun on Grayson. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be childish, Aria. This is about your health,¡± he snapped. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re actually jealous of I.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not jealousy¡­She just¨Cjust bothers me! Yes, ¡®bother¡® is the right word!¡± I cried. ¡°Yeah, and that whole thing was weird as hell,¡± May jumped in, eager to back me up. ¡°Your ex¨Cwife literally just kept reminding us how close they used to be. How much she understands you. If my boyfriend¡¯s ex dared talk to me like that, I¡¯d p that little bitch straight across the face.¡± Grayson turned to her, his eyes like ice. ¡°This is between me and Aria. Please leave.¡± ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t talk to my friend like that!¡± I snapped. ¡°And May¡¯s fight. It IS weird! From the reason you two divorced to how close you still are¡­. -I just don¡¯t get it! If it¡¯s possible, I¡¯d want you two to stop talking altogether.¡± ¡°You¡¯re acting like a three¨Cyear¨Cold child, Aria.¡± He said icily. ¡°What? So I can¡¯t even ask you to stay away from someone who clearly bothers me? I don¡¯t get a say in that as your girlfriend?¡± ¡°No, not even if you were my wife. I and I never restricted each other from seeing friends. Because we knew that kind of demand was unreasonable.¡± What. The. Fuck. I think I was going to explode. Was he seriouslyparing me to her right now? And calling me the unreasonable one? Well sorry if I wasn¡¯t as ssy, poised, or understanding as his perfect, polished ex¨Cwife! ¡°For your information, I¡¯d rather bleed to death than ept her help,¡± I blurt. ¡°Then maybe after I¡¯m gone, the two of you can finally get back together!¡± ? ????? He grabbed my jaw suddenly, his grip firm and unyielding. Anger burned in his eyes. ¡°Say something like that again and you¡¯ll have some serious trouble,¡± he growled. AD Comment Wore 86 Chapter 86 Aria¡¯s POV I stared at him defiantly. I had to admit it¨CI wasn¡¯t as afraid of him as I used to be. ¡°Why? Because you don¡¯t want me talking shit about your ex¨Cwife?¡± I sneered. But he didn¡¯t take the bait. Instead, he just looked at me, deeply. ¡°No. Because I don¡¯t want to hear you talk about leaving me one day.¡± 1 froze. And just like that, all my anger melted into guilt. God¡­ was I being too harsh on him? The silence stretched for a second before May cleared her throat awkwardly. ¡°1¨CI¡¯ll leave you two to talk,¡± she mumbled, giving me a wink before darting out the door. ¡°God, that fight¡­ it was so stupid,¡± I murmured after the door closed. ¡°I don¡¯t want to argue with you over something so pointless.¡± ¡°I agree. I didn¡¯t want to fight either,¡± he said softly, cupping my face. ¡°But you need to tell me what¡¯s really bothering you.¡± I took a breath. ¡°I guess¡­ it¡¯s just your ex¨Cwife in total. How elegant and graceful and beautiful she is. And everyone keeps reminding me how in love you two were. It freaks me out. Oh! And the fact that she¡¯s royal and I¡¯m, well, nothing.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t marry I for her status,¡± he said tly. ¡°Then what for?¡± I pressed. I knew I might regret asking, but I just needed to know. ¡°She was the only one who could calm me¨Cand my wolf¨Cwhen we had¡­our episodes. I felt at ease around her,¡± he said quietly. ¡°But Aria, you don¡¯t need to worry about any of that. I¡¯m so much more rxed when I¡¯m with you. What you give me¡­ I¡¯ve never felt that before.¡± I smiled, just a little. I had his heart now. What more could I ask for? ¡°But if she hadn¡¯t asked for a divorce¡­would you two still be together?¡± I asked hesitantly. He cut me off. ¡°I don¡¯t know what would¡¯ve happened. But she was also a mess back then. She felt trapped around me. And I could tell I was dragging her down, so I let her go. With her, I felt like we were sinking together. But with you¡­ you¡¯re the one pulling me out. I could never let you go the way I let her.¡± I stared into his eyes. There was love there. And longing. And I knew he meant every word. I didn¡¯t need to ask if he loved I. I think we both knew the answer. And I¡¯d heard enough. I leaned into his chest, and he wrapped his arms around me, stroking my hair. ¡°So I guess our first fight as a couple is officially over?¡± he murmured. 1/4 59% ¡°It is,¡± I said with a smallugh. ¡°But I¡¯m still standing firm. I don¡¯t want I involved,¡± His expression darkened immediately. ¡°Aria¡­¡± ¡°Please?¡± I pleaded. ¡°It¡¯s alreadyplicated enough. If she starts helping, you¡¯ll see her every day, she¡¯ll be around all the time¨Cand who knows what could happen? I just want a few peaceful days. Besides, maybe something wille up at the Medical Summit. Maybe we¡¯ll find another way to cure me.¡± He exhaled heavily. After a pause, he finally nodded. ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll talk to the healers at the summit first. If we hit a wall, then we¡¯ll consider other options.¡± I nodded hard and hugged him tight. Silently, I prayed for a miracle. Anything that would mean we didn¡¯t need I. ¡°We still need to find a blood match for you,¡± he added. ¡°Do you have any idea where your mom might be? Anyone she might¡¯ve stayed in contact with?¡± I shook my head. ¡°No. Shepletely disappeared from my life after my childhood. Didn¡¯t even send cards for Christmas or birthdays. I thought your people were good at tracking? Why don¡¯t you find her?¡± Honestly, I wasn¡¯t sure I was ready to see my mom again. But if Grayson did find her¡­ Maybe it wouldn¡¯t be such a bad idea for her to know I was dating the perfect guy, and we were very happy together. Yet to my surprise, he shook his head. ¡°I tried. But couldn¡¯t find her anywhere. It¡¯s like she vanished off the face of the earth.¡± ¡°What? Not even you could find her?¡± I blinked in shock. I thought Grayson could probably find a lost ant in a thunderstorm. And yet he couldn¡¯t find my mother? A sudden wave of dread surged up in me. If that¡¯s the case, there was only one possible exnation¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it,¡± Grayson said quickly. ¡°If she were dead, my men would locate her body as well. So no¨CI don¡¯t think something happened to her. She¡¯s probably hiding. For some reason.¡± Jinhaled slowly and nodded. ¡°Well, do you want to talk to my grandma? Maybe she remembers something that could help.¡± ¡°Good idea. Let¡¯s go.¡± We returned to my hospital room. Luckily grandma had just woken up from a nap. But to our disappointment, her memory was a total mess. Other than my mom¡¯s name¨CJolene¨Cshe couldn¡¯t recall anything at all. ¡°You don¡¯t even remember her maiden name before she married your dad?¡± May asked. ¡°No. I just remember people calling her Jolene Collins when I was little. She was already using my dad¡¯s name,¡± I admitted, feeling ashamed. I knew so little about her. And for years, I hadn¡¯t even tried to learn more. I¡¯d been too bitter to care. But now¡­ now I was starting to realize how little I really knew. And just how many secrets she might¡¯ve been hiding. unuy ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll find her. It¡¯s just going to take time,¡± Grayson said. ¡°Now, I¡¯ve gotta get back to work. There¡¯s a ton of stuff to prep for the summit. Why don¡¯t you spend some time with your grandma and your friend? The driver will take you hometer.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± I said, giving him a quick kiss and pushing the stress out of my mind¡­For now. May, Grandma, and I went back to the mansion. We enjoyed the lovely afternoon tea the maids had prepared. Of course, the topic of I came up again. And May didn¡¯t hold back. ¡°That bitch has no intention of helping you,¡± she growled. ¡°What she said was total bullshit! You know what she¡¯s doing, right? She¡¯s using Alpha Grayson¡¯s concern for you to worm her way back into his life. First it¡¯s, oh, ¡®we¡¯ll meet for coffee¡®¡­ then they¡¯re in meetings together every day¡­ and if youin, you¡¯re the ungrateful bitch who doesn¡¯t appreciate the help. Then bang-¡± ¡°I get it,¡± I said grimly. ¡°Grayson remembers what it felt like to have her around. And they get back together.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± May pointed at me with her cake fork, dead serious. ¡°That¡¯s how every woman gets her ex back. Don¡¯t even give her the damn chance to start with.¡± I nodded firmly. Once again, I felt so d I¡¯d refused I¡¯s help. May and Grandma stayed untilte that night, reluctant to leave. Grayson didn¡¯te home that night. He¡¯s too busy with work, I guessed. The next morning, I woke up thinking about my illness. It was weird. Aside from the slow healing and a little weakness, I didn¡¯t really feel that different. Maybe I just needed to exercise more? There was a gym in the mansion. I changed into my workout clothes and headed there. After a light warm¨Cup, I started lifting weights. The first few sets felt great. I even broke a sweat and felt pretty healthy. But when I picked up a heavier dumbbell, a sudden wave of exhaustion mmed into me. My knees buckled, and the weight dropped to the floor with a loud ng. I copsed onto the mat, breathless, dizzy. My vision blurred for a few terrifying seconds before slowly returning. God! What the hell was that? I was never exactly athletic, but I¡¯d never been this weak either. I used to go hunting with Grayson in the mountains. Now I wasn¡¯t sure if t could even run a mile. I sat there on the floor, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like crying. Werewolves choose mates based on strength. An Alpha¡¯s Luna is supposed to be the strongest woman in the pack. Which meant that Grayson was drifting further and further out of my league. BANG. A loud thud echoed from upstairs. 59% 1 snapped my head up. The floor above the gym was Grayson¡¯s study. Was he back from work? I desperately needed to see him. I neededfort. So I pushed myself up and stumbled toward the stairs. The study door was slightly ajar. I shoved it open, calling out to him: ¡°Gra-¡± I turned around from in front of the bookshelf. She offered me a sweet smile. ¡°Oh hey, Aria.¡± It felt like a bucket of ice water dumped on my head. I could barely control my face. ¡°What the hell are you doing here?!¡± ¡°Oh, didn¡¯t Grayson tell you?¡± she blinked innocently. ¡°I came to pick up some old photo albums. He said I coulde straight over.¡± I stood there, panting, every cell in my body screaming to rip her head off. But I pushed down that urge. ¡°Listen,¡± I said coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t care what he told you. But from now on, I want you as far away from our lives as possible. I don¡¯t need your help with White River Pack. So you have no reason to be here anymore. Maybe consider booking a flight home soon.¡± She slowly put down the album in her hands, still looking so calm and graceful: Then she looked at me. And smiled. ¡°Wait¡­ Grayson didn¡¯t tell you?¡± My gut twisted. ¡°Tell me what?¡± ¡°He was with mest night,¡± she said lightly. ¡°I already got his permission. And I¡¯ve contacted the Alpha of White River already. Everything¡¯s taken care of, Aria. No need for you to worry.¡± AD Comment Wore 87 Chapter 87 Aria¡¯s POV What. The. Freaking. Hell. I didn¡¯t even know what pissed me off more. The fact that they¡¯d spentst night together? Or the fact that they¡¯d made this decision behind my back? ¡°You had no right.¡± The words hissed through my clenched teeth. ¡°You hear me? No right to make that call for me! I don¡¯t want your help. don¡¯t want your healers¨CI just want you to stay the hell away from me and Grayson!¡± She arched one perfectly groomed eyebrow. ¡°Where is all this hostilitying from? I think there¡¯s some sort of misunderstanding.¡± ¡°Misunderstanding? Okay. Then let¡¯s do this,¡± I mmed the door behind me, ring at her. ¡°Why are you really here, huh? I don¡¯t think you are interested in saving the life of a total stranger, So let¡¯s just cut the crap¨CYou want him back, don¡¯t you? You regret filing for that divorce, and now you¡¯re here to steal him away!¡± She blinked, then let out a softugh. Augh so dripping with disdain it felt like she was dealing with a misbehaving puppy. ¡°Maybe you should work on your paranoia. Or your self¨Cesteem.¡± She elegantly adjusted the diamond brooch on her chest. ¡°I told you, I¡¯m doing this for Grayson¡¯s sake. I want him to be happy. And for your information, my life is very fulfilling right now. I don¡¯t want him back.¡± Her casual tone only fueled my rage. ¡°Bullshit! No one pushes ¡®help¡® this hard after being told to back off. You¡¯re definitely up to something!¡± I snapped. ¡°And you will never seed. Because you¡¯ve walked away from him once. You gave up on that chance yourself. And now he has someone else in his life already. So just back the fuck up!¡± Her face cooled, a crease forming between her brows. ¡°You know what?¡± She smirked. ¡°Sometimes, I envy uneducated small¨Ctown girls like you. You think screaming and cursing solve everything. How¡­cute and naive.¡± Uneducated? Who the hell was she calling uneducated?! ¡°OUT!¡± I roared. ¡°Get the hell out of my house!¡± She lifted her chin, her gaze icy. ¡°This was my home as well. I was the hostess of this house even before you came along, And Grayson and ! are still friends. You¡¯re being rude, Miss Collins.¡± ¡°Spare me your high¨Csociety crap. Just leave!¡± I kicked a chair, shaking with fury. God, she knew exactly how to push my buttons. Just then, urgent knock on the door interrupted us. Mrs. Jones¡¯s voice carried through the door, sounding worried: ¡°Aria? Lady I? Is everything alright?¡± ¡°Come in!¡± I barked. She opened the door and stepped in. I immediately pointed at I. ¡°Please call security, Mrs. Jones. I want her gone¡ªnow! And make sure she doesn¡¯te back here ever again!¡± 12:39 Sun, 10 Aug 1 Yet to my surprise, she heard my order and hesitated. I gave her a soft smile. ¡°How are youtely, Mrs. Jones?¡± -I¡¯m well. It¡¯s been a while, Lady I.¡± ¡°Yes indeed. And your son? Is he settling into his new job?¡± Mrs. Jones brightened at once. ¡°Oh, yes! Thank you so much for your referral, Lady I. You were a lifesaver to him,¡± I stared at them, shocked. Wait. What the hell is happening? 59% I turned to me, lips curling into a fake smile. ¡°Oh right Aria, you probably didn¡¯t know about this¡­but Mrs. Jones and I go way back. I hired her as the head housekeeper after marrying Grayson. We lived under the same roof for years. So of course she won¡¯t throw me out because she knows I¡¯m not some horrible viin.¡± A chill ran down my spine. And she stepped closer, her voice low and vicious: ¡°I told you already¨CThis was my house. The staff are mine. The roses in the garden? I nted them. The curtains, the rugs¡ªall chosen personally by me. This ce is my territory. And you are the intruder.¡± I balled my fists, gritting. ¡°Stop¨CSTOP IT!¡± ¡°But I get it.¡± She gave me a pitying smile. ¡°A girl like you, dating a guy like Grayson? Of course you¡¯re insecure because he¡¯s wayyyy out of your league. So I¡¯ll forgive your yelling and cursing like nothing¡¯s happened. In fact, I¡¯ll leave now.¡± She picked up the photo albums, nodded to Mrs. Jones, and strolled out. I stood there, my whole body trembling with rage. The house that I once felt like home was now so cold and foreign. Like it was pushing me out. ¡°Aria¡­¡± Mrs. Jones started, hesitant. ¡°I need a moment alone,¡± I whispered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Lady I¡­ she¡¯s always been kind to me and the staff. She helped my son get his dream job. She and the Alpha stayed friends for years. So I thought it was harmless to let her in here. She¡¯s not an outsider¡ª¡± ¡°Enough!¡± I snapped. Did I really need to hear what a nice person I was? And how close she and Grayson still were? I was so sick of people saying it! Mrs. Jones let out a small sigh and quietly left the room. I slumped against the desk and buried my head in my hands. Yesterday¡¯s talk with May had helped lift my spirits, but now I was back at rock bottom again. It was toote. I had already invaded our lives like a fucking gue. No matter how I fought, I couldn¡¯t shake her off now. And no one understood me. Everyone thought she was the saint and I was some ungrateful bitch. There¡¯s a series of hurried footsteps in the hallway. Then the door flew open¨CGrayson stormed in. ¡°Aria!¡± He strode over and dropped to his knees, gripping my shoulders. ¡°Fuck, are you crying? What happened?¡± I looked up, my vision blurred by tears. ¡°¡­You were with herst night,¡± I whispered. He froze. After a long pause, he said, ¡°It¡¯s not like that. I met some business partners at Packhouse. She was there too. So we had one drink after the meeting and that was it-¡± 1 cut him off. ¡°She also said she had gotten your permission to give White River Pack¡¯s Alpha a call. But we just had that conversation yesterday. I told you I didn¡¯t want it!¡± He exhaled sharply. ¡°I didn¡¯t give her any permission. She¡¯d already done it by the time we met. And seriously, Aria, is that such a bad thing? I want you to get better soon and that¡¯s probably the best way. I just can¡¯t afford to lose you-¡± ¡°And I can¡¯t lose you too! But that¡¯s what will happen if she stays around. You¡¯ll leave me for her!¡± ¡°Aria!¡± His voice turned cold and stern. ¡°Can¡¯t you have some faith in me? In us?! I¡¯m not going back to I. Ever. You¡¯re the only one I want!¡± I swallowed hard. I knew my insecurity was pushing him away. But I couldn¡¯t help it. After a long pause, I mumbled, ¡°It¡¯s not cool¡­Spending the night with your ex¨Cwife and having a drink with her.¡± He let out a long sigh and pulled me close. ¡°It¡¯s just one drink. I swear. Nothing else. You can check the Packhouse¡¯s security cameras to make sure if you want. And I promise it won¡¯t happen again.¡± Trested my head on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. Maybe I had to face it now: I was here to stay. And just like she said¨Cscreaming and cursing wouldn¡¯t change a damn thing. It¡¯s time for me to get ready for war. ¡°Hey.¡± Grayson tilted my chin up. ¡°Want to hear something that¡¯ll cheer you up?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The medical summit is in two days. Alphas are flying in with their partners. I want you to entertain some Lunas. As the hostess.¡± My jaw dropped to the ground. What the freaking hell¡­Me. Hosting Lunas? Is he kidding??? ¡°How is that cheerful?¡± I gasped. Did he not get how stressful this was? Heughed. ¡°Rx. Screw up all you want¨Cno one will darein anyway. I just want you to meet people and have fun.¡± I bit my lip. His reassurance did nothing to ease my nerves. ¡°It¡¯s our first official event together as a couple.¡± He kissed my cheek. ¡°Lcan¡¯t wait to show you off to the whole world, Aria.¡± Even though Grayson told me not to worry, I still couldn¡¯t sleep all night. Thad zero experience entertaining high society women, and no one around to give me advice. My only source of inspiration? Those movies or reality shows depicting the upper¨Css life, where elegantdies always gather for afternoon tea. Afternoon tea that had to be a good idea, right? Sophisticated, rxed, and undeniably ssy. Surely no one could have a problem with that. So I reserved the caf¨¦ downstairs from the hotel where the guests were staying and had Nova send out invitations to the Lunas, inviting them to my afternoon tea party. The next day, I put on my brand¨Cnew tea dress and arrived at the caf¨¦ right on time. The staff had set everything up exactly as I¡¯d asked¨Cdelicate tea sets, tiers of pastries, and vases filled with tulips, roses, and hydrangeas. The whole scene looked absolutely dreamy. I couldn¡¯t help snapping a few photos myself, God, this was so pretty! This is going to work. I¡¯m sure of it. So I took my seat and kept ncing toward the entrance every now and then, waiting for my guests to arrive. ¡­But they never did. Nearly 40 minutes past the agreed time, I was forced to realize¨Csomething was wrong. I pulled out my phone and called Nova. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s me. Did the Lunas¡® flight arrive on time?¡± ¡°Of course. They should¡¯ve already checked into the hotel. Is something wrong?¡± That¡¯s strange. ¡°They never came to the tea party. I think I should probably have the hotel staff go upstairs and check on them-¡± Just then, the caf¨¦ door chimed. Someone came in. 1 whipped my head around so fast I nearly pulled a muscle in my neck. But no, it wasn¡¯t any of the Lunas. It was Delh. ¡°What the hell are you doing here?¡± My face darkened instantly. ¡°I¡¯m here to grab a cup of coffee.¡± She gave me an odd look in return. ¡°And what are you doing here? I thought you were going to join them upstairs.¡± ¡°Upstairs? What upstairs?¡± ¡°The wine tasting in the penthouse lounge upstairs? I ran into a few Lunas in the elevator. They said there¡¯s a wee party, and they¡¯re all heading there now. Didn¡¯t you organize it?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± I snapped. Who the hell hijacked my party? ¡°Besides the Lunas, who else is up there?¡± ¡°Oh,¡± she said casually, ¡°And I saw I there too. She¡¯s in the lounge right now.¡± 12:39 Sun, 10 Aug Wore 88 Chapter 88 Aria¡¯s POV I? That fucking bitch again! I was absolutely certain now. That woman was deliberately targeting me. $59% IS ¡°Wait, is something wrong?¡± Delh asked nervously, ncing between me and the untouched afternoon tea setup. ¡°And what¡¯s all this? Are you throwing your own party here too?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you exactly what¡¯s wrong!¡± I snapped, ring at her. ¡°You went behind my back and called I for help, and now she¡¯s officially back in Grayson¡¯s life. There¡¯s no getting rid of her anymore!¡± Delh¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°W¨CWait¡­ You think I still has feelings for my brother? No, that¡¯s impossible. You must be overthinking this.¡± ¡°Overthinking?¡± I scoffed. ¡°Then exin this¨Cyesterday, she was snooping around my house like she still owned the ce. And today, she hijacked my party and stole my guests, acting like she¡¯s the damn hostess. Tell me that¡¯s not suspicious!¡± Delh looked stunned, but she shook her head. ¡°I? No, she would never do something like that¡­¡± ¡°Why does everyone keep saying that?!¡± I growled, frustration boiling over. God, it¡¯s infuriating! Am I the only one who sees right through her act? ¡°B¨CBecause that¡¯s just not who I is!¡± Delh insisted quietly. ¡°I know you think all high¨Csociety women are spoiled little princesses like me, but I is¡­different. She volunteers at orphanages, donates to charities, treats her staff like family. Seriously, you won¡¯t find a single person who has a bad word to say about her¡­¡± I let out a bitterugh. ¡°Oh my god, Delh. After everything with Jace, I thought you¡¯d have learned to see through people¡¯s facades. But you¡¯re still falling for the same tricks.¡± Her mouth dropped open. And after a pause, she stuttered, ¡°W¨CWait, you were saying she¡¯s the same kind of person as Jace?! No¡­how can you be so sure she¡¯s even pretending?¡± ¡°Because nobody is that perfect. If she seems wless, it¡¯s because she¡¯s putting in serious effort to hide her true self.¡± With that, I turned on my heel and marched toward the door. ¡°Wait, where are you going?¡± Delh called after me. ¡°Upstairs. I¡¯m not letting her steal this from me and act like it¡¯s nothing!¡± I gritted out. Damn it. Grayson made ME the hostess, not her! ¡°I¡¯ming with you!¡± Delh quickly lifted the hem of her dress and hurried after me. We took the elevator up to the penthouse. The entire lounge had been transformed into an elegant wine¨Ctasting event. Servants in crisp uniforms stood in neat rows holding silver trays of drinks, soft jazz music yed in the background, and the air smelled like expensive perfume and aged wine. Fuck. I wouldn¡¯t admit it out loud, but, this setup was undeniably more sophisticated than my tea party. 1/4 ???? ????? Chapter SS 93 The sharp click of our heels on the marble floor drew everyone¡¯s attention. Upon seeing us, a waiter immediately stepped forward to block our path. ¡°Apologies, really want to ask us for our damn invitations?!¡± The waiter froze, clearly unsure what to do. Then I appeared, gliding toward us with effortless grace. She wore a stunning white dress today with bold ck floral patterns, her hair cascading in loose waves over her shoulders. She looked like a goddess who had just stepped out of a painting. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s fine, let them in,¡± she said, giving the waiter a reassuring smile before turning to us. ¡°Aria, we were just waiting for you. And Delh, I¡¯m so d you could join us.¡± I clenched my jaw. She made it sound like she had invited me already, and I was the e to her event, like I was the rude one intruding. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were waiting for me,¡± I said coldly. ¡°In fact, I had no idea this little gathering even existed.¡± She blinked, feigning surprise. ¡°Really? But I sent you an invitation¡­¡± ¡°I never received anything!¡± ¡°Oh dear, your assistant must have forgotten to pass it along,¡± she said sympathetically. ¡°But it¡¯s no big deal¨Cthese little mistakes happen, especially when your assistant is under a lot of pressure. A good leader doesn¡¯t punish small oversights. I certainly never do.¡± Christ! Now she was making me look like some unreasonable tyrant while she yed the gracious, understanding saint. Unbelievable! ¡°I? Is everything alright?¡± one of the Lunas called from across the room. I turned back with a serene smile. ¡°Oh, nothing serious! Just convincing Aria and Delh to join us. I do hope they¡¯re free¡­¡± I pushed past her and strode toward the group of Lunas. ¡°Hello,dies,¡± I said, forcing a polite smile. ¡°I¡¯m Aria Collins, Alpha Grayson¡¯s girlfriend. He personally asked me to host all of you.¡± My heart was pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat. ¡°If you¡¯d like, please join me downstairs¨CI¡¯ve prepared a proper wee party for you.¡± There¡¯s a deadly silence. And my back was sweating. I wasn¡¯t good at dealing with the upper¨Css crowd who generally had a lot of money and even more pride. I was also told before that women older than me didn¡¯t really fancy me. And this crowd checked two boxes. Nobody answered me. These women exchanged nces, their expressions unreadable. A few sipped their champagne, their jeweled fingers glinting under the chandeliers. Finally, one of them spoke, her voice dripping with condescension. ¡°Why would we go downstairs? We¡¯re already at a perfectly lovely party.¡± I took a steadying breath. ¡°Because Alpha Grayson specifically wanted me to-¡± 12:39 Sun, 10 Aug ¡°What exactly is this downstairs party like?¡± another Luna interrupted. ¡°It¡¯s a high tea,¡± I exined. ¡°I¡¯ve set up a beautiful spread. Fresh pastries, floral arrangements, live music. It¡¯ll be fun, I promise-¡± ¡°High tea?¡± one of them gasped, as if I¡¯d suggested something scandalous. A ripple ofughter spread through the group. ¡°How quaint. Are we supposed to be 19th¨Ccentury aristocrats?¡± one mocked. ¡°And that floral dress she¡¯s wearing¡­ So tacky. Don¡¯t tell me that¡¯s her dress code¡­¡± another snickered. ¡°We¡¯re perfectlyfortable here,¡± a third Luna said dismissively. ¡°Lady I has been a wonderful hostess. We don¡¯t need to be dragged down to some¡­amateur tea party.¡± My hands trembled with barely contained anger. ¡°I put a lot of effort into that party. And as Grayson¡¯s chosen hostess-¡± ¡°We¡¯d much rather stay with someone who actually understands our social circle,¡± a woman cut in, smirking. ¡°Lady I mentioned she¡¯s known Alpha Grayson far longer than you have. I doubt he¡¯d mind us preferring herpany.¡± My head snapped toward I. So she¡¯d been whispering that again, huh? That Grayson was closer to her than to me? ¡°I. A word?¡± I hissed. She gave the crowd an apologetic smile and followed me a few steps away, her expression the picture of innocent concern. ¡°Aria, why are you so upset? I don¡¯t think the Lunas here would mind you joining us¡­¡± ¡°You sabotaged me on purpose!¡± I growled lowly. ¡°I spent a lot of time on my event and you blew it. You want this to happen, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? I merely wanted to help,¡± she corrected gently. ¡°See, you don¡¯t know these women¡¯s tastes. But I do. So I did you a little favor. Is that not allowed?¡± ¡°You should¡¯ve asked me first!¡± She sighed like I was being totally unreasonable. ¡°Like I said, ¡®I emailed you. If your assistant failed to deliver it, that¡¯s hardly my fault. But a good leader doesn¡¯t me others for small mistakes, and the way you are acting shows yourck of sympathy and¡­¡± ¡°Oh, just shut the hell up!¡± My voice rang out sharply, echoing across the room. Everyone froze, looking at me in shock. Shit. I probably wanted this to happen. She¡¯d been pushing me to lose my temper. To let me be the rude and uneducated country girl in front of everyone. I fell into her trap. But I couldn¡¯t care that much now. ¡°Leave,¡± I ordered. She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you sure you can handle this crowd alone?¡± ¡°That¡¯s my problem, not yours.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± She shrugged. ¡°As you wish.¡± ?????? With a graceful wave to the Lunas, she turned and walked away in her silver stiletto¨Cstill looking every bit the poised, untouchable queen. ¡°Wait a second. Why would you send I away? We want her here,¡± one of the Lunas cried. ¡°So rude,¡± another one muttered. ¡°No sense of etiquette at all.¡± I hesitated for a second, torn between ying hardball and using Grayson¡¯s name to threaten them. And then, Delh stepped forward and spoke up, ¡°You¡¯re all going to Aria¡¯s party.¡± The room fell silent. With them exchanging reluctant gazes with one another. ¡°With all due respect, Lady Delh,¡± one woman began, ¡°You probably mean well, but we really don¡¯t want to-¡± ¡°I know every single one of you has been begging for Sabrina¡¯s new jewelry collection. But the waiting list is years long.¡± Delh paused, letting that sink in. ¡°Do this, and I¡¯ll make sure you get bumped to the front.¡± A wave of excited murmurs spread through the crowd. ¡°Sabrina¡¯s new collection¡­you sure about this?¡± a Luna gasped with excitement. ¡°Of course. And¡­I also know you are all begging for a seat in the box at tonight¡¯s Royal Symphony performance.¡± Delh pulled two tickets from her clutch, holding them up like treats for her puppy dogs, smirking. ¡°I happen to have two tickets. Whoever gets downstairs first wins this little reward.¡± For a split second, nobody moved. Then the room erupted into chaos as all the Lunas scrambled for the exit. 4/4 Wore 89 Chapter 89 Ana¡¯s POV 593 Delh watched the Lunas scrambling toward the exit, a cold smirk curling her lips. ¡°Dealing with them is like training dogs,¡± she said to me. ¡°You¡¯ve got to dangle some treats to motivate them.¡± ¡°But these are powerful, wealthy women.¡± I thought the rich and powerful didn¡¯t care about these. ¡°So what? The richer they are, the more easily they¡¯re swayed by benefits.¡± Delh scoffed. ¡°Besides, these are just minor pack Lunas. They¡¯re nothingpared to you. You¡¯re Grayson¡¯s girlfriend! They should be groveling at your feet.¡± I was speechless. Never in my life had I imagined Lunas would one day try to curry favor with me. ¡°So toughen up. Let¡¯s go downstairs and boss them around.¡± Delh gave me an encouraging smile. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± I managed a smallugh and followed her back downstairs. When we got back to the caf¨¦, the Lunas were already seated around the table like obedient schoolgirls waiting for their teacher¡¯s praise. I almostughed at this. It¡¯s to bizarre. ¡°Thank you,dies. You all behaved so well just now.¡± Delh said as she took her seat. ¡°I¡¯ll call the Royal Symphony and see if they can get tickets for all of you.¡± The Lunas exchanged excited nces. ¡°So,¡± Delh pressed, ¡°how does this afternoon teapare to I¡¯s wine tasting? which one do you like better?¡± It¡¯s almost like she was forcing them to pick sides. There¡¯s an awkward pause. Then one Luna answered cautiously, ¡°They are very different styles. I like them both.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t like both. It¡¯s like ck and white. You have to choose one!¡± Delh snapped, then turned to me. ¡°Right, Aria?¡± Right. Time to toughen up. This was war between me and I. No mercy for the enemy. ¡°Lady Delh is correct.¡± I looked around the gathered Lunas, suppressing my earlier nervousness and summoning and tried to present some authority: ¡°You¡¯re all Alpha Grayson¡¯s honored guests, so I want you to understand the situation clearly: I don¡¯t care what I told you, but I AM the only hostess. When you attend the medical summit tomorrow, you¡¯ll see me standing beside Alpha Grayson. Not anybody else.¡± The Lunas¡® expressions shifted subtly. Delh gave me an approving nod. I continued, ¡°And how do you think Alpha Grayson would react if he learned you¡¯d ignored his girlfriend to fawn over some irrelevant woman?¡± ¡°We¡¯d never ignore you! Of course we only want to spend all the time we can have with Alpha Grayson¡¯s girlfriend,¡± one woman blurted anxiously, clearly panicking. Sun, 10 Aug ¡°Oh really?¡± Delh snorted. ¡°I clearly heard someone call Aria rude, ssless, andcking etiquette. Who was it again?¡± The Lunas immediately began waving their hands, desperate to distance themselves. ¡°Not me! I never said that.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare speak that way about Lady Arial¡± Another pointed usingly: ¡°I¡¯m sure those nastyments came from Luna Cabrina. Isn¡¯t that right, Cabrina?¡± The tide had turned. They were now turning on each other now. 170 And that Luna Cabrina was a sharply dressed woman in her early 30s with permanent resting bitch face. I remembered her rolling her eyes at me earlier. I gave her an icy smile. ¡°So do you have a problem with me, Luna Cabrina?¡± Her mouth fell open. All her former arrogance was now reced by panic. ¡°N¨Cno! Of course not. I swear I meant no disrespect-¡± ¡°I saw those dramatic eye rolls,¡± Delh cut in coldly. ¡°Clearly you think the Alpha¡¯s sister and girlfriend are all beneath you. So feel free to leave and hang out with your different I instead. Oh, but that trade deal your husband wants with Red Stone Pack? Consider it dead.¡± ¡°No, no, please!¡± Cabrina gasped, cold sweat forming on her forehead. ¡°Please don¡¯t tell my husband about this. This was all my fault¡­No, it was I¡¯s doing! She deliberately misled us.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Another Luna jumped in. ¡°That woman is so maniptive. She kept implying that she shares some special bond with Alpha Grayson. That she matters more than any of his girlfriends. Because girlfriendse and go, yet their connectionst for years.¡± My fists clenched under the table. Damn it, I knew it. That bitch wanted everyone to see me as nothing. Preferably whileughing at me. ¡°And you bought that nonsense?¡± Delh seethed. ¡°What the hell were you thinking? My brother just publicly announced Aria as his girlfriend -his FIRST public rtionship! Who matters more is so fucking obvious.¡± All the Lunas nodded frantically. Their earlier disdain and hostilitypletely vanished. ¡°Yes, yes, we all understand that now,¡± Luna Cabrina simpered. ¡°Lady Aria, perhaps you could mention my husband¡¯s trade proposal to Alpha Grayson? We¡¯d be so honored to work with Red Stone Pack.¡± ¡°Me too!¡± ¡°And us!¡± Nearly every Luna mored to hand me their business cards. But I didn¡¯t ept any. And simply replied with a cool smile, ¡°Ladies, why don¡¯t we enjoy our tea first? Business talk ruins everything.¡± Of course, no one objected. They all raved about the very afternoon tea they¡¯d earlier scorned. They even tried to invite me to future gatherings. I didn¡¯t say yes right away, and just smiled nomittally. The torturested 3 excruciating hours, By the end, my cheeks ached from all the fake smiles. When I finally managed to end the party and send them all away, I copsed into a chair. ¡°God, that was exhausting.¡± I groaned. ¡°Wee to an Alpha¡¯s consort duties endless schmoozing¡± Delh shrugged. ¡°But you killed it. They were ready to crown you queen by the end. I¡¯s nothing to them now.¡± ¡°I know why they liked I,¡± I said darkly. ¡°It¡¯s not just what she said¨Cit¡¯s who she is. She¡¯s a royal, ady. To them, she and Grayson belong to their world. And I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Oh stop, you¡¯re not so bad.¡± The hollow reassurance didn¡¯t help at all. I felt I needed to ask: ¡°So what¡¯s I¡¯s background anyway?¡± ¡°Oh, they say she¡¯s the daughter of Alpha from Spire Pack¨Csome ancient, prestigious European lineage. That Alpha¡¯s like eighty now. I was shocking he could still father a daughter at I¡¯s age.¡± I sighed. So, daughter of an ancient pack¡¯s Alpha. No wonder she looked totally like a princess, And no wonder Grayson had fallen for her initially. I and I. We were pr opposites. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t overthink it,¡± Delh said softly. ¡°My brother doesn¡¯t care about status and money. He¡¯s got everything already. He values what¡¯s inside more. And you were right about I. That woman¡¯s aplete fake! Thank God they split before he met you.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± I managed a smile. After a small pause, I added, ¡°And¡­ thank you for today. I know I couldn¡¯t have done this without your help.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. I just¡­ wanted to make up for all my past mistakes.¡± She looked guilty. Then, after a quick nce at my way, she hesitantly asked, ¡°So¡­would you like me to help pick your outfit for tomorrow¡¯s summit? You know, like we used to?¡± I frowned. Of course, I hadn¡¯t forgotten what she had done before. I didn¡¯t think we could ever go back to be friends again. But with Jace gone, I could see the bad influence lifting from her. Maybe she deserved another chance. ¡°Yeah, why not?¡± My answer made her face light up. And there was another important reason too. Whether I liked it or not, war with I had been dered. And I needed all the allies I could get. AD Comment Wore 90 Chapter 90 Aria¡¯s POV 59% That evening, Delh and I had dinner before heading our separate ways. I heard she still lived in the apartment she bought with Jace for their wedding. It was hard to imagine how that must make her feel now. And I could sense she wanted toe back to Grayson¡¯s mansion with me, but didn¡¯t dare because she was afraid that her brother hadn¡¯t forgiven her yet. I did intend to help patch things up between them. But I also nned to do it slowly. Because I also needed her help dealing with I. Hope this little cooperation between me and her will work. When I got back to the mansion, Grayson was already home. I found him sitting alone in the study, rubbing his temples. ¡°Hey, everything okay? You look exhausted.¡± I walked over and he automatically opened his arms, letting me settle onto hisp while he wrapped his arms around my waist. ¡°Just seeing you makes me feel better.¡± He buried his face in my neck, taking a deep breath. This was his unique way of rxing. ¡°Tell me. How was your day? You met the Lunas already?¡± ¡°It started off kind of tense, but ended well.¡± I paused, hesitating, and then still decided to tell him about I anyway. ¡°Actually, you know what? Your dear I did something totally uncool today.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not MY I,¡± he frowned. ¡°What did she do?¡± ¡°She somehow found out about that I was throwing a party for the Lunas and held her ownpeting event in the same building. And at the exact same time!¡± I watched his expression darken further. ¡°Maybe it was just coincidence,¡± he said. ¡°How could it be a coincidence? She went around telling everyone how special your connection is. And she made everyone think she¡¯s still thedy of the house. Those Lunas wouldn¡¯t even look at me at first¨Cthey all became I¡¯s minions.¡± He sighed, looking exasperated. ¡°You really have a prejudice against her. I wonder where thates from?¡± I was furious. Prejudice? Were men really this blind? Couldn¡¯t he see I was deliberately targeting me? ¡°I told you she sabotaged my party just to undermine me, and you still think it¡¯s prejudice? Even Delh agreed at the end of the day that-¡± ¡°Wait.¡± He cut me off, expression turning serious. ¡°Delh was there today?¡± ¡°Yeah. Honestly, if not for her, I would¡¯ve been totally humiliated by I.¡± ¡°I explicitly forbade her from contacting you,¡± he snapped. ¡°Have you forgotten what she did? She¡¯s dangerous, Aria. You¡¯d still be well and 59% healthy if it weren¡¯t for her. Seriously, I don¡¯t want you anywhere near her ever again.¡± ¡°She was just under Jace¡¯s influence! The real danger here is i. If you want to ban anyone from seeing me, it should be your precious ex- wife.¡± I said angrily. ¡°Enough. We¡¯re not arguing about this,¡± he warned. ¡°Fine by me.¡± I struggled to get off hisp and storm out. But he tightened his arms, holding me firmly in ce. ¡°Stay.¡± He demanded. His voice was rough and dark. I could smell the turbulent emotions in his scent. He wasn¡¯t in a good state. I stopped resisting. ¡°What happened? Did you have a day?¡± ¡°Everything else was manageable. It¡¯s just¡­¡± He paused, voice grim. ¡°The White River Pack Alpha still hasn¡¯t confirmed if he¡¯ll attend tomorrow.¡± For a moment, I wanted to make a sharpment like ¡°I thought your dear I guaranteed he¡¯de.¡± But in the end I swallowed the words. He looked exhausted enough without me adding to it. ¡°You¡¯re worried about me?¡± I asked softly. He took a deep breath, then cradled my face like I was something precious and fragile. ¡°Of course I am. Every second is fucking torture for me now. I know you¡¯re getting worse and there¡¯s nothing I can do about it¡­¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m fine right now. Look, still breathing and everything.¡± But his expression remained stormy. ¡°If he¡¯s determined to ignore my invitation, he¡¯s determined to make an enemy of me. I¡¯ll fucking start a war. A war that my father never finished. Maybe violence is the onlynguage those arrogant bastards understand.¡± A chill was sent down my spine. God, a war? And it would essentially be because of me. That was terrifying! ¡°You¡¯re not serious.¡± I straightened, frowning. He gave a dark chuckle. The dangerous edge in his scent intensified. I could feel his wolf¡¯s agitation, like it was losing control, craving blood and violence¡­ Clearly, he meant every word right now. ¡°No, Grayson, listen to me!¡± I grabbed his shoulders, staring at him intently. ¡°Your father made a huge mistake invading White River Pack years ago. You¡¯ve said so yourself! So don¡¯t repeat his mistakes. Don¡¯t let your emotions control you. Nothing good wille of this.¡± His breathing was rough and uneven. ¡°But if he refuses to help you-¡± 12:40 Sun, 10 Aug ¡ú ¡°Then we find another way. There has to be another way.¡± I said firmly. No way would I be the cause of a war Otherwise I¡¯d never sleep peacefully ever again. He exhaled heavily and pulled me close again. I wrapped my arms around his neck, releasing my scent to calm him down. ¡°Let¡¯s just see what happens at tomorrow¡¯s summit,¡± he muttered. I nodded silently. A sense of foreboding was rising in my chest. I had this feeling¨Ctomorrow¡¯s medical summit wouldn¡¯t go smoothly as we wanted it to be. AD Comment Wore 91 Chapter 91 Aria¡¯s POV 59% 410 This year¡¯s Medical Summit was probably the most high¨Cprofile event of the decade. The city center had been blocked off since early morning to ensure the Alphas could arrive at the packhouse smoothly. Giant screens on skyscrapers were looping the summit¡¯s promo video. Crowds lined both sides of the road, all just hoping to catch a glimpse of the noble guests from faraway packs. Everyone in the world thought Grayson was officially making his move into the medical industry. I even saw a few expert interviews analyzing the strategic business motives behind it. But only a handful of people knew the truth. All this madness¡­ was for me alone. Grayson didn¡¯t want any medical breakthrough. He just wanted to cure me. When I woke up this morning, Grayson had already left. Today was bound to be a hectic day for him¨Cmeetings with gods¨Cknow¨Chow¨Cmany Alphas¨Cso I was left behind with Nora to escort me. And just as promised, Delh had delivered the dress she picked for me. It was a beautiful rose¨Cpink dress, expertly tailored and made from the finest material. Perfect for an event that was both formal and morous. After changing into it, I did a quick spin in front of the mirror and turned to Nora. ¡°What do you think?¡± I asked. ¡°I¨CIt¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s great,¡± she said, hesitating. ¡°You mean it washes me out.¡± ¡°No! Of course not! It¡¯s a lovely dress and¡­ and it really does look good on you.¡± I sighed. Nora was trying so hard to sound sincere, but nothing could change the fact- I looked absolutely drained, especially under such a ttering dress. I didn¡¯t tell anyone about this. But the moment I got out of bed this morning, I fainted. It wasn¡¯t until half an hourter that I finally woke up and dragged myself back up. It felt like there was a pump inside me, constantly draining everyst drop of energy from my body. Hell if Grayson found out about this, he¡¯d lose his mind. And thest thing he needed right now was more stress. ¡°More foundation,¡± I sighed, waving the makeup artist over. ¡°Time for a miracle makeover.¡± 1/5 659% The makeup artist and her assistants swooped in. Together, they worked on me for two straight hours. When they were finally done, I at least looked somewhat alive again. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s good enough. Let¡¯s go,¡± I said after one final look in the mirror. I was headed to tonight¡¯s g. The official opening event of the Medical Summit. The traffic on the way was still terrible. Roadblocks, jams, detours¨Cyou name it. Luckily, I had two police escorts clearing the way in front and behind, and every time an officer saw my license te, they immediately waved us through. So I made it there smoothly. But the moment my car door opened and I stepped onto the red carpet, the sh of cameras almost blinded me. I wasn¡¯t even with Grayson this time, and yet the press still went wild shouting my name, snapping photos nonstop. No doubt. I was headline news all on my own now. ¡°Miss Collins, look this way please!¡± they shouted. ¡°Miss Collins! Is it true you hosted the Lunas yesterday? Does this mean Alpha Grayson has officially acknowledged you as his long term partner?¡± ¡°Miss Collins, is there a weddinging up soon?¡± l ignored all the noise and walked straight into the venue. The g hadn¡¯t officially begun yet. Early guests had gathered in little circles, chatting and exchanging pleasantries. The moment I stepped into the room, almost everyone turned to look at me. I remember only Grayson used to have that kind of effect. ¡°Still terrifying,¡± I muttered. ¡°If you hate this kind of attention, there¡¯s always a way to handle it,¡± Nora said with a softugh. ¡°Really? I thought I was expected to socialize.¡± ¡°Not at all. Alpha said you can do whatever you want. If someone¡¯s bothering you, just tell the guards to throw them out. No one¡¯s going to say a word.¡± She waved over the bodyguards, who immediately positioned themselves around me like a protective circle. A few people who had been eyeing me toe over and chat saw this and quietly backed off. I finally let out a breath and took a sip of champagne. Then, I spotted a few Lunas. They were from yesterday¡¯s tea party. Cabrina, the chatty one, was waving at me excitedly right now. ¡°Lady Aria, should we let them through?¡± one of the guards asked. I nodded, and they opened a gap in the formation to let the tunas in. ¡°Oh my goodness, you look absolutely stunning tonight, darling,¡± Cabrina gushed. The others quickly chimed in withpliments. 12:40 Sun, 10 Aug I gave them a polite smile. ¡°Thank you. Did you all sleep well after yesterday?¡± 59%0 ¡°Absolutely. We¡¯re really looking forward to the summit,¡± Cabrina said, a little too eagerly. ¡°So¡­ after the opening, do you think we¡¯ll get a chance to speak with Alpha Grayson? Would you mind making an introduction?¡± 1 frowned slightly. But before I could answer, another voice cut in from nearby: ¡°I¡¯d be happy to introduce you, Luna Cabrina.¡± I. She had clearly gone all out tonight. That silver¨Cblue gown hugged her body perfectly. As she walked through the crowd toward us, I noticed plenty of men turning to admire her. She knew exactly how to grab attention¨Cespecially from men. I smirked and looked at Cabrina. ¡°I says she can make the introduction. So¨Care you choosing me, or her?¡± Time to see how loyal this little tea party group really was. Cabrina hesitated for a very short second before replying confidently, ¡°Of course you, Lady Aria. You¡¯re Alpha Grayson¡¯s girlfriend. His closest person. Why would I go to anyone else?¡± Another Luna immediately added with a snide tone, ¡°We only hang out with Grayson¡¯s official partner. There are some desperate women out there iming to be his friend, but let¡¯s be honest¨Cthey¡¯re just crazy stalkers. Alpha Grayson doesn¡¯t even spare them a nce.¡± ¡°Yeah, no shame at all,¡± someone else scoffed. I¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Her smile stayed perfect, but her clenched knuckles gripping her clutch were turning white. That gave her away. ¡°Looks like you did make some friends yesterday,¡± she said with a wless smile. ¡°Of course,¡± I gave her a fake smile back. ¡°All the Lunas ended up at my tea party, and we had a wonderful time. Even if it¡¯s not what you were hoping for.¡± ¡°Oh god Aria, what are you talking about? Of course I want you to be friends with everyone,¡± she said sweetly, ncing at the guards blocking her path. ¡°Mind letting me through? It¡¯s hard to talk from here.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Why don¡¯t you go chat with someone who does want to talk to you?¡± I said coolly. Her smile finally vanished. She shot me a cold look, then turned and walked away. I took a big sip of champagne. Well, that felt good. ¡°That woman has no shame,¡± Cabrina scoffed. ¡°Total mistress energy¨Csly and conniving. You¡¯re smart to stay away from her.¡± gave her a smile. ¡°Thanks,dies. And I¡¯ll see if I can arrange a quick chat with Alpha Grayson after the g.¡± Their faces lit up instantly. then I excused myself and wandered into a side lounge to take a break. That tiny victory put me in a good mood, and I wasn¡¯t in the mood to deal with more small talk. Just as i was walking into the lounge, someone suddenly bumped into me hard. ¡°AHHHI¡± We gasped in unison. The bodyguards rushed in, shielding me. ¡°Lady Aria, are you alright?¡± I steadied myself with Nova¡¯s help and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°You damn idiots! How could you let a stranger get close to Lady Aria? Throw him out!¡± Nova snapped. ¡°Yes miss Nova!¡± That¡¯s when I got a good look at the person who¡¯d bumped into me. It¡¯s young man, clearly nervous, overwhelmed¡­ maybe even a little scared. Somehow he reminded me of myself when I first stumbled into this scary high¨Csociety world. ¡°N¨CNo, please. I¡¯m not a bad person,¡± he cried as the guards grabbed him. ¡°It was just an ident¡­¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. He¡¯s obviously harmless.¡± I waved the guards off and gave him a smile. ¡°Are you here for the summit?¡± The young man quickly adjusted his clearly cheap suit and smiled back gratefully. ¡°Yes, my name is Malik, from White River Pack. You have no idea how honored I am to be here.¡± My heart skipped a beat. ¡­White River Pack?! So they did send someone. Then what about their Alpha? Is Keing? I was about to ask when Malik spoke again. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to offend you, but¡­ are you ill, Miss? I just graduated from the top medical academy in White River. If you¡¯d let me, I could take a look.¡± Nova snapped, ¡°You wish! There¡¯s no way I¡¯m letting a total stranger anywhere near-¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± I cut Nova off and waved the guards aside. ¡°Come here.¡± Malik cautiously stepped forward and ced his hand just beneath my throat¨Cthe spot healers use to assess a patient. After a moment, his expression changed. ¡°How strange¡­ very strange¡­¡± he muttered, confused. ¡°You¡¯ve been injured recently, right? Your wolf should be healing you¡ªbut she isn¡¯t. It¡¯s like¡­ something¡¯s binding her¡­¡± ¡°Maybe my wolf is just weak,¡± I shrugged, ¡°No way!¡± he said firmly. ¡°Your wolf is incredibly strong¨CI can feel it. But now she¡¯s acting so¡­ suppressed. Has anyone ever performed a ritual or sealing on you when you were a child?¡± ´ø59%Ãæ Rituals? Sealing? What the hell was he talking about? ¡°This guy¡¯s full of crap.¡± Nova whispered in my ear. ¡°There are probably tons of scammers sneaking into this summit. Let me have him removed.¡± ¡°No, wait. I actually¡­ kinda want to hear what he-¡± But before I could finish my sentence, a deafening wolf¡¯s howl erupted through the venue. Then came the sound of shattering ss, people screaming, footsteps running in every direction. I whipped around. What the hell just happened? Wore 92 Chapter 92 Aria¡¯s POV I immediately turned around, ready to run back. But Nova tried to stop me, ¡°Wait, Aria! It could be dangerous-¡± But I didn¡¯t care. I shoved her aside and ran against the panicked crowd, heading straight for the main hall. Just moments ago, the atmosphere there had been calm and elegant, filled with smiling guests sipping champagne. But now? The tension in the air was thick. People stood pressed against the walls, all staring toward the center of the room with wide eyes. I immediately saw Grayson in the middle of the room. His face was cold, fists clenched tight, and his powerful Alpha aura crackled in the air like a storm. Standing across from him was a man in his fifties. The moment I saw him, I knew I didn¡¯t like him. His sunken eyes, hooked nose, and sharp cheekbones all screamed bitterness. He looked like the kind of man who hated everything and everyone. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± The man sneered, narrowing his eyes at Grayson. His voice was low and cold. ¡°You begged us toe, Grayson. If the White River Pack¡¯s not wee, we can leave right now.¡± ¡°invited guests who came in peace, not enemies with hidden agendas,¡± Grayson growled darkly, his gray eyes cutting to the group behind the man. ¡°Care to exin why you brought so many soldiers?¡± He wasn¡¯t exaggerating. Behind the Alpha stood at least a few dozen soldiers, fully armed. They all had guns in hand, loaded, and all aimed at Grayson and the guests behind him. Holy shit. It looked like they were ready to shoot the ce up. The man gave a humorlessugh. ¡°Oh, you mean these soldiers? They¡¯re only for my protection. Who knows what could happen? After all, your dear father did brutally invade my pack years ago.¡± That stirred the room. Whispers broke out instantly. I even caught words like ¡°brutal¡± and ¡°tyrant.¡± That war Grayson¡¯s father started wasrgely criticized, and to this day, Grayson was still paying for his father¡¯s sins. It wasn¡¯t fair. ¡°I¡¯m not my father,¡± Grayson said, his voice steady. ¡°Now tell your soldiers to lower their weapons.¡± Alpha Otto shrugged. ¡°No freaking way. To me, you¡¯re just like him. Another hypocrite. For all I know, you might shoot me the second I let my guard down.¡± Neither of them was willing to back down. The tension rose again immediately. That¡¯s when I heard the sound of heels. Sharp, deliberate, cutting through the silence. ???? $59% I stepped out of the crowd. ¡°Otto!¡± She called his name sweetly, and just like that, the hostility vanished from his face. He grinned, opened his arms, and hugged her tight. ¡°My dear I. You¡¯re the only good thing about this ce.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d to see you too.¡± I smiled. ¡°I trust you¡¯ve met Grayson?¡± ¡°Oh, yes. If I had known he was this paranoid, I wouldn¡¯t have bothered showing up,¡± Otto said with a sneer. ¡°Paranoid? You showed up to a medical summit with an army. Now who¡¯s the paranoid one?¡± Grayson snapped. ¡°If you don¡¯t want me here, I can leave right now.¡± ¡°Enough, both of you,¡± I raised her voice. She ced a hand on Otto¡¯s shoulder and gave him a disapproving look. ¡°I arranged this meeting so you two could talk it through, not to turn this into a fight. Otto, please have your soldiers step outside.¡± Otto raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really? You¡¯re siding with him? What about my safety?¡± She replied in a soft voice, ¡°As long as I¡¯m here, nothing will happen to you. You trust me, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I trust you. I just don¡¯t trust him,¡± Otto said, ring at Grayson. Then I turned to Grayson, her voice softer. ¡°Can I get your word? That you won¡¯t harm Alpha Otto or anyone from the White River Pack? You know, for our old time¡¯s sake?¡± Grayson¡¯s jaw was tight. He looked like he wanted to tell both of them to get the hell out. God, I wished he would. But after a long pause of silence, he exhaled and said quietly, ¡°Of course. Every guest at this summit is wee.¡± I lit up instantly. ¡°Wonderful. Did you hear that, Otto?¡± ¡°Oh, I heard. Only you could get two enemies to share a room without bloodshed, my dear.¡± Otto squeezed her shoulder and gave a sarcasticugh. ¡°Really, I¡¯m jealous, Grayson. I fought so hard to bring me here and she did it for you. You should be grateful.¡± I smiled shyly and nced at Grayson. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯d do anything for him.¡± I clenched my fists. This woman was seriously testing my patience. ¡°Please help yourself to a drink. The opening ceremony will begin shortly,¡± Grayson said tly. I was d he didn¡¯t thank I or anything. Otto and his soldiers finally backed off, and the air in the hall loosened a little. Guests started to mingle again. I immediately walked up to Grayson, And I was just in time to catch I whispering to him: ¡°¡­this is a good start. We should keep it going. Maybe you could invite Otto to dinner after the ceremony.-¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be serious!¡± I cut her off, my voice sharp. ¡°He stormed in here with a goddamn army ready to shoot everyone dead. How¡¯s that a good start?¡± 59% I¡¯s smile dimmed slightly. ¡°Everything takes progress, especially diplomacy. I don¡¯t expect you to understand howplicated this is, Miss Collins, but I¡¯d appreciate it if you stayed out of it.¡± Fucking hell. Did she just make me sound like some ignorant little bitch? I turned to Grayson, frustrated. ¡°That man¡¯s a bully, Grayson. Don¡¯t let him strut around here like he owns the ce. Send him away. We¡¯ll find another way to fix my issue.¡± Grayson didn¡¯t answer right away. His brows were drawn in deep thought. Then I jumped in with that same smug tone. ¡°Another way? Well it¡¯s easy for you to say because you¡¯ve done nothing so far. Yet Grayson¡¯s been working nonstop to find a solution for you. And I went through hell to bring Otto here. Now you¡¯re shutting everything off just because you don¡¯t like it? Honestly, Aria, it¡¯s time to grow up.¡± My face burned. I clenched my fists tighter. ¡°I¡¯m not against it just because I¡¯m upset,¡± I said quickly. ¡°That man clearly has bad intentions-¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even know him,¡± I said coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t let your selfishness ruin a chance for peace between two packs.¡± Damn it. I couldn¡¯te up with anything solid to argue back. This woman was too clever. ¡°I¡¯ll invite him to dinner after the g,¡± Grayson said then, his voice low. I beamed. ¡°You made the right call. I¡¯ll pass on the message.¡± She gave me a smug little smile before walking away like she¡¯d just won a battle. ¡°I know you¡¯re worried, but don¡¯t be,¡± Grayson took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. ¡°How can I not be?¡± I bit my lip. ¡°Did you see those guns? That man¡­ he didn¡¯te here in peace.¡± Anyone could see Otto was here with an agenda. But I? She just had to act like he was some peace¨Cloving saint. It made me question her motives even more. Grayson stroked my cheek gently. ¡°I know. But it¡¯s toote to back out now. And if he really knows how to heal you¡­ I¡¯d give anything for that.¡± ¡°Grayson¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just have dinner with him first. Then we¡¯ll figure it out.¡± He cut me off gently. I swallowed all the things I wanted to say. Frustrated. Powerless. The rest of the opening g went smoothly. Grayson gave a speech that wowed the room, outlined the summit¡¯s panels and schedules, and earned multiple rounds of apuse. Apex stock hit a record high the moment he stepped offstage. Everyone called it a historic night. 12:40 Sun, 10 Aug But only I knew, this night was far from over. After the speech, instead of staying to socialize, Grayson invited Otto to a private dinner in the upstairs dining hall. If I had a choice, I¡¯d rather hang myself than sit through that dinner. But I didn¡¯t have a choice. Otto was already there when we arrived. He was seated next to I, the two of them whispering closely, practically cheek to cheek. Otto looked up when we came in and smirked. ¡°Ah, Alpha Grayson. Finally. We thought we wouldn¡¯t see you till dessert.¡± Grayson pulled out a chair for me and sat down next to me. ¡°Please meet my girlfriend, Aria Collins.¡± Otto¡¯s eyes slid over to me. A chill was sent down my spine. It felt like being licked by a snake. ¡°After dating I, I¡¯m surprised you¡¯d settle for such a boring little girl,¡± he said cruelly. I red at him. That fucking bastard! Grayson¡¯s voice was like ice. ¡°I will not hear such speech ever again. Aria is the only one who understands me. The only one I want.¡± 59% ¡°Yeah, yeah. I told me she¡¯s very important to you.¡± Otto studied me up and down. ¡°So I heard she¡¯s sick? Is that why you begged me to ¡°Yes,¡± Grayson leaned in slightly, eyes intense and focus. ¡°If you can cure her, I¡¯ll agree to anything you ask.¡± Otto smirked. ¡°Very tempting. Come here then, little girl. Let me take a look at you.¡± I hesitated, then slowly got up and walked over. Every cell in my body screaming no. When he touched my throat, I even flinched. He closed his eyes and focused. After a long moment, he said, ¡°Okay. I think I know what¡¯s wrong.¡± Really? I widened my eyes. It¡¯s that easy? Even Grayson held his breath in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re serious?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s not thatplicated,¡± Otto saidzily. ¡°Your girl developed a neurotoxin after getting injured. Her wolf can¡¯t heal her because of it. Remove the toxin, she recovers.¡± Neurotoxin? That was not what that young healer Malik told me earlier. ¡°But I was told¡­ my wolf was sealed when I was a child. Someone performed a ritual-¡± ¡°A seal? That¡¯s fucking bullshit,¡± Otto snorted. ¡°You believe that scammer over me?¡± Grayson didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Tell me how to remove the toxin. I¡¯ll give you anything.¡± Otto stroked his chin, then nced at I. Then, he started grinning. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t care about your money or your power. I just want the person I care about to be happy.¡± He patted I¡¯s hand, then looked Grayson straight in the eye. 12:40 Sun, TU Aug ¡°I know you two both have been regretting it after the divorce. So how about this: I heal your little girlfriend, and you gave this marriage a second chance.¡± I shot up from my chair so fast it screeched across the floor. WHAT THE FUCK did he just say?! Wore 93 Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°You are kidding,¡± I gritted out. Alpha Otto rolled his eyes. ¡°I never joke about love and marriage, sweetheart. Now sit the fuck down¨CI wasn¡¯t talking to you.¡± ¡°Talk to her like that one more time and you¡¯re really gonna have a serious problem,¡± Grayson growled, his eyes darkening. ¡°Oh really? What are you gonna do, rip my head off? Invade my fucking territory like your daddy did? Go ahead. Nothing you do would surprise me.¡± ¡°Otto!¡± I snapped. I stared at that woman. Was this whole thing her n? Was she deliberately trying to provoke a fight between Otto and Grayson? I couldn¡¯t tell. But right now, she looked genuinely annoyed at Otto¡¯s outburst. ¡°Why, I? Why are you stopping me from saying it? Haven¡¯t you suffered enough because of this guy?¡± Otto raised his voice and shot Grayson a look full of rage. ¡°This bastard abandoned you and left you suffering for years. I¡¯m not letting him get away with it.¡± ¡°Bullshit! Grayson didn¡¯t abandon her¨Cshe was the one who filed for divorce,¡± I snapped. Otto let out a coldugh. ¡°Then didn¡¯t you ever wonder why I would go so far as to ask for a divorce? They used to be madly in love.¡± ¡°Enough, Otto. I don¡¯t want to talk about the past,¡± I said sharply. I raised my voice, too. ¡°And why not? Isn¡¯t it obvious? She couldn¡¯t stand being around Grayson anymore. She didn¡¯t want to stay with him through the worst part of his life. It¡¯s all because she was selfish!¡± Otto suddenly shot up, grabbed a ss, and smashed it on the floor. ¡°Bullshit! ? Harding is the most selfless woman I¡¯ve ever known. If she had a choice, she would¡¯ve never left the man she loved¨Cand she sure as hell wouldn¡¯t have handed him over to a shameless little bitch like you-¡± ¡°SHUT UP!