Nathan’s POV
Her words snapped sothing inside .
I narrowed my eyes at her.
My wolf felt provoked and insulted. A chill rolled through the room causing
even Rowland tensed.
“Aria,” I said, my voice low and dangerous, controlled only by a thin thread, “are you sure?”
My tone rose at the end like a warning, a final chance.
She didn’t even look at . Didn’t flinch, didn’t hesitate.
She just stood there like a statue, refusing to acknowledge at all.
Collins hovered helplessly.
Then Aria laughed under her breath, a soft, cruel sound and shoved him aside as she opened the door herself.
Rowland followed her instantly, like he had been waiting for her signal. Not even glancing at .
My jaw clenched.
My wolf lunged inside , furious.
The door slamd shut behind them. The suffocating silence that followed clamped around my ribs like iron.
Sophia sniffed softly beside .
“Nathan...”
Just hearing my na from her right now irritated . I didn’t even spare her a second glance as I stood.
“Call Hemsworth Group Private Hospital. Send Sophia for a checkup.”
She reached out, grabbing my sleeve.
“Nathan...”
I stepped out of her grip and jerked my chin at Collins.
He took her out and the door closed.
The mont it did, all the composure I’d been clinging to snapped. A rush of fury drowned out every rational thought.
I drove my fist into the wall.
Pain shot up my arm, bones rattling.
Good. It grounded for a second.
But the second I tried to sit and look at the docunts Sophia brought, the letters blurred.
I couldn’t focus on anything.
All I could see was Aria.
Aria stepping away from .
Aria hiding behind Rowland.
Aria choosing distance rather than staying to hear speak.
With a snarl, I slamd the folder shut and rose to my feet.
I shoved a hand into my pocket, pacing toward the floor-to-ceiling windows. The city looked small beneath .
And in every moving dot, in every passing shadow, my mind conjured Aria.
Walking away from , smiling at soone else, getting into Francis’s car.
Or Rowland’s.
My wolf clawed at . He was furious, jealous, unhinged, just as I was.
I muttered a curse, grabbed my phone, and dialed Collins.
He picked up imdiately.
“Alpha Nathan?”
“Have you arrived at the hospital yet? Which departnt are you in?” I asked.
My voice was tight, fraying at the edges.
Aria’s POV
Rowland’s footsteps closed in behind , but I didn’t slow. My wolf was already restless under my skin, pacing, snarling, wanting distance, distance from the humiliation, from Nathan’s cold eyes, from Sophia’s fake tears.
“Aria—” Rowland reached out and grabbed my wrist.
I stopped only because my wolf bristled at being restrained. I lifted my head slowly, letting him see the frost in my eyes. I knew the shift in my aura hit him, my wolf pushed forward, a low warning rumbling in my chest.
His hand fell away instantly. “Aria...” he tried again, his voice softer and cautious.
I raised a hand, cutting him off. “Don’t.”
The word felt like ice in my mouth.
For a mont, the pain in my chest flared; Nathan’s accusing stare, the way he didn’t question Sophia even for a heartbeat. My wolf pushed against my ribs, hurt and furious.
“I called a friend to pick up,” I said, my voice steady but cold. “Nathan is right. We should keep our distance.”
Before my voice cracked, I turned and walked away. I didn’t look back.
My wolf hated the retreat, wanted to run, wanted to howl at the sky, but I forced myself to stay human and composed.
When Francis’s car finally arrived, I slipped inside.
His driver, Harry, glanced at respectfully through the rearview mirror. “Please fasten your seatbelt, Ms. Darvin.” Then he added more gently, “Mr. Murray said if you’re interested, you’re welco to visit the new laboratory. Otherwise, I’ll take you wherever you need.”
I leaned my head back, inhaling deeply. My wolf eased slightly.
“Take back to Hemsworth Villa,” I murmured. “I need to see my daughter.”
We soon arrived at the villa. When I stepped inside the villa, the nanny had just finished feeding Lana. My daughter turned her big round eyes toward , smiling with that pure, innocent sweetness only pups had.
My chest loosened. Her tiny scent wrapped around . My wolf lted imdiately.
But the mont I saw her delicate features, Nathan’s cold face flashed in my mind again. The way he glanced at Sophia’s ankle, the redness barely there, and still... still he looked at like I had done sothing unforgivable.
I bit my lip, bitterness rising.
A clumsy sche, that’s all it was. Even an Oga pup could’ve seen through it.
Is he really that biased toward Sophia? Or do I just never matter enough?
“Harry,” I said tightly, holding Lana closer, “let’s go.”
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