Lucian’s POVWhen I returned home that evening, after visiting my father once more in the hospital and discovering he had blessedly awoken, I expected to head straight to bed. It was late, after all, with all of the servants gone for the evening.Instead, I found Sheila waiting for me in the living
By now, I was entirely fed up with Sheila.“I’m going to bed,” I said, and stepped around her.“But, Lucian,” she called after me. “We should talk about this.”“Another time,” I replied without turning back. In reality, I’d avoid this topic again for as long as I physically could.The next day, when
Aria’s POVI came to check on Harold again, but before going inside of the room, I stood outside taking and reviewing his chart from the holder it had sat in beside the door. The overnight crew had kept a close eye on Harold as I requested, but other than snoring a little, there was nothing to repor
Aria’s POVWhen I arrived home that night, I was absolutely exhausted, both physically and mentally. The entire carried home, I’d planned for this moment when I could finally remove my Dr. A costume, dress down in my pajamas, and then bury my sorrows in a pint of ice cream.Yet I only managed two-th
Cathy tossed aside her jacket and purse, then, rushing towards me, helped guide me into the living room where I sat down on the couch.My first fear was for the baby, but my wolf whispered softly, “I will protect them.”Relief immediately sank through me. With it, I leaned back on the couch and brea
Lucian’s POVI wasn’t sure at first what I was looking at. Even though the book was very clearly labeled diary, I couldn’t fathom that something so personal would be something that Aria would have willingly left behind.She took what she did when she left, but never came back for anything else. I co
Aria’s POV“What do you wear to a divorce ceremony?” I asked Cathy as we both stood outside of my closet, looking in.“Black, right?” Cathy asked.“Funeral attire?” I replied. That didn’t seem right. Although, maybe for a divorce, as this was the end of a chapter of my life, black would be appropria
Aria’s POVThe divorce ceremony was generally simple and short. A reversal of a wedding, each partner was called to give a brief statement in front of the judge. I’d already written mine and carried it on a tiny slip of paper that I now held in my shaky hands.Compared to the devastation of the mutu
Aria’s POVI expected some pushback at the hospital, given the revelation. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but I imagined it would be something. Though the Healers had been generally accepting of me since my return to the pack, I could still remember the times in the past when they had dislik
Lucian’s POVI had no idea how some of these nobles received permission to be in this room for this revelation, but at this point, I was beyond caring about logistics. The facts were, they were here and they were giving Aria grief. That was more than enough reason for him to, not just lose his tempe
Lucian’s POV“No,” I said quickly. “I couldn’t be.”Early in our marriage, Aria and I had tried rather enthusiastically to have children, but we never managed to succeed in getting Aria pregnant. Eventually, I came to the realization that we couldn’t get pregnant, for one reason or another.Likely,
Aria’s POVI waited until I was back at Cathy’s at the end of the day to pick up her phone and call Jasper. Of all people I knew with the connections I needed, he was the one I could most depend on. Silas was still in Moonglow, too far away to help me, and I wasn’t ready to face Lucian again so soon
“You should have went with her to Moonglow,” I insisted.“She would have refused me,” he said. “She’d already rejected me.”“But those kids needed you –”“They need their father,” Jasper said. “Their real one.”His words hit me hard, and I finally realized what he was trying to say. “You aren’t the
Lucian’s POVI stormed into the Alpha headquarters building, looking for Jasper, ready to go to war. With my hands curled into fists, I thought I might start throwing punches before I would even be able to speak.My wolf was even angrier, prowling back and forth in my mind, scratching at my consciou
Lucian’s POVAs Aria checked to ensure that her disguise was in place, I stepped out of her personal office and back into the main one. The kids, by now, were showing each other their crayon drawings, while Cathy sat patiently in one of the waiting chairs.Cathy was watching me. Maybe she could see
Aria’s POVLucian’s question wasn’t unexpected, considering all he had witnessed up until this moment. However, that did not make it any easier to answer.This secret of my identity was one that I had kept for so long, lately just to stop Lucian from learning the truth.It had become more habit than
Aria’s POVSeeing Paul, Frank, and Harry walk through the office door, entering just behind Lucian made my stomach drop. I’d expected them to track me down, and knew there would be trouble when they did. But I had no idea it would be while Lucian was actually already in the room with us!What could