9. The True Purpose

The next morning came too quickly.

Aria hadn’t slept, not truly. Her body had rested, but her mind had been in a storm. Every time she closed her eyes, flashes of her parents behind cold iron bars haunted her. When the sun finally peeked through the curtains, she forced herself to get up.

By the time breakfast was done, Aria and Cecil were already on the road, heading straight to the mansion of Alpha Hugo Miller.

The gates of the estate opened with a low mechanical groan, revealing a sprawling mansion nestled between dense woods and fortified by a wall of stone and steel. It was intimidating, yet noble... Much like the man who ruled it.

As they stepped into the grand foyer, the sound of deliberate, powerful footsteps echoed down the marble staircase.

Alpha Hugo appeared at the top of the stairs, commanding, confident, and unnervingly calm.

He was middle-aged by birth, but looked no older than thirty. His skin was smooth and bronzed from training under the sun, his athletic build evident beneath the tailored black shirt he wore. 

His presence radiated power and authority, but there was warmth in his dark eyes as they landed on Aria.

“Aria,” he called out, his voice deep and steady, “Welcome back to the pack.”

He descended the staircase with grace that only an alpha could possess, each step purposeful, calculated. As soon as he reached her, he pulled her into a firm, reassuring embrace.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured near her ear. “I only learned of everything that happened to you late last night. And let me make one thing very clear... I don’t believe a single word of Elliot’s accusations. That bastard made the biggest mistake of his life.”

Aria’s chest tightened as she stepped back. She felt a flicker of safety. Someone believed her. Someone powerful.

“Thank you, Alpha,” she said, her voice strained yet steady. “I’m sorry for bringing shame to the pack, but I swear on everything I have left, I will clear my name. I will expose the truth. They have no idea what I’m capable of.”

A slow, proud smile spread across Hugo’s face. “That’s the Aria I know. That’s the fire they underestimated.”

“But… that’s not why I came,” she continued, her tone shifting as her resolve cracked. “It’s my parents. I know you must have heard. Please, Alpha Hugo… help them. They don’t deserve this.”

Hugo’s expression turned serious. He looked toward Cecil for a moment... assessing... calculating.

Aria understood his gesture and spoke first. “It’s alright. Cecil is my assistant and best friend. Her parents have served mine for decades. I trust her with my life.”

Hugo gave a slight nod, then turned and gestured down the hall. “Alright then. Let’s talk in my office.”

He glanced toward a maid who stood silently by the corridor. “Coffee and orange juice for three. And tell the others I’m not to be disturbed.”

As the three of them made their way into his private study, Aria felt her heartbeat quicken. This wasn’t just a conversation. It was a declaration of war. 

Hugo led them into his home office. Aria perched on the edge of the leather sofa, her eyes never leaving Hugo’s as he settled on the opposite.

“Alright,” he said, voice low and deliberate. “Let’s talk. What exactly do you know about your parents’ situation?”

Aria exhaled sharply. “Not much. My mother was at a charity gala with my Aunt Katarina when she was arrested. As for my dad, no one really knows. The FBI sealed the foundation’s entire headquarters. They said the IRS requested it. Even the executives have no idea what’s really going on.”

Hugo’s jaw clenched slightly. “Then I suppose I have no choice but to tell you the truth—the part no one else knows. If we’re going to help your parents, you need the whole picture.”

Aria’s heart skipped. A chill ran down her spine. “What do you mean?”

He leaned forward, his voice darkening. “Your parents and I… we’ve been working behind the scenes on a major business alliance with the White Crescent Pack, the fourth-ranked pack in the Federation. The goal? To fortify our second-place position while helping White Crescent surpass Elliot’s pack and knock him off the third spot.”

Aria’s eyes widened, breath catching. Hugo continued, “And yes, we know about your project — the one you started before everything crumbled. It had power. Vision. And if it succeeded, it would’ve elevated Crimson Claw into a new league. We couldn’t let that happen. So we struck first with White Crescent.”

Aria dragged her hands down her face, overwhelmed. Her mind reeled. Was this her fault? Did her own ambition paint a target on her parents’ backs?

Hugo didn’t slow down. “Your parents decided to attend a charity gala in Frostveil Pack as a diversion in case someone was watching their moves. They were on their way to the White Crescent Pack, and as soon as they entered the highway, just on the border, the federal police arrested them.

According to your Aunt Katarina, it happened so fast. However, that’s outside our pack’s territory, I couldn’t get them or just simply go to them to ask for more information. Security around them is tight.

I only learned about the other details, like the time and location, after inquiring with the Federal Investigation Bureau. Their arrest was carried out so secretly and swiftly, it feels very suspicious. The area where they were arrested lacks lamp posts and cameras. 

Whoever planned this struck at the exact moment that would dismantle everything. That business deal and meeting were confidential; that’s why the two parties decided to drop by a charity gala to mask the true purpose." 

“I don’t understand,” Aria whispered, trembling. “So what... you’re saying this isn’t about fraud or money laundering at all?”

Hugo’s eyes hardened, and for the first time, a flicker of real fear crossed his features. “No, Aria. This is war disguised as justice. Just like what happened to you. The timing, the precision... 

It’s all too calculated. Someone orchestrated this to prevent our alliance. Someone with reach, resources, and a long-standing grudge.”

Aria’s thoughts burned. One name thundered through her skull.

'Elliot.'

Of course, it was him. The disgrace. The traitor. He hadn’t just thrown her away, he had set fire to everything she held dear.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Hugo said, reading the fire in her eyes. “But be careful. We’re dealing with something... or someone... far more dangerous than we thought. This wasn’t a spontaneous act. It was years in the making.”

He stood, pacing slowly, calculating his next words. “My hands are tied, Aria. If I make the wrong move, the Ironhide Pack could fall. The enemy is ahead of us by a mile. Charging in blindly would only destroy us all.”

“Then what are we supposed to do?” Aria asked, her voice raw. “We can’t just wait while they rot in Ravenhold!”

“There’s one person,” Hugo said after a beat. “One person who may still have the influence and intelligence network we need. If anyone can help us navigate this without losing everything, it’s him.”

Aria stood slowly, eyes sharp. “Who?”

Hugo’s lips curled into something between a grimace and a grin.

“My oldest rival… and the most unpredictable bastard I know.”