Aria’s POVI’d never met this man before, not even in passing, that I could recall. I had no idea why he held such affection for me, or why he even thought I’d be receptive to the idea of a date.Yet I was so flabbergasted, words failed me for a minute.“Do I know you?” I asked, because maybe I had
One man jumped straight past the courting phase and asked, “Will you be my mate?”“No,” I told him, more firmly than I’d told the others. He didn’t even know me! I’d seen him a few times at a few events I attended as Aria, but even then, I hadn’t spoken more than two words to him at any one time. Wh
Lucian’s POVWith no real rhyme or reason, the sight before me annoyed the hell out of me. Maybe it was because Dr. A reminded me of Aria, or perhaps it was simply that this man was being pushy when he needed to back the hell off. Whatever the reason, my anger was rising at the same rate my patience
Aria’s POVLucian’s intervention in that unwanted proposal seemed to spread around because the amount of suitors showing up for me blessedly declined throughout the day, even after Lucian had left.I returned a few times throughout the day to check on Harold, and though there was never much change,
“You can’t tell anyone,” was the first thing I said.“Oh, Aria…” Julia said, shrinking a little.I didn’t fully understand why she was upset. Had I disappointed her? “I’m sorry,” I started to say.“Don’t you dare apologize,” Julia said. “We are the ones who should say sorry to you.”I startled, not
Lucian’s POVWhen I returned home that evening, after visiting my father once more in the hospital and discovering he had blessedly awoken, I expected to head straight to bed. It was late, after all, with all of the servants gone for the evening.Instead, I found Sheila waiting for me in the living
By now, I was entirely fed up with Sheila.“I’m going to bed,” I said, and stepped around her.“But, Lucian,” she called after me. “We should talk about this.”“Another time,” I replied without turning back. In reality, I’d avoid this topic again for as long as I physically could.The next day, when
Aria’s POVI came to check on Harold again, but before going inside of the room, I stood outside taking and reviewing his chart from the holder it had sat in beside the door. The overnight crew had kept a close eye on Harold as I requested, but other than snoring a little, there was nothing to repor
He didn’t seem to mind. In this, as in most things lately, Lucian had allowed me to take the lead. He’d remained supportive and contributed his ideas and opinions, but never once anymore did he state his opinions as law or facts. Instead, we’d had conversations where we weighed the pros and cons of
Jean’s POV“Come on, Luke,” Jean said, tugging on her brother’s sleeve. “I don’t want to be late.”“We won’t be late, Jean,” Luke replied with unfounded confidence. “They won’t start without us.”While the guests had been taking their seats in the wooden fold-out chairs arranged on the beach, and th
In a flash, Lucian was there instead, stepping into the space between us. I couldn’t see what happened, but I smelled Lucian’s blood. My wolf whined in sympathetic pain.The rest of the bottle quickly smashed on the floor.In the end, William was bound to a chair, treated even as the police were on
Aria’s POVIn our little house in Moonglow, I woke up early to head into work. Lucian woke up at the same time as me, I think to have tea with me in the little kitchen. He always took the kids to school before he started his assistant job at the clinic.“You sleep okay?” I asked him, as he heated up
She was beautiful. Why had I never noticed before?Why was I noticing now?Quickly, I looked down at the menu. It was far too soon for a new romance, not if I wanted to find one for real. I wasn’t about to play around with Cathy’s heart, when she had come to be such a friend.And I didn’t want to pl
Jasper’s POVA couple of days after I punched Lucian, and he quit and ran off with Aria, Cathy invited me out to lunch. Sitting across from me now, in a café that we tended to frequent when we got together, she was looking at me as one might a wounded animal, as if trying to determine if I needed co
But Jasper’s words still rang true. When was the last time, as Alpha, I had ever been happy?The job made me miserable, even before Aria had left me. Constant pressure, constant responsibility, constant ridicule, limited thanks. Years and years of it had worn me down, eroded like a rock in the water
Lucian’s POVJasper’s punch caught me by surprised. I stumbled back, nearly into the elevator again as the doors started to close. He definitely broke my nose. Holding it, I stepped forward again, back off the elevator. Blood dripped down onto my shirt.Jasper had several different reasons to be pis
Over the next few days, I didn’t see Lucian at all. Presumably he saw the kids after I took them to spend time with their grandparents. Harold was out of the hospital and eager to see the kids.With the kids there, I returned to Cathy’s and started packing up my clothes and that of the kids. Cathy w