Nathan’s POV
My eyes were unfocused, vision swimming in the dim light. The alcohol clung to my senses like fog, thick and suffocating. I could barely sit up; every movent sent the room spinning. My wolf lay curled sowhere inside , groggy from the liquor, claws hesitant to surface.
But through it all... I saw her.
Or thought I did.
"Aria..." Her na slipped from my lips, raw and broken. My mouth felt dry, like I’d swallowed sand. The figure standing at the foot of the bed wore white...soft, fluttering with the breeze through the cracked window. Just like Aria always did when she haunted my dreams.
My heart stuttered, just once, like it couldn’t decide whether to beat or break.
Is this a dream?
Moon, spirits, ancestors... if it is, don’t let wake up.
A soft whisper leaned into my ear. "Nathan..."
That voice...for so reason, it didn’t stir anything within . Sothing was wrong. Sothing felt off. My wolf twitched uneasily, stirring, its nose lifting for a scent. Alcohol dulled , it muddied everything, but I caught it...it wasn’t Aria’s scent.
Still... I wanted it to be her. Goddess, I wanted it to be my Aria.
The voice cut through the haze. "Nathan, I’m Aria. You can do whatever you want with ."
Her tone dripped with sweetness and seduction. Like she was trying to be Aria and hoping I wouldn’t notice.
My gaze tried to focus, to see her. My fingers twitched.
"Do... whatever I want?" the words stumbled out of , slurred.
"Yes. Of course," she purred.
Finally, I moved. My hand shot out, faster than I thought I could manage, my claws threatening to slip beneath my skin. I grabbed her wrist...hard.
"Aria," I breathed, trying to anchor her ghost with my grip. "Give another chance... please?"
She went still. Silence swallowed the room. I didn’t care. I couldn’t.
"Bring Lana back to Hemsworth Villa," I whispered, my eyes heavy and my heart bare. "I’ll do my best to protect you, both of you."
My wolf pushed forward at the words, whining, tail tucked. Our pup...Our mate.
She pulled at her dress, baring her shoulder like an offering. "Nathan...you can have all to yourself" she said, her voice soft, trembling and desperate.
Sothing in snapped. My wolf surged, sickened.
In an instant, I shoved her away,
"You’re not Aria." My voice was gravel, fractured at the edges. "Who are you..."
Her scent hit with full-force then. It was Sophia.
She tried again anyway. "Nathan, I am Aria. I’ve co back to you."
"Sophia."
Her na ca out in a low growl, and the temperature dropped. Frost crept along my veins. Even drunk, even broken, I could recognize the ache in my bones that belonged to one woman only.
She flinched. My heart thundered in my chest, out of rhythm, out of control. My wolf paced frantically within .
Just then the door slamd open.
BAM...
Aria’s POV
Rowland’s boot slamd into the door, splintering wood with a thunderous crack. The scent of dust and panic rushed out to et us.
I stood beside him, my arms crossed, my brow furrowed.
Sophia gasped as soon as she saw us, her eyes widening as she realized she’d been outplayed.
"Aria?!" she hissed. "What the hell do you think you’re doing?!"
Hearing my na, the world seed to pause.
"Aria..."
Nathan’s voice reached .
My heart stuttered. I turned, and there he was, no longer a vague mory across a table, but flesh and blood. His eyes were clouded, yes, but there was clarity behind them.
He stood, stumbling toward .
"Aria." His voice cracked. He reached for .
I froze, just long enough for Rowland to step between us, his hand clamping on Nathan’s shoulder. The air shifted; a low growl escaped Nathan.
Rowland arched a brow, glancing between us.
"Is he really drunk? Doesn’t look that way to ."
I tore my gaze from Nathan, barely. "He’s drunk enough to be foolish," I muttered. Drunk enough to be deceived by a woman. My wolf snarled at the thought.
Sophia stord toward us, her heels clicking like weapons.
"Why are you here? I booked this place exclusively! How did you even get in?!"
Her scent was sour with a mix of fear and desperation. She reeked of false bravado.
I looked her dead in the eyes.
"Are you aware what you’re doing is illegal?"
Her pulse spiked. She forced a laugh, brittle and thin.
"Aria, stay out of this. You’re about to get divorced. You’re nothing to Nathan now. You have no say with or Nathan. Just walk away."
My lips curled into a smile, cold and sharp.
"Making you uncomfortable is the entire point."
Her eyes flared, rage sparking, but her wolf stood no chance against mine. My wolf prowled behind my eyes; causing Sophia to stumble back a step.
Rowland leaned closer to , amused. "This is better than TV."
I ignored him.
Sophia snatched the room phone. "Front desk! Get these people out! They have no right to be here!"
Nathan strained against Rowland’s hold, his muscles tense, a faint growl rumbling from him. Even in his drunk state, his wolf was making an effort to steady him.
The front desk replied, voice crisp:
"Apologies, Ms. Darvin. Given the identities of these individuals... we must comply with their requests."
Click. The call ended abruptly.
Sophia stared at the receiver, speechless.
I clapped once, slow.
"So," I said, tilting my head, "will you leave on your own, or should I have soone escort you?"
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