Cathy’s POVCathy shouldn’t have let Lucian into the house. Even as Alpha King, he wouldn’t have been able to enter without her invitation.But he had looked so lost standing at her door, just as he had the last time he arrived, holding all of those flowers. It was difficult to have sympathy for him
Five Years Later…Aria’s POV“Piper? Do you have that chart?” I called out across the office.“Already put it on your desk, Dr. A,” Piper replied.Ah, so she did. I never should have doubted her efficiency. For the past five years as we traveled around the Moonglow pack, with her acting as a junior
“There’s talk of travel routes opening back up between Moonglow and the other packs again. The routes will even stretch to Nightfall. I know King Lucian is eager to help the reconstruction efforts.”As Silas said Lucian’s name, he kept his gaze on me, as if waiting for a reaction.Inside of me, my w
Aria’s POVThe minute Silas and I stepped into the kitchen and out of earshot of the kids, he opened his mouth and the verbal lashing began. I’d already braced myself, preparing for it.“You need to tell Lucian about his children,” Silas said, not for the first time. This was a tired argument betwee
Aria’s POVOpening the letter, I recognized the familiar scrawl at once. This letter was from Jasper.Over the past five years, Jasper and I had become something of avid pen-pals. We wrote each other frequently, and even talked on the phone now and then, though those long distance calls were too exp
He’d be a good husband, a good match.I was lucky to have caught his eye, and would be even luckier to claim him.Yet, even knowing that, I couldn’t tie him down to me. He deserved someone who loved him as passionately as he loved.That, unfortunately, was not me, and I didn’t know if it ever could
Lucian’s POVAfter the meeting, as I reached the car, Ben, my Beta, held open the backseat car door for me.“Should I take you back to your office, Alpha?” he asked.“No,” I said. “I’d like to go home, please.”This surprised Ben, who looked at me strangely. I could understand this reaction. For yea
To know how deeply she admired and loved me. To know how much I shattered her illusions of me, and then slowly broke her heart over the years of our marriage.It was almost too much to bear, but I bore it.I didn’t approach the desk now, though. My readings had started to become rarer. Loneliness wa
She was beautiful. Why had I never noticed before?Why was I noticing now?Quickly, I looked down at the menu. It was far too soon for a new romance, not if I wanted to find one for real. I wasn’t about to play around with Cathy’s heart, when she had come to be such a friend.And I didn’t want to pl
Jasper’s POVA couple of days after I punched Lucian, and he quit and ran off with Aria, Cathy invited me out to lunch. Sitting across from me now, in a café that we tended to frequent when we got together, she was looking at me as one might a wounded animal, as if trying to determine if I needed co
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