Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Meanwhile, Alpha Alaric walked into his study room, Aiden trailing behind him.
“Father,” Aiden called.
Alaric turned abruptly, jaw clenched, fists tight, the veins on his forehead bulging. His eyes burned with rage.
“What was that?!” he snapped.
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Aiden stared at his father, mouth dry, mind spinning. He didn’t know what to say. Inside, everything was tangled, rage, guilt, confusion. It was all crashing down.
“While your wife was mourning her dead child, you were busy fucking your ex–girlfriend in a hotel. Aiden!” Alaric roared, his eyes glowing bright red. Fury pulsed through him.
Aiden flinched at his father’s words, shame flooding him. He dropped his gaze.
“Dad… Sofia must be mistaken… she’s not pregnant,” he murmured.
“You think she would walk into this house and lie to our faces about a pregnancy?” Alaric growled.
Aiden felt his chest tighten, a crushing weight settling there. His breath hitched.
Yes, he’d spent time alone with Sofia in a hotel… but he was always drunk when he was around her, he didn’t have memories of the both of them ever doing anything together.
He never thought, he didn’t think it could end like this. Not now. Not when everything else was already falling apart.
He dragged his hand through his hair and collapsed into the nearest chair. His legs wouldn’t hold him anymore.
“I… I don’t know what to do, Dad,” he admitted, standing again, pacing the room. His steps were restless. He looked like a caged animal.
His chest rose and fell heavily. He felt like screaming. Like ripping something apart. The rage inside him didn’t know where
to go.
He was losing it.
His father watched him in silence. This wasn’t the Aiden he raised. This was a broken man.
Alpha Alaric sighed.
“There’s only one way to fix this,” he said finally, stepping closer, placing a heavy hand on Aiden’s shoulder, squeezing firmly.
“Son, you’ll have to marry the girl p>
Aiden recoiled, eyes wide, shaking his head.
“I can’t… I don’t love her. She’s not my mate p>
Alaric’s expression hardened.
“The thought of finding another mate is foolish. Yours is dead. Your mother wasn’t my mate and yet I had you. Damn the moon goddess and her rules. You’ll marry that girl. You’ll raise the child p>
He took a breath.
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Chapter 16
“You’re the Alpha. The entire pack looks to you. You know what to do p>
And with that, he turned and left.
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Aiden sank back into the chair, head pounding. His temples throbbed. His wolf growled in his mind, snarling in protest.
Marrying Sofia? It felt wrong. Every instinct in him resisted it.
His wife had just been laid to rest.
And now this.
He closed his eyes. You’re the Alpha, he reminded himself.
It wasn’t about him anymore. It was about the pack. About duty. About survival.
He stood up, shoulders heavy, and walked out of the office.
Downstairs, he found Sofia and James still exchanging dagger–like stares.
“James,” Aiden said.
James turned. “Alpha p>
“Bring Sofia to the press room p>
James blinked, confused. “But… why p>
“Just do it,” Aiden cut him off sharply. His voice was a low growl, his eyes glowing red, his wolf flashing through.
James lowered his head in submission. “Yes, Alpha p>
He watched Aiden stalk off toward the press room. A sinking feeling crept into his gut. Gods, please don’t let him ruin himself with this decision…
James turned to Sofia, his expression hard.
“Follow me,” he said.
Sofia smirked.
“Your eyes have nothing on me,” she sneered. “You might as well drop that glare. Because whether you like it or not… I’m going to be your Luna p>
James said nothing.
Inside the press room, Aiden stood at the podium. James took his place beside him. Sofia stood on the other side, smug and composed, fixing her hair like she was preparing for a coronation.
Cameras flashed.
Aiden’s face was cold, blank. But inside him was filled with chaos.
He stared at the crowd.
“I called this press conference because of the whispers I’ve heard throughout the pack,” he began. “Rumors that my mate… was murdered here p>
He paused.
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Chapter 16
He could barely breathe.
He looked at his father, who nodded once.
Aiden turned back to the cameras.
“A few days ago… I came home and found my daughter dead. Poisoned. And the one who did it… was my wife p>
His voice cracked. He swallowed hard, the tears threatening to spill. His fists clenched.
“When she realized I knew the truth… she ran. And she killed herself p>
Claws extended from his hands, digging into his palms. Blood began to drip slowly onto the floor.
James’s head snapped toward him in alarm. He could see the blood. He could hear the lie.
Aiden continued, voice raw:
“I loved my wife. And I loved my child. I never rejected her. I would never hurt her. But she betrayed me p>
A long breath.
“May her soul rest in peace p>
He paused.
“The pack is safe, I assure you all p>
And then, he delivered the final blow.
“I am the Alpha. I must continue the bloodline. With or without a mate p>
His chest constricted.
སོཊཱི 52 p>
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“That is why… I am announcing that my fiancée, Sofia Devereux, is expecting my child. And I am going to marry her p>
Blood trickled from his fists.
James stared at him, disbelieving. He couldn’t recognize this version of Aiden.
The cameras continued to flash.
Sofia smiled.
TBC
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