Chapter 29: Unexpected Visitors
Chapter 29: Unexpected Visitors
(Aria’s POV)
The strong smell of wolf–whiskey hit me like a wall, making my stomach churn instantly. Alexander swayed on his feet, his usually sharp amber eyes unfocused as he reached for me.
“Aria,” he slurred, wrapping his arms around me with surprising strength for someone so intoxicated.
I gasped, struggling to breathe as his grip tightened. The combination of his overwhelming Alpha scent and the pungent wolf–whiskey was too much for my sensitive pregnancy senses,
“Let me go, Alexander,” I demanded, trying to push against his chest. “You’re drunk.”
He ignored my protests, burying his face in my hair. “Why are you making everything so complicated?” he mumbled. “We were happy before.”
I continued struggling, desperate to create some distance between us. My wolf whimpered anxiously within
me, protective of our pup.
“Alexander, I said let go!”
He loosened his grip slightly but didn’t release me. “Remember when I’d come home after drinking with the
pack elders?” A sad smile played on his lips. “You’d make me that special herbal tea for hangovers.”
The memory stung more than it should have. There had been good times between us once.
“That was a long time ago,” I reminded him, my voice hard. “Things are different now. We’re about to sever our
mate bond, remember?”
His arms tightened again, pulling me closer. My back pressed uncomfortably against my apartment door.
“I just want to hold you,” he whispered, his words barely intelligible. “One last time.”
Before I could protest, he began nuzzling my néck, his breath hot against my skin. My wolf bristled beneath the surface, confused by these mixed signals from her former mate.
Suddenly, his grip slackened completely. Alexander’s large frame slid downward, his knees buckling beneath him. With a heavy thud, he collapsed at my feet, effectively blocking my doorway.
“Great,” I muttered, stepping back to assess the situation.
Alexander sprawled across my threshold, completely unconscious. His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, reeking of alcohol.
I suppressed another wave of nausea, covering my nose with my sleeve. This was the last thing I needed
after a long day.
Pulling out my phone, I contemplated who to call. Lucas, Alexander’s Beta, would be the logical choice, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to involve the pack.
Just then, Alexander’s phone rang from inside his jacket pocket. Without thinking, I reached down and retrieved it. The screen displayed a name that made my blood boil: Claire Watson.
I answered with a sneer. “Hello, Claire.”
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Chapter 20: Unexpected V
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There was a moment of startled silence before her saccharine voice responded. “Aria? Why do you have Alexander’s phone?”
“Because your precious Alpha is passed out drunk outside my apartment,” I replied coldly. “You might want to come collect him.”
“What?” Claire’s voice rose with indignation. “What did you do to him?”
I laughed bitterly. “Me? I didn’t do anything. He showed up here completely intoxicated,”
“I don’t believe you,” she hissed. “You’re so clingy, even though he’s trying to get rid of you.”
The audacity of this woman never ceased to amaze me. My fingers tightened around the phone as anger surged through me.
“Listen carefully, Claire,” I said, my voice dangerously low. “How dare you question me when Alexander and I are about to sever our mate bond? Your little act doesn’t work on me.”
Her breath hitched on the other end.
“You have half an hour to come get him,” I continued. “If he’s still here after that, I’ll call pack security to remove him. Your choice.”
I ended the call before she could respond, tossing Alexander’s phone onto his chest.
True to my word, Claire arrived twenty minutes later. She looked flustered, her normally perfect appearance slightly disheveled, as if she’d rushed over without taking time for makeup.
A young male wolf accompanied her – one of the pack assistants, judging by his deferential posture.
“What happened?” Claire demanded, rushing to Alexander’s side.
I leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “He showed up drunk and passed out. That’s all I know.”
The assistant knelt beside Alexander, gently shaking him. “Alpha? Can you hear me?”
Alexander stirred slightly but didn’t wake.
“Help me get him up,” Claire instructed the assistant. Together, they managed to lift Alexander to his feet,
supporting his weight between them.
