Free Web NovelChapter 395: Chapter 395
Nathan’s POV
“Alright. I’ll let you know when Grandma lands,” I said quickly, unable to hide the urgency in my voice.
“Okay,” Aria replied.
Then the line went dead.
I stared at the phone for a moment, my heart still pounding like I’d just finished a hunt.
She agreed. She was coming to Crescent Manor.
My wolf lifted its head, alert, restless and almost disbelieving.
Across from me, my grandma stood with her arms crossed, looking far too satisfied. She had come to Asterfell earlier today, less than twenty hours after I reached out to her for help.
“You’d better not stay in the office this afternoon,” she said. “Go to Crescent Manor, prepare and have your mother’s room cleaned.”
I frowned. “Aria said she won’t stay overnight.”
The faint smile on my face faded. Grandma rolled her eyes like I’d just said something unbelievably stupid.
“She says she won’t stay,” she repeated. “And you don’t know how to persuade her?”
My wolf twitched.
“Crescent Manor is far from her estate,” she continued. “If you keep her late, she won’t have a choice but to stay.”
I blinked. That felt... like a trap.
“Grandma,” I said carefully, “isn’t that a bit manipulative?”
She stared at me like I’d lost my mind.
“Manipulative?” she snapped, hands going to her hips. “Nathan, you already lost your mate once. I’m helping you bring her back. You’re worried about being manipulative?”
My wolf flinched.
“Wait until you lose both your mate and your pup,” she said sharply, “then tell me how noble you feel!”
That shut me up.
Images hit me—Aria gone, Lana growing up calling another male “father.”
My chest tightened painfully.
No. I couldn’t accept that future. I lowered my gaze slightly. “I understand.”
This wasn’t about any other thing, it was about not losing my family again.
Grandma nodded, satisfied. “Good. Now go and prepare properly.”
Aria’s POV
Lana was warm and soft in my arms, her tiny scent wrapping around my senses.
Moments like this were rare.
No politics, no pack pressure, no past haunting me. Just me... and my pup.
“I should get something for Nathan’s grandma,” I murmured, stepping into the jewelry store. My wolf was calm today, lulled by Lana’s presence.
I spotted a bracelet I liked and smiled faintly. “Hello, this—”
“I’ll take that. Wrap it up.” A sharp female voice sliced through the air.
My brows twitched. I turned.
A young woman stood there, dressed in luxury, her chin lifted, her eyes full of challenge. She looked spoiled and was territorial in the most childish way.
I ignored her.
Since becoming a mother, little provocations like this felt... small. I moved to another tray. I spotted an elegant emerald bead.
“Hello, this—”
“I’ll take this one too.” The young lady said again.
Now my wolf lifted its head, not threatened, just... curious. I looked at her. She arched a brow at me like this was some kind of dominance game.
I’d never seen her before. This was completely strange.
I simply walked to another counter.
Click...Click...Click.
Her heels followed me.
I stopped at a pink diamond bracelet.
“This—” I had not finished speaking when she interrupted.
“I want that too.”
Butterfly brooch.
“Could you—” I started to say.
“Wrap it.” The woman said.
People were watching now. Sales associates pretending not to stare.
I wasn’t angry. Honestly? It was almost funny. A younger wolf trying to snarl at a full-grown wolf.
“This one,” I said, pointing at a rare pearl necklace.
“I’ll take—” she began to say.
“Miss!” Her bodyguard cut in, strained. “You’ve almost exceeded the budget your father gave you—”
Her face turned red.
“Do you want me to wrap it?” the salesgirl asked eagerly.
The young woman snapped, “It’s ugly! Did I say I wanted it? Unlike someone, I have taste.”
Ah...So that was the game.
I smiled gently. “She’s right. These are ordinary. I almost made a mistake. Thank you for reminding me.”
Silence dropped over the store. Her face shifted from red... to green.
I took out my phone.
“Jonathan? Can you design a custom brooch for me? A nightingale.”
“When do you need it?” Jonathan asked.
“Tonight.”
There was a pause, there was a chuckle. “That’s tight, but for you? I’ll try.”
I hung up, satisfied. As I turned to leave, a hand grabbed my shoulder.
“You dare mess with me?!” the young lady hissed, her eyes bloodshot.
Mess with her? I tilted my head innocently. “Miss, I don’t understand.”
That made her angrier.
But her bodyguard grabbed her wrist. “Miss! We’re here to meet Alpha Nathan. Please don’t cause trouble!”
Nathan. freewebnσvel.cѳm
So that’s the connection.
The man bowed slightly to me. “My apologies.”
I smiled. “No harm done. But your Miss seems overheated. There’s an ice cream shop outside.”
Then I walked away.
As I turned, Lana’s little face peeked out.
The girl froze.
My sharp ears picked her words. “Bill... did you see that?”
“...Yes,” he murmured.
I didn’t hear the rest, I didn’t care. I suspect she targeted me on purpose. The fact that she knew Nathan made my suspicion very plausible.
Outside, the air felt lighter. I adjusted Lana in my arms. She grabbed my hair, giggling.
My arms ached slightly, but my heart felt full.
