Chapter 55
Aria’s POV
I couldn’t believe Grayson’s first love was also from Frostpine.
But that girl couldn’t possibly be me.
First of all, I didn’t remember ever living in Europe with my mom.
And second, I definitely wasn’t some kind of noble.
“They never tried to find that girl again?” I asked, With the tail family’s resources, finding anyone should be a piece of cake
“Of course they tried. But the moment she and her mother entered Frostple Pack, they vanished,” Zane shrugged. “Guess they realized how much of a mess Grayson was and didn’t want to be part of it
Bitterness tightened in my chest. “So he lost her and then met slain college?”
“Yeah. Their spark was intense. You wouldn’t believe how fast they fell in love. It was crazy. Within a year, they were madly in love, moved in together, got engaged, and married. All the stuff that takes other couples five years? They did it in one.”
I knew I was torturing myself listening to this love story, but I couldn’t stop. “With their money and power, that should’ve been a huge, fairy–tale wedding But why have I never heard of Alpha Grayson being married?”
“Isla wanted to keep it low–key. She didn’t like flashy stuff. So they only invited only a handful of close friends and family. I was there. It was small, but honestly, you could feel the love in the room. At least back then.”
I stayed silent, because I knew where this was going
“But not long after the wedding, things went downhill Fast. Their fights were so explosive, all of their friends knew. The way they loved hard? That’s exactly how hard they clashed too.”
“What did they fight about?”
He gave a helpless shrug: “Everything. From what teacups to use, to where they should live, Isla’s scent helped calm him a little, but not enough. His mood swings were still spiraling. Barely 2 years in, she couldn’t take it anymore and asked for a divorce.
“And what did he do?” It must be devastated. Considering how much he loved her.
“No clue what he felt deep down. But on the surface he kept it cool. He agreed right away. Said he’d rather set her free than keep her miserable. Even till today he’s still paying her a massive amount of alimony.”
Jlet out a dry laugh.
Wow. He must’ve loved her like crazy.
Loved her so much he’d rather suffer than trap her.
And then look at how he treated me. All control, thyeats, and power plays. There was no love in it. None
Zane must’ve seen the change in my expression, He gently squeezed my hand. “Don’t let that asshole make you feel like you’re not enough. As you can see, the guy doesn’t even know how to love sorfoone properly”
“Yeah, I know,” I whispered.
The only girl who might’ve truly matched him was that childhood crush. But she disappeared. And every woman who came alter her–including me—just wasn’t good enough in his eyes.
1/3
Chapter 55
We stayed cramped in that hot truck for another 3 or 4 hours. Just when it felt like everyone was about to snap from exhaustion, the truck fruity the highway.
We stopped. David came to open the doors,
“Congrats guys. We’ve arrived,” he said.
We helped transfer my grandma from the cot to a wheelchair and rolled her out of the truck
And right away, the fresh air bit us like a blessing
This place was clearly far away from any big cities. All I could see were endless mountains and thick forests. It was ridiculously green and beautiful if you were looking for a place to disappear, this was il
“Whoa,” May breathed looking around. Some color returned to her pale face. “This place is amazing
“I know,” Zane said, smiling. He pointed to a tall mountain in the distance, “Our hi importantly, it’s completely, one hundred percent safe.”
i hideout is just past that ridge. It’s a small, perfect pack. And more
So… how long
are we staying!” May asked.
“Until the outside world calms down. I’d guess anywhere between three weeks to two months. Don’t worry, the place maybe semote, but it’s fully equipped. No caveman life for us.
May and I exchanged a look and laughed. “Living in a place like this… we might never want to leave.”
Zane said he was
was going to check if the boat picking us up had arrived. I stayed behind with May and Grandma.
I dug a comb from my backpack and started gently braiding Grandma’s tangled hair. She looked so much better already, like just being out of that awful nursing home gave her life again,
“Hey… did you tell your dad you’re leaving? May leaned in and asked.
“No,” said quietly.
“Are you going to?”
I took a deep breath. “No. I don’t think so.”
When I brought Grandma to Red Stone Pack a few years ago, my dad had chosen to stay behind in Frostpine Pack. He was too comfortable with his mess of a life–drinking, gambling, not having to do nothing useful.
We never cut contact completely. Every now and then, he’d call me asking for money to pay off his debts. If I didn’t help, he’d threaten to come to where
lived and make a scene.
I’d never been able to save anything. All my money either went to Grandma’s care or paying off my dad’s mistakes.
But that stops now.
“I think I’m gonna run… I should run from everything, you know?” I told May “My mom ran away and dumped all th for being selfish. But I still carried everything she lyft behind. But now I’m done, I think I deserve a brand new life”
“Damn right you do.” May hugged me hard. “You deserve the best.”
That’s when Zane came jogging back, waving it us
“Hey! Boat’s here! Time to go!” he cried.
We pushed Grandma’s wheelchair and followed him,
nsibility on me thated her
Chapter 55
After a short walk along a rocky forest path, we reached the edge of a like. A deek catamaran was docked, waiting for us.
“My guy will take us the rest of the way by watre. We’ll need to spend one night onboard. Tim sorry it’s been such a long journey, but were a
Zane told us
“You’ve done so much already. Anything we can help with?
“Yeah, Aria, can you help me get the bags onboard?”
“Of course.”
We loaded the luggage and Grandma’s medicine onto the boat. It was quiet onboard–too quiet. All I could hear was the gentle sloshing of water and wind rustling through the trees. There didn’t seem to be anyone else aboard.
“That’s weird. Where is he?” Zane mittered, heading toward the cockpit. “Carlos Don’t be lazy ass, come out and give us a hand!”
I followed him inside.
Just ahead, the sliding cockpit door opened. A man stepped out.
I knew instantly he wasn’t Zane’s guy.
First because he carried a dangerously regal aura. The kind that screamed alpha and made your blood freeze.
Second… he looked exactly like Zane. Red hair. Blue eyes.
“Hello there.”
The man smiled, and it was the creepiest damn thing I’d ever seen.
“Not
ona hi to your big brother?”
Zane froze for two whole seconds. Then suddenly wheeled around and shouted:
“Aria–RUN!!!
I didn’t wait for him to say it again. I spun on my heels and bolted out of the cabin.
“May!
May!” I screamed to her and Grandma up on the dock. “Run! Get out of here! It’s not safe
A hand clamped over my mouth from behind.
I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
That tall, powerful body. The way his muscular chest pressed against my back. The cold scent of pine woods in the air around me.
His voice brushed my ear like a racor
AD
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