Chapter 86
Aria’s POV
I stared at him defiantly. I had to admit it–I wasn’t as afraid of him as I used to be.
“Why? Because you don’t want me talking shit about your ex–wife?” I sneered.
But he didn’t take the bait. Instead, he just looked at me, deeply.
“No. Because I don’t want to hear you talk about leaving me one day.”
1 froze.
And just like that, all my anger melted into guilt.
God… was I being too harsh on him?
The silence stretched for a second before May cleared her throat awkwardly.
“1–I’ll leave you two to talk,” she mumbled, giving me a wink before darting out the door.
“God, that fight… it was so stupid,” I murmured after the door closed. “I don’t want to argue with you over something so pointless.”
“I agree. I didn’t want to fight either,” he said softly, cupping my face. “But you need to tell me what’s really bothering you.”
I took a breath. “I guess… it’s just your ex–wife in total. How elegant and graceful and beautiful she is. And everyone keeps reminding me how in love you two were. It freaks me out. Oh! And the fact that she’s royal and I’m, well, nothing.”
“I didn’t marry Isla for her status,” he said flatly.
“Then what for?” I pressed. I knew I might regret asking, but I just needed to know.
“She was the only one who could calm me–and my wolf–when we had…our episodes. I felt at ease around her,” he said quietly. “But Aria, you don’t need to worry about any of that. I’m so much more relaxed when I’m with you. What you give me… I’ve never felt that before.”
I smiled, just a little.
I had his heart now. What more could I ask for?
“But if she hadn’t asked for a divorce…would you two still be together?” I asked hesitantly.
He cut me off. “I don’t know what would’ve happened. But she was also a mess back then. She felt trapped around me. And I could tell I was dragging her down, so I let her go. With her, I felt like we were sinking together. But with you… you’re the one pulling me out. I could never let you go the way I let her.”
I stared into his eyes. There was love there. And longing. And I knew he meant every word.
I didn’t need to ask if he loved Isla. I think we both knew the answer.
And I’d heard enough.
I leaned into his chest, and he wrapped his arms around me, stroking my hair.
“So I guess our first fight as a couple is officially over?” he murmured.
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Chapter 86
“It is,” I said with a small laugh. “But I’m still standing firm. I don’t want Isla involved,”
His expression darkened immediately. “Aria…”
“Please?” I pleaded. “It’s already complicated enough. If she starts helping, you’ll see her every day, she’ll be around all the time–and who knows what could happen? I just want a few peaceful days. Besides, maybe something will come up at the Medical Summit. Maybe we’ll find another way to cure me.”
He exhaled heavily. After a pause, he finally nodded.
“Fine. We’ll talk to the healers at the summit first. If we hit a wall, then we’ll consider other options.”
I nodded hard and hugged him tight.
Silently, I prayed for a miracle. Anything that would mean we didn’t need Isla.
“We still need to find a blood match for you,” he added. “Do you have any idea where your mom might be? Anyone she might’ve stayed in contact with?”
I shook my head. “No. She completely disappeared from my life after my childhood. Didn’t even send cards for Christmas or birthdays. I thought your people were good at tracking? Why don’t you find her?”
Honestly, I wasn’t sure I was ready to see my mom again.
But if Grayson did find her…
Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea for her to know I was dating the perfect guy, and we were very happy together.
Yet to my surprise, he shook his head. “I tried. But couldn’t find her anywhere. It’s like she vanished off the face of the earth.”
“What? Not even you could find her?” I blinked in shock.
I thought Grayson could probably find a lost ant in a thunderstorm. And yet he couldn’t find my mother?
A sudden wave of dread surged up in me. If that’s the case, there was only one possible explanation…
“Don’t overthink it,” Grayson said quickly. “If she were dead, my men would locate her body as well. So no–I don’t think something happened to her. She’s probably hiding. For some reason.”
Jinhaled slowly and nodded. “Well, do you want to talk to my grandma? Maybe she remembers something that could help.”
“Good idea. Let’s go.”
We returned to my hospital room. Luckily grandma had just woken up from a nap.
