Jasper POVJasper felt privileged learning Lucian’s story, though he also felt undeserving. Lucian and Jasper had never been close, always on the out edge of each other’s social space without every fully crossing over it. Yet, they were still cousins, still family.Lucian was still Jasper’s King.No
Lucian’s POV“Harold will pull through,” Dr. A said.Jasper, Mom, and I released a collective breath.“Is he awake? Can I see him?” Julia asked.“Yes.” Dr. A motioned for Cathy, who stepped forward. “Follow Cathy and she will take you to him.”“Thank you, Dr. A. Thank you so much.” Mom, with tears i
Aria’s POVThe next morning, at home, I worried that photo taken of Lucian and Dr. A was going to show up on the news. Coffee in hand, I watched and waited with dread for confirmation that I’d be further pulled into drama regarding Lucian and Sheila.Yet, as I watched, the only time Dr. A seemed to
Jasper’s POVJasper overslept that morning, so he didn’t hear about the latest report on Sheila until he read about it in the morning paper over his eggs and mimosa. It nearly turned his stomach, though not quite enough to stop eating his breakfast.Sheila had to be playing some kind of game. That w
Aria’s POVI’d never met this man before, not even in passing, that I could recall. I had no idea why he held such affection for me, or why he even thought I’d be receptive to the idea of a date.Yet I was so flabbergasted, words failed me for a minute.“Do I know you?” I asked, because maybe I had
One man jumped straight past the courting phase and asked, “Will you be my mate?”“No,” I told him, more firmly than I’d told the others. He didn’t even know me! I’d seen him a few times at a few events I attended as Aria, but even then, I hadn’t spoken more than two words to him at any one time. Wh
Lucian’s POVWith no real rhyme or reason, the sight before me annoyed the hell out of me. Maybe it was because Dr. A reminded me of Aria, or perhaps it was simply that this man was being pushy when he needed to back the hell off. Whatever the reason, my anger was rising at the same rate my patience
Aria’s POVLucian’s intervention in that unwanted proposal seemed to spread around because the amount of suitors showing up for me blessedly declined throughout the day, even after Lucian had left.I returned a few times throughout the day to check on Harold, and though there was never much change,
But Jasper’s words still rang true. When was the last time, as Alpha, I had ever been happy?The job made me miserable, even before Aria had left me. Constant pressure, constant responsibility, constant ridicule, limited thanks. Years and years of it had worn me down, eroded like a rock in the water
Lucian’s POVJasper’s punch caught me by surprised. I stumbled back, nearly into the elevator again as the doors started to close. He definitely broke my nose. Holding it, I stepped forward again, back off the elevator. Blood dripped down onto my shirt.Jasper had several different reasons to be pis
Over the next few days, I didn’t see Lucian at all. Presumably he saw the kids after I took them to spend time with their grandparents. Harold was out of the hospital and eager to see the kids.With the kids there, I returned to Cathy’s and started packing up my clothes and that of the kids. Cathy w
Aria’s POV“Lucian…”I could tell he was hanging on my every word, nervously anticipating my answer.I hated that I was about to break him. But surely he would understand.“I’m sorry,” I said. “I can’t marry you.” Before he could say anything, and he clearly wanted by how quickly he opened his mouth
Aria’s POVWe all waited with bated breath to see how Harold would handle the medicine. Perhaps I had been too late in providing it? The heart monitor was still beating too quickly. Harold was moaning in pain. The nearby Healers seemed ready to help him along with his passing. Piper and I physically
Aria’s POVAt the hospital, Lucian gave me a final squeeze. “Please help him,” he said.“I’ll do my best,” I promised. Then, breaking away from him, leaving him with Julia in the waiting room, I rushed to the emergency room to see what was going on.Fortunately, one of the nurses lent me a hair-tie
“But the food hasn’t arrived yet,” he said.I couldn’t wait. Feeling like I was going to pass out, I needed out of here.I pushed my chair back and stood. “I’m sorry,” I said.Turning, I hurried away from the table, from the dining room, from the restaurant. I threw the door open and ran outside.Wh
Aria’s POVSilas’s words haunted me long after the phone conversation, and that, combined with my discussion with Cathy and Piper convinced me to at least hear Lucian out. Because of this, when he called me to talk, and asked me to go out on a date with him, I decided to say yes.Now, after dressing
Aria’s POVHow was it, even after all this time, after all this distance, after all the hurt that sat piled up between us – I still so easily fell back into Lucian’s web.I wanted to be stronger, to be harder, and keep up the walls with him, yet every time we’d been around each other, he seemed to s