Nathan's POV

The Bentley purred to a stop before the prison gates. I sat in the back seat, still as stone with my eyes closed as I listened to the rhythmic thump of my own heartbeat.

When I finally opened my eyes, they locked on the weather-worn sign ahead: The Nightshade Institution for Women.

I checked my watch. The seconds dragged. "Why isn't she out yet?" I muttered, my voice low and clipped.

"The release paperwork might be taking longer than expected, Alpha," my beta, Collins, replied quickly, his eyes fixed on the road. After a nervous pause, he added, "Don't worry, sir. It's Luna Aria's release day. She'll be… over the moon to see that you came to pick her up yourself."

A humorless sound escaped me. "Is that so?"

My wolf snarled beneath the surface, restless. She had betrayed us.

"She schemed with the Cowen's family," I said flatly, a flicker of frost in my gaze. "She sold my company's confidential files. She could've continued living comfortably as my wife and Luna, but no. She chose to be a traitor."

Even saying it left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"She brought this on herself," I said, though the words didn't burn as sharply as they once did. "I'm just here to see if she dares look me in the eye."

The air inside the car turned thick and suffocating. Collins, my beta, didn't respond, he cracked the window for air, then stiffened suddenly. "Wait a second…" he whispered. "Is that—Luna Aria?"

My head turned sharply. "What?"

He pointed across the lot, toward a bus that had just pulled away. "I thought I saw her, Alpha… but…"

I rubbed the bridge of my nose, exhaustion pressing behind my eyes after a night of meetings. "Speak clearly."

"She was…holding a baby," he said quietly. "It must've been my mistake."

My hands froze. A baby?

I followed his gaze and saw the woman he was referring to on a bus, she was rocking a baby in her arms. Her hair fell over half her face, but the curve of her jaw… the way she looked at the child, soft and lost to the world, it stirred something deep in me for a brief, breathless second.

I shook it off, forcing logic to take over. "Impossible," I said flatly. "She was twenty-two when she went to prison. There was no child."

That scene triggered memories from eighteen months ago.

I had stumbled home drunk that night, my grandmother's words echoing in my head, her endless talk about heirs, legacies, and responsibility. The weight of it had driven me to the bottle again.

Aria had been waiting, quiet as always, her eyes full of worry instead of reproach. She helped me as she always does every night.

She had tucked me in and was about to leave when I grabbed her roughly by the wrist. My temper had already snapped long before my hands touched her. She was so small in my grip, trembling, looking down at me with those wide eyes that always made me feel… exposed.

I can still remember the heat of that moment, the storm in my chest, the way my anger blurred everything around me.

She'd spoken to my grandmother about children. I decided to finally give her what she always wanted.

When she whispered, "Nathan, not like this…" her voice was barely a breath. I heard it, but I knew exactly what that meant. She was only playing me, trying to make me relent. Trying to control me the way everyone else had.

Rage flared again, hot and blinding as I moved over her. My wolf roared inside me, feeding off my fury, and I let him.

"Aria," I growled, "you brought this on yourself."

I pinned her wrists above her head with one harsh motion, my kiss turning brutal and forceful as I had my way with her.

When I finally stood and looked down at her, she was just… still, with tears on her cheeks. I didn't care, she deserved it, she was the one who pushed too far.

The next morning, I dressed up in silence. Buttoned my shirt and avoided looking at her curled shape beneath the sheets. Her sobs were faint but they followed me, haunting and clinging to the edges of my mind. I stepped outside, needing the air, needing distance.

I was at the courtyard, trying to steady the pounding in my head, when I heard it — the sound of boots, the low murmur of voices.

It was the enforcers.

"Alpha Nathan," they said, "we've found evidence that Luna Aria, sold company secrets. She's under arrest."

I'd clenched my jaw, my eyes narrowing. "Do what must be done. No one betrays the Alpha and walks free."

I watched them drag her away, turning a dead ear as she denied being guilty admist tears.

"Sir, should we keep waiting?" my beta's voice cut through the memory.

I blinked, realizing I'd been staring at the prison gates for over an hour. They stood firmly shut.

"No," I said, my jaw tightening. "If she wants to walk home, let her."

I'd postponed an international board meeting for this, for her, and she couldn't even face me.

"Yes, Alpha."

The engine rumbled to life, and the Bentley rolled away from the prison. I stared out the window, the gray stone walls shrinking behind us.

In the mirror, I caught the driver glancing back, his eyes flicking to the empty gate. "Strange," he muttered. "She was supposed to be out by now."

I ignored him and unlocked my tablet, forcing myself to focus on the screen. Reports, figures, graphs. They were all safe distractions.

Several hours later at my home in Hemsworth Villa, the moon had climbed high, full and silver.

