Chapter 53: Chapter 53; I should apologize

Aiden’s POV

It had been one day since Alina came back, and a strange mix of relief and satisfaction settled in my chest every time I thought about it. She was here, under my roof again. Mine to protect. But beneath that warmth, a gnawing unease twisted in my gut, refusing to let me breathe easy. Lucian was still out there, circling like a shadow. I knew he wanted her back. He would rip this pack apart if that’s what it took. I couldn’t let my guard down. Not even for a second.

I stood in front of the mirror, fingers tugging at my tie, pulling the knot tighter than necessary. The bathroom door clicked open and Emily stepped out, her presence heavy in the room.

"Are you okay?" I asked, trying to bridge the silence.

She said nothing.

"Emily, please don’t shut me out like this," I added softly, turning to face her.

She folded her arms across her chest, eyes narrowed. "What exactly do you want from me, Aiden?" Her voice dripped with annoyance. "I’m supposed to smile at you while your ex-wife sleeps under the same roof as us?"

I let out a long sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. "How many times do I have to explain this? She has to be here, Emily. For the pack."

Her lips curled. "What can you possibly do to make me feel better, huh?"

"Get her the fuck out of here," she snapped, voice rising. "The only reason the Moon Goddess thinks she’s the one who can bring stability is because you haven’t forgotten her. You still crave her, don’t you?"

"Emily, you’re being unreasonable right now," I said, my jaw clenching.

"You know what? Just fucking forget it." She turned sharply and walked away, shoulders rigid with anger.

Frustration surged through me. I pushed my hair back roughly, staring at the empty space where she’d stood. This wasn’t what I thought being with her would feel like. I used to believe I loved her—deeply. Now I wasn’t so sure. Maybe it had always been a lie I told myself.

I left the room, tension still coiled tight in my shoulders, and headed downstairs. The dining table was laid out with more food than usual. The rich smell of fresh coffee and warm bread filled the air.

"Good morning," Alina said, her voice soft and warm as she looked up at me with a genuine smile.

For a moment, everything else faded. It felt... familiar. Right. She had prepared breakfast just like she used to, that same gentle curve on her lips I didn’t realize I had missed so badly. My own smile grew as I pulled out a chair and sat down.

"Your coffee," she murmured, sliding the mug toward me.

I took it with a small nod, brought it to my lips, and the taste hit me perfectly—exactly how I loved it. Something warm loosened in my chest. She placed a plate in front of me, then quietly sat beside me instead of across the table. We ate in silence, the only sounds the soft clink of cutlery and my own racing thoughts.

Should I say something? Apologize?

"Alina..." I started, setting my fork down. My throat felt tight. "I’m sorry for locking you up. I just... I didn’t want you to leave."

She paused, then offered a small, understanding smile. "It’s okay, Aiden. You did what was best."

Her words should have eased the guilt twisting inside me, but they only made it sharper. I searched her face, looking for the anger I deserved, but found only quiet acceptance. And somehow, that hurt even more.

"Thank you for agreeing to come back," I said quietly, watching her face.

Alina’s lips curved into a smile that never touched her eyes. "If I didn’t, you would have forced me either way. So why cause trouble when I can save the stress?"

The words landed like a quiet punch. I gave her a faint smile in return and focused on my plate, pushing the food around with my fork. A question burned on my tongue—I wanted to ask if she still felt anything for Lucian, or if she was only tolerating him because he was her mate. But the words stayed trapped in my throat.

"I have a brother," she blurted suddenly, catching me off guard.

I looked up sharply. "What did you say?"

"I found my brother," she continued, a real smile blooming on her lips this time, soft and genuine. "The last surviving kin of my clan."

"This is great news. Where did you see him?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Lucian brought me to him. He is one of them."

My smile faded instantly. "A rogue," I said, disgust thick in my voice.

"Yes. My brother is a rogue," she replied, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

"Alina..." I leaned forward, my tone urgent. "I don’t know how much Lucian has poisoned your mind, but rogues aren’t good people. You don’t know him. You have no idea what he might be capable of. It’s best you stay far away from him."

She opened her mouth to respond, but the dining room doors burst open.

"What on earth is going on here?" Emily’s voice sliced through the air, sharp with fury.

I stood quickly. "Emily, it’s not what you think—"

She didn’t listen. With one violent tug, she yanked the tablecloth, sending plates, food, and coffee crashing to the floor in a chaotic mess. The sharp sound of shattering porcelain echoed around us.

"Emily!" I yelled, annoyance flaring hot in my chest.

"She came here and she’s already having breakfast with you!" Emily’s voice trembled with rage, her eyes wild. "She wants to take you away from me. Can’t you see that?"

"You have to stop this, Emily."

"No!" she screamed. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Before I could react, Emily lunged at Alina, grabbing a fistful of her hair and slamming her head down hard against the table. My eyes widened in horror as blood trickled from Alina’s forehead, bright red against her skin.

"Why are you doing this, Emily?" Alina cried out, voice breaking. "Why do you hate me so much?"

Emily’s face twisted. "Why are you pretending to be weak? You have your wolf now, right? Fight me back!"

"What are you saying?" Alina’s voice cracked with pain as she tried to pull away. "Everyone knows I’m wolfless... please, let me go."

"Emily!" I growled, stalking toward them. "Stop it!"

"No, I won’t!" she snarled, yanking Alina’s hair harder.

Something inside me snapped. I grabbed Emily’s wrist, yanked her back, and slapped her hard across the face. The sound cracked through the room like a whip.

"I said stop it!" I growled, chest heaving, my hand still tingling from the impact.