¡± Grayson mmed to his feet, his Alpha aura cracking through the air like a whip. BANG! A violent shatter exploded around us. The chandelier above and every single ss item on the table burst into pieces. ¡°That¡¯s enough! Both of you!¡± I shouted, her voice breaking. Her eyes were red with tears. ¡°It¡¯s over. I don¡¯t want to talk about the past anymore. Let him think I left him because I was selfish.¡± I red at her. What the hell did she mean by that? Was she hinting there was more to the story? Whatever it was. I didn¡¯t want her dragging it back up. I just wanted her far, far away from our lives. 1/4 12:40 Sun, 10 Aug ¡°I would never call you selfish. But you were the one who asked for the divorce. That part¡¯s true,¡± Grayson growled. Tears poured out from I¡¯s eyes. ¡°Yeah, I did. But when I brought up the divorce¡­ I thought you¡¯d at least ask me why. But you didn¡¯t. You just signed the papers without a word and walked away. God, I wished you would¡¯ve just asked me why¡­ ¡°So you had a reason that you didn¡¯t tell me? What the hell was it?!¡± Grayson snapped. I grabbed his hand. ¡°Just stop asking. Can¡¯t you see what they¡¯re trying to do? They want to provoke you, to control your emotions-¡± ¡°You know nothing! So just shut the fuck up!¡± Otto roared. ¡°What they had was the most selfless, powerful love in the world! Nothing like your petty little romance. Grayson, you betrayed the one woman who loved you the most in this whole world. And now you¡¯ll live with the darkest fate¨Ceternal loneliness, abandonment, pain-¡± ¡°I SAID SHUT UP!!!¡± Grayson¡¯s roar tore through the air as he lunged forward. He shifted mid¨Cair. A massive ck wolfnded in the center of the dining room, its enormous body filling the space. He bared his teeth and lunged at Otto. ¡°No¨Cdon¡¯t!!¡± I screamed. They couldn¡¯t start this fight. If this turned into a full¨Cblown war, everything fell apart. It would be all my worst fearsing true. Otto shifted too, but his wolf was much smaller than Grayson¡¯s. The two of them shed, snarling and tearing through the room. They smashed through walls and floors, destroying everything in their path. ¡°Somebody stop this fucking lunatic!¡± Otto howled. Blood soaked his fur, especially around his shoulders. ¡°Fuck! I¡¯m calling my soldiers¨Cthis is turning into a war!¡± ¡°No, please!¡± I shouted. I tried to run between them to stop Grayson. But they were too fast, too wild. I nearly got crushed several times, by their ws, their jaws, or the falling debris. I tried to release my scent to calm him down, but my wolf¡­ was too weak. Useless. Why? Why the fuck was my wolf so weak?! ¡°No¡­ oh god, no¡­¡± I choked, panic rising in my throat. I could feel it. His rage spiraling out of control. Darkness was taking over him, drowning him. And I knew he needed me. But I couldn¡¯t reach him. I¡¯d never felt so helpless in my life. ¡°Damn it! Somebody do something!!!¡± Otto screamed in desperation, cornered and bleeding. Then suddenly¨CI ran forward. She stepped right between the two wolves, throwing her arms out. ¡°Stop it, Grayson! This isn¡¯t you!¡± she cried. The massive ck wolf bared his teeth at her. But I didn¡¯t flinch. She took another step closer, gently cing a hand on his fur. 12:40 Sun, 10 Aug Her voice went even softer. ¡°This isn¡¯t what you want, Grayson. Calm down. You¡¯re better than this.¡± She was insane. One snap of his jaw and she¡¯d be dead. I was sure she was going to die But she didn¡¯t. 3970 The giant wolf growled, then whimpered, pacing anxiously. And then, he turned, mmed through the wall, and disappeared into the night. My knees gave out and I copsed to the floor, trembling. ¡­He didn¡¯t hurt her. Grayson actually didn¡¯t hurt her. I¡¯d always believed they were over. Maybe he had loved her once, but it was all in the past. But now I wasn¡¯t sure anymore. In that moment, I couldn¡¯t even be sure if he would¡¯ve spared me. But he¡¯d listened to her. Let her calm him down. I clutched my head, pain shooting through my body. Maybe what they had was deeper, moreplicated than I¡¯d ever realized. ¡°Fuck, fuck, FUCK!¡± Otto shifted back, bloodied and raging. ¡°You all saw that? That fucking psycho tried to kill me! Damn it, I should¡¯ve brought my soldiers with me!¡± ¡°To be fair, you were the one who provoked him,¡± I said coldly, my voice still shaking. ¡°I didn¡¯t provoke him! I was just telling the truth! He¡¯s a fucking lunatic!¡± Otto bellowed. ¡°That¡¯s it. I¡¯m summoning my army right now. The war is on!¡± ¡°NO!¡± I forced myself to my feet and shouted, ¡°He didn¡¯t mean it. Just¡­ give him a chance to talk this out. Everything will be fine-¡± ¡°Yeah, sure, he didn¡¯t mean it. He¡¯s just naturally unhinged,¡± Otto sneered. ¡°Then tell me where the hell is he right now? Do you even know that?¡± My fists clenched. Truth was, I had no idea. ¡°I do,¡± I said suddenly. She stood up, calmly fixing her hair and dress like nothing had happened. Regal again. Composed. ¡°I know where he went. He always has a ce he runs to when he loses control. I¡¯ll bring him back.¡± she said, ¡°You better. Otherwise who the hell¡¯s supposed to clean up this mess?¡± Otto snarled. I nodded and headed out. Otto followed her. But when he passed me, he paused and threw me a cold, mocking smile. ¡°Still think you¡¯re special to him?¡± he sneered to me. ¡°You couldn¡¯t calm him down. You didn¡¯t even know where to find him. Face it. You¡¯re just a toy he ys with. Nothing between you two means a damn thing.¡± 12:40 Sun, 10 Aug His words hit like a de straight through my chest. Desperate tears fell from my eyes as I watched them leave. And the worst part? I couldn¡¯t even argue with him. 59% Third Person POV. Otto stormed down the hallway after I, catching up to her at the end. ¡°Hey, hey, hey. Are you mad at me?¡± he grabbed her wrist. ¡°What do you think?¡± she shot him a cold re. ¡°I did everything you asked! I refused his invitation first so your invite would look more important. I picked a fight on purpose so you could step in and be the peacemaker. I even brought up your divorce, just like you said, to make him feel guilty. Look at me¨CI¡¯m bleeding all over. What more do you want?!¡± ¡°You still went too far,¡± I said sharply. ¡°All you had to do was hint that the divorce wasn¡¯t my choice. You didn¡¯t have to piss him off like that.¡± Otto scoffed, ¡°He¡¯s just easy to piss off. Honestly, are you sure you want to get back with that psychopath?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure. And you totally deserved those injuries,¡± I gave him an icy look. ¡°From now on, you follow my orders exactly. No more improvising.¡± He snorted. ¡°Fine. So I just have to make them believe I¡¯m the only one who can heal that little whore, right?¡± ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s your biggest value. And I have a huge n behind it, so don¡¯t ruin everything for me.¡± ¡°¡­And what now? Do you really know where Grayson went?¡± ¡°Of course I do.¡± She walked off, determined. Only she and Grayson were truly special. They were destined to be together. She was sure of it. 4/4 Wore 94 Chapter 94 Aria¡¯s POV I went to find Grayson. And me? I had no idea what the hell I was supposed to do now. So I just wandered out of the dining room like a zombie, stepping over rubble and broken ss until I made it downstairs. K59% Thankfully, the g had already ended before the fight broke out, and most guests had already gone back to their hotels. There weren¡¯t too many injuries. But the main hall was still a disaster. The copsed chandelier had destroyed almost everything. Nora and Delh were already there, trying to keep things under control. ¡°Aria!¡± Delh ran over the moment she saw me. ¡°What the hell happened? Where¡¯s my brother?!¡± I shook my head weakly, my voice hoarse. ¡°I¨CI don¡¯t know¡­ He and Alpha Otto got into a fight, and¡­ and everything went crazy after that¡­¡± ¡°White River Pack¡¯s soldiers are outside,¡± Nora said, her tone sharp and urgent. ¡°They¡¯re trying to force their way in, iming someone tried to harm their Alpha. The only one who can stop this now is Alpha Grayson. Do you know where he went?¡± ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t.¡± I hugged my head and sank to the floor, overwhelmed. ¡°I have no idea where he is¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Everyone expected me to know where Grayson was. But the most ironic thing? The one who knew him best was still his ex¨Cwife. Delh and Nora exchanged a nce. I must¡¯ve looked really pathetic, because Delh softened her voice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be back soon. You should get some rest. You look like you¡¯re about to pass out.¡± I nodded numbly and dropped onto a random spot among the wreckage. Honestly, my legs barely had the strength to hold me up anymore. Where the hell did Grayson go? I felt like I should get up and look for him. Do something. But my body wasn¡¯t cooperating. I couldn¡¯t even stand. God, why was I so useless? I¡¯d never hated my weak wolf more than I did right now. ¡°Oh my god, you¡¯re bleeding.¡± A voice snapped me out of my spiral. I looked up to see that young healer from the White River Pack named Malik crouched in front of me, his eyes wide with concern. ¡°Huh? What?¡± I muttered, dazed. ¡°You¡¯re bleeding! Don¡¯t you feel it?¡± He pointed to my shoulder. 12:40 Sun, 10 Aug I looked down. Only then did I realize that my entire upper half was soaked in blood. My shoulder wound must¡¯ve reopened again. ¡°Oh. It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s nothing-¡± ¡°Nothing?!¡± he eximed. ¡°You¡¯ve lost so much blood your face is pale as a ghost. Please, let me help. Just a quick treatment.¡± 59%8 I just wanted to be alone, but he was too damn persistent. Before I could even respond, he was already tearing my sleeve open and pulling out bandages and cotton pads like some kind of magic trick. ¡°Wait, did you seriously have all that on you this whole time?¡± I asked. ¡°Of course. It¡¯s a basic trait of a professional healer.¡± He puffed out his chest. ¡°You are now looking at the most promising healer of the next decade.¡± His cocky tone caught me off guard, and I let out a tired chuckle. ¡°Okay, then¡­ who¡¯s the current best healer?¡± ¡°Huh¡­ I guess I¡¯d have to say¡­ Alpha Otto.¡± The second he said that name, my chest tightened again. That man might be the only one capable of healing me¨Cbut I¡¯d honestly rather die than let himy a hand on me. Malik cleaned the blood off my shoulder with gentle, practiced hands, then wrapped it tightly. ¡°There. This is just temporary, of course. But seriously, you have to take your condition more seriously. If this keeps going, your weak wolf will start dragging your whole body down. You¡¯ll burn outpletely.¡± Did he think I didn¡¯t already know that? ¡°So¡­ have you given any more thought to my theory?¡± he asked, eyes full of hope. ¡°If you want, you coulde to White River Pack with me. Let me treat you. Your case is super rare¨Chighly valuable for research!¡± ¡°Your theory?¡± I looked at him, raising a brow. ¡°But your Alpha called your theory total bullshit. He literally said you were a scammer.¡± ¡°WHAT?!¡± Malik¡¯s entire face went pale, like his whole belief system had just crumbled. ¡°A¨CAlpha Otto said that? But¨Chow did he even diagnose you?!¡± ¡°He said my symptoms are caused by some kind of neurotoxin. Once the poison is out, I¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Malik blurted out. ¡°Neurological toxins present totally different symptoms!¡± Then he hesitated. ¡°But wait¡­ Alpha Otto is the best healer in the world. His diagnoses are never wrong¡­ so what the hell is going on?¡± He looked like he was on the verge of a breakdown, torn between trusting himself and worshipping his Alpha. But I didn¡¯t have time to help him through his identity crisis. Honestly, my brain was a mess already. And then, we heard shouting outside. A burst of noise. People yelling. Running. Screaming. ¡°Alpha Grayson¡¯s back!¡± What?! 59% My heart instantly leapt into my throat. I scrambled to my feet and bolted toward the exit. ¡°Wait! Where are you going?! You need to rest!¡± Malik grabbed my arm. ¡°Let go of me!¡± I growled. ¡°Can you please reconsider my theory?¡± he pleaded. ¡°I¨CI still don¡¯t know what exactly went wrong, but I swear it¡¯s not a neurotoxin. Your condition might be way moreplicated than we think-¡± Tripped my arm free. ¡°I don¡¯t give a damn about my condition right now, okay?! I¡¯ve got way more important shit to deal with. So stay the fuck away from me!¡± I ran out of the hall, stumbling a little as I followed the direction of the chaos. I asked everyone I passed where Grayson was, but no one had a clear answer. Finally, I saw a group of doctors heading upstairs into the packhouse. I followed them. There were people everywhere upstairs¨Cdoctors, nurses, even elders¨Cbut not a single familiar face. I shoved my way through the crowd until I reached a room with two guards standing out front. ¡°Is he in there?!¡± I rushed forward. ¡°Let me in, I¡¯m his girlfriend!¡± But the guards didn¡¯t move. They just stared at me like statues. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me?!¡± I shouted. ¡°I need to see him, I need to know if he¡¯s okay-¡± The door suddenly swung open. I stepped out. ¡°Thank you, boys,¡± she said politely to the guards, then turned to me, her expression turning cold. ¡°What are you yelling about? He needs rest.¡± ¡°H¨Chow is he?¡± I stammered. ¡°I need to see him.¡± She gave me a smirk. ¡°You need to see him? And what exactly do you think you¡¯re going to do for him?¡± ¡°I¨CI can help calm him down. I know he needs me, I-¡± ¡°What he needs is me,¡± she interrupted sharply. ¡°I¡¯m the one who calmed him when he lost control. I¡¯m the one who brought him back. And when he was lying in there just now, the only name he called¡­ was mine.¡± My heart stopped. He¡­ he called her name? I smiled, and that was like a dagger to my chest. ¡°He even said¡­ he was grateful I was here today,¡± Wore 95 Ara¡¯s POV 358% No way,¡± whispered, fists clenched and trembling, ¡°Grayson would never say that¡­ He told me I was the only one who could calm him down. He¡¯s never felt the same with anyone else. You¡¯re lying!¡± ¡°Well,¡± I shrugged, ¡°maybe he did hope you were the right one. But what the hell did you do when he lost control? You just stood there like an idiot. Completely useless.¡± Twanted to scream at her to shut up. But the truth was¨Cshe wasn¡¯t wrong. She leaned in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Your wolf is pathetic. Especially after your injury, you were absolutely powerless when he needed you. And you knew that, but still chose to turn down help from me and Otto. You¡¯re just selfish.¡± *I turned you down because you obviously had your own agenda!¡± I hissed, shaking from head to toe. ¡°You didn¡¯te back to help me. You came to screw everything up¨Cand you want to be with him again. Don¡¯t even try to deny it!¡± She let out a mockingugh. ¡°Well, thank god I dide back. Otherwise, when he was at his lowest, there wouldn¡¯t have been anyone strong enough by his side.¡± Shame burned through me like wildfire. I hated I with everything I had. But every word she said cut right through my defenses. ¡°Step aside, little girl,¡± she sneered softly. ¡°You¡¯re not worthy of standing beside him. So get lost. Stop making things worse.¡± I stumbled back. I wanted to yell at her. To tell her I was his girlfriend, and Grayson needed me right now. That I had to go in there and be with him. But I couldn¡¯t say it. Because everyone saw it too. When Grayson needed help the most¡­ I wasn¡¯t the one by his side. It was I. I could feel it, the eyes of everyone in the hallway. Elders, guards, even the healers. They were all looking at me like I didn¡¯t belong here. ¡°At least tell me¡­ is he okay?¡± I choked out. ¡°He¡¯s fine,¡± I said. ¡°But he doesn¡¯t want to see you right now.¡± turned around and slowly stumbled down the hallway. I didn¡¯t want to go too far, so I found a quiet spot in the stairwell and sat down, burying my face in my hands. For the first time, even I started to wonder¨CMaybe I wasn¡¯t the right one for Grayson after all. He needed someone strong. Someone calm, reliable. And even if I forced myself to grow up, my wolf was still weak. And if he had another episode, I¡¯d be useless all over again. And that damn healer Malik really was full of crap. He said my wolf was powerful, just sealed away. Yet that was probably the most ridiculous thing I¡¯d ever heard. Sun, Jug God, what the hell was I supposed to do now? Was I supposed to¡­.let I have him? The second that thought entered my head, I felt like I¡¯d been whipped. I hugged myself tightly, terrified by how much that idea hurt. Grayson Hart had taken over every part of me¨Cmy body, my soul, my heart. Letting him go now would be no different than dying. And then I was back at the same question again. I didn¡¯t know what I should do. I cried silently in that stairwell until I eventually passed out from exhaustion. By the time I woke, I was freezing cold, and my shoulder throbbed with pain. Bright sunlight streamed through the windows. It was morning already. I slowly pushed myself to my feet, leaning against the wall as I stumbled back into the hallway. Most of the people had cleared out, and the guards outside Grayson¡¯s door were gone. Quietly, I made my way over, hoping¡ªjust maybe¡ªI could slip inside to see him. But just as I approached, I heard voices from inside the suite. ¡°¡­We¡¯re so d you¡¯re back, I,¡± an old voice said. I immediately recognized it. It was Grayson¡¯s father, the former Alpha. ¡°Yeah, things didn¡¯t feel right without you,¡± his mother added. ¡°Please tell me you¡¯re staying for good this time.¡± I¡¯s voice came next. ¡°I missed you too. But I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m only here to help mend things between Grayson and Alpha Otto. I can¡¯t stay long.¡± ¡°But why?¡± the former Luna said desperately. ¡°Grayson needs you. Do you know that after your divorce, he was a total mess? He turned to alcohol, drugs for help¡­ even threw himself into extreme sports! I honestly thought he was trying to kill himself on purpose. He was never the same after losing you. So tell me why can¡¯t you two get back together?¡± My hand flew to my mouth as my eyes filled with tears. Drugs? Alcohol? Extreme sports? I had no idea Grayson had spiraled like that. He¡¯d hidden how deeply that divorce broke hjm. I sighed softly. ¡°I won¡¯t lie. Back then, we were everything to each other¡­ but that was years ago. Things have changed. As far as I know, Grayson has someone new in his life. That girl, Aria Collins I think?¡± Both of his parents made a huge scoff at the name. ¡°Don¡¯t even get me started on that girl!¡± the old Alpha growled, ¡°I don¡¯t know how she bewitched him¡ªprobably something she did in the bedroom¨Cbut it won¡¯tst. That girl has no ss, no manners, and no strong bloodline. She¡¯s not fit to stand beside him.¡± ¡°But Grayson clearly cares about her,¡± I said, sounding sad. ¡°He never announced our marriage to the world, but he went public with her. That means something. I don¡¯t want to be the third wheel in their rtionship.¡± ¡°Oh, my poor girl, you¡¯re way too kind,¡± the Luna said anxiously. ¡°I¡¯m sure that little tramp pressured Grayson into announcing it. She has no shame.¡± ¡°And if you still have feelings for Grayson, you should totally stay and fight for him. I know Grayson wants that too.¡± ???????u? There was a long silence. Then I spoke again, softly. ¡°Are you sure? Are you really sure this is what Grayson wants? I don¡¯t want to interfere anything but if he still needs me¡­ I also don¡¯t want to leave him lonely and in pain.¡± ¡°Of course that¡¯s what he wants!¡± the Luna said immediately. ¡°Who else could ever truly stand beside him?¡± ¡°In fact,¡± the old Alpha added, ¡°why don¡¯t we just announce right now that you¡¯re his fianc¨¦e and the future Luna of Red Stone Pack? I know he¡¯s not awake yet, but I¡¯m sure this is what he would¡¯ve wanted.¡± ¡°Oh god, I can¡¯t make that kind of decision. He might get mad,¡± I hesitated. ¡°But¡­if ites from you two, the people who know him best¡­ I guess¡­ maybe that would be okay?¡± That was it. I couldn¡¯t listen anymore. I shoved the door open and stormed in. The suite was spacious, with a bedroom door still shut¨CGrayson must¡¯ve been resting inside. His parents and I were standing in the sitting room. All three of them turned and stared at me. ¡°You can¡¯t do this,¡± I snapped. ¡°This isn¡¯t what Grayson wants!¡± The Luna red at me with disgust. ¡°Were you eavesdropping? God you have no manner.¡± ¡°Oh don¡¯t me Aria. It¡¯s not the first time she¡¯s done something like this.¡± I said sweetly. ¡°But calm down, Aria. We were just talking. I would nevere between you two. I¡¯m not that kind of person.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so polite to her, I darling,¡± the Luna said coldly. ¡°Trash like her always ys dirty. If you let your guard down, they¡¯ll infest every corner of your life. It¡¯s disgusting.¡± ¡°Funny how you call your own pack member ¡®trash,¡±¡± I said through clenched teeth. ¡°You think I have no ss, no grace, but youck any kind of leadership orpassion yourself. You look down on your own people. You manipte your son. You¡¯re nothing but a goddamn tyrant!¡± The Luna gasped. The old Alpha mmed his cane against the floor. ¡°How dare you!¡± he roared. ¡°Aria, that was too much,¡± I said gently. ¡°No matter what, they¡¯re still the parents of the man you love. You shouldn¡¯t speak to them like that.¡± ¡°Listen to I!¡± the old Luna shouted. ¡°This is what a realdy looks like. This is grace. This is ss!¡± Bullshit. All I heard was a hypocrite ying games. ¡°I won¡¯t let you make any decisions for Grayson while he¡¯s unconscious,¡± I said, trembling but firm. ¡°That¡¯s the least I can do for him.¡± The old Alpha gave a coldugh. ¡°That¡¯s adorable. But you¡¯re useless. You can¡¯t stop anything. In fact, I¡¯ve decided¨Cyou¡¯re no longer wee in the Red Stone Pack.¡± ¡°Yes! Get rid of her!¡± the Luna snapped. ¡°Then Grayson will finally remember who he really wants.¡± 12:41 Sun, 10 Aug I was shaking with fury. Grayson¡¯s parents were outrageous. But the worst of all was her. I¡ªthe master maniptor. ¡°You can¡¯t do this. Grayson imed me as a member of Red Stone Pack. You can¡¯t kick me out without his permission!¡± ¡°Aria, sweetheart,¡± I said with that perfect little smile, ¡°I thought after everything that happened today, you¡¯d be ashamed enough to leave on your own. But looks like I¡¯ve given you too much credit. But don¡¯t worry¨Cformer Alpha and Luna still have the authority. And really, who¡¯s going to stop them?¡± That¡¯s when a sudden wave of powerful Alpha aura swept through the room. It made everyone stumble. ¡°What¡¯s going on!¡± I gasped in panic. The bedroom door swung open. Grayson stood in the doorway, cold and imposing. ¡°To answer your question, I¨Cme, obviously,¡± he said coldly. Wore 96 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°Grayson!¡± I gasped. ¡°Come here.¡± He reached out his hand, and I rushed over without hesitation, letting him pull me into his arms. All the fear and anxiety that had been eating away at me while he was gone just disappeared in that moment. I sniffled, blinking fast¨CI was honestly going to cry. ¡°I heard what you said just now, I,¡± Grayson said coldly. His voice was low and sharp like a de. ¡°What was that about Aria should be ashamed enough to leave on her own?¡± I swallowed hard. And I swear to god, I saw a flicker of panic sh across her face. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s nothing, really,¡± she said after a pause. ¡°I just thought she might be scared after what happenedst night, so I suggested she find somewhere safe to stay for a while. Since I¡¯m here, there¡¯s no need for her to get involved.¡± ¡°That is not what you said at all!¡± I snapped. ¡°You said my wolf was too weak, and I should know my ce and get the hell away from Grayson!¡± Grayson¡¯s arm tightened around me. ¡°Is that true?¡± he growled, voice low and deadly. ¡°Of course not.¡± I said quickly. I had to hand it to her: she could lie with a straight face, even make herself look hurt while doing it. ¡°Aria clearly misunderstood,¡± she continued with an innocent expression. ¡°I mean, I am your ex¨Cwife. It¡¯s not surprising she¡¯d take my words the wrong way. I totally get it.¡± ¡°And even if I did want her gone, so what?¡± the old Luna snapped. ¡°Look at the two of them, son. One¡¯s a properdy from a noble background, and the other¡¯s just some low¨Cborn trash with no grace and no ss. Do you really need to ask which one belongs at your side?¡± ¡°If you want to marry I again, you have our full support,¡± his father added. ¡°Enough!¡± Grayson barked, his voice echoing through the room. ¡°I¡¯ve made it clear¨CAria is the only woman I want. If either of you meddles in my life again, maybe it¡¯s time you two went and stayed somewhere else for a while.¡± They both looked pissed, but neither of them dared talk back. Of course. They had no problem bullying me when Grayson was away. But now that he was standing right in front of them? Not a damn word. ¡°So what are you two even doing here?¡± he asked coldly. ¡°We¡¯re here to check on you, son. You were hurt. Of course we were worried¡­¡± ¡°Well, now you¡¯ve seen me. You can leave. You being here will only make things worse,¡± he said with brutal calm. The old Alpha and Luna shared a furious nce, then both threw a nasty re at me before storming out. Aug 1 let out a quiet breath. One thing was clear now: my rtionship with his parents was now officially beyond repair. Grayson turned to I. ¡°And thank you, for what you didst night.¡± She smiled. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I used to help you like that all the time when we were married. Don¡¯t you remember? I was happy to do it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly the problem,¡± his voice turned distant. ¡°We¡¯re not married anymore. And it¡¯s not your ce to help me like that. I have Aria now. The only person I want at my side is her.¡± I¡¯s eyes widened. For the first time, that perfect mask of hers cracked. I saw her struggling to keep her expression under control. After a few seconds of silence, she forced a small smile. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so cruel, Grayson. Even if we¡¯re divorced, we¡¯re still friends. You don¡¯t need to push me away like that.¡± ¡°Even friends need boundaries. And I¡¯m sure Aria wouldn¡¯t mind helping me when I¡¯m having a hard time. Right, Aria?¡± he turned to me. I looked up at him, my heart full. God, I had never loved a man more. ¡°Of course I don¡¯t mind. I¡¯d do anything for you,¡± I said, squeezing his hand. I¡¯s eyes flicked down to our joined hands. And I swear, I saw a sh of something nasty in her gaze. ¡°Of course. It makes sense you¡¯d want your girlfriend close,¡± she said with a dazzling smile. ¡°But Aria¡¯s wolf is not that strong, and she¡¯s injured. So I just thought it was better for me to step inst night¡­¡± ¡°Which is exactly why we need to get Aria healed as soon as possible, right?¡± Grayson said, eyes narrowing at her. ¡°Isn¡¯t that why you¡¯re so eager to help me?¡± There was a beat of silence. She looked embarrassed. ¡°Where¡¯s Alpha Otto? I think it¡¯s time we had a talk,¡± Grayson said. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll go get him,¡± I replied, then turned and left. The moment the door shut behind her, I spun around and hugged Grayson tightly. He wrapped his arms around me, gently kissing the top of my head. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, babe. Did I scare youst night?¡± ¡°No, I just¡­ They wouldn¡¯t let me see you,¡± I said, choking up. ¡°They said I couldn¡¯t help you with anything, and that I should stay far away from you. God, I was so afraid¡­¡± I rambled, voice cracking. He kissed my face again and again,forting me. ¡°Damn it. I should¡¯ve been there for you. You shouldn¡¯t have had to go through that alone,¡± he growled. ¡°And I¡¯m sorry you had to see me like that. It¡¯s been a long time since I had such a bad episode.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t apologize. None of this is your fault. I knew what I was signing up for, and I chose to stay by your side.¡± I hesitated, then added softly, ¡°And¡­ it got me thinking. Maybe I should start taking my condition more seriously.¡± I had to face the truth. No one would take me seriously without a strong wolf. Maybe mine wasn¡¯t as powerful as others¡®, but I wanted her to at least be there when I needed her the most. 12:42 Sun, Tu Aug ¡°Good. Then let¡¯s hear what Alpha Otto has to say,¡± he said. A little whileter, the door opened again. I walked in, followed by Alpha Otto. The guy looked he hadn¡¯t cooled off one bit. He was still bruised and bloody from the fightst night. ¡°Why the hell am I still looking at him?!¡± he shouted the moment he stepped in. ¡°There¡¯s nothing left to talk about! I¡¯m going home to start a war. First blood for the humiliation ten years ago andst night!¡± ¡°A war? You?¡± Grayson let out a darkugh. Otto¡¯s face twisted with fury. ¡°You want to try me, Grayson? Go ahead. I¡¯m not fucking afraid of you!¡± ¡°Well you should be. Just because my father couldn¡¯t finish the job ten years ago, doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t.¡± Grayson¡¯s voice was ice¨Ccold. ¡°Now sit down. We¡¯re going to talk about Aria¡¯s treatment. And you¡¯re not going to argue, or negotiate.¡± A tense silence fell over the room. Otto looked like he was about to explode. But instead, he stormed over and dropped into the couch, looking furious. ¡°Fine,¡± he snapped. ¡°You want to talk about the girl¡¯s treatment? Let¡¯s talk.¡± ¡°Do you already have a n?¡± I asked quietly. He nced at me. ¡°Like I said, your condition isn¡¯t that hard to treat. The key is time. You need at least 5 sessions over 3 months.¡± ¡°Simple. You stay here in Red Stone Pack and treat her,¡± Grayson said immediately. Otto rolled his eyes. ¡°Are you kidding? I¡¯m an Alpha. I¡¯m not staying in your damn territory for your damn little girlfriend. Send her to White River Pack.¡± ¡°No way. You can¡¯t be trusted,¡± Grayson growled. ¡°Guys,¡± I cut in, ¡°how about apromise? There¡¯s a border town between Red Stone and White River. I know Otto has a medical facility there. Aria can receive treatment there.¡± Otto shrugged. ¡°Fine with me. Grayson?¡± Grayson looked at me. ¡°What do you think, Aria?¡± I hesitated, unease curling in my stomach. Going to apletely unfamiliar city to be treated by Otto¡­ Something about it felt off. I had a bad feeling. And my gut was usually right. But it also felt like my only choice. If I didn¡¯t want to lose the right to stay by Grayson¡¯s side, I had to take the risk. Afte Wore 97 Aria¡¯s POV The departure was scheduled for the next day. I barely had time to pack. Grayson woulde with me, but he¡¯d have to fly back a few dayster. After all, there was still the summit and a room full of Alphas needing his attention. I barely slept that night, tossing and turning under the weight of anxiety and dread. At dawn, I got up, grabbed the small suitcase I¡¯d packed, and headed downstairs with Grayson. To my surprise, Delh was already there. She stood up the second she saw us, visibly tense. ¡°I¡­ I just wanted to say goodbye to Aria.¡± Grayson frowned, but I tugged on his sleeve. ¡°Can you give us a minute?¡± He didn¡¯t say anything, just picked up my suitcase and stepped outside. Delh let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Thanks. God, I really thought he was gonna have the guards toss me out. So¡­ how are you feeling? Ready for this?¡± ¡°Not really. Something about this whole thing feels¡­ off,¡± I whispered. ¡°I, Alpha Otto, the way they¡¯re connected¡­ I don¡¯t know. But what other choice do I have? Otto¡¯s the only one who can help me right now.¡± ¡°To be honest, after that tea party, I gave me weird vibes too.¡± Delh squeezed my hand. ¡°Anyway, be careful, okay? If something happens and Grayson can¡¯t get to you in time, just call me. I¡¯ll find a way to help.¡± ¡°Thanks. Take care of yourself¡­ and your baby.¡± We said goodbye. Then I got in the car. It drove Grayson and me straight to the airport. Barely an hourter, our ne touched down in a small border town wedged between Red Stone and White River Packs. It felt like apletely different world from home. zing sun, dry heat, sand in the air¡­everything felt harsh and strange. The streets were almost deserted. I couldn¡¯t see a single person on the street. The whole ce had an eerie, hollow vibe. I sat in the backseat, staring out the window, my heart sinking lower with every passing minute. ¡°It¡¯s just three months,¡± Grayson said, holding my hand. I forced a smile back. Yeah. Just three months. But god knows what can go wrong in three months. The car finally pulled up at the medical center in the middle of the city. The heavy iron gates creaked open, letting us drive in. I couldn¡¯t help but notice the enormous lock bolted onto the entrance. Behind it were several massive white buildings. This must be Alpha Otto¡¯s research facility. As our car rolled to a stop, Otto, I, and a few people in white coats were already waiting outside. 1/4 ??????? ???? ¡°Well, well, wee,¡± Otto pped slowly. But there¡¯s not a trace of warmth on his face. ¡°What an honor to have you here.¡± I red at I. ¡°What is she doing here?¡± She gave me a calm little smile. ¡°I¡¯m here as a neutral third party, making sure everything runs smoothly. Or would you rather I stay in Red Stone with Grayson?¡± God, I hated her. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not stand around in the heat. Come on in,¡± Otto muttered. We walked inside together. Yeah, it was definitely cooler. But the blinding white walls, ceilings, and floors¡­it all made me uneasy. And it was too quiet. Where were all the patients? ¡°So¡­ where is everyone?¡± I asked one of the doctors walking beside us. ¡°This is a research facility. We don¡¯t have many patients. And those we do have are spread across the buildings. You won¡¯t really see them around,¡± he replied. Otto nced back at me with a smirk. ¡°Not many people are lucky enough to get me as their personal doctor.¡± I rolled my eyes internally. I sure as hell didn¡¯t feel lucky. We were led into an office. Otto sat down across from us and said, ¡°So. Let¡¯s talk treatment. As I mentioned before, the issue is neurological toxins. We¡¯re going to eliminate them. Step by step.¡± ¡°And how exactly do you n to do that?¡± I asked, trying not to sound nervous. ¡°Through a mix of physical therapy and medication. The nurse will give you injections as scheduled. They¡¯re designed to boost your wolf¡¯s vitality.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re sure these injections are safe?¡± Grayson asked in a hard tone. Otto scoffed and rolled his eyes, clearly too proud to respond. One of the doctors stepped in instead. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. All medications have been through safety trials. We would never put Miss Collins in risk.¡°/ ¡°Go on,¡± Grayson said sharply. ¡°The physical therapy is the most important part,¡± Otto said gruffly. ¡°Five sessions over the next three months. I¡¯ll personally oversee each one. It involves microcurrents to stimte your nerves and connect with your wolf. The goal is to enhance her strength.¡± Microcurrents. Nerve stimtion. Physical therapy. Every word made my skin crawl. I swallowed. ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re gonna zap me with aser gun or something?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous, little girl,¡± Otto snapped. ¡°Of course not. We¡¯ll ce a helmet¨Clike device on your head. You¡¯ll be asleep during the entire process. You won¡¯t even feel a damn thing.¡± And how exactly was that supposed to make me feel better? 12342 Sun, Tu Aug If I was unconscious, they could do whatever they wanted. Otto could crack open my skull and I wouldn¡¯t even know. And as for the meds¡­if they switched them for poison, I¡¯d never see iting. ¡°If you don¡¯t trust me,¡± Otto growled, ¡°then get the hell out already. I¡¯m about to waste three months of my life on you. I don¡¯t need a disobedient patient.¡± ¡°Watch your tone,¡± Grayson snapped. ¡°And listen¡ªI may not be staying here full time, but I¡¯ll being back often to check in. If Aria doesn¡¯t improve¨Cor worse, if she gets weaker¡ªyou, yournd, and everyone on it will pay the fucking price.¡± Otto¡¯s hands clenched into fists. His whole face darkened in fury. ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯m bluffing,¡± Grayson continued coldly. ¡°I¡¯ve already sent more troops to the border. The moment something feels off, my soldiers will move, and your Pack will be turned to ash. Got it?¡± Otto¡¯s face turned red with rage. I jumped in quickly, ¡°Otto gets it. Hey don¡¯t worry, Grayson, I¡¯ll be here keeping an eye on things.¡± That fake bitch. She being her might only make things worse. Grayson stood up. ¡°Then start prepping for the treatment now. Aria?¡± I stood too and followed him out. Outside, the car was still waiting. He turned to me and cupped my face in his hands. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I have to leave so soon,¡± he whispered in a soft tone. ¡°¡­Fuck. I hate leaving you here all by yourself.¡± I ced my hand over his. ¡°I¡¯ll be okay. You don¡¯t always have to treat me like a kid. I¡¯m just¡­ worried.¡± ¡°You¡¯re worried Otto will hurt you,¡± he finished for me. ¡°But he won¡¯t. Not unless he wants to sacrifice his entire Pack. And besides¡­ I¡¯s here.¡± ¡°I highly doubt your ex¨Cwife is going to be any help,¡± I muttered. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll figure it out.¡± He leaned down and kissed me, slow and lingering. ¡°Take care of yourself for me, will you? Ande back to me safe. I¡¯ll be praying to the Moon Goddess day and night.¡± ¡°I will.¡± I rose on tiptoe to kiss him back. ¡°Nothing can keep us apart.¡± He left. I watched his car drive off through the iron gates, my heart feeling heavier by the second. Looks like I¡¯d be fighting this battle alone. I turned around slowly, my mind spinning with everything I¡¯d just heard. That treatment n scared the hell out of me. And the worst part? I didn¡¯t have anyone around who knew anything about healing, no one to advise me, no one to tell me what was normal and what was wrong¡­ BANG. I mmed straight into someone. MAZE SUN, Auy ?? ¡°Oh¨Csorry,¡± I mumbled, rubbing my head. I¡¯d bumped into a guy who looked like a janitor. I barely nced at him before trying to move past. But suddenly, he grabbed me. And yanked me into a nearby utility room. WHAT THE- I opened my mouth to scream, but he pped a hand over it and tore off his mask. ¡°Shhh! Don¡¯t scream! I can¡¯t let them know I¡¯m here,¡± he whispered urgently. ¡°It¡¯s me¨CMalik!¡± 4/4 Wore 98 Chapter 98 Aria¡¯s POV I stopped struggling, staring at him in shock. ¡°Malik? What the hell are you doing here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here for you,¡± he said seriously, locking eyes with me. For me? That only made me more confused. ¡°Okay, so here¡¯s the thing. After seeing you at the summit that night, I just couldn¡¯t get your case out of my head. It was too bizarre, too fascinating, and way too valuable to ignore. So, I went to Alpha Otto and told him my theory.¡± I raised a brow. Malik went to Otto? Well, that couldn¡¯t have ended well. ¡°And? What did he say?¡± I asked. ¡°Hepletely shot it down!¡± Malik¡¯s face twisted into a mix of frustration and hurt. ¡°He yelled at me, said I was the dumbest dumbass in the entire medical academy, said I¡¯d been brainwashed by some nonsense theories, and told me I should drop out and go wash dishes in a restaurant because that¡¯s obviously a more suitable career for me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t take it personally. Your Alpha has the temper of a demon,¡± I said, trying tofort him. But he shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not the insults that bother me. I can handle that. What got to me is¨Che gave me zero real reasoning. When I asked for evidence to back up his diagnosis, he just yelled at me to get the hell out and told me your case was none of my business.¡± ¡°ssic power trip,¡± I scoffed. ¡°I just can¡¯t let it go, you know? The more I think about it, the more I believe Alpha Otto¡¯s diagnosis is wrong. And since he won¡¯t listen to me¡­ I had no choice but to sneak in.¡± I let out a shortugh. ¡°So, you snuck into a restricted facility, behind your Alpha¡¯s back, just to¡­ prove him wrong? That¡¯s sick.¡± ¡°Not to prove him wrong,¡± he corrected me solemnly. ¡°To find the truth. But yes, if anyone finds out I¡¯m here, I¡¯ll probably get expelled from the academy¨Cand possibly exiled. But it¡¯s a risk I¡¯m willing to take.¡± I studied him. This guy might¡¯ve shown up at exactly the right time. He was stubborn. Fearless, And most importantly, he didn¡¯t care about Otto¡¯s authority. He just wanted the truth. Plus, he actually knew what he was doing when it came to healing. That¡¯s exactly the kind of person I needed right now. After a pause, I said, ¡°Then how about we work together? I¡¯ll tell you everything Otto ns for my treatments¨Cdrugs, methods, all of it. And you help me figure out if any of it actually makes sense. That way I stay alive, and you satisfy your curiosity.¡± His face it up ¡°Vau menit Vayreddly trust ¡°Landy know you,¡± said honnely, ¡°but right now, you might be the only person I can trust. Let me tell you what he¡¯s nning. So did. 1old him everything Otto said the physical therapy, the drugs, the helmer, the mirrecurrent stimtion. ¡°So? Isn¡¯t It terrifying?¡°) concluded, frowning. ¡°A helmet that send¡¯s electricity through my brain? Sounds like a goddamn medieval fortune What if this is just Otto¡¯s way of getting back at me?¡± But Malik didn¡¯tugh. ¡°Actually, those methods aremonly used in treating neurological toxins. But without seeing the actual current levels or the drug forms, I can¡¯t say for sure if he¡¯s really trying to help you. Then would it help if t¡­ peeked at the machine¡¯s numbers during treatment? Maybe grabbed a look at the drugbels?¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± he said eagerly. ¡°And I¡¯ll keep digging through the books to prove my theory. I¡¯m not giving up.¡± We said goodbye, and I slipped out of the utility room. We went separate ways. Otto and I were nowhere to be seen. A nurse told me my room had been prepared and that my first treatment would be the next day. That night, I barely slept. I kept having nightmares of being tortured. The next morning after breakfast, a nurse led me into an operating room. Otto was already there in a white coat, snapping on a pair of gloves. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here. Didn¡¯t sleep well?¡± he said, ncing at me. I didn¡¯t respond, just slowly walked over and sat down in the treatment chair. The iron restraints and all the wires and maic pads on the chair made my heart race. Otto walked over and smirked at my pale face. ¡°Nervous? Scared I¡¯ll fry you to a crisp?¡± he mocked. ¡°If you do, you and your entire pack will be skinned alive,¡± I shot back, trying to hide the tremor in my voice. ¡°Cut the threats, little girl. Your life is in my hands now,¡± he growled. ¡°Now sit tight. Let¡¯s get this over with.¡± He grabbed the helmet¨Cwired and covered in electrodes¨Cand ced it on my head. I had to grip the armrests to stop myself from bolting out of the room. ¡°Alright. Rx now.¡± He turned around to adjust the machines. While his back was turned, I snuck a look at the screen. I had no idea what any of the numbers meant, but I tried to memorize as much as I could. ¡°Don¡¯t resist¡­ Let everything go.¡± I could hear faint crackling deep in my brain. It didn¡¯t hurt. Soon, I drifted off. 12.42 Sun, 10 Aug And started to dream. I saw my wolf. She was bound in heavy chains, crying out to me helplessly. I ran to her. She licked my hand, looking so sad it broke my heart. I tried to tear the chains off her, but they wouldn¡¯t budge. Then I saw my mother. The day she left me and my father. She held me tight by the door, kissing my cheeks over and over. God, I forgot how beautiful she was. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m so sorry, Aria¡­¡± she wept, apologizing over and over again. ¡°But this is for the best. You¡¯ll grow up safe¡­ away from everything¡­ I¨CI did the right thing¡­¡± I could¡¯ve sworn I forgot that memory. But what was she apologizing for? What did she want to protect me from? I tried to ask, but her figure began to fade. A heavy sadness crushed my chest. A tear slipped from my eye. ¡°¡­Bad dream?¡± I jolted awake. The sun outside the window was already sliding west. Five to six hours had passed without me knowing. Otto was sitting in a chair nearby, watching me with narrowed eyes. ¡°You kept crying and calling out for your mom,¡± he sneered. ¡°So let me guess¨Cshitty childhood?¡± I wiped my eyes furiously. Damn it, I didn¡¯t want him to see me like this. ¡°How did the treatment go?¡± I snapped. He shrugged. ¡°Smoothly. Told you to trust me. Why don¡¯t you get up and see if you feel more energized than before?¡± I slid off the chair. And to my surprise, he was right. That constant fatigue I¡¯d been feeling was gone. I actually felt stronger. ¡°But my wolf¡­ she still won¡¯t respond to me.¡± I frowned. ¡°Please, healing takes time. I¡¯m not a damn magician,¡± he rolled his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re done for now. See you next session, same time.¡± He clearly didn¡¯t want to waste another second on me. And honestly, I felt the same. I left quickly. Life here was going to be so bring here. Maybe I should find something to keep myself busy in between sessions. I was thinking that when I got back to my room. Then suddenly, I was yanked inside the moment I opened the door. ¡°Ah-!¡± I screamed before 1 could stop myself. ¡°Shh!¡± Malik mped his hand over my mouth. ¡°We agreed¨Cno screaming!¡± 12:42 Sun, 10 Aug ¡°Then stop showing up like a horror movie jump scare! And how did you even get in? I locked my door!¡± I hissed. ¡°The security room has master keys to every room. This ce has zero privacy.¡± He shut the door behind him and leaned in. ¡°So, how was your first session? Tell me everything.¡± I sighed and spilled everything that happened, including the numbers I memorized from the screen. He frowned, rubbing his chin. ¡°It does sound like treatment for neurotoxins¡­ but damn it, Alpha Otto must be using thetest¨Cgen machines. Ours at the academy are outdated. I can¡¯t tell what those numbers mean yet¡­¡± ¡°You do know what you¡¯re doing, right?¡± I eyed him suspiciously. He looked offended. ¡°I¨CI just need a little time, okay?!¡± ¡°I did feel more energized after the treatment,¡± I admitted. ¡°But the thing is¡­ my wolf¡­¡± My wolf looked so sad. She seemed trapped. She couldn¡¯t reach me. I wanted to tell Malik all of that. But suddenly, there was a sharp knock on the door. ¡°Miss Collins? Are you in there, Miss Collins?¡± It was the nurse, calling out loudly. ¡°Please open the door.¡± Malik and I stared at each other in panic. She can¡¯t know I¡¯m here, he mouthed in panic. Then what do we do?! I mouthed back urgently. ¡°Miss Collins? I¡¯m opening the door now, alright?¡± she called. Damn it! Does no one have privacy in this ce?! The next moment, the door burst open. Wore 99 Chapter 99 Aria¡¯s POV Luckily, I shoved Malik into the closet just one second before the nurse pushed the door open. ¡°What are you doing? You look¡­ sweaty,¡± she said aftering in, eyeing me suspiciously. wiped the sweat off my forehead and red coldly at her. ¡°I was working out. Is that a crime? And haven¡¯t you ever heard of privacy? Who said you could just barge into my room?¡± She didn¡¯t look the least bit sorry. ¡°You didn¡¯t answer me, and I thought you might¡¯ve passed out. It was for your safety.¡± Bullshit. They were watching me. ¡°So what do you want from me?¡± I asked, frowning. ¡°Get dressed. Come into the courtyard in five minutes. We have an announcement.¡± With that, she turned and left. I rolled my eyes. What is this, middle school? They thought they could discipline me like a student? Once I was sure she was gone, I quickly opened the closet. ¡°Hey, are you okay?¡± Malik looked shaken. ¡°Holy crap. They can¡¯t find out I¡¯m here. My research would be screwed if they find out about me.¡± This guy was a total science maniac. ¡°Worry about your life first, then your research, genius,¡± I muttered. ¡°You know Alpha Otto isn¡¯t exactly kind to people who go against him.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know what I¡¯m doing. But hey, didn¡¯t she say there was going to be an announcement? Go. Find out what it is.¡± I nodded and left my room, heading straight to the courtyard To my surprise, there were already a bunch of people in hospital gowns standing around. It was the most people I¡¯d seen in this ce. ¡°All right, line up people,¡± the nurse from earlier shouted. ¡°I don¡¯t have all day for you guys.¡± + hesitated as I walked up. What the hell was going on? The others all wore the same white clothes and carried dull, nk expressions. I looked at them curiously, but none of them met my gaze. It was like they didn¡¯t even want to talk to me. ¡°Listen up,¡± the nurse called out. ¡°Your task for the week is to clear the weeds and rubble on the east side of the building. Alpha Otto wants to build a new facility there.¡± She paused, then added sharply, ¡°And you better move fast. I don¡¯t want to see anyone cking off. Lazy ass don¡¯t get dinner. Understand?!¡± Wait. What? I almost thought I heard it wrong. 12:42 Sun, 10 Aug Was she seriously assigning us hardbor? But aren¡¯t these people all patients? Hooked around, hoping someone else would show even a shred of outrage like me. But no. Everyone¡¯s face was eerily calm. Some had already started walking toward the east side of the building. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me,¡± I said loudly. ¡°Don¡¯t you have actual construction workers for this?¡± The nurse smirked at me. ¡°In this facility, all patients are required to work. Physicalbor helps with recovery.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t about recovery. This is you exploiting us,¡± I snapped. ¡°Peoplee here to get treated. They didn¡¯t sign up for this!¡± I turned to face the others, raising my voice. ¡°Am I wrong? You¡¯re all being forced into this, right? Why aren¡¯t you standing up for yourselves?!¡± But instead of support, all I got were cold, mocking stares. They looked at me like I was the clown. And I could hear them whispering: ¡°Pathetic.¡± ¡°Total newbie.¡± ¡°She¡¯s so embarrassing.¡± ¡°You heard them,¡± the nurse sneered at me. ¡°Now get in line. Or you won¡¯t be eating tonight.¡± I took a deep breath, fists clenched furiously. This is unbelievable. Did they really think Grayson wouldn¡¯t find out about this? ¡°Forget it,¡± I said coldly. ¡°This is clearly one of Otto and I¡¯s little games against me. I¡¯m not ying along.¡± I turned to walk away. But a huge male nurse stepped in front of me, blocking my path. ¡°Get back in line,¡± he said in a low, threatening voice. ¡°Get away from me!¡± I growled. He grabbed my shoulder and twisted hard. I cried out in pain, then swung my fist and punched him straight in the gut. He grunted. ¡°Damn, this one¡¯s feisty,¡± he snarled. He kicked me hard in the knee. A sharp crack echoed through my bones. ¡°Ah-!¡± I screamed as my leg buckled beneath me. The nurse strolled over, looking down at me like I was trash. ¡°See what happens when you act like a bad girl?¡± she said. ¡°Now Alpha Otto has to waste time treating you. This is all your fault.¡± I red up at her, gasping for air. The pain from my broken leg was so sharp. Shit. Shit. SHIT! This was I and Otto¡¯s doing. I was sure of it! 12:42 Sun, 10 Aug Third Person POV Otto and I stood by the window, watching from above. From their angle, they could see everything that happened in the courtyard. When they saw the girl¡¯s leg snap under the nurse¡¯s kick, Otto let out a sharp hiss. ¡°Fuck. That was your call?¡± he asked. I crossed her arms, her expression cold and ruthless. ¡°Just a little reminder for her. She needs to learn who¡¯s in charge here. Otherwise, with that little whore¡¯s temper, she¡¯s going to cause us a hell of a lot of trouble for us.¡± ¡°But this isn¡¯t going toe back to bite me, right? You heard Grayson earlier. If he finds out his precious little girlfriend got her leg broken, I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll be very happy with me.¡± I gave him a side nce. ¡°What, getting cold feet now? Want to back out?¡± Otto let out a darkugh and grabbed her ass. ¡°Hell no. I lost my sanity the second you got down on your knees and sucked me dick. I¡¯m your puppet now¨Ceven if it means Grayson ends up destroying my pack.¡± I leaned back against him, letting his rough hands roam her body. ¡°There isn¡¯t just risk. Don¡¯t forget what you¡¯re getting out of this,¡± she said. ¡°Once I get back with Grayson, I¡¯ll make sure White River Pack has unlimited medical funding.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I like to hear, Luna I,¡± he chuckled, sliding his hand under her bra and squeezing her breast hard. ¡°You know, part of me doesn¡¯t want to let you go now. What do you say you stay by my side, huh? Forget Grayson. I can give you everything you want.¡± Her eyes snapped open. And she shoved him off. ¡°Give me what I want?¡± she repeated, her tone dripping with mockery. ¡°You can¡¯t even fund your own damn facility. What makes you think you can offer me anything? Pathetic.¡± He looked awkward. ¡°Damn it, woman. Do you have to be so fucking ambitious?¡± ¡°Only Grayson Hart can give me what I want,¡± she said coolly, fixing her hair. ¡°So don¡¯t get in my way.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± he said with a twisted grin. ¡°You have my word.¡± ¡°Good.¡± She walked over to the couch and sat down. ¡°Now tell me everything about your first session.¡± He scratched his head and followed her to the couch. ¡°There¡¯s not much to say. I used the device to reach her wolf. Everything¡¯s going as nned. Four more sessions and we¡¯ll get what we want¡­ but I gotta say, her wolf¡¯s pretty damn strong.¡± I raised a brow. ¡°Stronger than me?¡± ¡°Stronger than Delh, and Delh has her Alpha bloodline,¡± he said grimly. ¡°Weird, right?¡± ¡°No way¡­ she¡¯s just some small¨Ctown mutt. How could she possibly have a wolf that strong?¡± I snapped. ¡°What else do you see during the session?¡± { ¡°I caught part of her memories. Something about her mother trying to protect her from something. Damn, she might have more secrets than we thought.¡± I¡¯s jaw clenched. Her face flickered between jealousy and rage. Then she gritted, ¡°Grayson can¡¯t find out about her strong wolf. Do you hear me? NO ONE can know!¡± Otto¡¯s expression was just as dark. He smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even the girl doesn¡¯t know about her strong wolf yet,¡± he said. ¡°And after four more sessions, she won¡¯t even have a wolf.¡± 4/4 Wore 100 57%8 Chapter 100 Aria¡¯s POV Sweat dripped from my face, hitting the ground one drop at a time. The sun was merciless above my head, and my leg still fucking hurt. Not far from us, that huge male nurse loomed over everyone, keeping a close eye on our every move like some prison guard. ¡°Ah!¡± someone cried out behind me. A patient was pulling the weeds too slowly. The male nurse marched over and kicked her hard in the back. ¡°Move yourzy ass!¡± he snapped. ¡°Hey!¡± I threw the rock I¡¯d been holding, my voice sharp. ¡°Don¡¯t fucking touch her!¡± The nurse turned and gave me a nasty look. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? She ain¡¯t your friend.¡± I clenched my jaw. ¡°No, she¡¯s not. But I¡¯m not gonna stand here and watch you abuse these poor people. What are you, a nurse or a fucking thug?¡± He started toward me, heavy footsteps pounding the dirt. ¡°You want the other leg broken too? Keep talking.¡± ¡°Go ahead. Break both of my legs. In fact, break all my limbs if you want!¡± I stood up straight, ring at him. ¡°But just know this¨CI¡¯m not staying in this hellhole forever. And the second I get out, you¡¯re fucking done.¡± He froze mid¨Cstep. Something like panic flickered across his eyes. ¡°In fact,¡± I pushed further. ¡°what¡¯s your name? Come on, tell me. So when I walk out of here, I know exactly who to deal with. You think Otto and I give a damn about you? Please. They¡¯d throw you under the bus without blinking.¡± The nurse¡¯s face twitched. Then he muttered something like ¡°you better remember this¡± and turned and walked away. I could feel everyone¡¯s eyes on me. This time, though, no one wasughing. Their expression was a mix of shock, unease, maybe even a flicker of respect. I didn¡¯t look back at them. I just bent down again and kept ripping up weeds. twasn¡¯t doing it for them. I wasn¡¯t doing it to be thanked. I did it because it was the right thing to do. ¡°Hey¡­ that was¡­ pretty brave.¡± I nced over my shoulder. The girl I¡¯d defended earlier had moved beside me. She gave me a small smile. ¡°I¡¯m Elle, by the way,¡± she said. ¡°Aria,¡± I replied, then added, ¡°You don¡¯t have to talk to me if you don¡¯t want to. If you think everything they¡¯re doing is fine, that¡¯s your call.¡± She looked a little ufortable. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s not like we agree with how the nurses treat us here. It¡¯s just¡­.we don¡¯t have a choice.¡± ¡°What do you mean? If you wanted to leave, what, they¡¯d stop you?¡± ???? +363 ¡°They wouldn¡¯t stop us. But they¡¯d stop treating us,¡± she said with a sigh. ¡°Most of the patients here have rare conditions. No healer has been able to help us, except Alpha Otto¡¯s team. So yeah¡­ if doingbor and getting beaten up means we get to survive, then it¡¯s worth it.¡± 1 froze. Shit. I hadn¡¯t known that. ¡°He¡¯s not a good healer,¡± I said after a moment. ¡°A good healer doesn¡¯t use patients like this.¡± ¡°But he gets things done. That¡¯s all that matters, right?¡± She shrugged. ¡°And if you behave, they even assign you better work. Like me. I¡¯m in charge of cleaning the meds room.¡± My head shot up. The meds room? Was that where they stored all the medicines, including the injection Otto gave me? If I could get into that room, or even see thebel, Malik might be able to figure something out. ¡°Hey,¡± I grabbed her arm, lowering my voice. ¡°Can I ask you for a favor? I need to a quick ess to the meds room. There¡¯s something in there I need to see.¡°. Her eyes widened. ¡°You want me to unlock the door for you? Are you insane?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to do anything except leave the door cracked open. That¡¯s it. If I get caught, you can say you didn¡¯t know anything.¡± ¡°You think they¡¯re that stupid?¡± Her face turned cold. ¡°Look, I¡¯m grateful for what you did earlier. But forget it. I¡¯m not risking my one shot at treatment for you.¡± And with that, she scooted away and started pulling weeds again. I sighed internally. Alright. Maybe I pushed too hard. Now I needed to find an alternative way. We worked through the blistering afternoon, drenched in sweat, until we were finally allowed back inside for dinner. I was exhausted. And now I was even more determined to call Grayson the second I got back to my room and tell him what the hell was going on in this ce. ¡°Aria Collins,¡± a nurse called as we walked into the building. ¡°Come here. It¡¯s time for your shot.¡± I tensed and slowly walked over. She held a metal tray with a vial and a syringe on it. ¡°What is that?¡± I asked. ¡°A special serum Alpha Otto made just for you. Her voice was dismissive. ¡°Roll up your sleeve.¡± ¡°I meant, what¡¯s in it?¡± ¡°And if I told you, would you even understand it? Are you a healer now?¡± she snapped. ¡°Just roll up your sleeve. I don¡¯t have all day for you.¡± I muttered a curse and rolled up my sleeve. Her hands were rough, and she jammed the needle in so hard I bled a little. ¡°You¡¯ve got 10 minutes to get cleaned up and change, then head to the cafeteria,¡± she said. ¡°If you¡¯rete, you don¡¯t eat.¡± 12:43 Sun, 10 Aug Chaptec 100 1 tried to feel for any reaction in my body after the shot. Whatever was in that syringe, it wasn¡¯t poison. Or at least, not immediate. I didn¡¯t feel sick or dizzy. But that didn¡¯t mean Ofte was clear yet. 1 got back to my room to change. But the second I stepped in, I froze. The door was wide open. 1 rushed inside and got even more astonished. My bags were all over the floor, dumped and torn open. My clothes, personal belongings were thrown everywhere. Someone had clearly searched through everything. Rage surged through me. I stormed back into the hallway and stopped a nurse passing by. ¡°What the hell happened to my room?!¡± I snapped. She rolled her eyes. ¡°Stop yelling you rude girl. It was just a routine check for forbidden items.¡± ¡°Forbidden items? What do you think I¡¯m smuggling in here¨Cbombs?¡± ¡°I meant phones orptops. Anything that connects you to the outside world. You don¡¯t need that crap during treatment.¡± I lunged forward and grabbed her by the cor. ¡°You took my phone?¡± I growled. Gasps filled the hallway as all the patients turned to stare. The nurse went pale. She clearly didn¡¯t expect me to snap. ¡°Hey, d¨Cdon¡¯te at me like that,¡± she stammered. ¡°It wasn¡¯t my idea¡­ it¡¯s Lady I¡¯s rule!¡± Of course it was. ¡°Where the fuck is she? And your Alpha?¡± ¡°P¨CProbably in the cafeteria. If you¡¯ve got a problem, take it up with them. This is my business.¡± she stammered. ¡°Oh, trust me. I will.¡± I shoved her aside and marched toward the cafeteria. By the time I burst in, most patients were already seated. They all turned their heads in unison as I stormed through the doors. I and Otto sat at the far end of the long table. I marched right up to them and mmed my hands on the table. ¡°Where the hell is my phone?!¡± I gritted. Otto leaned back in his chair, looking calm and rx. I gave me a pleasant smile. ¡°What do you need your phone for, Aria?¡± ¡°To tell Grayson what the hell is going on in this abusive¨Cass facility! And I don¡¯t really need a reason to get my personal belongings back!¡± ¡°We believe peace of mind is an important part of healing. Less contact with the outside world does you good.¡± She paused, and added with a bright smile: ¡°And you don¡¯t need to contact Grayson. I¡¯ve been calling him and giving him regr updates about your condition.¡± 12:43 Sun, 10 Aug SHE WHAT? ? I stared at her in anger and disbelief. ¡°You think that¡¯s the same thing? I¡¯m his damn girlfriend! I should be able to talk to him whenever I want!¡± She stood up too, meeting my eyes with a cocky expression. ¡°See, that¡¯s the problem. You think just because you¡¯re his girlfriend, you¡¯re entitled to bother him anytime. But that¡¯s very selfish. Grayson is a great Alpha. He doesn¡¯t always have time to deal with your little dramas.¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of your business!¡± I shouted. ¡°Give me my phone!¡± She raised her voice as well. ¡°He left you in my care! And I believe part of that means helping you fix your attitude. Stay here, heal, learn how to be a decentdy. And maybe in 3 months, you¡¯ll actually be worthy of him.¡± I blinked. Then I let out a sharp, sarcasticugh. Her smile dropped. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± ¡°Oh, I see what¡¯s going on here,¡± I smirked. ¡°You think you¡¯re his real mate. And I¡¯m just some fling or mistress you get to punish. But take this -you are nothing. He doesn¡¯t want anything to do with you. And you are just a pathetic, pretentious, old-¡± Her hand flew up to p me, but I caught her wrist mid¨Cair. I stared into her furious eyes with a smirk. ¡°Which word pissed you off the most? Old?¡± She yanked her hand back, just as Otto finally stood up too. ¡°Ok that¡¯s enough,¡± he cut in. ¡°The phone rule applies to everyone, Aria. Not just you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not the only one who finds it unfair. Everyone else thinks the same way!¡± I snapped. ¡°Sounds like someone has been putting the wrong ideas in your head,¡± he said coolly. ¡°I wonder who that was¡­ oh! Was it the girl who chatted with you earlier?¡± He snapped his fingers. Two male nurses rushed forward and dragged a horrified Elle from her seat into the center of the room. ¡°Leave her alone!¡± I screamed. ¡°You fucking cowards!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like disobedient patients,¡± Otto sighed. ¡°Elle, I¡¯m very disappointed in you. I thought we are finally getting somewhere.¡± Elle looked scared as hell. She burst into tears. ¡°N¨CNo, please! It was her, she talked to me first! I swear¨Cplease, Alpha Otto, I was very good¡­¡± ¡°Miss Collins is a very important patient here. And you made her question our facility. That¡¯s very serious.¡± Otto said with a cruel grin. ¡°I think Elle deserves a punishment. What do you have in mind, I?¡± I¡¯s eyes gleamed with malice. ¡°Disobedient patient¡­ might as well be dead,¡± she said coldly. Wore 101 Chapter 101 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°No!!¡± I screamed without thinking. My heart was mming against my ribs. No way. No freaking way. Otto wouldn¡¯t actually murder one of his own patients¡­ right? Even if he was cruel, he wouldn¡¯t go that far. He couldn¡¯t! I clenched my fists and stared at him, holding my breath. He was staring right back at me¨Ccalm, smug, like he was enjoying the panic on my face. A few secondster, he finally chuckled and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to stain our hands with blood, I. If a patient refuses to behave, all we need to do is stop treating them.