Chapter 214: The Truth Unveiled
Chapter 214: The Truth Unveiled
(Aria’s POV)
Dominic’s confident words about my father’s capabilities slowly eased the knot of anxiety that had been tightening in my chest since we’d uncovered the truth about Marcus Stone and Elder Lewis. My wolf, which
had been pacing restlessly within me, finally began to settle as his reassuring cedar scent wrapped around
me like a protective shield.
“You really think my father has this under control?” I asked, needing his Alpha certainty to ground my swirling
fears.
“Absolutely,” Dominic replied, his silver–gray eyes meeting mine with unwavering conviction. “Your father didn’t become successful by being naive or unprepared. He’s been dealing with family politics and business
adversaries for decades.”
I nodded slowly, my maternal instincts gradually accepting his logic. “I suppose you’re right. He must have a
plan if he’s taking this matter on personally.”
“Trust me, Aria,” Dominic continued, his powerful Alpha presence radiating complete confidence. “If anyone
should be afraid right now, it’s Elder Lewis, not your father.”
My wolf stirred with curiosity rather than anxiety now. “Do you think Patricia Lewis is our only real lead? What if she refuses to cooperate?”
“She’ll cooperate,” Dominic said grimly, his tactical mind already working through possibilities. “Your father has ways of extracting information, especially when his daughter’s safety is involved.”
“And you truly believe Elder Lewis orchestrated everything?” I pressed, still struggling to fully accept the
scope of the betrayal.
Dominic’s expression hardened with certainty. “The evidence points directly to him. Marcus Stone was his driver, Patricia Lewis was his willing accomplice, and Alison Lewis was his planted spy.”
“But why target me specifically?” I asked, my voice carrying the hurt of twenty years of unanswered
questions.
“Because you represented everything he feared losing,” Dominic explained, his Alpha instincts understanding territorial dynamics. “Your father’s success, your family’s unity, the potential for Dr. Michael Lewis to overshadow his own position in the Lewis family hierarchy.”
I felt tears prick at my eyes as the full weight of Elder Lewis’s calculated cruelty hit me. “He destroyed so many lives just to protect his own status.”
“And now he’s going to pay for it,” Dominic said firmly, his cedar scent intensifying with controlled fury. “Your father will extract the truth from Patricia Lewis, and then Elder Lewis will face the consequences he’s avoided
for twenty years.”
(Aria’s POV)
Despite the progress in our investigation, an undercurrent of unease continued to flow through my veins like a persistent fever. My pregnant wolf–though I was no longer carrying, the protective instincts remained;
Chapter 214 The Truth Unveiled
strong–kept stirring with anxiety about potential threats to our family.
Baby Nolan, however, seemed blissfully unaware of the adult drama surrounding him. His cheerful demeanor and innocent laughter filled our Moon Valley home with warmth that temporarily pushed away the shadows.
of family betrayal.
“Look at you, little one,” I cooed as he gurgled happily in his crib, his tiny hands reaching toward the colorful mobile spinning above him. “Nothing bothers you, does it?”
His bright silver–gray eyes–so like his father’s–tracked the movement with fascination, and his delighted giggle made my heart swell with maternal love. In moments like these, the complex web of family politics
seemed distant and manageable.
“He’s going to be such a happy child,” I murmured, gently stroking his soft cheek. “Protected and loved, unlike his poor mama’s childhood.”
sectious
Nolan’s response was another burst of laughter that echoed through the nursery, his pure joy enough to lift even my troubled spirits.
Several days passed in this routine of caring for Nolan and waiting for news from the Lewis family territory. Then, early one morning, my phone rang with updates that would change everything.
“Aria,” my mother’s voice came through clearly, though I could detect underlying excitement mixed with grim satisfaction. “Elder Lewis and his family have left the country.”
I nearly dropped the phone, my wolf immediately alert. “What do you mean they’ve left?”
“Disappeared in the middle of the night,” my father’s voice joined the conversation, his Alpha authority evident even through the phone connection. “Packed their belongings and fled without telling anyone in the family.”
