Chapter 111
Chapter 111
Aria’s POV
Find my parents? I frowned at this idea.
“We already tried tracking down my mother before,”
my
chest tightening. “But that turned out to be a dead end… maybe she’s dead already.
Malik winced, clearly awkward. “I–I’m sorry. Then what
about
your father?”
“No. Not my father.”
The words shot out of me instantly.
Because my father was the worst scumbag I’ve ever known.
He was a gambler. A drunk. A violent, selfish bastard.
He never cared about family, never cared about me. All he’s ever loved was money and himself. I believed he would sell his own soul if it paid well enough.
I never understood why my mother–a woman so beautiful, radiant, full of life–ever married him. But I do understand why she ran. That was the smartest, bravest choice she ever made.
And I know, without a single doubt, that if I hadn’t dragged my grandmother away from him, he would’ve destroyed our lives too.
So I would not let him walk back into my life ever again.
“I don’t want to contact my father,” I said gloomily.
Grayson frowned at me. “But if he’s the only way to save you, then we’ll have no choice but to find him. Don’t worry–he’ll never hurt you again.”
He’s right. With Grayson by my side, there wasn’t a single person on earth who could harm me anymore.
But instead of comfort, unease twisted in my gut.
Because the last thing I wanted was for Grayson to see my father. To see what kind of blood I came from. And worse, I had a sick feeling my father would tear our lives apart the moment he got close.
“I really don’t think he’s the answer,” I repeated. “You don’t know him. This man wouldn’t even change my diaper when I was a baby. Do you really think he’s capable of casting a complex spell on my wolf? Please. He’d never bother. It’s too much work. And it’s way out of his league.”
Grayson seemed irritated. “But your condition can’t keep dragging on. We need to find a solution.”
“Well…” Malik scratched his head, carefully interrupting. “I can try to slow the wolf’s decline, buy us some more time. In the meantime, maybe you can keep searching for your mother. Who knows? Maybe she’s hiding out in the mountains somewhere, sipping wine and living her best life.”
Grayson’s jaw tensed. He didn’t like the idea, obviously.
But when I gave him my best pleading look, he finally nodded. Reluctantly.
“Then do not disappoint me,” he told Malik, his voice sharp as a whip. “You saw what happened to your predecessor.”
Poor Malik went stiff like he’d just been struck “I–I won’t. Please believe me, Alpha Grayson.”
After a long, chaotic day like that, I was beyond exhausted. Even though dawn had broken, I fell asleep the moment I touched the bed. So deeply that I didn’t even know how I got onto the plane.
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Chapter 111
When I finally blinked awake, we were already in the air, heading home to Red Stone Pack.
“You’re up.”
Grayson was sitting right next to me.
He tossed his paperwork aside the second I moved. He leaned in, planting a soft kiss on my cheek. I couldn’t help but let out a little groan of content, melting into that brief, stolen peace. After everything we went through lately, it felt so damn precious.
“How do you feel?” His hand slid through my hair. “Any nausea? Fatigue? Do you need to sleep more?”
I laughed, sitting up to wrap my arms around him. “I’m fine. You don’t have to treat me like I’m made of glass.”
He scowled. “I’m just worried. And I still want you under the care of someone more experienced. Malik looks…very unprofessional.”
“At least he actually cares about his patients.” I argued for my new personal healer. “Unlike the so–called ‘world’s best healer‘ who nearly killed me.
I clearly hit a sore spot. Because Grayson’s grip on me suddenly tightened, his face darkened. I could feel his walf stir, restless, snarling and pacing like a beast trapped in a cage.
I wanted to release a trace of my scent to soothe him, but my wolf was too weak. Nothing came out. Shit it was so frustrating.
“This might be the single greatest mistake of my life…Believing Otto’s lies,” he rasped, clutching my hand. “The thought of losing you–Aria, it kept me awake at night. I couldn’t breathe.”
“Your mistake wasn’t trusting Otto. It was trusting Isla,” I said firmly.
His brows snapped together. I rushed on. “I mean it, Grayson. Don’t you see the pattern? Ever since she showed up, everything’s been chaos. She’s a liar, someone very good at pretending. I can tell you, she’s a totally different person when it’s just me and her-”
A voice cut me off, smooth and mocking from the back of the plane:
“Oh really? Am I?”
