Chapter 99: Father and Son
Chapter 99: Father and Son
(Aria’s POV)
I ended the call with Claire and promptly blocked her number, my finger pressing the screen with finality Good riddance.
“What was that all about?‘ Olivia asked, noticing my furrowed brow as I slipped my phone back into my
pocket.
“Claire Watson,” I said, unable to keep the edge from my voice. “She’s furious because apparently Dominic has pulled all her herbal remedy contracts and endorsements.”
Olivia’s eyes widened before her face split into a gleeful smile. “Are you serious? That’s fantastic!”
Despite my emotional exhaustion, I felt a small surge of satisfaction. Claire had used her status and influence to destroy my career at Silver Leaf Herbalists. It seemed fitting that she was now experiencing a
similar fate.
“I had nothing to do with it,” I clarified, though I couldn’t suppress a hint of smugness. “Dominic must have
done it on his own.”
“Well, remind me never to get on his bad side,” Olivia remarked, glancing around the high–tech facility with newfound appreciation.
I followed her gaze, taking in the gleaming equipment and pristine workspace, Dominic had created all this and was offering it to me. The thought of him stirred something within me, a ripple of emotion I quickly suppressed.
He was an Alpha King, and I was just… me. A she–wolf with a complicated past and an uncertain future. I’d already had my heart broken once by falling for a wolf far above my station. I wouldn’t make that mistake
again.
Besides, in three days my appointment at Wolf Moon Medical Center would change everything. “Want to try out some of this equipment?” Olivia suggested, breaking me from my thoughts.
I nodded, grateful for the distraction. “Let’s see what these fancy machines can do.”
I selected some dried moonflower petals from the sample ingredients and placed them in one of the silver–infused grinding mortars. The pestle fit perfectly in my hand, balanced and weighted exactly right for maximum efficiency with minimal strain.
af
“This is incredible,” I murmured, grinding the petals to a fine, even powder. “The quality is unmatched.”
I transferred the powder to one of the preparation stations, adding a few drops of distilled silverwort extract. The mixture began to glow faintly a sign of perfect potency.
“Wow” Olivia breathed, watching me work. “I forget sometimes how good you are at this.”
–
I smiled, losing myself in the familiar motions. This was what I was meant to do creating remedies that helped wolves heal. For a moment, I forgot about Claire, Alexander, and even my looming appointment.
“Chapter 9. Father and Bensi
You look happy! a deep voice observed from the doorway
Dominic stood watching us, his tall frame filling the entrance. His silver gray eyes were fixed on me expression I couldn’t quite read.
“We’re having fun playing with your fancy toys,” Olivia replied before I could speak
wiped my hands on a cloth. “The equipment is spectacular. Even Silver Leaf Herbalists doesn’t have tools of this caliber.
I’m glad you approve,” he said, his lips curving into a slight smile. ‘I don’t know much about herbal remedies, so I just told them to get the best of everything”
“It shows,” I said, gesturing to the moon–glass containers. “These alone must have cost a fortune.”
Dominic shrugged, unconcerned. “It’s an investment in the future.”
His casual dismissal of the expense reminded me of the vast difference in our worlds. To him, this entire facility was merely an “investment.” To me, It represented opportunity beyond anything I’d ever dreamed. “So,” Dominic continued, “does the shop meet with your approval? Is there anything else you think we need before opening?”
I considered the question seriously. “The equipment is perfect. We’ll need to hire a few more herbalists though at least two with experience in werewolf remedies.”
–
“Good,” he nodded. “I’ll leave the recruitment and interviews to you. You know what to look for better than I
do.”
I blinked in surprise. “You want me to handle the hiring?”
“Of course. This is your domain, not mine.” His confidence in me was both flattering and intimidating. “You’ll be managing this place, after all.”
“I…” My voice faltered. The responsibility was enormous. “Thank you for trusting me with this.”
“Don’t thank me,” he replied simply. “You’re the expert. I’d be foolish not to utilize your knowledge.
His pragmatism was refreshing after years with Alexander, who had never valued my skills or opinions. Still, I knew there was more to Dominic’s offer than just business sense.
