Nathan’s POV

A pulse of cold slid through my veins. My wolf’s ears pinned back, annoyed.

"That’s none of your business," I snapped, raising a brow. The temperature in the room dropped. Even Collins paused where he stood, sensing the shifting tension.

Rowland leaned back, his arms crossing. "Uncle Nathan, you owe Aria a lot. Isn’t it a bit late to be thinking of making amends now?"

My grip tightened around my pen until the plastic threatened to snap. My wolf snarled, pacing. I forced him down.

"Worry about yourself," I growled. "Going back to the Garfield family won’t be an easy return." I jerked my chin at Collins. "Show him out."

Collins, ever loyal, stepped forward. "Alpha Rowland—"

Rowland raised a hand, cutting him off. "No rush. I’m leaving." His gaze slid to me, eyes suddenly sharper. He tapped the table twice, claws of intention in every movement. "Why not let me help with the questioning, Uncle Nathan?"

He leaned in. His wolf stared back at mine. A silent test of dominance. We held the moment, the air heavy with the tension of snarls neither of us released.

Collins had gotten nothing from the three witnesses. And I... I knew my method of questioning might end up sending them to their early grave.

Rowland knew things. He had history.

Aria trusted him too.

And that alone made my wolf want to rip his throat out.

But we need him.

My voice dropped. "What did you take at the funeral?"

Surprise flashed in his eyes for just a second, but I caught it. My wolf always caught lies.

"Don’t think I don’t know," I growled. "Be honest."

He exhaled, shrugging like a cornered wolf trying to look harmless. "The USB. The one Patrick used to play the video."

My claws pressed at the edge of control. I felt every heartbeat in the room.

"Did you come to me because she found something on that USB?" My eyes locked on his.

He hesitated. Then said, "I suspected that video was altered. After checking, I’m sure. Someone edited it... years ago. Maybe more than a decade. There’s missing footage. Patrick’s been preparing that surveillance for a long time."

A chill ran up my spine, fur bristling along my mental form. Patrick.

That bastard always had deception up his sleeves.

Rowland continued, his voice hardening. "We can’t clear Aria unless we find Clarence. She’s the key now."

Silence weighed heavy. My wolf stilled, listening, thinking, planning.

Finally, I nodded at Collins. "Take him to them."

Rowland’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile.

Collins bowed slightly. "Alpha Rowland, the witnesses are in my office. Please follow me."

Rowland stood, the air between us crackling with grudges and reluctant alliance. My wolf growled silently. He turned and followed Collins.

Aria’s POV

Rowland stepped out of the building just as my friends and I approached, the cool evening breeze carrying the scent of city exhaust and fried food from nearby restaurants.

Chloe spotted him first. "Rowland! We were just heading to dinner. Want to join..."

"Aria." He cut her off, his voice sharp and focused. The way he said my name made something inside me freeze. Then he took my hand firmly.

"Rowland?" I breathed, staring up at him. His eyes were wild, his pupils blown wide. He smelled like trouble and fear.

"What’s going on? You were meeting with Nathan...did something hap..."

Before I finished, Rowland pulled me against him, his arms crushing around my body. My wolf bristled, claws scraping at the inside of my skin. Jonathan stepped forward, protective instinct flaring in his eyes, but Rowland bared his teeth at him.

"Rowland, what are you doing?" I gasped as he lifted me clean off the ground like I weighed nothing. My hands flew to his shoulders for balance, my claws threatening to slip through my fingertips. Everyone stared at us, stunned.

He didn’t answer. Just carried me, heading straight for my car with single-minded determination.

"Aria. Open the door," he whispered, his voice trembling.

"Put me down!" My voice cracked, equal parts command and confusion.

Instead, he tightened his hold and met my eyes. For a heartbeat, the world narrowed to just that gaze. Something was wrong, I could feel it.

"What’s wrong with you?" I asked, my voice softer this time.

"Open the car first," he coaxed, his voice gentling, almost coaxing like I was the one on the verge of losing control. His breath ghosted over my cheek, warm, entirely too intimate.

Heat flooded my face. With a reluctant sigh, I fumbled in my pocket and unlocked the car.

He placed me inside, shut the door, and before I could sit upright, he leaned down, burying his face against my neck. His breath hit the sensitive skin just beneath my collarbone. My wolf whimpered.

"Rowland, you—"

"Just let me hold you," he murmured, his voice cracking on the last word.

Everything in me stilled. My wolf, usually so fierce, so defensive... lowered her head. Submitted to the pain in his voice. I hesitated, then slowly lifted my hand to his back, tracing small circles. He shuddered under my touch, like he’d been holding himself together for too long.

"I have to leave," he said into my skin.

My heart faltered.

"When?" I whispered.

"This afternoon."

The air between us thickened. His arms tightened, pulling me closer until our foreheads touched. My heartbeat quickened, thundering in my ears like paws pounding through forest soil.

"Will you miss me?" he breathed, his eyes locked on mine.