My head snapped up. Isla leaned casually against the cabin door, a cold little smile tugging at her lips.
I shot to my feet. “What the hell are you doing here?”
She folded her arms, smirking. “I needed a ride back to Red Stone Pack. And Grayson was generous enough to offer.”
My stomach dropped.
Back to OUR pack?
whipped around to Grayson, my fury sparking. “Why the hell is she following us home? Doesn’t she have her own damn place to go?”
“Isla has property in Red Stone. She’s not following us, Aria. We’re just giving her a lift.” Grayson said in that calm, steady tone he always used when he wanted me to cool down.
But how the hell was I supposed to stay calm? Sharing air with this woman made me want to jump out of the plane!
“Look,” Isla said lightly, “I know you and I have some… misunderstandings. So just give me a chance, Aria, and maybe I can prove I’m not the monster you think I am.”
Too late. Maybe once, when we first met, I might’ve believed her bullshit. But I knew better now.
“No thanks,” I said coldly. “I don’t make friends with people who try to murder me.”
Her smile vanished,
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15:21 Wed, 20 Aug
Chapter 111
“You clearly don’t understand how serious it is to accuse a noble, little girl.” She sniffed. “This isn’t some high school catfight. Going after a noble like me could cost you your life.”
I met her gaze without blinking. “I know. And I’ll take my chances.”
“Enough,” Grayson cut in, his voice like steel. “Isla, go sit down. We’ll be landing soon.”
She shrugged and walked off. The second she was gone, I spun on him. “What the hell was that?!”
“We can’t keep fighting about the same thing, Aria,” he said flatly.
“Well I agree. Just get Isla out of our lives and problem solved.”
“That’s the point. Isla’s been in my life a very long time–long before you. I know her. And in all those years, no one has ever said a bad word about her. You’re the only one who sees her this way.”
My stomach dropped and I felt I couldn’t breathe. “So you think I’m lying about her?”
“No. I think you’re letting her matter too much. Once we’re back, you don’t ever have to speak to her again. But asking me to cut off a friend who’s stood by me for over a decade? That’s hard, Aria. She was there when I went through hell.”
The words gutted my heart.
I slumped into my seat, feeling hollow and helpless inside.
So I had underestimated Isla’s place in his life. They had history. I couldn’t erase that.
And rationally, I knew it made sense. If someone told me to cut ties with May over a few accusations, I’d tell that guy to fuck off as well.
But it still made me feel horrible.
“…I thought I was the one who stood by you when things were hard,” I pouted.
Grayson cupped my face and pressed his lips on mine. He whispered, “You’re the one who’ll be by my side for every moment ahead. That’s what truly matters.”
I still couldn’t shake the heaviness in my chest. He squeezed my hand, trying to lighten the mood.
“Hey, I’ve got a meeting with the elders after we land. Want to come with me? You’ve never seen the council chamber, right? Afterward, we’ll go out to dinner. Just the two of us. It’s been too long since our last date.”
Honestly, Twanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and sulk. But staying home meant stewing in my anger anyway. So maybe a distraction was
better.
So I forced a smile. “Yeah. Sure let’s do that.”
Half an hour later, the plane touched down.
Isla didn’t hover or cling. She vanished faster than I expected, climbing into a waiting car and leaving us behind.
But my gut told me she wasn’t done with us. Soon/she’d come back with another evil scheme and try to ruin my life again.
Grayson and I drove straight to the packhouse. He had his meeting with the elders, and I followed in,
It was my first time near the council chamber. Before, I never had the right. But now, with Grayson’s hand around my waist, I could walk anywhere in Red Stone without a single barrier.
While they met behind closed doors, I wandered through the grand halls. This place was the sacred heart of the pack and it gleamed with power, ancient and grand.
15:21 Wed, 20 Aug
Chapter 111
Hours slipped by. I got bored and circled back. I wanted to see if their theeting had ended yet.
“…Alpha, you’ll soon be celebrating your 29th birthday. Please forgive my boldness, but you do need a wife. And this pack needs a Luna and heir
I froze, breath caught in my throat, as I listened to the conversation inside.
