Aria’s POV

Sophia’s gaze snapped to Nathan, then to Rowland, then back to me, burning with hatred.

"You think just because you’re close to Alpha Nathan’s nephew..."

"Oh, sweetheart," I cut her off, brushing hair behind my ear, "if I wanted to lean on power, this would be over already. But humiliating you personally?" My smile sharpened.

"That’s just a bonus. Now leave"

She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could fire back, Rowland moved, He grabbed her by the collar and tossed her out the door like she weighed nothing.

The thud was satisfying.

"Bang..."

The door slammed shut.

Her fists hammered on the other side in muffled shrieks that were caught by sharp ears.

"Aria! You lunatic, let me in! This is my room, what right do you have to be in there!"

I turned my gaze from the door just as Nathan who had tried to embrace me earlier came towards me again. Rowland yanked him away from me before he could wrap his arms around me.

Nathan toppled backward onto the bed, his eyes clouded with alcohol.

Rowland dusted off his hands. "Sorry, Uncle Nathan", he mouthed silently.

I almost snorted.

"Aria," Rowland said out loud, breaking the silence, his voice oddly tight, "you plan on divorcing Uncle Nathan. You have already sent new divorce papers to him, why are you still so concerned about him?"

I shot Rowland a sideways look. "Isn’t he your Uncle Nathan?"

The way his face lit up was ridiculous.

"So you helped Uncle Nathan because of me?" he teased, leaning close, his breath ghosting across my ear.

My wolf growled. I shoved his face away.

"You’re overthinking it."

I didn’t owe him any more explanation than that.

Nathan lay there on the bed. I stepped closer and slipped his phone from his suit jacket. Even drunk, his energy crackled like static, brushing against my aura.

There was no password on his phone.

Of course.

The the screen lit up and I froze.

There was a picture of me on the lock screen.

My chest tightened, a mix of rage, grief and confusion twisting like claws inside me. My wolf paced, unsettled.

He didn’t care then, not when I needed him.

Now, suddenly, when I want to divorce him, he makes me his lock screen?

Men.

Rowland’s voice yanked me back. "What’s wrong?" He leaned forward; I pushed him away again. He gave me a wounded look that would’ve been adorable if I cared.

I ignored the pinned chat at the top of his phone which was my name. I scrolled and found Collins. The line rang once.

"Alpha Na..."

"It’s me." My voice cut clean before ge could finish.

"...Luna Aria?" Collins sounded rattled. He should be.

"Nathan’s drunk at the Hilton Hotel. Come pick him up."

I sent the location and slipped the phone back into Nathan’s jacket like it burned.

Rowland latched on to me again like a persistent wolf pup. I sidestepped, planting myself at the door.

"Are you staying?" I asked, lifting a brow.

He bolted out towards the door. "Uncle Nathan can sleep it off alone!"

I opened the door and stepped out. The hallway buzzed with chaos; the air thick with fear and anger. My hearing sharpened instantly, I heard someone yelling down the corridor.

"What do you think you’re doing?!"

It was Sophia. She was being restrained by security. Her shouts must have disturbed the peace of the building.

When we got downstairs, we saw Collins. He had arrived. He was already striding toward us, his face grim.

"What’s the meaning of this?!" Sophia spat when she saw us."They are the ones that should be restrained, not me!"

Rowland turned his gaze on her, his eyes cold.

"Ms. Darvin, you got Alpha Nathan drunk and brought him here without notifying his beta. I suspect ulterior motives. Infact you will be held accountable." he turned his gaze to Collins. "You need to make sure of that".

His voice was steel.

Collins nodded, "Thank you Alpha Rowland, I will".

He turned his gaze to me and swallowed. "Luna Aria. Thank you for intervening on Alpha Nathan’s behalf and reaching out to me"

"Mm." I nodded once.

Security stepped aside, clearing a path for me. Sophia tried to lunge at me, fury twisting her face. She looked rabid and pathetic. She succeeded in kicking my leg.

My palm moved before I could think.

CRACK!.

The sound snapped through the hall like a whip. Everyone stilled. My wolf hummed in satisfaction.

Sophia froze, clutching her cheek, her eyes glassy with shock.

I stepped forward, my voice low, laced with my wolf’s growl.

"Sophia, do you really think Asterfell is your playground?"

Her breath hitched. I cast a disdainful look at her and turned away. Rowland fell into step at my side. The guards held Sophia back as she writhed.

"Aria! You bitch! This is all your fault!" she shrieked, her voice breaking.

Collins signaled to one of the guards. They stuffed a handkerchief in her mouth. Her insults collapsed into muffled sobs.

I didn’t look back.

Nathan’s POV

The door creaked, and I snapped upright on the bed. My claws pricked lightly at my palms before retracting. The effect of the alcohol was gradually waning, my instincts were becoming sharp.

"Alpha Nathan," Collins bowed, his eyes flicking to the torn sheets behind me.

I rose, shrugging off my jacket and tossing it aside. My wolf paced beneath my skin, snarling, furious. I recollected fragments of what happened. Sophia had tried to get me laid before Aria interferred.

"Get me another room," I ordered Collins in alow voice. "And a fresh set of clothes, leave them at the door."

My gaze drifted to the doorway which was empty now, but I could still smell her. Aria. I clenched my fist, hating that she had to witness that ugly scene between Sophia and I. I hope she doesn’t get the wrong idea.

My alcohol tolerance was high and I wouldn’t lose conciousness from just a few drinks. My drink must have been spiked. When Sophia had invited me to the restaurant.

I’d come to get answers, to learn what she knew about the night over a year ago. But before I could corner her, Aria appeared.

And suddenly, I wasn’t Alpha. I wasn’t strategist. I was just a wolf desperate for his mate.

Collins’s voice tugged me back. "Alpha Nathan, what would you like to do with Sophia?"