Free Web NovelChapter 186: Chapter 186
Nathan’s POV
Her gaze didn’t waver. It was calm and transparent. My wolf bristled, sniffing her scent, a hint of Francis’s cologne lingering on her sleeve. It tugged at something territorial in me.
“Remember your status, Luna Aria,” I said, my voice colder than I intended. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
She stood slowly, Lana in her arms, and met my eyes. “Then Alpha Nathan should remember his.”
Her words hit harder than expected. It was sharp and sarcastic, but not hateful. Not the way it used to be.
She walked away, her simple silk dress tracing the elegant lines of her body. Lana peeked over her shoulder, her bright eyes sparkling as she smiled at me. My gaze followed until the door shut behind them.
The thought hit me out of nowhere.
Is Lana really not mine?
I frowned. Earlier today, when I’d returned home unexpectedly, the nanny had been trying to soothe a hungry, crying Lana. The moment she saw me, she’d stopped crying. She eached out, tears still on her cheeks.
I should’ve handed her back, I should’ve walked away but I didn’t.
Instead, I took her, fed her awkwardly. Her eyes stayed locked on mine as she drank from the bottle.
Something inside me softened.
“Looks like Lana really likes you, Alpha Nathan,” the nanny had said.
I didn’t deny it, I couldn’t deny it.
But the bigger question lingered:
Does her mother still like me?
I shook off the thought, muttering under my breath. Aria had returned then, interrupting a moment I didn’t know I was having. A moment that lasted far too long. freeweɓnovel.cøm
Aria’s POV
Once the door clicked shut and the lock slid firmly into place, I let out a slow breath and placed a call to a friend overseas. My wolf stirred uneasily beneath my skin as I waited for the call to connect. When it did, i explained my purpose for calling.
“What?!”
The flamboyantly outraged shout nearly vibrated through the phone. I winced as the sharp clang of something heavy slamming onto a desk echoed in my ear. Even through the screen, the anger of the person on the other end of the call was loud, dramatic and very much him.
“Are they blind?” he ranted. “They call themselves the elite, yet they can’t even recognize true luxury.” His voice dripped with exaggerated disdain, every word sharp enough to cut.
Despite myself, the corner of my lips lifted. My wolf huffed in quiet amusement, her tail flicking in my mind. I raised a hand, pressing my fingers to my temple, forcing myself to stay calm.
“Alright, calm down,” I said softly, my voice steady, my composure slipping into place. “That’s exactly why I’m calling. This issue has blown up, and I don’t want baseless rumors spreading any further.”
There was a brief pause, then his tone shifted instantly, fierce loyalty replacing outrage.
“Don’t worry Aria!” he declared. “Just watch this space. I’ll get my brother to handle the PR.”
I froze.
My wolf stilled, her ears pricking sharply.
“Your... brother?” I repeated, my brows knitting together.
In my mind flashed the image of the elusive Alpha Jonathan, the man I had only ever seen from afar, powerful enough that even other Alphas tread carefully around him. A wolf like that didn’t step into trivial matters lightly.
Would he really lower himself to clarify rumors for me?
My heartbeat thudded, instinct whispering that this was no small favor. And deep down, my wolf warned me...when someone that powerful moved, the pack world always felt the tremor.
The hesitation in my voice must have sounded like doubt, because Williams instantly barked through the speaker,
“Wait, wait—!”
Then—
Beep—beep—
The line went dead.
I blinked at my phone, my ears twitching in confusion. Williams’ name flashed once, then vanished into darkness as the screen dimmed. What in the moon’s name was that about?
I frowned. My wolf gave a soft huff of irritation. He’s dramatic, she muttered.
I sighed and shifted Lana in my arms. First things first, the pup needed sleep.
After tucking her in and turning off the lights, my phone buzzed. A new message from Williams appeared:
“I’ll have a surprise for you tomorrow!”
A surprise?
From him?
I stared at the message, confusion prickling beneath my fur. My thumbs hovered over the screen, but when I replied, the message sat there, unread. No dotted typing bubble. No answer.
Typical of Williams...he was chaos wrapped in wealth and secrets.
I let out a sigh and slipped into bed. The moonlight filtering into the room felt calming, my wolf curling against it. With nothing else to do, I let sleep take me.
The next morning, I still hadn’t heard back from Williams.
Instead, Collins waited outside my room, stiff and polite as ever. The faint scent of tension clung to him, fear mixed with loyalty. My wolf lifted her head warily.
Lana stayed home with the nanny. Even though her existence was no longer a secret, my instincts screamed to keep my pup inside the villa where no predators could reach her.
As we walked, Collins cleared his throat. “Luna Aria, you must be extra cautious. Based on the interrogation and the information we gathered... it appears someone has put a price on your head.”
My heart stumbled.
“A... price on my head?”
My voice cracked. Cold shock shot through me, prickling along my spine. My wolf snarled, her hackles rising.
Collins nodded firmly. “That is our current conclusion. But the mastermind remains unknown. We’re dealing with a dead-end trail.”
A dead end. My heart dropped.
For the first time, true fear knotted in my chest.
Who hated me enough to want me eliminated?
