Free Web NovelChapter 381: Chapter 381
Aria’s POV
I huffed a small laugh, embarrassed. For some reason, I felt a bit awkward asking a friend for help.
“Calm down, Aria, just tell him what it entails” my wolf advised.
I took a deep breath and explained the factory Patrick owned, its size, the missing couple and the need for infiltration.
“You want a top scientist to go undercover as a factory worker?” He removed his glasses, one brow lifting.
I winced. “It’s just a request. If you’re not comfortable...”
“When do I start? Should I tan? Smell more like engine oil?”
I blinked. “You’re serious?”
He flicked my forehead lightly. “Focus Aria. Of course I am, this is exciting.”
Heat rushed to my face. I swatted his hand away. “We still need to go over details.”
I met his eyes. “So... you’re in?”
“Yes I am. It sounds fun,” he said easily.
His gaze sharpened. “But I have one condition.”
“Go ahead,” I said.
The moment the words left me, the tightness in my chest eased a little. Francis had been buried in work because of our mess, and guilt had been sitting on my shoulders like a stone. A simple condition felt... fair and clean.
He tapped the table lightly. “When this is over, you owe me a meal.”
My mouth twitched. Why does every male around me measure life in food? I wondered, but when I looked at him properly, my humor faded.
His eyes, which were usually bright, curious and alive like a wolf under moonlight, held a heaviness I could not explain. My wolf noticed it too.
Something’s wrong.
I frowned. “Are you hiding something from me?”
Silence stretched. Machines hummed softly around us. Chloe and Amelia stopped moving too.
Francis nodded.
“The project succeeded,” he said. “I’ll be transferred to the headquarters overseas soon.”
The air shifted, even my breathing felt louder.
Chloe, usually all sparks and chatter, went still. Amelia’s scent dipped with concern.
“We should have a farewell dinner then?” I tried to sound light, but my fingers betrayed me, rubbing against the warm cup, grounding myself. My voice didn’t quite carry the ease I wanted.
“Maybe,” Francis said, smiling in that gentle way he uses when he’s the one comforting others.
Amelia couldn’t hide it. “Starsource is doing well here. Why do they have to move you?”
“It is the Headquarters’ orders. The new researchers need someone to guide them, they want me to assist with that.”
Of course they do. Good, hardworking wolves in all fields are always sent where fires burn hottest.
I lifted my cup and gently tapped it against his. “Then I wish you clear roads and no storms.”
His grip tightened slightly on the cup. “I’ll take that.”
“When do you leave?” I asked.
Before he could answer, I spoke again, my mind already shifting to logistics, my shields going up. “I’ll push this mission fast. You shouldn’t delay your move because of us.”
His gaze swept over my face, searching.
Sometimes I wonder if people can see it, the way I care with one hand and pull back with the other.
“It’s not that urgent,” he said quietly. “But if you want... I could leave for the factory tomorrow so we can wrap things up pretty quickly.”
“Alright,” I said. “Amelia and Chloe will see you off to the factory.”
He nodded.
I stood. If I stayed longer, my scent would betray me.
Amelia, Chloe and I left. I didn’t look back, but I felt Francis’ eyes on me the entire time, like warmth between my shoulder blades. When the door shut, I exhaled slowly, my chest tight in a way that had nothing to do with battle or strategy.
Why does losing allies hurt more than fighting enemies?
We headed toward the exit, our boots quiet against the polished floor, when I felt a cold breeze from behind. freewēbnoveℓ.com
My shoulders stiffened before my mind caught up.
“Are you satisfied?” The voice came low and sharp from the shadows near the corridor bend.
I stopped and turned slowly.
A woman stood half-swallowed by darkness, but I didn’t need full light to recognize her. My wolf already had, her scent was sour with anger.
It was Rose. She stared at me like prey that had somehow grown fangs. freeweɓnøvel.com
I frowned. “Satisfied with what?”
Her eyes flashed. “Francis just got rid of me because of you.”
Her tone scraped like bone on stone. My wolf bristled with irritation. All I could hear were accusations, noise and pointless dominance display.
Chloe stepped up beside me, her presence warm and sharp like a fox ready to bite. “What does your reassignment have to do with Aria? You messed up, own it.”
Amelia moved too, silent and steady like a shield. Her wolf energy rolled low and controlled, the kind that warned before it attacked. “Miss Rose, don’t make a scene, step aside.”
Bonnie didn’t look like she was used to resistance, I could smell it. Entitlement had its own scent: overly sweet and rotten underneath.
“Aria, can you really say this isn’t because of you? If you hadn’t come today, Francis would’ve taken me to headquarters. Why did you come?”
