7

Despite the mounting pressure, a jagged flicker of amusement sparked in my chest. What right did he have to be the one baring his teeth? I felt the bile of annoyance rising.

"I’m not looking to meet the Moon Goddess tonight, Ethan. Slow this beast down, or I’m mind-linking the Enforcers," I warned, my gaze like flint.

Ethan caught the way my scent soured with nausea. Remembering I hadn't eaten since the feast, he reluctantly eased off the throttle of the Range Rover, the engine’s roar settling into a low, frustrated thrum.

The second we hit the gravel of the estate, I slammed the door and marched toward the guest wing on the second floor. Ethan trailed behind, pausing at my door with a tension that made my skin prickle, before he retreated to his own quarters. We both avoided the Alpha’s master suite like it was laced with silver.

Inside, I massaged my aching stomach, forcing my focus back to the Stone Legal Pack’s urgent messages. I mapped out the coming week’s litigation, closing my laptop only when the moon was high.

I logged into my burner account—the one I used to track the "Golden Omega." Lila was the only wolf I followed there. I’d been sloppy last time and forgotten to log out. A notification pulsed like a heartbeat. Lila had posted a fresh update five minutes ago.

Lila: [My Alpha surprised me with the 'Lunar Heart' necklace as a homecoming gift. Isn't it ethereal? I feel so cherished.]

"So it was Ethan who dropped fifteen million at the Crownstone Auction for that relic," I whispered, the copper taste of betrayal on my tongue.

A heavy knock rattled my door. I opened it to find Ethan, one hand buried in his pocket, the other thrusting a velvet box toward me. "Picked this up at the Manchester airfield shops. Thought it suited your aura," he said, his voice casual, though his scent was thick with unsaid things.

If I hadn't seen Lila’s post, I might have mistaken this for an olive branch. But looking at the jewelry box now, it felt like a cheap muzzle. I didn't feel rage—just a cold, final clarity. "Wow. What a shock. I hope this didn't drain the pack treasury."

Ethan’s brow furrowed at my tone. "A few hundred thousand isn't going to break the Draven line, Aria."

I took the box and tried to swing the door shut, but he stepped into the frame, his bulk blocking me.

"Got another tribute for me, Alpha?" I asked, arching a brow.

"No. Just a command. We’re at the Moon Council Hall tomorrow at noon to register the bond. Don't let your wolf sleep in."

My phone buzzed. A message from a blocked number flashed: [Aria, are you with Ethan? If you howl for him right now, he’ll drop you in a heartbeat to come to me. Want to bet?]

The message vanished, deleted instantly, leaving a knot of ice in my gut.

"I'm talking to you," Ethan snapped, his patience fraying.

I gave him a ghost of a smile. "Sorry, did you say something important?"

"The Council. Tomorrow. Noon," he repeated, his voice sharp. "Be ready."

Before he could finish, his phone let out a high-pitched chime.

"Lila?" he answered, his entire demeanor shifting to something soft and frantic. "Where are you? Stay there. I’m coming. Just hold on."

He didn't even look back as he sprinted for the stairs. Seconds later, the Range Rover roared to life, tires screaming as he tore out of the territory.

"Marriage license? What a delusional joke," I scoffed.

I didn't waste a second. I packed the jewelry into a bag for the consignment Den. Then, I began stripping the room. The silk sheets, the sandalwood candles, the oils—every piece of home I’d tried to build here went into crates.

I marched into Ethan’s room next. I tore every shirt and tie I’d ever bought him from his closet, shoving them into a suitcase with a sense of predatory finality.

I was hauling the last trunk down the stairs when Linda caught me. "M-Madam? Is there another tournament? Another business trip?"

I offered her a smile that felt like a winter frost. "No, Linda. I’m shifting territories. I won't be back."

"Lila, why are you out in the cold? Your wolf is too delicate for the night air," Ethan’s voice was thick with worry as he reached her.

Lila’s tears were silent, glistening like dew on her pale cheeks. Seeing her distress sent a physical pang through Ethan’s chest. "I wasn't trying to be harsh, little one..."

Lila wiped her eyes, her scent radiating vulnerability. "I know, Ethan. I’m just a burden. But who else can I turn to? You’re the only Alpha who truly sees me."

Ethan set aside the medicine he'd brought and pulled her into a protective embrace. "Don't cry. I was too rough earlier. I’ve got your back. Always."

I reached the Stone Legal Chambers at the break of dawn. The pressure of the day was already coiling in my stomach like a serpent.

"Aria, thank the Goddess you're here!" Rosalie, my assistant, hissed. "High Alpha Walton is in a blood-frenzy. Valerie and Frank botched the territorial dispute yesterday, and he’s expecting you to kill the fire."

I nodded, my pulse quickening as I approached the heavy oak doors of the boardroom. I knocked.

"Enter," a voice barked.

Inside, Valerie and Frank looked like beaten pups. Ivan Walton, the head of our legal pack, looked like he was ready to shift and tear throats.

"Morning, Aria. How went the hunt for that SilverCore Capital settlement?" Ivan asked, his eyes searching mine.

"The first hearing was a success, Alpha. The opposition is ready to concede," I replied, keeping my scent neutral.

"Good. You two should learn to hunt like Aria," Ivan snapped at the others. "Maybe then my heart wouldn't be failing me. Out. Aria, stay."

I took a deep breath. "Alpha, there’s a change in the wind I need to discuss."

Ivan nodded, his gaze softening.

