Chapter 59: Chapter 59; That’s her brother!

Aiden’s pov

"You left it in the room the moment you walked out, so I kept it for you," I said, holding out the wedding ring. A small, almost gentle smile curved my lips as I placed it in her palm.

Alina’s eyes softened with visible relief. "Thank you," she whispered, fingers closing tightly around it. "I was so scared I’d lost it." She offered me a grateful smile, the kind that used to light up entire rooms. "And Emily... I promise this wasn’t to cause any problems. I’ll leave now."

The moment she said that, the air in the room shifted.

"Are you serious, Aiden?" Emily’s voice cut through, sharp and trembling with barely contained fury. "You kept her wedding ring? Why the hell would you do that?"

I shrugged, trying to keep my tone even. "I just kept it. No big deal."

"No big deal?" Emily’s voice cracked. Tears welled up fast in her eyes, making them glassy and bright. "You kept your ex-wife’s wedding ring and you’re standing here telling me it’s no big deal?" Her chest rose and fell rapidly, hurt bleeding into every word. "Fuck you, Aiden. Fuck you for always making me feel unwanted... unappreciated."

The raw pain in her voice hit me, but I pushed it down.

"Emily, must you always see things like that?" I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "I’ve told you there’s nothing wrong with keeping her ring, okay? I have to go to work now. See you later."

I turned and walked away without waiting for her response. The second I stepped outside the house, a quiet, satisfied smile crept back onto my face. It stayed there the entire drive to the office, lingering through every meeting. Everything flowed smoothly — deals closed easier, people smiled back. Of course they did. I felt... lighter.

"Why the smile?" Knox asked the moment we stepped into my office, eyeing me curiously. "Did something happen?"

"It’s nothing," I replied, still smiling as I loosened my tie. "I just feel a little good this morning."

Knox raised an eyebrow. "Aiden, tell me. Is this about Emily? You guys finally on good terms?"

My smile faltered.

"Wait... Alina is staying with you now. Is this about her?"

"No," I answered too quickly, too defensively.

Knox exhaled heavily, shaking his head. "Aiden, no. You can’t do this. You chose to marry Emily. You divorced Alina. If you keep acting like this, how do you think she’s supposed to feel?"

"What are you on about, Knox?" I forced a laugh, but it sounded hollow even to my own ears. "This isn’t about Alina or Emily, okay? My son got his first tooth already. That’s what I’m smiling about. Before you know it, he’ll start training and... that’s what’s making me happy." I flashed him an awkward smile, hoping he’d drop it.

"If you say so," he muttered, finally letting it go. "So... are we really letting Lucian off like that? After the last fight, is that the end?"

I scoffed, leaning back in my chair. "You know he’ll come back. And now that I know Alina has a brother who’s a rogue... and he probably hates my guts, of course they’ll come back."

"Alina has a brother?" Knox asked, surprised.

"Yeah, I just found out." My jaw tightened. "He’s poisoned her mind, making her believe rogues aren’t the monsters we know they are. They’re the worst kind of people to be around." I clenched my fist on the desk, a surge of possessive anger rising in my chest. "I just have to make sure Alina never gets close to that loser ever again."

"What if she eventually wants to leave?" Knox asked carefully.

I leaned back in my chair, a slow smile tugging at my lips. "I won’t keep her as a prisoner... but I won’t let her leave either. She’ll want to stay. The pack needs her. Besides, our son is getting better every day. I don’t think she’d ever want to be away from him. And the pack’s stability is finally improving."

Knox nodded slowly. "I guess the Moon Goddess was right. Alina’s presence really is what we need for the pack’s stability."

"I guess so," I murmured, the smile lingering on my lips, warm and satisfied.

"But won’t this make Emily feel... less of herself?" Knox continued, his tone hesitant. "A Luna who can’t do anything for the pack. Like she’s just there for the aesthetic."

The words landed wrong, twisting something uncomfortable in my chest.

"No," I said quickly, shaking my head. "She’s the Luna. She knows her place. I don’t think she’ll..." I trailed off, unease creeping in. I exhaled sharply. "I have to make sure she doesn’t feel that way. Come with me to the store. Let me get her a ring or something. A necklace. Anything."

