Nathan’s POV

Aria’s words completely gutted me. I was standing outside the door of the hotel room where she and Richard were currently inside and I heard everything.

"Alpha... should we head back?"

Collin’s voice came low and careful from beside me. He stood at the doorway, his shoulders stiff, his eyes flicking toward my face as if afraid I might shatter if he spoke too loudly.

I didn’t answer right away. My lips were pressed into a thin, bloodless line, my face so pale even Collins couldn’t pretend not to notice. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, each thud echoing with my wolf’s restless pacing.

Just an hour ago, Sophia had sent those explosive revelations about Aria straight to the news outlets. I hadn’t even bothered changing before I rushed here, driven by an instinct older than reason, the instinct to protect what was once mine.

But fate, cruel as always, made sure we arrived too late.

The reporters were already gone. What remained was worse. Standing outside the door, Collins and I overheard everything.

Every word cut deep.

After I learned Lana was my biological daughter, I hadn’t slept at all. My wolf had howled through the night inside my head, torn between wild joy and unbearable regret. A pup. My pup. Flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood.

At dawn, with dark circles carved under my eyes and my nerves stretched raw, I’d ordered Collins to drive me to a children’s toy store. I didn’t know what I was doing, only that I had to do something.

By noon, several large trucks were rolling into Shevron Estates, unloading in batches like an offering laid at an altar. Children’s beds, swings. Boxes upon boxes of clothes, sparkly jewelry, baby bowls, tiny spoons. Things I should have bought when she was born.

By the time Collins got home that night, he’d been so exhausted he could barely stand straight. And still, none of it felt like enough.

Because regret, I was learning, doesn’t undo damage. It only sharpens the pain of knowing you caused it.

Judging by Aria’s attitude now, no matter what I did, it would always come too late.

"Let’s go," I finally said.

My voice sounded foreign to my own ears.

I’d confirmed her safety. My wolf could sense it, even through the door. That was the only reason I could walk away. Staying any longer would have pushed me to knock, to beg, to tear the world apart just to hear her voice again.

I lifted my feet and turned, the heavy leather of my shoes clicking against the pristine floor. My hand moved unconsciously to my chest, my fingers curling where our mate bond once burned. The ache there was constant now, a dull, gnawing pain that never faded.

A phrase surfaced in my mind, unbidden and cruel in its truth.

Getting close to her meant getting close to pain.

Staying away from her meant staying away from happiness.

Aria... what should I do?

I raised my eyes and looked back one last time at the tightly closed door. My wolf whined softly, tail tucked, eyes full of longing.

Everything that had happened, it was all my doing.

I couldn’t undo the past. I couldn’t force forgiveness. All I could do now was try, in whatever small ways remained, to make it up to her... and to our child.

Even if it cost me everything.

Aria’s POV

After I said those words, a look of anger and something else I couldn’t put my hand on registered on Richard’s face.

I pushed the door open.

Richard remained in the room, his fists clenched.

"Richard," I said coldly, my voice echoing faintly. "That surveillance footage from a year ago? That wasn’t you helping me. At best, it was guilt."

I turned, my gaze sharp, my wolf fully awake.

"I’ll use every resource, every claw and every ounce of power I have to make everyone who hurt me pay."

I paused.

"Including you."

With that, I left. Outside the hotel, the cool evening air greeted me like an old ally.

Amelia and Chloe approached instantly, their eyes bright. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"How did it go?" Amelia asked, her lips curving.

"We saw everything. The watch worked perfectly" Chloe added smugly, tapping my wrist.

I smiled, genuine this time, pride warming my chest.

"And just like you predicted," Amelia continued, handing me a small recording device, "Sophia and Patrick were downstairs. Chloe caught everything. Their faces are crystal clear."

The weight of the device settled into my palm.

My lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile.

This entire setup had probably been Richard’s idea, but he’d never expected Sophia to stab him in the back.

I’d only asked Amelia and Chloe to keep watch for suspicious movement.

Instead, fate handed me a gift.

My fingers tightened.

Richard had disgusted me today but the outcome? More than satisfactory.

In that room, I hadn’t missed his expression. He had no idea Sophia was playing her own game behind his back.

And betrayal?

That was something even a man like Richard couldn’t tolerate.

So the moment I suspected Sophia, I’d turned the pressure up, hard enough to make everyone sell her out.

After all...There’s no better punishment than being targeted by an obsessive psychopath you helped create.

"Let’s go home," I said, patting both Amelia and Chloe on the shoulder.