I stepped out of my study, clad in my navy loungewear. I made my way towards my bedroom to get some night rest.

Just then, I noticed the glow spilling from under Aria's bedroom door. The light was turned on, by whom?

Could it be her?

I immediately quickened my pace, my heart pounding in my chest.

Nathan's POV

I pushed open the bedroom door, and was hit by a cold wind which swirled wildly in the room. My wolf stirred uneasily beneath my skin, a low growl rumbling in my chest as I took in the empty room.

My gaze was drawn to the source of the wind, the windows. They were wide open, curtains thrashing in the storm.

I crossed the room in two strides and slammed the window shut, my claws threatening to break through as the frame rattled under my grip. The wind ceased instantly.

My pulse thundered in my ears. Why does it feel like something's missing? I told myself I didn't care, that she meant nothing to me. She was just another traitor, one who'd sold me out and spat on the name of the Hemsworth family and Ironclaw pack.

Still, I found myself staring at the bed. The deep gray sheets where she used to sleep. My hand rose to my temple, rubbing away the dull ache pulsing behind my eyes.

"She made her choice by staying away," I muttered under my breath, my voice low and rough. "If anything happens to her out there, it's her own doing."

Just then, a faint familiar scent drifted through the air—Lavender and dark honey. Even with the wind's interference, I knew it instantly. It was her scent, Aria's.

My jaw clenched. The darkness in me coiled tighter. "Who's been in this room?" I barked in a sharp voice, "Guards!".

Aria's POV

The night air bit into my skin as the old gate behind Hemsworth Villa creaked open. Every sound felt too loud, too dangerous. Sandra's trembling hand guided me through the narrow passage hidden behind the thorned hedges.

My arms tightened protectively around the small bundle in my arms, my daughter. My little wolf.

Lana stirred softly but didn't cry, as if even in sleep she sensed my fear. The moonlight brushed her tiny face, peaceful and unaware of the chaos we were escaping.

I held her closer, breathing in her faint, sweet scent to steady myself. The chill of the night couldn't touch the warmth she brought me.

"Thank you, Sandra," I whispered, my voice rough from exhaustion and the tears I'd long since run out of. "For everything tonight."

The old housekeeper's eyes glistened. "Don't thank me, Luna Aria. If you hadn't given me that job years ago, I'd never have survived in this city."

She dabbed her eyes with the edge of her sleeve. "You've been through too much already. Are you sure you won't stay?"

I couldn't meet her gaze. My wolf stirred weakly inside me, wounded and silent after months of confinement. I'd been caged like a criminal, branded a traitor to my own mate, to my pack.

My voice was quiet when I replied, "He destroyed my life, Sandra. All I want now is freedom. A fresh start."

Sandra nodded, her lips trembling. "Did you get everything you needed?"

I touched the bag slung over my shoulder. My ID, passport, cards, and the three million I'd earned back when I was still a respected lawyer—before Nathan ruined my name, my career, my life. I'd taken only what was mine. Not a single coin of his cursed wealth.

"Yes," I said softly, though I was a bit uncertain because just before I'd escaped, I'd heard him shut the door of his study and knew he was approaching. My heart had nearly stopped. I'd barely climbed through the window with Sandra's help, not wanting to be discovered.

Goddess, what if he already knew I'd been there? What if the scent masking potion I had taken several hours ago had worn off?.

A cold wave of dread rolled down my spine.

Sandra must have seen the panic flash across my face, because she gave me a small, brave nod and pushed me gently toward the gate.

"Don't be afraid. If anything comes up, I'll cover for you. What Alpha Nathan did to you was cruel beyond words. I couldn't bear to see it." Her voice cracked. "Go now, Luna Aria. Take care of your daughter."

Tears burned behind my eyes, but I blinked them away. "Sandra… I need to ask you one more thing." I wanted to tell her not to breathe a word of what happened to anyone. No one should know that I have a child, especially Nathan.

She understood before I could finish. "Don't worry. Tonight, I never saw you."

The gate closed with a soft click, like the end of a lifetime. Through the narrow gap, I caught a last glimpse of her wrinkled hand waving at me, a silent blessing in the dark.

I turned toward the road, clutching Lana as the wind carried the scent of roses. Petals drifted around us, catching in my hair.

We're free, I told myself, though my heart still trembled. Free at last.

I quickened my pace toward the waiting cab. The guards wouldn't check the back road, not this late.

I climbed into the car, my heart pounding as the villa faded in the rearview mirror. Lana slept soundly against my chest, her tiny fingers curling around the fabric of my coat.

I turned my face away from Hemsworth Villa, from the man who'd once been my mate, my Alpha, my ruin.

