Aria’s POV
I lifted Lana into my arms, already turning away.
Ethan hesitated for barely a second before obeying. He stepped forward, opening the door, his stance unyielding. “Please leave.”
Sophia’s face drained of color. She hadn’t expected defiance.
“Ethan,” she warned, “think carefully! Mom and Aunt have already inford Nathan. They’re guests of Hemsworth Villa!”
Ethan’s movent stalled at Sophia’s sharp words. I saw his shoulders tense as he looked back at , uncertainty flickering across his face.
I lifted an eyebrow, my wolf stirring beneath my skin, ready to speak...
“Then please, leave.”
The voice ca from the doorway, lazy, arrogant, unmistakably male.
Every head snapped toward the entrance.
Sophia and the two won froze, irritation flashing across their faces at being interrupted. For a heartbeat, even Margaret looked stunned. Sophia’s eyes lit up when she saw who it was, then went blank, as if her thoughts had scattered all at once.
It was Rowland.
He leaned casually against the doorfra, his long legs crossed, his posture relaxed. But I caught it, the way his gaze lingered on , emotions flickering like embers beneath the surface, warm and steady, like the last glow of sunset before nightfall.
He exhuded alpha energy even from a distance.
He seed like he was in a good mood. If he weren’t, judging by the faint pressure of dominance in the air, he would’ve thrown them out himself without a word.
Ethan straightened imdiately.
He didn’t hesitate anymore. “Ladies, please leave. Let’s not make this any uglier.”
Margaret and Helen exchanged resentful and helpless and glances before turning toward Sophia as if she were their last lifeline.
Sophia, however, had lost her composure. Her face darkened, her scent sharp with anger.
“Make it uglier?” she repeated, her voice rising.
She finished tapping sothing on her phone, then glared at Ethan. “Lay a hand on my family, and I won’t make your life easy.”
That was a blatant threat.
I smirked slightly and shot Ethan a look.
He didn’t delay any further, he moved forward at once.
“Smack—”
Margaret reacted faster than expected, slapping his arm away before he could touch her. Ethan hissed under his breath, pulling back. A long scratch marked his forearm, red and angry where her nails had raked him.
The air in the room dropped several degrees.
“This is Hemsworth Villa, Sophia.” My voice cut through the chaos, low and firm. “I don’t care what you are to Nathan or how much favor you enjoy. If you keep this up, I can guarantee you one thing—”
I stepped forward, my wolf pressing against my skin.
“Even Nathan won’t be able to protect you.”
Silence followed.
Rowland didn’t speak. He simply watched , his interest sharpening into sothing like admiration. I felt his gaze like heat against my back.
Sophia noticed it too.
Her fingers curled as frustration twisted her features. Even if Rowland was only Nathan’s nephew, he carried himself like true nobility. Not as powerful as Nathan, perhaps—but still a top-tier alpha male. And seeing him look at that way clearly gnawed at her.
“Sis,” she said tightly, switching tactics. “I’m your sister. If you hadn’t pushed into the water, Mom and Aunt wouldn’t have traveled all this way for . Emotionally and logically, you shouldn’t treat us like this.”
I didn’t answer her.
Instead, I turned and handed Lana to the nanny who had rushed in after hearing the commotion. I softened my voice just a little. “Take her inside.”
I didn’t want my daughter’s first mories of her maternal family to be filled with shouting, threats, and tension.
The nanny nodded nervously and turned to leave...
Only for Aunt Helen to step in her way.
Her gaze dropped to the bundle in the nanny’s arms.
Lana chose that mont to scrunch her tiny nose, letting out an annoyed little sound, as if offended by the stare. Lana’s temper flared even at this age.
Good girl, my wolf purred.
Helen scoffed and turned her sneer on . “Aria, Hemsworth Villa belongs to Alpha Nathan. You’re just Luna Aria in na. Do you really think you matter that much?”
Her laugh was cold and biting.
“As an elder, I’m advising you kindly,” she continued. “Don’t confuse goodwill for malice. Who knows where you picked up this bastard—”
The world snapped red.
“Smack—!”
The sound rang through the villa.
Helen’s head snapped to the side, eyes wide with disbelief.
“Aria!” she scread a heartbeat later, clutching her face. Rage flooded her scent as she glared at , like she wanted to tear apart with her bare hands.
My chest heaved, fury pounding against my ribs, my wolf snarling so loudly in my head it nearly drowned out everything else.
“Take my pup away!” I barked, my gaze turning icy as it landed on the nanny.
User Comments
0 comments from readers