Free Web NovelChapter 209: Chapter 209
Nathan’s POV
My wolf stirred uneasily beneath my skin, hackles rising as voices pressed in from all sides.
What Aria did earlier was wrong. By all logic, by pack rules and human etiquette alike, I should have reprimanded her. She had struck an elder. She had defied her relatives openly.
But when I looked into her eyes, the words I wanted died in his throat.
Bias won.
Now her family members were standing before me, giving accounts of what happened.
Helen forced herself closer to me, her fear poorly masked. She tilted her head, deliberately exposing her swollen cheek.
“Alpha Nathan,” she said urgently, “you must stand up for me! Aria was completely unreasonable, she actually hit me! I’m her aunt! I only came to visit Sophia, and she slapped me and told security to throw us out!”
My gaze flicked to the redness on her face.
I didn’t blink.
Then I looked at her and inclined my head slightly. “Aunt.”
That single word made her straighten, relief flashing across her features.
She nodded eagerly. “Nathan, Aria really crossed the line. I hope her temper hasn’t caused you trouble. As her husband, if you see any faults, you should discipline her properly. She doesn’t behave unless she’s corrected!”
My brows knit together.
Something ugly twisted in my chest, my wolf letting out a low, displeased growl that never made it past my throat. Discipline her? The idea scraped raw against instinct. freewēbnoveℓ.com
But I said nothing.
Rowland stood off to the side, staring at them as if he couldn’t believe his ears.
Is this really her blood? he must’ve been thinking. Telling a mate to discipline his own wife?
I felt his anger flare, then he exploded.
“Enough!” Rowland snapped, slamming his hand down hard. “She called Lana a bastard, and you’re all pretending that’s nothing? Even if the Moon goddess herself showed up, Aria wasn’t wrong today!”
The sound echoed through the space.
Gone was Rowland’s usual careless grin. His face was hard and dangerous.
Margaret and Helen jumped, then bristled. “How dare you interrupt when elders are speaking!”
The moment the words left Margaret’s mouth, regret washed over her. She glanced at me instinctively.
I let my eyes lift. It was cold and unforgiving.
The air thickened.
“Bastard?” I asked quietly. “Did you really call Lana that?”
My voice was low, almost calm, but it carried weight. My wolf pushed forward, dominance leaking into the space like ice water.
Margaret and Helen shuddered. They exchanged a look before Margaret swallowed and forced herself to speak.
“Helen was spoiled growing up,” she said quickly. “She speaks without thinking sometimes. Please don’t take it to heart, Alpha Nathan. For Sophia’s sake, forgive her this once.”
She knew how to survive rooms like this. She lowered her stance immediately.
Still, confusion flickered in her eyes.
My jaw tightened and I said, “If you want to stay close to Sophia, I’ll arrange a place near her apartment. You can stay there.”
I changed the subject deliberately.
That alone was an answer.
Sophia stood frozen, staring at me as if she were seeing a stranger. Disbelief clouded her eyes.
Margaret and Helen were equally stunned. They were surprised at my reaction. I had initially arranged for them to stay here in the villa, but after what just happened, plans have changed.
Rowland leaned back against the wall again. This time, there was a faint smile on his lips. His eyes were still dark, predatory.
I checked my watch, fatigue pressing behind my eyes. I rubbed my temples.
Before leaving, I glanced once more at the closed door down the hall.
Aria.
My wolf stirred, restless, protective. I’d arrived in time to see the slap. I’d arrived too late to stop the insult.
To Ethan, I said evenly, “If they need a place to stay, arrange it. Charge everything to Collins’ account.”
Then I turned and walked away, the night swallowing my footsteps, my thoughts lingering stubbornly behind that closed door.
Aria’s POV
Lana had just fallen asleep.
I stood by the crib a moment longer than necessary, listening to her soft, even breaths. My wolf finally settled, the restless pacing in my chest easing once I knew my pup was safe. Only then did I turn away and settle in for the night.
The next morning, my phone buzzed.
It was Francis.
I blinked in surprise. It struck me then that I hadn’t heard from him since the last time we’d met. My thumb hovered before I opened the message.
“Aria, I might need your help.” The message read.
He was straight to the point and typical.
I decided to go out briefly and meet him. After arranging for a nanny to stay with Lana, I booked a ride and left. I leaned back against the seat of the car. The city lights streaked past the window as messages from Francis arrived one after another.
“Our research lab ran into trouble. I had to deal with issues at headquarters overseas. But there’s still one pressing problem.”
That explained his disappearance. Francis didn’t vanish without reason.
I typed a short reply and then called him.
“Tell me what happened,” I said.
His voice was calm and precise, the same measured tone of a scholar who trusted logic over emotion. “One of our competitors stole our experimental reports and preliminary results. They’re preparing to launch before us. We’ve spent more than six months on this project. It’s critical.”
“We’ve redesigned the project,” he continued, “but we must pursue legal action.”
I frowned slightly. “So... you want me to be your lawyer?”
“Yes.”
There was no hesitation. He spoke with absolute certainty.
“The institute is based in Asterfell.,” Francis added. “We’ll be filing there. And you’re the best lawyer in this country, if anyone can help us win this battle, it is you, Aria.”