As they started to lead him away, Claire turned back to me, her emerald eyes flashing with anger.
“You know, Aria, just because you can’t-”
I slammed my door shut, cutting off whatever venom she had been about to spew. The satisfying thud of the
heavy door echoed in my small entryway.
Leaning against the closed door, I felt exhaustion wash over me. This wasn’t how I’d planned to spend my
evening.
I had intended to practice preparing several herbal remedies to ensure I was ready for my first official day at
Silver Leaf Herbalists tomorrow. The thought of having to prepare remedies that might eventually be used by
Claire made my stomach turn.
But after this encounter, I couldn’t focus on anything related to work. My hands were still shaking with suppressed anger, and my wolf was restless beneath my skin.
“Forget it,” I muttered to myself, heading toward my bedroom. “I’ll just rest and try again tomorrow.”
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Chapter 29. Unexpected V
Sleep came fitfully, my dreams filled with jumbled images of Alexander, Claire, and strangely, Dominic. I woke feeling unrested, my wolf still agitated from the previous night’s confrontation.
I dressed carefully for my first day, selecting a professional blouse and slacks that wouldn’t restrict movement while working with herbs. A quick breakfast of toast and tea was all my queasy stomach could handle.
As I stepped outside my apartment building, preparing to call a car, I froze in surprise.
Dominic Blackwood leaned casually against his luxury SUV, looking impeccable in a charcoal suit. His silver–gray eyes found mine immediately, crinkling slightly at the corners as he smiled.
“Good morning,” he called, straightening as I approached. “Need a ride?”
I blinked in confusion. “What are you doing here?”
“I uncovered some interesting information,” he replied, opening the passenger door with a smooth gesture. “Thought you might want to hear it.”
My curiosity was instantly piqued. “About?”
“Get in, and I’ll tell you,” he promised, his smile widening.
I hesitated only briefly before accepting. I did have questions of my own for him.
The interior of his vehicle smelled pleasantly of leather and his distinct Alpha scent – a comforting combination after the wolf–whiskey stench from last night.
“So,” Dominic began as he pulled into traffic, “how are you feeling this morning?”
“Tired,” I admitted. “Alexander showed up drunk at my apartment yesterday.”
Dominic’s hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel. “Did he now? Was he trouble?”
I recounted the incident, finishing with Claire’s hasty retrieval of her intoxicated champion. Dominic listened
attentively, his expression darkening at certain details.
“Speaking of Alexander,” I said when I finished my story, “I’ve been wondering something.”
“Oh?”
“You initially agreed to help me with the mate bond severance,” I began, watching his profile carefully. “But
then you suddenly suggested Alexander get a medical checkup. Why?”
Dominic chuckled, appearing genuinely amused by my question. “Is that what he told you? That I suggested
it?”
I nodded, confused by his reaction.
“I merely commented that he looked tired – dark circles under his eyes and all that.” Dominic shrugged
casually. “Offhand remark about seeing a doctor. Never expected him to actually do it.”
My heart sank. Such a trivial comment had led to Alexander discovering his infertility and further delaying
our mate bond severance.
“So it was just a coincidence?” I asked, disappointment coloring my voice.
Dominic glanced at me, his silver–gray eyes twinkling with mischief. “Does that mean you blame me for
ruining your plans?”
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Chapter 29: Unexpected V
“No, I answered quickly. I still needed his help, after all. “It was bound to come out eventually.”
He seemed satisfied with my response, turning his attention back to the road. “Good. Because I did look into Claire, as you asked.”
I frowned, momentarily confused. “As I asked?”
Then I remembered our conversation after dinner at my apartment, when I’d mentioned seeing Claire at the OB/GYN department of Silvercrest Hospital.
My heart quickened with anticipation. “What did you find out?”
Dominic’s lips curved into a smile, his eyes meeting mine briefly. “Something very interesting, actually.”
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