¡± Elle let out a terrified scream. And my heart dropped like a stone. No more treatment? That¡¯s the same as a death sentence. Otto folded his hands behind his back and looked down at Elle with a chilling smirk. ¡°You were only two sessions away from a full recovery, Elle. But now¡­ what a shame. Once you leave this ce, your condition will deteriorate in about a week. You probably have a month left to live. Use it well.¡± ¡°No! No, please! I¨CI don¡¯t want to die¡­¡± Elle copsed to the floor, sobbing so hard her body shook. ¡°Please forgive me, Alpha Otto. I swear I¡¯ll behave. I will never speak to her again! I¡¯ll be the best patient you¡¯ve ever had¨CPLEASE!!!¡± ¡°But it¡¯s toote now,¡± I said sweetly. Too sweetly. ¡°Thanks to you, Ms. Collins is starting to doubt our facility. And we simply can¡¯t risk that. So unfortunately, kicking you out is the only option. You¡¯ll just have to me her for it.¡± Bull. Shit! I could feel the weight of every hateful stare in the room turning toward me. Even Elle was ring at me now, her face twisted with hatred. A cold chill ran through my body. This was exactly what I wanted. She wanted me to carry the guilt. She knew guilt could eat me alive¨Cit was more effective than any physical punishment. I had never met anyone so vicious in my life. God I fucking hate her! ¡°Let her stay,¡± I whispered, my voice shaking. ¡°I swear¡­ I¡¯ll follow the rules from now on.¡± A slow smile curved across I¡¯s lips. She was loving this. Watching me fold must¡¯ve been the highlight of her day. ¡°Oh? Are you saying you¡¯re sorry, Aria?¡± she asked sweetly, pressing her advantage. ¡°You¡¯re done crying about seeing Grayson? You¡¯ll behave now and focus on treatment?¡± God, if I could rip that smug expression off her face- ¡°Say whatever the hell you want. Just let Elle stay!¡± I growled. 12:43 Sun, 10 Aug Sheughed. ¡°I like this attitude of yours. Unfortunately, no can do. Rules are rules, and Elle has to go.¡± 3 57%1 The two male nurses yanked Elle off the ground and began dragging her out of the cafeteria as she kicked and screamed. The other patients watched in stunned silence, frozen with fear. ¡°If the rest of you don¡¯t want to lose your treatment, I suggest you remember this moment,¡± Otto said loudly, then turned to sh me a triumphant smile. My whole body was trembling with rage. Coming here was a mistake. A huge, stupid mistake! My instincts had been right all along. ¡°If Grayson can¡¯t get in touch with me, he¡¯ll start asking questions. When hees here, everything you¡¯ve done wille to light,¡± I hissed. I chuckled. ¡°Oh don¡¯t worry. I just spoke with him earlier today. He¡¯s veryfortable with you being here.¡± God knows what lies she¡¯s been feeding him. And who knows how long they¡¯ve been talking behind my back? And the worst part? Grayson actually believed her. How could he! Anger red inside me like wildfire. ¡°You really think you can hide this forever?¡± I snapped. ¡°I will see him again. And when I do, he¡¯ll find out everything.¡± ¡°Of course you¡¯ll tattle,¡± I said with a cold smile. ¡°You¡¯re exactly that type¨Ca little girl who whines behind people¡¯s backs. But I¡¯m hoping to fix that. To turn you into a realdy. Maybe one day you¡¯ll even thank me.¡± SCREW YOU. I spun around and stormed out of the cafeteria. Behind me, I¡¯s voice rang out in a singsong tone: ¡°Rest up tonight, Aria. You¡¯ve got another day of hard work tomorrow!¡± Back in my room, I paced around like a caged animal, chewing at my thumb. Contacting Grayson was a dead end. But if they thought I was giving up that easily, they were dead wrong. I could tell there¡¯s something wrong with Otto¡¯s treatment. I just had to find proof. Tap. Tap. Tap. Someone was knocking on my window. I rushed over and threw it open. Malik mbered inside, dirty and breathless. ¡°I heard about what happened in the cafeteria! Shit¨Cwhat the hell was that?! Alpha Otto is just going to let that girl die? That¡¯s¡­¡± He trailed off, 12:43 Sun, 10 Aug ¡°Find Elle,¡± I said, climbing out the window. We followed the route Malik had taken to speak in. My room wasn¡¯t far from the ground, and now that it was dark, so no one saw us as we dropped down and sprinted toward the gate. 1 I heard soft crying before I even reached the iron bars. Elle was curled up on the other side, sobbing into the dirt, ¡°Hey¡­ hey, Elle!¡± I whispered urgently, grabbing the bars. ¡°It¡¯s me. Aria.¡± She whipped her head up, eyes full of rage and hatred. ¡°What the hell are you doing here?¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re angry. But can¡¯t you see? This is exactly what Otto and I wanted. They¡¯re trying to turn us against each other.¡± ¡°All I know is, I said one sentence to you and now I¡¯m out here waiting to die!¡± she snarled. ¡°So get away from me!¡± ¡°Shh! Keep it down,¡± Malik whispered, ncing around nervously. *Listen to me,¡± I said under my breath. ¡°You still have a chance. Otto doesn¡¯t care about any of us¨Cbut screw him. You deserve better. Someone with real skill. Someone who actually gives a damn.¡± ¡°Oh yeah? Where am I supposed to find someone like that?¡± she snapped. I yanked Malik forward. ¡°Right here. This is Malik. He¡¯s the most talented healer at the academy. He¡¯s my personal doctor. And I swear, he can cure you. Faster than Otto ever could. Right, Malik?¡± His eyes widened and he looked taken aback. I jabbed him hard in the ribs. ¡°Uh¨Cyeah! Yeah, totally,¡± he stammered. Elle stared at us suspiciously. ¡°Look,¡± I said quickly. ¡°Just help us get into the med room. And we¡¯ll make sure you get treated.¡± ¡°How do I know you won¡¯t throw me under the bus when this is all over?¡± she hissed. ¡°Because I¡¯m not Alpha Otto,¡± Malik said quietly, his expression dead serious. They stared at each other for a moment. Then Elle exhaled and muttered, ¡°Fine. What have I got to lose¡­ Listen up. The med room password is #9128407.¡± Malik and I shared a wide¨Ceyed look. We got it. ¡°Thank you! Thank you so much!¡± I reached through the bars and squeezed her hand. ¡°Stay close. We¡¯ll keep our promise.¡± We didn¡¯t waste another second. I grabbed Malik¡¯s arm and took off running toward the building. He was panting behind me,ughing between breaths. ¡°So¨Cso I¡¯m your personal doctor now?¡± ¡°If Otto gets fired, I won¡¯t have much of a choice, will I? Now focus!¡± Back inside, we crept through the halls in the dark, dodging patrols until we reached the med room. I punched in the password. Click. The door unlocked. ¡°Be quick,¡± I whispered, slipping inside. ¡°Look for a vial with a bluebel and my name on it. It¡¯s what the nurse gave me earlier.¡± ¡°Got it. Let¡¯s split up.¡± We moved fast, scanning shelf after shelf. My heart was racing. Ten minutester, I spotted abel¨CAria Collins. ¡°Hey, Malik!¡± I whispered. ¡°I think I found it!¡± He rushed over, eyes gleaming. ¡°Holy crap, this must be it. Let me check the contents-¡± He reached up and grabbed the vial. And in that exact moment, the room exploded with red lights and a deafening rm. ¡°SHIT!¡± I cursed. Wore 102 Chapter 102 Aria¡¯s POV 1 could already hear voices and footsteps closing in from outside. ¡°Hurry, check the content!¡± I hissed at Malik in a panic. ¡°I¡¯m trying! But¨Cdamn it! The form¡¯s not written on the vial. I¨CI might need to break it down somewhere to figure out what¡¯s inside¡­¡± ¡°Goddamn it, Malik! We don¡¯t have time for a science experiment right now!¡± The footsteps were right outside the door. I didn¡¯t have time to think. I shoved the vial into Malik¡¯s pocket and pushed him toward the window. ¡°Go! Now!¡± ¡°But¨Cbut what about you?!¡± ¡°They won¡¯t do anything to me. But if they see you, it¡¯s over¨Cjust go!¡± I used all my strength to shove him out the window. A secondter, the door to the medicine room was burst open. Alpha aura mmed into the room like a storm! The force threw me back, mming me into the wall. I crashed down into a pile of shattered ss. Pain exploded across my body and I cried out. Otto stormed into the room, furious. ¡°What the fuck are you doing here?!¡± he roared. I clutched my bleeding side, ring at him coldly. ¡°Just taking ate¨Cnight walk.¡± He grabbed my cor and yanked me off the ground, ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb with me, you little rat.¡± I met his eyes, defiant. ¡°What, are you scared now? If you weren¡¯t hiding something, why would you be afraid?¡± ¡°Afraid? You think I¡¯m afraid of you?¡± he snapped. ¡°Getting rid of a little pain¨Cin¨Cthe¨Cass like you would be so damn easy! In fact, I¡¯d love to erase you right now. If it weren¡¯t for I-¡± -My heart skipped a beat. ¡°I? What does she want?¡± His face twisted. He probably realized he said too much. ¡°None of your damn business!¡± ¡°She¡¯s nning something, isn¡¯t she?¡± I shouted. ¡°Just admit it! You two never wanted to cure me. This was all a setup! She¡¯s trying to destroy me!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Otto¡¯s face contorted with rage. ¡°I¡¯m locking you up right now. Maybe then you¡¯ll finally behave like a proper patient.¡± He started dragging me toward the door. I screamed and struggled as hard as I could. But fuck it he was too strong. I couldn¡¯t break free!!! That¡¯s when it happened. A st of Alpha aura exploded from the window behind us. Far stronger than Otto¡¯s. All the windows shattered. Shelves toppled. Bottles smashed. Otto screamed in pain, clutching his chest as he copsed to his knees. I stumbled backward and tripped over a fallen cab. But instead of hitting the floor, I fell into someone¡¯s arms- Strong arms. Safe arms. My face pressed into a familiar broad chest, and I caught the scent of pine on his clothes. ¡°Grayson!¡± I screamed, my voice shaking with relief and joy. He held me tight, then kissed my forehead like I was something precious he¡¯d nearly lost. Then he put his hands over my ears. And the gunshot exploded by my ears¨COtto screamed in agony as the bullet tore through his chest. ¡°Stay the fuck away from her, you filthy piece of shit!¡± Grayson growled, eyes zing. Otto dropped to the ground, blood bubbling from his wound. ¡°Fuck, fuck¡­ FUCK YOU GRAYSON HART! AND YOUR LITTLE WHORE!!!¡± Grayson¡¯s face turned to ice. He raised the gun again. This time, it aimed for Otto¡¯s head. Just then, I burst into the room. ¡°No! Don¡¯t!¡± 5730 She screamed, throwing herself between them and holding out her arms. ¡°Grayson, stop¨Cdon¡¯t do this-!¡± ¡°Get the hell out of my way, I,¡± he snarled. But she didn¡¯t move. Her face was pale, her expression trembling with panic. ¡°This must be a misunderstanding. Why did you shoot Otto?! He was still treating Aria¡­¡± ¡°Misunderstanding?!¡± Grayson roared. ¡°I left Aria in your care and told you I don¡¯t want to see a scratch on her skin. But what the hell do I find when Ie back? She¡¯s bruised, bleeding, being dragged around like a prisoner!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not what you think, Grayson-¡± He narrowed his eyes at her. ¡°You promised she¡¯d be safe, I. Last night, you told me yourself that she was doing well here. That she was happy. But look around, I!¡± She bit her lip, looking hurt. ¡°If you believe me, you wouldn¡¯t evene here today. Why did youe Grayson? Did you lose all your trust in me?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t deserve my trust! I¡¯m just d I didn¡¯t just buy into your words and decided toe here and check on her myself! You know what¨CI¡¯m starting to think you purposely dragged Aria here just to torture her!¡± ¡°No! I¡¯d never!¡± Tears shimmered in I¡¯s eyes. God, she really did look like the victim. What a performance. ¡°I would never betray you, Grayson. You know how much i treasure what we have. I would never do anything to ruin that trust¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t take it anymore. That lying bitch, ¡°Lies!¡± ! shouted, ring at her. ¡°Let me tell you what really happened since I got here. Yes, I received one treatment, but no one would tell me what they injected into me!¡± Otto coughed up blood, sneering, ¡°As if you¡¯d understand the form even if I told you.¡± Tignored him. ¡°And after Grayson left, I was forced to do hardbor with the other patients. We had to pick weeds and rocks under the zing sun.¡± ¡°Labor?!¡± Grayson snapped, his whole body going tense. ¡°It¡¯s not what it sounds like!¡± I jumped in quickly. ¡°Just outdoor therapy. We encourage it for all patients. It helps them heal!¡± ¡°Then why was I punished for refusing?¡± I shouted. ¡°I said no, and a male nurse kicked my leg until it broke!¡± Grayson let out a furious wolf snarl. A gust of wind swept through the room. I screamed in terror. Even I tensed up, clinging to his side. That power was terrifying. ¡°You are fucking dead,¡± he growled, eyes glowing coldly in the dark. ¡°You. And your whole pack. You¡¯ll all fucking pay for what you did to her!¡± He raised his gun again, aiming at Otto. And pulled the trigger. BANG! But the bullet didn¡¯t hit Otto¡¯s head. He was still alive, gasping for air in horror, trembling on the floor. I had thrown herself at Grayson and knocked his aim off at thest second. ¡°Don¡¯t kill him, Grayson!¡± she shouted. ¡°He¡¯s the only one who can cure Aria. You¡¯ll regret it if you kill him!¡± ¡°Shut up! Maybe I should fucking kill you first,¡± Grayson snarled, turning the gun to her head. Her whole body trembled. Tears streamed down her beautiful face. ¡°You won¡¯t. You¡¯d actually do this to me Grayson?¡± ¡°Try me.¡± he hissed. ¡°What did I do wrong?! Yes, Aria had to participate in some outdoor activities, but all the other patients do it too! That male nurse has already been punished. And let¡¯s be honest¨Che didn¡¯t break her leg. Aria¡¯s just exaggerating to get your sympathy¡­¡± ¡°Exaggerating?!¡± I shouted. ¡°I know my leg was broken! It happened!¡± ¡°No it didn¡¯t. There are trained doctors here. We recognize a broken bone when we see it. What really happened was you tripped, sprained your ankle, and you got better that very night. That¡¯s all.¡± I was shaking with rage. Yeah a doctor treated my broken leg that night. Even he said my bone was snapped. Yet I just denied everything! Shamelessly! ¡°Then why did you take away my phone?¡± I shot back. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t you let me call Grayson? Are you afraid he¡¯d find out what you were doing to me?!¡± She looked at me coldly. ¡°I already told you. Frombor duties to the phone, it¡¯s all part of hospital protocol. None of the other patients had a problem with it. Yet you¡¯re the only one who reacts like it¡¯s a big deal. Almost like you¡¯re paranoid.¡± ¡°Paranoid? Look at the blood on me¨C¡± ¡°It¡¯s just an ident. If you hadn¡¯t snuck into the med room, none of this would¡¯ve happened.¡°, She said loudly, talking over me. And she didn¡¯t even give me time to response. She just continued anyway: ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t get why you are constantlyining, Aria. I did all kinds of physicalbor back at my boarding school. I bruised, bled, and lost my phone privilege just like you did. I didn¡¯tin a damn thing. It builds character and makes you ady. I didn¡¯t want to be all condescending, but you really have to stop acting so privileged and spoiled.¡± Me? Privileged and spoiled? Was she fucking kidding me? I thought I was going to explode from rage. And just when I was about to shout at her again, Grayson beat me to it. ¡°Enough of your useless education, I,¡± he said coldly, holding me tight. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you went through. But my little girl doesn¡¯t need to suffer anything. Yes she¡¯s spoiled and privileged. Because I let her be.¡± Wore 103 Chapter 103 Aria¡¯s POV I¡¯s jaw dropped in shock. She clearly hadn¡¯t expected Grayson to call her out so mercilessly. Almost instantly, her face drained of all color, turning a pale gray. At that very moment, I wanted nothing more than to throw my arms around Grayson¡¯s neck and kiss him hard. ¡°G¨CGrayson, aren¡¯t you overreacting?¡± she let out an awkwardugh, forcing a smile. ¡°Your girlfriend clearly isn¡¯t strong enough to stand beside you yet. She still has a lot to change, a lot to improve. Everything I did was just to help her because I care about you¡­ ¡°Then stop using caring about me as an excuse to hurt her,¡± he said coldly. ¡°You¡¯re not her parent, you¡¯re not even a member of Red Stone Pack. You¡¯re just a friend of mine. You have no right to do these things, I.¡± She clenched her fists, her body trembling slightly with humiliation. Then she forced out a bitter smile. ¡°So that¡¯s it? You¡¯re just going to trample over everything I did for you like that? You weren¡¯t like this before, Grayson. What happened¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about the past. It¡¯s boring.¡± He cut her off impatiently. ¡°If you still think all the harm you caused Aria was somehow good intentions, then I¡¯ll take her away right now. And I don¡¯t think we should see each other ever again.¡± He wrapped an arm around me and turned to leave. But Otto¡¯s hoarse voice suddenly stopped us. ¡°If¡­ if you want that girl to leave here and then die, fine, go. I won¡¯t stop you.¡± Grayson froze. He turned his head and gave Otto a cold, razor¨Csharp look. ¡°I¡¯m already sick of your fucking lies. I can see you never intended to treat her seriously.¡± ¡°The phone andbor issue is one thing. But beyond that, I really have been treating her. I swear to the Moon Goddess!¡± Otto growled. ¡°In fact,e with me to the medical room. I¡¯ll show you the results after her first session.¡± Grayson¡¯s grip on my hand tightened, his brows furrowed. I looked at him nervously. I knew he was still hesitating. Otto was the best healer in the world, my biggest hope of recovering. Unless he had no choice, Grayson wouldn¡¯t want to give that up. ¡°If you take her away from here, she and her wolf will both weaken and die within two months. And her blood will be on your hands,¡± Otto hissed. ¡°Shut up!¡± Grayson spun around and roared, ¡°Fine! Let¡¯s see what kind of results you¡¯ve got. But if I find out you¡¯re ying games with me again¨Cyou¡¯re fucking dead!¡± Otto clutched his wounded shoulder, and I helped him to his feet. ¡°Follow me,¡± he rasped. Grayson kept his arm around me as we followed him out of the room. I secretly tugged at his sleeve and whispered, ¡°I¨CI have a bad feeling. are you sure about this?¡± His hand brushed over my head, his voice steady and Catim. ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking. But don¡¯t worry How that I¡¯m hitch, he on th you We stepped out of the room. And almost immediately, I froze. The hallway was filled with Red Stone Pack soldiers. Every nurse and patient had been herded into the main hall under armed guard. ¡°What the hell is going on, Grayson?¡± Otto snarled furiously. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? I¡¯ve officially taken over this ce,¡± Grayson replied, his tone as cold and arrogant like he was the king of this ce. ¡°Taken over? Are you out of your fucking mind?! Don¡¯t you forget¨Cthis ce belongs to White River Pack!¡± Grayson stepped toward him, his expression sharp and deadly. ¡°I warned you before I leftst time. Let me down and you and your whole pack will burn to ashes. Right now, you¡¯re already dangerously close to that scenario.¡± Otto swallowed hard and took a small step back. ¡°I¨CI did exactly what you asked. Your girlfriend is recovering under my care-¡± ¡°Then fucking prove it! NOW MOVE!¡± Grayson growled. Almost at the same time, every gun in the main hall turned toward Otto, like one wrong move they would blow his head up. Otto¡¯s face flushed red. He red at Grayson, his eyes dripping with hatred. I could tell how humiliated he was. After all, he was an Alpha too, but in front of Grayson, he was nothing. Even with guns aimed at his head, he didn¡¯t dare fight back. I couldn¡¯t help a cold smile in my heart¨Cso proud of the man I loved. Only he could make me feel this safe. ¡°Otto,¡± i tugged at the man¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Do what Alpha Grayson says.¡± Otto stood frozen, seething. ¡°But this is fucking too much! I¡¯ve had enough of putting up with this damn-¡± ¡°Just do it!¡± she snapped, her expression twisting into something ugly. ¡°We¡¯ve talked about this. NOW is not the time to settle old grudges. Just focus on Aria and we¡¯ll talk about everything elseter. REMEMBER?¡± Her tone was sharp, almost threatening. She and Otto exchanged a look I couldn¡¯t read, but whatever it ¡°¡­Fine,¡± he muttered. I narrowed my eyes at them. it made Otto back down eventually. There¡¯s something off about those two. It¡¯s like they¡¯re working on some n together¨Cand I just reminded Otto to stick to it. ¡­But what could it be? Otto led us into the same treatment room I had my first session in before. The equipment I¡¯d used was still there. ¡°This device stimtes your nerves to connect with your wolf,¡± Otto exined, tapping the screen and pulling up two graphs. ¡°This is your nerve activity before treatment. And this is after. See the huge improvement?¡± I stared at the screen suspiciously. ¡°And we¡¯re just supposed to take your word for it based on two random lines? You could¡¯ve faked this data.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t stoop to that kind of nonsense, silly girl,¡± Otto said coldly. ¡°After your nerves became more active, I saw your wolf. She¡¯s chained up, crying in pain, isn¡¯t she?¡± 214 Chapter 103 My heart skipped a beat. He was right about that! ¡°H¨Chow do you know that?¡± I stammered. He smirked. ¡°A powerful healer can connect with someone¡¯s wolf and heal wounds on the neuro level. If you think I rely on machines for everything, you are wrong. I already told you¨Cleave me, and within two shot months you and your wolf will wither away? Suspicion rose in me. After a pause, I asked, ¡°What about the shots? What¡¯s in them?¡± ¡°They¡¯re to suppress the toxins in your nerves. The form¡¯s confidential¨CI can¡¯t tell you.¡± His tone was arrogant. ¡°Hand over the form, or I¡¯ll burn this whole building down to fucking ashes,¡± Grayson growled, threatening icily. and after a long pause, he decided to back down. ¡°¡­Fine, if you insist.¡± Otto¡¯s jaw clenched with rage. He red at Grave He told us a long list of ingredients. Grayson immediately sent it to Red Stone Pack¡¯s doctor, and a few minutester, we got the reply- The shots Otto gave me was indeed a form for tr nerve toxins. ¡°See? I told you so!¡± Otto said loudly. ¡°I¡¯ve been working my ass off treating your little girlfriend. I¡¯ve done nothing wrong. And what I got in return? You barged in here and shot me in the shoulder. Don¡¯t you think you owe me an fucking apology?!¡± 1 I frowned looking at them. 1 felt even more lost. ¡­Was Otto actually telling the truth? Was he really trying to heal me? And I¡­ maybe getting me here and the hardbor was just her personal way of torturing me. And it¡¯s not part of some bigger n? Shit. I didn¡¯t know what to believe anymore. ¡°Grayson, now you can see how hurtful this is. We clearly meant well,¡± I said softly, her eyes glistening with tears. ¡°Sorry. But you have to admit, your actions were easy to misunderstand,¡± Grayson said with a frown. She sighed gently. ¡°Forget it. I don¡¯t want to defend myself anymore¡­ but did it ever ur to you that maybe your hostility toward me and Otto is because¡­you¡¯ve been misguided?¡± ¡°And what¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± I demanded loudly. No way was she about to dump dirt on me again. She turned her gaze at me, eyes gleaming with malice. ¡°Maybe you don¡¯t know this, Grayson, but Aria¡¯s been making a new friend behind your back,¡± she smiled icily. ¡°Our security footage caught her sneaking into the medical room¨CNot alone. But with another man.¡± I froze, ring at her. -That bitch! ¡°A man?¡± Grayson repeated, his voice dropping lower. 21-20, Mon, 11 Aug Chapter 103 ¡°That¡¯s right. I did a little digging. They seem to know each other for a long time. That exins why they are so¡­Intimate. With a graceful smile, Iid a photo in front of us. from It was treat me. Red Stone Pack. Malik was treating the wound on my shoulder. My clothes were pulled down from the shoulder that he could Malik had one hand one my he was shoulder like And his holding me. eyes were deep §à§á and focus
  1. me.
¡°You didn¡¯t know about tthis, did you, Grayson?¡± I grinned, her voice Was light, mocking. almost ¡°Aria, you want to tell boyfriend [your who this man is?¡± O the Wore 104 Chapter 104 Aria¡¯s POV I shot up from my seat, ring at her. ¡°This has nothing to do with you.¡± ¡°Well, I think it does. You and that mystery man sneaking into the med room started a chain reaction. Even Otto getting shot has something to do with that. Don¡¯t you think you owe everyone an exnation?¡± My fists curled tight. That cunning bitch! She was making it sound like I¡¯d been cheating on Grayson¨Cwhen it was nothing like that. Up until now, I had her right where I wanted her. I was this close to making Grayson see what a scheming, poisonous little snake she really was. And then she pulled out this¨Ctwisting the whole thing, shifting all the attention onto me. I didn¡¯t even know Malik and I had been caught on camera. She must¡¯ve been nning this for a while. ¡°Aria?¡± Grayson¡¯s deep voice cut in. He was looking at me, waiting for my response. My throat went dry. I fought with myself for a long moment before finally choking out, ¡°It¨CIt¡¯s not what you think.¡± I couldn¡¯t tell him who Malik was. Malik had been clear about this. If Otto found out he was here, he¡¯d be expelled from med school and thrown out of the pack. After everything he¡¯d done for me, I couldn¡¯t betray him. ¡°Seriously? You can¡¯t even tell Grayson? This man must mean a lot to you,¡± I said with a mocking little smile. Rage burned up my spine, and I snapped, ¡°This is exactly what you want, isn¡¯t it? You want to put the spotlight on me so everyone forgets how you tortured me here-¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t torture. And I¡¯ve already exined it.¡± She raised an eyebrow. ¡°But you, Aria¨Cyou still haven¡¯t exined yourself.¡± ¡°I told you! It¡¯s none of your damn-¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Grayson¡¯s voice sliced through mine. I froze, looking back at him. His brows were drawn, his handsome face unreadable. Was he mad? Did he believe her? I couldn¡¯t tell. Not from his face, not even from his scent. ¡°I want a word alone with Aria,¡± he said. I had clearly been waiting for that. She stood up instantly, all smiles. ¡°Then we¡¯ll give you some privacy.¡± She helped Otto out of the room, closing the door behind them. Now it was just me and Grayson. His gaze locked on me. Cold, deep, heavy. When he looked at me like that, I felt crushed under the weight of it, like he wasn¡¯t my caring lover anymore, but the untouchable Alpha I¡¯d first met. ¡°Now,¡± he said coolly, ¡°you can tell me.¡± I took a deep breath, my mind spinning. ¡°I¡­ just trust me, Grayson. There¡¯s nothing weird going on between me and that guy, I¡¯s stirring things up.¡± He stood up, looming over me. ¡°Then at least you can tell me his name. How you know him. Why he¡¯s here.¡± ¡°He¡­¡± I hesitated, frustration wing at my chest. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I promised him I wouldn¡¯t tell anyone.¡± His hand shot out and gripped my chin. He voice was tight. ¡°Your promise to him matters more than us?¡± His grip hurt. And it made me angry, too. ¡°Hey! I haven¡¯t said a word about you talking to your ex¨Cwife every day. So why the hell are you grilling me?¡± ¡°Because you have history,¡± he said coldly. I stared at him in shock. History? What the hell was he talking about?! ¡°You¡¯ve lost your mind. I¡¯ve never messed around with another man¨Cat least I don¡¯t have a damn ex¨Cwife!¡± ¡°You said you and Zane Elrod were ¡®just friends.¡® But if I hadn¡¯t caught up to you that night, you¡¯d be halfway to Europe with him by now. I¡¯d never have found you.¡± His gray eyes were full of that same obsessive anger I¡¯d seen before. ¡°So yeah, excuse me for wanting to know who this new guy is.¡± 1just stared at him. I thought we¡¯d moved past Zane. We¡¯d both broken, both forgiven. Survived life and death together. I thought that was over. But guess not. Deep down, he¡¯d never really let it go. ¡°Oh god¡­¡± I whispered, stepping back. ¡°I can¡¯t stay with you if you¡¯re going to be this paranoid and insane. If you don¡¯t trust me at all, then how the hell is this supposed to work?¡± He yanked me back by the shoulders. ¡°Then I¡¯ll make it work. Tell me who he is before I make you.¡± ¡°No. And I already told you¨Che has nothing to do with us!¡± I snapped. ¡°Don¡¯t you get it? We¡¯re already in I¡¯s trap. We¡¯re fighting, and that¡¯s exactly what she wants.¡± ¡°To me, I¡¯s a hell of a lot safer than the man you¡¯re breaking your back to protect,¡± he shot back. My head pounded with fury. How could he not see it? How could he not trust me? God, it was so damn frustrating! ¡°And if I refuse to tell you?¡± I said icily. His eyes narrowed. His hands slid from my shoulders to my neck. Firm, unyielding. One squeeze and he could take my life. Yet at the same time, way he touched me sent a dangerous shiver through me, stirring up memories of every wild night we¡¯d spent tangled together. It¡¯s so damn strange ¡°If you were anyone else, I could think of a thousand ways to make you talk,¡± he said, voice cold, fingers stroking my throat. But l¡¯ll never use them on you. Because you¡¯re my girlfriend.¡± I trembled, breath stuck in my chest, until he added: ¡°But there¡¯s one thing I can do¨Ckeep you under my watch, with zero chance to run Before I could answer, he walked to the door and pulled it open. ¡°I, Otto. Come back in.¡± I stared at them as they came back to the room. ¡°I want Aria¡¯s treatment finished in two weeks,¡± Grayson said. ¡°Can you do that?¡± ¡°What?!¡± I gasped. I looked surprised too. But she recovered fast. She smiled and nced at Otto. ¡°I think that can be arranged. What do you say, Otto?¡± Otto stroked his chin, nodding. ¡°If you insist, we can start her second session today.¡± They were really deciding this without even asking me?! ¡°I object!¡± I said quickly. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m done with this ce. I¡¯m not taking any more- ¡°No. You don¡¯t get to refuse,¡± Grayson cut in, his voice dark and fatal. ¡°You¡¯ll take the treatment. You will get better, and you wille back to me. I¡¯m done giving you any room for secrets.¡± Wore 105 Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Aria¡¯s POV A low, angry growl slipped from my throat. Damn it. Grayson was so blinded by rage and jealousy, he couldn¡¯t see that this was exactly the trap i had set for us! ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s do this, little girl.¡± Otto¡¯s voice waszy and mocking. ¡°Do what your Alpha boyfriend says. The sooner you get better, the sooner he¡¯ll leave us all alone.¡± I stood there, stiff and frozen. After a moment of hesitation, I finally stormed over to the treatment chair and sat down hard. It wasn¡¯t like I had a second choice. Otto strapped the same helmet on me asst time, then turned to Grayson and I. ¡°Can we have some privacy? I need to concentrate on this.¡± But Grayson sat right down in the chair, his gray icy eyes locked on Otto¡¯s. ¡°No. I¡¯m staying right here. I¡¯m watching you do this.¡± Otto¡¯s shoulders stiffened. ¡°There¡¯s nothing much to see really. And you being here is a distraction¡ª¡± ¡°Then find a way to get over it.¡± Grayson¡¯s voice was sharp. ¡°And if anything goes wrong during this treatment, you¡¯re dead.¡± Otto¡¯s jaw tightened. He exchanged a quick look with I before finally giving in. ¡°Fine. If you insist.¡± With Grayson in the same room, I felt a little more at ease. I leaned back in the chair and slowly closed my eyes. That same heavy drowsiness wrapped around me, pulling me down fast. Soon, I slipped into a deep sleep. Just likest time, I saw my wolf again. She was still bound by those cruel, jagged chains, but now she looked even weaker. I ran to her, my chest aching, and pulled her into my arms. She licked my hand and rubbed her furry head against my chest, urgent, restless. I could tell she was trying to tell me something. But she couldn¡¯t put into words. I kept drifting in the darkness. Then another vision came¨Cthis time, it was my mom. It was a different memory, and I was even younger than in thest one. I hadpletely forgotten this had ever happened. In this new memory, I was hiding behind a door, listening to my grandmother and my mother arguing fiercely on the other side. 16 ¡­You can¡¯t do this to her, Jolene!¡± My grandmother snapped. ¡°Everything is rightfully Aria¡¯s. You can¡¯t take it away from her!¡± There was the sound of pacing. Fast, restless. My mom sounded anxious and irritable. ¡°You think I don¡¯t want Aria to have it? You think I don¡¯t want her to grow up like a queen, with endless wealth and power, respected by everyone? But those thingse with a price. It¡¯s too fucking dangerous for her!¡± ¡°How do you know it¡¯s dangerous? You haven¡¯t even tried it!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid. Of course I it¡¯s dangerous! I know exactly what kind of people live in that court¨Cthey¡¯re all hungry wolves who would eat Aria alive. If my daughter has to grow up in a ce like that, I¡¯d rather she have nothing at all!¡± 20:48 Tue, 12 Aug But my grandmother wouldn¡¯t back down. Her voice rose again. ¡°No, Jolene. This is just you being selfish. And a coward! You don¡¯t think you can do it, so you also don¡¯t believe in Aria. But I know that little girl is stronger than you. In fact¡­ she¡¯s going to be an amazing female Alphat A sharp crash. Something broke. Then there¡¯s my mom¡¯s voice, almost shouting: ¡°How the hell do you know? How could you possibly know? Aria¡¯s only 3 years soldi¡± The shouting and the sound of things breaking scared me like hell. I burst into loud sobs. The door flew open the next second. And my mom rushed out, picking me up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, baby¡­¡± She pressed her face to mine, and I realized she was crying too. ¡°But I have to put your safety first. You won¡¯t me me for that, right?¡± I couldn¡¯t answer her. The memory faded away, and t sank back into sleep. I didn¡¯t know how much time passed before my eyelids finally felt heavy but movable. I blinked myself awake. ¡°You¡¯re up?¡± Otto asked. He tossed an empty syringe into the trash. ¡°How do you feel?¡± I shifted in my seat, and a surge of energy shot through my whole body¨Cjust like after the first session. ¡°I feel¡­ energized.¡± I said. ¡°Good. That means it¡¯s working,¡± he said. ¡°Both the injection and the equipment are pushing you in the right direction.¡± 1 rubbed my temples, frowning. But weirdly, I still couldn¡¯t wake my wolf. When I lifted my head again, I caught Otto staring at me. His eyes were bright, intense¡­ almost feverish. Like he was seeing me for the first time. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± I frowned. It¡¯s damn creepy. He gave a slow grin. ¡°Nothing. Just¡­ during treatment, it¡¯s normal to get memory shbacks. Do you remember what you dreamed about this time?¡± I tried to recall, but everything was hazy now. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not sure. I think I saw my wolf. And my mom. I vaguely remember¡­ a fight? But I can¡¯t remember with who. Why? Are those memories important? Do they matter for the treatment?¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t force yourself to remember,¡± he said quickly. ¡°Pushing too hard could damage your neurons again and undo the progress. Just let it go.¡± I nodded and nced around the room, only to realize Grayson was gone. And so was I. ¡°Where is he?¡± I asked immediately. Otto snorted. ¡°How the hell should I know? Maybe he went to the bathroom.¡± ¡°And I?!¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a missing persons bureau. Stop interrogating me,¡± he said mockingly. Shit! That woman must have gone with him. 1 practically jumped out of the chair and bolted out the door. The Red Stone Pack soldiers were still on guard in the hall. When they saw me, they immediately saluted. I asked if they¡¯d seen Grayson, and they pointed me in a direction. I followed it until I reached the meeting room. Through the ss, I saw Grayson and I standing close together, backs to me. They were talking Thated to admit it, but they do look perfect together. He was tall, handsome, radiating that untouchable Alpha presence cha was elegant and stunning, every inch the noblewoman she was bom to be. A sharp pang hit my chest as I looked them. I¡¯d inherited my mom¡¯s looks, and I knew I wasn¡¯t ugly¨Cin fact, I was kind of pretty. But still, people never stopped saying I wasn¡¯t good enough for Grayson. Because I didn¡¯t have the noble air he needed. Because I was just a small¨Ctown girl from apletely different world. I hated hearing it. But deep down¡­ I knew they were right. Right now, I couldn¡¯t help envying I¨Cshe was born into a noble family, handed everything I didn¡¯t have from the start. Why couldn¡¯t I have that? And then¡­I saw them leaned closer. She tilted her head up toward him, inching forward, and for a second it looked like they were about to kiss- FUCK! I stormed in, mming the door open. They both startled, turning toward me. ¡°What the hell are you doing?!¡± I demanded, fists clenched. I raised a brow, looking shocked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Aria? I was just showing Grayson some photos from my gallery.¡± I froze. That¡¯s when I noticed the phone in her hand. Maybe I had been wrong about the kiss. She nced at my flushed face and smiled faintly. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re the type to get upset just because we¡¯re talking. A healthy rtionship isn¡¯t like that, Aria.¡± I did not need this woman giving me rtionship advice. ¡°A healthy rtionship also doesn¡¯t have an ex¨Cwife constantly interfering,¡± I snapped, then turned to Grayson, my voice firm. ¡°If you still see me as your girlfriend, then stop talking to her. And definitely don¡¯t meet with her alone!¡± Grayson frowned slightly, but before he could say anything, I spoke up again. ¡°What are we, in kindergarten? That requirement is very childish, Aria.¡± ¡°Shut up. I¡¯m not talking to you,¡± I bit out She wasn¡¯t fazed at all. She even gave me a cold littleugh: Chapter 105 ¡°You keep insisting you don¡¯t need to be ¡®polished. But look at your manners, Aria. Ady raised in high society would never behave like this- Shit, she went after my background again. She just knew where to hit me. Rage and humiliation surged up inside me. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m nothing like you. stop bringing it up!¡± I spun on my heel and stormed out. I wasn¡¯t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. So shut up and ¡°Aria!¡± Grayson¡¯s sharp voice followed me, but I ignored him. I just wanted to be alone. I ran out of the building, aimless. Tears were streaking down my cheeks. Right now emotions were a mess. There were hurt, helplessness, fear¡­ But most of all. Rage. I had never hated a woman more. And the worst part was¨Cmy own boyfriend seemed to trust her very much. I was halfway to the front gate, wondering if I should just leave this ce entirely and let Grayson y happy family with his ex- When I heard amotion. Someone was sprinting toward me, panic and breathless. Behind his back in the near distance, nurses and soldiers were chasing him. It was Malik. ¡°Help¡­ help me!¡± he gasped, grabbing my arm. I didn¡¯t even have time to ask questions. I just shoved him into the bushes. Secondster, the pursuers reached me. ¡°Where is he? I saw him run this way!¡± a male nurse shouted. ¡°That strange guy? I saw him head toward the main building,¡± I said, giving them the wrong direction. They eyed me suspiciously. One nurse barked, ¡°Bullshit. I could¡¯ve sworn he went into those bushes-¡® ¡°Are you questioning me?¡± I cut him off sharply. ¡°We all know Alpha Grayson has taken over this ce, and I¡¯m his girlfriend. Do you really think I¡¯d lie to you?¡± Their expressions changed slightly. Clearly, I wasn¡¯t that powerless patient anymore¨CI was now the Alpha¡¯s woman. I represented authority and power. After a beat, one soldier muttered, ¡°¡­Do what Miss Collins says. Search the main building first.¡± They saluted me and hurried off in that direction/ I waited till theypletely disappeared before turning back and pushing through the bushes. Malik was crouched there. He let out a long breath of relief. ¡°Thank god,¡± he said, wiping sweat off his forehead. ¡°I thought I was dead for sure.¡± ¡°Where the hell have you been? I thought they¡¯d already caught you!¡± I hissed. ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m quicker than they think.¡± He smirked. ¡°I found a ce to run some tests on that vial. And guess what? That drug has 20:49 Tue, 12 Aug absolutely nothing to do with nerve curing toxins! Alpha Otto and Lady I lied!¡± ? O Wore 106 Chapter 106 Aria¡¯s POV My heart skipped a beat Of course they lied. They had no reason to actually help me and cure me. All they wanted was to slowly niin me from the inside out. ¡°So what¡¯s in that vial? Poison?¡± I asked urgently. ¡°Ironically, no,¡± Malik said. ¡°It¡¯s actually a supplement. One that¡¯s incredibly potent.¡± i froze. A supplement? Since when would Otto be so generous? ¡°You still don¡¯t get it, do you?¡± Malik¡¯s tone was serious. ¡°They¡¯re giving you that supplement to make you look like you¡¯re getting better. So you and Alpha Grayson won¡¯t ask too many questions during the treatment. But the moment they stop, you¡¯ll copse. Your wolf will wesken instantly. So it¡¯s just a way to hide their real intentions!¡± Right. My pulse spiked. So that¡¯s it! ¡°No wonder my wolf felt weaker during the second session today. I thought I was imagining it.¡± I leaned forward. ¡°So what do we do now? ¡°You need to stop using that equipment. I¡¯m damn sure the real problem ising from it,¡± Malik said without hesitation. If only it were that simple. ¡°You think I have a say in this? Otto and I havepletely convinced Grayson they can cure me with that damn equipment. Now they even want to speed up the treatment.¡± Malik¡¯s mouth fell open. ¡°What? You can¡¯t. If this keeps going, both you and your wolf will die.¡± ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that?!¡± ¡°Then tell Alpha Grayson what I found. Tear down their scheme right now. We don¡¯t have much time to waste.¡± 1 shook my head. ¡°No. Otto will just say it¡¯s a harmless supplement and use me of overreacting, And I will jump in just to humiliate me. We can¡¯t prove they¡¯re trying to hurt me yet.¡± He cursed, frustrated. ¡°Damn it. So what¡¯s the n?¡± ¡°We need hard evidence that the treatment is harmful.¡± I thought quickly. ¡°Can you think of anything?¡± ¡°Could you get me into the treatment room?¡± Malik asked cautiously. ¡°I know every healer¡¯s device. If I can see the equipment and how Otto- uses it, I¡¯ll know exactly what he¡¯s up to.¡± ¡°Getting you into that room is suicide. Otto would rip your head off.¡± I paused, then an idea clicked. ¡°¡­But maybe there¡¯s another way. The treatment room¡¯s window faces a huge banyan tree. If you climb up high enough, you can see everything inside. My next session is in two days.¡± His eyes lit up with excitement. ¡°OK! Damn, I feel like a badass detective uncovering high¨Csociety crimes.¡± I patted his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t get so cocky just yet, detective. If this goes wrong, you will lose y get caught before the next session.¡°. your life and I will be in deep trouble. Just don¡¯t I won¡¯t. Stay safe yourself, Ana We slit up, and I headed back toward the main building The entrance hall was bright, and a group of soldiers stood in front of Grayscht, reporting something He turned to me when I stepped inside, his gaze dark. ¡°Where were you?¡± he asked. ¡°I went for a walk,¡± I said coolly, trying to walk past him. But his hand that out, gripping my n ¡°The soldiers were chasing a suspicious man earlier,¡± he said icily. ¡°They followed the direction you pointed them in and lost hird corripienia Do you have something to say about that?¡± My heart picked up speed. Lying to Grayson and staying calm was never easy. Even I felt a bit neribus neve ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± I said quickly. His grip tightened. ¡°You¡¯re not a very good liar, Aria.¡± Shit. ¡°So what now? You gonna interrogate me?¡± I snapped. ¡°Go ahead. Throw me in prison and torture an answer out of me. Not like you trust me anymore.¡± He stared down at me, and I forced myself to meet his eyes, refusing to back down. But¡­ damn, it¡¯s hard to look defiant in front of Grayson Hart. Just when I was about to falter, he suddenly grabbed my waist and lifted me straight off the floor. I cried out in shock. Next thing I knew, 1 was thrown over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. ¡°WTF¨CWhat the hell are you doing?!¡± I yelled, kicking my legs. He kept walking, then smacked my ass. I let out a short cry¨CGod, people were watching! ¡°Quiet,¡± he growled. ¡°Don¡¯t make me spank you again.¡± I groaned and buried my face in his back so no one could see how red I was. He carried me all the way to my room, locked the door, and tossed me on the bed. In the next second, he was over me, arms braced on either side of my head. ¡°We need to work on your manners,¡± he said deeply, staring down at me. My temper red. ¡°What, so you agree with I? You also think I¡¯m some silly smalltown girl with no upper¨Css etiquette?¡± He scoffed. ¡°I don¡¯t give a damn if you can curtsey or waltz. The manners I¡¯m talking about are the ones you show me.¡± His intense gaze made my heart race even faster. With his big frame hovering over me, I could feel the heat radiating off his body. A familiar tingle spread between my legs. But I wasn¡¯t ready to give in just yet. I wanted to y this game just a bit longer, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my attitude now?¡± challenged. ¡°Was I not being respectful enough? Do you want me to bow and call you Alpha Grayson like everyone else¨Cmmph!¡± Chapter 106 I didn¡¯t get to finish. Because his lips had crashed onto mine. It was a wild, domineering kiss. His full weight pinned me down, giving me no chance or room to fight back. His hand gripped my jas, forcing my mouth open so his tongue could brutally invade. I melted fast. My brain went nkpletely, my heart pounded like a drumroll, and all I could do was kiss him back helplessly When he finally pulled away slightly, I was left breathless and flushed. ¡°That. You acting like a naughty little brat,¡± he murmured, stroking my swollen lips, his voice low and rough, ¡°That was the manner I was talking about.¡± ¡°You¡¯re cheating!¡± I protested, face burning. ¡°We have serious problems to work on, and you can¡¯t just- ¡°I AM talking about our serious problems,¡± he said. But he had his hand sliding down my body until it reached between my thighs. ¡°You¡¯re wet.¡± A moan slipped out of my mouth. ¡°No, wait¡­ don¡¯t¡­¡± He pushed my panties aside and slid one finger into me. So easily, so smoothly, like cutting through butter. I was that wet. ¡°You want to talk about problems?¡± he said, moving his finger in and out. I whimpered, mping my legs around his arm. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about problems then. I hate that you protect other men. I hate even the thought of other men in your eyes. You should have your sole focus on me.¡± The pleasure shot through me like electricity. I clutched his arm, moaning brokenly. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that¡­ Malik¡¯s not-¡± He suddenly added another finger. ¡°So his name is Malik?¡± 1 couldn¡¯t answer anymore. I was lost in the waves of pleasure as he picked up the pace, fucking me with his fingers harder. A quick, powerful orgasm hit me, and I cried out, squirting all over his hand. It took me a while toe down from it. He held me close, pressing soft kisses to my forehead, our bodies tangled so I could feel his hard length. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to¡­?¡± I asked softly, blushing. ¡°Not today. You¡¯re tired from treatment. I want you to rest.¡± He ran his fingers gently through my hair. I curled into him and pressed my ear against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. ¡°I want you to know that I haven¡¯t looked at anyone else since I met you. Not even Zane. He¡¯s just a friend.¡± He scoffed at Zane¡¯s name, still clearly unhappy. ¡°Hey. Knock it off,¡± I pinched his arm. ¡°Trust me more, will you?¡± After a pause, he said quietly, ¡°I¡¯ll try. But you know me, Aria, I don¡¯t tolerate secrets well.¡± ¡°I know. And I swear this secret isn¡¯t that bad, really, and it will all be over soon,¡± I said quickly. ¡°And you¡¯ll see exactly what¡¯s going on.¡± Once Malik got the proof against Otto and I, we wouldn¡¯t have to hide anymore. ¡°And I want you to trust me too,¡± he said. ¡± don¡¯t feel that way about I anymore. She¡¯s just a friend now. You¡¯re the only one who matters, Aria.¡± I hesitated. person I can trust and talk to. 14 1515 Thu 1 AU Chapter 106 I wanted to tell him that I and Malik were totally different cases. And it was pretty damn clear i still wanted to get back with Ram an she¡¯d do anything to make that happen. But the mood was too good right now to ruin with another fight. So I swallowed down everything I had to say. Plus, soon enough, when I presented the hard evidence against Otto and that evil woman, he¡¯d see I¡¯s true face for himself Just a few more days. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Wore 107 Chapter 107 Aria¡¯s POV CRYOT My next session started two dayster. This time, I passed outpletely in the treatment chair. Usually I¡¯d have those shbacks from the past, but this time I couldn¡¯t remember a single thing. When I woke up, Otto was by my side as usual, cleaning the treatment table. I was sitting on the couch, wearing this strange little smile as she stared at me. ¡°You¡¯re awake. How do you feel?¡± she asked with that fake sweetness. 1 had nothing to say to this woman. So I ignored herpletely. Right now the only thing on my mind was whether Malik had shown up like we¡¯d nned. As I fixed my hair, I kept stealing nces at the treetops outside, hoping to catch sight of him. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± I asked again. I rolled my eyes. She hated me enough to wish me dead, yet here she was ying nice. ¡°You clearly don¡¯t want to talk to me, so why bother? Just cut the crap.¡± She gave me a cool little smile. ¡°Your unnecessary hostility really hurts my feelings, Aria. I¡¯ve told you a hundred times¨Ceverything I do is for you and Grayson¡¯s own good. But again, I¡¯m asking because I was wondering if you were expecting a certain friend.¡± My head snapped toward her, my heartbeat spiking. ¡°What do you mean?¡± I demanded. Resting her chin in her hand, she beamed at me. ¡°We caught a suspicious man in the trees outside earlier. He was staring through the window like a total pervert while you were in treatment.¡± I shot up to my feet. ¡°Where is he? What did you do to him?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself, darling Aria, I was getting there. At first, I thought he was just some disobedient little thief. But then I took a closer look¨Cwasn¡¯t he that new friend of yours? Oh Aria, you¡¯re young and restless, I get it. Staying faithful in a rtionship must be so damn hard for you. So for you and Grayson¡¯s happiness, I decided it was best to¡­ take care of him.¡± Tunged for her, but Otto was faster. He blocked me with a sharp growl. ¡°Stay away from her!¡± ¡°No¨Cyou stay away from Malik! He¡¯s my friend!¡± I yelled. ¡°So his name is Malik?¡± I¡¯s smirk widened. ¡°What a brave young man, daring to seduce Alpha Grayson¡¯s girlfriend. Looks like he¡¯s gotten tired of living.¡± ¡°Screw you! It¡¯s not like that between us. Now where the hell is he?!¡± Otto¡¯s voice was icy. ¡°Down in the courtyard, awaiting to be executed. But I suggest you stay away from that ce. It¡¯s bad for your recovery to see too much blood.¡± Fuck. FUCK! 16:02 Fri, 15 Aug O I shoved past them and dashed into the hallway. The Red Stone Pack soldiers stationed outside saw my panic and immediately called out, ¡°Is something wrong, Miss Collins?¡± I got no time to stop. So I shouted back while running, ¡°Where¡¯s Grayson?¡± ¡°The Alpha is in an important meeting upstairs. He told us not to disturb-¡± ¡°Tell him this is more important than any damn meeting! Get him to the courtyard, NOW!¡± I took the stairs three at a time, bolting through the doors into the courtyard. The open square was now ringed with people. I pushed through, shouting at them to move. And then I saw him. Malik, on his knees, with terror written all over his face. A goddamn executioner stood by his side, an axe poised at my friend¡¯s neck. That cruel son of a bitch Otto was actually going to behead Malik! ¡°Stop!¡± I screamed, my voice cracking. ¡°Stop, STOP RIGHT NOW!¡± Malik saw me and thrashed wildly against his restraints, but his mouth was stuffed and no sound came out. The executioner wasn¡¯t Red Stone Pack¡¯s soldier. He just spared me a single cold nce before raising his axe high, the de glinting as it angled toward Malik¡¯s neck. Shit! I was too far. I wasn¡¯t going to make it!!! My hand moved on instinct, reaching into my pocket. My fingers closed around the gun Grayson had given me. I didn¡¯t think twice. I just pulled it out and fired. BANG! The bullet mmed into the executioner¡¯s shoulder. He staggered, the de grazing Malik¡¯s hair as it fell. Close, but not close enough to kill. Oh, thank God. I rushed forward, shoving the executioner aside before yanking Malik to his feet and ripping the gag from his mouth. He doubled over, coughing hard, shaking all over. ¡°F¨CFuck¡­ I thought I was dead for sure¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re okay,¡± I said, but my voice was also trembling. I was just as shaken. One secondter and he¡¯d have been dead for sure. ¡°L¨CListen to me,¡± he gasped. ¡°The equipment¨Cit¡¯s wrong. I figured it all out. It¡¯s not for treating nerve toxins. They fucking lied! Those two equipment may look simr but are used for totally different purpose. The one you are using is used to-¡± He didn¡¯t get to finish. Because an angry bark ?ame behind us: ¡°What the hell do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡± Otto stormed toward us looking totally furious, I hurrying behind him with a deep frown. Otto snatched the axe from the executioner and pointed it at me. ¡°I¡¯m disciplining a member of my pack. Who the hell are you to interfere? Step aside now.¡± 55% ¡°Not happening,¡± I snarled, keeping Malik safely behind my back. ¡°He¡¯smitted no crime. You just want to kill him to cover your own tracks!¡± ¡°Hemitted the crime of seducing you into betraying Alpha Grayson. You should be grateful he¡¯s the only one being punished, not both of you,¡± I said loudly. I shook with rage. ¡°You lying bitch! You¡¯d love it if I betrayed Grayson, wouldn¡¯t you? That way you could ruin my name and crawl your way back to him. Well, too bad, because Malik is just a friend. He¡¯s here to help me find out the truth about my treatment!¡± Both of their expressions shifted at once. Surprise, maybe even fear. Just as I thought. They hadn¡¯t even bothered interrogating Malik after capturing him, so they had no idea what he knew. ¡°What truth?¡± Otto gritted after a long pause. ¡°I was giving you proper treatment. You and Grayson both saw the progress-¡± ¡°No, Alpha Otto, you never nned on curing Aria,¡± Malik said loudly, straightening up. ¡°Your real goal is to kill her wolf!¡± That was news to me. So even I was shocked. Otto¡¯s face twisted with anger and panic. I suddenly snapped her head to Otto and hissed, ¡°Kill him.¡± ¡°Stay the fuck away from him!¡± I shouted. Otto suddenly lunged at us, raising the de high in the air. I fired three shots at him¡ªbut damn it, all of them missed. That¡¯s when another gunshot rang out from our back¨CBang! Otto screamed in agony and dropped to the ground, the axe skidding away. Grayson strode in from the building, with a gun in hand, his face like ice. A squad of Red Stone soldiers flooded in behind him. Relief hit me like a wave. He made it. ¡°This is the second time I¡¯ve caught you attacking Aria. You really do have a fucking death wish!¡± Grayson growled as he came close. Otto clutched his wound, groaning the ground. ¡°I¨CI wasn¡¯t attacking your little girlfriend¡­ I was¡­after the other guy-¡± ¡°That¡¯s Aria¡¯s good friend!¡± I cut in quickly. ¡°You¡¯ve seen their pictures, remember? He¡¯s the one holding her while her whole shoulder was out there naked. That¡¯s the guy right there! They are definitely cheating on you!¡± ¡°Bullshit!¡± I snapped. ¡°He was treating my shoulder injury!¡± ¡°And he¡¯s been peeping at her through the window. They probably nned to meet here. Grayson, young girls like her are easy and slutty. One second without looking and they are banging in your bedroom without you knowing! The best way is to kill the man and end it once and for all!¡± ¡°We¡¯re innocent!¡± Malik cried out loud. He locked eyes with Grayson, crawling closer, his urgent. ¡°Please believe me, Alpha Grayson. I care only about my patients and whether they get proper care. And as far as I can tell, Aria¡¯s treatment here is killing her as we speak.¡± Otto let out a bloody, raspingugh. ¡°Fucking bullshit. You¡­you haven¡¯t even graduated from the med school yet. You aren¡¯t even a real healer. And you dare¨Cdare say my treatment¡¯s wrong?!¡± ¡°Graduated or not, I know it¡¯s wrong when I see it. The book Warriors, Their Wolves, and Rted Disorders makes it clear: Aria¡¯s symptoms don¡¯t match nerve toxins at all. And I¡¯ve seen it the equipment you¡¯re using¨Cit isn¡¯t for curing her. It¡¯s for hypnotizing her, invading her mind, and slowly killing her wolf with microcurrents!¡± 16:03 Fri, 15 Aug 5 Aug to to 55% A deathly silence fell upon us. Shock was etched on everyone¡¯s face. I pped a hand over my mouth, a terrible chill crawling up my spine. So their n¡­ was to kill my wolf? I¡¯d thought about poison, sure, but never this. Yet just think about it. If they seeded, I¡¯d be a werewolf without a wolf. The most horrifying fate in our world¨Cworse than paralysis, even worse than madness. I¡¯d be a freak that everyone despised. A useless body with no soul. Yes¡­ Yes. That¡¯s exactly what I wanted. More effective than killing me outright. She wanted me to lose my scent, everything that drew Grayson to me. I¡¯d be so boring and dull and unattractive in Grayson¡¯s eyes that our passion would die on its own. ¡°You¨CYou fucking evil woman!¡± I trembled, my voice breaking, ¡°How could you do this!¡± And I raised my hand to p her. Hard. Wore 108 Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Aria¡¯s POV I didn¡¯t see iting. My palm cracked against her cheek, hard to make her stumble back a step. She clutched her face, eyes wide with shock. ¡°You¨Cyou uncivilized fo How dare you?!¡± She lunged for my hair, but Grayson¡¯s sharp voice cut through the air. ¡°Enough, I!¡± ¡°Grayson! Did you not see what she just did to me? For the love of the Mo decent parents would never-¡± Goddess, I¡¯ve never met such a crude, savage girl. Any woman raised by ¡°So now you¡¯re attacking my family?¡± I snapped. ¡°Yeah you grew up in your so¨Ccalled noble family, but that didn¡¯t stop you from bing an obnoxious bitch, did it?¡± Her face twisted with fury. ¡°OK that¡¯s enough,¡± Grayson said coldly, his gray eyes narrowing at I. ¡°Right now, I¡¯d rather hear what you and Otto have to say about Malik¡¯s ims.¡± ¡°Grayson,¡± I clenched her fists, tears circling in her eyes. ¡°You can¡¯t seriously believe that boy. He hasn¡¯t even graduated from med school. What does he know about healing? Everything he said was obviously nder to cover up his affair with Aria. If you believe him, you¡¯re a fool.¡± ¡°There is no affair! For fuck¡¯s sake!¡± Malik cried out loud, just as pissed. ¡°Someone just go get the book Warriors, Their Wolves, and Rted Disorders! We can take apart Alpha Otto¡¯s equipment right here and see if it¡¯s actually for treating neurotoxins.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. We already know about your little fling so you can stop pretending right now,¡± I¡¯s words fired off like bullets, her gaze locked on Malik. ¡°Grayson, I can show you even more surveince footage of these two. You¡¯ll see this man even went into Aria¡¯s bedroom. They were in there for quite some time. You can imagine what they had been doing. The were definitely banging behind your back!¡± ¡°We were discussing how to expose your crimes, you sick psycho! And for fuck¡¯s sake¨C¡®quite some time¡®? It was only five minutes!¡± I shouted. My chest burned with anger. I hated being falsely used. If my wolf wasn¡¯t so weak right now, I¡¯d shift and rip her head off without hesitation. But now wasn¡¯t the time to waste energy arguing with her. She was too good at twisting words and muddying the waters. Arguing with her would get me nowhere. I needed solid evidence. So I drew in a deep breath and turned to Grayson. ¡°That device is in n the treatment room. Let¡¯s dismantle it, and everything will be clear. It¡¯s that simple. And it¡¯s all I¡¯m asking.¡± He looked at me, and I met his gaze, hoping he could see how serious, how desperate I was. In the meantime, I was praying internally: Don¡¯t fall into I¡¯s trap. Don¡¯t let jealousy cloud your judgment. Do the right thing. ¡°Grayson, have I ever once let you down?¡± I¡¯s trembling voice broke in. She was crying now, gazing at him with those beautiful, teary eyes. ¡°All the time we¡¯ve spent together¡­ we¡¯ve known each other for over a decade. Don¡¯t tell me you have no trust in me at all.¡± The air fell silent. Chapter 108 Both of us were watching him, holding our breath. His face was unreadable, his silence heavy. And then an unexpected person broke the silence. It was Malik. ¡°I just don¡¯t get why we can¡¯t just dismantle the machine if it¡¯s that simple,¡± he said loudly, ring at Otto, ¡°Unless someone¡¯s afraid of what we might find.¡± ¡°That machine cost fifty million you fucking idiot!¡± Malik flushed with embarrassment. ¡°I have the money,¡± Grayson said suddenly, his voic barked. ¡°Do you have the money to pay for it if you break it?¡± d and decisive. ¡°Bring it to the main hall. We¡¯ll do it right now.¡± I let out a sharp breath of relief. I gasped, her Iwith panic. ¡°Grayson, are you insane? You¡¯re really going to let them y you like this?!¡± His gaze turned icy. ¡°Stop arguing with me, I. Or I¡¯ll start wondering about your role in all this.¡± Her lips pressed into a thin line. She looked tense. ¡°Th let me help dismantle it-¡± ¡°No!¡± I cut in sharply. ¡°Neither you, nor Malik, nor Otto should go near it. Let a Red Stone Pack soldier do the job. Let¡¯s make sure it¡¯s absolutely fair.¡± Hate shed in I¡¯s eyes. And then Otto let out a furious roar. ¡°You fucking troublemaking bitch! I should¡¯ve never brought you to this facility. I should¡¯ve let you die and rot in the fucking hell!¡± ¡°Gag him,¡± Grayson said coldly. ¡°Then throw him in the dungeon.¡± Soldiers rushed forward, hauling Otto up and shoving a cloth into his mouth. I¡¯s face turned deathly pale as she stepped back, and then Grayson¡¯s voice followed: ¡°Escort Lady I to her room.¡± ¡°What?!¡± I spun toward him, disbelief written all over her face. ¡°You¡¯re locking me up as well? Seriously?!¡± ¡°Not locking you up¨Cjust keeping everyone apart until everything is clear. I¡¯ll personally watch over Aria myself,¡± Grayson said evenly, motioning for the soldiers to take her. She shot me a re as she walked pass me. There¡¯s pure venom in her eyes. But I wasn¡¯t afraid of her this time. I just grinned and pulled a face at her, and the way her expression twisted made me feel instantly better. Malik had broke free from the ropes by now. He hurried over, both excited and nervous, and stuck out a hand to Grayson: ¡°A¨CAlpha Grayson, I¡¯ve heard so much about you. It¡¯s¡­such an honor-¡± Grayson interrupted him without mercy. ¡°If anything you said today turns out to be a lie, I¡¯ll skin you alive.¡± The color drained from Malik¡¯s face instantly. That poor guy. I tugged on Grayson¡¯s sleeve, muttering, ¡°Why scare him?¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t a scare. I actually meant it,¡± he snorted, pulling me close. ¡°How long will dismantling take?¡± Malik swallowed nervously. ¡°If we¡¯re quick, a few hours. By tomorrow morning at thetest.¡± A glint of steel flickered in Grayson¡¯s gray eyes. ¡°Good. By morning, I want to know exactly who¡¯s lying to me.¡± Third Person POV I paced the length of her room, biting her lip, her mind a swirl of anxiety. 16:32 Sat, 16 Aug Finally, she made up her mind and marched to the door and yanked it open. ¡°Lady I.¡± The guards at her door greeted her, bowing slightly. She gave them a dazzling smile. ¡°Thank you for your hard work, boys. I just need to go downstairs for dinner. You can take a break at the meantime She stepped forward, but they blocked her path. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Lady I, but Alpha Grayson was clear. You¡¯re to stay in your room at all time until morning. We¡¯ll have a maid bring your meal,¡± one of them said sternly. Anger flickered across her face, but before she could argue, a man in captain¡¯s armor approached from down the hall. ¡°Shift change. I¡¯ll take it from here.¡± The captain said. ¡°Yes, Captain Glen.¡± The two sliders left. Captain Glen waited until they were gone, then turned to I with an exciting look on his face: ¡°Luna I! Do you remember me?¡± ¡°How could I not?¡± I¡¯s smile turned warm as she sped his hands. ¡°You used to be one of my personal guards when I was married to Grayson. It¡¯s good to see you again, Glen. But please, don¡¯t call me Luna¨CI¡¯ve never officially been given that title.