"My counsel contract with Starwave Entertainment expires this moon. I want to hand the file over to Frank or Valerie," I said, my heart thumping against my ribs.

Starwave was a Draven subsidiary. Once, it was my pride; now, it was a silver chain.

Ivan’s brow furrowed. "You fought for that contract. It’s a direct line to the Draven executives. Are you sure your wolf is thinking straight?"

He didn't know the full story. He only knew I had the "in." He’d been hoping I’d lead the firm into the Draven’s inner circle today.

"I'm certain, Alpha. To be honest, I only secured the kill because my ex-mate pulled strings. Now that the bond is severed, it’s not right for me to remain in their den," I explained, my voice steady.

Ivan froze. "Aren't you and Ethan registering your bond at the Council today?"

I let out a bitter, dry laugh. "We broke the link."

Ivan processed this in silence, drumming his fingers on the table. "Understood. When the moon turns, I’ll handle the transition myself."

By 11:30 AM, I checked my phone. Nothing. No messages from Ethan. No missed calls.

Just as I thought, I mused. He never intended to show up.

"Aria, joining us for a celebratory kill at lunch?" a coworker teased. "You're already the leanest wolf in the pack; you don't need to starve for a wedding dress."

I stood up, shaking off the shadows. "No more starving. Whatever the pack is eating, I’m in."

"Wow, three months of 'wedding prep' and you're finally caving?" another laughed.

"I won't be needing the dress," I said, my voice firming with every word. "Let’s go. If we don't move now, we'll miss the best cuts."

The table went silent. "What does she mean, no dress? Isn't the ceremony in three weeks?" they whispered, their scents spiking with confusion.

Ethan had spent the entire night in Lila’s room, their voices a low hum until the sun rose. He’d finally fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep on her sofa—the best sleep he’d had in years.

When he woke, the sun was high. Noon.

A jolt of panic hit him. The Council appointment. Aria.

He checked his phone, expecting a barrage of angry mind-links or texts. Nothing. Just a few pings from the hockey scouts.

He rubbed his face, his heart racing. He left a note for Lila and sped back to the estate.

"Where is Aria? Is she still in the guest wing?" he barked at Linda the moment he burst through the doors.

Linda looked at him with pity. "Madam... she’s on a business trip, Alpha."

"Another trip? We were supposed to be at the Council an hour ago!" Ethan growled, irritation masking his relief. If she was gone, she couldn't make a scene about him being late. "Did she say when she’d return?"

Linda hesitated. "She didn't, Alpha. But she told me... she might never come back."

Ethan froze. "I gave her a necklace. What is she still snarling about? She didn't even tell me she was leaving. If anyone should be pissed, it’s me."

Linda watched him shrug it off and sighed. "I wonder if there will even be a mating ceremony," she whispered to the empty hall.

I’d managed to stop at a consignment den in the neutral territories to sell the necklace.

"This is High Alpha quality, Miss. Are you sure?" the shopkeeper asked, eyeing the 'Lunar Heart.' "I can only give you 150,000 for a quick sale."

"That's enough," I said. "Just put it in my account."

"No next time?" he asked with a grin.

"No next time," I replied, shaking my head.

The den was tucked in a tight alley. I’d parked my red vehicle outside a nearby tavern. As I walked back, my heart sank. There was a massive dent in the driver-side door.

A note was tucked under the wiper: [My driver clipped your vehicle. Please reach out so I can compensate the Stone Legal Pack for the damage.]

The handwriting was bold, sharp, and terrifyingly familiar.

I dialed the number, my pulse erratic. "Hello?"

"Aria," the voice rumbled on the other end.

"U-Uncle Peter?" I stammered.

"Wait... that red car was yours?"

I forced a breath. "It's fine, Alpha. I'll just handle it during the next tune-up."

"I'm at the Tiago Café. Look up. Second floor," he commanded.

I laughed nervously. "Enjoy your coffee, Alpha. I'm leaving."

"Aria. Do I need to come down there and fetch you?"

I sighed, defeated. "I'll be right up."

I walked into the café, my white shirt tucked into jeans that showed I spent as much time in the gym as I did in the courtroom. I usually went for loose robes, but today I needed to feel sharp.

Peter and his obsession with bean-water, I thought, pushing open the private room door.

"Alpha Peter!" I called out.

He was alone. No guards, no assistants. He wore a black shirt, unbuttoned at the collar, looking more like a prowling predator than a businessman.

"Sit," he said, his silver eyes tracking my movement. "Americano?"

I nodded, even though my wolf craved a latte. I didn't want to seem difficult.

Peter’s sleeves were rolled up, his forearms corded with muscle from years on the ice. "You're more skittish than I remember, Aria. Five years changed your scent."

My cheeks burned. Is he thinking about the confession? "I've always been reserved, Alpha."

He offered a small, dangerous smile. "Relax. I don't bite... unless provoked."

I met his gaze, and my heart did a frantic, wild gallop. Why did he have this effect on my wolf?

"Ethan mentioned the bond registration was today. Has he returned to the den?" Peter asked, his gaze unyielding.

I shrugged. "I assume so."

Peter’s hand paused over his cup. "Listen to me. If Ethan ever makes you feel like a stray, or if he fails to lead you properly... you come to me."

A wave of heat washed over me. No one had offered to be my shield in a very long time.

"Thank you, Alpha Peter," I whispered.

We spoke for a while longer, but the intensity was becoming too much. "I have to be at the Chambers by two, Alpha. I should go." I stood up, desperate to get away before my wolf did something embarrassing.