Nathan Hemsworth, I thought, as the city lights swallowed us whole, may the Moon Goddess ensure our paths never cross again.

Nathan's POV

Aria's scent still lingered in the air when my men returned to the bedroom. I stood by the window, staring out into the ink-black night, my wolf restless beneath my skin.

"Sir," one of the guards said, his tone cautious. "We've checked the entire villa, reviewed the cameras. No trace of Luna Aria. But we did find this."

He handed me a tablet. A grainy clip flickered on the screen, movement near Aria's bedroom. It was a woman, one of the house keepers.

I clenched my jaw as the guard continued, "We've detained the woman in the footage. Her name is Sandra Keith. Here's her background."

The file slipped from his hand into mine. Sandra. The old maid who'd served this house for years. She was loyal, quiet and unassuming.

Minutes later, I was standing in her quarters. The small room smelled of dust. She flinched when my men entered, twisting her arms behind her back.

"The footage shows you near Luna Aria's bedroom ten minutes before items went missing," one of the guards said, his voice clipped.

Sandra stammered something, her pulse racing so fast I could hear it. My wolf pushed against my skin, demanding control, wanting to bare its fangs. Where is she? it snarled in my head. Where did she take her?

I stepped forward, and the air shifted instantly. My presence filled the room with Alpha energy.

"Enough," I muttered. "Let her go."

The guards obeyed instantly.

Sandra exhaled shakily, probably thinking the worst had passed. But she didn't understand. I wasn't angry about the missing items. I didn't give a damn about jewelry or papers. What mattered was the scent still lingering in Aria's room.

I crouched in front of her, my voice low, "Tell me… did she come back?"

Her pupils dilated. Her heartbeat stuttered. Lies formed before her lips even moved. "I—I don't know what you're talking about, Alpha. I haven't seen anyone tonight."

I tilted my head, studying her trembling hands. My wolf growled softly inside me. She was lying. I could smell it, her fear and guilt thick in the air like smoke.

"Sandra," I said quietly, almost conversationally, "you have a daughter in Sunnyville, don't you?"

Her breath hitched.

"Married five years, first child on the way. Her husband finally got promoted after six years in that tiny company." I smiled faintly, but my tone cut like a blade. "What do you think will happen to them when I end his career tomorrow morning? When your daughter loses the life she's built because you couldn't tell me the truth?"

Her lips parted in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief. I straightened slowly, letting the weight of my words crush the air between us.

"Your daughter's happiness… or your silence." I let my gaze pierce hers. "Choose."

A faint whimper escaped her. The room reeked of fear, her fear.

"P-please…" she stammered. "Don't hurt my daughter. I'll tell you everything."

My wolf's growl softened, a dark satisfaction curling in my chest.

"Where is Aria?" I asked, my voice no louder than a whisper. "Did you help her leave?"

Her tears fell freely now. She nodded and gave me details of what happened. Aria had come back and taken some of her valuables with her.

When Sandra was done, she collapsed to the floor, her sobs echoing faintly through the hall. I stood there, watching her shake and plead. "I've told you everything," she cried, her voice hoarse. "Please, Alpha—don't hurt Luna Aria. She's suffered enough already—"

I felt my jaw tighten. Suffered enough?

My lips curved into a cold, humorless sneer. "Being my wife wasn't enough for her?" I growled, my voice low and dangerous. "She wants to run from me? Fine. Let's see how far she makes it."

I turned and left. The security team retreated too.

Moments later, I was in my study. My beta stood by the door, hesitant. I could smell the unease rolling off him.

"Alpha Nathan" he began carefully, "should we… bring Luna Aria back?"

I turned my gaze on him. My eyes glowing with my wolf's fury.

"No need, I have had a change of heart" I said, flicking a dismissive hand. "If she wants to run, let her. Freeze her accounts, her cards, every cent she has. I want to see how long she survives without me."

A sharp crack split the silence, the pen in my hand had snapped clean in two. Ink bled over my fingers like black venom.

"She'll come crawling back," I muttered. "Begging."

Collins hesitated, his voice cautious. "But, sir… Sandra said Luna Aria has nothing. If we cut her off completely, how will she manage? Where will she even stay tonight?"

I turned on him sharply, my eyes glowing faintly now. "What, you feel sorry for her?" The snarl slipped out before I could stop it. "No food, no roof, no help—that's her choice. Since when is pity part of your job, Collins?"

He flinched. "No, sir. I just thought, perhaps—it might be too harsh."

I laughed—a hollow, brittle sound that even my wolf didn't recognize. "Harsh?" I stepped closer, the air rippling faintly with my aura.

"When she sold my company's secrets to the Cowen group, did she think about how that would destroy me? Did she think about the lives depending on my leadership? She made her choices, Collins. Now she'll live with them."