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the most graceful, beautiful, and kind woman I¡¯ve ever met. The only one worthy of standing at Alpha Grayson¡¯s side. In my heart, you are the one, true Luna.¡± Glen paused, and his jaw tightened with anger. ¡°That little cunt Alpha Grayson¡¯s with now is a total joke.¡± I squeezed his hands. ¡°I won¡¯t question Alpha¡¯s¡­current taste. But I need you to do me a favor. It¡¯d really help my situation.¡± ¡°Anything, mydy. Anything.¡± She whispered in his ear. Glen nodded instantly, draping his cloak around her shoulders before leading her out of the room. They made their way to the dungeon. Glen dismissed the guards there, then said to her in a low voice, ¡°You have twenty minutes, mydy.¡± ¡°Of course, thank you Glen.¡± I nodded and hurried to the farthest cell. ¡°Otto!¡± Otto rushed to the bars, his face twisted with rage. ¡°Fuck, I! Look at me! I¡¯m locked up in my own fucking dungeon! What kind of fucked¨Cup world is this?!¡± ¡°I know, I know¡­I¡¯m here now,¡± she said quickly in a low voice. ¡°Calm down and we¡¯ll figure something out¡­¡± ¡°You have to kill that bitch, I!¡± he roared. ¡°Lower your voice,¡± she frowned. ¡°You think I don¡¯t want her dead? But I cannot get my hands dirty. It¡¯s too risky. My original n was to turn her into a wolf¨Cless freak and end this cleanly. But now¡­I guess we¡¯ll have toe up with an alternative way to get rid of her.¡± ¡°No¨CNo you still don¡¯t get it. YOU HAVE TO KILL HER. That is the ONLY WAY! Do you even know who she is?!¡± I froze. ¡°What are you talking about Otto? ¡°I saw it¡­I saw it in her memories! Aria Collins isn¡¯t just some small¨Ctown girl you think. She¡¯s a fucking noble from Frostpine Pack! She¡¯s got Alpha blood. And more than that¡­ she¡¯s the little girl who almost got engaged to Grayson when they were child. She¡¯s his first love!¡± 3/4 Wore 109 Chapter 109 Third Person POV I¡¯s eyes flew wide, her lips trembling with shock. For a long moment, she couldn¡¯t even find her voice. Then finally, it came out in a hoarse whisper: ¡°No¡­ no. You¡¯re telling me that little ill¨Cbred bitch is a noble?! No! Impossible!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to believe it either,¡± Otto growled through clenched teeth. ¡°But it¡¯s the truth. No one can fake their own memories. I saw it during her treatment¨Cher mother was the heir to Frostpine Pack, with the right to inherit the Alpha¡¯s position. That means Aria Collins has that same right. And more importantly: this is Frostpine Pack we¡¯re talking about, I! Do you understand what that means?¡± Of course I understood. Frostpine Pack was one of the rare matriarchal packs in the world. Their Alphas were always women. If Aria were a noble from any other pack, she¡¯d just have status, nothing more. But being Frostpine noble meant something else. It meant Aria truly had a chance to be a female Alpha. The small¨Ctown little whore I had always despised¡­ was actually a potential Alpha. There was a tense silence. Then I suddenly exploded: ¡°Fuck, fuck, FUCK!!!¡± ¡°Hey, keep your voice down,¡± Otto hissed. ¡°Didn¡¯t you sneak in here?¡± But I lunged forward and yanked his cor through the bars. In the torchlight, her beautiful face twisted in an ugly way. ¡°If she¡¯s noble, then how the hell did she end up a skanky little cunt like this?¡± she snarled. Otto blinked at her, startled by her fury. He stammered, ¡°S¨Csomething about her mother falling out with Frostpine¡¯s leaders¡­ so to protect Aria, she hid her daughter¡¯s identity and spirited her away. As for the details, I don¡¯t know.¡± I let go of him and began pacing back and forth, biting at her nails, muttering curses like she¡¯d lost her mind. ¡°Hey, can you calm down and maybe figure out how to get me out of here?¡± Otto snapped. But I didn¡¯t seem to hear him, still whispering to herself: ¡­No, that doesn¡¯t make her high and mighty. It doesn¡¯t change that she¡¯s stupid, childish, and dull as hell. She¡¯ll never go back to Frostpine Pack¡­she doesn¡¯t deserve to be a noble. Between the two of us, I¡¯m still the better one¡­¡± ¡°Oh, stop lying to yourself,¡± Otto cut in, exasperated. ¡°Don¡¯t you get it? She¡¯s Grayson¡¯s first love! Their scents match like cookies and hot milk. They don¡¯t know who they really are yet, and you can already see how obsessed he is with her. He never forgot her. Once he realizes who she is, you won¡¯t stand a chance!¡± I snapped her head toward him, eyes zing. ¡°That was just a childhood crush. He¡¯lle to his senses. He¡¯ll see who¡¯s truly right for him. ¡°The one fit to be a female Alpha¨Cthat¡¯s who¡¯s right for him,¡± Otto sneered mercilessly. ¡°Come on, I. Do you honestly still think you¡¯re above her? That girl has Alpha blood. She has the potential to be an Alpha. Imagine how powerful her wolf will be. Grayson and her could rule the fucking world together. And you? Next to her, you¡¯re nothing-¡± ¡°Shut up¨CSHUT THE FUCK UP!!!¡± 1/4 15.55 Tue, 19 Aug I¡¯s furious scream shook the dungeon walls. Otto staggered back, cursing. ¡°Why the fuck are you screaming at me? I¡¯m just trying to make you reality¡± I dragged her fingers through her hair, chest heaving. Slowly, her breath steadied, her face hardening into something cold and frightening. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± She said atst, voice low and deadly. ¡°Killing her wolf isn¡¯t enough anymore¡­Aria Collins must die.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Otto smirked, ¡°Luckily, she¡¯s forgotten everything about her childhood, and he hasn¡¯t recognized her yet. They don¡¯t know what we know. We¡¯ve got plenty of chances to get rid of her. Now let me out, so we can figure out the next step.¡± I narrowed her eyes, moving closer to the bars. ¡°And what do you think our next step should be?¡± she asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Kill Aria Collins-¡± y ¡°No. The next step is surviving this crisis,¡± she cut him off, lips curling in a cold smile. ¡°That machine you built to kill her wolf? It¡¯s in the hall right now, being dismantled. Any second now, Grayson will know our true intent. He¡¯ll hate me to the gut, and he¡¯ll kill you. Then we¡¯ll both be screwed.¡± Otto froze. Then slowly, he stammered, ¡°T¨Cthat¡¯s not a big deal. We can say¡­ say they don¡¯t understand healing or instruments. Hey, didn¡¯t you im Aria¡¯s screwing that young healer? That¡¯s a decent excuse.¡± ¡°No. Those excuses won¡¯t work anymore. Grayson¡¯s too smart. He¡¯s already suspicious.¡± Otto snapped, ¡°Then what the fuck do you suggest?¡± ¡°The only way¡­ is for someone to take the me. Completely.¡± Her tone was t, merciless. Otto blinked, not yet understanding what she meant by that. Until I reached into her pocket and pulled out a gun. His eyes went wide with terror. ¡°No, I! You wouldn¡¯t-¡± She pulled the trigger without hesitation. The shot cracked through the dungeon. Otto crumpled, the bullet through his skull. He was dead before he hit the ground. I stood tall. She looked down at his body icily as if it were a dead rat. Then she crouched, pried the gun into his limp hand. ¡°¡­Such a shame, Otto. You were my best piece on the board. You didn¡¯t have to die¡­ but you screwed up. You left too many cracks. And I¡¯m disappointed.¡± She whispered. Then she took out a letter from her coat and ced it beside him. ¡°I prepared this for you. A confession in your handwriting. You¡¯ll take the fall for everything. Consider it thest thing you did for me.¡± She stood up, smoothed her skirts, and cast onest indifferent nce at his corpse. Then walked away. 15:55 Tue 19 Aug. Aria¡¯s POV I hadn¡¯t slept all night, nerves strung light as I waited for news from the hall. So when a soldier knocked at my door, I shot to my feet. ¡°Is it done?¡± I blurted. ¡°Yes, Miss Collins. The machine has been dismantledpletely. You cane downstairs Grayson took my hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± now¡± We hurried to the hall. Red Stone Pack soldiers blocked the whole area off, keeping everyone else out. In the centery the dismantled machine. ¡°No one touched it during the dismantlin ¡°¡°manded. ¡°No. We made sure no one came near it.¡± ¡°And the result?¡± ¡°I was right!¡± Malik rushed over, a book clutched under his arm, ¡°Look here¨Cthe diagrams prove it. This device was built to kill wolves. The most vile, inhuman device ever designed. It should¡¯ve been banned years ago!¡± My heart thundered. I grabbed Grayson¡¯s arm, excited. ¡°You hear that?¡± ¡°I do.¡± There was a dark storm swirling in his gray eyes. And fury was burning. ¡°Bring me Otto and I. Now.¡± ¡°Yes, Alpha!¡± Soldiers poured out. Grayson turned and crushed me in his arms. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I trusted that fucking bastard,¡± he growled through clenched teeth. ¡°I never should¡¯ve let him treat you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± I whispered back. ¡°We found out before he could do much damage. But now¡­ what do we do with them?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll skin Otto alive. I warned him already. If he ever lied to me, I¡¯d turn his entire pack to fucking ashes. Now is the time to make thate true,¡± His voice was an icy snarl. ¡°And as for I-¡± The sharp click of heels rang out. Soldiers escorted I into the hall. ¡°What happened?¡± she asked, her wide¨Ceyed, looking innocent as usual. She knew damn well what happened. ¡°It¡¯s all clear now,¡± I said loudly. ¡°Otto never meant to heal me. He was trying to kill my wolf!¡± ¡°What?!¡± I gasped, her face pale with shock. ¡°No. No that¡¯s impossible. Otto would never do that¡­he promised me!¡± ¡°So you are saying you yed no part in this? Don¡¯t be ridiculous. You and Otto were in it together.¡± My voice was ice. Her face shifted. Then she tried again, desperate: ¡°I told you¨CI only want Grayson to be happy. Hurting you would hurt him. I¡¯d never do that.¡± ¡°Bullshit.¡± I spat. She whipped toward Grayson, pleading. ¡°Grayson, you know me. You trust me. You know I¡¯d never do this.¡± He looked back at her with freezing eyes, his whole body radiating fury. ¡°I¡¯m very disappointed in you this time, I.¡± Her face turned pale. ¡°No, wait. Just ask Otto! I swear, I knew nothing of his n!¡± 3/4 Chapter 109. I clenched my fists. She wouldn¡¯t admit a damn thing unless she was forced to face Otto. But why the hell was it taking so long to bring Otto here? Just then, a soldier stumbled into the hall, panicked and horrified. ¡°A¨CAlpha Grayson¡­the prisoner Otto was found dead in his cell. Suicide,¡± he cried. AB Comment Send gift Wore 110 Aria¡¯s POV Suicide?! My mind wentpletely nk. For a second, I thought I must¡¯ve misheard. Otto? Suicide?! That was impossible! He was like thest man I¡¯d ever imagine taking his own life. A cry broke through the silence. I copsed to the floor, with tears streaming dramatically down her cheeks. ¡°No, no¡­ Otto¡­ why would you do something so stupid?! You didn¡¯t do anything wrong!¡± she wailed. I frowned at her. Even her grief looked fake to me. Every sob, every tear, it all seemed fucking staged. ¡°How the hell did this happen?¡± Grayson¡¯s voice thundered. ¡°I told you to watch him closely. He shouldn¡¯t have been left alone. How the fuck did he even get the chance to do this?¡± The captain of the guards bowed deeply, his voice trembling with nerves. ¡°Forgive us, Alpha. Otto must have smuggled a gun in himself. And he did it while no one¡¯s looking¡­¡± ¡°And you didn¡¯t even search him before throwing him into the jail?¡± Grayson growled. ¡°I didn¡¯t know my men were so stupid!¡± There was a tensed silence. Every soldier seemed horrified as hell. ¡°Show me his letter.¡± Grayson demanded. The soldier quickly pulled out a bloodstained paper and started reading it: ¡°¡­Red Stone and White River share a blood feud. I would never pass up the chance to take revenge on Grayson Hart. Too bad I failed to kill his little whore¡¯s wolf, to make him taste the grief as I have. Even I have failed, I do not regret it. I take full responsibility for everything I did. I knew nothing of this. She only wished to help. I only took advantage of her kindness. If you have any honor as a man, you won¡¯t punish her for my actions. -Otto¡± When he finished reading, I burst into another round of sobs. ¡°Oh, you idiot Otto! I¨CI begged him, like a thousand times. I asked him to put aside his hatred and use this chance to reconcile with Red Stone Pack. But he never listened. He should have listened to me¡­¡± ¡°Wait a minute!¡± I cut her off sharply. ¡°You mean to say you knew nothing about any of this? That Otto did it all behind your back?¡± She blinked at me with wet eyes, looking surprise. ¡°Well, of course. You heard what he wrote yourself.¡± ¡°I find this whole thing very suspicious,¡± I snapped. ¡°From his so¨Ccalled suicide, down to this letter.¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± I scrambled to her feet, ring at me through her tears, her voice shaking with fury. ¡°Otto is dead! He¡¯s paid the price for what he did. The ! could do is show a shred of respect for the dead! And yet you stand here questioning his final words. Is that your idea of manners?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any manners. I thought you knew that,¡± I said tly. 20 ¡°Grayson!¡± She spun toward him, her face torn between rage and sorrow. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to say something? You¡¯re actually dating a cold, heartless girl with no manner. I feel sorry for you.¡± 1/4 But Grayson didn¡¯t even look at her. His eyes were on me ¡°What do you find suspicious, Aria?¡± he asked. ¡°Well, for starters¨COtto was not the type to go down quietly. He struck me as the kind of man who¡¯d scream his innocence to his dying breath and fly to drag you into hell with him. He will not blow his own brains out.¡± ¡°He must have done it to protect me,¡± i sobbed, clutching at her face. ¡°He cared too much about me. He knew I¡¯d be targeted if he didn¡¯t take the me.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± I shot back, looking at her with disgust. ¡°That¡¯s the most suspicious part. If you really had nothing to do with this, why would you need his protection? Especially in a suicide note where he went out of his way to dere your innocence? It sounds fake as hell to me.¡± The hall fell into dead silence. Every eye turned to me. They¡¯d understood exactly what I was implying. ¡°You¨Cyou can¡¯t seriously be suggesting-¡°I gasped, her voice shrill. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± I said loudly, my heart pounding: ¡°I¡¯m saying you killed Otto! You murdered him and pinned it all on him to take the me.!¡± The words left my mouth and hung in the air like a thunderp. My pulse was racing. I¡¯d never used anyone of murder before. It was a serious charge, , and I had no hard evidence. It¡¯s risky. But my gut screamed the truth. I was at the rotten core of all this. ¡°Aria.¡± Grayson¡¯s voice was low, stern. ¡°Do you even know what you¡¯re saying?¡± ¡°I know exactly what I¡¯m saying. And I swear, I¡¯m not lying about this-¡± ¡°Stop asking her!¡± I cried out, her sobs louder, more pitiful. ¡°It¡¯s obvious what¡¯s happening here! Your little girlfriend won¡¯t miss a single chance to paint me as the viin, no matter how insane it is! What did I do wrong, Grayson? Maybe I shouldn¡¯t havee back. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have tried to make peace between Red Stone and White River. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have cared enough to bring Aria a doctor when she was suffering. Because now? Now I¡¯m suffering from my own kindness!¡± Her cries echoed through the hall. I could feel everyone¡¯s eyes on me, even the Red Stone¡¯s soldiers¡®¨Ccold, using. They pitied I. They hated me. They thought I was the ungrateful bitch. And i was the poor, innocent victim. I clenched my fists, trembling with rage. ¡°No seriously. I can¡¯t be the only one who thinks this whole ¡®suicide and note thing is too damn convenient! Otto was an Alpha. He¡¯d never abandon his entire pack by killing himself. It makes no sense! Just try testing the handwriting. Or check I¡¯s alibi¡­I¡¯m damn sure you¡¯ll find something!¡± The soldier holding the note shifted nervously and muttered,¡± My eyes widened. ¡°And I¡¯s alibi?¡± ¡°¡­We alreadypared the handwriting. It¡¯s definitely Alpha Otto¡¯s own writing.¡± A tall man stepped forward, his face carved from stone. ¡°I am Glen, Alpha Grayson¡¯s guard captain. Last night, I personally stood watch at Lady I¡¯s 214 15:55 Tue 19 Aug Chapter 110 door. I can swear she never left her room.¡± What?! 1 bit my lip hard, fury and doubt tangling inside me. How the hell was that possible? If she ver left her room how did she kill Otto? Did she have help? Or¡­ some other trick? ¡°So?¡± I wiped her tears and sneered at room and appeared in the dungeon to me, ¡°What are you going to say! lotto?¡± y now? Are you going to call me a witch next? Say I magically vanished from my I stayed silent, ring at her. Her voice rose in hatred. ¡°Maybe I should use you instead, Aria Collins. You hated Otto. Maybe you are the one who snuck outst night and killed him ¡°Enough.¡± Grayson¡¯s voice crashed like thunder. His eyes cut to I. ¡°I was with Aria all night. Don¡¯t throw baseless usations at her.¡± I sniffled, looking at him with wounded eyes. ¡°See? Being falsely used hurts, doesn¡¯t it? You can¡¯t just protect her here, Grayson. I¡¯m your friend too. Remember?¡± Friend my ass. I want to smack her. ¡°If you¡¯re truly innocent, no one can hurt you,¡± he said. Her tears vanished in an instant, reced by a relief smile. ¡°I know you wouldn¡¯t leave me drowning, Grayson.¡± I whirled around to him, stunned. ¡°What the hell¨Cseriously?!¡± Was he just going to let her walk away? I wanted to scream in anger. God! This was the perfect chance to expose I¡¯s true face. And I was so fucking close! But once again, she slipped away, smug and smiling. Grayson squeezed my hand, a subtle warning for me to stay calm. Then his voice cut across the hall: ¡°Otto has paid for his crimes. I will show mercy by sparing the rest of his pack. But if White River Pack ever dares to cross me again, I¡¯ll burn every inch of their territory to ash. Spread the word to their elders.¡± ¡°Yes, Alpha.¡± ?.. He swept the hall with his icy gaze. ¡°This matter is over. Get Otto¡¯s body t The soldiers bowed and dispersed to do their job. I turned to go as well. As she left this ce, our eyes met for a brief second. And I saw it. The faintest curl of her lips. The smile of someone who¡¯d gotten away with murder. his people. And we¡¯ll leave this ce tomorrow.¡± 3/4 I clenched my fists. God, I fucking hated herl ¡°Hey, stop pouting.¡± Grayson spun me to him, gently brushing my cheek. ¡°Smile. We¡¯re going home tomorrow? ¡°I know she¡¯s responsible. I swear it!¡± I shouted. ¡°using a noble isn¡¯t so simple as you think,¡± he said in a serious tone. ¡°You¡¯d have to answer to her elders and her Alpha about her crime. If you can¡¯t answer their questions, or can¡¯t present enough evidence, the punishment would fall on you.¡± ¡°Must be nice, being a noble,¡± I muttered bitterly. ¡°And honestly,¡± he added, ¡°I think this time you might¡¯ve been a little unfair to her.¡± What? Seriously? Now I¡¯m officially pissed at him! Before I could explode, Malik hurried over. He looked nervous yet determined. ¡°S¨Csorry to interrupt. But since Alpha Otto is gone, perhaps I could¡­ volunteer as Aria¡¯s personal healer?¡± I gave him an encouraging look. Grayson¡¯s voice, however, was cool. ¡°So. What¡¯s your theory, young man?¡± Malik swallowed hard. ¡°I believe Aria¡¯s wolf is bound by a powerful spell. That¡¯s what¡¯s weakening her. And to break it¨Cwe need to find her parents. They¡¯re the most likely ones who could have performed the ritual when she was a child.¡± AD Comment Wore 111 Chapter 111 Aria¡¯s POV Find my parents? I frowned at this idea. ¡°We already tried tracking down my mother before,¡± my chest tightening. ¡°But that turned out to be a dead end¡­ maybe she¡¯s dead already. Malik winced, clearly awkward. ¡°I¨CI¡¯m sorry. Then what about your father?¡± ¡°No. Not my father.¡± The words shot out of me instantly. Because my father was the worst scumbag I¡¯ve ever known. He was a gambler. A drunk. A violent, selfish bastard. He never cared about family, never cared about me. All he¡¯s ever loved was money and himself. I believed he would sell his own soul if it paid well enough. I never understood why my mother¨Ca woman so beautiful, radiant, full of life¨Cever married him. But I do understand why she ran. That was the smartest, bravest choice she ever made. And I know, without a single doubt, that if I hadn¡¯t dragged my grandmother away from him, he would¡¯ve destroyed our lives too. So I would not let him walk back into my life ever again. ¡°I don¡¯t want to contact my father,¡± I said gloomily. Grayson frowned at me. ¡°But if he¡¯s the only way to save you, then we¡¯ll have no choice but to find him. Don¡¯t worry¨Che¡¯ll never hurt you again.¡± He¡¯s right. With Grayson by my side, there wasn¡¯t a single person on earth who could harm me anymore. But instead offort, unease twisted in my gut. Because thest thing I wanted was for Grayson to see my father. To see what kind of blood I came from. And worse, I had a sick feeling my father would tear our lives apart the moment he got close. ¡°I really don¡¯t think he¡¯s the answer,¡± I repeated. ¡°You don¡¯t know him. This man wouldn¡¯t even change my diaper when I was a baby. Do you really think he¡¯s capable of casting aplex spell on my wolf? Please. He¡¯d never bother. It¡¯s too much work. And it¡¯s way out of his league.¡± Grayson seemed irritated. ¡°But your condition can¡¯t keep dragging on. We need to find a solution.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Malik scratched his head, carefully interrupting. ¡°I can try to slow the wolf¡¯s decline, buy us some more time. In the meantime, maybe you can keep searching for your mother. Who knows? Maybe she¡¯s hiding out in the mountains somewhere, sipping wine and living her best life.¡± Grayson¡¯s jaw tensed. He didn¡¯t like the idea, obviously. But when I gave him my best pleading look, he finally nodded. Reluctantly. ¡°Then do not disappoint me,¡± he told Malik, his voice sharp as a whip. ¡°You saw what happened to your predecessor.¡± Poor Malik went stiff like he¡¯d just been struck ¡°I¨CI won¡¯t. Please believe me, Alpha Grayson.¡± After a long, chaotic day like that, I was beyond exhausted. Even though dawn had broken, I fell asleep the moment I touched the bed. So deeply that I didn¡¯t even know how I got onto the ne. 1/4 When I finally blinked awake, we were already in the air, heading home to Red Stone Pack. ¡°You¡¯re up.¡± Grayson was sitting right next to me. He tossed his paperwork aside the second I moved. He leaned in, nting a soft kiss on my cheek. I couldn¡¯t help but let out a little groan of content, melting into that brief, stolen peace. After everything we went throughtely, it felt so damn precious. ¡°How do you feel?¡± His hand slid through my hair. ¡°Any nausea? Fatigue? Do you need to sleep more?¡± Iughed, sitting up to wrap my arms around him. ¡°I¡¯m fine. You don¡¯t have to treat me like I¡¯m made of ss.¡± He scowled. ¡°I¡¯m just worried. And I still want you under the care of someone more experienced. Malik looks¡­very unprofessional.¡± ¡°At least he actually cares about his patients.¡± I argued for my new personal healer. ¡°Unlike the so¨Ccalled ¡®world¡¯s best healer¡® who nearly killed me. I clearly hit a sore spot. Because Grayson¡¯s grip on me suddenly tightened, his face darkened. I could feel his walf stir, restless, snarling and pacing like a beast trapped in a cage. I wanted to release a trace of my scent to soothe him, but my wolf was too weak. Nothing came out. Shit it was so frustrating. ¡°This might be the single greatest mistake of my life¡­Believing Otto¡¯s lies,¡± he rasped, clutching my hand. ¡°The thought of losing you¨CAria, it kept me awake at night. I couldn¡¯t breathe.¡± ¡°Your mistake wasn¡¯t trusting Otto. It was trusting I,¡± I said firmly. His brows snapped together. I rushed on. ¡°I mean it, Grayson. Don¡¯t you see the pattern? Ever since she showed up, everything¡¯s been chaos. She¡¯s a liar, someone very good at pretending. I can tell you, she¡¯s a totally different person when it¡¯s just me and her-¡± A voice cut me off, smooth and mocking from the back of the ne: ¡°Oh really? Am I?¡± My head snapped up. I leaned casually against the cabin door, a cold little smile tugging at her lips. I shot to my feet. ¡°What the hell are you doing here?¡± She folded her arms, smirking. ¡°I needed a ride back to Red Stone Pack. And Grayson was generous enough to offer.¡± My stomach dropped. Back to OUR pack? whipped around to Grayson, my fury sparking. ¡°Why the hell is she following us home? Doesn¡¯t she have her own damn ce to go?¡± ¡°I has property in Red Stone. She¡¯s not following us, Aria. We¡¯re just giving her a lift.¡± Grayson said in that calm, steady tone he always used when he wanted me to cool down. But how the hell was I supposed to stay calm? Sharing air with this woman made me want to jump out of the ne! ¡°Look,¡± I said lightly, ¡°I know you and I have some¡­ misunderstandings. So just give me a chance, Aria, and maybe I can prove I¡¯m not the monster you think I am.¡± Toote. Maybe once, when we first met, I might¡¯ve believed her bullshit. But I knew better now. ¡°No thanks,¡± I said coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t make friends with people who try to murder me.¡± Her smile vanished, 15:21 Wed, 20 Aug ¡°You clearly don¡¯t understand how serious it is to use a noble, little girl.¡± She sniffed. ¡°This isn¡¯t some high school catfight. Going after a noble like me could cost you your life.¡± I met her gaze without blinking. ¡°I know. And I¡¯ll take my chances.¡± ¡°Enough,¡± Grayson cut in, his voice like steel. ¡°I, go sit down. We¡¯ll bending soon.¡± She shrugged and walked off. The second she was gone, I spun on him. ¡°What the hell was that?!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t keep fighting about the same thing, Aria,¡± he said tly. ¡°Well I agree. Just get I out of our lives and problem solved.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the point. I¡¯s been in my life a very long time¨Clong before you. I know her. And in all those years, no one has ever said a bad word about her. You¡¯re the only one who sees her this way.¡± My stomach dropped and I felt I couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°So you think I¡¯m lying about her?¡± ¡°No. I think you¡¯re letting her matter too much. Once we¡¯re back, you don¡¯t ever have to speak to her again. But asking me to cut off a friend who¡¯s stood by me for over a decade? That¡¯s hard, Aria. She was there when I went through hell.¡± The words gutted my heart. I slumped into my seat, feeling hollow and helpless inside. So I had underestimated I¡¯s ce in his life. They had history. I couldn¡¯t erase that. And rationally, I knew it made sense. If someone told me to cut ties with May over a few usations, I¡¯d tell that guy to fuck off as well. But it still made me feel horrible. ¡°¡­I thought I was the one who stood by you when things were hard,¡± I pouted. Grayson cupped my face and pressed his lips on mine. He whispered, ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯ll be by my side for every moment ahead. That¡¯s what truly matters.¡± I still couldn¡¯t shake the heaviness in my chest. He squeezed my hand, trying to lighten the mood. ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve got a meeting with the elders after wend. Want toe with me? You¡¯ve never seen the council chamber, right? Afterward, we¡¯ll go out to dinner. Just the two of us. It¡¯s been too long since ourst date.¡± Honestly, Twanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and sulk. But staying home meant stewing in my anger anyway. So maybe a distraction was better. So I forced a smile. ¡°Yeah. Sure let¡¯s do that.¡± Half an hourter, the ne touched down. I didn¡¯t hover or cling. She vanished faster than I expected, climbing into a waiting car and leaving us behind. But my gut told me she wasn¡¯t done with us. Soon/she¡¯de back with another evil scheme and try to ruin my life again. Grayson and I drove straight to the packhouse. He had his meeting with the elders, and I followed in, It was my first time near the council chamber. Before, I never had the right. But now, with Grayson¡¯s hand around my waist, I could walk anywhere in Red Stone without a single barrier. While they met behind closed doors, I wandered through the grand halls. This ce was the sacred heart of the pack and it gleamed with power, ancient and grand. 15:21 Wed, 20 Aug Hours slipped by. I got bored and circled back. I wanted to see if their theeting had ended yet. ¡°¡­Alpha, you¡¯ll soon be celebrating your 29th birthday. Please forgive my boldness, but you do need a wife. And this pack needs a Luna and heir I froze, breath caught in my throat, as I listened to the conversation inside. Wore 112 Chapter 112 Aria¡¯s POV I heard Grayson¡¯s voice from inside, and it¡¯s sharp with irritation: ¡°I thought I made myself very clear. I don¡¯t want to hear this topic again.¡± Silence stretched for a beat. Before another elder spoke up again, his voice trembling but stubborn: ¡°W¨CWe understand, Alpha. But it¡¯s our duty as elders to remind you-¡± ¡°Your duty-¡± Grayson snapped, ¡°-is to keep this pack strong. To make sure our soldiers are prepared, our finances stable, and our members united. Not to sit here obsessing over whether I¡¯ve had a child with a woman!¡± A messy chorus of apologies rose up immediately, but one elder still rang loud and clear among the noises: ¡°With all due respect, Alpha¡­ a Luna and an heir are part of your duty too. An Alpha with a wife and child stands stronger in the eyes of the world. And with a Luna at your side, your power will rise significantly. Which means that you can better protect your pack and members.¡± This time, Grayson went quiet. And I knew why. Because thatst line was what he really cared about. He did need stability, strength, something to keep his wolf from spiraling. We all tried to hide it, but his episodes weren¡¯t exactly a secret among the pack¡¯s leadership anymore. Everyone knew our Alpha carried a terrifying power, a power that made him the strongest Alpha of the century. But it¡¯s also taking a toll on him. A Luna. A stable mate bond. It would really help him. My hands were damp with sweat. I wiped my hands on my skirt. My stomach twisted into a knot. Then Grayson¡¯s voice came again, slower this time: +23) ¡°It can be arranged because I am currently dating someone¡­¡± Yet instantly, the room exploded. ¡°No. Not that girl!¡± one elder shouted angrily. ¡°From a public image standpoint, you¡¯d be better off staying single than marrying her,¡± another added. ¡°With her by your side, Red Stone Pack will be a globalughingstock!¡± CRACK. The sound of something shattering rang out. Grayson must¡¯ve smashed something in his rage. His roar followed, vibrating the walls: ¡°I thought the whole point of me marrying was to give me strength to protect this pack! Aria Collins is the only one who can soothe my wolf. And now you want tough at her bloodline? What the fuck do you people even want?!¡± His Alpha aura swept through the air like a storm, suffocating even from the other side of the door. Even my lungs burned. I don¡¯t know how the elders managed to even stay standing in there. Then one elder stammered: ¡°I¨CIt¡¯s not just her bloodline, Alpha. The girl never even attended a proper university, no decent degree. How is she supposed to handle thoseplicated social asions when she goes on trips with you? A Luna must have knowledge, polish, refinement.¡± Another elder added to that; ¡°She¡¯s beautiful, yes, we all see that. But your heir needs more than a pretty face. They need strength. They need pure blood to inherit from their mother.¡± And then, the dagger: ¡°¡­Besides, we all know where you disappeared to these past days.¡± My heart skipped a beat. Grayson¡¯s voice dropped into something cold and dangerous. ¡°What the hell do you mean by that?¡± 44 217 16:02 Thu, 21 Aug Q ¡°Forgive my boldness, Alpha,¡± that elder said quickly. ¡°But you skipped the medical summit for the past couple of days. And we heard you went to treat Aria Collins. Something about her wolf¡­ weakening.¡± ¡°That was a private matter. A secret.¡± Grayson¡¯s furious voice thundered. ¡°Which means one of my guards is a fucking traitor.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to hide things from us, Alpha,¡± the elder insisted. ¡°Think about it. A woman without a wolf¨Chow could she ever soothe yours? And now even herst bit of value is gone!¡± The words punched the air out of my chest. I stumbled against the wall, gasping, my vision blurring. Because they weren¡¯t wrong. They were saying out loud everything I feared most. The traits I¡¯d always been proud of¨Cmy kindness, my fieriness, my independence¨Cthey didn¡¯t matter here. To those people, I was nothing but a wed bloodline. A girl with a broken wolf. Useless. ¡°Alpha, you have other options,¡± another elder slowly suggested. ¡°There are many Alpha¡¯s daughters here at the summit who would be honored to stand at your side. And even if you refuse them¡­ there is always Lady I. We all know that the bond between you two-¡± ¡°Enough,¡± Grayson snapped. But the elder dared keep talking, ¡°If you insist on having Aria Collins, then why not make her your mistress? It¡¯s not umon for a strong Alpha like you to have many women to share your bed. And if Aria Collins is lucky enough to get pregnant, her bastard children would still be well taken care of-¡± I pped a hand over my mouth. Hot tears blurred my eyes. 16:02 Thu, 21 Aug Q Mistress? Bastard children? Are these people kidding me right now? And Grayson¡¯s roar split the air like thunder: ¡°I SAID ENOUGH! This damn meeting is over. All of you¨Cget the fuck out!¡± 30% +23) There was a tense silence. Then, the scrape of chairs against the floor, followed by heavy footsteps shuffling toward the door. I quickly hid behind a column just as the elders came out. They were all muttering, sighing, shaking their heads. Their robes brushed past me. None of them noticed me crouched here in the shadows. I watched them leave and slowly sank to the ground. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I felt hollow, helpless. Was it my illness making me weak, or those words cutting me down? Probably both. Suddenly there was rushed footstepsing at my direction. Before I could wipe my face, a strong pair of arms swept me off the ground and crushed me against a hard chest. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± Grayson¡¯s voice was raw in my ear. 1 clung to his neck, choking on my sobs. ¡°H¨Chow did you know I was here?¡± His mouth pressed desperate kisses to my wet cheeks. ¡°What use am I if I can¡¯t even find my own girl? Fuck, every time I see you cry, my wolf is losing its mind.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be your mistress, Grayson. You hear me?¡± I shook his shoulders, my tears falling harder. ¡°I¡¯m done with broken marriages, done with being the abandoned kid! I deserve better. I deserve a husband who¡¯s mine alone. I deserve a family! I will not share you with another woman, and have my children to be called bastards-¡± ¡°I know, I know!¡± He held me tighter, his face torn with rage and pain. ¡°I would never let that happen. NEVER. Damn it, I should just fucking hang every elder who fucking said that!¡± 16:02 Thu, 21 Aug Q I buried my face in his chest and sobbed until I couldn¡¯t breathe. ? 30%_- Right now it felt like the whole world was against us. And he was my only anchor, my rock.. I don¡¯t know how long I cried. But eventually, a hesitant voice came from the near distance: ¡°¡­Alpha Grayson, forgive me, but your next meeting ising up in 5 minutes-¡± ¡°CANCEL IT!¡± Grayson thundered. ¡°We are not to be disturbed!¡± ¡°No¡­No.¡± I pushed him away, wiping my swollen eyes. ¡°Go. Go to your meeting. I don¡¯t need you hovering over me.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯ll leave you like this? No way,¡± His grip tightened. I forced a weak smile. ¡°Send Delh. Or Nova over. I just¡­ I need to talk to a girl. And then I¡¯ll be okay.¡± His jaw flexed. He still looked reluctant. But I pulled free and stumbled away before he could stop me. I wandered through the packhouse. With the elders¡® cruel words reying over and over in my mind like a curse. I told myself I shouldn¡¯t give a damn about what they said. But I couldn¡¯t help myself. I drifted into the gardens and nearly smacked into a pir. Until a hand caught me. ¡°Careful.¡± Nova steadied me with a sigh. ¡°Good thing I found you before you ruin your pretty face.¡± I gave her a weary smile, ¡°Grayson sent you?¡± ¡°Yeah. He said you needed someone to talk to. And I¡¯ll be the one to take you to your date tonight.¡± She studied my face. ¡°So? Wanna to talk? I heard the elders were beingplete assholes again. You shouldn¡¯t care about them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just them¡­It¡¯s me,¡± I whispered. ¡°I think I¡¯m getting greedy. At first, just being in the same room with him made me so, so happy. Then I wanted to be his girlfriend. And now, my world would end if they told me I couldn¡¯t be his lifelong partner¡­Maybe¨CMaybel am asking for too much, you know?¡± 16:02 hu, 21 Aug 30% 23 ¡°No. Stop it.¡± Nova gripped my hand, her tone serious. ¡°The only thing that matters is Alpha Grayson wants you back. He¡¯s getting greedy too, Aria, don¡¯t you see? And that¡¯s a good thing! Don¡¯t let a few bitter old bastards scramble your head.¡± I shook my head. But the shadows still clung to me. Nova tugged me along with a grin: ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s get you to your date. A romantic dinner might knock the gloom out of you.¡± Grayson wasn¡¯t riding with us¨CNova said he¡¯d arriveter from another meeting. She drove me away from the packhouse, through the evening rush in the city center, and toward the mountains on the edge of city. By the time the car started climbing uphill, I already had a guess of our destination. ¡°So mountaintop dinner, huh?¡± Her smile was sly in the rearview mirror. ¡°Alpha put a lot of thought into this. I¡¯m not spoiling the surprise.¡± I found myself smiling as well. I turned to gaze out the window and saw the glittering lights of Red Stone Pack below. It¡¯s so majestic. And it¡¯s surreal, knowing I was dating the man who ruled it all. ¡°So¡­ how long have you worked for Grayson, Nova?¡± I asked, curious. I¡¯d always seen her as a friend, but I realized I knew so little about her. Sheughed. ¡°God, it must be 15 years now. I joined him when he first became Alpha, and Suddenly, her words cut off. I heard her suck in a sharp breath. ¡°What is it?¡± Her knuckles went white on the wheel. Her voice became tense abruptly. ¡°Shit¡­ Don¡¯t panic, Aria. But I think our brakes just failed.¡± ¡°What?!¡± My body jolted upright. And I saw what¡¯s right in front of us. Fuck, it¡¯s the cliff¡¯s edge! 16:03 Thu, 21 Aug Q ¡°Hold on!¡± she shouted, yanking the wheel hard. I screamed, as the car screeched and hurtled at full speed toward the cliff! AD Comment Send gift No Ads 30% Wore 113 Chapter 113 Aria¡¯s POV With a razor sharp screech of rubber, our car skimmed past the cliff edge. Missing the drop by maybe just a few feet. ¡°Oh my god, what do we do?!¡± I wed at the seatback, my voice shaking. Nova had both hands on the wheel, her knuckles turning white. There was sweat beading at her forehead. ¡°The car isn¡¯t slowing down at all.¡± she gritted. ¡°But don¡¯t worry. Alpha handed you to me. I won¡¯t let anything happen to you.¡± Not only did the car not slow down, it was fucking elerating! I nced at the dashboard. Oh dear god our speed was pushing 80. And the road ahead of us was a nightmare: endless mountain switchbacks, hairpins along sheer drops. Not to mention that the night had fallen, making the visibility even worse. At this speed, on this road, without braking¡­ We were absolutely going to crash. My first reaction was to call Grayson. Yet just as I fumbled for my phone, the car jolted hard. The phone slipped through my fingers and vanished under the seat. Shit! ¡°N¨CNova, listen,¡± I said, shaking, fingers digging into the headrest. ¡°You can¡¯t keep this up at this speed. No one can¨Cnot even a racer-¡± ¡°No. I can. Trust me!¡± she snapped. ¡°I do, but this isn¡¯t a n. We need¨Cwe need to jump.¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°No. Absolutely not.¡± She refused without a beat. ¡°Your wolf is too weak. Jumping could kill you.¡± We screeched past two brutal hairpins. I was being thrown from left to right like I was in a goddamn washing machine. The belt was the only thing keeping me from getting flung out the window. Nova¡¯s eyes were locked on the road, but her hands had started to shake. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid, Nova. Keep this up and you¡¯ll kill us both!¡± I barked. ¡°No, Aria. You just want to save me, because you know I could survive the jump, but you¨Cyou-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡± I forced my tone light. ¡°Yeah, my wolf is weak. But I still have one. I can take the hit. I¡¯m notpletely useless, ok?¡± She swallowed hard, still wrestling the car down the narrow mountain road. And then suddenly! Then the left rear tire lifted. I screamed out loud as we sailed through the turn. The next curve would send us straight off the edge. ¡°There¡¯s no time, Nova!¡± I shouted/ ¡°Fine¨CFINE!¡± her voice shook. ¡°Then¡­then we jump together. I¡¯ll count to three.¡± I gripped the handle, stared at the blur outside, and suck in a sharp breath. I think my heart was about to punch out of my ribs. ¡°Three¨Ctwo¨Cone¨Cjump!!!¡± Iyanked the door open and hurled myself into the dark. Okay, I lied. My wolf barely answers me now. Most of the time she¡¯s asleep. I had to take thisnding like a human and there¡¯s a 99.9% chance it¡¯s gonna kill me. But what else could I do? I couldn¡¯t let Nova die with me. She¡¯s my friend. I had to save at least one of us. Air swallowed me. Jagged rock rushed up from below. I curled in on myself in the air, bracing to smash- Yet the pain never came. A thunderous wolf¨Chowl split the night. A light¨Cbrown she¨Cwolf dove from above, jumping straight at me. She caught my cor in her teeth and tucked me tight against the warm shield of her chest fur. Her own back mmed into the rocks with a sickening crack. She cried out in pain but didn¡¯t drop me. Instead she held me tighter as we tumbled and scraped our way to the valley floor. ¡°No¡­ no¡­ NOOOOO!¡± wed myself upright. The world spun like hell. I staggered a step, dropped to the ground, and threw up. But I quickly draggeyself up again, half crawling, half stumbling to the brown she¨Cwolf. ¡°Oh God¡­ No, no, Nova?¡± The wounds were horrible. I could literally see her bone beneath torn flesh, and blood was gushing out. I pressed both of my hands to her wound, trying to stop the bleeding. But it was useless. ¡°Why¨Cwhy would you save me?¡± I sobbed, pressing harder. ¡°You would¡¯ve been fine on your own¡­why so stupid?!¡± Her eyes open slightly. Nova¡¯s voice was a whisper. ¡°¡­Alpha Grayson entrusted you to me. I swore I¡¯d keep you safe. And¡­ you¡¯re my friend.¡± I buried my face in her fur and broke into tears. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t cry. I¡¯ll be fine¡­¡± Her voice dropped. She passed out. I took in a few quick and sharp breaths and forced my tears down. Don¡¯t fucking cry now Aria! I had to save Nova. The valley was pitch ck now. Even if Grayson realized we were missing, searching this terrain would take time. And that¡¯s time I couldn¡¯t waste. The car crushed not far from us. I staggered over, yanked at the distorted door with my whole might, and crawled into the driver¡¯s 14:59 Fri, 22 Aug 0 seat. I twisted the key, praying the battery wasn¡¯t dead, and flicked the headlights on. ¡­Thank the Moon Goddess. First miracle of th night: the lights worked. (+10) That single beam became the valley¡¯s only lighthouse. I cried out in excitement and jumped back out. I cupped my hands, and shouted up at the cliffs: ¡°Help¨Chelp¨CHELPPPPP! We¡¯re down here!¡± My voice echoed between the walls. Nobody answered. It felt like we were the only ones left in the world. I kept yelling anyway. It started to rain. I quickly rushed back to Nova. She had shifted back to human during hera. I pulled her into my arms and kept calling until my throat was dry. He woulde. I knew it. At first I thought they were stars. Or fireflies. But then I realized. No. It was a river of headlights and shlights pouring toward us from every direction. And then the ground trembled under heavy, pounding paws. A massive ck wolfunched off the cliff and arrowed down the slope toward us. Joy burst out of me as I shot up from the ground. ¡°GRAYSON!!!¡± He hit the valley floor and shifted back mid¨Cstride. He practically yanked me into his strong arms. ¡°Fuck¡­ fuck¡­ thank the Moon Goddess,¡± he muttered. His voice was hoarse. And shaking. I¡¯d never heard him like this. He put one hand on the back of my head and pressed me against his chest. I couldn¡¯t breathe but this was exactly what I needed now. ¡°I almost lost you. You have no idea what it did to me¨Chearing your car went over-¡± he rasped. I was shaking too, tears up again. ¡°Nova¡­ Nova! She saved me¡­ I told her not to do it but she wouldn¡¯t¡­It¡¯s¡­It¡¯s my fault¡­¡± He kissed my forehead hard. ¡°She¡¯ll be okay.¡± More soldiers reached the valley floor. They lifted unconscious Nova onto a stretcher. A helicopter hovered down, ready to send her to the hospital. They told me to board the helicopter too, but I stopped in my tracks. ¡°The brakes!¡± I blurt out. ¡°The brakes failed. That¡¯s why we went over. Check our brakes now!¡± 14:59 Fri, 22 Aug 0 Our brakes failed for a reason. Someone did something behind our backs. I wasn¡¯t leaving and giving anyone time to wipe the evidence. Grayson¡¯s head snapped toward his men. ¡°Do as Aria says.¡± ¡°Yes, Alpha!¡± 75% 12 They sprinted to the wreck. It took them less than 10 minutes and a soldier rushed back to report: ¡°Ms. Collins is right. The brake pads were deliberately destroyed.¡± ¡°You¡¯re telling me someone tried to kill her. Under my fucking watch?!¡± Grayson roared. ¡°Looks that way, Alpha. The damage is clearly man¨Cmade.¡± ¡°Who knew the route Nova and I were taking? Who knew tonight¡¯s n?¡± I cried out, trembling and I grabbed Grayson¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s obvious. We have¨CWe have a¡­¡± The word was so terrifying that I couldn¡¯t say it. ¡°A fucking traitor,¡± he finished for me. Firelight licked across his face, hard and furious. ¡°Pull the cams. Check rosters. Verify alibis. I want the names of everyone who had ess to Aria¡¯s itinerary tonight,¡± he snarled. ¡°MOVE!¡± They scattered. And Grayson swept me up and carried me into the helicopter. I had the feeling he wasn¡¯t going to let me out of arm¡¯s reach ever again. We reached the hospital fast. Once I saw them wheel Nova into surgery, relief washed over me. And my legs just¡­ gave up. Grayson ght me before I fell to the floor. ¡°You need rest, babe,¡± he said softly. I shook my head. ¡°No, I want to wait here until she¡¯s out¡­ if you don¡¯t mind.¡± He didn¡¯t argue. He sat down with me outside the operating room, letting me lean into him. There were at least a dozen soldiers guarding us right now, and I still didn¡¯t feel safe. So, who wants me dead? I¡¯ve had assassins before. It was Jonathanst time, and he¡¯s dead for sure. And this assassination was way cleaner, more well- nned. To mess with brake pads, they had to be near me. ¡­Maybe they were standing in this very corridor. I scanned the soldiers and shivered at the thought. That¡¯s when I heard heels clicking fast down the hall. I looked up just as I hurried toward us. She was wearing that polished, fake worry like always. 14:59 Fri, 22 Aug C ¡°Oh my god, what happened?¡± she cried. ¡°I heard Aria-¡± Suddenly, it hit me. I shot to my feet and pointed at her. ¡°You! It was you, wasn¡¯t it?! You fucked my brakes and tried to kill me!!¡± She stopped abruptly with her eyes wide. ¡°What the hell are you talking about? I just got here-¡± ?,19 75% I didn¡¯t have proof. But the gut feeling ripped through me like an electric current. I had never been more sure of anything. It was her. Killing my wolf wasn¡¯t enough anymore. Now she wanted me dead. 410 Ìï Wore 114 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°Oh my god. I cannot believe you are doing this again!¡± I¡¯s face was full of anger. ¡°using me of another crime before I even walk into the room? You have a problem, Aria.¡± But I was sure of it. She was the one behind this. I mean¨Cwho else wants me dead right now? ¡°Where were you tonight?¡± I demanded, stepping in on her. She blinked, then got even angrier. ¡°Are you serious? You¡¯re seriously interrogating me right now?¡± I held her gaze, searching for the tiniest evidence to prove that she might be lying. ¡°If you¡¯re innocent, why be afraid of questions? Just answer my damn question.¡± ¡°Because I don¡¯t like being treated like a criminal,¡± she snapped. Then she stepped back and raised her voice to Gayson. ¡°If anyone wants to question me, it will be done under noble protocol¨Cat my homnd¡¯s court, before my rock¡¯s elders. I will not ept any other method. So get your girlfriend to stop, Grayson.¡± Yet his voice was very cold. ¡°I think you should just answer the question, I.¡± ¡°What? You¡¯re letting her humiliate me like that? What about my pride¡ª¡± He rose to his full height, his presence strong and intimidating like a war god. ¡°Right now, I don¡¯t care about anyone¡¯s fucking pride. The only think I care about is who hurt Aria. And it¡¯s such a simple question, I.¡± Her chest rose and fell rapidly in anger, as if she were doing everything she could to hold her anger. Then, through her teeth, she said: ¡°I was in a meeting, all right? It¡¯s about my new gallery. I can provide the entire recordings and minutes. My partners can also testify. I am clean.¡± I stared at her intensely. She didn¡¯t look like she was lying. The knot in my gut cinched tighter. If not her, then who wrecked my brakes? Maybe¡­she could have an aplice. ¡°Hey,¡± I suddenly stepped forward and shoved my shoulder. Hard. I was caught under guard and stumbled back, almost went down. ¡°I!¡± Grayson snarled. He quickly dragged me into his arms as soldiers swarmed and ringed I. ¡°What the hell do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Grayson voice went dark like hell. She stared back at him, her chin tilting high. ¡°That p should havended on her face. I only spared her this time out of respect for you, Grayson. But if she EVER uses me of anything without proof again, I won¡¯t hold back anymore¨Ceven if you stand in the way.¡± Grayson frowned at her for a long while, then he nodded. ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time. You have my word.¡± I stood behind him, my hands curled into fists. Anger and helplessness rose in my chest. This was so damn frustrating. With no proof, I could get away with her crime every single time. She could even get Grayson to promise to leave her alone, and maybe even made him feel sorry for her. That woman is something else. ¡°I came to check on your girlfriend. But clearly, my kindness isn¡¯t appreciated. Maybe I should just go,¡± I said chilly. ¡°This indeed isn¡¯t a good time. Take care of yourself, I,¡± Grayson answered deeply. She tipped her head and turned away. Just before she left, her eyes flicked to mine for a very brief second and our gazes met. I saw it clearly¨Cthere¡¯s a cold and malice gleam in her eyes. Just like that, I knew: she wasn¡¯t going to stop. Next time she¡¯d go harder. Until I ended up dead in her hands. Watching her back disappear down the hall, my heartbeat quickened. I needed to be ready for what¡¯sing after me next. I needed protection. I turned to Grayson. ¡°Can you spare a few guards? I don¡¯t think the killer is going to stop.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± he said darkly. ¡°It¡¯s already been arranged.¡± Grayson snapped his finger, and a mountain of a man stepped forward. He was by far thergest man I knew. He¡¯s thick with muscle, broad as a doorframe, every inch of him battle¨Chardened. This man looked familiar. Then I recognized who he was: the night we dismantled the machine at Otto¡¯s facility, he was the one stationed outside I¡¯s door. ¡°This is Glen, my head of security. Starting today he¡¯ll be guarding you,¡± Grayson said, squeezing my hand. ¡°Glen, I want yea to protect Ms. Collins at all costs. Do not let me down.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t, Alpha,¡± Glen answered in a cool, emotionless voice. I studied him. His was like carved stone, stern and unreadable. He didn¡¯t even nce my way. Okay, definitely not the chatty type. Just then, the doctor came out. Nova¡¯s operation was over and it was very sessful. I wanted to rush into the room and check on her right now, but the doctor said we could only look through the ss for now. Nova wasying still in there, not yet awake. Only the fog on her oxygen mask told me she was breathing. Seeing her like that made my eyes sting again. ¡°She¡¯s a good person, you know? Very, very loyal. If not for me, she would¡¯ve been fine¡­¡± I whispered against the ss, choking. Grayson smoothed a hand over my hair. ¡°Nova¡¯s been my assistant long enough. Fifteen years if I remember correctly. This might be the perfect time to promote her.¡± ¡°That promotion better be good.¡± ¡°Very good,¡± he promised. ¡°A female elder recently retired. There¡¯s an open seat. I think Nova would be interested in joining the council.¡± I gasped. The council?! That¡¯s the powerful circle in the pack! Those people could advise the Alpha, even govern the members when the Alpha is absent. It¡¯s not easy to be an elder. Those seats always belong to the oldest bloodlines in the park. I couldn¡¯t believe he wanted to make Nova an elder. ¡°OMG¨Cseriously?¡± 1 bounced up and wrapped my arms around his neck. ¡°You can do that? It¡¯s not against rule or anything?¡± His arm went around my waist. ¡°A bit of a grey area. Elders are usually distinguished and older. Nova¡¯s young, yes. But she came from a decent family, and I trust she¡¯ll hold her seat just fine.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing. Thank you. Thank you!¡± I hugged him tighter. I knew Nova didn¡¯t save me for a promotion. But still, I wanted to repay her somehow. And a seat at the council seemed like the best gift I could ever give her. ¡°She saved you, which means she saved my life as well. So no need to thank me for anything.¡± he murmured, kissing me on the forehead. ¡°Truth is, I¡¯ve been thinking about this for a while already. The current council fights me at every turn. I need to swap a few of those old bastards out. That way when you face the council someday, you have at least one friendly face in that room.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯ll be facing the council one day?¡± I scrunched my nose. Those are not charming people. ¡°Of course. Because you¡¯re my girlfriend. When an event requires a Luna¡¯s presence, I want you there.¡± he said. I almost choked on my own saliva. W¨CWait. What did he just say??? He said he wanted me to take the Luna¡¯s ce. He¡¯s not¡­ proposing, is he?! Wore 115 Aria¡¯s POV I stared back at him, my face nk. This wasn¡¯t what I thought it was¡­WAS IT?! Grayson caught my expression and immediately added. ¡°This isn¡¯t a proposal.¡± My face went red right away. I could feel the heat everywhere. ¡°No, no, of course not. I didn¡¯t think you were proposing either.¡± ¡°We talked about this, Aria. I just¡­don¡¯t believe in the concept of marriage. I don¡¯t see myself ever needing that kind of rtionship. So that¡¯spletely on me¨Cit isn¡¯t about you.¡± ¡°No, no, I know¡­no need to exin.¡± I just wanted him to stop talking, or wished the floor could somehow open up and swallow me. 31% +38) He took my hands, not letting me hide my face behind it. ¡°But still, if something calls for my partner, I want the person next else.¡± to me to be you. Not anyone ¡°I know,¡± I mumbled. ¡°And since we are talking about it¡­ There¡¯s a charity visit to a local kindergarten to.norrow. My partner is expected.¡± He paused, then frowned. ¡°I was going to have Nova go with you, but now¡­ so Ipletely understand if you don¡¯t want to attend.¡± ¡°No, no¨CI want to go.¡± I said quickly. ¡°I¡¯ve got a new bodyguard, right? That Glen guy? He¡¯ll keep me safe.¡± ¡°Good. A distraction might help.¡± He pulled me into him for a tight hug and murmured at my ear, ¡°We¡¯ve been muchtely. I promise, once we get this whole thing figured out, I¡¯ll take you somewhere quiet and romantic us.¡± ¡°Yeah, that sounds amazing,¡± I murmured, breathing against his neck. Then again, tonight was supposed to be a just¨Cus date, too. And it turned into a nightmare. Will the storms ever stop finding us? I honestly don¡¯t know. 104 [WO The following day, I got up early to get ready. I chose a camel¨Ccolored dress and swept my hair up. No wearing any shy jewelry¨Cjust simple pearl earrings. It¡¯s a charity thing. I wanted to look warm and approachable. People always say I¡¯s good at this kind of event. I wanted to bring my A game. No way I¡¯m losing this game to her. When I was all dressed and came downstairs, my new security was already waiting by the door. He looked like a huge, carved stone statue. He barely even moved while standing there, just guarding the door with his full attention. That definitely didn¡¯t look like the type to joke or mess around with. I walked up to him with a smile. ¡°Hey, morning, Glen.¡± 10:29 Tue, 26 AUG D He looked back at me in silence. No reply. ¡°Uh¡­ want a coffee? Or a quick breakfast? We still have a little time- ¡°Thank you, but no¡± His voice was low and severe. ¡°I¡¯d prefer to get you to the ce on schedule.¡± I was a little embarrassed. ¡°Oh. Well, okay then. Let¡¯s go.¡± And the drive to the kindergarten was also aplete nightmare. 31%8 When Nova was my driver, she¡¯d always chat with me, at least ask about my day. Sometimes she¡¯d put on a song we both knew and we¡¯d hum along. And my new driver? Not into any of that. He had his hands firm on the wheel and eyes locked on the road. The car was so quiet that I could hear my own breathing. Finally, I couldn¡¯t stand the silence and cleared my throat. ¡°¡­So, do you like music, Glen? I don¡¯t mind if you turn on the radio.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like music,¡± he replied, his voice cool as ice. What kind of person doesn¡¯t like music?! ¡°Then maybe we could just talk, get to know each other? How long have you worked for Grayson?¡± ¡°Twenty¨Cthree years,¡± he said. I blinked. Wow impressive. So he was in the security team when Grayson was still a kid. No wonder Grayson trusts him and put him on me. ¡°That¡¯s a long time. Hey, can tell me the scariest thing you and Grayson cot through? You two must have been through a lot ¡°Miss,¡± He cut me off sharply. ¡°With all due respect, I¡¯d prefer to focus on driving. Conversation c potential threats.¡± My face red. ¡°Oh¡­s¨Csorry. I¨CI didn¡¯t know.¡± He said nothing else and went back to driving. I twisted my hands around my clutch strap, watching his broad back in the driver¡¯s seat. And a weird prickle crawled up my spine. ¡°Hey do you¡­ have a problem with me, Glen? Because if you don¡¯t like this arrangement, I can always talk to Grayson about it-¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± He replied impatiently. ¡°Guarding the Alpha¡¯s partner is a highest honor. I¡¯m d to do it. I just like to do it in my own way.¡± Right. I sank back into the seat. Bigger and stronger he might be, but I definitely preferred Nova¡¯spany. Nearly an hour of that silent tortureter, we finally arrived at the kindergarten. I took in a long breath as I stepped out of the car. Thank the Moon Goddess. That¡¯s fresh air and an end to the quiet hell. ¡°Lady Aria!¡± 10:29 Tue, 26 Aug 06. * 2.31% A middle¨Caged woman hurried up to me, beaming. ¡°Wee, wee! I¡¯m Helena, the principal here. It¡¯s such an honor to have you today.¡± I shook her hand with a smile. ¡°Please, call me Aria, I¡¯m nody. And the honor¡¯s mine ¡°Come, please.¡± She led me in. ¡°You don¡¯t know how much we need the public attention. I¡¯m telling you, there¡¯s no way for these kids to get proper care without enough funding. And we are desperately in need of a new gym to train the park¡¯s future young warriors.¡± The staff were all lining up outside of the building to greet me. They were all wearing warm, respectful smiles. I wasn¡¯t gonna lie: before dating Grayson, no one rolled out carpets for me like this. I shook hands down the line. Media were here too, cameras popping in my face. 3 minutester and my smile started to cramp. Damn it, I still hate these performative moments. ¡°Miss Collins, how are things with Alpha Graysontely?¡± a reporter called. ¡°We¡¯re doing well. Thanks for asking.¡± ¡°This is normally a Luna¡¯s event. Should we take it to mean you and Alpha Grayson are close to making it official?¡± I denied it as quickly as possible. ¡°No of course not. But I¡¯m his current partner, so he felt it¡¯s probably the best for me to attend.¡± Judging by their faces, that answer I gave wasn¡¯t juicy enough for them. Another reporter pressed. ¡°Then why haven¡¯t you moved to the next step yet? Many believe it¡¯s about time Alpha Grayson gets married and gives the pack an heir. Yet nothing is moving forward between you two. Don¡¯t you feel guilty about this?¡± Heat rose in my chest. ¡°Why would I feel guilty? That¡¯s not my problem.¡± They pounced. ¡°So staying unmarried is Alpha Grayson¡¯s idea then? Why Does he think you¡¯re unf Because of your poor background? Or yourck of higher education and upper¨Css manner?¡± I wanted to smack these assholes. his Luna? But then I realized¨Cthis is probably what they wanted. If I lost it at a charity event, it¡¯d make a perfect headline. So I inhaled deeply and said, ¡°Today I¡¯ll only answer questions rted to the charity. Thank you.¡± Then I rushed away with Principal Helena, leaving those vicious bastards behind. I was then led to the yground outside. There were a dozen kids running around and ying games. The moment they saw us, they all rushed over, shouting ¡°Helena!¡± ¡°Hey girls and boys, we have a new friend today!¡± Helena grinned. ¡°Who wants to say hi to Miss Collins?¡± A dozen curious eyes stared at me. No one spoke. I suddenly got nervous. God I wish May were here today¨Cshe¡¯s better with kids. ¡°Hi,¡± I said, trying to give my warmest smile. ¡°So nice to meet you.¡± They kept staring. Then a little girl blurted out, ¡°Are you dating Alpha Grayson?¡± I hadn¡¯t expected that as the first question. I panicked a bit, then stammered, ¡°Uh¡­ yes. Yeah, I guess you could say that.¡± ¡°Alpha Grayson is the most handsome man I¡¯ve ever seen. I want to marry him too when I grow up. So tell me how did you make him like you?¡± she asked loudly, looking dead serious. 914 10:29 Tue, 26 Aug 0. My eyes went wide. D Wow. OK. That was¨Cunexpected. Is it a good idea to discuss this with a little girl? I seriously don¡¯t know. I floundered and nced at Helena for rescue ¡°All right, girls, stop it. That¡¯s not polite.¡± Helena frowned. 3150 Yet that didn¡¯t kill their curiosity. It only emboldened them. More girls started screaming: ¡°Tell us! Tell us Miss Collins¡± ¡°We want to know your first date!¡± ¡°How did you two meet?¡± ¡°Oh just shut up already!¡± a boy suddenly yelled. ¡°None of you get it. Alpha Grayson won¡¯t marry her. So there¡¯s no use asking her. Our Alpha will marry a properdy¨Cbeautiful, and from a good family.¡± OK that was¡­hurtful. I stood there, awkward, my face red. I could usually ignore it from adults. But since it came from a child¡¯s mouth¡­ it weirdly hurt more. ¡°Milo!¡± Helena snapped. ¡°Enough. Apologize to Miss Collins now!¡± The boy made a face at me. He obviously didn¡¯t think he had done anything wrong. And that¡¯s when I saw it. Straight ahead, behind the little boy¡¯s back, beyond the fence. A tiny sh in the bush. It almost looked like¡­a sniper¡¯s scope catching the light. My instincts moved before my brain did. ¡°DOWN! Get down!¡± I screamed, diving forward and shoving 3 or 4 kids beneath me. At the same time, a gunshot cracked the air. BANG!!! AD Comment Send gift No Ads Wore 116 V Someone was shooting at us! My heart nearly stopped. In that moment, only one thought shed through my mind-I didn¡¯t care if I died, but I couldn¡¯t let anything happen to these children. When the first shot rang out, no one realized what was happening yet. By the second shot, the children began screaming, and Principal Helena shrieked in terror: ¡°RUN! Everyone, run!!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t run around!!¡± I yelled over the chaos. ¡°Everyone get down! Crawl to the nearest cover! Don¡¯t panic!¡± But children don¡¯t stay calm in danger like adults do. Almost none of them listened to me. They were all screaming, crying, and running in every direction. I grabbed the 5 children closest to me, including the boy named Milo, and shielded them with my body. Just as I tried to protect them, a bullet grazed my leg. A hot, sharp pain shot through me. Shit! Milo burst into tears under me. He cried, ¡°Are we going to die?¡± Gritting my teeth against the pain, I stroked his hair with trembling hands: ¡°No¡­no¡­don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m here to protect you. Just trust me, okay?