Nathan’s POV
I saw the disbelief on Aria’s face, the shock in Alia and Chloe’s eyes. Collins froze for a mont too, registering the predator I had beco, tense and unrestrained and for the first ti, I felt real fear.
Fear that everyone viewed as a monster that I was not. My jaw tightened and I took control of my wolf, rearing it in. I released Aria’s wrist.
She retreated inside, her eyes wary.
She was about to close the door when i stopped it gently with my hand.
The space between Aria and was the width of a hand, but it felt like a canyon. My throat burned, my chest tight like I’d run miles in wolf form.
Just then, I sensed Rowland’s presence, he was on his way up.
“Is it because of Rowland that you won’t forgive , Aria?” The second her na and his were in the sa sentence, my wolf surged forward, claws scraping the inside of my bones. I tasted iron at the back of my throat.
Aria’s eyes snapped to mine and gods, I used to live in that gaze. Now it was winter, pure, cutting winter.
“Rowland?” Anger flickered in her scent.
“How could this possibly be about , Uncle Nathan? I know I can be quite charming but Aria hasn’t given in to the idea of being with .”
Rowland’s words infuriated . Every muscle in my body went rigid.
Everyone turned in his direction. He was now standing beside , in casual clothes, wearing a smug grin on his face.
Aria frowned and moved to him without thinking.
My wolf snarled low in my chest.
“Why are you out of the hospital already?” she asked, already checking him over like he belonged to her.
He shrugged and grinned. “I wanted to surprise you. So as soon as I got discharged, I ca straight to you. I hope you do not mind?”
I hope you do you mind?
I did.
I minded the way she touched him. I minded the way his pulse ticked faster when she did. The way she didn’t step back. The way her scent softened just a fraction around him.
She sighed and pushed his face away by the forehead. That should’ve cald but it didn’t.
Because she was still close enough to feel his warmth. Chloe gagged and Alia laughed.
They all ignored , all four of them, like I was already a ghost. Their attention was on Rowland.
My fists clenched, my bones creaked and veins stood out along my arms as my wolf pushed against my control, demanding I step forward, bare my throat, stake my claim, do sothing...
But I had no claim anymore.
“Uncle Nathan, what brings you here?” Rowland said at last, fake surprise dripping from every word.
He was enjoying this.
Aria followed his gaze back to , void of warmth. My chest hollowed out.
“Aria,” I said, forcing the wolf down, forcing my voice to stay human and steady. “I will et any demands and make any ands, just for your forgiveness.”
I took a deep agonizing breath and added.
“I’ll wait for you.”
Because that’s what a ex-mate who really wants his mate back does. Even when he’s the one she’s walking away from.
I turned before my control snapped. My jaw ached from clenching. Every step away felt like my spine was being peeled open.
But I stopped.
I looked back at Rowland.
My vision sharpened, predator to predator.
“Rowland,” I said, voice low, edged. “Rember your responsibilities, you’re not a child anymore.”
Then I walked away without looking back.
Aria’s POV
Nathan leaving didn’t bother , but my wolf didn’t like the way his words lingered in the air after he walked off. They clung to my senses, like the scent of blood before a storm.
My brows drew together as I turned to Rowland. “What did he an by that?”
Rowland lifted a shoulder in a helpless shrug. “He’s just being mysterious. Probably jealous of us.”
Jealous.
My wolf stirred, pacing behind my ribs. I narrowed my eyes, studying him the way wolves do when we’re testing truth from lie. I listened for a chnage in his heartbeat and breathing. I checked his eye movent.
Rowland just blinked at , his eyes wide and innocent.
I exhaled slowly and dropped my gaze. Fine, maybe there was really nothing more to it.
I slipped my arm under his, careful of his injuries. “You may be discharged, but your wolf’s still recovering. Don’t stand too long.”
The mont his fingers brushed mine, heat crept up his cheeks. He walked with obediently, but when the others looked ahead, I felt it, just for a second.
His scent spiked with a mix of anger and frustration. I glanced at him in ti to see his eyes slid toward the door Nathan had been standing by. His jaw tightened.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, guiding him into a seat.
He blinked, his expression smoothing over too quickly. “Nothing. The perfu in here is just... dizzying.”
Chloe rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might stick. Alia snorted a laugh. Heat touched my face, and I shot Rowland a warning look.
He shrank a little, unfairly accused, and drank thw water Alia gave him like a scolded pup.
Chloe popped candy into her mouth, her jaw working as she spoke. “Aria, you did the right thing. Nathan doesn’t deserve forgiveness. Money and gifts don’t erase anything. If he really ant his apology, he’d sit in a cell for at least a year.”
My lips curved, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “Of course I won’t forgive him.”
The word forgive tasted bitter.
Alia hesitated, her scent turning cautious. “But... Aria. Lana is both yours and his pup. Are you really going to keep fighting forever?”
Silence swallowed the room.
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