Free Web NovelChapter 37: Chapter 37
Aria’s POV
"Peter Clinton?"
A genuine smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it. I looked him up and down, taking in the sharp lines of his black suit and the gold frames perched on his nose.
Gone was the shy, bumbling intern who used to hide behind thick glasses and piles of case files. This Peter looked confident, self-assured even.
He furrowed his brows briefly as he watched me, a flicker of sadness, flashing through his eyes. I could tell what he was thinking. He was probably wondering why I looked so different from my usual self. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
He eventually smiled at me, his eyes gleaming with the same earnest warmth I remembered, and something in my chest loosened.
I honestly never thought I’d see him again.
Back when I’d still had my job...Peter had been the nervous new intern no one thought would last a week.
Always quiet, always fumbling with his papers, too timid to speak during meetings. But I’d seen something in him that others hadn’t. He had a sharp focus beneath all that fear.
He might not have been bold, but he was brilliant. So I’d taken him under my wing, brought him to trials, made him watch, listen and learn.
And now, barely a year and a half later... he stood before me, running his own law firm.
I couldn’t quite name the feeling bubbling inside my chest. It was somewhere between pride and sorrow. Pride, because I was the one who once taught Peter everything he knew.
Sorrow, because that life, the courtroom, the scent of ink and old paper, the thrill of victory, was no longer mine.
A year ago, I’d been one of the best. A top lawyer. A name people spoke about with respect. Then came the scandal, the arrest for stealing trade secrets. Lies that clung to me like a curse.
Even now, I could still feel the cold bite of the silver cuffs they used when they took me in. The humiliation still burned. That mark... that stain on my name... I couldn’t erase it.
Standing here before my former "student" made the air thick with awkwardness. I straightened my back, forcing myself to lift my chin and extend a hand with a small, genuine smile. "Congratulations."
Peter paused, his eyes flicking to my hand.
"Thank you so much!" he blurted, bowing deeply. When he cupped my fingertips with both hands, the gesture was so old-fashioned, so him, it made my chest tighten. For a second, I saw that timid intern again, fumbling with papers, tripping over words.
My nose stung, and I had to blink fast to keep the tears back. My wolf stirred quietly inside me, sensing the swirl of emotion but staying still.
"Luna Aria, I’m sorry—I couldn’t help overhearing," Peter said, glancing at Richard and then back at me. "Are you having trouble finding a place to stay? I have an old house. It’s nothing like Alpha Richard’s mansion, but it’s decent. You can pay whatever you think is fair—if you don’t mind..."
His hopeful tone carried sincerity that tugged at me. But I didn’t miss the way he peeked nervously at Richard, like testing the air before speaking again.
Sure enough, Richard’s expression darkened, his soft features hardening into ice. He was reeking of jealousy. I could practically taste it in the air.
Peter, brave little man that he was, clenched his sweaty palms against his thighs and pretended not to notice. He kept his eyes on me, waiting patiently, refusing to flinch.
"Well...", i said as I adjusted Lana in my arms, torn between pride and practicality. Before I could speak any further, Richard stepped closer, his presence brushing against mine like static. "Aria."
That one word came out rough, weighted with something close to desperation.
"Okay," I said finally, flashing Peter a grateful smile. "Thanks for the help."
Peter’ face turned crimson. My lips twitched despite myself. Even after all this time, even after success, he was still that shy boy who blushed too easily.
"I’ll take you there right now!" he said eagerly, almost tripping over his own feet as he hurried back into the law firm to grab his things.
The moment he disappeared, Richard moved closer again, his fingers wrapping around my wrist. His touch was hot. My wolf growled low, the sound vibrating in my chest.
"Aria," he said hoarsely. "Even if you hate me, your daughter is still little, she needs a decent life."
My stomach twisted. He was using her my pup to guilt me.
My gentle expression vanished. Ice filled my veins. My wolf’s eyes flashed gold beneath my human gaze as I hissed, "Let go. You make me sick."
Peter returned just in time, now dressed in a simple shirt and jeans. His arrival broke the tension like a crack of thunder.
"Sorry about this, Mr. Barnes," he said quickly, stepping between us. "I need to get Luna Aria settled first."
I yanked my hand free, forcing my breathing to steady. Turning to Peter, I gave a short nod. "Let’s go." ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
Within minutes, he’d helped me load my suitcase into his car. I didn’t look back. Neither of us did.
I could feel Richard’s gaze burning into my back as we drove off. Even when the city swallowed him in the rearview mirror, that possessive energy clung to me like smoke. My wolf snarled softly, wanting to shake off his scent.
In the back seat, I held Lana close, her tiny heartbeat steady against mine. The tension slowly melted as Peter blushed his way through the quiet ride. His aura was shy, kind, and safe, a warmth I hadn’t felt in a while from the opposite gender.
Through the mirror, I saw his eyes flicker toward us. "Luna Aria, this child is...?"
I smiled faintly, brushing a finger along Lana’s soft cheek. "My daughter."
His hands froze on the wheel. I caught the faintest whiff of surprise.
"You have a daughter?" he murmured, his voice low, almost reverent.
