Free Web NovelChapter 167: Chapter 167
Aria’s POV
I tilted my head up, masking everything behind innocent surprise. “Nathan, I’m just here to celebrate with Sophia. What could I possibly be doing?”
My wolf laughed inside me. He knew I was lying.
I knew he knew, and he still held me.
His deep eyes locked onto mine, and something flickered in them, something that bothered between danger and hunger.
We stood there, caught in an electric pull, like the posters of tragic romance movies Sophia would cry over.
For a moment I felt nausea rise, repulsion at his sudden tenderness. But I kept my expression pure and untouchable.
From the corner, I heard Sophia’s breath hitch. Her eyes were red, fury and humiliation eating away at her composure.
“Aria, why are you ruining my celebration?” she blurted.
I paused, gracious even in manipulation, giving her space to dig her own grave.
She looked about ready to cry but I beat her to it.
I let my eyes soften with hurt. “Sophia... I genuinely came to celebrate with you. How could you accuse me like that?”
The room watched her stiffen. She realized too late that I hadn’t done anything except stand here.
Nathan’s gaze slid to Sophia, sharp and unforgiving.
Her pulse spiked and she bit her lip harder.
I batted my lashes in a slow and delicate manner as though they were butterfly wings.
“Sophia, maybe we had misunderstandings before... but I truly am happy for your achievements. I didn’t expect my presence to cause trouble. Maybe... I shouldn’t have come.”
I gently stepped out of Nathan’s hold.
Lifted my white feathered gown and turned.
I walked away with the grace of a bird taking flight, my gown trailing behind like white wings unfurling.
Nathan’s growl vibrated behind me. soft and unsettled.
And then I heard the sound of his step following mine instinctively, without hesitation.
Perfect.
Sophia followed too, her breath ragged, fury turning her scent bitter.
Rowland rose clumsily from his seat, feigning drunkenness, but his eyes were crystal clear, fixed on me with intensity.
I ignored him as I left.
The music, the laughter, the splashing water all felt far away as Rowland suddenly froze mid-step.
His gaze locked on a massive window overlooking the gardens.
And he saw us.
Nathan had chased me down and finally caught up with me. He was standing close to me, holding my hand in his.
I saw Sophia approaching, trembling with anger. I also noticed Rowland staring at us from beneath a massive window overlooking the gardens.
I immediately leaned subtly into Nathan’s shoulder as if savoring his nearness.
Rowland’s hands clenched.
Sophia flushed scarlet. freēwēbnovel.com
Nathan whispered urgently, “Aria... what are you doing?”
Ignoring his question, I leaned my head onto his shoulder, feeling the low rumble of his voice vibrate through his muscles.
Then I lifted my eyes straight at Sophia.
Rowland took a step forward, desperate for my attention. I didn’t give him any.
Sophia looked ready to break.
And then...I reached up and grabbed Nathan’s tie. Slowly and possessively, I kissed him.
A soft, muffled sound escaped him.
Nathan’s POV
Aria’s arms looped around my neck, and before I could even inhale, her lips crashed into mine, fierce, urgent and completely unannounced.
For a heartbeat, my entire body froze.
The ballroom, the lights, the murmurs from the pool outside, everything vanished. Or maybe I vanished, swallowed by the shock of her mouth on mine.
All I could feel was her..the softness of her lips,
the warm exhale brushing my nose, the faint tremor in her breath.
My wolf lunged upward, slamming against my ribs.
She is Ours.
The word echoed through me with embarrassing clarity.
Her scent was still absent. She must have used a scent blocker. I imagined it instead, the smell of her lovely scene hitting the back of my throat, dragging a memory out of me like claws scraping open an old wound.
The memory of that night, the only night I have ever been intimate with her. I remembered the reckless, uncontrollable heat. The way I had clawed at her shoulders as if I could drag the moon down for us both.
Damn... there was a painful, shameful fullness swelling in my chest.
But she...She kissed me like she felt nothing.
Like I was a shield, a distraction, a tool she was using.
Her lips were on mine, but her eyes, cool and distant were aimed past me.
Following her gaze, I looked down.
Straight into Rowland’s storm-dark, devastated stare.
The truth hit me like a punch.
I snapped out of the trance, a cold edge slicing through my voice.
“Aria... are you using me?”
I could feel it. Her wolf was calm and detached.
Her attention was pointed outward, not inward to us but outward to him.
Rowland, my nephew, of all people.
Her gaze flickered nad there was a tiny break in her mask.
Before she could look away through the window, my aura shifted. Cold, dangerous air wrapped around her snapping like frost on skin. The hair on her arms rose.
She wanted to speak but I didn’t let her.
I grabbed her cheeks in one hand, firm but careful, my other arm caging her waist, pulling her against me so fast her breath hitched.
Her eyes widened in shock, not fear and it further stirred something primal in me.
I kept her close enough that she couldn’t escape, but braced her so she wouldn’t be hurt. My body pressed her into the nearest piece of furniture, pinning her there like she belonged under my hands.
“Aria,” I murmured, my voice cold as winter steel, but a sliver of mocking heat threaded through it,
“If you’re going to put on a show... shouldn’t it at least look convincing?”
Her breath caught. I didn’t give her time to answer.
I bent down and claimed her mouth again, harder and deeper this time, kiss colliding with kiss until my tongue pushed past her lips, tasting her, insisting, demanding.
Her lips parted under mine, surprised, furious, and intoxicating. freeweɓnøvel.com
My wolf roared his approval, sinking its claws into my spine.
And I kissed her like the whole damn villa needed to see exactly who she was trying to use.
And exactly who she still belonged to.
