hapter 183
RHEA
The house smells like a dozen wolves have passed through the entryway, and there’s a faint scent of rosemary lingering in the air. It’s almost sweat
Laughter fills up the halls and the walls.
Wolves from the North have gathered here. They drink, they toast, they compliment the food, the wine, the space and the very existence of Aron. That he is free and doing good.
He’s enjoying it, I can see it in his eyes. Enjoying his freedom, his release, being back, being him, and not locked up, not in that place.
I stand beside Aron as he speaks with an older male relative. My hand rests lightly on his arm as I tune into their conversation.
Until I see across the room and find her.
His mother and his sister have arrived in town. They look the same as I remembered them last time to be. There’s nothing different on their faces.
Aron notices me at first and then follows my gaze to them. The conversation between him and his cousin instantly dies.
“You’ll have to excuse us,” he says before leading me toward the two women.
I swallow my nerves as I take their presence. I haven’t seen them since that dinner, and it was a terrible experience for both of us.
“Mother, Layla,” Aron greets. “So glad you could join us.”
His mother smiles and then glances at us both.
“Well, it has been quite a long time.”
“Quite long.”
“Rhea,” She looks at me and stretches her hand out. I take it out of instinct. She shakes it once. “It’s good to see you again.”
“You too.” I lie through my teeth.
Layla doesn’t bother to greet me. Instead, she just nods and keeps her distance from the two of us.
I can see her disapproval in the way she glances at her brother and me. Some things just never change, and it’s alright. I’m too scared of them not approving of me, especially after all that’s happened.
Aron belongs to me, in every way, and I belong to him, in every way that is there.
“I’ve meant to apologise for the previous time, Rhea, when I said those words about you, it wasn’t right. I shouldn’t have. That was completely uncalled for.” Those sound genuine. “I hope you can forgive me.”
“Of course,” My lips tug. “I understand things were…/complicated back then.”
She agrees.
Aron places his hand at the small of my back and smiles as well.
“I truly hope tonight can begin a new page for us all.” He says.
His sister scoffs a bit. I glance at her and she immediately looks away. It doesn’t feel great, knowing that I’ll have to spend the next few hours with these
two.
1/3
Chapter 183
I take a deep breath, “You know, Layla, I say to fret, getting her attention. “We never got the chance to get to know each other, you and 1.
Her expression is carefully neutral, and her eyes flicker to her brother for a split second.
No, I don’t suppose we have.”
“Perhaps we could,” I suggest, forcing a smile. “Come, I’ll show you the wine selection while Aron catches up with your mother. It seems he has a lot of time to make up for, hm?”
Layla looks like she would rather be anywhere else, but Aron nods at her, so she acquiesces. He moves his hand from my back and I turn to leave with his
sister while he remains with his mother.
Layla comes with me, across the room and toward the open bar where the wines are.
“How have
you
been?”
She glances at me.
“Since you were gone, I mean.” I clarify.
“I’m not sure you care.”
I can hear the resentment in her tone. She doesn’t even try to hide it.
“Well, no. But it’s the polite thing to do,” I offer her one of the drinks the man pours for us. “Why do you despise me so much?”
I do recall the last time I met her. She didn’t believe that I was suitable for Aron. Then, I was a mere human, my wolf killed. But a lot has changed since
that time.
“I’ve heard of everything. Everything that has happened and that’s happening. Do not for a moment think that I have forgotten my brother.”
“So, what is it that you heard exactly?”
“You poisoned his wolf. You sided with the Council, planned to take him down. And yet he still chooses you, still protects you, and you’re still here.”
“That was a different time.”
“Was it?” she cocks a brow.
“I wasn’t–me.” I choke the words out. “And it wasn’t entirely a positive experience for me.”
“Mhm?” She doesn’t seem convinced.”
I take a deep breath, and my eyes go to Aron, and his mother. It doesn’t matter. None of it matters.
I turn back to Layla and lean against the bar.
“I’m different now, and he’s too. You can’t deny that. We’ve both changed. When I sided with the Council, I believed I was relieving him from his burden.”
“And did you?”
“It didn’t work. His wolf never died.”
She knows that already. She has been informed.
“You’re still not suitable for him. I’ll always deny that.”
“Why?”
2/3
Chapter 183
-You were a runt for most of your life. Your family doesn’t cares. Your pack despised you. While Aron has a family, and he has a legacy. You’ll only b his weakness, and never his strength.”
I look at the ground and swallow the lump in throat.
Layla turns slightly, her gaze sliding over my shoulder and toward the far end of the room. “There. That one.”
I follow her line of sight. And I see her.
A woman with Aron, not his mother anymore. She’s long gone.
“Casey,” she says, her voice getting closer to me. “Alpha Fabian’s daughter. From the Silverpine pack in the East. I’ve met her quite a lot myself. Her father trained her himself. She’s a warrior, one of the highest ranked ones. Her wolf is well–bred. She knows how to represent a bloodline.”
I stay quiet.
“And she’s unmarked.”
That hits me. There’s no way that Aron would ever care for her. If he’s talking to her, it’s just out of courtesy. That’s what I tell myself.
“And what are you, Rhea?” Layla questions.
My eyes move on to her, “Aron marked me. You’re just stirring up trouble.”
“And do you think male wolves cannot take another mate?”
“He wouldn’t.”
“If his wolf demands it, he will. If it’s better for the pack, better for the future of his line, he will.”
His line…
No.
Aron’s loyalty to me is bone–deep. He has never loved another woman as much as he has loved me. Not even close. He has never desired anyone the way he desires me. And he would never mark someone else, because there is no one else.
It doesn’t matter what the circumstances are. He’s mine.
“What are you trying to do?” I question. “Make me jealous? You’re just making yourself look worse.”
“It’s not just jealousy. You know the truth.”
My teeth clench. I finish the drink and slam the glass back onto the table before walking away from her.
No fucking way.
AD
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