Free Web NovelChapter 112: Chapter 112
Nathan’s POV
The moment I saw Aria’s hands full; Lana in one arm, a bottle in the other, my wolf stirred, ears pricking, tail flicking in restless concern.
I didn’t even think about it. I just stepped forward and held out my arms.
“I’ll take her,” I said, though my voice came out rougher than intended. “You sort out her milk.”
Aria blinked at me, startled. The warm weight of Lana left her arms and settled into mine, and goddess, my heart lurched.
My grip tightened instinctively, my wolf rising beneath my skin, curious and cautious.
It was awkward at first. I hadn’t held a pup, any pup in years. My movements were stiff and calculated, but my arms knew what to do anyway. Muscles honed from years of training shifted to cradle her securely.
Lana’s scent washed over me, she squirmed with excitement, tiny hands grabbing at my shirt as if greeting me.
My wolf yelped in approval.
Aria hesitated, then gave a small nod and turned toward the kitchen. I caught the flicker of trust in her eyes, and it hit deeper than I expected.
With Lana nestled against my chest, I found myself walking more slowly, more carefully, as if every movement mattered. I couldn’t stop stealing glances at her round cheeks, her button nose, her ridiculously familiar eyes.
Her eyes were just like mine, yet Aria insisted she wasn’t my pup... but how could she not be? When almost everything about Lana mirrored me.
My chest tightened, something warm and foreign spreading there. Contentment, a word that hadn’t belonged to me in years.
By the time I padded into the kitchen, funny how it suddenly felt warmer, lived-in instead of cold and empty.
Aria was already mixing the milk with ease. She didn’t hesitate to take Lana back from me when she was done, and goddess help me... an unexpected pang shot through my chest at the sudden emptiness in my arms. My wolf whimpered softly, confused.
I shoved the reaction down.
Focus, Nathan.
Aria sat at the dining table, feeding Lana with gentle, steady hands. She looked up at me then, those storm-soft eyes meeting mine with more steadiness than before.
“Even though I’ve agreed to come back to Hemsworth Villa,” she said, her voice calm but edged with steel, “we need to set some rules.”
Aria’s POV
Nathan froze at my words, the metal of his fork clinking softly as he set it down. His amber eyes lifted to mine, steady and unreadable.
“Go ahead,” he said, his voice low.
I took a breath, forcing myself to meet the gaze of the Alpha who used to be my beloved mate. “First of all... even though I’m staying in your villa, you can’t just barge into my room whenever you feel like it.”
My wolf bristled at the sharp memory of him opening my door unannounced earlier. A boundary, my boundary, was necessary if I was going to survive living under the same roof as him again.
“Sure thing,” Nathan replied, nodding, almost... too easily.
I blinked in surprise. He never surrendered anything in the past without a fight.
My heartbeat quickened, and I pressed on.
“Secondly, even though we’re under the same roof, you can’t snoop around or interfere in my comings and goings. No prying, no tracking, no using your wolf to keep tabs on me.”
His wolf stirred behind his eyes, a flicker of gold flashing across his irises.
“Fine with me,” he rumbled.
The deep resonance of his voice slid down my spine before I could stop it. Goddess, why did my wolf still react to him?
When I didn’t say anything else, Nathan tilted his head toward Lana and me. “And the third one?”
I set Lana’s empty baby bottle on the table. “Haven’t thought of it yet. I’ll tell you when I do.”
Nathan raised one eyebrow, the faintest hint of amusement tugging at his mouth.
“Whatever you say ma’am,” he drawled.
I stared at him. That tone, obedient Alpha? That wasn’t him.
He resumed serving food with the same cool composure he always carried, except... the frost around him didn’t bite as sharply tonight. Maybe that was just wishful thinking on my part.
No. I shook my head. He was only being agreeable because he didn’t want drama between me, Lana... and himself.
Which was good, logical and safe.
I wore a neutral expression, hiding the storm in my chest. To my surprise, the meal that followed was strangely peaceful.
I only managed one bowl before my appetite vanished. The dining room fell quiet except for Lana’s happy babbling and the soft clink of Nathan’s fork as he ate with slow movements. The sound of metal against porcelain was oddly comforting to me.
Nathan’s gaze flicked toward me, catching the way my fingers curled slightly against my knee. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
“You got something to say?” he asked, his brows pulling together in a mild frown.
