Alina’s POV

"Who are you?"

The question trembled as it left my throat. He didn’t answer. He just stood there, those glowing amber eyes locked onto mine. As he took a heavy step forward, my heels hit the floorboards in a panicked retreat.

"Don’t come any closer!" My voice cracked. I looked toward the door, my lungs burning. "Somebody help!"

He froze. For a heartbeat, we stayed like that—breath hitting breath—before he spun around and lunged for the window. He vanished into the night. I rushed to the ledge, my fingers gripping the cold frame, watching his shadow blur into the distance at an impossible speed.

I pressed a hand against my chest, trying to quiet the thudding against my ribs. The room still smelled of him. It was a thick, familiar scent that made my head spin. It was Aiden’s scent. My mind raced—how could a stranger smell exactly like him?

The door burst open, the handle hitting the wall with a bang.

"Are you okay?" A nurse rushed in, her face pale. "I heard you screaming." Her eyes darted around the room, landing on the wide-open window. "Oh my God, did someone come in here?"

The lie was on my tongue before I could stop it. A strange, fierce need to protect him surged through me.

"No," I said, forcing a small, shaky smile. "I didn’t see anyone. I just... I saw a massive rat scurrying across the floor. It’s gone now."

The nurse didn’t laugh. She gave me a long, skeptical look before sighing. "I think you should get some sleep."

She lingered for a moment, then backed out and clicked the door shut. I lay back, staring up at the shadows dancing on the ceiling. Amber eyes. The realization pierced through me. The nurse had described those same eyes when she told me about the man who saved me. A scarred rogue.

He should have stayed. I wanted to thank him, but he’d vanished like a ghost. I felt a strange resolve settle in my gut—if I ever saw him again, I wasn’t going to let him go so easily.

***

The hospital air finally stayed behind me. All I could think about was Leo; Aiden had promised me he was safe, but the distance felt like an ache. Aside from the maids Aiden sent, no one had visited. It wasn’t a surprise—I had no family left, and Leo was too small to walk through these doors on his own.

A black car was already idling at the curb when I stepped outside. I bit my lip, feeling the weight of Aiden’s "protection" pressing down on me. I didn’t ask the driver any questions; I just slid into the leather seat and watched the trees blur past.

The moment the car pulled into the driveway, I was out the door. I bypassed my room and ran straight to the nursery, my heart light for the first time in days. But when I pushed the door open, the room was silent. The crib was empty.

The warmth drained out of my face. I spun around, catching a maid in the hallway.

"Where is my son?"

"He is with Alpha Aiden," the maid said.

I gave a tight nod and pulled out my phone. My thumbs hovered over the screen before I fired off a text. Aiden knew I was coming home today—so why wasn’t my son here? A reply buzzed against my palm almost instantly: We’ll be there soon.

"Soon" turned into hours. I paced the living room, my skin itching with restlessness. Every time a car passed, I held my breath. Finally, the doorbell rang. I beat the maid to the door, swinging it open to find Aiden standing there with Leo in his arms.

"There you are," I breathed, my world finally righting itself.

I reached out, and Leo let out a high-pitched squeal, his toothless mouth stretched into a wide grin as he lunged into my embrace. I buried my face in his neck, the scent of baby powder washing over me. "I missed you so much." His tiny, bubbling giggles were the best medicine I’d had all week.

"I’m glad you’re back," Aiden said, his voice low and steady. "I should get going."

"Thank you," I said, offering him a genuine smile. He nodded once and disappeared toward the driveway.

I spent the next hour tucked away in the nursery, soaking in every minute until Leo’s eyelids grew heavy. Once he was tucked in, I slipped away to my room. Everything was exactly as I’d left it. I made a few quick calls to the bakery, making sure the ovens were running and the staff had things under control. I’d be back on my feet in a few days.

The doorbell rang again, echoing through the quiet house. I heard the maid move to answer it. Curious, I stepped out into the hallway, a faint smile still lingering on my lips—until I saw Emily standing there.

The smile died instantly.

"Isn’t it a miracle that you’re alive?" she asked, a sharp smirk cutting across her face. "I’m so sorry I couldn’t visit, but I’ve just been so busy."

I crossed my arms, feeling the warmth leave the room. "What do you want, Emily?"

"I just came to see how you were doing," she said, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "It would be a shame not to check on my future husband’s ex-wife. Though," she paused, her eyes turning cold and malicious, "it would have been much easier to visit a grave."

My stomach turned, but I wasn’t surprised. "I don’t have time for this. Please leave my house."

"Your house?" She laughed, the sound harsh and grating. "This is Aiden’s house. I don’t know why he’s being so charity-minded. He should have tossed you back into the slums where you belong."

My fingers curled into tight fists at my sides, my nails biting into my palms.

"Are you done?" I asked, my voice trembling with suppressed heat. "Are you satisfied? If you are, get out."

Emily scoffed, closing the distance between us until I could smell her expensive perfume. "I also came to give you this," she said, thrusting a thick, cream-colored envelope toward me.

"An invitation to Aiden’s and my engagement."

For a split second, my pulse spiked, and the world seemed to tilt. I felt the heat rise to my cheeks, but I swallowed hard, forcing my expression to smooth out before she could savor the win. I took the envelope, the heavy paper feeling like lead in my hand.

"You’ll be coming, right?" she asked, her voice dropping into a mocking, amused purr. "Or will your heart just... give out, seeing me finally claimed by him?"

She was fishing for a breakdown. She wanted tears, or a scream, or a plea. I looked her straight in the eyes and let a slow, calm smile spread across my face. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Congratulations," I said, my voice steady. "I wouldn’t miss it for the world."

The smirk slid right off her face, replaced by a confused frown.

"You’ll make the perfect Luna," I added, my tone so sweet it was almost sharp.

Emily opened her mouth to snap back, but the words seemed to fail her. She glared at me, spun on her designer heels, and stormed out without another word.

The moment the door clicked shut, the strength drained from my legs. I leaned my back against the wood, letting my head thud against the frame.

I wanted to be happy for him—I truly did. But the reality of it settled in my chest, a dull, heavy ache that wouldn’t go away. He was moving on so fast. I stared at the invitation in my hand, the gold lettering blurring before my eyes.

Could I actually stand there and watch it happen?