Chapter 24: Who’s the another Alpha?!
Chapter 24: Who’s the another Alpha?!
(Aria’s POV)
The tension from our encounter at the Neutral Grounds lingered as we drove away. Dominic’s sleek luxury SUV purred beneath us, but the silence between us felt deafening. I kept my gaze fixed on the passing
scenery, trying to process what had just happened.
Elder Marcus had assumed we were a couple. And Dominic hadn’t corrected him.
“What’s wrong?” Dominic’s deep voice broke through my thoughts.
I glanced over to find him studying me, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“Are you upset?” he asked, his silver–gray eyes briefly meeting mine before returning to the road.
I shook my head quickly. “No, I just… why didn’t you correct Elder Marcus just now? What if they
misunderstood…”
The words tumbled out before I could stop them. Dominic was unmated, his status as Alpha King making
him one of the most eligible bachelors in the werewolf community. If rumors spread that he was planning a marking ceremony with a she–wolf who was still technically mated to another Alpha….
“It’s fine,” he replied with an easy smile, as though my concerns were trivial.
I stared at him in surprise. What did he mean by “fine“? Didn’t he understand the implications?
Olivia’s teasing voice echoed in my mind: ‘He likes you!‘
I pushed the thought away. Impossible. He was just being kind, helping me with my mate bond severance.
“If I had corrected them,” Dominic continued, “they might have asked more questions, and we wouldn’t have
been able to leave so easily.”
My shoulders relaxed as understanding dawned. Of course. He was simply being practical.
“What? Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?” he asked, glancing at me sideways.
The evening light caught his silver–gray eyes, making them gleam like scattered diamonds. My wolf stirred within me, inexplicably drawn to that piercing gaze.
“How could that be possible?” I shook my head quickly. “I’m just concerned about embarrassing you.”
Dominic merely smiled, returning his attention to driving. His fingers tapped occasionally on the steering wheel with lazy confidence, betraying none of the concerns that plagued me.
I didn’t dare look at him again, but from the corner of my eye, I noticed his pristine shirt with dark silver cufflinks that gleamed elegantly in the dimming light. Gentle yet powerful, noble yet approachable – he truly deserved his reputation as one of the most respected Alphas alongside Alexander.
A sudden melancholy washed over me as I wondered which she–wolf would eventually become his Luna. She would be fortunate indeed to mate with an Alpha who showed such kindness to others.
“Here we are,” Dominic announced as we pulled into the parking lot of my apartment complex.
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The building wasn’t particularly impressive – just a modest structure in a neutral area of the territory. Nothing like the grand Reed family home or what I imagined the Shadow Pack’s Alpha residence must be.
“You should invite me up for tea,” Dominic said with a hint of playfulness. Since you’ve just moved in.”
I blinked, surprised by the suggestion. “Oh. Yes, of course. That would be nice.”
We walked to the elevator in companionable silence. As we waited, Dominic’s mobile phone rang. His expression shifted subtly as he checked the caller ID.
“Quinn,” he answered, his voice taking on a more professional tone. “What news?”
I watched his face carefully, trying to decipher the one–sided conversation. His jaw tightened, a flash of
something hard entering his eyes.
“I see,” he said simply. “And how did he justify that?”
Another pause. Dominic glanced at me, his expression unreadable.
“Keep me updated. We’ll discuss our next steps.” He ended the call just as the elevator arrived.
“What is it?” I asked, anxiety knotting in my stomach. “Is it about the severance?”
Dominic nodded as we stepped into the elevator. “That was Benjamin Quinn. Alexander is taking an aggressive stance. He’s deployed the entire Storm Pack legal team to fight the severance.”
The news hit me like a physical blow. “What? But why would he do that?”
It made no sense. Alexander clearly wanted Claire. His actions at our mating ceremony had made that painfully obvious. Why fight to maintain a bond he’d already betrayed?
“He claims you’re making a rash decision in grief,” Dominic explained. “That you need time to reconsider.”
I leaned against the elevator wall, suddenly dizzy. My wolf whimpered inside me, confused by this new
development.
“This isn’t grief,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “This is self–preservation.”
Dominic placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry. I promised to help you, and I will.”
His touch sent an unexpected warmth through me, my wolf stirring with a strange sense of comfort.
“I have a plan,” he continued. “I’ll explain once we’re inside.”
The elevator doors opened, and we stepped into the hallway. The scent hit me immediately – pine and earth, powerful and unmistakable.
Alexander.
He stood outside my apartment door, his powerful Alpha presence filling the narrow space. His amber eyes narrowed as he spotted us, flashing dangerously in the dim hallway lighting.
“So it’s true,” he growled, his gaze fixed on me. “You’ve found another Alpha.”
The accusation stung more than it should have. After three years of devoted mating and twelve years of loving him since our teenage years, did he really think I would betray our bond so easily?
“What are you doing here, Alexander?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the hammering of my
heart.
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Chapter 24 When the ane
He ignored my question, advancing toward us with predatory grace. “Is this why you want to sever our mate bond? For him?”
My wolf bristled beneath my skin, enraged by his accusation. “That’s not-”
“Who helped you hire Benjamin Quinn?” Alexander demanded, cutting me off. “Quinn doesn’t take just any case. Someone with influence arranged it.”
His amber eyes blazed as they shifted to Dominic. “Was it you? Have you been manipulating my Luna?” “I’m not your Luna anymore,” I snapped, my patience finally breaking. “Not after what you did.”
Alexander’s attention snapped back to me. “So there is another Alpha,” he accused. “Who is it, Aria? Who’s made you forget twelve years of history between us?”
Before I could respond, Dominic casually placed his arm around my shoulders. The weight of it was surprisingly comforting, his Alpha scent mingling with mine in a way that made my wolf inexplicably calm despite the tension.
“That would be me,” Dominic said with casual confidence that stopped both Alexander and me in our tracks.
I stared up at him in shock, unable to process what I’d just heard.
Alexander let out a disbelieving laugh. “You’re joking. You and Aria? Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Am I?” Dominic replied, his silver–gray eyes gleaming with challenge. “Think back, Reed. At Silver Moon, when you were there with Claire.”
Alexander’s laughter faded, his expression growing wary.
“Remember our conversation?” Dominic continued. “About the mated she–wolf I was helping? The one seeking
a mate bond severance?”
Recognition dawned in Alexander’s eyes, his face hardening.
“I promised to introduce her to you after her bond was severed,” Dominic reminded him. “Even teased about her captivating charm.”
I watched the realization hit Alexander like a physical blow. His face paled, eyes widening as the pieces fell
into place.
“That ‘mated she–wolf‘ was Aria,” Dominic confirmed, his arm still casual yet possessive around my
shoulders. “Your Luna.”
Alexander’s jaw clenched, his amber eyes darting between us as he processed this revelation. His expression stiffened as realization dawned – the “mated she–wolf” Dominic had referred to was his own Luna, Aria
Summers.
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