Knox nodded, and we left the office not long after. Inside the upscale jewelry store, I scanned the displays until my eyes landed on a delicate necklace that shimmered under the lights. I was sure Emily would love it.

"This one," Knox said, pointing to a beautiful blue pendant. "Blue is her favorite color. This would make her happy."

I took it without hesitation.

"This, then," I confirmed. But as I turned to leave, another necklace caught my eye — elegant, with a soft glow that would look perfect against Alina’s skin. I reached for it.

Before my fingers could close around it, someone else snatched it away. I looked up and met Lucian’s smug gaze. He smirked.

"Too slow," he said, that arrogant smirk deepening.

"Hey, I want that," I snapped, annoyance flaring hot in my chest.

"But I took it first, so it’s mine," he replied with a scoff, already turning away.

My fists clenched tight at my sides, nails digging into my palms as anger surged through me.

"Aiden, just let it go," Knox muttered beside me.

I forced myself to breathe, jaw locked, and calmed down enough to pay for Emily’s necklace. But the irritation wouldn’t fade. As we stepped out of the store, I spotted Lucian across the street, still holding that necklace and talking to someone. The sight made my blood boil. He didn’t deserve to have it. I wanted it.

"I have to go get it," I growled, voice thick with frustration.

"Aiden!" Knox called after me, but I didn’t stop. I stormed straight toward Lucian, heart pounding with irritation and something sharper I didn’t want to name.

"Hey," I said, voice low and edged with anger as I reached him. "I want that necklace."

"Why should I give it to you?" Lucian asked, his smirk widening into something smug and satisfied. "I bought it for my precious Alina." He held the necklace up, letting the light catch on it. "But if you want to fight me for it... I guess I can allow that. It would feel so much better that way."

This fucker.

Before I could respond, the person he’d been talking to stepped out of the car. My eyes widened, a cold jolt shooting down my spine. Boca. The sight of him alone made my instincts scream. This bastard terrified the shit out of me.

"You remember our very good friend Aiden," Lucian said smoothly, still wearing that infuriating smile. "The one who took your sister captive."

Boca’s gaze locked onto me, dark and burning with pure hatred.

"What? You’re Alina’s brother?" I said, shock bleeding into my voice.

"Yes, he is," Lucian answered for him. "And he hates your guts just as much as I do."

Boca moved forward slowly, deliberately. I refused to back down, planting my feet even as my pulse hammered. His fangs were already visible, glinting dangerously.

"The only reason I haven’t come to your house and ripped you apart," Boca growled, voice low and venomous, "is because my sister doesn’t want that." He stepped even closer, eyes blazing. "But best believe me, Aiden... I will be the one who truly ends you. How dare you marry my sister just for your stupid pack?"

"She is my mate, okay?" I shot back, my chest tightening. "It was destined."

"Don’t make me laugh," Lucian cut in sharply, his calm cracking into clear annoyance. "She is my mate. Mine. Not yours."

"That isn’t true," I snarled, my voice rough and edged with something desperate I hated hearing in myself. "We might be divorced, but we are still bonded."

Boca’s eyes flashed with pure disgust. He let out a low, dangerous laugh that sent ice crawling down my spine. "Bonded?" He stepped even closer, his massive frame towering, fangs fully extended now. "You bonded my sister like she was some tool for your dying pack. You used her. And now you stand here acting like she still belongs to you?"

My jaw clenched so hard it ached. Heat burned up my neck, a toxic mix of anger and that ugly twist of fear I refused to show. My fists stayed tight at my sides, nails biting into my palms.

Lucian chuckled softly beside him, still holding that damn necklace like a trophy. "Look at him, Boca. Still so delusional. Still so possessive." He tilted his head, smirking. "Tell me, Aiden... does it burn you? Knowing she’s happier away from you?"

I wanted to lunge. My wolf surged just beneath my skin, clawing to rip into both of them. But I forced it down, breathing hard through my nose. My chest felt too tight, like something vital was cracking open.

"She’s my mate," I repeated, quieter this time, the words scraping out raw. "The Moon Goddess chose us. That bond doesn’t just disappear because of some papers."

Boca’s expression darkened further. "If you ever come near my sister again with this bullshit, I won’t wait for her permission. I’ll tear your throat out and enjoy every second of it."