Chapter 80: A Tense Encounter and Shocking Revelation
Chapter 80: A Tense Encounter and Shocking Revelation
(Aria’s POV)
“Why did you come down so late? Dominic asked as I approached his car.
His silver–gray eyes softened when they met mine, the earlier coldness directed at Jason melting away.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
I nodded, feeling my stomach rumble slightly. “Yeah, a little…”
“I’ve booked a table at Moon Valley Lodge,” Dominic said, opening the passenger door for me. “They’ve recently developed some new dishes with moonberry infusions that are good for pregnant wolves. Let’s go and try them.”
Before I could reply, Jason’s voice cut through the air behind us.
“Moon Valley Lodge? Isn’t it a bit too far?” He stepped closer, his green eyes fixed on me rather than Dominic. “It takes an hour to drive there and back.”
I turned, surprised by his sudden interjection. Jason stood with his hands in his pockets, his posture deliberately casual but his wolf clearly agitated beneath his skin.
“Aria, do you want to go to the Silver Pine restaurant next door with me instead?” he continued. “They just hired a new chef. I heard he used to work at a five–star establishment in the Southern Territory…”
The temperature around us seemed to drop several degrees. Dominic’s face transformed instantly, his earlier warmth vanishing completely. His silver–gray eyes darkened to the color of storm clouds, deep and bottomless with no trace of light.
The two men locked eyes, and I felt the unmistakable surge of aggressive Alpha pheromones fill the air between them. Even though Jason wasn’t an Alpha, his wolf was responding to the challenge in Dominic’s
stance.
“Jason Hart, right?” Dominic suddenly smiled, though the expression never reached his eyes. “Do you understand the concept of ‘first come, first served‘? If not, I can explain it to you!”
Despite his casual clothing and seemingly relaxed posture, Dominic’s entire demeanor radiated the unmistakable authority of an Alpha wolf. His powerful presence made several passing werewolves lower their gazes instinctively.
Jason didn’t back down. “It’s just a dinner invitation, what’s with the territorial display?” He smiled, but I could see the tension in his jaw. “It depends on Aria’s preference…”
He turned to look at me, his green eyes softening. “Aria, what would you like to try?”
Even with my limited experience with pack dynamics, I could recognize the tension between the two wolves. Both were tall with powerful builds, their imposing figures reflected in the glass entrance of Silver Leaf Herbalists, creating a standoff worthy of rival wolves.
I cleared my throat, uncomfortable with the charged atmosphere. “Thank you, Jason. I’d better go with Dominic. After all, we already had plans…”
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Chapter 80 A Tense Enches
Jason pursed his lips, disappointment Mashing briefly in his eyes before he masker it with
we’ll make plans another time.
He nodded politely to Dominic, though the gesture held no warmth, and walked away, I watched him lewe feeling oddly guilty though I’d done nothing wrong.
“Stay away from him in the future,” Dominic said abruptly once Jason was out of earshot. “His wolf has intentions toward you.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at his bluntness. “Don’t be ridiculous. We’re just ordinary colleagues
Dominic’s expression remained serious, his eyes following Jason’s retreating form. “His wolf doesn’t see it
that way.”
He didn’t dwell on the issue any longer, instead guiding me toward his car. “Come on, I have some news to share with you.”
As Dominic pulled away from the curb, I found myself wondering about his reaction to Jason. Was it possible he was jealous? The thought sent an unexpected flutter through my chest.
“What news?” I asked, pushing the thought aside.
“Check the glove compartment,” he instructed, his eyes focused on the road ahead.
I opened it and found a manila folder labeled with today’s date. “What’s this?
“Open it,” Dominic said, his expression unreadable.
Inside the folder, I found several official–looking documents. The first was a prenatal scent marking analysis with Claire Watson’s name at the top. My eyes widened as I read the results.
“Is this…?” My voice trailed off as I processed the information.
“Yes,” Dominic confirmed, his voice steady. “Confirmation that Claire’s unborn pup is indeed Richard Reed’s offspring.”
I stared at the document, feeling a strange mix of vindication and disgust. We had suspected it, of course, after overhearing their tryst and seeing the evidence of their affair, but having scientific proof made it undeniably real.
