Aria’s POV
Jackson stood a few steps away from , and even without looking directly at him, I could hear the frantic rhythm of his heartbeat as he waited for to answer his question.
I let my gaze flick to him.
“Your father helped soone bury the truth,” I said, my voice calm but edged with steel. “And in doing that, he made the scapegoat. I need him to confess to what he did.”
I didn’t raise my voice. It was as low and calm as possible. None of this was Jackson’s fault, it was his father’s. My wolf pressed close beneath my skin, restless, anger simring like heat under fur.
Jackson’s scent spiked with a mix of worry and anxiety. He glanced at his father and then at . Then gradually he was calm again. I could tell he knew right from wrong. He understood that what I told him was nothing but the truth. His father had also not denied it.
He trusted . I’d seen it these past few days in the way he hovered near , and the way his posture changes whenever I walked into the room.
“This might be for the best,” Tyler said.
I turned to him.
The man looked smaller now. His shoulders were sagged like wet cloth as if in resignation... and fear.
He gave a strained smile. “Since Jackson trusts you, Ms. Darvin... I hope you keep your word and leave my wife and child out of this. They had nothing to do with it.”
“Co out with Francis,” I said, my brows knitting. “You’ll answer for what you’ve done through the legal system.”
His head snapped up. “What? After everything I’ve done to you... you don’t want to exact personal revenge?”
Revenge.
For a second, I imagined it. That was not my style.
I rubbed my forehead, exhaustion sinking into my bones. “I am not interested in revenge, all I want is justice. The system will deal with you.”
“Francis,” I said sharply, urgency creeping into my tone, “get him out. Now.”
Francis nodded his head at .
“Shall we?” he asked Tyler.
“Let’s go,” Tyler muttered, gripping his wife’s hand like she might disappear. They moved quickly, keeping low as they headed toward the periter wall.
I watched as they navigated the warehouse, staying hidden.
Behind them, the man who had helped Francis lagged, tidying up the path they took, erasing traces of their footprints.
Just then, a voice rang out, slicing through the night.
“Who’s there, sneaking around?!”
All of them froze.
My muscles locked as I watched them.
“What’s with the yelling at this hour?” another voice barked, heavier and authoritative.
The man who had helped Francis reacted first. He stepped forward casually, like he hadn’t just helped smuggle out a criminal.
I couldn’t see them clearly because Francis had hidden with the couple..
“Oh— Mr. Terry! I was wondering who’d be out here so late.”
“Can’t a guy take a walk after dinner?” Terry snapped, hands on his hips. “You’re the guard, right? Then guard. Why don’t you go check my uncle’s office instead?”
The guard shrank instantly. “Of course, of course,” he babbled. “I’ll check elsewhere.”
He scurried off.
Francis shot Terry a grateful look. Terry flicked away a toothpick he’d been chewing like this was all a joke.
“Next ti,” he muttered, “don’t count on m—”
THUD.
A kick landed square on him from behind before he could finish.
“Watch your mouth, kid! That’s Mr. Francis Murray you’re talking to!”
Terry yelped, clutching his backside, spinning around. His uncle stood there, panting, one hand on his belly, glaring like an angry bulldog.
“Mr. Murray?” Terry blurted in awe.
I stayed silent, listening. They must know Francis by na and not by face.
“Thank you both,” Francis said on the other end, his voice low and steady. “We’re leaving. If anyone asks, you didn’t see us.”
Just as they turned to leave, another voice...older, rougher and nervous called out.
“Mr. Murray!”
I straightened. It was Terry’s uncle.
Francis paused and turned “Yes?”
“The factory is covered in caras,” the man said, words tumbling out. “We can hide things for a while... but eventually they’ll find out. About what you promised...”
My jaw tightened.
Even in the wolf world, promises were binding. More binding than contracts. Break one, and your na rotted in every pack.
“It still stands,” Francis said firmly. “You won’t have to wait long.”
Good response. I exhaled slowly through my nose. He’d said exactly what I would’ve.
“Got it!”
A mont later, I heard a grunt of effort.
I could hear the faint scrape of Francis palm against the wall as he scaled the fence of the building to the other side where Alia and Chloe were already in position.
Tyler helped his wife over next. Then he climbed over himself.
“Get in the car!” Chloe called opening the car door.
I heard footsteps. Then—
A sudden shift.
Footsteps breaking pattern, fast.
“What the hell...” Chloe hissed.
“Dammit!” she swore, and I heard running.
I had no clear visuals on Chloe as the cara had beco dark outside. I shot to my feet.
“What is going on?”
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