Nathan’s POV
“Alright. I’ll let you know when Grandma lands,” I said quickly, unable to hide the urgency in my voice.
“Okay,” Aria replied.
Then the line went dead.
I stared at the phone for a mont, my heart still pounding like I’d just finished a hunt.
She agreed. She was coming to Crescent Manor.
My wolf lifted its head, alert, restless and almost disbelieving.
Across from , my grandma stood with her arms crossed, looking far too satisfied. She had co to Asterfell earlier today, less than twenty hours after I reached out to her for help.
“You’d better not stay in the office this afternoon,” she said. “Go to Crescent Manor, prepare and have your mother’s room cleaned.”
I frowned. “Aria said she won’t stay overnight.”
The faint smile on my face faded. Grandma rolled her eyes like I’d just said sothing unbelievably stupid.
“She says she won’t stay,” she repeated. “And you don’t know how to persuade her?”
My wolf twitched.
“Crescent Manor is far from her estate,” she continued. “If you keep her late, she won’t have a choice but to stay.”
I blinked. That felt... like a trap.
“Grandma,” I said carefully, “isn’t that a bit manipulative?”
She stared at like I’d lost my mind.
“Manipulative?” she snapped, hands going to her hips. “Nathan, you already lost your mate once. I’m helping you bring her back. You’re worried about being manipulative?”
My wolf flinched.
“Wait until you lose both your mate and your pup,” she said sharply, “then tell how noble you feel!”
That shut up.
Images hit —Aria gone, Lana growing up calling another male “father.”
My chest tightened painfully.
No. I couldn’t accept that future. I lowered my gaze slightly. “I understand.”
This wasn’t about any other thing, it was about not losing my family again.
Grandma nodded, satisfied. “Good. Now go and prepare properly.”
Aria’s POV
Lana was warm and soft in my arms, her tiny scent wrapping around my senses.
Monts like this were rare.
No politics, no pack pressure, no past haunting . Just ... and my pup.
“I should get sothing for Nathan’s grandma,” I murmured, stepping into the jewelry store. My wolf was calm today, lulled by Lana’s presence.
I spotted a bracelet I liked and smiled faintly. “Hello, this—”
“I’ll take that. Wrap it up.” A sharp female voice sliced through the air.
My brows twitched. I turned.
A young woman stood there, dressed in luxury, her chin lifted, her eyes full of challenge. She looked spoiled and was territorial in the most childish way.
I ignored her.
Since becoming a mother, little provocations like this felt... small. I moved to another tray. I spotted an elegant erald bead.
“Hello, this—”
“I’ll take this one too.” The young lady said again.
Now my wolf lifted its head, not threatened, just... curious. I looked at her. She arched a brow at like this was so kind of dominance ga.
I’d never seen her before. This was completely strange.
I simply walked to another counter.
Click...Click...Click.
Her heels followed .
I stopped at a pink diamond bracelet.
“This—” I had not finished speaking when she interrupted.
“I want that too.”
Butterfly brooch.
“Could you—” I started to say.
“Wrap it.” The woman said.
People were watching now. Sales associates pretending not to stare.
I wasn’t angry. Honestly? It was almost funny. A younger wolf trying to snarl at a full-grown wolf.
“This one,” I said, pointing at a rare pearl necklace.
“I’ll take—” she began to say.
“Miss!” Her bodyguard cut in, strained. “You’ve almost exceeded the budget your father gave you—”
Her face turned red.
“Do you want to wrap it?” the salesgirl asked eagerly.
The young woman snapped, “It’s ugly! Did I say I wanted it? Unlike soone, I have taste.”
Ah...So that was the ga.
I smiled gently. “She’s right. These are ordinary. I almost made a mistake. Thank you for reminding .”
Silence dropped over the store. Her face shifted from red... to green.
I took out my phone.
“Jonathan? Can you design a custom brooch for ? A nightingale.”
“When do you need it?” Jonathan asked.
“Tonight.”
There was a pause, there was a chuckle. “That’s tight, but for you? I’ll try.”
I hung up, satisfied. As I turned to leave, a hand grabbed my shoulder.
“You dare ss with ?!” the young lady hissed, her eyes bloodshot.
ss with her? I tilted my head innocently. “Miss, I don’t understand.”
That made her angrier.
But her bodyguard grabbed her wrist. “Miss! We’re here to et Alpha Nathan. Please don’t cause trouble!”
Nathan.
So that’s the connection.
The man bowed slightly to . “My apologies.”
I smiled. “No harm done. But your Miss seems overheated. There’s an ice cream shop outside.”
Then I walked away.
As I turned, Lana’s little face peeked out.
The girl froze.
My sharp ears picked her words. “Bill... did you see that?”
“...Yes,” he murmured.
I didn’t hear the rest, I didn’t care. I suspect she targeted on purpose. The fact that she knew Nathan made my suspicion very plausible.
Outside, the air felt lighter. I adjusted Lana in my arms. She grabbed my hair, giggling.
My arms ached slightly, but my heart felt full.
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