Aria’s POV
Morning light crept through the curtains, warm but sharp, like golden claws brushing against my eyelids. A cool breeze drifted into the room, carrying the earthy scent of pine and the faint musk of wolves patrolling sowhere beyond the villa grounds.
I groaned softly and lifted a hand to rub my temples. A dull throb pulsed behind my eyes. It was leftover stress from last night’s ss with Nathan. Then it struck .
The window...
Right. I’d been so upset that I hadn’t even bothered closing it.
I pushed the blankets aside and shuffled toward the window, but the mont I touched the fra, every trace of sleep vanished. My wolf stirred restlessly under my skin, awakened by the morning forest slls, the cool air, and—if I was being honest, the lingering imprint of Nathan’s scent in the room.
Trying to ignore all that, I grabbed my phone, scrolling aimlessly... until one bold subject line snagged my eye.
I tapped it open. Read it once, then again.
My heartbeat quickened.
It has been validated and approved.
No need to return to the Darvin family for notarization.
Just a simple registration process in Asterfell, and...
I inhaled sharply.
I would officially be the sole inheritor of Kate’s estate.
My chest tightened with sothing warm and painful at the sa ti. It had been so long since Grandma Kate passed... so long since I’d felt anything close to this sense of belonging, closure, and a final connection to her.
A small, victorious spark lit inside .
And Sophia won’t get a single piece of it.
The thought made my wolf purr with satisfaction. How did this happen? Soone influential must have stepped in or had my mother suddenly decided not to fight over it?.
Letting out a breath I felt like I’d been holding for years, I tiptoed out of the room and splashed water on my face. Despite barely sleeping, I felt unusually energized—maybe it was adrenaline, or maybe it was my wolf reacting to newfound hope.
Either way, I even dabbed on a little makeup. Just enough to look alive.
Then the realization hit, I wasn’t alone in this house.
Nathan was here.
Unbothered, I stepped into the living room. Last night’s fight replayed in my head...the cold glares, harsh words, confusing tension. I scanned the area, my shoulders tense.
There was no Nathan.
I let out a breath, lighter this ti.
Since I was planning to divorce him, I no longer saw myself as Luna Aria or an Alpha’s mate trapped under his roof. So instead of summoning servants like a Luna-to-be, I made breakfast myself...a simple spread, nothing fancy.
I had just placed the plates on the table when a shadow shifted in my peripheral vision.
I looked up.
And locked eyes with Nathan.
My stomach dipped.
He looked like he hadn’t slept at all. Dark circles smudged the skin under his eyes, making his sharp features even more striking. There was a rugged roughness about him this morning—his hair slightly mussed, shirt unbuttoned at the collar, sleeves rolled up revealing strong forearms.
I broke eye contact quickly, but it was too late.
I heard his steps. He was coming toward .
My pulse skittered.
Why is he coming closer? What does he want this early?
I wasn’t ready...not for another argunt, not for another confusing shift in his behavior.
Nathan stopped just inches away.
And I knew one thing for sure:
He could probably hear the frantic beating of my heart.
“Scared to et my eyes?” Nathan’s soft chuckle cut through the quiet kitchen, it was smooth yet edged with sothing I couldn’t na.
My wolf bristled, her tail lashing in irritation. I pouted instinctively, turning away from him, presenting him my cold shoulder.
I felt his gaze sweep over , heavy and annoyingly steady.
“Morning, Aria,” he said, his voice calm as a lake under moonlight. As if we were a normal mated couple having a normal morning.
My hand froze mid-motion as I arranged the cutlery. I lifted my eyes to him, narrowing them.
What ga are you playing now, Nathan?
My wolf pressed forward, sniffing for a hint of his real intention, but he kept his scent locked tight and unreadable.
He just pulled out a chair and sat across from like he owned not just the house, but the air around us.
I frowned, saying nothing. Instead of eating, I stared him down, letting the coldness in my eyes speak for itself.
Nathan simply raised two fingers toward a nearby servant. “Bring the sa as what’s on Luna Aria’s plate.”
Luna Aria. The title scraped against my ears like a claw.
The servant glanced at the simple breakfast I’d cooked, clearly confused. No Alpha of a prestigious pack ate sothing so plain. Nathan shot him a glare sharp enough to cut steel. The servant went pale and bolted into the kitchen.
“What on earth are you up to?” I snapped, irritation flaring like sparks in my chest.
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