“When?” I asked urgently, my heart racing with implications.
“Three days ago,” my mother replied. “We only found out this morning when Dr. Marcus Lewis went to Elder Lewis’s house and discovered it empty.”
Dominic appeared in the doorway, his enhanced werewolf hearing having caught portions of the conversation. His silver–gray eyes immediately sharpened with tactical interest.
“This confirms Elder Lewis’s guilt,” I said, more to myself than to my parents. “Innocent werewolves don’t flee
in the middle of the night.”
“Exactly what we thought,” my father confirmed grimly. “Patricia Lewis broke down and confessed everything once she realized Elder Lewis had abandoned her.”
My wolf snarled with satisfaction at this news. “She talked?”
“Like a river breaking through a dam,” my mother said with obvious relief. “Twenty years of secrets came
pouring out.”
Dominic moved closer, his protective presence immediately comforting as he listened to the speakerphone
conversation.
“What did she say?” I asked, though part of me dreaded hearing the full scope of the conspiracy.
“That Elder Lewis orchestrated your k********g because he feared your father’s growing influence in the Lewis family,” my mother explained. “He saw Dr. Michael Lewis’s medical expertise and business success as threats
Chapter 214 The Truth Unveiled
to his own position.”
“But why target me instead of Dad directly?” I pressed, my voice tight with old pain.
My father’s voice carried years of suppressed anger. “Because harming you would destroy me more effectively than any direct attack. Elder Lewis understood that a parent’s greatest weakness is their children.”
The calculated cruelty of it made my wolf whimper with renewed hurt. Elder Lewis hadn’t just wanted to remove a rival–he’d wanted to inflict maximum emotional damage in the process.
“There’s something else,” my father continued, his voice growing heavier. “Something Patricia revealed that explains even more.”
“What?”
“I wasn’t Elder Lewis’s original target,” I said quietly, though my father’s next words would confirm my growing
suspicion.
“You weren’t,” my father confirmed. “His initial plan focused on your brother, Dr. Nathan Lewis.”
(Aria’s POV)
The revelation hit me like a physical blow, my wolf recoiling with horror at the implications.
“My brother?” I whispered, sinking into the nearest chair. “Elder Lewis tried to target Nathan?”
“Multiple times during his childhood,” my father confirmed grimly. “There were several attempts to abduct him from Lewis family territory that we attributed to random criminal activity.”
Dominic’s expression darkened with understanding. “But they weren’t random at all.”
“No,” my mother’s voice carried maternal pain that had been buried for decades. “Elder Lewis orchestrated those attempts, hoping to remove Nathan from the succession line for head healer.”
My heart broke as pieces of my brother’s behavior suddenly made sense. “That’s why Nathan has been so driven to find me all these years. He feels guilty that Elder Lewis switched targets from him to me.”
“Patricia confirmed it,” my father said heavily. “When the attempts on Nathan failed due to increased security, Elder Lewis decided a female target would be easier to abduct and just as effective for destroying my
position.”
The scope of Elder Lewis’s manipulation was staggering. He’d spent years planning, plotting, adapting his
strategy to achieve maximum damage to our family.
“Nathan was just a child,” I said, my voice breaking with sympathy for my brother. “He couldn’t have prevented any of this.”
“Try telling him that,” my father replied sadly. “He’s carried this guilt for twenty years, convinced that his
survival came at your expense.”
Dominic moved to stand behind my chair, his powerful hands resting gently on my shoulders. “Your brother never listened when I advised him to let go of the past. This explains his relentless search for answers.”
“He blamed himself,” I realized, tears flowing freely now. “All this time, he thought I was taken because he was too well–protected.”
“Children often carry guilt that doesn’t belong to them,” my mother said gently. “Nathan was no different.”
Chapter 214 The Truth Unveiled
I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand, my wolf stirring with determination. “I need to talk to him. To make
sure he understands none of this was his fault.”
“That would be good,” my father agreed. “He needs to hear it from you directly.”
“Where is he now?” I asked.