But to our disappointment, her memory was a total mess. Other than my mom’s name–Jolene–she couldn’t recall anything at all.
“You don’t even remember her maiden name before she married your dad?” May asked.
“No. I just remember people calling her Jolene Collins when I was little. She was already using my dad’s name,” I admitted, feeling ashamed.
I knew so little about her.
And for years, I hadn’t even tried to learn more. I’d been too bitter to care.
But now… now I was starting to realize how little I really knew. And just how many secrets she might’ve been hiding.
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Chapter 86
“Don’t worry. We’ll find her. It’s just going to take time,” Grayson said. “Now, I’ve gotta get back to work. There’s a ton of stuff to prep for the summit. Why don’t you spend some time with your grandma and your friend? The driver will take you home later.”
“Okay,” I said, giving him a quick kiss and pushing the stress out of my mind…For now.
May, Grandma, and I went back to the mansion. We enjoyed the lovely afternoon tea the maids had prepared.
Of course, the topic of Isla came up again. And May didn’t hold back.
“That bitch has no intention of helping you,” she growled. “What she said was total bullshit! You know what she’s doing, right? She’s using Alpha Grayson’s concern for you to worm her way back into his life. First it’s, oh, ‘we’ll meet for coffee‘… then they’re in meetings together every day… and if you complain, you’re the ungrateful bitch who doesn’t appreciate the help. Then bang-”
“I get it,” I said grimly. “Grayson remembers what it felt like to have her around. And they get back together.”
“Exactly!” May pointed at me with her cake fork, dead serious. “That’s how every woman gets her ex back. Don’t even give her the damn
chance to start with.”
I nodded firmly.
Once again, I felt so glad I’d refused Isla’s help.
May and Grandma stayed until late that night, reluctant to leave. Grayson didn’t come home that night. He’s too busy with work, I guessed.
The next morning, I woke up thinking about my illness.
It was weird. Aside from the slow healing and a little weakness, I didn’t really feel that different.
Maybe I just needed to exercise more?
There was a gym in the mansion. I changed into my workout clothes and headed there.
After a light warm–up, I started lifting weights. The first few sets felt great. I even broke a sweat and felt pretty healthy.
But when I picked up a heavier dumbbell, a sudden wave of exhaustion slammed into me.
My knees buckled, and the weight dropped to the floor with a loud clang.
I collapsed onto the mat, breathless, dizzy. My vision blurred for a few terrifying seconds before slowly returning.
God! What the hell was that?
I was never exactly athletic, but I’d never been this weak either. I used to go hunting with Grayson in the mountains. Now I wasn’t sure if t
could even run a mile.
I sat there on the floor, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like crying.
Werewolves choose mates based on strength. An Alpha’s Luna is supposed to be the strongest woman in the pack.
Which meant that Grayson was drifting further and further out of my league.
BANG.
A loud thud echoed from upstairs.
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1 snapped my head up.
The floor above the gym was Grayson’s study. Was he back from work?
I desperately needed to see him. I needed comfort. So I pushed myself up and stumbled toward the stairs.
The study door was slightly ajar. I shoved it open, calling out to him:
“Gra-”
Isla turned around from in front of the bookshelf.
She offered me a sweet smile. “Oh hey, Aria.”
It felt like a bucket of ice water dumped on my head. I could barely control my face.
“What the hell are you doing here?!”
“Oh, didn’t Grayson tell you?” she blinked innocently. “I came to pick up some old photo albums. He said I could come straight over.”
I stood there, panting, every cell in my body screaming to rip her head off. But I pushed down that urge.
“Listen,” I said coldly. “I don’t care what he told you. But from now on, I want you as far away from our lives as possible. I don’t need your help with White River Pack. So you have no reason to be here anymore. Maybe consider booking a flight home soon.”
She slowly put down the album in her hands, still looking so calm and graceful:
Then she looked at me. And smiled.
“Wait… Grayson didn’t tell you?”
My gut twisted. “Tell me what?”
“He was with me last night,” she said lightly. “I already got his permission. And I’ve contacted the Alpha of White River already. Everything’s taken care of, Aria. No need for you to worry.”
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