“I’ll do my best,” I promised, meaning it..
The next few days passed in a blur of activity. I drafted job descriptions, reviewed resumes, and began Interviewing potential herbalists. The work was fulfilling, giving me purpose beyond my personal troubles. Two days before my scheduled mate bond severance appointment with Alexander, my phone rang. I was surprised to see Elizabeth Reed’s name on the display.
“Hello?” I answered cautiously.
“Aria, dear,” her warm voice came through the line. “How are you?”
“I’m well, thank you,” I replied, unsure why she was calling. Our relationship had always been cordial, eve affectionate, but with the impending mate bond severance, contact seemed inappropriate. “How are you feeling? Has your health improved?”
“Much better now, thank you for asking.” There was a pause before she continued. “Aria, I was hoping we
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could meet. I’ve missed you‘
Her words caught me off guard 11 don’t know if that’s appropriate, given the circumstances
“Please,” she said softly “Just a short visit. I understand if you don’t want to come to the Reed house. We could meet somewhere neutral”
I hesitated My relationship with Elizabeth had always been separate from my troubled marriage to Alexander She’d been kind to me when others in the pack had not
“Richard won’t be there,” she added, as if reading my thoughts. “Neither will Alexander
“Alright,” I relented. “Where would you like to meet?”
“How about Silver Moon restaurant? It’s not far from the Reed residence”
We agreed on a time for the following day. As I hung up, I wondered what Elizabeth truly wanted. Was this a genuine desire to see me, or was there another purpose to our meeting?
When I arrived at Silver Moon restaurant the next day, I was surprised to find not just Elizabeth waiting for me, but also Martha, the elderly pack housekeeper who had served the Reeds for decades.
“Aria,” Elizabeth smiled warmly, rising to embrace me. Her frame felt frailer than I remembered, but her eyes were clear and alert.
“It’s good to see you looking well,” I said, returning her hug before nodding respectfully to Martha. “Hello,
Martha.”
The old housekeeper gave me a tight smile, assessing me carefully.
or ves
Once we were seated in the private dining room Elizabeth had reserved, I decided to address the elephant in
the room.
“I appreciate you wanting to see me,” I began carefully, “but I’m curious about the real reason for this
meeting.”
Elizabeth’s smile faded slightly. “Always direct, aren’t you? That’s one of the things I’ve always liked about
you.”
She folded her hands on the table. “I’m angry with my son. His infatuation with Claire Watson is… disappointing.”
I nodded, unsure how to respond. This wasn’t news to anyone.
“But that’s not why I asked you here,” Elizabeth continued. “Do you remember when I was poisoned?”
The abrupt change of subject startled me. “Of course. It was a terrible time.”
“Yes, it was,” she agreed. “Everyone believed it was Leah Moore who poisoned me.”
Martha shifted uncomfortably beside her.
“Leah is Martha’s daughter–in–law Elizabeth explained. “She was paid to confess to the poisoning. Her needed expensive silver–blood treatment, and the money she received saved his life.”
I kept my expression neutral, though this didn’t surprise me. I’d always had doubts about Leah’s guilt.
“I suspected as much, I admitted. “Leah always seemed… incapable of such calculation.”
Chapter 99: Father and Son
Elizabeth nodded. “You’re right. She was merely a scapegoat.
She took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly. “The one who poisoned me was Richard.”
The words hit me like a physical blow. I’d always suspected Claire Watson had been responsible, perhaps with Richard’s knowledge. But Richard himself?
“Your mate?” I whispered, stunned. “But why?”
Elizabeth’s eyes filled with tears. “After thirty years together, my own mate tried to kill me.”
Martha reached over to pat Elizabeth’s hand. The old housekeeper’s expression was grim, confirming the shocking revelation.
“I always believed it was Claire,” I admitted, still processing this information.
Elizabeth shook her head sadly. “No, it was Richard. My own mate. The father of my son.” Her voice cracked with emotion. “He wanted me gone.”
I was stunned by this revelation, having believed Claire Watson to be the culprit.
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