Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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“I heard she’s from Velaris Pack… her name is Cassia Wrenmoor, daughter of Alpha Seraphina Wrenmoor,” Alpha Alaric muttered.
Aiden froze.
Velaris Pack. He’d heard that name before, James had once suggested doing business with them, but it never happened.
The Alpha had refused to meet them. They’d even scheduled a meeting, and she never showed up.
“Are you sure about this, Dad? Even our best doctors couldn’t identify the disease,” Aiden asked, skepticism and desperation creeping into his voice.
“I’m certain, Aiden. We have to bring her here. Your mother is dying. Our people need her p>
Aiden nodded silently and exhaled. “I’ll reach out to them p>
He turned to leave and noticed Sofia standing quietly in the corner, eavesdropping. Their eyes met. He said nothing, just walked past her and up to his room.
The moment he stepped inside, he sank onto the bed, exhaustion weighing him down. He stood up and opened his wardrobe and froze when his eyes landed on a T-shirt, Amelia’s gift from years ago.
Memories slammed into him like a tidal wave.
Her laugh. The way she’d sneak him little notes. The way she’d looked the night he broke her heart, and their bond.
His child… their child would’ve been five years old now.
He clenched the shirt in his fists, jaw tight, heart heavy with guilt. He’d destroyed his own family. Amelia’s death was on his hands.
The door creaked open. Sofia entered, a smile tugging at her lips. She walked up behind him and hugged him around the waist, pulling him out of the storm inside his mind.
He stepped away immediately and slipped on a new shirt.
“How did the meeting go?” she asked, trying to act casual, moving to adjust his collar.
“It was fine,” he said flatly.
She leaned in closer. “So…. are you really going to get that Cassia Wrenmoor woman to come treat them p>
“Yes, I am p>
He moved away again, but she reached for him, her fingers drifting across his chest and trailing lower. He caught her wrist.
“Enough p>
He shoved her hand away. She stumbled back, eyes flashing.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Aiden?” she snapped. “You’ve refused to touch me since we got married. First it was because I was pregnant. Then I gave birth, and still nothing. Five and a half years, Aiden p>
“I’ve got bigger problems than sex, Sofia,” he said coldly.
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Chapter 30
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“Or maybe you’re cheating, like you cheated on me with Amelia while we were dating.,” she hissed. “Maybe you’re cheating on me again with her ghost. Oh wait, she’s dead. She’s not coming back p>
The air shifted.
Aiden’s eyes darkened.
In a flash, he gripped her by the throat and slammed her against the wall, rage pouring out of him like lava. Her eyes widened in shock and fear, her hands clawing at his.
“Don’t you ever speak her name again,” he growled, voice trembling with fury. “Not ever p>
Her legs kicked helplessly, lips struggling to form words.
Then…
“Daddy p>
Aiden turned sharply. Ethan stood at the doorway, staring at him, eyes wide with confusion and fear.
He immediately let go. Sofia crumpled to the floor, gasping, coughing violently.
Aiden bent to lift his son into his arms. “Ethan… what are you doing here, buddy p>
“I… I came to ask Mommy for help with my homework p>
He forced a smile. “Come on. I’ll help you instead p>
He walked out with the boy in his arms, leaving Sofia slumped on the floor, breath hitching, tears welling in her eyes.
This was her life.
Five years of a marriage built on nothing but lies, pity, and a child. Aiden didn’t sleep in her bed. He barely looked at her unless it was about Ethan. She thought he loved her. She was wrong. It had always been Amelia.
Even though she’s been long dead, he has refused to move on.
And she was glad she killed her.
Amelia was gone. Now it was her time. She’d make Aiden hers, by force if she had to. A pregnancy had secured her once. It would again.
Back in the office, Aiden sat beside Ethan, trying to focus on the homework. But the boy kept glancing up at him, frowning.
“What’s wrong, Ethan?” Aiden asked gently.
“Daddy… do you hate Mommy p>
The question hit like a blade to the chest.
“What? No. Of course not. Why would you think that p>
Ethan’s eyes welled with tears. “Because you always fight. You always make her cry p>
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Chapter 30
Aiden’s throat tightened. He hadn’t realized his son had seen so much.
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“I’m sorry, Ethan. I really am,” he whispered, brushing the boy’s tears away. “I’ll make things better. I promise p>
He hugged him tightly, the guilt mounting like a tidal wave inside.
Maybe it was time to stop living in the past. Maybe it was time to let go of Amelia and fix his new family… for Ethan’s sake.
He sat back on the couch and slowly drifted off, exhaustion consuming him. Ethan curled beside him, quiet.
A few minutes later, James walked in. He paused when he saw the scene, a sleeping father and son. He smiled faintly.
“Aiden p>
Aiden stirred, straightening up. “James p>
“What’s wrong?” James asked when he noticed the look on his face.
“It’s Ethan,” Aiden said, running a hand down his face. “He thinks I hate Sofia p>
James didn’t look surprised. “You think she put that idea in his head p>
“Probably. She’s desperate. But she doesn’t get it. I’ll never love anyone the way I loved Amelia. That man died with her p>
James was silent for a moment.
“I need you to do something,” Aiden added. “Reach out to Velaris Pack. We need Cassia Wrenmoor. Offer them anything, money, a place to stay, a car. Whatever it takes. We need her here p>
James nodded.
Velaris Pack
Cassia stirred from sleep and blinked at the clock. Late. She didn’t realize she’d slept that long.
Her thoughts went straight to Arthur. He’d be home by now.
She quickly washed her face and went downstairs. Seraphina was on the phone, but the moment she saw Cassia, she hung
“Mom? What’s wrong?” Cassia asked, alarmed by her mother’s expression.
Seraphina gently led her to the couch.
“Where is Arthur?” she asked, as fear gripped her, thinking something must have happened to him.
“Arthur’s fine. He’s asleep.” Cassia heaved a deep sigh of relief.
“Then why do you look like that p>
“The hospital called. The rashes have disappeared. Everyone’s recovering p>
Cassia let out a breath of relief. “That’s amazing. I just need to trace the source now p>
“Yes… but there’s more,” Seraphina said, voice softer.
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Chapter 30
Cassia’s eyes narrowed. “What is it p>
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“It’s Red Moon Pack. James, the Beta, contacted me. They have the same sickness. They heard about your cure… They want you to come treat their people p>
Cassia’s expression hardened. She stood abruptly.
“I’m not going back. I don’t care if they all die p>
“I understand, Cassia. I do. But… your mother, Evelyn, she has it too. If you don’t go… she won’t survive p>
Cassia’s resolve cracked. Her vision blurred with tears.
Evelyn was sick too?
She clenched her fists. As much as she wanted to stay away, she couldn’t let her mother die.
“Fine,” she whispered. “I’ll go back p>
She looked out the window, the pain in her chest returning like a familiar wound.
It was time.
Time to return to the place that had broken her, and to make them pay for everything.
TBC
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