“Still searching overseas territories for any remaining leads,” my mother replied. “But I can contact him, arrange for him to return.”
“Please do,” I said firmly. “It’s time we healed all the wounds Elder Lewis inflicted on our family.”
Dominic squeezed my shoulders gently. “Your brother will be relieved to finally have answers.”
“And to know that Elder Lewis can never hurt our family again,” I added, my wolf finally feeling a sense of closure after twenty years of unanswered questions.
(Aria’s POV)
With the investigation finally resolved and Elder Lewis’s guilt confirmed through his cowardly flight, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders that I hadn’t even realized I’d been carrying. My wolf stretched contentedly within me, no longer constantly alert for hidden threats.
“Now that this matter is behind us,” Dominic said, his silver–gray eyes gleaming with anticipation, “I think it’s time for that family trip we discussed.”
“Really?” I asked, surprised by the sudden shift to lighter topics. “You’re not too busy with the Shadow Pack security company?”
Dominic’s smile carried genuine excitement. “Actually, I have excellent news about that project.”
“What kind of news?” I prompted, noting the satisfaction radiating from his powerful presence.
“The advanced werewolf territory surveillance system experiment was a complete success,” Dominic announced, his Alpha pride evident in every word. “We’re now moving into mass production across multiple territories.”
My jaw dropped. “Mass production? Already?”
“The Northern Territory Security Council exceeded even their own expectations,” Dominic explained, his cedar scent warming with professional triumph. “Our technology integration surpassed all benchmarks.”
I felt my heart swell with pride and excitement for his achievement. “Dominic, this is incredible! This breakthrough will solidify your position as Alpha King completely.”
“It should certainly shield us from my father’s political interference,” Dominic agreed, his tactical mind clearly appreciating the strategic advantages.
“You’ll be untouchable now,” I continued, my wolf humming with satisfaction at our family’s security. “William won’t be able to challenge your authority when you control territorial security systems.”
Dominic chuckled at my obvious excitement. “You sound more thrilled about this than I am.”
“Of course I’m thrilled!” I exclaimed, not caring how enthusiastic I sounded. “This means safety for our family, recognition for your work, and financial security for Nolan’s future.”
“All excellent points,” Dominic agreed, his amusement evident in his warm cedar scent. “Which is why I think we deserve a proper celebration trip.”
Chapter 214 The Truth Unveiled
My excitement faltered slightly as I remembered something from our previous conversations. “You mentioned bringing that item you bought last time.”
Heat flooded my cheeks as I recalled the intimate gift he’d purchased, my wolf suddenly shy despite our mate
bond.
“I did mention that,” Dominic confirmed, his voice carrying playful undertones that made my blush deepen. “Maybe we should postpone the trip,” I said hesitantly, my maternal instincts warring with other desires. “Nolan is still so young, and with everything that’s happened…”
“Aria,” Dominic said gently, moving closer until his powerful presence enveloped me. “We deserve time together as mates, not just as parents dealing with family crises.”
“I know, but…” I trailed off, suddenly uncertain about leaving our secure home environment.
“Think about it,” Dominic encouraged, his silver–gray eyes holding promises of intimacy and adventure. “Just the three of us, somewhere peaceful and private.”
My wolf stirred with longing despite my hesitation, torn between protective instincts and the deep need to reconnect with my mate after months of stress and investigation.
“Where were you thinking?” I asked, my resolve wavering under his persuasive Alpha influence.
“Somewhere with mountain air and natural hot springs,” Dominic suggested, his voice carrying enticing possibilities. “Perfect for relaxation and… reconnection.”
The thought of soaking in warm mineral waters while Dominic’s hands explored my body made my cheeks burn even hotter.
“I… I’ll need to think about it,” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Of course,” Dominic agreed, though his knowing smile suggested he understood exactly what I was thinking. “But don’t think too long. We’ve earned this time together.”
As he walked away, leaving me standing there with flushed cheeks and a racing heart, I realized that despite my hesitation, part of me was already looking forward to whatever intimate adventures he had planned for our family trip.
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