MasukThe symptoms of the bite.Loss of control… and then madness.It was already happening to Aiden.James felt it settle heavily in his chest as he stared at him. His throat tightened, his heartbeat quickening as the realization hit him fully.Aiden was no longer just sick.He was standing on a thin line… between life and death.And he was slipping.James’ eyes burned, tears gathering without permission, blurring his vision for a brief second before he forced them back. His jaw clenched hard, his fingers curling into fists by his side.“Aiden…” he called softly.Aiden didn’t look at him immediately.His shoulders rose and fell slowly, like every breath cost him effort.“I’m dying, James…” Aiden said finally, his voice low, rough, almost distant.He let out a faint, humorless breath.“I just want to make sure Amelia gets back to Arthur… and that they’re okay.”His eyes dropped for a second before lifting again.“That’s all I want. I don’t care if that’s the last thing I do before I die…”J
“And I think the power is passed down willingly from mother to offspring… how can she pass down what she doesn’t know exists inside of her?” Beta Greg muttered, and silence immediately followed.The room went still.Aiden didn’t move.His jaw tightened slightly, his fingers curling against his thigh as the words sank in. No cure. No escape. Just time… slipping through his fingers. His chest rose slowly, unevenly.He was going to die.The thought sat heavy in his lungs, refusing to leave.But first… Amelia.He swallowed hard.“Does my father know Astrid was carrying your child?” Aiden asked suddenly, his voice low, controlled.Greg raised his head and stared at him.“Yes… he knew,” he said slowly. “But he didn’t know the child had survived. He thought she died in the fire with Astrid. He believes Amelia is mine and Evenly’s biological child.”He paused, his gaze hardening slightly.“If your father had known Amelia was Astrid’s… he would have never allowed you to marry her in the first
“It was too late” His voice broke slightly before he forced it steady.“Astrid…” he continued, “…knew she wouldn’t survive.”Silence.“So she made a choice.”Aiden leaned forward slightly without realizing it.“She handed Amelia to the maid…” Greg said softly. “Evenly.”A pause.“And told her to run.”His eyes closed briefly.“Save her… no matter what.”Silence.“Evenly didn’t hesitate,” Greg added. “She took Amelia… and ran through the fire.”His jaw tightened.“She tried to go back.”A beat.“But the flames had already swallowed everything.”Aiden swallowed hard.“Astrid…” Greg whispered, “…burned alive in that house.”Silence fell like a weight.“I knew…” Greg said, his voice hollow now. “I knew Alaric had done it.”A pause.“He didn’t face her himself.”His eyes darkened.“He sent someone to light the fire. He sent Kate…”Greg fell silent for a moment, his breathing uneven.Then he continued.“Evenly…” he said, softer now. “She raised Amelia.”A faint warmth flickered through his
“I had to step in and make Calista understand that nothing was going on… but she refused to stop,” Greg said, his voice tightening as his fingers curled slowly against his knee. “And that was putting her baby’s life in danger… your life in danger.”He exhaled sharply, shaking his head as if trying to push the memory away, but it clung to him.“I had no choice but to step out of the shadows… and that was when your father found out,” he continued, his jaw clenching. “He found out that Astrid and I… we were together. That we had been together right under his nose…”His eyes darkened.“And that… was where everything went wrong.”Greg drew in a deep breath, but it came out uneven.“Weeks after Astrid bit Calista… the wound didn’t heal,” he said, his voice dropping. “It festered. It spread… like something alive inside her.”Aiden’s fingers tightened slightly on his thigh.“It ate her from the inside out,” Greg continued, his gaze distant now. “She was dying… slowly… painfully… while still b
“Oh boy… there’s a lot you don’t know…” Beta Greg said slowly, his voice low and heavy, like each word dragged something painful out of him. He leaned back slightly, fingers tightening against his knee as if bracing himself.“…and you cannot go after Kate without knowing any of this…” he added, his gaze lifting to Aiden.“Your father should have told you everything…” Greg continued, his jaw clenching, a flicker of bitterness crossing his face. “…but of course, he wouldn’t.”A muscle ticked in his cheek.“Because he was the cause of it all.”The room seemed to grow colder.Greg’s eyes darkened, his thoughts clearly drifting back years…decades…into memories that still hadn’t lost their edge.“And now…” his voice cracked slightly before hardening again, “…my daughter is going to suffer for it.”He raised his head and locked eyes with Aiden.Something unspoken passed between them.Aiden felt it immediately…that certainty.Greg knew.He knew exactly who Amelia was.Not just his daughter.N
Meanwhile, in Amelia’s mansion, Aiden’s car drove into the compound, the tires crunching softly against the gravel as the engine finally went still. He stepped out of the car, shutting the door with more force than necessary, his jaw tight, his shoulders tense like he was holding himself together by sheer will.James’ car followed closely behind, pulling in beside his. He got out as well, his movements slower, more cautious, his eyes already studying Aiden’s rigid posture.For a moment, the two men simply stood there, staring at each other in silence, the weight of everything unspoken pressing heavily between them. Then Aiden gave a slight nod, sharp, decisive and without another word, they both began walking toward the front door.Aiden lifted his hand and knocked, the sound firm but controlled.The door creaked open, revealing Gloria. Her eyes widened the moment she saw them, surprise flashing across her face. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out. She just stood there, fr
The moment Aiden stepped into his office, he slammed both hands against the desk, the wood cracking under the force. A growl ripped through his throat.That bastard Damien Blackwood.How dare he call Amelia his wife in front of him? How dare he flaunt it in his face? His wolf still snarled inside h
Son!” Something deep inside of him whispered to him. But Aiden quickly pushed the thought from his head.Aiden found himself smiling unconsciously as he walked toward the little boy. James followed closely behind, watching quietly.“Hey, little man,” Aiden said, crouching slightly so their eyes me
It was morning. Cassia had risen before everyone, quietly preparing breakfast for Arthur and Damien.Kate stumbled into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes, and froze when she saw Cassia at the stove.“Ma’am, I’m so sorry I overslept!” she blurted, guilt on her face. If James found out she had woken up l
Arthur sat cross-legged on the floor, his iPad balanced on his knees as he tapped away at a duck game. His nanny sat nearby, but the moment the door opened and Cassia stepped in, she rose quickly.“Ma’am,” the nanny greeted with a bow before quietly leaving.“Mommy!” Arthur’s face lit up.Cassia’s