¡± It wasplete chaos everywhere. Adults were running, children crying. The shooter seemed to be frustrated by his failed attempts and started firing in every direction. Damn it. There were still several children on the ground nearby without anyone¡¯s protection! I looked around frantically. And where the hell was Glen anyway? He¡¯s supposed to stay close and protect me. Why wasn¡¯t he here at a time like this?! Fuck. I couldn¡¯t wait for his help anymore. I had to figure out a way to protect these children on my own. If¡­ if I could just wake my wolf and shift, I could shield all the children here under my body. I needed my wolf. ¡°Avery¡­ Avery¡­¡± I called my wolf¡¯s name silently in my heart, praying with everything I had that she would respond. ¡°Come on, girl. Please¡­ I really, really need you this time¡­¡± But there was only silence. She¡¯s still asleep. I took a deep breath, my fingers digging into the gritty soil beneath me. The children under me were all sobbing. Crazy gunshots continued relentlessly. And somewhere nearby, a child was screaming. I was too afraid to look if any child had been hurt. ¡°¡­Please, I¡¯m begging you. Please Moon Goddess. Just help me this once. I¡¯m willing¡­willing to pay any price!¡± Then, whether it was my imagination or not, I felt a warmth spreading inside me. 11:33 Thu, 28 Aug A Then the warmth grew stronger. Theard my wolf start howling, shaking the chains that bound her. She was responding to me. She was REALLY RESPONDING!!! ¡°Avery!¡± I cried out her name, tears of relief streaming down my face. In the next moment, I shifted. My body grew enormous,rge enough to shield every child. Bullets flew toward me but they all nced off my thick fur harmlessly. ¡°Come here!¡± I shouted to all the children nearby. ¡°Run over! Hide under me!¡± They scrambled up, crying and stumbling toward me. Small hands clutched at my fur as more and more children ducked under my protection. My wolf was tall enough that I could see over the fence into the bushes where the shooter was hiding. After two more shots, a figure darted out from the bushes and vanished in an instant. I let out a furious roar. Damn it! If I weren¡¯t protecting these children, I¡¯d chase that bastard down and tear his fucking head off. What kind of monster shoots at 7 year old children? ¡°Wow, her wolf is huge!¡± I heard Milo¡¯s excited voice from below. ¡°Bigger than any she-wolf I¡¯ve ever seen! Her fur is snow-white, and she got golden ear tips and paw fur!¡± Wait, since when were my ears and paws golden? And my wolf was never what anyone would call ¡°big.¡± I tried to look down at myself. But the moment I did, a wave of intense dizziness and exhaustion hit me. Then everything went ck. ¡°Miss Collins¡­ Miss Collins?¡± I faintly heard someone calling my name. Fighting the head-splitting headache, I opened my eyes to see Principal Helena crouching beside me. ¡°Oh thank goodness, you¡¯re awake!¡± She was beyond joy, her voice choked with relief. ¡°Oh god oh god, I almost thought you were¡­¡± With her help, I slowly sat up. ¡°The children? Is anyone hurt?¡± ¡°No children were injured. A few teachers were shot, but not in critical areas.¡± She squeezed my hand tightly. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you, Miss Collins. If you hadn¡¯t protected those children, I don¡¯t know what would happen then.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. It was the right thing to do,¡± I murmured softly. I looked around and realized we were in an auditorium. The room was filled with injured people lying around everywhere and crying children beingforted by teachers. Glen had just stepped through the auditorium doors. When he saw me, he immediately walked over. ¡°Miss, are you alright?¡± ¡°Where the hell were you?¡± I couldn¡¯t hide my anger. ¡°Your job is to stay close to me. But you were nowhere to be found when I needed you most! Do you have any idea how close we came to disaster?¡± His stony face remained expressionless. ¡°I was inspecting the school¡¯s security and briefing the guards. I didn¡¯t anticipate an ambush.¡± ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you supposed to read potential threats? What happened this time?¡± I snapped. He bowed his head. ¡°It was an oversight. I apologize and take full responsibility, I will report this to Alpha Grayson. You may punish me as you see fit My anger stuck in my throat. He didn¡¯t seem to have done it on purpose, and I didn¡¯t want him severely punished. But still¡­ something felt off. How could an experienced bodyguard like him let this happen? He should¡¯ve been at my side at the first gunshot. ¡°Forget it.¡± After a moment, I said, frowning. ¡°Let me exin to Graysonter. But I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be furious, so you¡¯d better be prepared.¡± Glen nodded silently. Then I struggled to my feet, trying to check on the traumatized children. And that¡¯s when a sharp scream erupted from the auditorium entrance: ¡°-Oh my god! My baby!!¡± ¡°The parents. They just got notified,¡± Helena whispered into my ears. A dozen adults rushed into the auditorium. One couple, crying the loudest, made a beeline for Milo and swept the little boy into a tight embrace. ¡°Milo, Milo, my baby boy! Are you hurt? You must¡¯ve been so scared,¡± his mother frantically checked him over. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mom. Don¡¯t worry,¡± Milo patted her shoulder. ¡°What the hell happened?!¡± his father roared, looking like an enraged lion. ¡°Where¡¯s the fucking principal? I need to see the person in char el Ex me why my precious son went through something like this!¡± Principal Helena swallowed nervously and stepped forward: ¡°This was truly an unfortunate ident. We¡¯re still investigating the cause- ¡°STILL INVESTIGATING?¡± his father snarled, grabbing Helena by her cor. ¡°I need an answer now! Why are you still standing here? Do your fucking job!¡± ¡°Please sir¡­please calm down¡­¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need any investigation!¡± Milo¡¯s mother suddenly whirled around, her eyes locking onto me. Then she put her son down and charged at me, pointing a trembling finger in my face and screaming: ¡°I know it-it¡¯s all this woman¡¯s fault! She¡¯s the one who brought that shooter into my son¡¯s school!¡± Gasps echoed around us. I quickly tried to exin: ¡°Please calm down. We don¡¯t know who the shooter was yet- ¡°Who else could it be? Must be one of your haters! Because practically everyone in this pack fucking hates you! My child got hurt because of you! You should go down to hell!¡± She screamed hysterically, then raised her hand. I tried to block her, but my arm was still injured from the gunshot. And she pped me hard across my face. Wore 117 Chapter 117 Aria¡¯s POV She put all her strength into it. My head was still ringing from that p. ¡°No!¡± Headmistress Helena yelled, stepping in front of me to block her. ¡°Milo¡¯s mom, this is too far! We don¡¯t use violence in this school! What kind of example is that for the children?¡± Yet Milo¡¯s mom lifted her chin, arrogant. ¡°Get out of my way, Principal. My father¨Cinw is an elder on Alpha Grayson¡¯s council. So what if I p her? My only son got hurt because of her. One p is nothing. I feel like killing her!¡± Principal Helena red at her, holding back her anger. ¡°But Miss Collins is the Alpha¡¯s girlfriend. She¡¯s also a very important guest¡­¡± ¡°Important my ass! She¡¯s just his ¡®girlfriend.¡® A fling that our Alpha has. As long as my father¨Cinw says no, she¡¯ll never be this pack¡¯s Luna.¡± Milo¡¯s mom sneered. ¡°Principal Helena, are you sure you want to stand on this bitch¡¯s side?¡± Milo¡¯s father red darkly at Helena. ¡°Don¡¯t forget that I¡¯m also on the school board. One word from me, and you¡¯re out of a job!¡± Principal Helena took a deep breath. She seemed furious but didn¡¯t dare speak up. I patted her shoulder gently and stepped forward, facing the couple directly. ¡°What¡¯s so impressive about being on the school board?¡± I said coldly, staring at the man. ¡°This kindergarten needs charity money just to build a new gym. That means your school board hasn¡¯t really done a damn thing for the children here. You¡¯re pretty much useless.¡± The man¡¯s face twisted with anger. And he roared, ¡°You watch your tongue you damn woman! You¡¯re just the Alpha¡¯s whore. And I¡¯m an elder¡¯s son! You better show your respect to me you stupid bitch!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t deserve my respect,¡± I shot back, not backing down. ¡°Even if today I¡¯m just a normal person without a status, I¡¯d still say you are useless. It¡¯s called having a sense of right and wrong. But maybe you don¡¯t understand that.¡± Milo¡¯s mom spat at me in rage and tried to hit me again. ¡°You bitch! Let me teach you what¡¯s right and what¡¯s wrong-¡± This time I was ready. I caught her wrist. ¡°Every parent here is worried about their kids. But only you came in screaming and hitting me like a lunatic instead of trying to find the shooter. Do you even want to know who the shooter was? Or are you just stupid?¡± Her face twisted with anger. She tried to pull her wrist back, but I tightened my grip, not letting her pull away. ¡°I don¡¯t need to look for the shooter. Because I know this is all your fault!¡± she screamed at me. ¡°Everything you touch turns into a disaster because no one in this pack likes you. You¡¯re a curse on our Alpha and everyone here! That shooter should have killed you already-¡± ¡°Mom!¡± A small voice cut through her yelling. Milo ran over and hugged his mother¡¯s leg. 1/4 10:53 Fri, 29 Aug ¡°Mom, stop yelling at Aria. She is the one who saved me today,¡± he said, looking up at his parents very seriously. ¡°What? No, that¡¯s not possible. Milo, you don¡¯t understand what¡¯s going on here¡­¡± 53% ¡°No, I do!¡± their son replied loudly. ¡°The shooter was shooting at us, and Aria covered us with her body. Her wolf is so huge and its fur is white and gold. It¡¯s so pretty. Her wolf is way bigger than yours, Mom!¡± His mother¡¯s face changed. ¡°What are you talking about, Milo? She¡¯s amoner, and I¡¯m from a noble family. No way her wolf is bigger than mine.¡± ¡°No, but it¡¯s true! I¡¯m not lying! I saw it with my own eyes!¡± Milo insisted loudly. ¡°I saw it too! Aria¡¯s wolf is really big!¡± a little girl shouted. ¡°Her wolf is the prettiest wolf I¡¯ve ever seen!¡± More kids started talking about my wolf all at once. Several kids broke free from their parents and ran over to stand in front of me, shielding me behind their little bodies. ¡°Aria saved us. I won¡¯t let you hurt her,¡± one little girl said bravely. ¡°Yeah, I like her a lot,¡± another girl said. ¡°I don¡¯t want to marry Alpha Grayson anymore. I think Aria should marry him instead. They¡¯re perfect together.¡± ¡°Aria is our savior. You and Dad should be thanking her, not hitting her!¡± Milo said loudly. These kids¡­ I bit my lip, feeling a wave of strong emotion. They were a bunch of little angels. But Milo¡¯s parents only got angrier. His dad picked Milo up quickly and snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, Milo. We are not thanking her.¡± ¡°Why? i told you, she saved me!¡± Milo struggled in his arms. ¡°This isn¡¯t fair!¡± His mom mped a hand over her son¡¯s mouth. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you why, Milo. Because she¡¯s amoner. And we nobles don¡¯t thank amoner like her. In fact, your grandfather, THE ELDER, could crush her like she¡¯s a filthy bug.¡± Right at this moment, a cold, powerful voice came from the doorway: ¡°Say that again? Who can crush my girlfriend like a bug?¡± I turned my head quickly, just in time to see Grayson walking into the auditorium, his face dark like a storm and his strong presence filling the room. ¡°Alpha Grayson!¡± Everyone gasped and bowed their heads respectfully. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I asked in surprise as he walked over and cupped my face, checking me up with a worried look. ¡°How could I note? A damn shooter tried to kill you,¡± he growled, furious. Then he looked at Milo¡¯s parents. ¡°And I got 10:54 Fri, 29 Aug R here just in time to hear some ridiculous fucking nonsense.¡± .53% +38) The couple flinched under his icy gaze. They swallowed nervously, and the man stammered, ¡°A¨CAlpha Grayson, I don¡¯t know if you remember me. I¡¯m Elder Williams¡¯s son. My father is a very respected member of your council-¡± Grayson cut him off. ¡°Your father, Williams, is a stubborn, stupid, and greedy old bastard. In all his years on the council, he¡¯s never done one good thing for this pack. In fact if it weren¡¯t for his family name, he¡¯d never have be an elder in the first ce.¡± The man¡¯s face went white. ¡°No, Alpha Grayson¡­¡± ¡°And I won¡¯t let a fool¡¯s son throw his weight around anymore and bully my girlfriend,¡± Grayson said, looking down at the man coldly. ¡°Go home and tell your father¨CHe¡¯s off the council.¡± ¡°What?!¡± The couple stumbled back a step, their faces full of shock and fear. ¡°W¨CWait, Alpha Grayson, please don¡¯t do this! The council title is everything to my father!¡± ¡°Then now you can go home and tell him you cost him everything¨Cbecause you were stupid enough to disrespect my girlfriend.¡± Grayson snorted. The man was so scared he almost fell to his knees. ¡°No, Alpha, please! I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have said those things. Please¨Cplease forgive me His wife looked terrified too. She burst into tears, ¡°We were so stupid Alpha Grayson. So stupid! We¨CWe¡¯ll apologize to Miss Collins right now¡­ L¨CLady Aria, please forgive me for what I said. Please!¡± 1 frowned. But Grayson was merciless. ¡°She doesn¡¯t need your apology. And I haven¡¯t even dealt with you hitting her yet. Guards! p this woman 50 times!¡± There¡¯s a collective gasp from nearby. Even I was shocked. 50 ps? My God that¡¯s a lot. A guard marched over and held the woman by her shoulders, ready for the punishment. She broke down crying hysterically, and Milo winced in her arms and started crying too. ¡°No, wait! Mom, what¡¯s happening? Don¡¯t touch my mom!¡± Looking at Milo¡¯s crying little face, I suddenly felt bad for the kid. So I tugged on Grayson¡¯s sleeve and whispered, ¡°Let it go. Don¡¯t do this to her.¡± Grayson¡¯s voice was ice¨Ccold. ¡°No fucking way. In fact I should hang her on the top of this building for what she did to you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. There are kids here,¡± I said quietly. Grayson frowned and nced down at Milo, as if noticing him for the first time. The boy looked back at him, scared. More tears filled his eyes. ¡°¡­Fine,¡± Grayson said tly after a long pause. ¡°Guards, clear everyone out. Send all avable men to find the shooter.¡± 10:54 Fri, 29 Aug ¡°Yes, Alpha.¡± 3 53% 38) The soldiers immediately started clearing the room, leading out the shaken parents and crying children out, including the sobbing Milo family. The wounded ones were also taken somewhere else to rest. Soon, the big auditorium was empty. Except for me, Grayson, and Glen. My big guard had been standing silently to the side the whole time. Grayson finally looked at Glen, his eyes cold like ice. left Aria in your care. And yet she still got hurt¨Calmost killed.¡± Glen immediately went down on one knee and bowed his head. ¡°This is all my fault. But I was checking the school¡¯s security and briefing the guards. I didn¡¯t know the danger woulde so suddenly¡­¡± Without any warning, Grayson suddenly kicked him hard in the shoulder. The force was so great that a huge man like Glen was sent flying backward. He mmed into the wall hard with a huge, crashing sound. My hand flew to my mouth, killing a gasp. ¡°Your fucking job is to know these dangers!¡± Grayson¡¯s furious voice echoed through the auditorium. ¡°Now give me one reason why I shouldn¡¯t kill you right now for failing your job!¡± Wore 118 Chapter 118 ? ? 31%-2 Aria¡¯s POV Glen struggled to get up from the floor, coughed, and spat out a mouthful of blood. My God, Grayson must have kicked him incredibly hard. But he still got up immediately and went down on one knee, his head bowed down low. ¡°I don¡¯t deny any of this is my responsibility, Alpha. I ept full me,¡± he said lowly. ¡°If anything had happened to Aria today, even your life wouldn¡¯t be enough to make up for it,¡± Grayson said sharply. Glen¡¯s head hung even lower. ¡°Then I beg you for one more chance, Alpha. Let me prove my worth by continuing to protect Miss Collins. I swear, there will be no more mistakes. You know I am still the most suitable person for this job.¡± The air in the auditorium went dead silent. It was so tense that even I was a bit afraid to breathe. Finally, Grayson spoke again, his voice freezing. ¡°You have one final chance, Glen. Disappoint me again, and it won¡¯t just be you. I will bury your whole family with you.¡± Glen responded instantly. ¡°Yes, Alpha.¡± ¡°Now get the hell out of here. I want you to help the soldiers find that shooter. The faster the better.¡± Glen stood up quickly, holding his chest, and staggered out of the auditorium. I finally let out a soft sigh of relief, and the next second, I was pulled into a tight, fierce embrace. ¡°¡­I want to kill myself,¡± Grayson¡¯s rough voice whispered in my ear. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid. None of this is your fault.¡± He looked deeply at me. A storm of rage and pain was swirling in his eyes. ¡°No, it is my fault. If I hadn¡¯t let youe to this stupid charity event, none of this would have happened. I should¡¯ve known better. I should have been more careful¡­¡± ¡°No, stop it.¡± I pulled back a little, held his face with both of my hands, and looked seriously into his gray eyes. ¡°Someone wants me dead. Even if you kept me in your pocket, they would still find a way to hurt me. You should focus on finding the shooter, not ming yourself for no reason.¡± He gritted his teeth and let out a low growl. ¡°Someone is trying to take you away from me. When I find out who it is, I will burn their flesh, gut out their hearts, drain their blood¡­I¡¯ll make them die in the most painful way possible!¡± 1 shivered but said nothing. Before today, I was damn sure that the person who wanted me dead was I. But the shooter hiding in the bushes today wasn¡¯t her/Their build was different. So was my feeling wrong? Is I innocent? Or does she have a powerful aplice? Grayson gripped my hand tightly. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯re going home now. Until the person who wants to hurt you is found, you shouldn¡¯t leave the house for a single second.¡± I groaned inwardly. My God, the days ahead are going to be so boring. Grayson held my hand and led me out of the auditorium. Just then, a small figure came running toward us, her arms wide open with a big smile on her 11:05 Mon, 1 Sept a ti face. ¡°Aria!¡± she called out loudly. That¡¯s little girl who had said she wanted to marry Grayson. Limmediately crouched down to hug her, but Grayson instantly pulled me behind him. ¡°No unauthorized persons are to approach Miss Collins, Guards!¡± he ordered sharply. The bodyguards immediately surrounded me, blocking the little girl out. My God, is he serious? ¡°For Moon Goddess¡¯s sake, Grayson, she¡¯s just a little girl.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not taking any risks,¡± he said coldly, then frowned at the girl. ¡°What the hell do you want?¡± The little girl took a step back, scared. And she stammered, ¡°N¨CNothing, I just wanted to¡­ to thank Aria for saving us earlier. And¡­And I wanted to give her this as a gift.¡± She held up a stuffed rabbit. She stretched out her little arm, trying to hand it to me. My heart swelled. ¡°Oh, sweetie, thank you so much-¡± But Grayson took the toy away. He tossed it to a guard beside him, and ordered ruthlessly: ¡°Take this thing and check it for any potential dangers. Aria, stop wasting your time. We¡¯re leaving.¡± The little girl¡¯s eyes went wide, tears welling up in her eyes. I wanted to hug andfort her, but Grayson didn¡¯t give me a chance. He firmly put his arm around my waist and pulled me toward the car. ¡°My God, Grayson. What the hell was that?¡± I snapped. ¡°A little girl tried to give me her favorite toy. You don¡¯t really think the rabbit has a ticking bomb in its stomach, do you?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t rule out the possibility,¡± he said indifferently. ¡°God helps me. Only you could be so cold to such a little child! That girl really likes you, you know? It wouldn¡¯t kill you to say a few words to her.¡± ¡°Right now, all my focus is on your safety. Nothing else matters,¡± he let out a snort. ¡°Besides, I find babies and children very annoying.¡± I rounded my eyes in shock. ¡°No, seriously? You hate kids? You¡¯ve got to be kidding me. Nobody hates kids and puppies!¡± ¡°They¡¯re weak and a lot of trouble. And they need too much attention. I find them a waste of time,¡± he said coldly. I felt a cold chill. ¡°What if they were your own children? You wouldn¡¯t hate them too, would you?¡± ¡°Makes no difference.¡± ¡°No, no way. If you had your own child, I think you¡¯d still be a great father¡­¡± ¡°Do we have to talk about this right now?¡± he snapped abruptly, cutting me off and shooting me an angry look. ¡°A shooter is out there after your life and we are having a conversion about children and puppies? I¡¯ve told you already Aira, marriage, children¨Call of it bores me. Don¡¯t hold onto any illusions. My stance is very clear!¡± My heart sankpletely. I didn¡¯t say another word. He pushed me into the car, got in himself and mmed the door shut. Then he pulled me roughly into his arms. I didn¡¯t want him hugging me right now so I struggled. But he squeezed me against his chest with his strong arms and buried his head to my neck, taking in a deep breath. ¡°¡­ Stop thinking about useless things,¡± his rough voice whispered in my ear. ¡°I need you to only worry about your safety, not anything else.¡± I stayed silent. 11:05 Mon, 1 Sept a ti. But I felt worse than I did when I was being shot at. ? ? 29% . We arrived home shortly after. Grayson handed me over to the guards and immediately left to hunt down the shooter. No doubt the shooter would face the worst fate on earth when found. And I was bored. Left with nothing else to do, I wanted to go sit in the garden for a while, but a guard stopped me. ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous to step outside right now, miss,¡± he said. I looked at him in disbelief. ¡°Seriously? I¡¯m in my own home. What¡¯s so dangerous about that?¡± ¡°The shooter hasn¡¯t been found. Any outdoor space will expose you to potential danger.¡± I took a deep breath. ¡°So I¡¯m a prisoner now. Is that what you¡¯re saying?¡± ¡°Until we find the shooter. Unfortunately, we need you to remain inside.¡± I stomped my foot in frustration. But Grayson must have given clear instructions because the guards were not backing down. So I was left with no choice but to went go to my room. mming the door shut, I threw myself on the bed, and stared nkly at the ceiling. I hate this. The feeling of being trapped. It makes me feel weak and helpless. Just then, my phone rang. It was Delh. ¡°I heard you were shot. Oh my God, are you okay?¡± she asked urgently. I rolled over and let out a bitterugh. ¡°I¡¯m alive. But I might die of boredom soon.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Grayson ispletely overreacting. He¡¯s got me locked in the house. I can¡¯t even go into the garden. If they don¡¯t find the shooter by next week, I probably won¡¯t be allowed near a window anymore.¡± ¡°Damn that¡¯s crazy!¡± she paused, and then tried tofort me. ¡°But at least that shows how much he cares right? I¡¯ve never seen my cold¨Chearted brother overreact about anything before.¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°Yeah, he probably cares, but not enough to take the next step with me. You know what happened today? A goddamn reporterpletely humiliated me about not being able to marry Grayson and give him any kids. And the next second he tells me himself that the thing he hates most in life is children, including his own! And meanwhile, everyone thinks I¡¯m the reason he can¡¯t have any heir.¡± Delh sighed. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve met my parents. It¡¯s hard to grow up normal in a family like that. For my brother, topics like family and having kids totally trigger his trauma.¡± 1 let out a bitterugh. ¡°So anyway. We had a fight in the car about that. I¡¯m telling you it hurts more than getting shot at.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous Aria. The most important thing right now is your safety.¡± ¡°You sound like your brother,¡± I grumbled. ¡°So do you have a personal guard to keep you safe? I heard Nova got hurt too. So who¡¯s protecting you know?¡± ¡°Grayson assigned me a new bodyguard. A big guy named Glen. He seems really strong and capable.¡± There was silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds. When Delh spoke again, her tone was strange: 11:05 Mon, 1 Sept ¡°Actually¡­ I¡¯m a little surprised Grayson assigned him to you. Considering¡­his past.¡± I frowned. ¡°His past? What do you mean?¡± ¡°Well, when Grayson and I were still married, Glen was their personal bodyguard. And Glen and I were¡­ very close.¡± ¡°What?!¡± 29% +38) I yelled, shooting up from the bed. My heart was pounding wildly. Grayson only said Glen was his guard. He never mentioned this man¡¯s connection to I. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious, Delh.¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m dead serious. I always felt that guy had a crazy obsession with I, like she was his goddess or something. But I guess Grayson never picked up on it because, you know¨Cguys can be pretty clueless about that stuff. But I still think it¡¯s totally weird to have him around you.¡± I jumped off the bed, paced around the room anxiously a couple of times before I stopped at the window. A strong, terrible feeling washed over me. We know I has an aplice. But I had no clue who it could be. Yet this Glen guy¡­he checks every box! The night Otto was killed, he was guarding I¡¯s door. He even provided her alibi. But if he¡¯s the aplice, it exins how I could sneak out to kill Otto. And he is head of security. Of course he would know mine and Nova¡¯s schedules. What¡¯s even more suspicious is that today, he just happened to be missing when the shooter attacked us, and only showed up after the shooter had run away. It all fits! ¡°Listen, Delh.¡± I said, gripping my phone tightly and lowering my voice to a quick whisper. ¡°I have a theory¡­about this Glen guy¡­¡± But in the next second, I screamed. A person¡¯s reflection was staring back at me from the window! 1 spun around, terrified. The door to my bedroom was open. And Glen was standing in the doorway, looking at me darkly. ¡°I heard my name. Are you talking about me, miss?¡± He asked. And slowly, he pulled a knife from his sleeve. 4/4 Wore 119 Chapter 119 Aria¡¯s POV +30) A cold sweat trickled slowly down my spine. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Aria? Aria!¡± Delh¡¯s panicked voice called out from the phone. Glen stepped inside and closed the door behind him, pointing the knife at me. ¡°Hang up your phone.¡± I swallowed hard and whispered a quick ¡°Help me!¡± into the phone before ending the call. ¡°It¡¯s you, isn¡¯t it?¡± I took a step back, pressing myself against the wall. ¡°I¡¯s help. The shooter. The one who ruined my car¡¯s brakes. It was all you.¡± He gave me a strange, twisted smile. ¡°You¡¯re not as stupid as you look.¡± ¡°Why are you doing this anyway? I wants to get back to Grayson, and that¡¯s why she wants me dead. But you are not getting anything out of this¡­¡± ¡°No!¡± he suddenly roared, his face contorted with rage. ¡°With you dead, I can finally have the perfect Luna I¡¯ve always wanted. The beautiful, elegant, wise, and noble woman. But look at you now. You don¡¯t fit a single one of these requirements. I just don¡¯t get it¡ªhow the hell did you defeat Lady I and win the Alpha¡¯s heart?!¡± I clenched my fists. ¡°You think I meets those requirements? You are wrong! You¡¯ve been fooled by the act she puts on! She¡¯s a snake, Glen. A cold fucking snake! You know what happened to thest man she used? She killed him after she was done using him! Do you want to end up the same way?!¡± Yet Glen simply let out a coldugh. ¡°You are just jealous of how perfect she is. Yeah keep going. Keep trashing her. I won¡¯t buy a single word you say. It just shows your dark, ugly soul.¡± What the hell is wrong with this guy? It¡¯s like I brainwashed him. ¡°I¡¯m not trashing her, okay? I¡¯m telling you the truth! Thest guy she used was an Alpha and even that Alpha died in her hands. How long do you think you¡¯llst?¡± Yet that wasn¡¯t as helpful as I thought. Because Glen suddenly burst into loud, manicughter. ¡°Good! Let her use me! My life will be much more meaningful if I can devote it to her!¡± Fuck. This guy¡¯s aplete nutcase. There¡¯s no point reasoning with him! In the next second, Glen let out another roar and lunged at me with that knife! I was ready for it. My whole body was tensed for this moment. Thankfully I was small and quick, so I ducked under his arm, scrambled past him, and dove into the suite¡¯s adjoining room. I mmed the door shut with one quick move and locked it up. ¡°NO! Get out here!!!¡± he roared from the other side. I dove for the bedside phone and dialed the security¡¯s number. ¡°Guards! Send someone to my room, now! Glen is trying to kill me?¡± Yet nobody answers. Only dead silence. Damn it, where the hell is everyone?! There¡¯s a huge crash behind me. I spun around in terror. The heavy wooden door was knocked down clean off its hinges, Holy shit, how strong is this guy?! Glen¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as he charged atine with a roar. I was now trapped in the corner with nowhere to run. In a panic, I leaped onto the bed, rolled across it, and tumbled off the other side. He reached out to grab me, only managing to rip off a chunk of my hair -goddamn that hurts! But it bought me a brief second. I jumped off the bed and sprinted for the main door, fumbling with the lock. He was right behind me, roaring. At the veryst second, just as his hand grabbed for me, I yanked the door open and burst out into the hallway. ¡°Help! Help! SOMEBODY HELP!!!¡± This mansion was supposed to be crawling with Grayson¡¯s security. I was damn sure that if I could just get out of the room, I¡¯d be safe. But no one came. The entire house was empty. The servants, the maids, the guards that should have been stationed at every corner¨Cthey were all gone! Where the fuck did everyone go?! My heart hammered against my ribs as I flew down the staircase to the main entrance on the first floor, desperate to get out. But the huge iron front door was bolted shut from the inside. I shook it with all my strength, but it didn¡¯t budge. BANG! 38) A bullet hit the metal door right where my head had been. I ducked just in time. ¡°Give up already. No one ising for you.¡± Glen¡¯s cold voice came from the second¨Cfloor balcony. I held my breath, crouching low, and slid into the shadow of arge stone statue. He made his way down the spiral staircase, loading his gun. ¡°I already cleared the whole house. The guards and soldiers are all out searching for you because I told them that you had slipped out. They all believed me since I¡¯m their Head of Security. So¡­it¡¯s just you and me here.¡± Fuck I held my breath, staying perfectly quiet and still. He paced around the foyer for a moment, then spoke again: ¡°Everything will be so much easier if you can just walk out and let me kill you. You see¡­once you¡¯re dead, no one will stand in Lady I¡¯s way anymore. She will be Alpha Grayson¡¯s wife. And give him the strongest heir. Isn¡¯t that perfect? So why¡­why did you have to get in her way? WHY?!!¡± 1 crawled on my stomach across the floor. He fired another random shot, and I flinched. ¡°Come out!¡± he suddenly screamed, furious. ¡°Stop hiding! Stop being a fucking problem! Come out and let me kill you!¡± He kicked over a mirrored cab. Everything inside spilled out and shattered across the floor. He raised his gun and shot at the giant crystal chandelier above, sending it crashing down in a thousand pikes My hiding spot was less than ten steps away from him. If I did nothing, he¡¯d find me eventually. But what else could I do? He was too strong. Even if my wolf were at her best, I¡¯d still lose Unless¡­ unless I had a weapon. I suddenly remembered a pistol kept in a drawer in the first floor living room. I¡¯d seen Grayson put it there myself. It was close. 11:06 Mon, 1 Sept Glen started screaming my name again, wrecking and destroying everything in his path. I grabbed a chunk of broken brick near my feet and threw it as hard as I could in the opposite direction. He heard the noise, spun around, and fired at the sound. Seizing my chance, I bolted from the shadows and sprinted for the living room. ¡°I saw you, Aria Collins!¡± he roared behind me. I made it into the living room, yanked open the drawer, and found the pistol. Thank God it was still there. Then I quietly loaded the gun and hid behind the thick curtains. Directly opposite me was a full¨Cwall mirror. ? . 29%¨C ¡°¡­Come out, you filthy, disgusting bitch! Just like all women in this world¡­you are all fucking disgusting! Except Lady I¡­ only she is perfect, pure¡­ I¡¯ll kill everyone all of you for her!¡± Glen stormed into the living room. He was facing directly toward the wall¨Csized mirror. I took a deep breath, threw the curtains open, and stepped out. My reflection appeared in the mirror. ¡°FOUND YOU! Lady I, I did it!!!¡± His face was crazy with excitement as he fired his whole gun, shooting wildly at my reflection. It wasn¡¯t until the entire wall of mirrors shattered in front of him that he realized his mistake. But it was toote. I raised my gun and fired. The bullet hit him right in the back. He roared in pain and crashed to the floor like a falling mountain. Fucking hell, even that didn¡¯t kill him? This guy¡¯s strong like a bull! I tightened my grip on the pistol and walked closer, then kicked him hard in the back. He was sprawled on the floor, blood gushing from the gunshot wounds. He looked up at me, his face pale and sweaty, but his eyes were still crazy. ¡°G¨CGo to hell, you bitch¡­¡± he gasped. I put my foot on his chest and pointed the gun at his head. ¡°Between you and me, clearly you¡¯re the one who¡¯s going to hell today. Now tell me¨Cdid I tell you to do all this?!¡± He let out that weird, gurglingugh again. ¡°No. She didn¡¯t need to say a single word. I take care of everything for her.¡± That idiot! But I needed him to talk. He was the only proof, the only one who could show everyone what I really is. So I made myself cold. I shot him four more times, in his arms and legs. Blood spattered. He let out a horrific, agonized scream, his whole¨Cbody shuddering on the floor. I¡¯ve never interrogated anyone like this. My mind went nk in the middle. The smell of blood made me sick. But I didn¡¯t have a choice. ¡°Tell me¡­ tell me I¡¯s role in this.¡± My voice shook as I pressed my shoe into his bullet wound, watching him tremble in agony beneath my foot. ¡°Tell me the truth and I¡¯ll let you live!¡± Wore 120 Chapter 120 Aria¡¯s POV He screamed in pain, like a dying wild animal, and it made my heart clench. ¡°Why are you still protecting her? What¡¯s the point of all this?!¡± I couldn¡¯t stop myself from yelling.. Glen was supposed to be one of Grayson¡¯s best men. He had aplished great things and still had a bright future ahead. But now he threw it all away for I. That fucking I! That fake, cold¨Chearted woman. I knew she wouldn¡¯t even blink if Glen died. Why couldn¡¯t he see what he was giving up for her?! Glen coughed up blood and grinned at me. ¡°Of course¡­ you wouldn¡¯t get it. You wouldn¡¯t get the special connection between me and Lady I. You¡¯re just a gold¨Cdigger. Like most women, you only care about men¡¯s money and power¡­¡± ¡°And I is any different?! She loves money and power more than any of us! That¡¯s why she married Grayson in the first ce!¡± ¡°No, no, wrong¡­ Lady I is the kindest woman I¡¯ve ever met. Back then, no woman would even talk to me. They all thought me as this strange, weird guy¡­ Only Lady I found out how special I was. Only she was nice to me. Only she smiled at me. She¡¯s perfect. A true goddess¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t believe how stupid this man was. ¡°Wake up, you idiot! She¡¯s using you. She acts like that with every man who¡¯s useful to her,¡± I cried out. ¡°If you weren¡¯t Grayson¡¯s head guard, you think she¡¯d give a damn about you? She was nice to you because she knew you¡¯d be useful one day.¡± He choked on more blood. Then he looked up at me with a strange smile: ¡°Just¡­just give up already. You¡¯ll never turn me against her. And this¡­is your first time interrogating someone, right? You¡¯re¡­ not very good at it.¡± A bad feeling shot through me. Suddenly, he grabbed my ankle. I wasn¡¯t ready¨CI didn¡¯t think he could still move. With a crazy roar, he threw me to the ground. SHIT! ¡°DIE YOU FUCKING WHORE! DIE!!!¡± He screamed, driving the knife toward my eye with all his strength! I yelled and caught the de with both my hands and stopped the knife in midair. The sharp edge cut into my skin, and blood dripped onto my face. I fought against him, my hands shaking from the pain, but I didn¡¯t dare let go. One slip¡­ and the de would go right through my eye¡­ Even severely injured, he¡¯s still stronger than I was. So he managed to push the knife down bit by bit. As the knife got closer to my face, cold despair washed over me. ¡°-Grayson!¡± I cried out. CRASH!!! The living room window shattered. A tall figure burst through it like he just heard my calling. The next second, Glen was yanked away by the back of his cor and lifted into the air. The knife ttered from his hand. Grayson held him by the throat, his face full of rage. Glen clutched at his neck, choking, his face turning purple. ¡°You fucking bastard!¡± Grayson roared, squeezing tighter. Glen¡¯s throat made a sickening cracking sound. ¡°Wait!¡± I scrambled to my feet. ¡°Don¡¯t kill him!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t try and stop me, Aria,¡± Grayson roared, his raging voice shook the room. ¡°After what he did¡­he must die.¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± I insisted. ¡°Someone told him to do this. Don¡¯t you want to know who really wants me dead?¡± Grayson¡¯s jaw tightened, but a flicker of reason broke through his anger. He threw Glen to the floor like a piece of trash and strode over to me. ¡°¡­You¡¯re hurt¡­again.¡± He picked me up, my feet leaving the ground, and held me so tight I thought he wanted to melt me into his own flesh. His voice was shaking. I could feel the dark emotions raging inside him. ¡°Why¡­ why do you keep getting hurt¡­no matter how careful I am?! As long as you¡¯re with me¡­it¡¯s never safe. I don¡¯t even know what to do now¡­What the hell should I do, Aria?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be like this, Grayson. I told you, it¡¯s not-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say it¡¯s not my fault again!¡± he growled, his eyes ring with anger. ¡°It doesn¡¯t help! Do you have any idea how angry and helpless I feel right now? I want to¨CI want to fucking kill-¡± I pressed my lips against his, hard, and stopped him. ¡°You¡¯want to kill the one behind this. So do I. So let¡¯s find out who it is.¡± It was time. Time to expose I and get my revenge. I would make Glen talk, and this time I wouldn¡¯t hold back- A gunshot rang out behind us. I jumped out of Grayson¡¯s arms and stared in horror at Glen. He had been shot in the head. He fell to the floor, dead. ¡°NO!!!¡± I was furious. I turned and screamed at the soldiers who had just rushed in, ¡°Who the hell shot him? Who told you to kill him?!¡± A soldier looked panicked. ¡°I¨CI saw him moving, reaching for the knife. I was afraid he¡¯d hurt you and the Alpha¡­ I¡¯m sorry, miss. Did I do something wrong?¡± I was so angry I could taste blood in my mouth. Grayson pulled me close and snapped at the reckless soldier, ¡°Get the fuck out! And I never want to see you in my army ever again!¡± Tue, 2 sept ¡°¡­I¡¯m so sorry, Alpha¡­¡± ¡°Grayson, it¡¯s I,¡± I turned to him hastily, grabbing his sleeve, my voice shaking. ¡°I swear, Glen admitted it. He did all this for I, Grayson frowned. I cut him off before he could speak. ¡°Don¡¯t say a word. I know you still have your doubts. So just¡­ just bring her, here. Let us talk it out face to face. That¡¯s all I am asking¡­Do this for me if you still love me.¡± ¡°What the hell are you talking about? Of course I love you! You doubt about that?¡± he growled. ¡°Then do what I say!¡± I shouted. He pulled me in for a hard, rough kiss, and then ordered the soldiers in a rough voice, ¡°Bring Lady I here. I don¡¯t care where she is or what she¡¯s doing. I want to see her in 15 minutes. GO!¡± ¡°Yes, Alpha.¡± The soldier ran off. My racing heart finally calmed a little. Even though Glen was dead, there were cameras everywhere in this house. I still had his words from when he was chasing me as evidence. Soldiers and servants began cleaning up the blood and mess. Grayson sat on the couch, pulling me onto hisp, his arms tight around me. He stared into air, his face cold and terrifying. In less than 15 minutes, the sound of high heels clicked outside. I sat up straight immediately, ready to face my enemy. But to my surprise, it wasn¡¯t just I who walked in. Behind her was an army of serious¨Clooking older people. She brought the entire council of elders with her! ¡°What are these people doing here?¡± Grayson snapped, ring at the elders. I blinked, looking innocent and worried. ¡°Your soldiers found me while I was having lunch with the elders. They heard something serious had happened and came to check it out¡­ Oh my god, what is all this blood? What happened?¡± Glen¡¯s body stilly on the floor. Grayson pulled his head up by the hair, showing his bloody face. I let out a small scream. People around gasped. ¡°This man tried to kill Aria. Do you know him, I?¡± Grayson demanded, his gray eyes locked on her. I looked away, breathing heavily, as if she couldn¡¯t bear to see the body. ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t think so¡­¡± ¡°See? You slipped up,¡± I said coldly. ¡°Glen was your and Grayson¡¯s personal guard. Even Delh said you were close. How could you not know him?¡­Unless you¡¯re trying to hide something?¡± AD Comment Send gift Wore 121 Chapter 121 Aria¡¯s POV I saw it clearly¨Ca sh of panic on I¡¯s face. She was scared now. I was sure of it. & Then she swallowed hard before crying out loud, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen this man since I left Grayson. It¡¯s normal that I didn¡¯t recognize him right away, isn¡¯t it? What are you trying to say, Aria? Are you using me of another crime AGAIN?¡± ¡°You are right. I think Glen was working for you to kill me,¡± I said coldly. There was a round of gasps. The elders burst into noisy chatter. Then one of them shouted, ¡°That¡¯s goddamn ridiculous! Why would a woman of Lady I¡¯s status ever try to kill you?!¡± I eyed them icily. I could see why she brought them now. She wanted them to fight her battles. Men were always just tools to her. I put on a hurt expression and said in a pitiful voice, ¡°This isn¡¯t the first time she has used me of those horrible things. Elders, I really don¡¯t know what to do anymore. Aria just keepsing after me¡­-I am so scared, so helpless¡­¡± I red at her. She¡¯s scared?! God she¡¯s gotta be kidding me! One elderforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lady I. We all know that you are a decentdy. If she bothers you again, you should definitely take action. It¡¯s not your fault¨Cit¡¯s only because she has gone too far.¡± Another elder added, ¡°Not to mention she¡¯s just amoner. Since when can amoner use a noble of anything? You could have her thrown in jail if you want-¡± ¡°Watch your fucking mouth. That¡¯s my girlfriend you are talking about,¡± Grayson growled, his voice icy. They immediately shut up, not daring to say another word. ¡°Grayson, you promised me your girlfriend would leave me alone afterst time. So what is this again?¡± I asked. ¡°Oh I¡¯ll leave you alone¨Cafter we watch the security footage from this house together,¡± I said, narrowing my eyes at her. ¡°You probably didn¡¯t know about this¡­but Glen said some pretty interesting things about you before he died. And it was all caught on camera.¡± 12:02 Wed, 3 Sept A 55%8 She looked a bit flustered and forced a smile. ¡°Aria, the man who tried to kill you was Glen, and he¡¯s been executed already. I don¡¯t think we need to waste our time on the footage anymore. What do you want us to see anyway¨Chow he chased you around the house?¡± ¡°No. But he admitted your involvement in this crime. On camera. I think everyone here needs to see it,¡± I said sharply, turning to a soldier. ¡°Go get the footage. Now!¡± I¡¯s face grew even paler. She couldn¡¯t even keep her fake smile anymore. ¡°Don¡¯t go! This is absurd. I don¡¯t know how you upset Glen, but clearly he wanted you dead over some personal issue. And it has nothing to do with me!¡± ¡°I only assigned Glen to protect Aria a few days ago. They¡¯d never even spoken to each other before this. What personal issue could it be?¡± Grayson said coldly. ¡°Now even I¡¯m curious about the footage. Go. Bring it over.¡± The soldier had his Alpha¡¯s order now. He didn¡¯t hesitate and ran off to find the security footage. I¡¯s expression was precious. She was trying to hide it, but I could see fear and nervousness written all over her face. She had no idea what Glen had said before he died, and not knowing was driving her crazy. ¡°You look scared, Lady I. Why?¡± I asked, smirking. ¡°Are you afraid that his words will confirm your crime? That everyone will see what a fake, cold woman you really are?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about! This is all in your head,¡± she insisted, still trying to act proud. But I could see sweat on the back of her neck. ¡°Alpha Grayson, I know you may not want to hear this, but I must say this¨CMiss Collins has gone too far!¡± an elder snapped. ¡°She¡¯s amoner, Normally she wouldn¡¯t even be allowed to speak face¨Cto- face with Lady I. But look at her now, bullying ourdy in public. This is truly outrageous¡­¡± Grayson cut him off, his tone arrogant. ¡°Aria¡¯s my girlfriend. I give her the right to say and do whatever she wants. And nobody should have a problem with it.¡± ¡°But Alpha-¡± ¡°Careful,¡± he warned coldly. ¡°I just fired one elder today. I can make you the second.¡± That shut the elder up pretty good. I gave the group a cool smile. ¡°You don¡¯t believe me about I trying to have me killed? Fine. But let me guess something else. How did I get to you, huh? Did she sit too close and whisper in your ear in a very seductive voice? Did shepliment your watch and deliberately touch your wrist and lingered there? Or has she ever ¡®identally¡® dropped something and bent over to grab it so you could see 12:02 Wed, 3 Sept A down her shirt?¡± Almost every elder¡¯s face changed instantly. They looked nervous and ufortable. ¡°Looks like I was right,¡± I said lightly. 55% ¡°Bullshit!¡± I cried out angrily. Her elegant mask hadpletely cracked. ¡°I never did any of those things. Stop making up stories about me.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Oh those are not just stories. I¡¯m one hundred percent sure they happened. In fact, it¡¯s how you approached every man and made them your pawns¨Cincluding Otto and Glen.¡± She looked like she wanted to scratch my eyes out. And just then, the soldier came back from his mission. ¡°Alpha Grayson, I have the footage here,¡± he announced. ¡°Good. y it for everyone,¡± I said immediately. But I rushed forward and stood in front of the TV. She bit her lip and looked at Grayson with tearful eyes. ¡°Are you really going to be so cruel to me, Grayson?¡± she sobbed. I cursed. Grayson replied calmly, ¡°It¡¯s only to prove you¡¯re innocent.¡± ¡°No, this is your girlfriend trying to humiliate me,¡± she cried. ¡°I thought even after our divorce, we could still be friends, and we could still be each other¡¯s special one. But if you do this to me today¡­ You¡¯ll destroy everything we once had. Is that really what you want, Grayson?¡± I couldn¡¯t believe what I was hearing. SPECIAL ONE?! Is she fucking kidding me right now? I¡¯m still standing right here! And I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s using their past to threaten him! I was shaking with anger. Then Grayson spoke up: ¡°If that¡¯s how you feel, then maybe we shouldn¡¯t see each other anymore.¡± I froze. ¡°Grayson¡­¡± ¡°It clearly gives you the wrong idea. Makes you think you still have special privileges with me. But you don¡¯t. I¡¯ve moved on, and I suggest you do the same.¡± Then he turned to the soldier. ¡°Get Lady I out of the way. And y the video for us.¡± 12:02 Wed, 3 Sept A ¡°Yes, Alpha!¡± I was pulled roughly aside. The TV screen lit up, showing security footage from the house today. Everyone saw how Glen sent all the guards away and then chased me around the house with a gun and a knife. When Grayson saw me nearly get shot in the head at the front door, he squeezed my hand so hard it hurt. I knew he was scared, so I squeezed back gently to calm he down. The footage also recorded every word Glen said: ¡°¡­once you¡¯re dead, no one will stand in Lady I¡¯s way anymore. She will be Alpha Grayson¡¯s wife¡­¡± ¡°¡­Except Lady I¡­ only she is perfect, pure¡­¡± 15 As the video went on, the murmurs in the room grew louder. Even the elders were looking at I with doubt and shock now. I stood stiffly, her face pale. Suddenly, she rushed forward and paused the video. ¡°I don¡¯t think this proves anything,¡± she said in a shaking voice. I said loudly, ¡°It proves everything! Clearly, Glen was trying to kill me because of you-¡± ¡°And so what?¡± she shot back, staring me down. ¡°It only shows that he was a crazy, troubled guy. Delusional. He thought I¡¯d thank him for this, but I never said a single word to him that I wanted dead. So this has nothing to do with me!¡± you I clenched my fists in disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous. Why would someone risk his life to kill for you if you didn¡¯t lead him on?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what happens to women with too much charm. We get a lot of fans, whether we want them or not,¡± she said arrogantly, ncing at me. ¡°But maybe that¡¯s too hard for you to understand because no man has been this crazy about you.¡± How thick¨Cskinned was she?! I stepped closer and snapped, ¡°Are you saying you never hinted to Glen that you wanted me dead? That you never gave him the order?¡± ¡°NEVER!¡± She denied without hesitation and lifted her chin, looking proud like a queen, ¡°What Glen did was his own choice. I didn¡¯t ask him to be this obsessed with me. So you can¡¯t say I¡¯m a part of this crime. 12:02 Wed, 3 Sept A Don¡¯t you agree, elders?¡± Q ¡¢ ???, 55% ? This time, the elders didn¡¯t back her up so quickly. Some hesitated, looking unsure. Finally, one slowly said: ¡°¡­Perhaps we shouldn¡¯t me Lady I. Because look at her¨Ca woman so beautiful and perfect like her, it¡¯s normal to have some crazy fans¡­¡± ¡°What kind of ¡®crazy fan¡®mits murder?! It¡¯s obvious she led him on!¡± I snapped. ¡°Wrong. To me, Lady I is clearly a victim too,¡± the elder said slyly. ¡°Having a madman obsessed with her is a nightmare. It brings troubles you can¡¯t possibly imagine. So please stop attacking her, Miss Collins. Have some sympathy for this poor woman.¡± I quickly wiped her eyes and sobbed, ¡°Oh I¡¯m used to it, elder. Sometimes the deepest cutse from my fellow women. I don¡¯t know why they hold so much hatred for their own gender.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re too perfect. They¡¯re all jealous, mydy.¡± Fuck it. I couldn¡¯t believe it. She¡¯s getting away with it again. God these elder men were so stupid! ¡°At least you can¡¯t deny that you two were very close,¡± I persisted. ¡°Maybe Glen picked up on something you said about me¡­¡± I let out a snort, ¡°Nonsense. I¡¯m ady and ady never speaks to her guards and servants directly. That¡¯s not how we were raised. So I don¡¯t know where he got all those crazy thoughts, but some people are just hardwired that way¡ª¡± ¡°LIAR!!¡± Suddenly, a voice boomed from the door. Delh strode in, followed by several maids. Each of them carried arge bag. ¡°Stop lying, you shameless lying whore!¡± Delh yelled, pointing at I. ¡°We just came back from Glen¡¯s apartment. And we found all kinds of evidence that you were leading him on¨Ceven seducing him. Girls, pour it out!¡± The maids turned the bags upside down. ¡­Photos, printed chat logs, and discs spilled all over the floor. I¡¯s eyes widened abruptly. 12:02 Wed, 3 Sept A For the first time, she looked truly panicked. Wore 122 Chapter 122 Aria¡¯s POV Even I was shocked by what was in those bags. E55 vouchiand First, there were photos. Lots of close¨Cup pictures of I, clearly taken by someone she was close to. There were shots of her out and about, eating, shopping, even deep in her sleep. One photo even showed I in a silk nightrobe that barely even covered her upper thighs, and the neckline was also wide open. She was smiling at the camera with a seductive look. Then there were printed chat logs. I picked one up at random. It was a conversation between I and Glen, talking about his body and workouts: [I: The new security uniform looks good on you.] [Glen: Thank you, mydy.¡¿ [I: I couldn¡¯t help but notice your biceps and legs¡­they are very strong. Do you work out often?] [Glen: Staying fit is part of my job, mydy. So I can protect you better.] ¡¾I: And I¡¯m sure a body like that can satisfy yourdy well Tell me, are you seeing anyone special?) [Glen: No¡­ you¡¯re my onlydy.¡¿ I gave a shudder, disgusted by that conversation. And there were many more screenshots. Delh held one in her hands and read it out loud: [Glen: Mydy, are you safely back in your room?¡¿ [I: Yes, and I just opened a bottle of wine. Drinking alone is¡­ so boring.] [Glen: ¡­Is the Alpha not with you?¡¿ ¡¾I: He¡¯s in his study, working, as always.¡¿ ¡¾Glen: Do you need me toe keep youpany?¡¿ ¡¾I: You know my room number.] 8:22 Fri, Sep 5 N 100 E 55 vouchers After reading it, Delh cursed loudly and red at I. ¡°You bitch! Did you cheat on my brother that day?!¡± I was trembling under everyone¡¯s shocked and disgusted stares. She stammered, ¡°O¨COf course not! Nothing happened that day¡­¡± But then she caught herself and raised her voice. ¡°No, none of these screenshots is real! We never had that conversation!¡± ¡°We found these in Glen¡¯s apartment, you whore. In a hidden room in his basement, the walls were covered with this stuff. Your photos, your chats. Glen must think of these as souvenirs or his personal treasures. He printed them all out and hung them up to look at every day. And you¡¯re saying they are all fake?¡± I clenched her fists so hard her nails dug into her palms. ¡°Exactly. I¡¯m damn sure that these are all Photoshopped. Glen made these up to feed his fantasy about me.¡± ¡°Then what about this?¡± I picked up a sealed stic bag from the floor. Inside was a neatly folded purple bra. I looked from the bra to I with disgust. ¡°He even has your underwear. This can¡¯t be photoshopped.¡± Her voice shook. ¡°That¡¯s not mine¡­¡± ¡°Seriously? Do we need to send it to ab for you to admit it?¡± I said loudly. ¡°You know they can test it, right? They can tell who it belongs to from skin cells or hairs left on the fabric. Why don¡¯t you just admit it and save us all some time?¡± She swayed weakly. ¡°Even if it¡¯s mine, I¡­ I don¡¯t know how he got it. He must have stolen it. Yes, he stole it! Because he was crazy and obsessed with me¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not stolen. The tag on the bag says it was a Valentine¡¯s Day gift from you to Glen.¡± Delh pointed out sharply. I waspletely disgusted. I knew this woman was fake and cold, but I never imagined she had so many dirty secrets. She had Grayson as her husband already. She was practically living every girl¡¯s dream! Why would she do this?! I held up the bra and spoke loudly to all the elders. ¡°Honestly, do you still want to defend her now? Look at the evidence right in front of you. She¡¯s not the elegant, noble, perfect woman you all thought she was. She uses her body to take advantage of every man in her life¡ª including you!¡± The elders looked grim. This time, no one spoke up for her. 8:22 Fri, Sep 5 N ¡°Lies! These are all lies!¡± I suddenly screamed. Mid en Vale She rushed over, snatched the bra from my hand, and tried to tear it. When she couldn¡¯t destroy it, she grabbed photos and papers from the floor and ripped them up wildly. ¡°Keep tearing. You know we have backups, right?¡± Delh said coldly. ¡°Fake¡­I already told you they were forged,¡± She stumbled back, turning to Grayson with tears streaming down her face. ¡°You¡­ you know I¡¯m not like this, Grayson. We¡¯ve known each other for years¨CI never give strange men chances to get close to me. Will you believe me, or these fake pieces of paper?¡± He didn¡¯t speak up right away. Since Delh brought out the evidence, he had been silent. But the cold anger around him scared everyone. ¡°Grayson¡­ say something¡­¡± she begged. But before he could speak, an elder stepped forward. He looked uneasy and embarrassed, but he still raised his voice: ¡°I¡­ I think this evidence might be real,¡± he said quickly, ncing at I. ¡°Actually, something simr happened to me recently. Lady I asked me join her at a bar. After a few sses, she started touching my arm¡­ I tried to tell her I have a wife and kids, but she even tried to take off my wedding ring. She told me what happens outside doesn¡¯t count¡­¡± ¡°Liar!!!¡± I yelled at him hysterically. ¡°I¡¯m not lying. This happened just days ago¡ªthe bar has cameras. You can check! I¡¯m a man of honor. I wouldn¡¯t make this up,¡± the elder cried out, his voice firm. Now that one person had spoken, others found courage. Almost all the elders were murmuring in agreement, nodding. It¡¯s shocking¨CI had made moves on every one of them. She probably never expected that the army she brought for support would be the evidence that ruined her. ¡°My god, you disgusting whore!¡± Delh cursed. She rushed forward, grabbing I¡¯s hair, and pped her hard across the face. ¡°You pretend to be this pure, innocent goddess, but you¡¯re just a filthy fucking cunt! How many times have you cheated on my brother? Do you spread your legs for every man who¡¯ll have you?!!¡± 8:22 Fri, Sep 5 N 100 56 vouchera I struggled, but she wasn¡¯t as strong as Delh. ¡°L¨CLet me go, you crazy bitch-¡± ¡°And you dared tough at Aria. She might not have your family and status, but she¡¯s a hundred times nicer than you. You make me sick!¡± Delh screamed. I rushed over and pulled Delh away. She¡¯s pregnant now. I didn¡¯t want her to get too worked
  1. up.
