Alisher walked with Aria and Mason down the dimly lit corridor that led to the basement parking.
When the heavy metal doors slid open, Julian, Cecil, and Nina were already there, waiting, exactly as Mason had instructed through their mindlink.
“This is as far as I go,” Alisher said, stopping at the edge of the parking area. He handed Aria a small folded paper. “That’s my private emergency line. Save it, memorize it, and then burn it. No digital trail. No risks.”
Aria gave him a grateful nod. “Thank you. I’ll just save it now—”
She reached for her phone, but before her fingers could even unlock the screen, Mason snatched it from her grip. Without blinking, h
Mason didn’t waste a second.He sprinted down the hallway with superior werewolf speed; he is an alpha after all, with Lycan blood. His instincts were screaming louder than any logic.When he reached Aria’s door and found it locked, he didn’t hesitate. His arm began to shift, bones cracking and stretching as fur and claws took form, just enough to force the lock. With a guttural snarl, he smashed the door open.Julian was close behind, startled by Mason’s precision. Mason didn’t even pause to scan the room; he charged straight into the ensuite bathroom.Julian frowned. 'How the hell did he know she was in there?'Another
Aria finally allowed herself a moment to breathe.It had only been a few days since the world as she knew it had shattered.First, the violent car accident, then the humiliating banishment from the Crimson Claw pack, followed by the devastating arrest of her parents. Each event had stripped her of something vital, leaving her hollow, running on instinct alone.Now, within the quiet luxury of Mason’s penthouse, the silence felt almost eerie. The calm after a storm… or the quiet before another?She stood motionless for a moment, as if her body had forgotten how to rest. Her fingers trailed over the edge of the plush bedding, the soft fabric.
“We dug into the driver’s background,” Mason said, his voice low and controlled as he handed Aria a thick file. “He wasn’t the regular operator of that truck. The actual driver called in sick. Stomach pain, severe diarrhea, something sudden. But the delivery was urgent, so the company brought in a replacement... last-minute.”Aria opened the file, scanning through the details with growing unease. Her eyes stopped on a familiar address. “The delivery was for one of the projects I was handling… in Crimson Claw territory,” she muttered. Her heart started to race. “And this man, he’s not part of any pack. He... He's pure human. Where is he now?”Mason’s expression darkened. “Yes, you are right. He is human. He posted bail. Since then… he’s d
“Aria, if we were planning something shady, do you really think we’d answer your question so casually?” Mason said, raising an eyebrow with just a hint of a smirk.“I don’t know,” Aria replied, eyes narrowing with playful suspicion. “Stranger things have happened. I’m just covering all my bases. Can’t be too careful.”Mason let out a short breath that was almost a chuckle. “Relax. I wouldn’t dare lay a finger on my daughter’s current favorite person,” he said, then tilted his head toward the entrance. “Now go on in.”With a cautious nod, Aria stepped through the hidden passage with Cecil close behind. The hallway they entered was long, sleek, and silent, like something out of a spy thriller, each step echoing with tension. The farther they walked, the more Aria
Alisher walked with Aria and Mason down the dimly lit corridor that led to the basement parking.When the heavy metal doors slid open, Julian, Cecil, and Nina were already there, waiting, exactly as Mason had instructed through their mindlink.“This is as far as I go,” Alisher said, stopping at the edge of the parking area. He handed Aria a small folded paper. “That’s my private emergency line. Save it, memorize it, and then burn it. No digital trail. No risks.”Aria gave him a grateful nod. “Thank you. I’ll just save it now—”She reached for her phone, but before her fingers could even unlock the screen, Mason snatched it from her grip. Without blinking, h
“As far as I remember,” Mason finally spoke, his voice low and deliberate, cutting through the silence like a blade, “a safe house can either be selected from your firm’s existing properties… or be determined spontaneously, based on the urgency of the situation, correct?”Alisher’s brow furrowed instantly. He knew that tone, knew the direction this was heading all too well. “That’s true,” he replied cautiously.“In high-risk cases, we sometimes embed witnesses in a pre-established family residence. It makes it harder to trace them, blending into the routine of a normal, active household.”Mason gave a single nod, like a king delivering a final verdict. “Perfect. Then it’s decided. I&rs