“So you were right all along,” I murmured, thinking back to when he first shared his suspicions about Claire’s pregnancy report.
“There’s more,” Dominic said, nodding toward the folder. “Look at the second report.”
I turned to the next page and found another analysis, this one comparing the prenatal scent markers to Alexander’s genetic profile. My breath caught as I understood what I was reading.
“This confirms a sibling relationship,” I said slowly, the implications sinking in. “Between Alexander and the unborn pup.”
Dominic nodded, his jaw tight with suppressed anger. “Claire isn’t just having an affair with Richard. She’s carrying his pup–a pup who will legally be Alexander’s offspring but biologically his half–sibling.”
I felt the blood drain from my face as the full horror of the situation hit me. “That’s…that’s disgusting,” I whispered, feeling physically ill. “She’s tricking Alexander into raising his own half–sibling as his child!” “Exactly,” Dominic said grimly. “And not just any half–sibling–one born from his father’s affair with the woman
ก
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Chapter 80 A Tense Enco
claiming to be Alexander’s ‘destined mate.”
દેશના સુધી અને
I suddenly remembered Claire’s smug face at the hospital, her hand protectively cradling her belly as she flaunted her pregnancy. The memory made my stomach churn with disgust.
“How did you get these tests done?” I asked, flipping through the papers again. “These kinds of results usually require blood samples.”
Dominic’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. “Remember when Claire claimed to be having stomach pains at the hospital? After our confrontation?”
I nodded, recalling her dramatic performance.
“The doctor took blood samples then,” he explained. “I have connections at Silvercrest Hospital who were happy to run an additional analysis with the samples they already had.”
“Is that…legal?” I asked hesitantly.
Dominic’s silver–gray eyes glinted. “Let’s just say it falls into a gray area. The important thing is that we have concrete proof now.”
I sat back against the leather seat, trying to process everything. “Alexander doesn’t deserve this,” I said finally. “Despite everything he’s done, no wolf should be tricked into this kind of situation.”
Dominic cast me a sideways glance. “You still care about him.”
It wasn’t a question, but I felt compelled to answer anyway. “Not in the way I used to,” I clarified. “But I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.”
“What about Claire?” Dominic asked. “What do you think should happen to her?”
I considered the question carefully. My initial instinct was to demand justice, to see Claire exposed and humiliated as she had tried to do to me. But then I thought of the innocent pup growing inside her.
“The pup shouldn’t suffer for its parents‘ deceit,” I said softly, my hand moving to my own belly. “But Claire and Richard need to face consequences for what they’ve done.”
Dominic nodded, his expression thoughtful. “The pack council would likely strip Claire of any claim to Luna status, regardless of whether she goes through with the marking ceremony.”
“And Richard?” I asked, thinking of my arrogant father–in–law.
“As former Alpha, his punishment would be severe,” Dominic replied. “Possibly even exile from the pack. Intentionally deceiving the current Alpha about bloodlines is one of the gravest offenses in pack law.”
I stared out the window, watching the city pass by in a blur. The thought of the Storm Pack in chaos, with both Richard and Claire disgraced, gave me no satisfaction. All I felt was a deep sadness for the innocent pup caught in their web of lies.
“I need to show this to James,” I said finally, closing the folder carefully. “Once my mate bond severance is finalized. He needs to see what kind of person Claire really is.”
My brother had been utterly fooled by Claire, to the point where he’d renounced me as his sister. The thought still stung, but now I understood better why he’d been so defensive of her.
“My pack will support you through whatever comes next, Aria,” Dominic assured me, his deep voice filled with conviction. “Remember that.”
Chanter 80 A tense Enco
His words warmed something Inside me. Over these past Weeks, Dominic had become mont th
In my complicated situation. He’d become someone I trusted, someone whose presence made ma
I p
a way I hadn’t felt in years.
I clutched the reports, the weight of the knowledge they contained feeling almost physical. These dos were concrete proof of Claire and Richard’s deception–enough to derail any attempts by Claire to manipul. the narrative once the truth was revealed to Alexander.
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