Delh¡¯s nails had left red marks on I¡¯s face. Now I¡¯s hair was torn into a mess, her clothes were disheveled, and she lookedpletely humiliated. This must have been the most embarrassing moment of her life. And no one was on her side anymore. Everyone stared at her with despise. ¡°N¨CNo, it¡¯s not what you think¡­¡± she sobbed, taking a shaky step toward Grayson. ¡°It¡ªit was the men¡­ they forced me, including the elders here¡­ Yes, they raped me¡­I didn¡¯t have the choice¡­¡± ¡°Are you crazy? I never forced you. You were the one who put your hand under my clothes!¡± the elder shouted. But I ignored him. Her voice trembled as she cried, ¡°Every man I meet wants to get into my pants because of my looks. I¡­ I felt hopeless, desperate. I had no choice. I¡¯m a victim too¡­¡® I snapped, ¡°Are you seriously saying that a highborndy like you couldn¡¯t refuse any of these men? You couldn¡¯t even call the police after they assaulted you? This is like the worst lie ever!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not lying! These men are all stronger than I¡­they threatened me. Glen in particr! He said if I didn¡¯t sleep with him, then he would kill me.¡± ¡°We are not idiots! In those chats, you were the one leading him on!¡± I yelled. ¡°No, I¡­ I didn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°ENOUGH!¡± Grayson suddenly roared. Everyone fell silent, including I. She looked at him with tear¨Cfilled eyes, trying to seem pitiful and innocent, begging for mercy. He stared back at her, his gray eyespletely cold. ¡°I, since our divorce, I rarely thought about our past. And I don¡¯t need to¨Cbecause you ruined everything. You made me realize everything between us was just a fucking lie.¡± ¡°No!¡± she screamed. ¡°I loved you, more than anything-¡± He cut her off. ¡°Did you love me while you were fucking those other men?¡± 8:23 Fri, Sep 5 N : ¡­ ¡°N¨CNo, those people were¡­¡± ¡°Just stop. You disgust me,¡± he said coldly. 100 Wore 123 Aria¡¯s POV 55 vouchers I¡¯s mouth fell open. She stared at Grayson, tears streaming down her face. ¡°I¡­ I disgust you?¡± she sobbed. ¡°We were the perfect couple in everyone¡¯s eyes, and now¡­ now that¡¯s all I get from you¨CI disgust you?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t the things you did disgusting enough? My God, cheating on my brother, and with his head of security! Have you no shame?¡± Delh yelled. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for his coldness and mood swings, why would I ever let those men get close to me?¡± I shouted, her voice shaking, her chest rising and falling wildly. ¡°I was just¡­ so lonely, so helpless. And my husband¡­ he was no help at all. He was like a block of ice¡­¡± Anger surged in my chest. I rushed forward and snapped, ¡°You fucking me him? He was more than patient with you. You weren¡¯t the only one struggling in that marriage. Because of you, he lost all interest in marriage itself, and even then he never med you. How dare you now put the me for your disgusting behavior on him?!¡± She red at me with pure hatred in her eyes. ¡°Shut up, you bitch! Don¡¯t think just because you know a few details about my private life, you have the right to judge ady like me¡­¡® ¡°No, you shut up!¡± I said loudly, looking down at her. ¡°From now on, stop acting like you¡¯re some nobledy above me, because I won¡¯t take it anymore. Right now, you¡¯re just a criminal, and you¡¯re going to pay for your crimes.¡± I turned to Grayson and said seriously, ¡°I believe we have enough evidence to arrest her for murder.¡± Grayson nodded. But then, an elder spoke up hesitantly, ¡°Alpha Grayson¡­with all due respect¡­the evidence here only proves that Glen and Lady I had an¡ª unusual rtionship. It doesn¡¯t directly prove she was involved in the murder.¡± ¡°WHAT?!¡± Delh cried out in disbelief, looking even angrier than I was. ¡°First, she hates Aria. Second, Glen was willing to do anything for her. Anyone with a : brain can connect the dots, and you¡¯re telling me it¡¯s not direct proof?¡± 29 65 vouchers I smirked, a sh of triumph gleaming in her eyes. ¡°I told you¨Che was obsessed with me, but I never asked him to do anything for me, especially not kill anyone. He did it all on his own.¡± I shot her a look, then turned back to Delh. ¡°Did you find any solid evidence in Glen¡¯s basement?¡± She shook her head reluctantly. ¡°The basement was full of¡­ disgusting photos and chat logs. But actual proof that she hired him¡­ I didn¡¯t find any.¡± Damn it. That was the one missing piece. ¡°And,¡± the elder added, ¡°ording to werewolf customs, using a noble of a crime is very difficult. We¡¯d have to go to her pack and face her side of the council. We¡¯d have no advantage there. And Lady I¡¯s situation is even more special since she¡¯s an Alpha¡¯s daughter¡­¡± ¡°So what? Are we afraid of her?¡± Delh said loudly, ring at I with disgust. ¡°And I¡¯m the Alpha¡¯s sister. I support pursuing charges against this bitch!¡± The elder immediately shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not wise, Lady Delh. We have no direct evidence. If we act recklessly, it could damage rtions between our packs and make us aughingstock. Not to mention that this thing is a pure scandal. We don¡¯t want the world to know our Alpha¡¯s wife once¡­ well, did those things.¡± I felt like a rock was stuck in my chest. I was one hundred percent sure I wanted I to pay, no matter what it took. I just fucking hated this woman. But if the cost was exposing Grayson¡¯s past, I wasn¡¯t so sure anymore. I knew how much that marriage hurt him. He still doesn¡¯t like to talk about it. And letting the whole world know his past, how he struggled in that dark time¡­ It would be too cruel. I bit my lip, hesitating. Just as I was about to speak, Grayson took my hand. ¡°We will take her to court. No matter the cost,¡± he dered firmly. 29 55 vouchers I turned to him, shocked. The room erupted into murmurs, ¡°But Alpha, the potential fallout, theplexity of the trial-¡± ¡°I don¡¯t fucking care,¡± he roared. ¡°Red Stone Pack is the strongest pack in the world. So when I want someone to pay for their crimes, they will fucking pay. Especially when it involves the woman I love, who almost lost her life. I will not let the culprit walk away freely.¡± A wave of strong emotion washed over me. My nose stung, and I almost cried in front of everyone. ¡°You¡­ you love her?¡± I staggered to her feet, staring wide¨Ceyed at Grayson. ¡°We were married for years, and you¡­ you never said that word to me. And now, you say you love her?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough I. There¡¯s no point having that conversation right now,¡± he said, frowning. ¡°No, it¡¯s not fair!¡± she screamed hysterically. ¡°I met you first! We fell in love first! I was special to you! You can¡¯t just take your love back and give it to her¡­ Grayson Hart, you ruined my life! Don¡¯t you feel any guilt at all?!¡± He looked at her, his expression cold and detached. ¡°We both made mistakes in that marriage, I. If you hadn¡¯t done stupid things, I would have felt guilty forever. But after what you did to Aria? Not anymore.¡± She trembled, crying, ¡°I had nothing to do with the murder! I told you!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll figure that out in court,¡± he said, turning to the soldiers. ¡°Take her Lock her in the dungeon.¡± ¡°Yes, Alpha!¡± away. The soldiers dragged I out of the room while she kept on cursing and crying. Then Grayson turned to the elders. ¡°I want each of you to do everything you can to find evidence linking Lady I to this murder. If I find out anyone protected her, I¡¯ll make them regret being born in Red Stone Pack.¡± They shivered, mumbling agreements before filling out of the room. ¡°Thank you.¡± 29 85 vouchers I immediately turned to Delh, squeezing her hand sincerely. If she hadn¡¯t shown up with that evidence today, I might not have even been able to get I arrested. ¡°I said I¡¯d help,¡± she smiled, squeezing back. Then she gave one nervous nce at Grayson. ¡°I sure wasn¡¯t going to stand by and do nothing while she hurt my brother.¡± These two still hadn¡¯t patched things up yet. Grayson no longer banned me from seeing Delh, but he never looked at her or spoke to her either. I could feel how much Delh wanted to make things right with her brother. And today¡­Well, maybe there¡¯s a chance for that. ¡°You should thank Delh too,¡± I said to Grayson. ¡°She helped us a lot today, didn¡¯t she? With the evidence. ¡± Delh looked tense, watching her brother¡¯s every reaction. His face was still stern, but after a short silence, he said in a low voice, ¡°¡­Next time, leave the evidence gathering to the soldiers. You¡¯re pregnant. I don¡¯t want you overdoing it.¡± Delh¡¯s eyes immediately lit up, with tears welling up in them. ¡°O¨COkay. And¡­ maybe we could have dinner together sometime? Like we used to¡­¡± ¡°Like we used to,¡± her brother nodded in agreement. She quickly wiped her eyes. ¡°I¡­ I should go. You¡¯ve had a long day and need rest. Aria, I¡¯ll talk to youter.¡± She gave me a grateful look and left. Cleaning up the house took untilte that night. Grayson only returned to our room after punishing all the guards who had left their posts and given Glen the chance to hurt me. The moment he walked in, I rushed over and hugged him, wrapping my arms tightly around his neck. He bent down and held me close, breathing into my neck. 29 55 Vouchers ¡°¡­Thank you,¡± I whispered. ¡°Thank you for believing me. I know today must have been¡­ hard for you too.¡± He loved I once. Knowing the woman he loved betrayed him so heartlessly, especially during his darkest time¡­it must hurt him deeply too. ¡°It¡¯s all in the past,¡± he said, cupping my face and looking into my eyes. His gray eyes were so beautiful in the dim light, like gems. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not even as angry as I thought I¡¯d be. I know my coldness and struggles hurt I during our marriage, so I guess I can understand why she did those things. And more importantly, I don¡¯t care about her anymore. Whatever she felt¨Cor feels¨Cfor me, none of it matters.¡± He leaned in and gave me a long, deep kiss. ¡°Only you matter to me now.¡± his voice was rough with emotion. My heart melted. I held his neck tightly, kissing him back passionately. He picked me up, letting my legs wrap around his waist, and carried me toward the bed. My heart was thumping against my ribs as he set me on the bed. We hadn¡¯t had sex in a long time. Not after I got sick. And right now I needed this. I needed him to take me wildly and fully. I knew he needed this too. He carried on with the kissing and unbuttoned my shirt and bra. Hisrge hand caught my breast and squeezed it, teasing with the nipple. I let out a long, hoarse moan. My pussy was immediately wet. Yet just then, his phone started ringing. We ignored it the first time, letting it go to voicemail. But it quickly started ringing for the second time. ¡°Fuck.¡± He sat up, grabbed the phone and took the call. ¡°This better be fucking important!¡± he snarled to the phone. I sat up as well, still panting. And then his expression suddenly changed: ¡°Wait what? Are you serious?¡± 29 The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Wore 124 ¡­ Aria¡¯s POV What happened? I sat up immediately, watching him nervously. Was it I again? More bad news? But his face broke into a relieved smile. ¡°I see. That¡¯s great. Good job, everyone.¡± He hung up and pulled me into a big hug, his voice lifting with excitement. ¡°Aria, we might have found a lead about your mother.¡± he said. ¡°What?!¡± I gasped, my eyes wide. 93 55 vouchers For so long, even though everyone told me my mom might just be hiding, I felt they were just trying tofort me. Deep down, I always believed she was dead. Maybe she died back when she left home. But now they¡¯re telling me she¡¯s alive. And they found her. ¡°Are¡­ are you serious?¡± I asked, my breathing quick. ¡°Where is she? Is she okay? How did you find her?!¡± He ced a hand on my shoulder, and the weight of it slowly calmed my racing nerves. ¡°Don¡¯t panic. Take a few deep breaths, and I¡¯ll exin everything.¡± I did feel a little dizzy and light¨Cheaded. So I did as he said, breathing slowly for a moment. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m fine now. Tell me.¡± ¡°They found the lead through your father. I¡¯ve had people watching him, and recently, while checking his bank ounts, we noticedrge sums of money deposited into his ount at regr intervals.¡± ¡°But my father has no ie. He¡¯s a drunk and a gambler,¡± I frowned. ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s why my guy found it suspicious. They followed the money and found ites from a mysterious overseas ount. The ount has very high¨Clevel security¨Ceven I can¡¯t find out who owns it. There are only a handful of people in the world with that kind of ess. They¡¯re either extremely rich or extremely powerful.¡± My eyes went even wider. Okay, this was getting strange. And hard to believe. One of the richest or most powerful people in the world is regrly sending money to my father¨Cthat bottom¨Cfeeding loser? What are the odds of that? 8:31 Mon, Sep 8 93 55 vouchers ¡°So you¡¯re saying that mysterious VIP is my mom?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but let out a dryugh, not out of joy, but because it sounded ridiculous. ¡°Grayson, I appreciate you thinking my mom isn¡¯t just some ordinary people, but the truth is, she was. A regr low¨Css woman with nothing special about her. Probably a troubled girl who got knocked up by my dad and regretted itter, so she ran away. And before I met you, I was surrounded by people like that.¡± I remember how awful my childhood was. Even before my mom left, we never had enough to eat. We couldn¡¯t rely on my father to put food on the table, and we definitely couldn¡¯t rely on my mom. From what I remember, she was pretty useless¨Ccouldn¡¯t even figure out how to turn on the stove. Our only real ie came from my grandmother working two shifts a day. After my mom ran away, we had one less mouth to feed, and things actually got a little better. Then my grandmother¡¯s health failed, but I turned 16 and could start working. That¡¯s when I finally stopped being afraid of going hungry. So tell me how could someone like that be a powerful person with a secret bank ount? ¡°Impossible,¡± I repeated, firmly this time. ¡°My mom was just a runner, a pretty irresponsible one. Those payments have nothing to do with her.¡± ¡°Then who else could it be?¡± Grayson said. ¡°All your father¡¯s rtives are dead. His life is simple. Just the casino and the bar. He hasn¡¯t left town in over a decade. The only unclear part of his social circle is your mother.¡± I bit my lip, unsure how to argue. Anxiety surged up in me. Grayson buried his head down and pressed his lips against my neck, nibbling gently. It tickled, but it also feltforting. ¡°¡­ We have to give this a try, babe.¡± His slightly rough voice whispered in my ear: ¡®I don¡¯t want to let go of any lead right now. If it can help cure you and bring your wolf back, I¡¯m willing to pay any price¡­ So help this desperate man out, okay?¡± . My heart melted. I felt touched and a little sad. I turned and snuggled deeper into his arms, whispering, ¡°I¡¯m doing okay now. So don¡¯t worry too much.¡± He kissed my hair. ¡°I don¡¯t just want you to be okay. I want you healthy and full of life, like when I first met you. So work with me on this, alright?¡± This proud man was begging me. How could I say no? ¡°Alright.¡± I agreed softly, ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ if it really is her.¡± He let out a sigh of relief and gave me the most charming smile ever. ¡°Perfect. I¡¯ll send people to Frostpine Pack right away. If you don¡¯t want to see your father, you don¡¯t have to. I¡¯ll handle everything.¡± 8:31 Mon, Sep 8 993 55 vouchers I shook my head. ¡°No, if we¡¯re digging up my past, I should be there. And¡­ I¡¯m kind of curious how my father is doing.¡± He was as low as a person could get when I left. I wonder what he¡¯s like now. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll go with you. I won¡¯t let you face it alone,¡± Grayson promised. I gave him a smile, and striped myself nakedpletely, pressing my bare breasts against his chest. His breathing immediately became quick and shallow. ¡°Are you sure babe?¡± his voice was tensed as I traveled my hand down his hard abs and grabbed his cock. ¡°We don¡¯t have to if you¡¯re not in the mood.¡± ¡°Oh I¡¯m in the mood,¡± I blew into his ears and tightened my grip. His cock was so hard that it was throbbing in my hand. ¡°Are you going to fuck me or not?¡± He let out a growl and threw me over on the bed so I was kneeling on my fours. I groaned and arched my back, raising my ass. My whole body was trembling with anticipation. I needed this¡­I needed his harsh, rough, dominant possession. It made me feel¡­alive. He fucked into me with one hand thrust. I screamed, feeling my pussy being stretched to its extreme by his massive cock. It hurt a bit, but I liked it. He didn¡¯t give me any time to get used to his enormous manhood and just started thrusting. His lovemaking was rough and wild as usual. I felt like he was destroying me. ¡°Ahhh, yes, yes! Fuck me¡­ Yes!¡± I couldn¡¯t help myself anymore and screamed out in the sluttiest voice ever. He seized my waist from the back and gave my butt a hard p. It gave a painful and tickling sensation, which caused me to scream even harder and clench my inner wall tighter. He cursed and picked up his pace. ¡°You like that babe? You want me to smack your butt?¡± he demanded. ¡°Y¨CYes I like it. Please¡­AHH!¡± He pped my ass again and I threw my head back, shrieking. I just had a small orgasm. My juice gushed out and wet the bedsheet. He paused for a second, gently rubbing my breasts and letting me take a minute to catch my breath. ¡°Oh calm down babe. I don¡¯t want you to wear out so quickly,¡± he whispered in my ear, a chuckle in his voice. ¡°We still have a long night ahead of us.¡± The next morning, I felt as if I had been run over by a truck when I woke up. But a great fuck was exactly what I neededst night. I felt my spirit was much higher than yesterday right now. He woke up with me. He cuddled me from the back and pressed his lips to my neck, kissing my sensitive skin. 8:32 Mon, Sep 8 :. ¡°Morning baby.¡± His morning, just¨Cfucked voice was so damn sexy. 93 55 vouchers ¡°Morning¡­ahh.¡± I moaned softly. His morning erection was hard to ignore. That hardened thing hade in between my legs, testing my entrance. ¡°You had a good sleepst night?¡± his hand traveled to the front, cupping my breast and pressing a thumb to my nibble. He started teasing it. That sent an electrical shot down my spine. I closed my eyes, breathing even more rapidly. And my legs parted involuntarily for him. ¡°Yes I slept well¡­ very well.¡± He let out a deep chuckle and rolled over me. The next second, I felt his huge cock back into my pussy, which was still wet and soft fromst night. Last night was wild and rough. And our morning fuck was sweet and gentle. After a few hours messing around in bed, we finally decided that it¡¯s time to get up. We had a lot of work to do today. ¡°We¡¯re leaving this afternoon,¡± he said walking out of the bathroom while I was getting dressed. My hand paused on my zipper. ¡°So soon?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to waste a single second. But before we go, we still need to deal with I.¡± Oh, right. That bitch is still locked in the dungeon. ¡°So¡­ what¡¯s going to happen to her? And how does putting a noble on trial even work?¡± I asked. ¡°I¡¯s pack will take her back and keep her locked up safely until the trial. It¡¯s their job to make sure she doesn¡¯t run away. We need to set a trial date and get all our evidence ready before then.¡± I felt a little worried. It sounded like a lot of work, and so many things could go wrong during the process. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I already have people preparing for the trial. And Nova¡¯s fully recovered and back from the hospital. She¡¯ll be leading the work. Everything will go smoothly.¡± He squeezed my hand reassuringly. We left home and went to the packhouse. When we arrived, I had already been brought up from the dungeon. A night in a cell didn¡¯t agree with her¨Cshe looked tired and worn out. ¡°Alpha Grayson, the people from Spike Hill Pack are here to pick her up,¡± a soldier reported. Grayson nodded. ¡°Make sure the handover is smooth and done by the book.¡± ¡°Yes, Alpha.¡± The soldier started pulling I toward the door, but she didn¡¯t move. She just stood there, staring bitterly at Grayson. 8:32 Mon, Sep 8 93 55 vouchers ¡°I still can¡¯t believe you¡¯re doing this to me,¡± she said hoarsely, her eyes red. ¡°Everyone in my pack willugh at me. My father will be furious. This will be a stain on me for the rest of my life! And yet you¡¯re still forcing me through it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the only way to prove you¡¯re innocent,¡± he replied, his voice cool. ¡°I hope you are innocent¨CI really do. If you are, I¡¯ll apologize to you myself and do everything I can to make it up to you. But if you¡¯re not¡­¡± ¡°What will you do? Kill me?¡± She let out a bitterugh. He said coldly, ¡°Let¡¯s just hope you¡¯ll never have to find out¡­ Guards, take her out!¡± Two soldiers grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her out. Outside, a crowd of reporters had gathered, all fighting to take pictures of the disgraceddy. News that we were putting a noble on trial had spread. No doubt that this uing trial would be the whole world¡¯s focus. As she reached the gate, she turned back and gave me a look filled with hatred and ice. I stared right back. Not afraid. See you in court, I. And, this time I¡¯m going to make you pay. Wore 125 Chapter 125 Third Person POV I was shoved roughly out of the packhouse. A crowd of reporters waited outside, swarming in like flies. They rushed forward to take pictures of her the moment she appeared. Camera shes nearly blinded her, which showed no respect for ady like her. Anger burned inside her. ¡°Stop,¡± she snapped at the reporters. ¡°I am a noble! You need my permission to take my picture-¡± But her voice was quickly drowned out by a wave of shouted questions: ¡°Is it true you cheated on our Alpha throughout your entire marriage?¡± ¡°They say you slept with all kinds of men¨Cbodyguards, drivers, even homeless people. Is that true?¡± ¡°Was that why you got divorced?¡± How dare they?! Blocking her path, interrogating her like a fucking criminal. She wasn¡¯t some cheap whore like Aria Collins. She had power and status. She deserved respect! ¡°All of you need to back away from me now, or I¡¯ll have each of you charged with disrespecting a noble!¡± she said sternly, trying to sound proud and authoritative. ¡°These matters are private. Commoners like you have no right to know-¡± THWACK! An egg smashed into her face. Egg white and yolk dripped down her cheek and onto her clothes. ¡°Ahh-!¡± I screamed, shocked and humiliated. ¡°Who did that? How dare you-!¡± ¡®Bitch!¡± someone in the crowd yelled. ¡°You¡¯re no fuckingdy. Even a street whore has more self- respect than you!¡± I¡¯s face flushed red. Then, more angry shouts rose from the crowd:. ¡°You betrayed our Alpha¨Cyou¡¯re an enemy of the entire Red Stone Pack!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe I once thought you were the right one for Alpha Grayson. His new girlfriend is a hundred times better than you.¡± ¡°Yeah! Go to hell you fucking whore. Nevere back to him ever!¡± I trembled with rage. These lowlymoners were like fleas. Filthy. Disgusting. She always acted kind to them in public, but deep down, she looked down on anyone without a title or money. What did these peasants know? How dare they say Aria Collins was better than her? That little bitch reeked of poverty, just like the trash screaming at her right now. They all deserved to die. ¡°Stay away from me!¡± she shrieked, losing allposure she once had. ¡°You don¡¯t deserve to be this close to me. You don¡¯t even have the right to speak to me directly. Where are my guards? Guards!¡± Someone spat in her face andughed. ¡°Still think you¡¯re a fuckingdy? Here, you¡¯re just an adulterer -a notorious bitch. Everyone gets to spit on you!¡± ¡°No! STOP!¡± she screamed. The egg and spit on her made her feel sick. She tried to struggle, but the soldiers holding her gripped her shoulders tightly, not letting her escape. More spit, fotten fruit, and eggs flew at her. She, the most nobledy, had be everyone¡¯s target. She didn¡¯t even know how she finally made it down the path away from the packhouse. The next thing she knew, she was shoved into a car, and the door mmed shut behind her. ¡°Oh my god¡­ oh god¡­ fuck¡­¡± She trembled, looking down at her clothes. She tried to wipe herself clean but didn¡¯t even know where to start. She was covered in filth. ¡°You look disgusting,¡± a rough, cold voice said from across the car. I looked up sharply. Sitting across from her was an old man with silver white hair. He looked at least eighty, but his eyes were sharp and cunning like a snake¡¯s. ¡°Father!¡± I gasped, her face turning pale. ¡°What¡­ what are you doing here?¡± sept dimir St. ir, the current Alpha of Spike Hill Pack, stared coldly at her. His expression twisted with disgust as he looked at the mess on her clothes and hair. ¡°A member of my family was called a ¡®filthy whore¡® in public bymoners. I had to see it for myself,¡± he said icily. ALC I swallowed nervously. ¡°Father, don¡¯t listen to them. It¡¯s not what you think. I¨CI still have everything under control. I¡¯ll fix this soon. I won¡¯t let the family be shamed.¡± Alpha dimir let out a coldugh. I grew more nervous. She slid off her seat and knelt obediently at his feet, pressing her chest against his leg and looking up at him. ¡°Father, did you miss me¡­?¡± she batted her eyshes. ¡°With that look, you think you can turn any man on?¡± Alpha dimir kicked her away. ¡°Get off me. You¡¯re getting filth on my pants.¡± I fell to the floor, humiliation shing across her face. Then she started sobbing, ¡°F¨CFather, they framed me. Made me look guilty. Please, you have to help me.¡± ¡°But you ARE a filthy whore, aren¡¯t you?¡± the old man said mercilessly. ¡°You slept with those guard and soldiers. No mistake there.¡± ¡°It was just to make them useful, Father. My n almost worked- 39 Alpha dimir poked the space between her legs with his cane. ¡°Once too many men get a taste of your pussy, that thing loses its value. You should save yourself for men who truly deserve it, like Grayson Hart¨Cnot some poor guards and soldiers.¡± I bit her lip and stayed silent. Even she knew her father was right this time. ¡°I¡¯ll help you this once. But only because of Grayson Hart. You must be his rightful Luna. Don¡¯t waste all my years of training you,¡± Alpha dimir said. I¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Of course, Father. But there¡¯s a problem¨CGrayson is dating a little bitch named Aria Collins. They¡¯re all over each other¡­¡± Alpha dimir smirked. ¡°Oh, she¡¯s not just some little bitch. Didn¡¯t you say she¡¯s the heir to Frostpine Pack? A potential female Alpha? And she¡¯s also Grayson¡¯s first love?¡± I pressed her lips together bitterly. It infuriated her to admit that whore Aria had such luck¨Cnot only was she high¨Cborn, but she also had a deep history with Grayson. All of that should have been hers. ¡°Luckily, Grayson doesn¡¯t know yet,¡± Alpha dimir continued. ¡°And he must never find out. Otherwise, we¡¯ll never separate him from that Aria.¡± ¡°I agree, Father. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been trying to kill Aria. If she dies, all our problems are solved¨C ¡°Fucking idiot!¡± Alpha dimir snapped. ¡°Grayson is protecting her like his own eyes. Trying to kill her will only get you in trouble¨Clike it already has!¡± I lowered her head. ¡°Then what should we do, Father?¡± ¡°We just need to stop Aria Collins from reiming her true identity,¡± Alpha dimir said. ¡°I¡¯ve received word that Grayson found Aria¡¯s father in Frostpine Pack and is trying to track down her mother through him. We can¡¯t let them seed. Luckily, the girl¡¯s father is a gambler, and the casino where he owes a huge debt belongs to us.¡± I¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°So he¡¯spletely under our control! We can make him say whatever we want!¡± Alpha dimir chuckled. ¡°Exactly. Sit tight. We¡¯re flying to Frostpine Pack now to meet this man, before Grayson does. We can¡¯t let him tell Grayson who the girl¡¯s mother really is.¡± I agreed excitedly. They immediately boarded a private jet to Frostpine Pack. 5 hourster, theynded at the airport. I shivered as she stepped out of the ne. ¡°This ce is so cold and backward. Even if Aria is the heir here, what¡¯s there to be proud of?¡± Alpha dimir shot her a cold look. ¡°Frostpine Pack keeps to itself, but they have the strongest army in the world. No one dares to mess with them. If you think Aria Collins¡® inheritance means nothing, you¡¯re the fool.¡± I shut up, annoyed. They got into a in ck car at the airport¨Cnothing about it suggested an Alpha and his daughter were inside. The car drove through the city, then further out, until it reached a slum. ¡°God, this ce stinks,¡± Iined, covering her nose after getting out. ¡°And this is where Aria Collins grew up,¡± Alpha dimir said, ncing around. He turned to the driver. Sept BX 65% It infuriated her to admit that whore Aria had such luck¨Cnot only was she high¨Cborn, but she also had a deep history with Grayson. All of that should have been hers. ¡°Luckily, Grayson doesn¡¯t know yet,¡± Alpha dimir continued. ¡°And he must never find out. Otherwise, we¡¯ll never separate him from that Aria.¡± ¡°I agree, Father. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been trying to kill Aria. If she dies, all our problems are solved¨C¡± ¡°Fucking idiot!¡± Alpha dimir snapped. ¡°Grayson is protecting her like his own eyes. Trying to kill her will only get you in trouble¨Clike it already has!¡± I lowered her head. ¡°Then what should we do, Father?¡± ¡°We just need to stop Aria Collins from reiming her true identity,¡± Alpha dimir said. ¡°I¡¯ve received word that Grayson found Aria¡¯s father in Frostpine Pack and is trying to track down her mother through him. We can¡¯t let them seed. Luckily, the girl¡¯s father is a gambler, and the casino where he owes a huge debt belongs to us.¡± I¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°So he¡¯spletely under our control! We can make him say whatever we want!¡± Alpha dimir chuckled. ¡°Exactly. Sit tight. We¡¯re flying to Frostpine Pack now to meet this man before Grayson does. We can¡¯t let him tell Grayson who the girl¡¯s mother really is.¡± I agreed excitedly. They immediately boarded a private jet to Frostpine Pack. 5 hourster, theynded at the airport. I shivered as she stepped out of the ne. ¡°This ce is so cold and backward. Even if Aria is the heir here, what¡¯s there to be proud of?¡± Alpha dimir shot her a cold look. ¡°Frostpine Pack keeps to itself, but they have the strongest army in the world. No one dares to mess with them. If you think Aria Collins¡® inheritance means nothing, you¡¯re the fool.¡± I shut up, annoyed. They got into a in ck car at the airport¨Cnothing about it suggested an Alpha and his daughter were inside. The car drove through the city, then further out, until it reached a slum. ¡°God, this ce stinks,¡± Iined, covering her nose after getting out. ¡°And this is where Aria Collins grew up,¡± Alpha dimir said, ncing around. He turned to the driver. ¡°Where is Grayson now?¡± ¡°They just boarded a flighting here,¡± the driver replied respectfully. ¡°Good. That gives us at least five hours to get Mr. Collins in line. Let¡¯s go.¡± Alpha dimir stepped onto the porch of the Collins home. It was the darkest, dirtiest, most disgusting ce I had ever entered. The room was tiny like a shoebox, filled with trash and empty wine bottles. The air smelled of alcohol and rot. She couldn¡¯t believe any human being lived here. A few soldiers stood near a couch. At first, I thought the lump on it was just a pile of rags. But then it moved, and she realized it was a filthy man. ¡°Well, well, well, Mr. Collins. We finally meet,¡± Alpha dimir said, sitting across from him with a mocking smile. ¡°I suppose you know why I¡¯m here.¡± The man looked terrified. He might have been handsome when he was young, but years of drinking had ruined him. Now he just looked like a dirty skeleton. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re an Alpha!¡± the man gasped, out of breath. ¡°I owe the casino some money, not much,, just a bit¡­ But I don¡¯t understand why such a small debt would bring an Alpha here¡­¡± Alpha dimir chuckled, ¡°Oh, normally such a small amount wouldn¡¯t interest me. When someone can¡¯t pay me back, I usually just take a part of their body instead.¡± The man shivered in fear. ¡°But you¡¯re lucky, Mr. Collins. You have something I want.¡± Alpha dimir continued. ¡°Wh¨Cwhat? Honestly, you can take anything you want,¡± the man stammered. ¡°D¨Cdo you want this house? It¡¯s old, but it¡¯s under good maintenance¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She snapped, ¡°No one wants your rotten house! Don¡¯t you have a daughter? Aria Collins?¡± The man froze, his eyes widening. After a small pause, he suddenly roared, ¡°Aria Collins¨Cthat fucking bitch!¡± Wore 126 Chapter 126 Third Person POV Alpha dimir smiled faintly. ¡°Aria Collins is your daughter, isn¡¯t she? Why are you calling your own daughter a bitch?¡± The man breathed heavily, roaring angrily, ¡°That bitch is no daughter of mine. She has no gratitude, you hear me? NONE! I worked hard to raise this family. I brought food to the table. And what¡¯s the first thing she does when she grows up? She fucking runs away! Take her grandmother with her to live the good life in the city. She never once thought about her father, the one person who gave her everything¡­¡± ¡°Did you ever try to contact her?¡± Alpha dimir asked. ¡°From what we know, Aria isn¡¯t doing so poorly now. She¡¯s dating a very powerful man. The most powerful, in fact. Grayson Hart, if you¡¯ve heard the name.¡± The man¡¯s face showed greed, but also fear. ¡°O¨COf course I know that name. Alpha Grayson¡­I mean, who hasn¡¯t? I did try calling her, asking if she could spare some money for her poor father, now that she¡¯s livingfortably¡­ But she only answered once before changing her number. I couldn¡¯t even reach her again. And I don¡¯t have the money to travel to Red Stone Pack to find her¡­¡± ¡°Well, I see. What an ungrateful daughter,¡± Alpha dimir sighed. ¡°Can you help me contact her?¡± The man leaned forward eagerly. ¡°If you can get me in touch with her, you won¡¯t have to worry about my gambling debt. I¨CI could even pay you back with double interest!¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry. Soon you won¡¯t need me to find Aria. She¡¯lle to you herself,¡± Alpha dimir said with a smile. ¡°What?¡± The man was shocked, then frowned. ¡°No, no, that¡¯s impossible¡­¡± ¡°Because she wants to know who her mother is.¡± I watched the man¡¯s face closely. For a moment, she caught a sh of panic in the man¡¯s expression. Yes, that confirmed that Aria¡¯s mother was no ordinary woman. How unfortunate. ¡°Oh, Aria¡¯s mother,¡± the man swallowed and let out a dryugh. ¡°Nothing much to say actually, just another ungrateful bitch¡­ ran away years ago, probably with some lover right now¡­ like mother, like daughter¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re the worst liar ever, Mr. Collins. We already know Aria¡¯s mother was no ordinary woman. She came from a powerful family, didn¡¯t she?¡± Alpha dimir leaned in, staring at the man¡¯s terrified face. ¡°She betrayed you, Mr. Collins. She left you here struggling on your own. So why are you still covering for her?¡± ¡°You¡­ you know?¡± The man squirmed nervously on the couch, wiping cold sweat from his forehead. ¡°Please¡­ she¡¯s too powerful, and I¡¯m supposed to keep her secret¡­ I don¡¯t want trouble¡­¡± ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t want trouble for you either. So I¡¯m offering you a very good deal. If you agree to my terms, all your gambling debts will be wiped clean. How does that sound?¡± Alpha dimir smiled, tapping his fingers on his cane. 13:06 Thu, Sep 11 The man swallowed greedily. ¡°Really? Wh¨Cwhat deal?¡± 40 55 vouchers ¡°In a few hours, Aria and Alpha Grayson will walk through that door. They¡¯ll ask you who Aria¡¯s mother really is. And you¨Cmy friend¨Cmust not tell them the truth.¡± Alpha dimir snapped his fingers. His bodyguards brought over a dozen briefcases and ced them on the table. They opened the case, and they were filled with cash. The man let out a choked sound, looking like he might faint in joy. ¡°Tell a good lie, and all this money is yours. Not only that¨Cfrom now on, you won¡¯t pay a cent at any bar or casino under my name.¡± Alpha dimir stared at him. ¡°How does that sound, Mr. Collins?¡± ¡°My god¡­ yes, of course!¡± The man agreed immediately, his pale face flushing with excitement. ¡°I can keep a secret, sure. Don¡¯t worry. When theye, I¡¯ll tell Aria her mother was just somemoner bitch who ran away from her home. The same lie I¡¯ve been telling her for over twenty years¡­¡± ¡°Oh, but I¡¯m afraid that same lie won¡¯t be good enough anymore. You don¡¯t know Alpha Grayson. He¡¯s a very persistent man. He won¡¯t be happy with a such a simple answer.¡± Hearing Grayson¡¯s name, the man shrank back again. Clearly, the thought of lying to Grayson made him nervous, but the temptation sitting right in front of him was too strong to resist. ¡°Th¨Cthen what should I do?¡± Alpha dimir patted I¡¯s arm and gave a big, sly smile: ¡°My daughter will help youe up with the perfect lie. And my team will perfect every detail that¡¯s necessary to the lie. The lie will be so convincing that it almost sounds like the truth. Aria won¡¯t doubt it for a single second when she hears it¡­She¡¯ll only be crushed by despair. The man didn¡¯t hesitate a single second. He leaned forward even more and grinned widely: ¡°Tell me. What¡¯s the lie gonna be?¡± 0 Wore 127 Chapter 127 Aria¡¯s POV When I stepped out of the Frostpine Pack airport, a wave of nostalgia hit me. 163 EL 55 vouchert God, I¡¯d gotten so used to Red Stone Pack¡¯s warm weather that I¡¯d almost forgotten I was born and raised in this cold ce. ¡°Are you cold?¡± Grayson asked. He unwrapped his scarf and wrapped it around my neck. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll be in the car in a minute.¡± I paused and gave him a small smile. ¡°No, people from Frostpine Pack aren¡¯t afraid of the cold. Ouring- of¨Cage ritual is going into the snowy mountains wearing almost nothing to hunt. If you don¡¯t bring back enough prey, you¡¯re not a real warrior.¡± He lifted my chin, his gray eyes focused on me. ¡°But you¡¯re not part of Frostpine Pack anymore, remember? You¡¯re one of my pack now. You share my blood, my legacy, my honor.¡± Oh, right. When he saved me, he gave me his blood and brought me into Red Stone Pack. I didn¡¯t belong to this frozennd anymore. Don¡¯t get me wrong¨CI¡¯m grateful for what he did, and I¡¯m happy to share his blood. But stepping back onto my homnd and knowing I no longer belonged here made me feel¡­ lost. ¡°The car¡¯s here. Let¡¯s go.¡± Grayson opened the door for me, and we got in. We nned to go straight to my father. The car drove through the city and headed directly toward the neighborhood I knew best. At first, I eagerly pointed out familiar ces to Grayson. That shopping mall must¡¯ve been rebuilt, which looks brand new; the riverside park I used to run in; the factory where I worked half¨Ctime¡­ But slowly, the car entered the area where I grew up. I awkwardly fell silent. I didn¡¯t know how to describe this ce. Everything here smelled of poverty and chaos, like a sewer full of rats. I felt like my most shameful past was being exposed right in front of him. ¡°Well, nothing much to see here,¡± I said, trying to hide my embarrassment. But he squeezed my hand. ¡°Of course there is. This is where you were born. I want to know every detail. The car stopped in front of a dirty bar. I looked through the window at the familiar neon sign. I¡¯d lost count of how many times I¡¯d run into this bar to drag my drunk father out. God, it¡¯s been five or six years. I can¡¯t believe this ce was still up and running. ¡°Is this it?¡± Grayson¡¯s voice was cold. 14:13 Fri, Sep 12 B ¡°Yes, Alpha. Mr. Collins is inside. Shall we go in?¡± ¡°Drag the man out.¡± 20 1255 vouchers The soldiers got out and rushed into the bar. In less than five minutes, they came back out, dragging a drunk man between them like a sack of potatoes. For a moment, I felt so nervous I thought I might throw up. ¡­ It was my father. Almost 6 years since I¡¯dst seen him. And he hadn¡¯t changed at all. Still covered in filth and vomit like he just climbed out of a sewer. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Grayson held my icy hand. ¡°You don¡¯t have to face him alone. I¡¯lle with you.¡± I took a deep breath and shook my head quickly. ¡°No, no. I want to talk to him alone first¡­ That¡¯s what I need to do.¡± I won¡¯t run from my fears anymore. I¡¯ve grown up. He can¡¯t hurt me now. Grayson studied my face for a moment, then finally nodded and let go of my hand. I got out of the car alone. The soldiers threw my father at my feet. He groaned, struggling to lift his head from the snow, muttering curses as he looked up at me. I tried to keep my voice steady, despite the emotions rising in my chest: ¡°Remember me, Dad?¡± He blinked his blurry eyes and stared at me. Then suddenly, he burst into mockingughter: ¡°Well, well, look who it is! My dear daughter, Aria Collins! The star of the Collins family. We all thought she forgot about her family after fucking some big shot in the city¡­ But she came back! What are you here for? To see if your poor father is dead yet?¡± My heart sank at his crazedughter. How stupid of me to think years would change him. To think he¡¯d be d to see me back. To care if I was doing OK. ¡°I came back to ask about my mother,¡± I said, my voice dropping cold. ¡°I need to know where she is.¡± He burped and mumbled vaguely, ¡°I told you, that bitch ran away¡­ both of you, ungrateful bitches¡­ I should¡¯ve sold you both to the red¨Clight district at least that way you¡¯d be making me some pennies¡­¡± ¡°STOP LYING!!¡± I couldn¡¯t help shouting at him. ¡°I know you¡¯ve been in contact with her! Why hide it from me? What secret from my past are you trying to keep from me?!¡± He flinched, and some of the drunkenness left his eyes. Slowly, he gave me a sinister smile. And then he said something I never expected: 14:13 Fri, Sep 12 B¡­ ¡°¡­You want to know about your mother? Then how about I take you to see her? She¡¯s in town. Right Now AD cond gift The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Wore 128 Chapter 128 Aria¡¯s POV My mind froze, and so did my body. 55 valichers It took me a moment to find my voice again. ¡°You¡­ you can take me to her? But¨Cbut she left¡­ years ago¡­ No one knows where she is.¡± ¡°Yeah, but she came back recently. Guess things didn¡¯t work out for her out there,¡± my impatiently. ¡°So what¡¯s it gonna be? You wanna see her or not? Hurry up and decide. Don¡¯t waste my time.¡± father grunted I stood there, fists clenched, my breathing in quick and shallow. I never expected this to be the answer. That my mother was back here, somewhere nearby, and I could see her whenever I wanted. I wasn¡¯t ready. I knew I¡¯d been looking for her¡­but hearing about her and actually seeing her were twopletely different things. How should I face her? Should I show my anger? Or should I tell her how much I¡¯ve missed her all these years, how hard it¡¯s been without her? Would she even care how I¡¯ve been? ¡°Hurry the fuck up!¡± my father suddenly yelled. ¡°Stop wasting my time. You didn¡¯t give a damn about your father all these years, and now¨Cnow you pop up asking all these fucking questions¡­ I should just tell you to fuck off¡­¡± The soldier holding him shoved him hard. ¡°Show respect to Lady Aria!¡± My father blinked, then burst into a round of crazy, mockingughter. ¡°Lady Aria?! Are you fucking kidding me right now? My daughter is nody.¡± He suddenly lifted his head and spat right in my face, his eyes glinting with malice. ¡°Mark my words, little bitch: you were born in the slums. Your parents are trash, which means you¡¯re trash too. Fucking some rich guy doesn¡¯t make you fancy. Sooner orter, you¡¯ll end up back in this shithole where you actually belong¡­¡± His words were like a curse. A chill ran down my spine. The car door behind me flew open. I didn¡¯t even see what happened. But my father suddenly screamed, then flew backward andnded in the snow a few steps away, writhing in pain. Grayson pulled me into his arms. ¡°Cut out his tongue,¡± he ordered coldly. The soldiers rushed forward, yanking my father out of the snow. One forced his jaw open while another 10:45 Mon, Sep 15 pulled out a knife. My father¡¯s eyes widened in terror, and he let out a choked whimper. ¡°Stop!¡± I said quickly. ¡°No, don¡¯t do that.¡± 6575 59 vouchers Grayson brushed the snow off my shoulder, ring at my father with disgust. ¡°I should have him executed for what he said. Cutting out his tongue is the lightest punishment.¡± I quickly grabbed his hand. ¡°You said you¡¯d let me handle this.¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t stand anyone talking to you like that.¡± Grayson tightened his arm around me and ordered the soldiers, ¡°Bring him here.¡± The soldiers dragged my father over by his hair. Grayson looked down at him, his eyes freezing cold. ¡°Are you going to speak to Aria properly from now on? Or should I just cut out your tongue and feed it to a fucking stray dog?¡± My father whimpered, struggling violently. The soldiers let him go. He immediately cried out, ¡°I¨CI¡¯ll behave, I promise¡­ Please don¡¯t¡­don¡¯t hurt me¡­¡± ¡°Good. But if I hear one word I don¡¯t like, you¡¯re in big trouble,¡± Grayson threatened coldly. My father gave Grayson a fearful look and forced a ttering smile. ¡°You¨Cyou must be Alpha Grayson. Everyone knows your name. I can¡¯t believe my daughter is dating someone like you. What an honor¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t waste our time,¡± my boyfriend cut him off. ¡°We need to know where Aria¡¯s mother is. You said you can take us to her. But if you¡¯re lying again-¡± ¡°No, no, I wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± my father said frantically, his face full of fear. ¡°Why would I lie? It doesn¡¯t do me any good. If you want to see her, I¡¯ll take you right now.¡± My heart raced so fast I felt sick, and I couldn¡¯t speak. Grayson had the soldiers put my father in another car to lead the way, then guided me back to our car. ¡°¡­Is this real?¡± I finally found my voice as the car started, but my throat was tight. ¡°My mom¡­ she¡¯s¡­ she¡¯s here? We spent so much time and effort looking for her, and now suddenly¡­ suddenly I can see her? No, I still think he¡¯s lying¡­¡± Grayson held my hand tightly. He was my anchor. ¡°Whether he¡¯s lying or not, we¡¯ll find out soon.¡± The car with my father started moving, and we followed closely. I stared out the window, my heart thumping wildly in my throat. I started wondering where we would stop. That hotel? No¡­ That mall? Not there either¡­ Or maybe that row of apartments? But we drove right past without stopping¡­ Why did she run away from us years ago? And why did she work so hard to cover her tracks? If she covered her tracks, why bothering back now? What happened in all these years??? 10:45 Mon, Sep 15 Just as these questions were driving me crazy, the car finally stopped. We were in a busy part of town. I looked out and saw a huge neon sign with a silhouette of a woman posing seductively. ¡­ It was a fucking strip club. 11 Rage hit me suddenly, burning away all my reason. I yanked the car door open, jumped out, and rushed to the front car, dragging my father out by his cor. ¡°Are you fucking kidding me?! A fucking STRIP CLUB?!!¡± I screamed at him. How dare he? He could joke about anything, but this¡­this is where I drew the line! ¡°I¡¯m not lying! She¡¯s here!¡± he shouted. Then he looked past me. ¡°Oh, perfect timing. Look, right there!¡± I turned around so fast I felt a pull in my shoulder. A woman in a bright pink dress just stumbled out of the strip club, followed by a customer. The customer pped her butt hard, then groped her chest. She giggled, pulled open her bra, and let him stuff a wad of cash into her cleavage. After some flirtyughing, the customer got into a car, and she stood alone on the street, lighting a cigarette. From behind, you couldn¡¯t tell her age. In such cold weather, she wore that revealing pink dress, but it showed off her curvy figure perfectly. She was the most sexy woman I¡¯d ever seen. ¡°Jolene!¡± my father yelled beside me. She turned around sharply. Behind her thick, dark curls was a beautiful face. She¡¯s gorgeous, no doubt. But now you could tell that her best years were behind her. ¡°Dirk!¡± she yelled, stomping out her cigarette angrily. ¡°What the hell are you doing here? I told you to stay the fuck out of my life!¡± ¡°You think I want to be here? Your dear daughter insisted on finding you. What was I supposed to do?¡± my father snapped, pushing me forward. ¡°Look, it¡¯s your precious mother. Right there. Happy now?¡± I stumbled forward two steps and locked eyes with the woman. Her face looked both familiar and strange. Is it really her? My heart screamed the question. Then, slowly, those pretty brown eyes, full lips, sharp features, and long dark curls¡­Everything slowly matched the woman from my deepest memories. She frowned at me, then uttered one word: ¡°¡­Aria?¡± Suddenly, I felt very dizzy. Wore 129 Chapter 129 Aria¡¯s POV $5, voucher Her face slowly lit up with joy. Then she spread her arms and walked toward me, calling out emotionally, ¡°Oh, my daughter¡­¡± But I took a step back. I didn¡¯t know why, but I avoided her hug. ¡°You¡¯re¡­my mom?¡± My throat felt tight. The smile on her face faded. She lowered her arms and let out a mockingugh. ¡°What? Were you expecting some nobledy? A woman in Chanel, carrying Herm¨¨s, covered in jewels with servants following her? Sorry to disappoint you.¡± I hadn¡¯t expected that. But in my memory, my mother was¡­kind and warm. Yes, she was useless at surviving, aplete waste. But she had the sweetest voice and the most delicate, skillful fingers. One of my fondest childhood memories was sitting by the window while she braided my hair and sang a beautiful bad. Yet this woman didn¡¯t fit any of those memories. Her heavy makeup, strong perfume, and smell of smoke were theplete opposite of how I remembered my mom. I stared at her nkly, trying to decide¡­Was this really the person who hugged me crying, apologized, and then walked out the door all those years ago? Yet I couldn¡¯t tell. I didn¡¯t know. Suddenly, the woman who imed to be my mother gasped. Footsteps sounded behind me, and Grayson came to my side, taking my hand. ¡°Is it her?¡± he asked quietly. I shook my head, feeling even more confused and lost. ¡°Oh my god, is this your boyfriend?¡± my mother eximed dramatically. Her eyes swept over Grayson¡¯s expensive coat, his diamond watch, and finally settled on the ruby ring on his finger. The greed in her eyes made me ufortable. ¡°Oh, my sweet girl, it looks like you¡¯re doing very well for yourself. If I¡¯d known you¡¯d be so sessful, maybe I should¡¯vee back and fine you sooner.¡± She giggled, batting her eyshes at Grayson. My father snorted. ¡°She didn¡¯t just ignore you. She also didn¡¯t give a damn about me either, the one person who raised her! Ungrateful. Completely selfish. Must¡¯ve gotten those all from you.¡± $513 Chapter 129. 55 vouchers ¡°You didn¡¯t raise shit!¡± she suddenly jerked at him and shrieked, her voice loud and sharp. ¡°Back then, every penny you had went to the gambling tables and bars. I had to fight with the other bitches at the bar just to get some money back. You¡¯re the selfish one. Fucking piece of shit! Total scum!¡± ¡°What did you just say, you whore? At least I brought money home. What did you contribute? The money you earned selling your filthy cunt wasn¡¯t even enough to buy Aria a fucking diaper- ¡°ENOUGH!!!¡± I shouted, my voice trembling. I was shaking all over. My head buzzed with their sharp voices and disgusting arguments. This wasn¡¯t the reunion I¡¯d imagined. It was ten thousand times worse. Grayson wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me away. I heard him snapped at the soldiers asking them to take my parents to the car and back to the hotel so we could properly talk. There were messy footsteps, and their vicious curses faded into the distance. Then I found myself burying my face in Grayson¡¯s chest, as if trying to escape from hell. The snow continued to fall, making me even colder. ¡°Don¡¯t cry,¡± he said hoarsely, gently stroking my cheek. I shook my head and looked up. My eyes were probably red, but I wasn¡¯t crying. ¡°¡­I¡¯m okay. Let¡¯s go now.¡± ¡°Remember. I¡¯m your only family now. None of those other people matter,¡± he emphasized. My eyes grew wetter. I nodded firmly, telling myself to remember his words. He was right. No one else mattered except him. We got in the car and got back to the hotel. Grayson¡¯s assistant had already booked the presidential suite on the top floor of the city¡¯s most luxurious hotel for us. Grayson stayed outside to discuss some business with his assistant, while I went in first. My parents were already inside. My mother was pacing around the room when I came in. She looked at the night view outside the window, the luxurious decorations in the room, and the butler unpacking our luggage. Her face was lit up by wonder and greed. When she saw me walk in, she immediately rushed over and grabbed my hand. ¡°Gosh! This man you¡¯re dating is no ordinary guy!¡± she whispered excitedly. I was ufortable with her holding my hand, so I tried to subtly pull away, but she held on so tightly that I was sure her rings would leave marks. ¡°Who is he? Is he someone I might know?¡± she pressed. I was surprised she didn¡¯t recognize Grayson immediately. But not everyone follows the news, I guess. ¡°You don¡¯t know him? That¡¯s Alpha Grayson Hart from Red Stone Pack¡­¡± ¡°What? An Alpha?!¡± she screamed, so loud it hurt my ears. Everyone in the room turned to look. 55 Jouchers ¡°Oh my god, are you fucking kidding me? You¡¯re dating an Alpha? A REAL ALPHA?¡± She shook me excitedly, looking like she might faint from thrill. ¡°Oh my dear daughter¡­Oh you are doing amazing! How long have you been together? Is it serious?¡± ¡°Not long. But I think it¡¯s serious¡­¡± ¡°You hold on to him tight. Understand?¡± she ordered me forcefully, leaving no room for argument. ¡°Make him propose. Or better yet¨Cget pregnant. Make this rtionship move to the next step as soon as possible.¡± Her tone made me ufortable. ¡°It¡¯s not as simple as you think¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s the simplest thing in the world, okay? I work in a strip club, so I know. When you meet a generous customer, you fucking cling to him. Otherwise, hundreds of other little bitches will swarm in to take your share like fucking flies. Taking it slow is the dumbest thing, understand? You listen to your mother on this.¡± Anger burned in my chest. Listen to my mother? What right did she have to tell me what to do? She hadn¡¯t even apologized for abandoning me, shown any remorse, and the first thing she did was interfere in my life? Who the hell did she think she was? ¡°Except I¡¯m not a stripper working nights, am I?¡± I replied sharply. She red at me. ¡°Is that how you talk to your mother? You really need to work on your manners, youngdy¡­¡± Luckily, Grayson and his assistants and bodyguards entered the room just then. She was cut off, shot me a fierce look, then turned to greet Grayson enthusiastically. ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t realize you were the famous Alpha Grayson. I guess we¡¯re family now,¡± she said with a wide smile, trying to shake his hand. But Graysonpletely ignored her hand and walked to the sofa to sit down. He looked at me, and I understood. I went over and sat beside him. ¡°Take your seats.¡± Grayson¡¯smanding voice echoed through the room. Instantly, the room fell silent. Everyone held their breath. His grey eyes locked onto my parents. ¡°We¡¯re going to talk. And you two will answer all my questions truthfully.¡± My parents sat together on the sofa opposite us, nodding nervously. They were much better behaved in front of him. ¡°You are Jolene Collins?¡± he asked. She swallowed hard and nodded. ¡°Yeah¡­yes I am.¡± ¡°Where did you go after leaving home 20 years ago? And why did youe back recently?¡± 10:45 Mon, Sep 15 I stared at her, my heart racing. Yes, tell us where you¡¯ve been hiding, mom. Why couldn¡¯t even Grayson¡¯s people find you? ÓÍ She pursed her lips. ¡°OK here¡¯s what happened¡­it¡¯s so fucked up you probably won¡¯t even believe me¡­I originally wanted to go to the big city. Heard there were lots of opportunities there, you know, as a waitress or stripper. I can¡¯t do much, but my face is okay so I thought I could earn decent money¡­But on the way, I met a local hunter. At first, he seemed really kind and friendly. He told me it was love at first sight and that he¡¯d give everything to marry me. He had his own mansion on the mountain and real properties. Marrying him meant I wouldn¡¯t have to work a single day¡­¡± My father let out a mockingugh. ¡°And you believed that? You stupid,zy bitch.¡± She spat at him. ¡°Fuck off you jerk. I just want an easier life! What¡¯s wrong with that? Anyway, I went back with that man, and yet turns out he wasn¡¯t nearly as rich as he said! Damn fucking liar! His so¨Ccalled mansion was just a small cabin! I wanted to leave, but he wouldn¡¯t let me the bastard.¡± ¡°So for the past 20 years, you¡¯ve been living in the mountains?¡± I asked in disbelief. She pouted and snorted. ¡°What else? I only managed to escape recently because the guy got sick and couldn¡¯t control me anymore. Fucking hell, those were the best 20 years of my life. Wasted!¡± I couldn¡¯t believe this was the answer. All this time, we thought someone even Grayson couldn¡¯t track must have used significant resources to cover their traces. But the truth was, she just hadn¡¯t been in civilized society¨CNo phone, no credit cards, no identity, no traces left. Making her impossible to track. It was rare, but it made sense. ¡°Then what about therge transfers to your ount recently?¡± I turned sharply to my father and demanded. ¡°Who sent them to you?¡± His face changed instantly. ¡°How the hell did you know about that?¡± ¡°Just answer the question!¡± He looked like he wanted to yell at me, but seeing Grayson next to me, he swallowed his curses. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ve been short on moneytely, so I picked up a few jobs with the local dealers. They needed people to transport some goods to another ce¡­ by carrying them inside your body¡­ Okay, it¡¯s not decent, but it¡¯s a way to make money. You¡¯re not gonna judge me for that, are you?¡± I slumped back on the sofa, my mind nk. Wrong. Everything I thought was wrong. All our reasoning was wrong. 10:45 Mon, Sep 15 bu youcherr My mother didn¡¯t have some incredible ability to evade Grayson¡¯s search. She was simply kidnapped by a hunter. And the person sending money to my father wasn¡¯t my mother. It was local drug lords. I¡¯d always told people my parents were the lowest of the food chain, the mostmon trash in society. I¡¯d tried hard to make myself believe it. But faced with the cold, hard truth, I still found it hard to breathe. What were you even thinking, Aria? Did you really expect to wake up one day and suddenly be a princess? And your mother to miraculously from a useless scum to a noble queen? go Stop dreaming. ¡°G¨CGet them out¡­¡± My throat tightened, and I gripped Grayson¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡­ I want to be alone for a while¡­¡± ¡°Hey!¡± My mother stood up suddenly, ring at me. ¡°Is this how you treat your long¨Clost parents? At least you could take us out for a nice meal, ask if we need anything! How did I raise such a cold, selfish child?¡± ¡°I told you it¡¯s gic. She¡¯s just like you,¡± my father taunted from the side. ¡°What? Shut up, you jerk¡­¡± ¡°Take them both out!¡± Grayson roared, his voice thunderous. ¡°Prepare the DNA test. Now.¡± I stood up abruptly and rushed into the bedroom, throwing myself onto the hotel bed. The tears I¡¯d held back all night finally burst out. I felt both pain and shame. Pain because of my family¡¯s ugliness¡­.and shame because I¡¯d actually dared to dream I could have a different life. I must have cried myself to sleep. When I was shaken awake, I found I¡¯d been changed into pajamas and tucked under the covers. Grayson must I have done it. ¡°Wake up¡­ sweetheart.¡± He was leaning over the bed, his outline softened by the dim bedsidemp. ¡°The DNA test results just came back. I thought you might want to know asap.? I blinked my dry eyes and looked up at him, my voice hoarse.¡°¡­And?¡± Even though I told myself not to, a faint flicker of hope rose in my heart at that moment. ¡°¡­Your DNA matches. I¡¯m so sorry.¡± The hope shattered. 10:45 Mon, Sep 15 I really was the child of those two scumbags. B Comment Send gift AD No Ads Wore 130 Aria¡¯s POV : ¡°Are¡­ are you sure the DNA test is correct?¡± I asked hastily, my voice trembling. 22 55 vouchers ¡°We asked for her hair andpared it with your DNA,¡± he said quietly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid the result is urate. I¡¯m sorry babe.¡± I sat up and buried my face in his chest. He held me tightly, his arms around my shoulders. ¡°We¡¯ve considered all the worst possibilities. You were prepared for this,¡± he said softly, stroking my hair in a soothing rhythm. ¡°Besides, you¡¯re a grown¨Cup now. You don¡¯t need either of them. The only reason we looked for them was to see if your mother could help with your wolf. Once you get better, you never have to see them again.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ I spent so long missing her, hating her. Now that she¡¯s finally back, can I really never see her again?¡± I whispered, looking up at Grayson. ¡°Or¡­maybe I overthought this. Maybe she just has a difficult personality because life has been hard on her. Maybe deep down, she isn¡¯t a bad person after all.¡± He nodded. ¡°Of course, that¡¯s possible. You can try spending time with her if you want.¡± I shook my head, hesitant. I hadn¡¯t decided whether to let her into my life yet, or how to even act around her. More importantly, I didn¡¯t feel ready to forgive her for walking out that door all those years ago¡­ The next morning, when I woke up, Grayson was already gone. He left me a message saying some local investors wanted to meet him while he was in town, and he¡¯d see me at dinner. So I had the whole day to myself. I sat up slowly, yawning, wondering what to do with my day. I could spend it with my mom. But I debated with myself whether I should give her that second chance. Just then, I heard faint noises outside the bedroom. This was arge suite. Outside the bedroom was not just a living room but also a walk¨Cin closet. Normally, the hotel staff wouldn¡¯t enter without permission, and a fancy hotel like this wouldn¡¯t let employees disturb guests during our stay. So who was making all that noise? I jumped out of bed and strode out of the bedroom. 55 vouchers Several people were standing outside the closet, hotel staff and our maids from Red Stone Pack. They looked flustered, trying to stop something. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± I asked, frowning. They turned quickly and bowed when they saw me. ¡°Good morning, Lady Aria. It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s your mother¡­ We can¡¯t stop her¡­¡± I pushed past them into the walk¨Cin closet. The room was a mess. Tworge suitcases we¡¯d brought were open on the floor, everything inside rummaged through and thrown everywhere. Even mine and Grayson¡¯s personal items were scattered. There were several brand¨Cnew dresses hung in the closet¨Chigh¨Cend gowns the hotel had sent in case we needed something formalst minute. I never usually wore them. But now, all of those incredibly expensive dresses had their tags torn off and were tossed on the sofa. And standing in the middle of the room, the cause of all this, was my dear mother, wearing one of my fancy coats and admiring herself in the mirror. ¡°What the hell are you doing?!¡± I asked in disbelief. ¡°Oh, Aria, here you are.¡± She turned around cheerfully, showing off the coat. ¡°Look, doesn¡¯t this look better on me than you? But I¡¯m a bit taller, so you should ask them to bring me a new one in arger size.¡± Was she kidding me right now? ¡°Who let you in here?! I never said you could wear my clothes!¡± I snapped, grabbing one of the high¨Cend dresses from the sofa. ¡°And who said you could tear the tags off these?¡± She pouted. ¡°They were just hanging in the closet. It¡¯s a waste not to wear them.¡± ¡°I was going to return them! I don¡¯t need them, and you definitely don¡¯t¡­ Do you even know how much these cost?¡± I picked up one of the discarded tags and almost couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°Oh¡­ Okay, you just spent nearly a hundred thousand dors. Do you even have that kind of money?!¡± ¡°God, you¡¯re so stingy,¡± she said, rolling her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re dating the richest man in the world. His money is your money, and your money is practically my money. A hundred thousand is basically nothing.¡± ¡°What are you even thinking?! Grayson¡¯s money has nothing to do with me. That¡¯s not the kind of rtionship we have. And my money is most certainly not yours!¡± I yelled, furious. But she lookedpletely unfazed and even let out a small chuckle. ¡°Come on, darling. He¡¯s 19:12 Tue, Sep 16 : 22 E55 vouchers a rich, powerful man, and you¡¯re a young girl with nothing but a pretty face. Of course, your rtionship is like that.¡± I red at her angrily. If she weren¡¯t my mother, I might have struck her right now. ¡°Take off my coat right now,¡± I stepped forward, pointing a finger at her. ¡°Now you owe Grayson a hundred thousand dors, and¨CWAIT. What is this?!¡± My eyes widened as I saw the sapphire ne around her neck. I pointed at her, trembling with disbelief. ¡°What? I just thought it matched my new coat,¡± she said casually. ¡°Take it off!!!¡± I was about to explode, red with fury. ¡°Grayson gave that to me. You have no right to wear it. And I forbid you from ever touching it again!¡± She scoffed, took off the ne, and tossed it carelessly onto a nearby drawer. ¡°The sapphire is decent quality, but it¡¯s too small. With Alpha Grayson¡¯s wealth, you should make him buy you something much more expensive. Dream bigger, my girl.¡± I hurried to pick it up and carefully put my ne away. Then I jerked at her, my voice sharp: ¡°How many times do I have to tell you? I don¡¯t want you touching my things. And I don¡¯t want you acting like we¡¯re so close and intimate already! You were gone for over 20 years. You are practically like a stranger to me! You left when I was a child and needed you most, and now you want to y this mother¨Cdaughter game? What¡­ What are you even thinking?!¡± There. I got it out. I had to know what was on her mind. It was driving me crazy. Her expression softened slightly. ¡°Oh, Aria, darling¡­ I know I hurt you before¡­¡± ¡°More than hurt. You almost killed me. Grandma and I was this close to starving to death,¡± I snapped. ¡°Oh, I know. But I was just a stupid girl back then. Impulsive. Irresponsible. Fell in love crazily with the wrong guy and had a child too young¡­ You have no idea how much I want to make up for it.¡± She stepped forward and took my hand. The cold rings on her fingers made me shiver, but I didn¡¯t pull away. I guess part of me really wanted this¨Cespecially the little girl inside me. ¡°So how about we have a mother¨Cdaughter day today?¡± she suggested enthusiastically. ¡°Get to : know each other. Spend some time together. How does that sound?¡± I hesitated for a moment. I had nothing else to do today, and I knew I¡¯d regret it if I didn¡¯t give her a chance. ¡°Fine,¡± I finally nodded. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± 22 55 vouchers ¡°Oh that¡¯s wonderful!¡± She immediately beamed, pulling me into the closet to get ready together. In the end, I let her keep the two dresses she¡¯d already opened. After all, as she said, I couldn¡¯t return them once the tags were off and I might as well just give them to her. I also kept my mouth shut about her outfit choice for the day. Honestly, it was way too shy -an evening gown, not something for daytime, and she¡¯d even essorized with full jewelry. It waspletely inappropriate. But she looked very pleased with herself. When she was done, she twirled in front of the mirror and sighed contentedly. ¡°Don¡¯t I just look fabulous?¡± ¡­She looked tacky. But I was trying to learn how to be a daughter, so I lied, ¡°Not so bad.¡± ¡°Of course not bad,¡± she giggled, putting an arm around my shoulders and pulling me toward the door. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go. I know exactly where we should go. Is your driver waiting downstairs?¡± We got into the car. She eagerly told the driver our destination, which turned out to be the most luxurious shopping mall in the city. When we arrived, she strutted ahead proudly, ordering the driver to carry her handbag. I could barely keep up. It almost seemed like I was her maid. We walked straight into a high¨Cend boutique. The saleswoman, who looked about my mother¡¯s age, was about to greet us when her expression changed the moment she saw my mother. ¡°What the hell are you doing here, Jolene?¡± she snapped. My mother smiled smugly and adjusted her fur coat. ¡°Hello, Laura. I¡¯m here to shop. I see that you are still stuck here being a pathetic saleswoman. Obviously seducing my customer and making him marry you didn¡¯t help you move up in this world.¡± ¡°Get the hell out of here, Jolene. You can¡¯t afford a single thing here. Don¡¯t make me call security.¡± 22 55 vouchers ¡°Who says I can¡¯t afford it?¡± my mother said loudly, pulling me in front of her. She hadn¡¯t paid any attention to me the whole way here but now it suddenly changed. ¡°Open your damn eyes and take a look! This is my daughter. So young, beautiful, and charming. And you know the man she¡¯s dating? It¡¯s-¡± ¡°MOM!¡± I shouted, cutting her off. I didn¡¯t want the whole world to know about me and Grayson being here. ¡°Oh, what¡¯s wrong, sweetie? You¡¯re dating every woman¡¯s dream. You should be proud of that.¡± She nced back at the saleswoman named Laura and sneered. ¡°I¡¯m here to shop, and you will serve me like I¡¯m your fucking god. Because my daughter has all the money in the world. She¡¯ll be very angry if you disrespect her mother.¡± I yanked my hand out of hers. Now I finally understood. Mother¨Cdaughter day? Bullshit. She was just using me as a trophy to show off. ¡°You stay here. I¡¯m leaving,¡± I said through gritted teeth, then turned and stormed out. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Wore 131 Aria¡¯s POV I stormed out of the store, furious. 55 vouchers I felt yed. Manipted. Beforeing, I really thought she wanted to bond with me properly. Maybe exin why she left all those years ago. If she¡¯d been sincere, maybe I could have forgiven her. Maybe we could have started over. But no. She was still the same fake, vain, rude woman I first met. Nothing had changed. The only new thing I learned about her was that she¡¯s a great liar. Maybe as good as I. Damn it, I never should havee with her in the first ce. The sharp click of heels sounded behind me. Then my mother rushed in front of me, blocking my path. ¡°Where are you going?¡± she demanded, flustered. ¡°Home,¡± I said coldly. I tried to step around her, but she grabbed my hand. ¡°You were supposed to back me up in there! Let that whore Laura see how well I¡¯m doing now! Do you know how humiliating it was when you walked away in front of her-¡± ¡°And what does that have to do with me?¡± I snapped. ¡°Seriously? You can¡¯t handle a little embarrassment? Do you have any idea what my life was like before? Do you know what it¡¯s like to go hungry, be afraid of getting hit, and live in despair every day? Try that beforeining about fucking embarrassment!¡± Her expression froze. Then she forced an awkward smile. ¡°Oh, darling, Aria my baby¡­ I know you have suffered. But Mom¡¯s back now. You¡¯ll never have to live like that again. I just need you to do me a small favor¡­¡± I cut her off. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯ll never have to live like that again, but it has nothing to do with youing back. It¡¯s because I¡¯ve grown up. I don¡¯t need you anymore. I can take care of myself. And what you want means nothing to me. Now get out of my way!¡± I pushed past her, ignoring her darkening expression, and headed for the exit. But before I could take more than a few steps, she suddenly screamed sharply behind me: ¡°-Aria! Do I have to do this for you to forgive me?!¡± What? I instinctively turned around. And then widened my eyes in shock. ¡­ 50 55 vouchers God! She had dropped to her knees to me right there in the middle of the walkway. IN PUBLIC! I was stunned. This was the busiest area of the mall. Everyone passing by was staring at us with shock and confusion. ¡°What are you doing¡­ Get up!¡± I rushed back to pull her up, but she stayed firmly on her knees. ¡°No, I won¡¯t get up. My own daughter won¡¯t forgive me. I might as well be dead.¡± In the blink of an eye, tears were streaming down her face. ¡°I know you hate me. Do you feel better now? Making your mother kneel to you¨Cis this what you wanted?!¡± ¡°I¨Cwhat are you talking about? Get up now!¡± I said sharply. She wrapped her arms around my waist and cried even louder. ¡°What happened to my sweet, sweet daughter? Just look at you now¡­ giving your own mother the cold shoulder like I¡¯m your enemy. What did I do to deserve this punishment?¡± What did she do? She knew exactly what she did! I wanted to scream at her, but too many people were watching. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to say what she¡¯d done to me out loud. ¡°Get up!¡± I hissed at her again. Just then, a middle¨Caged woman¨Cprobably just a passerby¨Cwalked over. She looked at me disapprovingly. ¡°Hey, no matter what your mom did, she¡¯s still your mom. Making her get on her knees to you in public? You should be ashamed of yourself!¡± The crowd around us murmured in agreement. Seriously? Now I¡¯m the viin? ¡°You have no idea what¡¯s going on here! This has nothing to do with you¡­¡± ¡°Of course I do! I have a teenage daughter too!¡± the woman cried indignantly. ¡°Honestly, what¡¯s wrong with young people these days? Does making your mom beg like this really make you proud or something? Shame on you!¡± My face flushed with anger. My mother sobbed loudly, ¡°Th¨Cthank you for your help, really¡­ but please don¡¯t make my daughter angrier. I don¡¯t want her to hate me more.¡± But that only made people side with her more. More using eyes turned toward me. ¡°She risked her life to bring you into this world. What more do you want from her?¡± someone in the crowd scolded me. Someone even pulled out a phone and started recording. I had no doubt this video might end up online. I didn¡¯t need more attention. 50 B 55 vouchers ¡°Get up.¡± I hissed at my mother quietly. ¡°I¡¯ll go back to the store with you. Isn¡¯t that what you want?¡± A look of triumph shed across her face. ¡°Really? You don¡¯t hate me anymore, Aria? You¡¯ll spend some decent time with me?¡± Every word felt forced through my teeth. ¡°Yes. Now get up!¡± She scrambled to her feet instantly, smiling and thanking the woman who¡¯d ¡°helped¡± her. I did my best to hide my face, grabbed her arm, and quickly dragged her back into the luxury store. Of course, I was still furious inside. I felt used and manipted. ¡°Are you happy now? Kneeling to me in public just to make mee back and pay for everything you want¨Cwas it really worth it?!¡± ¡°What are you talking about, darling? I was really scared you hated me. I¡¯m so d you changed your mind.¡± She clung tightly to my arm, pulling me into the store, grinning. ¡°Nowe on. I saw a few pieces earlier that would be perfect for you.¡± She dragged me back inside. She loudly demanded the staff to clear out any other customers, then asked they bring us champagne and afternoon tea. The saleswoman named Laura appeared again. I could only guess she was my mother¡¯s nemesis. She looked at us with disgust. ¡°Back again? I told you not to cause trouble in my store.¡± ¡°Trouble? We¡¯re VIP customers here to spend money! Show us some fucking respect!¡± My mother lifted her chin arrogantly. ¡°Stop with the bragging. With what you make at the strip club, you can¡¯t even afford a scrap of fabric here,¡± Laura sneered. My mother turned to me and ordered, ¡°Aria, show her your credit card.¡± I hesitated, then pulled out the ck card that had no spending limit and handed it to her. ¡°Don¡¯t go too far with it¡­¡± I warned. But my mother snatched the card, strode forward, and pped it right against Laura¡¯s face. ¡°Open your damn eyes and take a look, bitch. It¡¯s a fucking ck card! Unlimited! Happy now?¡± she shouted triumphantly, giggling. Laura stumbled back from the p. Then she saw the card clearly, and her eyes widened. ¡°What the hell¡­¡± ¡°Now you know, bitch?¡± Mom giggled. The other staff watched in silence. Their stares made my cheeks burn. I¡¯d never been so embarrassed in my life. ¡°Aren¡¯t customers supposed to be treated like gods? O do things operate differently in this store? Or should I make ain to your manager?¡± Mom raised her voice again. ¡°Bring me every shoe on that wall. I want to try them all.¡± : Laura took a deep breath. ¡°Please have a seat. I¡¯ll bring them right away.¡± 50 55 vouchers Soon, every shoe in the store wasid out before us. Mom sat on the sofa, sipping champagne, looking as smug as a queen. ¡°Learn from this, Aria. This is how rich people should live,¡± she told me. ¡°It¡¯s how you want to live. Not how I want to live,¡± I replied coldly. She scoffed. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re too young to know what you want. But don¡¯t worry¨CMom will teach you.¡± She kicked off her shoes and stuck her foot out toward Laura. ¡°I want to try those silver heels.¡± Laura took a deep breath, picked up the shoes, and bent down to help her. But Mom kicked her hard in the chest, sending her stumbling back. ¡°Kneel down to put them on for me!¡± ¡°Mom!¡± I eximed. She immediately turned to me with a smile. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s what they¡¯re supposed to do. We¡¯re VIPs now, and they¡¯re practically servants¨Calmost like ves. I bet we can even get them on the floor and bark like dogs if we want.¡± Laura let out a sharp breath. Mom red at her. ¡°What? You disagree? Or do you want to get yourself fired? Remember who¡¯s in charge of your fate now.¡± ¡°¡­I¡­ that¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Laura said stiffly, her face pale. ¡°But this isn¡¯t your size, ma¡¯am. Let me find a better fit for you.¡± She scrambled to her feet and hurried into the back room. I left Mom sitting on the sofa, sipping more champagne and bossing everyone else around, and followed Laura into the stockroom. I found her holding a shoe box, her eyes red. When she saw me, she quickly wiped her tears. ¡°Is there anything else you need, miss?¡± ¡°Look, I don¡¯t agree with what my mother is doing. But I can¡¯t stop her. So¡­ I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said quietly. She looked at me. After a moment, her expression softened slightly, and she let out a bitterugh. ¡°Well, someone like Jolene should never get rich. She¡¯d make life hell for everyone who ever crossed her. I don¡¯t think we had some huge feud. The only thing was an old customer of hers chose me over her. It¡¯s not exactly a deep hatred, is it? But look how much she hates me now¨Cshe wants to destroy me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it? And it happened so long ago,¡± I asked in disbelief. She shrugged. ¡°Well, that¡¯s Jolene. And I¡¯ve got to say, sweetheart, you¡¯re nothing like your mother. She¡¯s a fucking cunt. And you have a gentle soul.¡± That reminded me. ¡°How long have you known my mother?¡± I asked. ¡­ 50 55 vouchers ¡°Believe it or not, I¡¯ve known her since she was a teenager. We worked at the same club back then. Why?¡± I swallowed. I knew the DNA test had been done. But the more time I spent with this woman, the more my intuition told me something was wrong. This woman who¡¯d appeared out of nowhere was theplete opposite of the blurry image in my memory. Sometimes I didn¡¯t know if I was idealizing my memories or if this woman¡¯s identity was really in question. Laura had known her for years. Maybe she knew something. So I stepped closer to her and lowered my voice: ¡°So¡­ is her name really Jolene? And did she really disappear for the past few years and only recentlye back? And¡­ did she ever mention to you¡­ that she had a daughter named Aria?¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Wore 132 Aria¡¯s POV Laura looked at me, confused. ¡°She¡¯s your mother. Shouldn¡¯t you know her best?¡± ¡°I have my reasons. Please, just answer the question.¡± ¡°Well, yeah, her real name is Jolene. At least that¡¯s what it¡¯s been since I knew her as a teenager.¡± 55 vouchers Her first sentence made my heart sink, and what she said next made me feel like I¡¯d been plunged into ice water: ¡°I haven¡¯t heard much about her in thest 5 years. Rumor was she went to the big city to make money, but it seems things didn¡¯t work out for her. As for children¡­well she¡¯s been sleeping with so many men. I¡¯m honestly surprised she only had one kid.¡± I stumbled back a step, my whole body turning cold. I guess until today, a small part of me hadn¡¯tpletely given up hope yet. A small part of me always thought that maybe my father had just found some random stripper to trick me, and this was all just a really bad joke. But now, Laura had confirmed everything. There couldn¡¯t be another woman named Jolene who happened to disappear for 5 years with a child named Aria. Plus the DNA test. I waspletely out of hope now. She was really my mother. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You look like a ghost,¡± Laura asked. I mumbled, ¡°Just thinking about the fact that she¡¯s my mother¡­¡± She gave me a sympathetic look and patted my shoulder. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t think of anythingforting to say. It is very shitty yeah. My only advice was this¨Cdon¡¯t underestimate Jolene¡¯s ability to cause trouble. The worst might not have evene yet.¡± With that, she carried the shoe box out. I stood there for a moment, then pped my cheeks hard to pull myself together before following her out. In the VIP area, my mother was still acting like a total drama queen, picking on everyone who served her, especially Laura. Everyone kept their heads down and tried to suck it up. Nobody wanted to provoke this horrible woman. They just wanted to get it over with. My mom had just put on an extremely luxurious dress with small diamonds embroidered from the chest down to the hem. It looked incredibly expensive. She twirled in front of the mirror, looking very pleased with herself. ¡°My darling Aria, what do you think of this dress?¡± she called to me, grinning. I frowned at her. ¡°You have no asion to wear this. It¡¯s obviously not for everyday wear.¡± 55 youchers ¡°What are you talking about?¡± she giggled. ¡°Now that you¡¯re Alpha Grayson¡¯s girlfriend, there must be all sorts of dinners, parties, and events for me to go to. A dress like this is perfect for those asions. It shows how noble your mother is. I need to wear something that fits my current status.¡± Her assumption that she would just step into my life was irritating. My voice turned cold. ¡°The mother of the Alpha¡¯s girlfriend isn¡¯t really that noble. And who said you were invited to those events?¡± She stared at me in disbelief. ¡°Well, to start with, I¡¯m your mother-¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing special about being my mom,¡± I snapped irritably. ¡°And don¡¯t assume my life is so fancy and awesome. It¡¯s not as smooth as you think.¡± At that point, I really wished she would go ahead and ask me about my life in Red Stone Pack. Ask me what it¡¯s like dating such a powerful man. If it¡¯s stressful. If I¡¯m even happy. But no. She just snorted unhappily and turned back to study her reflection in the mirror. Focusingpletely on herself. ¡°Well, I like this dress. And I want you to buy it for me,¡± she said, ring at me through the mirror, her tone sharp. ¡°You have everything now, Aria. You wouldn¡¯t turn down your mother such a small wish, would you?¡± 66 My throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton. I took a deep, difficult breath to calm myself down. ¡°¡­ How much is this dress?¡± She rolled her eyes at me. ¡°Does it matter? You can definitely afford it.¡± I turned to Laura. ¡°How much is it really?¡± ¡°It¨Cit¡¯s¡­ 5 million. Since it¡¯s a limited edition.¡± FIVE FUCKING MILLION?! If it were a few thousand, I might have bought it for her just to shut her up, using my own money of course. But 5 million?! Does she even understand how much money that is? That¡¯s enough for an ordinary family to live on for a lifetime! I stood up abruptly. ¡°Forget it! There¡¯s no way I¡¯m spending 5 million on a stupid dress for you. And stop treating my money like it¡¯s yours. I worked hard for what I have. What have you done?¡± The smile vanished from her face, reced by anger. ¡°Worked hard? All you did was let a rich guy fuck you!¡± The room fell dead silent. I stared at her, wide¨Ceyed. God¡­I couldn¡¯t believe any mother would say that to her child. She seemed to realize she¡¯d gone too far and quickly forced a smile. ¡°Look, I didn¡¯t mean it like that¡­ Of course you worked hard. Making an Alpha fall in love with you isn¡¯t that easy. But what¡¯s 5 millionpared 14:33 Mon, Sep 22 to the love for your mother? I really like it and it¡¯s such a small thing for you to do¡­¡± ¡°Take it off,¡± I cut her off coldly. ¡°Or I¡¯ll call the police and have security rip it off you.¡± 53 55 vouchers She gasped sharply. She wanted to argue but I gave her a look that told her it¡¯s definitely not happening. Then her face twisted with anger, humiliation, and resentment. Suddenly, she swirled around and pped Laura hard across the face. ¡°I heard you giggling behind my back! Were youughing at me?!¡± she shrieked. Laura held her red cheek, stunned. ¡°What are you talking about? I didn¡¯t make a sound-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie, you bitch! I heard you. You wereughing at me just a second ago. Well I can¡¯t afford this dress but you think you¡¯re better than me? At least I have a daughter. You slutty whore had fucked so many men that your dirty cunt can¡¯t even bear children!¡± I gasped in shock. That was too much! Laura let out an angry cry and shoved my mother. That gave her the excuse she needed. She lunged at Laura, grabbed her hair, and started pping her wildly. ¡°You fucking hit me? I¡¯m your VIP customer! You should be on your knees, licking my feet¡ª¡± ¡°Stop it!¡± I yelled sharply, rushing forward with the other staff. We managed to pull the two women apart, though my mother managed to kick Laura onest time. I was shaking with anger. ¡°Knock it off!¡± I screamed at her. ¡°You all remember this! I¡¯m going to file aint!¡± she shouted over my shoulder at the staff. ¡°All of you! Terrible service! I¡¯ll have a word with headquarters and get you all fired!¡± ¡°Enough!¡± I shoved her hard. ¡°Go change. Now.¡± The VIP area was a mess. I took out the ck card with a trembling hand and shoved it into the manager. ¡°I¡¯ll pay for any damages. I¡¯m so sorry¡­ really.¡± The manager¡¯s expression was grim, and he avoided taking the card. ¡°You¡¯re a VIP customer. How could I possibly let you pay?¡± I sensed the sarcasm in his tone, and it hurt. Not because of his attitude, but because he saw me as the same as my mother. I didn¡¯t even know how to exin. ¡°Please take it,¡± I pleaded, forcing the card into his hand. Just then, my mother came out of the dressing room in her regr clothes. She tried to yell something else at the staff, but I grabbed her and dragged her out. ¡°Can you believe those people?¡± my mother said indignantly once we were outside. ¡°We¡¯re like gods to them. They should be bowing to us, meeting all of our demands, not acting so rude.¡± 14:33 Mon, Sep 22 53 55 vouchers I stopped in my tracks abruptly and red at her. ¡°No, I can¡¯t believe YOU! God! You are like¡­like the most ill¨Cmannered, unreasonable person I have ever met!¡± Her face changed. She hit me hard with her purse and shrieked, ¡°Are you looking down on your own dear mother? Remember, we¡¯re family. You share my blood! If I¡¯m so horrible then what are you?¡± ¡°Oh, you have no idea how much that pains me to think we are rted¡ª¡± I suddenly stopped, my eyes widening at a corner of fabric sticking out of her bag. ¡°Wait, what is that?¡± The thing tucked away in her bag was shimmering¡­ It was clearly the 5¨Cmillion¨Cdor dress she had just tried on!!! She tried to hide it, but I grabbed her arm and pulled out the dress. My voice was shaky with horror. ¡°You¡­ you stole it?!¡± She snorted and grinned at me. ¡°Just a little punishment for those people. When they find it missingter, don¡¯t you think they¡¯ll be punished by headquarters?¡± I felt dizzy. I couldn¡¯t even breathe. How could she do this? Did she not think about the consequences at all? Did she not think about how this would affect me??? ¡°Come on¡­e back with me,¡± I said, gripping her tightly, my breath unsteady. ¡°You have to return it. NOW!¡± She cried out, frustrated, ¡°Are you crazy? I¡¯m not returning it. They all deserve this. If we just leave quickly enough, nobody will notice and nothing will happen.¡± I felt like I was about to lose my mind: ¡°Have you even thought about how this will affect me? They¡¯ll find out it¡¯s missing, and they¡¯ll connect it to me. It¡¯s already hard enough being Grayson¡¯s girlfriend. There are thousands of people out there who want me gone, who want me dead. A scandal like this will definitely crush me! Do you¡­ do you even care? Why are you making things harder than they already were?!¡± She red at me, her eyes wide. ¡°Don¡¯t talk to your mother like that! Where are your manners?¡± My vision blurred. I thought I might pass out from anger. And to make things worse, I heard noise nearby. I turned and saw a group of security guards rushing toward us. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Wore 133 Chapter 133 Aria¡¯s POV : 40 55 vouchers ¡°We received a report that you stole something,¡± the security guard said sternly. ¡°Ma¡¯am, we need to check your bag.¡± A cold sweat broke out on my back. A crowd had gathered around us, watching curiously. I quickly lowered my head, afraid someone might recognize me. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, actually, it¡¯s¡­¡± I said quietly, trying to exin. But my mother¡¯s sharp voice cut me off. ¡°Are you seriously calling us thieves?! Open your damn eyes! I¡¯m a fucking VIP in this mall! I can have you fired if you keep saying bullshits like that understand?!¡± I couldn¡¯t believe this. What was she saying? She DID steal something! How could she act so self¨Crighteous? The guard was unmoved by her threat. ¡°Ma¡¯am, please open your bag and cooperate with the inspection.¡± ¡°In your dream!¡± My mother swung her bag and hit him hard. ¡°Get the hell out of my way, you damn bastard!¡± I gasped. So did the people around us. The guard¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°Ma¡¯am, if you resist, we will have to use force.¡± ¡°Screw your! Ahhh-!¡± Two guards grabbed her shoulders while another took her purse. She screamed like a crazy person, struggling wildly. ¡°Help! HELP! These men are trying to rape me! Somebody help!¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am, we are just inspecting your bag,¡± the guard said angrily. ¡°Could you please cooperate?¡± But she wouldn¡¯t listen. ¡°You damn rapists! GO TO HELL!¡± I saw people in the crowd whispering and pointing at me. Someone might have already recognized me. I had to step in and stop this nonsense. ¡°Please,¡± I begged the guard quietly. ¡°Can we handle this somewhere private?¡± Yet all I got was a stern reply: ¡°I¡¯m sorry miss. But this woman is clearly unstable. We¡¯re taking her to the police station right now.¡± My mother spat at them. ¡°Screw your fucking police station! How dare you! Do you know who my daughter is? She is-¡± ¡°Mom!¡± I snapped angrily, cutting her off. I turned back to the guard, almost pleading. ¡°Please, I¡¯m begging you, don¡¯t turn this into a scene. I¨CI have my reasons, I can exinter¡­ And I¡¯ll pay for any damages¡­¡± ¡°Miss, if you interfere again, I¡¯ll have you arrested too!¡± the guard ordered. ¡°Take them both!¡± 40 55 vouchers Just like that, my arms were pinned. I could no longer cover my face, and I saw someone in the crowd raising a camera- ¡°Stop!¡± Amanding female voice cut through the chaos. Instantly, all the noise died down. The guards and crowd of people turned, their expressions shifting to shock and respect as they quickly bowed toward the source of the voice. 1 spun around. Behind us stood a tall figure. At first nce, you might think it was a man, but no¨Cshe was the most muscr female warrior I had ever seen. But it wasn¡¯t her the crowd was honoring. They were bowing to thedy standing behind the female warrior. Thedy wore a beige suit and a hat with a veil, so you couldn¡¯t really see her face. She wore no shy jewelry, yet she was the most elegant, perfectly poised, and noble¨Clooking woman I had ever seen. Unlike I¡¯s fake elegance, this woman seemed a born royalty. She was surrounded by several bodyguards and three maids. Clearly, she was someone important. The local Frostpine Pack members seemed to know her. The guard holding me stammered: ¡°L¨CLady Quentina! God we are so sorry to disturb you¡­¡± ¡°Lady Quentina wants to know the cause of this disturbance,¡± the female warrior said sternly. ¡°There was a report that this mother and daughter stole something. We were just trying to get a look into her bag and see if the report is true¡­¡± the guard stuttered. ¡°This scene looks less like an inspection and more like a robbery. I don¡¯t understand why this couldn¡¯t be handled privately instead of causing a public scene,¡± the female warrior said coldly. ¡°Disperse the crowd. Release this poor girl and her mother. We don¡¯t want people thinking Frostpine Pack is full of savages.¡± My mother and I were immediately released. The crowd quickly scattered. Then the female warrior turned back to her mistress, seemingly uninterested in any further conversation with me. And they were ready to leave. ¡°W¨CWait!¡± I blurted out. I didn¡¯t know why I did it, but before I could even think it through, I was hurrying toward thedy. My heart pounded in my chest. A strong intuition urged me on¡­ I knew I had to speak to her¡­ even just one word¡­ 40 55 vouchers N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on ?ovelFind As I came close, the female warrior immediately held out a hand to stop me. ¡°Keep your distance!¡± I stopped abruptly in my tracks, breathing unevenly, ¡°S¨CSorry, I just wanted to¡­ to thank thisdy for helping me back there¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, Torvi. Let her through,¡± said thedy. It was the first time I heard her voice. So soft, so beautiful, like a goddess singing softly in your ear. I swallowed hard and carefully came close, stepping up to her. Through the veil, I couldn¡¯t see her face clearly, but she had incredibly bright, shining eyes. I could just tell she was extremely beautiful. And there¡¯s something strange about her gaze¡­ the way she looked at me¡­.it just made me want to cry. How strange. Just her gaze made me feel like crying. How strange. ¡°What did you want to say, child?¡± she asked gently. I took a deep breath and bowed quickly. ¡°Thank you for helping us. I don¡¯t know what would have happened if you hadn¡¯t stepped in¡­thank you so much¡­¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure it was just a misunderstanding. Those guards were too rough. You don¡¯t look like a child who would steal.¡± Her immediate trust made my nose sting. I felt so wretched I wanted to burst into tears right there. ¡°B¨CBut I did steal¡­ Well, not me, my mother¡­¡± I whispered, totally ashamed. There was a short pause. Thedy seemed surprised, but she quickly smiled, ¡°Well, I¡¯ve always believed a parent¡¯s mistakes shouldn¡¯t reflect on their child. Regardless, you still seem like a very nice girl. And you did try to stop her, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, I did.¡± She smiled at me. ¡°That¡¯s proof enough that you¡¯re a good person. Go on, exin everything to the guards. They¡¯ll let you go.¡± She reached out and gently smoothed a strand of my hair. The gesture felt so natural, as if we¡¯d known each other for a long time. I caught a scent from her, likevender¡­ so familiar and so¡­forting. ¡°Lady Quentina¡­¡± I blurt out again, without thinking. I didn¡¯t even know what I wanted to say. My mind was full of crazy thoughts. I just knew I wanted to be closer to her, to know her better, as if there was a natural pull between us. My God, what is happening?! Wore 134 Aria¡¯s POV : I wanted to tell Lady Quentina how I felt. But the next second, she turned and left. C DL 65 vouchere Her maids, bodyguards, and the female warrior named Torvi followed closely behind her. No matter how much I wanted to, I didn¡¯t get another chance to speak to her. It was only then that I noticed something strange about the way the bodyguards looked at her. ¡­ It didn¡¯t seem like they were protecting her. It was more like they were¡­ watching her. I stood there for a moment, feeling lost and dejected, and then trudged back to my mother¡¯s side. The security guard had already dug out the dress from her bag. Yet my mom still looked defiant, and she refused to apologize. ¡°I have no idea how that got in my bag,¡± she said smugly. ¡°Probably someone put it there to frame me. So stop asking me so many damn questions, you¡¯re giving me a headache!¡± The guard took a deep breath. He was clearly at the end of his patience. ¡°Ma¡¯am, under normal circumstances, we would absolutely take you to the police station. But out of respect for Lady Quentina today, we¡¯re willing to let it go this time.¡± My mother snorted and muttered curses under her breath. I couldn¡¯t hold back my curiosity and asked the guard, ¡°Who is this Lady Quentina? Is she¡­ part of the Frostpine Pack royal family?¡± The guard¡¯s expression immediately became one of reverence. His answer confirmed my guess: ¡°That¡¯s right. Our current Alpha, Thalira Avery, has three female heirs. Lady Quentina is the youngest. 20 years ago, she was already famous throughout the pack for her beauty and intelligence. Everyone in this pack loves her¡­ But for some reason, she¡¯s rarely appeared in public these past years, and only started to show up recently. It was a real honor to see her today.¡± I pressed further. ¡°And what¡¯s the deal with those bodyguards today? They seemed strange. Almost like they were watching her.¡± The guard hesitated, then sighed and shook his head after a moment. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Lady Quentina made a mistake years ago, angering Alpha Thalira, so the Alpha has been punishing her. As for the details of the mistake¡­Well, no one knows for sure, but I¡¯ve heard rumors saying that¡­¡± Before he could finish, my mother let out a loud, impatient click of her tongue. ¡°Are you done gossiping?¡± she snapped. ¡°Can¡¯t you see your mother is standing here in these damn high heels? I can¡¯t feel my toes!¡± The guard immediately stopped talking, shot my mother a look of disgust, and walked away. ¡°You could have at least let him finish,¡± I said to her, annoyed. E55 vouchers She gave me a coldugh. ¡°Why are you so curious about thatdy? She is a toral stranger. And let me tell you something about those royal people¡ªthey are all fake bitches. I bet she¡¯s just nice on the surface but all rotten and bad underneath.¡± My mom was just as snarky as usual. But for some reason, this veryment irritated me more than usual, as if I didn¡¯t like hearing anyone criticize Lady Quentina. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. She helped us today. Or you¡¯d be in police station right now. You can at least show her some gratitude,¡± I said stiffly. ¡°What?¡± she gave me an eyeroll. ¡°Wish your mother was an elegantdy like that? So sorry to disappoint you but just like me and your father, you¡¯re nothing but a little scum born at the bottom of the food chain¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± I snapped. I was so tired of her constant put¨Cdowns and her attempts to control me. After knowing her for only a few days, I already wanted to run away from her. And yet we were bound by blood. ¡°I¡¯m having dinner with Grayson tonight,¡± I said, taking a deep breath and trying to stay calm. ¡°He wants you to join us.¡± My mother¡¯s face immediately lit up. ¡°Really? Dinner with Alpha Grayson? Is it going to be somewhere fancy?¡± ¡°Very fancy,¡± I assured her, then warned, ¡°Please, Mom, don¡¯t cause me any more trouble. Be on your best behavior with him. He won¡¯t be as patient as I am.¡± She immediately linked her arm with mine, giving me a ttering. ¡°Oh, I always know how to behave around Alpha Grayson. I guarantee you he¡¯ll fall in love with me at the end of that dinner. Let¡¯s go now. Hurry up.¡± The dinner was at a three¨CMichelin¨Cstar restaurant. The luxurious decor and elegant atmosphere clearly pleased my mother. The moment we walked in, she pulled out her phone and started taking pictures to post online. I held myself back from stopping her, knowing it would only lead to another argument. When I sat down, Grayson immediately saw that I looked upset. ¡°What happened?¡± he asked. I nced at my mother, who had just excitedly took her seat and was already asking the waiter for the most expensive wine on the menu, then shook my head slightly at him. Even if I had a lot toin about my mother, this wasn¡¯t the right time and ce. I just wanted to get through the meal, go back, rest, and get a break from her. ¡°Mrs. Collins.¡± 20:51 Wed, Sep 24 40 55 vouchers After the waiter left, Grayson addressed my mother in an intimidating voice. She immediately sat up straight and relied with a giggle, ¡°Oh, please, Alpha Grayson, perhaps we can skip these stupid formalities. We¡¯re practically family now. Just call me Jolene, and maybe I can call you by your first name¡­¡± ¡°We are not there yet,¡± my Alpha said coldly. ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re probably wondering why we sought you out. The fact is, Aria is ill, and her recovering requires your help.¡± My mother¡¯s eyes widened. You¡¯d think she¡¯d ask what kind of illness, or how she could help. But no. Her first question was- ¡°Oh? And what¡¯s in it for me?¡± I almost wanted to jump up and threw my knife at her. What¡¯s in it for you? How about saving your daughter¡¯s life?! Does that count as a benefit for you?!! I felt icy cold all over,pletely drained of energy, and could only sit there numbly. Grayson was clearly disgusted by her question too. He frowned. ¡°What benefit do you want? I can fulfill your any request. As long as you save Aria.¡± I looked numbly at the woman across the table, a million thoughts racing through my mind. Readplete version only at F¦ÉndNovel What did she want? Money? A house? A sports car? Jewelry? Bags? Seriously, this woman wasn¡¯t that hard to figure out. Her eyes darted between me and Grayson. Then, a sly smile appeared on her lips, ¡°Oh, I do have something I really want, Alpha Grayson. And I¡¯m afraid only you can fulfill my wish,¡± she said. ¡°Fine. What is it? You got one chance.¡± ¡°I want you to marry my daughter,¡± she said. Wore 135 Chapter 135 Aria¡¯s POV A dead silence fell over the dinner table. I sat there, my mouth slightly open, my mind still processing every word my mom had just said. Did I hear that correctly? The one thing she wanted was¡­.for Grayson to marry me?? Shocked and confused, I quickly nced at Grayson to get a glimpse of his reaction. I expected him to be as shocked as I was. But no. His expression had turned dark, as if he was furious. ¡°You have no right to make that demand,¡± he said coldly. My mother immediately lifted her chin. Her fear of Grayson seemed to have vanished instantly. ¡°Why not? I¡¯m your girlfriend¡¯s mother. How long have you been dating her¨Calmost a year by now? And there¡¯s been zero progress. I won¡¯t let you screwing her around for free anymore that¡¯s for sure.¡± My face flushed. She made me sound like a product she owned, something that she wasn¡¯t willing to let Grayson use for free. I felt ashamed. ¡°Mom!¡± I hissed, hoping she would stop. But of course, my mother wasn¡¯t one to give up easily. ¡°What, Aria? Don¡¯t tell me that¡¯s not what you want. Your mother is just fighting for what¡¯s rightfully yours. You should be on my side.¡± ¡°Just stop messing around my life!¡± I snarled angrily. Then I immediately turned to Grayson, my voice almost pleading, ¡°I had no idea she was going to do this. This wasn¡¯t my idea.¡± I hoped he would meet my eyes, so he¡¯d see I was telling the truth. But no. His cold gaze remained fixed on my mother. He didn¡¯t even look at me. ¡°The answer is no,¡± he said to my mom firmly. ¡°Name something else. Or you get nothing.¡± Fresh chapters posted on Find[?]ovel If my dear mother had any sense, she would immediately change her request to money or luxury bags or clothes or practically anything you could think of in this world. That way at least then she¡¯d walk away with something. But she didn¡¯t. Instead, she acted even more stubborn than Grayson. ¡°No. That¡¯s the only thing I want. Marry her, or I won¡¯t agree to anything you ask of me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking you to save your daughter¡¯s life. That shouldn¡¯t require any damn conditions. You are her mother,¡± Grayson¡¯s voice rumbled with anger. 10:33 Fri, Sep 26 : My mother scoffed, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. ¡°I guess you don¡¯t understand how life works for people like us, Alpha Grayson. To put it simple¨Cit sucks. Marrying you is the only meaningful thing that¡¯s ever going to happen to Aria. If she can¡¯t be your wife, there¡¯s no point in me saving her. She might as well be dead.¡± ¡­WHAT? A bone¨Cchilling cold shot down from the top of my head. So that¡¯s what she thought? That I had no value beyond marrying a powerful man? What kind of mother¡­.says that to her daughter¡¯s face! Grayson was clearly enraged by her shamelessness. ¡°You¡¯re the first person brave enough to ckmail me. Do you know the consequences?¡± ¡°So you¡¯re not going to marry my daughter? No matter what. Is that it?¡± My god! My mother had the nerve to keep pressing. ¡°I already gave you my fucking answer.¡± Grayson¡¯s gaze was terrifying. Mom clenched her teeth, shot me an angry look, then looked back at Grayson. Suddenly, her expression changed. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she cried out pitifully: ¡°-Oh my god, my poor daughter! You let this man screw you for so long and for what? He doesn¡¯t give a damn about you. I¡¯d probably hang myself by this point if I were you!¡± Her voice was so loud, ear¨Csplitting in the quiet, elegant restaurant. Nearly every customer on the floor turned to stare at us. I felt my face steaming. ¡°What the hell are you doing? Shut up mom!¡± But she shot up from her chair instead, holding her napkin and kept crying in a dramatic voice: ¡°What? So I can¡¯t even point out the truth? Look at him. He obviously doesn¡¯t care. Your life is in danger, and he can¡¯t even do this one simple thing? My god, it¡¯s like you are not his girlfriend¨Cmore like a fucking prostitute for free! If this carries on, the whole world willugh at you!¡± I shot up from my chair and grabbed her shoulders. HARD. In that moment, I really wanted to crush her bones. ¡°One more word, and you are no longer my mother,¡± I hissed through teeth clenched so tight I tasted blood in my mouth. She gave me a sly smile in return. ¡°Then who will save your life my darling?¡± ¡°Guards,¡± Grayson¡¯s icy voice cut through. ¡°Remove this woman from the restaurant.¡± The guards stationed nearby immediately moved forward at their Alpha¡¯smand. But my mother snatched up her purse and coat, screeching, ¡°Don¡¯t bother, I can walk out on my own¡­. And shame on you, Grayson Hart. Even the poorest guy pays his whore.¡± 10:33 Fri, Sep 26 She turned sharply and strode out of the restaurant. G So you hadis I stood frozen in ce. I could feel the stares from strangers all around me¨Ccurious, surprised, mocking, disgusted, scornful¡­ Those looks made my whole body burn, as if I were being crucified on the spot. I looked at Grayson almost pleadingly, hoping he would say something, or at least give me a look to show that he understood. But no. His gray eyes were still fixed on my mother¡¯s empty seat. The profile of his handsome face was as cold as a stone sculpture. ¡°I meant it¡­ I really didn¡¯t know she would ask for this¡­¡± I whispered, my heart filled with shame. He cut me off. ¡°You should go after her. Talk to her.¡± Yes, I should. For my own sake, I should talk some sense into my mother and convince her to drop this crazy deal. Even though all I wanted was to stay here with Grayson. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Tears circling in my eyes, I quickly pushed my chair back and hurried after my mother. I was afraid if I was there for one more second, my tears would fall in front of him. I caught up with her on the street outside the restaurant. She had just lit a damn cigarette, looking rather pleased and chill. ¡°What the fucking hell was that?!¡± I snarled, the cold wind chilling the tears on my face. ¡°You¡¯d better have a good exnation, or I swear to the Moon Goddess-¡± ¡°That you¡¯ll personally execute me?¡± she sneered. ¡°Rx. I¡¯m doing you a favor can¡¯t you see? Only your mother would be this good to you.¡± I stared at her in disbelief. ¡°Doing me a favor? You call this a fucking favor?! No, no, you¡¯re deliberately sabotaging my rtionship with Grayson! My god, I can¡¯t believe you actually asked him that! I have no idea what he¡¯s thinking now¡­¡± ¡°What are you so afraid of, Aria?¡± she interrupted with a mocking smile. ¡°Are you afraid that if I force him to marry you, he¡¯ll simply just break up with you?¡± I froze. ¡­Yes, she had named my deepest fear. Because I knew how much Grayson resisted marriage, and I knew how much he hated being manipted. But I refused to let my mom know the truth. After a brief silence, I said stiffly, ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡± 10:33 Fri, Sep 26 A in idiot. Stavi She gave me a big eyeroll. ¡°My god, you¡¯re such an idiot. Staying by his side without a title does you no good. You listen to your mother for this one time. Because soon your face will sag, your pussy won¡¯t be as tight, and you¡¯ll lose all your appeal to him. Only bing his wife is permanent. And this is your best chance. Lose it, and do you think Alpha Grayson will ever marry a low¨Css girl like you ever again?¡± ¡°But you¡¯re gambling with my life!¡± I couldn¡¯t help raising my voice, trembling. ¡°Aren¡¯t you even a little curious about what illness I have? It¡¯s serious. I¡­ I might not have much time left. You¡¯re my mother for fuck¡¯s sake! Aren¡¯t you worried about me at all?¡± She blew smoke in my face. ¡°Believe me. Living in poverty is a hundred times worse than dying.¡± I¡¯d had enough of this. I¡¯d had enough of her! Anger and disappointment filled my chest, making it hard to breathe. I wanted to scream at her, but suddenly I felt like I¡¯d lost all strength. In the end, I did nothing. I just turned and walked back toward the restaurant. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re only disappointed in me,¡± my mother said from behind me, her voiceced with a hint of malice. ¡°Grayson would rather watch you die than marry you. Isn¡¯t he the worst?¡± Fighting the urge to cover my ears, I quickened my pace back into the restaurant. But to my surprise, when I returned to the table, Grayson was gone. A guard told me that the Alpha had urgent business and had returned to the hotel. My heart sank, and I immediately went back to the hotel too. When I walked into our suite, he was just about to leave the room, followed by his assistant and servants carrying half of our luggage. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re leaving? Without me?¡± I felt my throat tighten. His expression and voice were still calm. ¡°Urgent pack business came up, You can stay in your hometown a few more days. There¡¯s no hurry.¡± ¡°But I want to go back with you! Give me half an hour, I can get ready-¡± ¡°I can¡¯t wait,¡± he cut me off tly, leaving no room for argument. I flinched, looking at him almost in panic. After a short pause, he reached out and touched my face. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you at home. We¡¯ll talk when you get back,¡± he said. With that, he tried to step past me. I turned sharply and grabbed his arm, my voice trembling. ¡°Are you punishing me because of what my mother said? I can swear to the Moon Goddess that wasn¡¯t my idea! She¡¯s crazy. You know that¡­¡± ¡°Alpha, the car is here,¡± his assistant cut in. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said. Then he pulled his arm from my grasp and strode away. Wore 136 Chapter 136 Third Person POV Jolene finished her cigarette outside the restaurant and then walked back in. By the time she came back to the table, Aria and Alpha Grayson were already gone. El 55 vouchers The other customers kept giving her strange looks, and the guards seemed to want her to leave with them immediately, but Jolene didn¡¯t give a damn about anyone else¡¯s opinion. She ordered the restaurant¡¯s signature steak and asked for the most expensive wine. She took her sweet time and enjoyed everything leisurely before finally getting up to leave. ¡°Put it on Alpha Grayson¡¯s tab,¡± she told the waiter with a satisfied smile. Then she left the restaurant and ordered the guards to escort her back to the hotel. Just as she was about to get into the car, her phone rang. ncing at the caller ID, she immediately stopped. ¡°Wait for me here,¡± shemanded the guards. She walked aside, nced back to make sure no one could hear her, and then answered the phone in a hushed, respectful tone: ¡°¡­Yes? Lady I?¡± ¡°Hello, Jolene.¡± I¡¯s voice came through the line. ¡°How is everything going? Aria Collins didn¡¯t ask too many questions about your identity, did she?¡± ¡°I can tell she was definitely suspicious at first. But as you instructed, I prepared a fake sample for the DNA test in advance. Once the paternity report came back, she had to believe it,¡± Jolene said. After a pause, she added with a smile, ¡°Besides, the setup with Laura was so brilliant that the little bitch surely has no doubts left after today.¡± ¡°The setup with Laura was my father¡¯s idea. He thought Aria needed a third¨Cparty witness to confirm your identity. And it worked, as expected,¡± I giggled. That¡¯s right. This ¡°Jolene¡± was a woman sent by I to impersonate Aria Collins¡¯s mother. Even the saleswoman Laura, who seemed to have a history with Jolene, was also one of their people. They knew a paternity report alone might notpletely erase Aria¡¯s doubts. So they deliberately set up a person named Laura and led Aria to that store today to put on a show in front of her. So firmly convinced by the horrible rtionship between Laura and Jolene, Aria bought into everything Laura said. Because she thought Laura would have no reason to cover for Jolene. 8:52 Sat, Sep 27 Yet what Aria didn¡¯t expect was that every person was a pawn on the chessboard. And she had beenpletely yed. ¡°Now that your identity is confirmed, you can start doing your job,¡± I said in a satisfactory tone. ¡°Tell me about your progress. How far have you gone?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a very productive day, mydy. Just now during dinner, I asked Grayson Hart to marry Aria. He seemed enraged,¡± Jolene reported. I giggled on the other end of the line, sounding thrilled. ¡°How exactly was he enraged? Tell me everything. ¡°Well, after I said what I wanted, he refused to even make eye contact with that little tramp. Then she almost burst into tears in front of him, and he waspletely indifferent. In the end, Grayson left the restaurant first, leaving her behind.¡± ¡°Great¡­that¡¯s fantastic!¡± Iughed out loud. Then she said through gritted teeth, ¡°Finally¡­ Finally it¡¯s time. for that bitch to get a taste of this. Just wait, Aria Collins¡­..He will only grow to despise you more. And in the end he¡¯ll toss you away like a piece of trash.¡± ¡°So I should carry on with our current n?¡± Jolene asked. ¡°Absolutely,¡± I said without hesitation. ¡°Keep forcing Grayson to marry her. It will only backfire. The harder you press, the more he¡¯ll resent her. He was deeply hurt after our marriage. Right now, marriage and being controlled are the two things he hates most in the world. Let¡¯s y into that.¡± ¡°No problem, mydy. And it seems Grayson Hart suspects that Aria and I nned this marriage thing together.¡± ¡°Good, you can use that too. Make him think Aria is a scheming bitch,¡± I said with a hint of smile. ¡°Keep driving a wedge between them. Split them up for good. You will definitely be rewarded when you seed.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Jolene said respectfully, leaning forward slightly even though I couldn¡¯t see her. ¡°It is my greatest honor to serve you and Alpha dimir. I also wish you the best of luck in the uing trial.¡± ¡°Oh, it will go smoothly for sure,¡± I said giggling. ¡°I will clear my name at the trial ande back to Grayson¡¯s side as his Luna. Nothing can separate us this time.¡± ¡°We all look forward to that day, mydy.¡± After hanging up her phone, Jolene got into the car and returned to the hotel. When she arrived at the top¨Cfloor suite, she ran into Aria standing by the door alone, looking lost. The young girl¡¯s face was still covered in tears. Jolene felt a surge of joy inside, but she put on a concerned look and came closer to her. ¡°What¡¯s going on sweetheart? Why are you standing out here alone? And where is Alpha Grayson?¡± Aria turned her head slowly, giving her a gaze that was both icy and full of disgust. Of course Aria would hate her. Especially after what she did today. But Jolene didn¡¯t care. Her ¡°mother¡± identity was the ultimate safeguard. Aria could no longer push her out of her life. 8:52 Sat, Sep 27 : Ãñ¹ú #65 voucher ¡°He¡¯s gone. Are you happy now?¡± Aria said through clenched teeth, giving a rough wipe of her face. ¡°Gone?¡± Jolene faked a shock look. She peeked into the room. Yeah that¡¯s true. Half of their luggage was gone. God, this strategy was working even better than expected. Jolene pressed down her thrill and put on a surprised face. ¡°He left without you? Why?¡± Aria red at her angrily. ¡°Are you ying dumb now? He left because of everything you said!¡± For more chapters visit f¦É?dn¦Ïvel ¡°You mean he abandoned you here just because I asked him to take responsibility and enter amitted rtionship with you? Fucking hell, it¡¯s so damn cruel. What kind of boyfriend does that? Are you sure he really cares about you?¡± Jolene caught a sh of vulnerability on Aria¡¯s face. She knew she had pressed the right spot again. Everyone has a dark side. Aria Collins¡¯s was the fear that Grayson didn¡¯t love her. And Grayson Hart¡¯s was his hatred of marriage and being controlled. As long as she targeted the right pressure points, she had no doubt she could break this loving couple apart. ¡°You should talk to him. Tell him this is not okay,¡± Jolene continued, giving advice from a ¡°mother¡¯s¡± perspective. ¡°Leaving you behind like this? What¡¯s the difference between this and chasing your girlfriend out of the car on the highway? It¡¯s horrible. Not to mention his cold reaction tonight! I doubt he even loves you at all-¡± ¡°Just shut up, OK?!¡± Aria yelled. She rushed into the room and mmed the door in Jolene¡¯s face. Jolene shrugged and turned back to her own room. She¡¯s aplished enough in one day. There¡¯s still plenty of time for her to finish the big job. She was the best spy trained by the Spike Hill Pack, assigned only the most difficult and dangerous missions. ying a non¨Cexistent person under the nose of that terrifying man Grayson Hart was extremely risky, but she was up to the task. Just wait, Aria Collins. Step by step, I will drag you into a burning hell. Just as Lady I wishes. AD Comment Wore 137 Chapter 137 Aria¡¯s POV I had to fly back to Red Stone Pack alone the next day. 55 vouchers Well¨Cnot exactly alone. My mom came with me. Which was irnoic, because she¡¯s thest person I wanted around right now. She boarded the jet beside me and would not stop gushing about how fancy everything was. In the cabin she had to touch every single surface. Once again I endured our flight attendant¡¯s ¡°is she for real?¡± looks. ¡°Can you just sit down already? We¡¯re about to take off.¡± I finally snapped. Couldn¡¯t help it¨Cshe was giving ¡°first time at a mall¡± energy. She sniffed, dropped into the seat next to me and crossed her legs. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not as lucky as you. I never snagged a rich, powerful guy, so I don¡¯t get to ride private jets. The men I got were cheap bastards, like your father. Learn from your mother, okay? Lock it down with Alpha Grayson. He¡¯s your one shot at a better life¡­¡± I did not need the same lecture on loop. ¡°Will you stop? Grayson already got driven away by your spiel. You want to push me away too?¡± She giggled, grabbed my hand, patted it in an intimate way. ¡°But I know you won¡¯t go anywhere. Because you¡¯re my daughter. Now that we¡¯ve found each other, Mom¡¯s never leaving again.¡± I drew a long breath and stared out the window. Goosebumps crawled up my arms. It took everything in me not to yank my hand back. ¡­She was right about one thing. We were locked together now. And yet being in the same room with her made me feel suffocated. If I¡¯d known my find¨Cmy¨Cmother quest would dump this kind of deadweight on me, I¡¯d have stayed home. ¡°What really worries me is whether Alpha Grayson even cares about you,¡± she went on. ¡°Did he call youst night? Or this morning?¡± I held out for a few seconds, then answered. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Not even one call? And you¡¯re flying home today? Not kidding, but me and my old boyfriend were way clingier than you two. You sure you¡¯re newly in love?¡± Deep breath, and I said, ¡°We used to be VERY clingy¨Cuntil you came along, Mom.¡± ¡°Never lose your caution. Men change their hearts faster than you think,¡± she warned. ¡°While he still loves you, get something for yourself. I know it doesn¡¯t sound ssy or elegant, but that¡¯s how girls at the bottom. make it in this world.¡± I don¡¯t know if it was the words, or the fact that¨Cfor once¨Cshe wasn¡¯t shrieking them, but this time¡­some of her words slipped in. Just a little. Is it possible my mom is trying to help me¡­In her own messed¨Cup wav? 15:34 Sun, Sep 28 : 467 67 55 Vouchers She¡¯s crass, selfish, not presentable. But she is also trying hard to pass on what she knows. And honestly, I¡¯m no society princess myself. Looking down on her felt¡­wrong. ¡°Are you listening, Aria?¡± she pressed. ¡°¡­ Yeah,¡± I sighed. ¡°Let me think about it.¡± Wended not long after. A car waited on the tarmac, along with a small group of servants and guards. When I saw Nova out front, I squealed and rushed to her with my arms open. ¡°OMG! Are you okay now?¡± I hugged her hard. ¡°Your injuries? All healed?¡± She smiled and nodded. ¡°All healed, so don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve been back at work a while. I heard you wereing and wanted to pick you up myself.¡± ¡°You¡¯re an elder now. Can¡¯t have you waste your time on a small thing like this,¡± I teased. ¡°So¡­.did Grayson send you?¡± She hesitated, a flicker of awkwardness crossing her face. ¡°Alpha¡¯s busy today so I haven¡¯t seen him¡­No, it was my idea toe.¡± My heart dipped. She caught my look and rushed to add, ¡°But I¡¯m sure he¡¯s already home waiting.¡± I forced a smile. And that¡¯s when my mother¡¯s voice cut in behind us. ¡°My god! This ce is a goddamn ovenpared to Frostpine! Why didn¡¯t you servants bring iced drinks?¡± She peeled off her coat and threw it at Nova. ¡°You, go get me an iced lemonade. And be smarter next time. Don¡¯t wait for me to tell you what to do, or I¡¯ll have you expelled. Got it?¡± Nova¡¯s face froze. I stared at my mom, stunned. ¡°What the hell are you doing? Nova isn¡¯t a servant!¡± ¡°She isn¡¯t?¡± Mom arched a brow, looked Nova up and down, then snorted. ¡°Well, I couldn¡¯t tell. She looks like a help.¡± ¡°Oh my god, Mom. Apologize. Now!¡± I gritted. ¡°Again?¡± Mom yelped, ring at me. ¡°Why do you always make me apologize? I¡¯m your mother. Without a Luna in this pack, I¡¯m basically the second most important woman here. Right after you! I¡¯m not supposed to bow or say sorry to anyone.¡± ¡°Mom-¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t mind,¡± Nova said smoothly. She offered my mother a professional yet distant smile. ¡°Mrs. Collins, I¡¯m Nova, Alpha Grayson¡¯s assistant. Please get in the car. We¡¯ll take you home.¡± And with that, Nova climbed into the first ck SUV. I moved to follow, but my mom grabbed my arm. ¡°She¡¯s his assistant?¡± she hissed. ¡°Keep an eye on her, darling. I can tell there¡¯s something shifty between that little skank and your man.¡± 15:35 Sun, Sep 28 67 55 vouchers I was literally speechless. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me. Nova¡¯s like the most professional person I¡¯ve ever met. She risked her life to save me. I won¡¯t let you say a single bad word about her.¡± ¡°Damn, you¡¯re such a helpless idiot!¡± Mom snapped. ¡°It¡¯s always the secretary, you hear me? They spend the most time together and share all the topics. And that Nova? She¡¯s got that slutty, ttering face-¡± ¡°Enough.¡± I cut her off, sharp. ¡°You ride in the second car. I¡¯ll see youter. I jumped into the first SUV and mmed the door before she could climb in. ¡°So¡­.that¡¯s your mom,¡± Nova said, pitying, in the rearview mirror. I sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± I never understand why every time I go soft on my mom, she does something to totally set my temper on fire. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I honestly don¡¯t mind. I¡¯m just concerned for you. If she stays, you¡¯ll have to bring her into your social circle, right? Imagine what thosedies will say.¡± I groaned. God help me. I could already see my mother making a scene, and me taking all the k. All the mouth- dropping, gasping, and exmation. ¡°You¡¯re an elder. Can you expel my mom?¡± I pleaded. Novaughed. ¡°Sadly, no. But want some good news?¡± ¡°By all means, please.¡± Between my mom, Grayson, and my own illness, I couldn¡¯t remember thest good thing that happened. ¡°The pre¨Ctrial prep is going really well,¡± Nova told me. ¡°We¡¯ve collected solid evidence on I. They all shows she¡¯s malicious and calcting. Remember Barbara Stansen?¡± ¡°Yeah. The supermodel.¡± That woman imed she was Grayson¡¯s real girlfriend and stalked him until he had her thrown into a mental facility. ¡°Turns out Barbara wasn¡¯t really crazy. Her im that she was the Alpha¡¯s true love? Not delusion. Because I fed her all those fantasies.¡± ¡°What?!¡± I gasped. ¡°I know, hard to imagine right? Apparently I sought her out and befriended her so Barbara would leak all kinds of info about the Alpha. And it wasn¡¯t the first time¨CI¡¯s contacted all his exes over the years. That¡¯s how she kept tabs on him after their divorce.¡± A chill slid down my spine. This isn¡¯t ¡®petty ex¡® anymore. It¡¯s terrifying. Scary. She¡¯s the lunatic. She¡¯s the one who should be in a psych ward. A ¡°We have to stop her. Not just for me. For all her victims,¡± I said through my teeth. ¡°Couldn¡¯t agree more. With the evidence we have, we¡¯ll make a strong case in court,¡± she assured me. When we pulled up to the mansion, I spotted familiar Red Stone guards who worked for Grayson at the door. He was back! My heart leapt¨Cmaybe, like Nova said, he¡¯de home early to wait for me. 1 I didn¡¯t even wait for the car to stop. I jumped out and hurried inside. He was there, sitting on the sofa, elbows on his knees, grim. When I came in, he lifted his head. There¡¯s no expression on his gorgeous face. The whole room felt¡­grim too. Guards lined the walls. It didn¡¯t look like they were throwing me a wee- home party. My smile faltered. ¡°W¨CWhat¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s your mother?¡± he asked. Right on cue, my mom stepped into the foyer. Without even a word from Grayson, guards swarmed her, wrenched her arms back, and forced her to her knees. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± she shrieked, struggling. ¡°I¡¯m Aria¡¯s mother! How dare you!¡± I stared at this, also stunned. ¡°Grayson, what the hell?¡± He stood and walked to her, towering over her. The chandelier cut harsh shadows across his face. In that moment, he looked like a god who decides every being¡¯s life and death. The rightful source is f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? ¡°If you think you have any control over me, you¡¯re wrong,¡± he said to my mother, ice¨Ccold. ¡°Tell me how you restraint Aria¡¯s wolf years ago, and why you did it. Now.¡± My mother trembled, teeth clenched, but she held her ground. ¡°I¡ªI told you my terms. Promise me, and I¡¯ll tell you¨CAHHHH!¡± She screamed as Grayson closed a hand around her throat and lifted her off the floor. Wolf ws burst from his palm, slicing her skin. Blood gushed out bright. ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking nicely, was I?¡± His gray eyes stayed cold on her twisted face. ¡°You have onest chance before I rip your throat apart.¡± Wore 138 Chapter 138 Aria¡¯s POV I couldn¡¯t stop myself from holding my breath, terror crawling up my chest. 65 voucher Because I had no doubt¨Cevery word Grayson spoke, he meant it. He would kill my mother without a blink of an eye. And my mom¡¯s face went pale with shock. Her breaths were shallow, as though even touching those sharp wolf ws would shatter her. ¡°Kill¡­ kill me, and no one will be able to save Aria¡­¡± she breathed. ¡°I¡¯ll find a way,¡± Grayson hissed. ¡°Careful. You don¡¯t have as much leverage as you think.¡± For a long, awful moment, silence pressed down on the hall. It stretched endlessly, but I knew his patience wouldn¡¯tst. Just as his hand tightened toward her throat, my mom suddenly screamed: ¡°ARIA! Aren¡¯t you going to do something about this?¡± I froze. My legs felt like they weighed a thousand pounds, but somehow I forced myself a step forward. Yet before I could open my mouth, Grayson¡¯s icy voice cut through me: ¡°Stay out of this, Aria.¡± ¡°Stay out of this?!¡± my mom shrieked, breath hitching fast and shallow. ¡°He¡¯s asking you to stand aside while he brutally butchers your own mother! Don¡¯t listen to him, Aria!¡± Air snagged in my lungs as I said to my mother, ¡°You just need to answer his question, Mom¡­ then you¡¯ll be fine¡ª¡± ¡°How much more power are you willing to hand this man? He has no respect for your family. Look at him- making your mother kneel on the floor in front of him! How can you possibly think he has any feelings for you? He doesn¡¯t give a damn-¡± ¡°SHUT UP!¡± Grayson roared, yanking her higher. ¡°You have no right. No right to question what we are to each other!¡± Her face turned ashen gray. Her body trembled violently, her eyes rolling back¨Cif I didn¡¯t step in, she was going to die! ¡°Grayson¨CNO!¡± My body moved before my brain did. In the next breath I was right in front of him, grabbing his hand. He turned his re on me, voice like shards of ice. ¡°Let go.¡± For a second, I almost did. I almost let the woman I never truly cared for die. But after a pause, I whispered, She¡¯s my mother.¡± 11:53 Mon, Sep 29 78 B5 vouchers ¡°A woman who never raised you, who uses your life as a bargaining chip. She doesn¡¯t deserve that title.¡± His tone was t, merciless. ¡°Plus we¡¯ve agreed already. That we¡¯re each other¡¯s family. She doesn¡¯t matter.¡± My mom spat at him. ¡°Family? What family? You won¡¯t even marry her. You won¡¯t take care of her for life. And you call yourself her fucking family? Stop kidding me!¡± ¡°I would take care of her forever. But it¡¯s a totally different thing from marriage.¡± His voice snapped sharply. ¡°What¡¯s the difference? If a man loves his woman, hemits. He lets the world know she¡¯s his in a bond thew recognizes. Only then could I trust my daughter in your hands. But right now you give nothing but your pretty words! How can I ever believe you?!¡± My chest tightened, breath choking me. Once that had been my deepest wound¨Cthe way Grayson refused to define us. He¡¯d called me his mistress and it had burned me alive. But when he said he loved me, when he announced to the world I was his girlfriend, I¡¯d forced myself to stop caring. But my mom¡¯s words forced me to realize something: That I had never truly let it go. The truth was, I wanted this rtionship to go somewhere someday. No matter how long it took. But for Grayson, this was as far as it would ever go. I didn¡¯t know how to react at this moment. Didn¡¯t know how to put words to the storm in me. All I could do was cling tighter to his sleeve and repeat to him in a hushed voice: ¡°¡­Don¡¯t do this.¡± His cold eyes darkened with fury. Like I had turned an iceberg into burningva. ¡°You¡¯re choosing her? A woman you barely even know? That¡¯s the side you are going to take?¡± ¡°We¡¯re blood¡­¡± My voice cracked. ¡°Bullshit. A week ago you didn¡¯t even know your blood was alive.¡± The jab hit me like a knife. He knew my mother¡¯s abandonment was the deepest cut in me, and he still used it to mock me. Was he serious?! ¡°Then what about you? How broken must things be between you and your blood for you not to understand why a daughter must save her own mother?!¡± I blurted. The hall fell into a ringing silence. Like everyone forgot how to breathe, wishing they could vanish into thin air. And I froze too. I reyed everything I just said in horror and¨CFuck. That¡¯s bad. ¡°No Grayson, that¡¯s not what I meant-¡± 11:53 Mon, Sep 29 78 55 vouchers ¡°Very well then.¡± His voice was abrupt. He let go of her. My mom crumpled to the ground like a ragdoll, clutching her bleeding throat, coughing and gasping. His face remained stone, but the look in his eyes stabbed me harder than any de. ¡°Remember. This was your choice.¡± Then he turned and walked upstairs. I stood rooted, watching his back disappear to the second floor. No one else in the living room made a sound. But I could just feel the soldiers¡® stares burn into me¨Cjudging, furious. To them, I must look like a very ungrateful bitch who had just betrayed the Alpha they worshiped. ¡°Aria, you should probably go after him,¡± Nova whispered behind me. ¡°And leave your mother here to die?¡± my mom shrieked, grabbing my clothes. ¡°Look at me. I¡¯m about to bleed out. And your man did this to me!¡± ¡°You look perfectly fine, Mrs. Collins. If you really are dying, I¡¯ll make sure you see a doctor before it happens,¡± Nova said politely, with just a trace of bite. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?! This is family business so stay out of this you little whore-¡± I didn¡¯t let her finish. And I did what felt right. I yanked free of my mother¡¯s grasp and bolted up the stairs. I caught him just outside his study door. ¡°G¨CGrayson¡­ wait!¡± He could¡¯ve mmed the door in my face. But luckily he stopped, turning to look at me. The look on his face was terrifying. I stopped in front of him, breathless, scrambling for words. Should I apologize first? Or should I begin with the insecurity I felt? But he spoke first. ¡°Did you n this with her?¡± I didn¡¯t get it at first. I just blinked, lost. ¡°n¡­n what?¡± ¡°The marriage thing. Using your illness as leverage to force me into it. Did you n this with your mother?¡± For original chapters go to ?ovelFind It felt like every drop of blood in my veins had frozen into ice. I couldn¡¯t move, couldn¡¯t even think. I could only stare at him in pure shock and horror. Only after tongue came back to life did I choke out: my numb ¡°What the¡­ Are you serious? You think¡­..I worked with my mom? You actually think that?!¡± His gaze was merciless, bearing down on me. ¡°I can¡¯t think of any other exnation. You are very eager to marry me, nevertheless.¡± 11:53 Mon, Sep 29 ¡°But I still have a shred of fucking self¨Crespect!¡± I screamed. My fury burst out like a volcano. And I kept yelling: 200 vouchers ¡°Yes! I want to marry you. A worthlessmoner wanting a man like you¨Cyou must think it¡¯s pretty fucking pathetic, huh? So pathetic I¡¯d scheme with a mother I just met to trap you¡­But no, Grayson, my love hasn¡¯t sunk that low. If marrying me feels impossible for you, then just stop trying to save me! Let me die with some damn dignity!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± He roared and seized my arm, grip bruising. ¡°I won¡¯t let anything happen to you. Don¡¯t you ever say that again!¡± ¡°And what are you going to do instead? Keep torturing my mother until she breaks? Use cruelty until she caves?¡± I bit out. ¡°It¡¯s the simplest way. You don¡¯t even like her much, Aria. I can tell you regret letting her back into your life. So why can¡¯t you let me take care of two problems at once-¡± ¡°Because I want a mother!¡± I shouted through tears, choking. ¡°Maybe the 25¨Cyear¨Cold Aria doesn¡¯t need a mother, but the 5¨Cyear¨Cold Aria sure as hell does! I owe it to that little girl! I can¡¯t watch her die, especially not in your hands¡­. Because if that happens, I¡¯ll never forgive you again!