Nathan’s POV
I sat alone in my study, the light still turned on.
The house was quiet, but my wolf wasn’t. It paced restlessly beneath my skin, claws scraping against my ribs as if the space itself rejected stillness. I braced my arms on the desk, my shoulders tense, my jaw locked. The Alpha of the Ironclaw pack didn’t get the luxury of distraction.
I got a call, It was Collins.
“Alpha Nathan,” Collins’s voice ca through the phone, steady and efficient. “We’re controlling the online narrative. Discussions about Luna Aria are mostly positive now.”
I gave a brief nod, though he couldn’t see it.
“Good.”
The single word was clipped and final.
Collins hesitated. He knew my moods too well, knew when to retreat before getting caught in the storm. He made a quick excuse and ended the call.
I set the phone down and leaned back, staring at nothing.
Agreeing to apply pressure on Lucious for Sophia had been a calculated move. A warning growl, nothing more. I hadn’t expected it to snap back and drag Aria into another public hunt.
The mont I realized what was happening, I’d ordered Collins to clean it up with the evidence gathered and narratives corrected.
The result was exactly as predicted.
And yet...
My brow tightened. Power sat heavy on my shoulders, but it didn’t reach where it mattered.
Aria’s eyes burned behind my lids.
That cold, furious glare, stripped of everything except defiance, hit harder than any challenge I’d ever faced. I’d stood against rival Alphas, crushed hostile takeovers, forced entire packs into submission.
But her?
Against her, I was helpless.
My wolf, proud and dominant, didn’t snarl at the thought. It went still, feeling subdued. As if recognizing a bond with a woman that has constantly neglected us.
Rays of sunlight soon started filtering in through the windows in my study. Morning had already arrived and I was still in my head, alone in the study. I rose to my feet and stepped outside, wanting to clear my head.
I exhaled slowly and brought a stick of cigarette to my lips, then lit it. The smoke curled upward, silver and lazy, twisting like a restless spirit under the light.
The door to Aria’s room opened and she walked straight into in her pajamas.
For a split second, even I wondered if she was real.
Aria froze upon seeing , her eyes flickering with surprise, as if she’d stumbled upon a mirage. I didn’t bla her. It was rare for to still be in the villa when the sun was already high. Daylight belonged to boardrooms and enemies, not sleepless Alphas pacing their territory.
She recovered quickly. As if I were nothing more than a passing draft, she stepped around , heading towards the kitchen without a word, without a glance.
My wolf stiffened.
I stood there longer than I should have. Dayti insomnia had left my mind dulled, my body heavy, my wolf restless and irritated. Sleep had refused all night, leaving behind only exhaustion and a low, simring disorientation.
I decided to go to work simply because staying here was worse.
My gaze drifted to the kitchen where Aria had entered. It took effort to tear myself away.
When I was done refreshing and dressed up for work, Collins knocked and stepped in to fetch , he stopped short.
“Alpha Nathan?!”
Even years of polished professionalism couldn’t stop the shock from slipping out. I caught my reflection faintly in the glass. My features were drawn. I had shadowed eyes and the unmistakable look of an Alpha who hadn’t rested.
I shot Collins a cold look.
The temperature in the room seed to drop. He stiffened imdiately, coughing awkwardly as he covered his mouth.
“Did you... not sleep at all?” he asked cautiously. “Are you sure you don’t need to rest?”
I didn’t answer the concern.
“Let’s head to the office.”
My voice was sharp and unfriendly.
Collins didn’t dare say another word. He turned at once and hurried to open the car door for .
Aria’s POV
When I returned from the kitchen, turned my attention back to Lana, setting the small bowl of warm porridge beside the bed.
Her unfocused eyes brightened instantly.
The mont she leaned forward and began lapping at the porridge with her tiny pink tongue, my heart softened completely. My wolf curled close, soothed by the simple, dostic rhythm of feeding my pup There was nothing fragile about her hunger, only trust.
The bowl was empty far too quickly.
I wiped her lips gently, my chest tightening as I took in how eagerly she’d eaten.
I didn’t know who had stepped in last night, but the change in public opinion was undeniable.
Lucious’s second trial was approaching.
But with the current uproar online, he wouldn’t be able to whip up much chaos this ti. The crowd had learned to sniff out lies, like a pack recognizing the scent of rot.
Sophia had agreed to represent Lucious pro bono. The odds of winning were laughably slim.
I can’t wait for when the final verdict is out.
User Comments
0 comments from readers