Nathan’s POV
My vision flashed dangerously, gold edging into my irises. My wolf pressed hard against my control, baring teeth at the word illegitimate. That child was mine to protect. Mine to claim. Anyone who insulted her would have to face dire consequences.
Before I could act, Collins moved fast.
“Escort them out,” he ordered.
Security surged forward, forming a wall of bodies. Reporters were herded outside as if swept by a silent storm. Caras lowered and voices died.
I stood there, cold and unmoving, until the last one was gone.
Collins risked a glance at . .
“Alpha Nathan,” he said quietly, “this matter is... more complicated. We’ve removed most photos of Lana but the news about Luna Aria keeps spreading.”
Aria’s pale face flashed through my mind. Her trembling hands. Her cold voice telling to investigate Sophia and Jessica.
My wolf’s ears flattened with guilt and fury.
“We’ll fix it,” I muttered.
I turned to Sophia.
“You should return to the office.”
She blinked, stunned.
Her scent soured with hurt mixed with anger. She knew I was shutting her out.
“Nathan, I—”
But I didn’t even look at her.
I simply walked away with Collins.
The elevator doors closed behind us with a soft thud. The dim lighting eased the pounding in my head, though my thoughts still clawed at like restless beasts.
I pressed my fingers to my temples.
“We’ll handle this passively,” I said.
Collins stiffened. He knew passive ant dangerous and risky, but I had already decided.
Chaos was already breaking around us. If I struck now, the enemy would scatter like prey sensing the hunter.
“Move up the charity event Sophia ntioned,” I added.
Collins blinked. “Sir? Today’s rumors—”
“I’m creating noise to drown this out.”
If the enemy wanted attention... I’d bury them under headlines they couldn’t beat.
But that wasn’t the real plan.
In the shadows of my mind, my wolf stood tall, growling low, his eyes gleaming gold.
As for the mastermind behind this...
Soone who dared touch Aria. Soone who dared target Lana.
My eyes narrowed, a sharp glint slicing through my anger like a blade.
“I’ll find them,” I whispered. “And when I do... they’ll learn what happens when an Alpha is crossed.”
Aria’s POV
I was discharged from the hospital in less than two days after the fall.
But that didn’t an I felt strong.
Every part of ached with longing for Lana. Two days without my pup had scraped raw the maternal instinct in my chest, leaving my wolf pacing and whining beneath my skin.
We need to see her. She is ours...go to her.
“No,” I whispered to myself in the cab. “Not yet.”
My fists tightened in my lap until my knuckles whitened.
There was a very important matters at hand, matters that could decide my survival.
I instructed the cab driver to head to the agency managing my grandmother’s estate.
“My grandmother’s assets... they’re enough to start over,” I thought, inhaling deeply to steady myself. My wolf’s ears perked at the idea of security, a territory of our own.
Inside the agency, the staff greeted with respectful nods and handed several docunts.
“Here are the items you requested,” one of them said.
“Thank you,” I replied, my voice calm despite the faint tremor of exhaustion.
The mont I stepped outside, I directed the cab to the supermarket where Sandra worked.
Sandra turned, her eyes widening as soon as she saw . “Luna Aria, what happened to you?”
Her gaze lingered too long on my pale face.
“I’ve been through so things,” I said softly. My wolf bristled within .
I took her hand, squeezing it. “Sandra, I need your help.”
My seriousness made her heartbeat skip, my ears caught the faint hitch.
“What do you need?” she asked shakily.
I placed the docunts in her hands. “I need to open a store. I can’t manage it myself... but you can. I’ll pay you three tis your current salary. If the business grows, your pay will too.”
Her eyes widened. The papers almost slipped.
“Why?” she asked, confused. “You’re... Luna Aria. Why go through all this trouble?”
I forced a smile. “Consider it a personal venture.”
But my wolf huffed. Tell her we have no pack. Tell her we stand alone. I didn’t, Sandra already knew all that.
anwhile, the internet was still ablaze with accusations and scandals, far more than should exist if the Hemsworth PR team had truly handled it.
Soone powerful was pulling the strings. I knew Sophia and Jessica had sothing to do with it...but what if soone more powerful was also involved?.
My lips pressed into a thin line. Nathan’s dismissiveness had been the final blow.
My wolf growled low whenever I rembered it.
“If no one will help us,” I thought, “then I’ll build sothing that others will seek help from.”
I would no longer be a woman begging for protection. I’d beco a woman others needed.
Sandra hesitated, fear flickering in her scent. “Let think it over,” she murmured.
I nodded gently. “Of course. Take your ti.”
She walked out.
My next stop was Kara.
The mont I told her about working for , she nearly shouted, “What? I’d be working for you? Like so movie where you’re the badass boss and I’m the manager?”
I couldn’t help but laugh weakly. “You could say that.”
Kara slapped her thigh. “I’m in! I always knew you were tougher than you looked.”
Unlike Sandra’s caution, Kara’s scent carried bright, fiery and protective loyalty.
I handed her the docunts Sandra never took.
“This is the deed. The store’s on Cedarwood Avenue.”
Kara flipped through the design sketches I created.
“Wait—these are yours?”
“Yes.”
My wolf perked up with pride. We made those. It was our work.
Kara stared at like she was seeing for the first ti.
“Aria... you’re incredible.”
I swallowed hard. The warmth in her scent eased sothing tight in my chest.
“I’ll send you the renovation plans later,” I said.
“You do that. I’m tired of working here,” she joked.
After we parted ways, I took a cab back to Hemsworth Villa.
Dusk cloaked the sky.
As I stepped out, another taxi rolled up beside .
“Miss, do you need a cab?” the driver asked.
I blinked. Why? I just got out of one.
“No, thanks,” I said quickly, turning away.
My heart thumped faster.
I missed Lana. I needed to sll her lavender-sweet scent again.
My steps quickened.
Then— I heard footsteps.
They were fast, coming up behind .
Before I could turn, a brutal force yanked my hair back. Pain shot across my scalp.
My wolf roared in fury wanting to take charge.
A foul breath grazed my ear as a voice hissed:
“Bitch... you think you can run?”
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