¡± With that, I ripped my arm out of his grip and stormed off. And this time, he didn¡¯t stop me. I don¡¯t know how long I cried that night before sleep finally dragged me under. I definitely wasn¡¯t surprised when I woke up with swollen eyes the next morning. And when I saw I had an appointment with Malik today, I considered skipping. But on a second thought, feigning my condition to my own doctor would be stupid, so I forced myself to go. The second I stepped inside, Malik gasped. ¡°God, you look awful!¡± Blunt honesty. That¡¯s the one thing I used to like about him. But today, I wanted to punch him. ¡°Yeah, thanks for pointing it out,¡± I muttered, slumping beside him. He started running every test with a grave expression. And when finished, he scolded me like I hadmitted a serious crime: ¡°Your condition is deteriorating. Do you know how long a werewolf can survive without any connection to her wolf?¡± A shiver ran through me. ¡°I don¡¯t know. How long?¡± ¡°You have less than a month,¡± he said tly. ¡°After that, you¡¯ll either drop dead at any second or turn into a wolfless freak. Depends on which fate the Moon Goddess prefers for you.¡± fless freak. Depe 11:53 Mon, Sep 29 Cold dread swallowed me. If it were the second¡­ I¡¯d rather die. 78 55 vouchers ¡°What happened? I heard you found your mother. I thought you¡¯de back with answers. Why is it worse?¡± he asked. ¡°She won¡¯t tell us how she bound my wolf,¡± I whispered. His anger spiked. ¡°Then why not force it out of her? Isn¡¯t Alpha Grayson supposed to be very resourceful¡ª¡± ¡°She¡¯s my mom, Malik.¡± I cut him off, exhausted. He shut his mouth, looking awkward, like he¡¯d only just realized our rtionship. After a pause, he muttered, ¡°Sorry.¡± I shook my head in silence. And suddenly I realized something: Between my mother¡¯s cunning and Grayson¡¯s coldness, it seemed to be his coldness I hated more. Because to him, trading marriage for my life was very not worth it. Even though once upon a time, he¡¯d given marriage away to I so damn easily. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Wore 139 Chapter 139 Aria¡¯s POV I had already decided. The first thing I¡¯d do after my mom came back was take her to see Grandma at the nursing home. After all, Grandma had held onto her resentment for years because of Mom¡¯s sudden disappearance. Now that she was finally back, Grandma deserved to know. I didn¡¯t tell Mom where we were going. So when she got in the car, she thought we were heading out shopping. She was all smiles and practically skipping. But the second the car stopped in front of the nursing home, her face changed. ¡°Where the hell is this?¡± she snapped. ¡°Grandma¡¯s nursing home. She¡¯s been missing you all this time. Don¡¯t you want to see her?¡± Honestly, it was strange. Mom hadn¡¯t even asked about Grandma once since she came back. It¡¯s cold. Even for her. ¡°No, I do not want to see her. Plus I thought we were going shopping,¡± she said, bristling. I let out a sharp breath, starting to wonder if saving her from Grayson had been a huge mistake. ¡°Is shopping for luxury stuffs all you ever care about? She¡¯s your mother. How can you not care at all? What the hell is wrong with you?¡± She froze, then forced out a smile. ¡°Well, that¡¯s because¡­ I know you¡¯re taking good care of her. She¡¯s in good hands. I don¡¯t even need to go inside to know she¡¯s fine. And honestly, she probably won¡¯t be happy to see me.¡± That much was true. Grandma would be livid. ¡°But you¡¯re still going in,¡± I said tly. Then I grabbed her wrist and dragged her into the home. I had already told them we wereing, so May was there with Grandma, waiting in the activity room. When we walked in, May lit up and waved at me. Then she gently tapped Grandma¡¯s shoulder, reminding her, ¡°Hey, Grandma¡­look who¡¯s here.¡± Mom trailed behind me, moving slowly. Her eyes locked on Grandma, wary, almost¡­ afraid. ¡°What are you waiting for? Go on. Don¡¯t you recognize your own mother?¡± I urged and gave her a nudge. She swallowed hard and shuffled forward, crouching in front of Grandma¡¯s wheelchair. ¡°Hi, Mom¡­ do you remember me?¡± she asked with a nervous smile. Grandma¡¯s cloudy eyes focused on her face. Mom stiffened, actually holding her breath. I don¡¯t get it. It seemed she¡¯s sweating a little. Was she scared Grandma would still hate her? 12:49 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 189 ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find[?]ovel Suddenly, Grandma mmed a hand down on the armrest of her chair. Her raspy voice cut the air like a de: You¡­ you are not my daughter!¡± WHAT?! I whipped my head toward my mom. Her face had gone pale. ¹ú My pulse shot up. I crouched beside Grandma and grabbed her hand. ¡°Grandma, what do you mean she¡¯s not your daughter?¡± ¡°This old woman¡¯s obviously insane! She doesn¡¯t even know what she¡¯s saying!¡± Mom shouted. ¡°Hey! Are you serious right now? She¡¯s your mother!¡± May said, furious. ¡°I¡¯m just being honest. Look at her¨Cshe can barely keep her eyes open. You really think she can recognize me?¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± I snapped at her, and turned back to Grandma. I held her fragile hand tighter and asked louder one more time, ¡°Grandma, is she¡­ is she your daughter, Jolene?¡± For a second, I so hoped Grandma was telling the truth¨Cthat Mom wasn¡¯t hers. Maybe all this pain wasn¡¯t really mine to bear. Grandma¡¯s hand trembled. After a long silence, her breathing grew rough: ¡°No¡­ she¡¯s not my daughter. Because¡­Because I don¡¯t have a daughter like this! Selfish¡­ heartless¡­ abandoning her family¡­ Jolene, how could you? Aria was only five years old. She needed you-¡± I let go of her hand, my little spark of hopepletely crushed. I¡¯d misunderstood. Grandma wasn¡¯t denying mom¡¯s identity. She was still hating her. That¡¯s all. And honestly, everything she said just now¨Cselfish, heartless, and cold¨Cthey all fit the woman in front of me too well. Mom clearly rxed. She smoothed her hair and scoffed. ¡°Seriously? She¡¯s ming me now? It¡¯s not like she has been too much of a help to you either. Just look at this fancy nursing home. You must be paying a shit load for this. I¡¯m telling you this old woman¡¯s a burden. If you ask me, you should check her out already and put that money toward something more meaningful-¡± ¡°SHUT UP!¡± I shot to my feet, zing with fury. ¡°How dare you say that? All those years you were gone¡­Grandma¡¯s the one who worked two shifts a day to bring me up. And that was supposed to be your fucking job! She sacrificed her health, and that¡¯s why she¡¯s like this now. And you feel no guilt? Do you even have a heart?¡± She curled her lip. ¡°I already said I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± 12:49 Tue, Sep 30 ¡°One apology isn¡¯t enough. You owe us too much¡± 200 She rolled her eyes, impatient. ¡°Yeah, yeah, yeah. I owe you. I¡¯m selfish. I¡¯m heartless. Fine. But do you have to repeat it in my car every single day? It¡¯s getting very old.¡± ¡°Because you never take it to heart- ¡°I¡¯m going shopping.¡± she cut me off. ¡°When you figure out how to talk to your own mother more properly, thene find me.¡± And with that, she spun on her heel, strutting out in her high heels. ¡°Wow,¡± May muttered dramatically. ¡°I know.¡± I slumped into a chair, exhausted. ¡°Wee to my family.¡± ¡°Forgive me, but this is nothing like the woman you described,¡± she said, sitting beside me. ¡°Where¡¯s the gentle and beautiful goddess who sang songs to you? Why did you get this hysterical witch instead?¡± ¡°I¡¯m wondering the same thing,¡± I muttered. ¡°Maybe the years changed her. Or maybe¡­.the five¨Cyear¨Cold me was just insane.¡± She patted my shoulder. ¡°Forget her. How¡¯s your treatment going?¡± I told her how Mom refused to cooperate, thenughed bitterly. ¡°Just wait. I¡¯ll probably be the first person to die in the battle between my blood family and my lover.¡± ¡°You have to ask Grayson for help,¡± May said firmly. ¡°Ask him what? To marry me? I¡¯m not that desperate yet.¡± My voice came out sharp. ¡°Not necessarily marriage. But Alpha Grayson might be the only one who can help you right now. Counting on that cold¨Cblooded woman? Impossible. You need to talk to him. Make him understand you two are on the same side.¡± I let out a frustrated sigh. I knew she was right. Fixing things with Grayson was the smart move. This was no time to turn him into an enemy. But still¡­ begging him to save my life made me feel even more pathetic. ¡°¡­ Yeah you¡¯re right. I¡¯ll talk to him,¡± I murmured. She squeezed my hand. ¡°I know you¡¯re frustrated. That¡¯s probably the downside of dating a man with power and money. You can¡¯t never have the upper hand. But hey- you can¡¯t have it all, right?¡± I just shook my head, too heavy¨Chearted to reply. After leaving the nursing home, I hesitated for a long time, but finally decided to follow May¡¯s advice and look for Grayson. Nova told me he was at the packhouse, in a meeting with the elders, so I went there to wait. 12:49 Tue, Sep 30 As my car pulled up to the entrance, I still didn¡¯t know what to say. Apologize? Give him permission to torture my mother for answers? Neither felt right. But what else was there for us to talk about? What could I possibly do to avoid turning this conversation into another fight? Before I found the answer, I spotted the packhouse gates were swarmed with reporters. shbulbs went off nonstop, the air filled with shouting. Even our car got stuck in the mess. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Some kind of event today?¡± I asked. ¡°I don¡¯t recall anything on the schedule. Let me check,¡± my driver said. He made a call inside, then a few minutester turned back to me with a very strange look. ¡°L¨CLady Aria¡­¡± he stammered. ¡°The person in front¡­ might be your mother.¡± What? I thought she went shopping. What the hell is she doing here?! The driver¡¯s awkward face told me it was bad. Really bad. I didn¡¯t wait for an exnation. I jumped out of the car and shoved my way through the crowd. Reporters packed around threeyers deep. I fought my way forward. And just as I broke through to the center, I heard mom¡¯s signature sharp voice cutting through the chaos: ¡°That¡¯s right, you heard me! I¡¯m here to tell you the truth, though it¡¯s hard for you to ept¡­ Your beloved Alpha is a fucking rapist! He¡¯s been raping my dear daughter, Aria Collins!¡± B AD Comment Send gift Wore 140 Chapter 140 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°MOM!!!¡± : 53 10 vouchers I screamed, shoving my way through the crowd and grabbing her arm, rage burning through my veins like moltenva. ¡°What the hell are you saying? SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!¡± She sneered at me. ¡°You really are a pathetic fool. How long are you going to keep protecting that rapist?¡± ¡°What rapist?!¡± I shouted back. ¡°Grayson is my boyfriend! God, you¡¯re doing it again¨Cyou¡¯re ruining my life!¡± ¡°Yeah, everyone in the pack knows Alpha Grayson and Ms. Collins are together,¡± someone in the crowd muttered. ¡°You¡¯d better be careful. using a noble is already a serious crime. using an Alpha is basically suicide.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not afraid!¡± my mom lifted her chin, her voice sharp and fearless. She acted like a martyr. ¡°As long as I can protect my daughter, as long as I can get Aria what she deserves, I don¡¯t care who I¡¯m up against. Grayson Hart is a monster. He preyed on my innocent daughter and raped her-¡± ¡°Stop. STOP!¡± I screamed until my throat tore. Every filthy word against Grayson felt like a knife stabbing into my chest. He didn¡¯t deserve this. Not after everything he¡¯d done for me. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her!¡± I shouted over the chaos, forcing my voice louder than hers. ¡°It¡¯s all lies! Grayson and I are fine. We¡¯re two adults, and what we have is consensual. Nothing my mother says is true.¡± ¡°Then why won¡¯t he marry you?¡± my mom shot back, her voice like ss cutting through the air. ¡°Everyone in this pack is waiting for him to marry. And yet you¡¯re right there, by his side, and still he turns you down. Why?¡± The shbulbs went insane. The reporters leaned in closer with their cameras. I could just smell their hunger for scandal, like flies drawn to blood. Mom knew exactly what she was doing¨Cdangling her usations like bait. She knew the raping thing was ridiculous and nobody was going to believe it. Yet she still said it. Because she wanted to stir chaos, to get more people¡¯s attention. She didn¡¯t give a fuck about how much those attentions would cost me. I yanked her up from the ground, shaking, ring into her eyes. My whole body was trembling. ¡°I¡¯m not asking much from you,¡± I said, my voice breaking. ¡°I don¡¯t even ask you to be kind or loving. All I want¡­ is for you to stand aside and stop wrecking my life. And yet even that¡¯s too hard for you! Why the fuck do you have to destroy everything I have?!¡± She raised one perfect brow. Her beauty twisted into something venomous. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid, Aria. One day you¡¯ll thank me.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t! Stop this madness now, or I¡¯ll hand you over to Grayson myself. And you know what he¡¯ll do to you.¡± $3 to vouchers Sheughed, like she could see right through my weakness. ¡°Would you really? Aria, I¡¯m your mother¡± In that moment, my hatred for her outweighed every scrap of longing for family. I was just about to tell her I would when she suddenly shrieked, clutching her chest as she was hurled several feet back. She dropped, blood spraying from her mouth. One of Grayson¡¯s guards appeared beside me. I think his name is Kevin. His face was like carved stone. He stalked forward, pinned my mother down, and ground her into the floor. I spun around. Arge crowd of people was standing in front of the packhouse. There was the entire council of elders, including Nova, who was giving me worried looks. At the very front stood Grayson. He wore a te¨Cgray suit that sharpened the steel of his eyes, the perfect cut sculpting his tall, powerful frame. He was gorgeous, breathtaking,manding. Untouchable. And yet I couldn¡¯t even bring myself to look at him. Not with the shame burning inside of me. The world went silent. Not a single soul dared to breathe. And then Grayson¡¯s voice cut through the air like a de: ¡°Kevin.¡± ¡°Yes, Alpha.¡± The guard twisted my mother¡¯s arm with brutal force. A sickening crack split the silence, followed by her piercing scream. Her left arm was broken. Gasps rippled through the crowd as I pped a hand over my mouth. But Kevin didn¡¯t just stop there. He snapped her other arm. Her cries became raw and animalistic, her face drenched in cold sweat. Then he let her fall, putting one foot on her right leg, and looked to Grayson for more instructions. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you to stop.¡± Grayson said freezingly. Kevin stomped down. Another crack. Her eyes rolled back. She had lost all strength to scream. The punishment didn¡¯t stop until every one of her limbs was shattered. By then, the entire crowd was hushed in horror. And I was shaking so violently I could barely breathe. The words to stop this torture hovered on my tongue, but I couldn¡¯t force them out. Because I felt his eyes on me. Watching me. Testing me. And my instincts screamed at me: Don¡¯t intervene. It¡¯d only make it worse. ¡°I¡¯m not a patient man. Everyone knows that.¡± 13:38 Wed, Oct 1 : $53 10 vouchers Grayson stood over my mom, gazing down at her broken body like she was nothing more than filth. ¡°The only reason you¡¯re still breathing is because Aria begged for you. But never mistake that for me letting a shameless bitch like you walk over me.¡± My momy there, wheezing. After a long pause, she forced out a raspyugh: ¡°You think torture will shut me up? Nay. Not going to happen. All this¡­ it only proves is what a cold, heartless bastard you are!¡± ¡°Still so defiant,¡± Grayson sneered. ¡°Makes me wonder if all that cowardice you showed before was just an act.¡± ¡°An act? You¡¯ve never been a parent. You don¡¯t know what a mother will do for her child. For Aria¡­ for her happiness¡­ You could y me alive and I still wouldn¡¯t stop.¡± Every eye in the crowd turned to me, their expressions tangled¨Cpity, suspicion, disgust. And I felt like I was burning alive. Grayson¡¯s voice thundered with fury. ¡°If you really care about her happiness, then you should agree to save her life with me.¡± ¡°Not without a condition!¡± she rasped. ¡°You marry her. Make her your Luna first!¡± Fresh chapters posted on Find_Novel(. There it was. Only a few people knew about my mom¡¯s condition before. And now, it¡¯s out in the open. For every elder, every reporter, every soldier to hear. As I had expected, the reaction was explosive. It¡¯s like everyone started shouting at the same time. ¡°FUCKING BULLSHIT!¡± one elder snarled. ¡°Threaten our Alpha to marry her with her life? Who do you think you are?! Her pathetic life isn¡¯t worth that much!¡± ¡°Our Alpha deserves a perfect Luna. He won¡¯t be ckmailed into marrying Aria Collins.¡± ¡°She wasn¡¯t worthy of our Alpha before! And certainly not now! A stripper¡¯s daughter as our Luna? Never going to happen!¡± My mother writhed on the ground, moving like a pathetic worm. I was actually amazed by how loud her voice still was: ¡°So your Alpha gets to fuck my daughter for free? No. If he won¡¯t marry her, then he owes us at least ten billion!¡± What the hell??? I was so shocked that I nearly fainted. The following uproar was deafening. Cameras shed like lightning. To think that every word of conversation was being recorded now, possibly being screamed alive, made me want to disappear into thin air. 13:38 Wed, Oct 1. lu valicheres ¡°Ten billion?!¡± an elder barked. ¡°So what¨Cyou¡¯re pimping your own daughter now? And what makes her worth ten billion? She¡¯s not worth ten dors to me!¡± ¡°She¡¯s beautiful,¡± my mom screamed. ¡°Look at her face, her body¨Cjust look at her! She¡¯s standing right there!¡± Cameras swung to me. I staggered back, shaking, whispering, ¡°Stop¡­ please stop¡­.¡± But nobody heard my quiet pleading. Nobody stopped. My mom carried on, ¡°She¡¯s pure, she¡¯s kind, and she¡¯s young. Very young! She was still a virgin when she got with your Alpha! Virginse at a higher price!¡± ¡°That¡¯s bullshit,¡± an elder spat. ¡°Everyone knows Jace Carter popped her virginity long before she met the Alpha. She¡¯s damaged goods.¡± No. No, no, no. I couldn¡¯t take this. They were tearing me apart right in front of me, like I didn¡¯t even exist. My body, my face, my virginity. While the whole world watched. I felt like I¡¯d been stripped naked, paraded through the city. I wanted to scream. To run. But I couldn¡¯t move. I could only stand there, mortified, and let shame swallow me whole¡­ ¡°ENOUGH!¡± Grayson suddenly roared. The crowd fell silent immediately. Then a pair of arms steadied me. I turned slowly and saw Nova. She gave me a firm nod, then red at the elders. ¡°Shame on you!¡± She snapped. ¡°Not a single one of you has shown this woman the respect she deserves.¡± The elders exchanged unconvinced looks. Then one muttered, ¡°Her mom¡¯s the one started it¡ª¡± ¡°Even so. This is a personal matter between Alpha and Aria. None of you gets toment on it.¡± ¡°Kevin.¡± Grayson¡¯s voice was lethal. ¡°Destroy every camera. Make sure no footage or audio leaves here.¡± ¡°Yes, Alpha.¡± Tears welled up in my eyes. Even now, he was still protecting me. ¡°Wait. We¡¯re not done negotiating here!¡± my mother cried. ¡°Marriage or ten billion, you still haven¡¯t- UGHHH!¡± Grayson¡¯s boot pressed into her throat, cutting her voice off in an instant. I gasped, staring at them in horror, knowing that all it would take was the smallest push and she¡¯d be gone 13:38 Wed, Oct 1 forever. : 420 ¡°I don¡¯t know who gave you the idea that this was a negotiation,¡± he said coldly, watching her writhe. ¡°But let me just say it onest time: I will never marry. ESPECIALLY not to your daughter.¡± AD Comment Send gift No Ads Wore 141 Aria¡¯s POV : $1 65 vouchers I stared at him, his words echoing in my head on a cruel loop: I will never marry. ESPECIALLY not your daughter. Especially not me. Newest update provided by F¦Énd£Îovel My mom picked up on it immediately. Her voice instantly turned sharp and mocking: ¡°You heard him, Aria. He¡¯d rather marry anyone else in the world than you. Doesn¡¯t that hurt? And you are fine with that?¡± My fists clenched tight at my sides, my body trembling. This was humiliationyered on humiliation. Even worse than anything the elders or reporters had just said. But I knew if I let it show now, I¡¯d only make it worse. So I bit my lip until I tasted blood, forcing myself to stay still even while I was breaking inside. ¡°Take her down and interrogate her. I want an answer before nightfall,¡± Grayson said coldly. ¡°Aria! ARIA!¡± my mom screamed as the guards dragged her up by the arms. ¡°Are you really going to let him do this to me? He¡¯s going to kill me¨DARIA!¡± I shut my eyes. Didn¡¯t move. Didn¡¯t answer. I forced myself to stand there while her shrieks echoed down the way, every part of me screaming to run after her¡ªbut I didn¡¯t. If Grayson was determined to punish somebody, nobody could stop him. Not even me. ¡°Clear the crowd,¡± Grayson ordered next. ¡°From now on, anyone loitering in front of my packhouse gets arrested.¡± ¡°Yes, Alpha.¡± The soldiers surged into the reporters, shoving them back and scattering them like frightened birds. Grayson turned on his heel and strode past the elders into the packhouse without a second nce. I clenched my fists, hesitated, then forced myself to follow. He moved fast. It took all I had to catch up with him in a long, empty hallway. ¡°Grayson! Wait!¡± He spun around, his gray eyes zing with fury. What the hell did he have to be angry about? Shouldn¡¯t I be the one losing it? ¡°What do you mean, ¡®especially not your daughter¡®?¡± The words slipped out before I could stop them. I couldn¡¯t hold it back. If I didn¡¯t ask, it would kill me. His eyes narrowed, and he didn¡¯t answer right away. My anger grew stronger. I stepped closer, my voice low 20:31 Thu, Oct 2 and shaking: : : 56 bouch ¡°Fine, I can live with the fact you might never want to get married. I knew what I was walking into. But what the hell does especially not your daughter mean? Are you telling me even if you did want to marry, it wouldn¡¯t be me?!¡± His face was stone. No regret, no apology. ¡°I thought you understood what I meant.¡± ¡°No. I don¡¯t!¡± I snapped. ¡°You¡¯re not fit to be my Luna, Aria. If anything, everything that¡¯s happenedtely further proves it. My mind went nk. For the second time in less than an hour, I couldn¡¯t even process what I was hearing. Finally, after what felt like forever, I found my voice. ¡°Not fit? What¡¯s that supposed to mean? Because I¡¯m not from some fancy Alpha bloodline? Because I didn¡¯t graduate from a perfect school? Because I wasn¡¯t born as a ¡± His jaw locked. ¡°This has nothing to do with I. Don¡¯t drag her into this.¡± ¡°No, this has everything to do with her!¡± My voice broke into a scream. ¡°With her, you were passionate, reckless, out of control. You offered her that wedding ring without hesitation. And with me? Suddenly there are rules. All kinds of things to think about. Conditions. Excuses. Grayson¡­you¡­ 11 20:31 Thu, Oct 2 My voice broke. After a small pause, I choked: ¡°¡­maybe you just don¡¯t love me at all.¡± ¡°SHUT UP!¡± : 65 vouchers He roared, seizing my wrist so hard my bones ached. ¡°I¡¯d give my life for you. And you still question my love? Do you even have a heart, Aria Collins?¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t want your life!¡± I shouted back, shaking, choking on tears. ¡°I just want a promise. One promise that what we have will go somewhere someday. That¡¯s all I need to know you love me.¡± His grip tightened. Then loosened, slowly, painfully. I felt the hesitation in him, but not confusion. He already knew what¡¯s he going to do. He just wasn¡¯t sure whether or not to tell me the truth. ¡°¡­Sorry, Aria. I can¡¯t give you that promise,¡± said him eventually. And just like that, everything shattered. I broke. I sobbed and wailed. And I pounded my fists against his chest, kicking at him. He didn¡¯t fight back. He just scooped me up and carried me like I was nothing but a thrashing child, locking me in his arms. He marched down the hall until he reached my room. I hadn¡¯t stayed in this room since we began sleeping together. He kicked the door shut behind him and set me on the bed. ¡°You should stay here. Calm down.¡± I hurled a ss at him. ¡°I don¡¯t need to fucking calm down. I need you to let me go!¡± He tilted his head. The ss missed him by an inch. He exhaled hard, trying to control his temper. This was probably the first time in his life anyone had ever thrown something at him. ¡°I don¡¯t understand, Aria,¡± he said in a restrained voice. ¡°I may never marry, which means you¡¯ll be the only woman I¡¯ll ever have. So why does it matter so much who carries the Luna title?¡± He didn¡¯t get it. He grew up in darkness, in a twisted world where family meant nothing. Of course he didn¡¯t understand how desperately I wanted one of my own. I want a husband. And I want children someday. I want to love and spoil my kids, so they¡¯d never have to go through what I experienced in my childhood. But that¡¯s too much to ask of him. ¡°¡­ You lied to me.¡± My voice cracked. ¡°You made me believe we had a future. But we don¡¯t.¡± His teeth clenched. ¡°And you lied to me as well. You made me believe love was enough for us. But now you keep wanting more.¡± Tears streamed hot down my face. Maybe he was right. Maybe I had be greedy. When we first met, I couldn¡¯t even believe he¡¯d look at me. And now I dared to dream of being his wife. ¡°I don¡¯t think you should appear in public for a while,¡± he said coldly. ¡°Which means you won¡¯t attend I¡¯s trial.¡± My head snapped up. I red at him in shock. ¡°You¡¯re not letting me go? That¡¯s my only chance at justice. And you are taking that away from me?!¡± ¡°Calm down,¡± he snapped. ¡°The trial is the biggest spectacle of the year. Nobles, elders, reporters from all over the world are all going to be there. If you show up like this, they¡¯ll tear you apart. I¡¯m only protecting you.¡± ¡°No. You¡¯re protecting I.¡± My voice shook. ¡°I can feel it. If I don¡¯t go, she¡¯ll walk free. And that¡¯s what you want, isn¡¯t it? You never believed she was guilty anyway.¡± with you. He inhaled sharply, like he was holding himself back. ¡°You¡¯re not yourself right now. I won¡¯t argue Just stay here. Wait for me toe back. My men will get answers from your mother. Malik will cure you. And then¡­ everything will be fine.¡± Will it? I doubted it. I watched his back as he left the room, and I swore to myself- Even if he forbids me from going to Spike Hill Pack, I¡¯ll go anyway. He hates being controlled. Well, so do I. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Wore 142 Chapter 142 Aria¡¯s POV I knew Grayson would leave for Spike Hill Pack early the next morning for I¡¯s trial. I sat in the dark, waiting. 55 vouchete At dawn, I heard the sound of his Rolls Royce pulling away from the mansion. I stayed still until the engine faded into silence, then pushed myself up and went to the window. The chill of the morning breeze hit me in the face, snapping me wide awake. I took in a long breath, staring at the skyline slowly being lit by the first rays of sunlight, just letting myself enjoy the rare calm for a moment. And then. I climbed onto the windowsill and swung myself out. Thending wasn¡¯t quiet. I hit the ground hard, but thankfully the thick flowerbeds below my window softened the fall. A patrol guard had just turned a corner. He didn¡¯t hear the noise. I crouched low among the flowers, holding my breath, waiting. No sounds. No footsteps. When I was sure it was safe, I straightened just enough and started sneaking toward the gates- ¡°Stop right there!¡± SHIT. I spun around. A soldier stood behind me, holding a shlight right at my face. ¡°Lady Aria,¡± he said, polite but firm. ¡°Alpha¡¯s orders were clear. You are to remain in your room.¡± ¡°I just wanted to take walk in the garden,¡± I shot back with themest excuse ever. His face stayed nk. He clearly didn¡¯t buy it. ¡°In that case, please allow me to keep youpany.¡± Anger boiled up in me. What the hell was Grayson thinking? Was he nning to lock me up like some damn prisoner every time I pissed him off? ¡°I¡¯m his girlfriend, not a criminal or something. What gives you the right to lock me in my room?¡± I snapped. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, mydy,¡± he said coldly. ¡°You¡¯ll have to take that up with the Alpha. I only follow orders.¡± That ¡°mydy¡± somehow made me even angrier. I was about to tell him he¡¯d have to drag me back kicking and screaming when another voice cut in. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Alpha just texted me. Lady Aria has permission to move freely,¡± Nova said, stepping out from around the corner. 18:55 Fri, Oct 3 The soldier frowned, obviously reluctant. ¡°But the orders I received were- 2.95 Vouchers ¡°Alpha messaged me directly. Whose info do you think matter more, yours or mine?¡± Nova snapped. He flinched at the weight of her authority. After all, she was an elder now. ¡°O¨COf course, yours, Elder Nova¡­¡± ¡°Good. Then step aside. I¡¯ll take it from here.¡± The guard bowed and backed off. I stood there, silent, and waited for him to go away. When his footsteps finally faded, I rushed toward Nova, grabbing her hands. ¡°Shh.¡± She smiled, putting a finger to her lips. ¡°What are you even doing here? I thought I was so screwed!¡± I whispered. ¡°I heard Alpha went to Spike Hill alone. I figured you might need some help,¡± she said, tugging me along quickly. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s leave this ce before these dumbasses figure out what¡¯s going on.¡± She hustled me out of the mansion and into her car. We sped down the road, dodging morning traffic, and made it to the airport by 8. ¡°Here.¡± At the airport, she shoved the ticket and passport into my hands, then pulled me into a tight hug. ¡°Sorry, I only managed to get you an economy seatst minute. Hope everything goes well at the trial. I really want you to win against I.¡± I clung to her, guilt and gratitude churning inside me. ¡°Thank you, Nova. Really. But¡­ won¡¯t this get you into trouble? You¡¯re going against Grayson¡¯s orders. You know how serious that can be.¡± Her smile turned sly. ¡°Sometimes I think Alpha actually wants you to defy him. Maybe me helping you is exactly what he wants.¡± I blinked at her. ¡°What? That makes zero sense. He gets furious every time I break his rules.¡± ¡°Alpha Grayson¡¯s aplicated man. The traumas he¡¯s been through¡­ they make him hard to read. Honestly, sometimes I think even he doesn¡¯t know what he wants. Like this¨Che left you behind, but if you show up, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he was secretly pleased.¡± I stared at her. Really? Because I seriously doubted that. ¡°Well, if he¡¯s not happy, we¡¯re both screwed,¡± I muttered with a bitter smile. Sheughed. ¡°Let¡¯s hope not. Safe journey, Aria.¡± I said goodbye, then boarded the ne. 13 hours from Red Stone Pack to Spike Hill. Economy ss was cramped and miserable, but I had noints. As long as it got me there. 18:55 Fri, Oct 3 ¶¹Öí youchers The woman in the seat next to me was watching the news. Unsurprisingly, I¡¯s trial was the headline. Spike Hill was already packed with nobles and elders. Any celebrities you could name, they were there. And of course, my name was in the news too. They never wasted a chance to drag me into the spotlight. The report was reying: ¡°Just a few days ago, Aria Collins¡¯s mother created a scandal outside Red Stone Packhouse. She demanded, and we quote: ¡®If you won¡¯t marry my daughter, then pay me a billion¡® Grayson¡¯s people are scrambling to erase the video online. Is Alpha ashamed of his would¨Cbe mother¨Cinw?¡± ¡°Oh my god, can you believe that Aria Collins?¡± the woman beside me whispered to her friend. ¡°It was bullshit enough that Alpha Grayson even dated her. Now she wants him to marry her? Pathetic. An Alpha would never marry a trash like that.¡± ¡°I bet she¡¯s in on it with her mom,¡± the friend sneered. ¡°Her mom pushes the marriage thing while she ys the poor, pitiful girlfriend. Ugh fucking disgusting. I hope she gets raped and murdered, and her body dumped in a fucking sewer.¡± I tugged my hood lower over my face and sank deeper into my seat¡­ If only they knew Aria Collins herself was sitting right next to them. Truth to be told, I¡¯d grown numb to this kind of venom. Being with Grayson meant dealing with hate every single day. And my mothering alng only made it worse. I honestly didn¡¯t know how much longer I could. hold everything together before I broke. Hourster, the nended at Spike Hill. I didn¡¯t rush to find Grayson. If he spotted me, he¡¯d probably send me straight back on the next flight. Better to stay hidden for now, watch, wait. But things didn¡¯t go as nned. Before I even cleared immigration, a guard stopped me. ¡°What do you mean I need an invitation to enter?¡± I asked in disbelief. ¡°All the nobles are here for the trial. To control the crowds and ensure safety, only invited guests may enter Spike Hill territory,¡± the staffer said, eyeing me suspiciously. ¡°You don¡¯t have an invitation, do you?¡± ¡°¡­No.¡± My stomach dropped. Was I really about to be sent back? ¡°Then let me see your documents,¡± he ordered. I reached for my passport instinctively, then froze. Should I let him know I was the Aria Collins? Judging from what I¡¯d heard on the ne, I was practically public enemy number one. Not exactly smart to expose myself here. My hesitation was all it took to spark his suspicion. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Too scared to show me your ID? What are you hiding?¡± Before I could exin, he grabbed my arm and yanked me aside. ¡°Come with me. You¡¯re probably some assassin or spy sent from another pack.¡± ¡°Wait, it¡¯s not like that!¡± I protested, a hint of panic flooding me. Shit. I couldn¡¯t get detained here. This was I¡¯s turf¨Cit was way too dangerous. ¡°I can exin, just let me-¡± 5:55 FRI, UCI 3 ¡°You can exin in the interrogation room,¡± he snapped. ¡°I knew you looked shady.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± A new voice cut through from behind our backs. We both spun around. 65 vouche The crowd parted, revealing a small group of people. At the center stood a tall woman in a white Chanel suit, a veil covering her face. Her presence radiated elegance. She looked like a goddess just standing there. ¡°Release this girl. She¡¯s with me,¡± she said, her voice soft yetmanding. ¡°Lady Quentina!¡± I blurted. That mysteriousdy from Frostpine Pack. I had no idea she would be here. AD Comment ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find(?)ovel Send gift Wore 143 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°Mydy¡­¡± 1:0 60 56 Vouchers The officer¡¯s voice trembled as he spoke. He clearly recognized her¨Cand was terrified. ¡°I¨CI didn¡¯t know you were here. All nobles and Alphas are supposed to use the VIP gate¡­¡± ¡°Lady Quentina heard the noise and came to check,¡± said Torvi, that tall warrior beside her. Her voice was sharp. ¡°Good thing she did. Otherwise, you¡¯d still be bullying our girl here.¡± ¡°I¨CI didn¡¯t mean to, mydy. She couldn¡¯t provide a valid ID or invitation, so I thought she might be a spy or something¡­¡± ¡°Now you don¡¯t need to see her ID. You already know she¡¯s with me.¡± Lady Quentina said. Then she reached out a hand toward me. ¡°Come.¡± I walked to her immediately, letting her fingers wrap around mine. The officer bowed again and again, stammering apologies as we passed. We took the VIP corridor. It was quiet, private, and empty. No one dared stop us again. When we finally stepped past customs and into Spiky Hill territory, I let out a shaky breath of relief. Then I turned to her and said, ¡°Thank you so much, Lady Quentina. If it weren¡¯t for you, I¡¯d probably be on my way back home right now.¡± ¡°Oh that¡¯s alright. You are from Frostpine Pack right? I couldn¡¯t just stand by while one of my own members was in trouble¡­ What¡¯s your name again?¡± she asked. I paused. ¡°I¡­I¡¯m Aria.¡± ¡°Aria.¡± She nced over at me with curiosity. ¡°Though I don¡¯t recall your name on Frostpine¡¯s travel list. Did Alpha Thalira send you?¡± I hesitated. Should I tell her the truth? That I am THE Aria Collins? Revealing who I was might cause trouble. Nevertheless, we barely knew each other. But for some reason, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to lie to her. Every instinct told me I could open up to this woman. ¡°Actually¡­ I¡¯m not part of Frostpine anymore.¡± I took in a deep breath, then added quietly, ¡°My full name is¡­ Aria Collins.¡± The reaction was instant. It was like I¡¯d dropped a bomb in the middle of the group. Everyone flinched and stepped back. Torvi immediately moved in front of Lady Quentina, blocking me with her broad shoulders. 14:58 Mon, Oct 6 ¡°Mydy, get back!¡± she barked. ¡°Torvi, it¡¯s fine.¡± : (60 2555 vouchers ¡°No it¡¯s not!¡± Torvi snapped. ¡°She¡¯s THAT girl. The one dragging I onto the trial. You¡¯ve seen the news. She¡¯s nothing but trouble.¡± ¡°Yeah, mydy,¡± said one of the maids with long braids. She red at me with disgust. ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard yet? She betrayed Frostpine Pack and joined Red Stone. A total traitor. She doesn¡¯t deserve your help. I stood there in silence, swallowing down the sting of humiliation. I wanted to exin. To tell them that I only joined Red Stone to save my own life, that I didn¡¯t have a choice back then. But one look at their faces told me it wouldn¡¯t matter. They¡¯d already decided who I was. Just like everyone else in this world had. ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± I murmured. ¡°I don¡¯t want to cause you any more trouble, mydy. I¡¯ll leave now.¡± But before I could take a step, Lady Quentina¡¯s voice stopped me: ¡°No. You¡¯reing with me Aria.¡± ¡°Mydy-!¡± Torvi protested. ¡°Torvi. My decision is final.¡± It¡¯s amazing. Though her voice was still soft, it carried a natural authority. It probably had something to do with her Alpha bloodline. Torvi fell silent instantly. Yet that maid with the braids frowned and muttered, ¡°Mydy, she¡¯s not here with Alpha Grayson. They probably had a fight or something. He¡¯s not someone we want toe across. It¡¯d be a terrible idea to let her join us.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of Grayson Hart,¡± Quentina replied smoothly. ¡°Of course you¡¯re not, mydy. It¡¯s just¡­if Alpha Thalira hears that you let this kind of trouble join us- Lady Quentina interrupted her. ¡°Selena, let me remind you onest time¨Cyou work for me, not Alpha Thalira. So you should know what to tell Alpha Thalira, and what not to tell her.¡± 39 Selena flinched, and lowered her head at once. The conversation ended there. Lady Quentina reached for my hand again, guiding me out of the airport. Outside, a roll of sleek ck cars were already waiting. We got into the first one. Even at this point, I still couldn¡¯t believe she was actually helping me. We¡¯d met only a few times. She had no reason to get involved. ¡°You¡¯re probably wondering why,¡± she said as we drove out of the airport. As if she could read my thoughts. 1 14:58 Mon, Oct 6 ¡°Um, yeah¡­ I mean, I know I¡¯m not exactly popr right now,¡± I said awkwardly. She chuckled. ¡°You remind me of myself when I was younger. Especially when I saw you with My rtionship with my own mom wasn¡¯t so great either.¡± your mother. 60 I instantly remembered the gossip I heard back in Frostpine Pack. How Lady Quentina had once defied Alpha Thalira and paid dearly for it. People said that was why she¡¯d vanished from public life for so many years. ¡°My mom¡¯s crazy,¡± I muttered. ¡°No matter what Alpha Thalira did, she can¡¯t be worse than mine.¡± After a small pause, Lady Quentina removed her veil. My breath caught in my throat. She was the most beautiful woman I¡¯d ever seen, and I¡¯d met plenty beauties: I, Barbara, all those Grayson¡¯s exes¡­ Yet none of them could evenpare. She was like the Moon Goddess herself: elegant, radiant, divine. You instantly want to get to know her. To be close to her. ¡°Pretty bad, huh?¡± she said with a wry smile. ¡°Huh?¡± I blinked, confused. It took me a moment to notice the scar on her face. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find?novel You wouldn¡¯t notice it at first. Because her beauty was too striking. But when you did see it, you¡¯d definitely be shocked. It¡¯s horrible. The scar ran from her right temple down to her left lip, cutting across her wless skin like a crack through porcin. I nearly jumped from my seat. ¡°Your mom did this to you?!¡± She scoffed. ¡°I was very stubborn back then. And my mother¡­ Well she wasn¡¯t the most patient woman alive. Most of the time we made up after our fights, but that one¡­That one time, I refused to apologize. The dagger was right there, a decoration on the wall. She took it off and dragged it across my face. ¡°That¡¯s your punishment,¡¯ she said. ¡®I¡¯m taking away the thing you¡¯re most proud of.¡°¡± I trembled, horror and anger heavy on my chest. What kind of mother could do that to her own daughter? Shit. I¡¯d always admired Alpha Thalira, thought she was strong, fierce, a symbol of female power. But turns out she¡¯s nothing but a violent psycho. A fucking sadist! ¡°I know you and your mother have your issues,¡± Quentina said with a sigh, ¡°but trust me, it¡¯s not as bad as you think. Try to make peace with her while you still can, OK? Not every mother and daughter get that chance.¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t forgive her!¡°.I blurted out, furious. ¡°She did this to you and never apologized? And she¡¯s still spying on you, doesn¡¯t she? You should expose her. Throw her into jail or something!¡± Sheughed softly. Even with the scar, that smile was still breathtaking. ¡°You¡¯re so much like me when I was your age. Fierce and fearless.¡± I didn¡¯t know what to say. Also not sure if that¡¯s apliment. Before I could respond, she patted my hand gently. 60 236 vouchers ¡°I¡¯m guessing you don¡¯t want your boyfriend to know you¡¯re here, do you?¡± she said with a knowing look. ¡°¡­ Yeah,¡± I admitted. ¡°Then you¡¯ll stay with me. We¡¯ll get some food and head back to the hotel. Tomorrow¡¯s the trial. You need a good rest.¡± Her car took us to an upscale restaurant, one of the best in Spiky Hill. The moment she walked in with her entire entourage of maids and guards, the whole ce turned to look. But she didn¡¯t seem to notice, or maybe she was already used to it after so many years living under supervision. ¡°Please arrange a private corner,¡± Torvi told the nervous manager. ¡°We don¡¯t want to disturb the other guests.¡± We sat down in a quiet booth. The waiter handed us wine menus, and Quentina passed one to me. ¡°Would you like a drink? They say the wine list here is exceptional.¡± I was about to tell her that I knew nothing about wine when I heard a waiter¡¯s voice from the near distance: ¡°Alpha Grayson, this way please.¡± My head snapped up. It was really him. Across the room, the waiter was leading Grayson toward a table by the window. He sat down gracefully and said to him, ¡°Lady I will join me shortly. Bring her here when she arrives.¡± ¡°Of course, Alpha.¡± My heart nearly stopped. I couldn¡¯t believe this. Grayson was meeting that goddamn criminal. The night before her trial! And he didn¡¯t even tell me. What the hell were they doing??? AD Comment Wore 144 Aria¡¯s POV 45 65 vouchers ¡°Did you know Alpha Grayson was meeting her here tonight?¡± Quentina whispered. I shook my head stiffly. My chest tightened, rage and panic rising so fast I could barely breathe. Every cell in my body screamed to stand up, storm over there, and confront him about this. Was he nning to help her? Did he still have feelings for her? He knew she Did he forget that she once tried to kill me? Tears were already burning my eyes, but Quentina¡¯s hand found mine. Her grip was firm and steady. ¡°Don¡¯t panic,¡± she whispered. ¡°Let¡¯s hear what they¡¯re going to say first.¡± Her voice was calm like an anchor in a storm. Somehow I managed to calm down myself. Soon, I heard the sound of heels clicking against the marble floor. Then I saw her. I. She walked through the restaurant wearing a tight, off¨Cshoulder purple dress that showed off every perfect line of her body. Her boobs bounced in that extreme low¨Ccut neckline as she moved. Her hair was so glossy and full, her nails freshly polished, and her makeup wless. She looked gorgeous. Radiant. Nothing like a criminal waiting for her judgment day. I clenched my fists under the table. My whole body trembled with anger. ¡°Looks like I¡¯s doing just fine,¡± Quentina said coldly, her eyes narrowed. ¡°She shouldn¡¯t be fine,¡± I spat. ¡°Not after everything she¡¯s done to me and to so all those innocent people! She deserves to be locked up, terrified and begging for mercy. Not prancing around in designer clothes like she¡¯spletely innocent!¡± ¡°Maybe she¡¯s not worried about the trial at all,¡± said Torvi from behind Quentina with a hint of scorn in her tone. ¡°She¡¯s got her Alpha father and the entire elder council behind her. Do you know that 95% of charges against nobles get thrown out anyway? The users usually end up in prison instead. Maybe I¡¯s case will be the same.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s not fair!¡± I burst out. Torvi gave a dryugh. ¡°Life isn¡¯t fair. That¡¯s why everyone wants to be born noble. Because they have the Moon Goddess¡¯s favor.¡± I was furious. But I couldn¡¯t argue with that. 14:55 Tue, Oct 7 She was right. Latest content published on findnovel : (45 People like I were born with power. With protection. While people like me had to fight for every breath. And if I had been born into a noble family¨Cif I¡¯d had the right bloodline¨Cmaybe everyone wouldn¡¯t hate me so much. And maybe Grayson would¡¯ve married me already. I couldn¡¯t help but lower my head. Shame and pain were twisting in my chest. Tears had blurred my vision. ¡°Don¡¯t let Torvi¡¯s words get to you,¡± Quentina said abruptly. She gave my hand a soft squeeze. ¡°The trial hasn¡¯t even started yet. Those of us who believe in justice won¡¯t let the guilty walk free.¡± I had reached Grayson¡¯s table. He stood up and greeted her with a polite kiss on the cheek. I could barely breathe as I watched them standing side¨Cby¨Cside, acting so close and intimate. ¡°I knew you¡¯de,¡± she said after she took her seat. She leant forward to him eagerly, her eyes gleaming. ¡°You still care about me, don¡¯t you, Grayson?¡± He leaned back, his expression distant. ¡°The only reason I¡¯m here is because your people refused to leave my door until I agreed.¡± ¡°But no one can force you to do what you don¡¯t want to, Grayson. So when I saw you walk in, I instantly knew -deep down you want to be here. You still have feelings for me.¡± My stomach twisted. She was right about one thing: no one could ever force Grayson Hart to do anything. And that was what made this hurt so much more. She reached across the table, trying to grab his hand. But he pulled away. ¡°What do you want, I? I don¡¯t have all night.¡± His voice was cold. ¡°Your people have been digging into my life like crazy for the past few weeks,¡± she said, her voice trembling. ¡°What are you trying to do? Are you really trying to prove me guilty and throw me in prison?¡± ¡°If you really did those guilty things, then yes, that¡¯s what I¡¯m doing.¡± ¡°But you wouldn¡¯t! I know¨CI know you care too much about me to do that!¡± she cried, her voice cracking. ¡°Grayson, please. Don¡¯t submit those files at the trial tomorrow. I¡¯ve been through enough already. Don¡¯t make it worse for me¡­OK?¡± I wanted to hurl the knife from my table straight at her face. She¡¯s been through enough? She¡¯s the one who nearly destroyed my life. How dare she sit there pretending to be the victim! ¡°When I found out you tried to hurt Aria, I told you already. I wouldn¡¯t show mercy again.¡± Grayson¡¯s tone was like ice. ¡°So if I have proof of your crimes, I¡¯ll present them in court. No matter what you say.¡± 14:55 Tue, Oct 7 I let out a short, broken sob. 45 56 voucher ¡°And you think¡­you think that¡¯s fair to me?!¡± she gasped, shaking. ¡°I became this person because of YOU! When we were married, you left me to drown in loneliness and despair. I almost couldn¡¯t get out of those dark day¡¯s alive. And after that, I changed. Never that innocent girl who first married you again. You changed me, Grayson. So yes¨Cyou owe me! You, of all people, have no right to call me guilty!¡± There¡¯s a long silence after that. I couldn¡¯t see his face from where I sat, but I saw his hand gripping the armrest so hard his knuckles turned white. ¡°¡­ You weren¡¯t the only one who suffered in that marriage,¡± he said finally, his voice tense. ¡°Do I feel guilty? Yes. I always will. But that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll hide the evidence. That wouldn¡¯t be fair to Aria.¡± ¡°Aria!¡± I screamed my name like poison. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s talk about her. You really think she is the one for you? You really think she understands your scars, your darkness, the years of pain you¡¯ve lived through? She¡¯s just a naive and stupid little girl ying at love, Grayson.¡± His tone dropped another degree colder. ¡°I didn¡¯te here to talk about Aria. If you have nothing else to say, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow at the trial.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go! Please!¡± She lunged forward, this time gripping his hand tightly. ¡°Just tell me onest thing. Everyone says you¡¯re getting married soon. So¡­ is it gonna be her? Are you going to marry Aria?¡± My heart jumped up to my throat. I forgot how to breathe. My whole body froze in horror and anticipation as I waited for his answer. And then I heard it. His voice was low but clear enough to slice through me: ¡°¡­No. I won¡¯t. Aria isn¡¯t the right one.¡± My heart plummeted to the floor. I copsed into my chair as cold despair swallowed me as a whole. It felt like the world split open beneath me. I let out a tearfulugh. She brought his hand to her cheek. ¡°But you married me. Because you know deep down, we¡¯re the ones who belong together. Wake up, Grayson. Sooner orter, you¡¯ll realize it.¡± He didn¡¯t pull his hand away. And when she leaned in to kiss his palm, I couldn¡¯t watch anymore. I shot to my feet and stormed out the other way. Hot tears burned in my eyes, blinding my vision. The world spun around me, my chest burning so bad I could barely breathe. I stumbled out of the restaurant doors, gasping for air. I never knew heartbreak could actually hurt physically¨Cbut now I do. I wasn¡¯t even watching where I was going. I didn¡¯t realize I¡¯d stepped straight into the street until a hand 14:55 Tue, Oct 7 yanked me backward. 645 $55 vouchers ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re trying to kill yourself,¡± Torvi snapped, still holding my shoulder. ¡°Over a man?¡± ¡°Let me go! You don¡¯t understand!¡± I choked out. She scoffed. ¡°All I know is Frostpine women don¡¯t fall apart over love. We don¡¯t cry over toxic rtionships. From what I see, you¡¯re way too fragile to be one of us.¡± I red at her through tears, shaking with fury. But before I could yell at her again, she added quickly, ¡°Lady sent me after you. You ran out too soon. The real show¡¯s just getting started.¡± I didn¡¯t know what she meant by ¡°real show.¡± But after everything Lady Quentina had done for me, I couldn¡¯t just walk away like that. I wiped my face hard and murmured, ¡°¡­Fine. Let¡¯s go.¡± When we returned to the restaurant, Grayson was gone. I¡¯s still at the table, calmly redoing her makeup. There¡¯s a satisfied smirk curling her lips. Then she stood up, grabbed her purse, and started toward the exit. ¡°Look,¡± Torvi murmured beside me. ¡°At what?¡± ¡°The show. Lady Quentina asked us to teach that bitch a lesson.¡± At the far end of the corridor, that maid with the long braids Selena appeared holding a bottle of wine. She walked quickly toward I. Just as she passed I, she gasped loudly and stumbled forward. The bottle smashed against the edge of the table. The wine sshed all over I. Selena grabbed at I to steady herself- And tore that slutty purple dress straight down the middle in front of the entire restaurant. ? ? AD No Ads Wore 145 Aria¡¯s POV ¡°Ahhh!¡± I screamed. ¡°What the hell are you doing?!¡± She tried to cover her chest, but her dress waspletely torn apart. And since that dress had barely any fabric to begin with, there was no way to cover her naked body. Everyone in the restaurant turned to look. Some were whispering. They had recognized who she was. Most people smirked, clearly enjoying the show. ¡°Shit¡­ damn it. Are you a fucking waitress here?¡± I¡¯s face was bright red. ¡°Where¡¯s your manager? I¡¯m going to file aint. And you go bring me a new dress now!¡± Selena rolled her eyes. ¡°Do I look like a waitress to you?¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re a customer? You bumped into me and ripped my dress. Are you not even going to apologize?¡± I asked furiously. ¡°Then why the hell were you standing in my way?¡± Selena shot back, her voice dripping with mockery. ¡°You bumped into me too. My shoulder hurts a lot. You should apologize to me first.¡± I froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. She¡¯d probably never been spoken to like that in her life. Let alone in her own pack¡¯s territory. ¡°Do you even know who I am?¡± she hissed, taking a step forward. ¡°Take that back and say you are sorry. Or you¡¯ll goddamn regret this!¡± Selena gave her a slow, amused once¨Cover. ¡°Who are you? Hmm let me think¡­you¡¯re a stripper? Or maybe a hostess from some cheap club nearby? I mean, just look at that dress¨Cit¡¯s practically a stripper¡¯s uniform.¡± The veins on I¡¯s forehead popped with anger. ¡°Are you kidding me?! This dress is from Valentino¡¯stest collection. It costs more than you¡¯ll ever make in your pathetic little life!¡± Selena smirked. ¡°Valentino? Sure, honey. More like a cheap knockoff. On you, it looks like something only prostitute would wear. Didn¡¯t anyone tell you there¡¯s a dress code in ces like this? Oh right, you probably have never been to anywhere this fancy. No wonder you don¡¯t know.¡± I almostughed out loud. God, this Selena had a sharp tongue. I¡¯d never seen I this humiliated before. And I wasn¡¯t the only one amused. Half the restaurant was snickering behind their hands. Some people whispered, others outright grinned at I like they were watching a clown. ¡°Stop it! All of you, stopughing immediately!¡± I spun around, screaming at the whole room. ¡°I¡¯m a noble, do you hear me?! Mocking a noble is illegal in Spike Hill Pack!¡± But nobody seemed scared. Theughter only grew louder. At one table, one of the customers called out loudly, ¡°You¡¯re a noble? So am I! Everyone eating here is rich or titled. So stop acting so mighty. We don¡¯t give a damn about your stupidws!¡± A 165 Es vouchers ¡°Exactly.¡± Selena said, folding her arms. ¡°You do realize half the nobles in the world are in Spike Hill right now for the trial? You¡¯re not special anymore. So don¡¯t tter yourself too much, idiot.¡± That word¨Cidiot¨Cwas thest straw. I¡¯s face turned red. She stormed forward, her eyes zing. ¡°Then I guess I¡¯ll just have to teach you a lesson, you filthy little whore!¡± She raised her hand to p Selena. ¡°No!¡± I gasped and wanted to rush forward. But Torvi was faster. In the blink of an eye, she appeared between them, caught I¡¯s wrist midair, and shoved her backward. I stumbled back. Her heel slipped on the spilled wine- And she crashed face¨Cfirst onto the marble floor. The restaurant burst outughing. ¡°How dare you!¡± I shrieked, struggling to get up, her face flushed red from rage and humiliation. ¡°That¡¯s it! I don¡¯t care who the hell you are. I¡¯ll have you arrested and you¡¯ll fucking pay for this!¡± She turned toward the entrance and shouted at the top of her lungs, ¡°Manager! Where the hell is your manager?!¡± The terrified restaurant manager rushed over. ¡°L¨CLady I-¡± ¡°Give me your jacket!¡± she snapped. He didn¡¯t even hesitate. She yanked the jacket from his hands, threw it over her shoulders, then pointed furiously at Selena. ¡°Call your security. I want this bitch dragged out right now. And when the police get here, hand her over.¡± The manager turned nervously toward Selena. ¡°¡­I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have toe with me, miss.¡± Selena sneered. ¡°The hell I will. Her little tantrums don¡¯t work on me.¡± ¡°Lady I is Alpha dimir¡¯s daughter,¡± the manager whispered nervously. ¡°She has every right to arrest anyone who disrespects her¡­¡± A soft butmanding voice interrupted him: ¡°I¡¯m afraid she doesn¡¯t.¡± Lady Quentina rose gracefully from her seat and walked over. Her entire entourage¨Cguards and maids- moved in perfect formation behind her. The room went dead silent. Even the clinking of sses stopped. 16:00 Wed, Oct 8 M When she appeared, the air itself seemed to change. Even though her face was covered again by her veil, the still radiated authority. Like a Queen. This is my maid,¡± she said to the manager gently but firmly. ¡°And I won¡¯t allow you to touch her.¡± The manager stared, stunned. ¡°You¡­ you are-?¡± Torvi stepped forward and said in a booming voice, ¡°This is Lady Quentina of Frostpine Pack, daughter of Alpha Thalira.¡± Lady Quentina! The restaurant exploded with whispers. All the true nobles in the room knew this time. After all, 20 years ago, Lady Quentina was all everyone could talk about in the upper¨Css circle. Her beauty alone was enough to make her unforgettable. And even for those who didn¡¯t know her, the names Frostpine Pack and Alpha Thalira were more than enough to strike fear. That pack possessed one of the most powerful armies and weapon forces in the world. So powerful that very few packs dared to cross them. Not even Spike Hill. When Lady Quentina walked up to I, every single person in the restaurant turned to look at her. But unlike the mocking, almost amused stares people had thrown at I, the gazes fixed on Quentina were filled with admiration¨Cand awe. I¡¯s face turned pale. She seemed nervous but tried to hide it, ¡°S¨CSo what? We¡¯re both Alpha¡¯s daughters. That means we¡¯re on the same level. I have every right to punish your maid.¡± Selena barked out augh. ¡°Same level? You¡¯re joking, right? Mydy is heir to the Alpha¡¯s throne. She can lead armies and manage her pack. And what exactly do you do? Throw parties, buy jewelry, and flirt with rich men? You shallow and stupid woman don¡¯t get to bepared to mydy!¡± Apuse rippled through the room. People nodded in approval, some even whistled. I¡¯s jaw tightened. She turned to the manager and snapped, ¡°You¡¯re just going to let them talk to yourdy like this? Where the hell is your security?!¡± The manager looked like he wanted to disappear. He nced helplessly at Quentina and Torvi, then murmured to I, ¡°Mydy¡­ perhaps we should avoid further conflict¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re taking their side? Do you want to lose your restaurant license?¡± I barked. He bowed repeatedly. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Lady I, but this isn¡¯t just any noble. This is Lady Quentina of Frostpine Pack. You know Alpha Thalira¡¯s someone to mess with¡­¡± ¡°What? And I look like some pushover to you?!¡± I screamed. ¡°I¨CI¡¯m terribly sorry,¡± the manager stammered. ¡°But still, I think it would be unwise to offend Frostpine Pack¡­¡± 20 I was shaking now. Part rage, part humiliation. She looked around, but nobody spoke up for her. Not even her own pack members. Realizing she waspletely alone, she spat toward Selena. ¡°Just wait. You¡¯ll pay for this. All of you will.¡± Then she spun on her heel, trying to storm out. But Torvi blocked her path. ¡°Not so fast, Lady I,¡± Quentina said calmly. ¡°If I remember correctly, you¡¯re supposed to be in custody right now, waiting for tomorrow¡¯s trial. You¡¯re not authorized to be out in public.¡± ¡°What does that have to do with you?¡± I snapped. ¡°Spike Hill invited me and many nobles here to witness the fairness of this trial. That makes it exactly my concern.¡± Quentina¡¯s voice was smooth, but every word carried weight. ¡°In fact, I¡¯ve already called your father. He¡¯ll be sending someone to collect you soon.¡± ¡°You what?!¡± I cried in disbelief. Almost on cue, a group of men entered the restaurant, led by an older butler in a dark suit. He rushed over and bowed to Quentina. ¡°Mydy, I¡¯m Alpha dimir¡¯s butler. He sends his apologies. I¡¯ll be escorting ourdy home immediately.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a criminal,¡± Quentina said with a faint, cold smile. ¡°Don¡¯t forget the handcuffs.¡± ¡°I¡¯m ady! A noble! You can¡¯t-¡± I screamed. But the butler cut her off sharply. ¡°Enough, mydy. Alpha dimir is already furious. You should never have crossed Frostpine Pack.¡± And with a click, the handcuffs snapped shut around her wrists. AD Aria¡¯s POV ¡°Ahhh!¡± I screamed. ¡°What the hell are you doing?!¡± She tried to cover her chest, but her dress waspletely torn apart. And since that dress had barely any fabric to begin with, there was no way to cover her naked body. Everyone in the restaurant turned to look. Some were whispering. They had recognized who she was. Most people smirked, clearly enjoying the show. ¡°Shit¡­ damn it. Are you a fucking waitress here?¡± I¡¯s face was bright red. ¡°Where¡¯s your manager? I¡¯m going to file aint. And you go bring me a new dress now!¡± Selena rolled her eyes. ¡°Do I look like a waitress to you?¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re a customer? You bumped into me and ripped my dress. Are you not even going to apologize?¡± I asked furiously. ¡°Then why the hell were you standing in my way?¡± Selena shot back, her voice dripping with mockery. ¡°You bumped into me too. My shoulder hurts a lot. You should apologize to me first.¡± I froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. She¡¯d probably never been spoken to like that in her life. Let alone in her own pack¡¯s territory. ¡°Do you even know who I am?¡± she hissed, taking a step forward. ¡°Take that back and say you are sorry. Or you¡¯ll goddamn regret this!¡± Selena gave her a slow, amused once¨Cover. ¡°Who are you? Hmm let me think¡­you¡¯re a stripper? Or maybe a hostess from some cheap club nearby? I mean, just look at that dress¨Cit¡¯s practically a stripper¡¯s uniform.¡± The veins on I¡¯s forehead popped with anger. ¡°Are you kidding me?! This dress is from Valentino¡¯stest collection. It costs more than you¡¯ll ever make in your pathetic little life!¡± Selena smirked. ¡°Valentino? Sure, honey. More like a cheap knockoff. On you, it looks like something only a prostitute would wear. Didn¡¯t anyone tell you there¡¯s a dress code in ces like this? Oh right, you probably have never been to anywhere this fancy. No wonder you don¡¯t know.¡± I almostughed out loud. God, this Selena had a sharp tongue. I¡¯d never seen I this humiliated before. And I wasn¡¯t the only one amused. Half the restaurant was snickering behind their hands. Some people whispered, others outright grinned at I like they were watching a clown. ¡°Stop it! All of you, stopughing immediately!¡± I spun around, screaming at the whole room. ¡°I¡¯m a noble, do you hear me?! Mocking a noble is illegal in Spike Hill Pack!¡± But nobody seemed scared. Theughter only grew louder. At one table, one of the customers called out loudly, ¡°You¡¯re a noble? So am I! Everyone eating here is rich or titled. So stop acting so mighty. We don¡¯t give a damn about your stupidws!¡± 16:00 Wed, Oct 8 M ¡°Exactly,¡± Selena said, folding her arms. ¡°You do realize half the nobles in the world are in Spike Hill right now for the trial? You¡¯re not special anymore. So don¡¯t tter yourself too much, idiot.¡± That word¨Cidiot¨Cwas thest straw. I¡¯s face turned red. She stormed forward, her eyes zing. ¡°Then I guess I¡¯ll just have to teach you a lesson, you filthy little whore!¡± She raised her hand to p Selena. ¡°No!¡± I gasped and wanted to rush forward. But Torvi was faster. In the blink of an eye, she appeared between them, caught I¡¯s wrist midair, and shoved her backward. I stumbled back. Her heel slipped on the spilled wine- And she crashed face¨Cfirst onto the marble floor. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find¡ïNovel The restaurant burst outughing. ¡°How dare you!¡± I shrieked, struggling to get up, her face flushed red from rage and humiliation. ¡°That¡¯s it! I don¡¯t care who the hell you are. I¡¯ll have you arrested and you¡¯ll fucking pay for this!¡± She turned toward the entrance and shouted at the top of her lungs, ¡°Manager! Where the hell is your manager?!¡± The terrified restaurant manager rushed over. ¡°L¨CLady I-¡± ¡°Give me your jacket!¡± she snapped. He didn¡¯t even hesitate. She yanked the jacket from his hands, threw it over her shoulders, then pointed furiously at Selena. ¡°Call your security. I want this bitch dragged out right now. And when the police get here, hand her over.¡± The manager turned nervously toward Selena. ¡°¡­I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have toe with me, miss.¡± Selena sneered. ¡°The hell I will. Her little tantrums don¡¯t work on me.¡± ¡°Lady I is Alpha dimir¡¯s daughter,¡± the manager whispered nervously. ¡°She has every right to arrest anyone who disrespects her¡­¡± A soft butmanding voice interrupted him: ¡°I¡¯m afraid she doesn¡¯t.¡± Lady Quentina rose gracefully from her seat and walked over. Her entire entourage¨Cguards and maids- moved in perfect formation behind her. The room went dead silent. Even the clinking of sses stopped. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!