Chapter 10

Lucian’s POV

Since Aria’s absence, things had not been going very well for me.

With Aria gone, Sheila had taken the initiative to try and fill Aria’s shoes in doing the housework. She’d insisted, confidently, that she could do anything that a low-born orphan like Aria could do – and better.

In reality, Sheila struggled.

Only this morning, while I was reading the morning newspaper, Sheila gently brought me a cup of hot coffee.

It was a kind gesture, perhaps, or would have been, if I was not allergic to coffee beans. Something that I was sure I’d told Sheila many times.

"Oh I'm So sorry..."Sheila said.

She hadn’t remembered. Or she was actually not care about me.

Every morning, Aria would give me a cup of tea, heated to just the right temperature, exactly how I liked it.

Last night, I had been working late in my study when Sheila had come in wearing a sexy, semi see-through nightgown.

She’d leaned over my desk in an attempt to tantalize me with her cleavage.

Even if I had been interested, which I wasn’t, my work was important, and I couldn’t nor wouldn’t leave it unfinished to chase selfish, momentary pleasures.

Aria would know that. She would never attempt to seduce me like this, especially when I was busy.

“How dare you treat me like this! Even comparing me to that lowly orphan, Aria!”

When I had denied Sheila’s advances, reminding her that I was married, she had run from the room crying.

Perhaps she had expected me to chase her and offer her comfort. I did not, opting to finish my work instead.

...My work, building our pack stronger is the most important.

Overall, Sheila was not considerate and was not good at managing the maids and the housework.

In fact, the maids had begun to express frustration with Sheila and the state of the house. Rather than helping, she was constantly getting underfoot.

Because of Sheila, the house had become a mess!

With a massive headache growing, I had sat Sheila down this afternoon and attempted to bring up these topics with her.

“You shouldn’t worry yourself so much with the housework…” I had tried to say.

Sheila, aggrieved and apparently heartbroken – neither of which I particularly believed – threw herself at me as if expecting to find comfort in my arms.

“It’s only because the maids hate me so much, Lucian. They are never satisfied with anything I do! I think they might hate me.”

According to Sheila, anyone who had even the slightest disagreement with her, hated her. I suspected that was true only some of the time.

I pushed her away. “Leave the maids to their work. Do not concern yourself with housework anymore.”

With that, I walked away, ignoring her attempts at calling me back.

I’d left the room abruptly and changed into my suit. Later, after finding the tie where Aria had told me it was, I left the mansion to head to the Alpha Headquarters building, where I was needed for work.

I was loath to admit it to myself and accept that I had misjudged her, but I missed the home I had made with Aria.

Before this silly rebellion of hers, I had thought that with her just staying at home, she had decided to take on a life of leisure. I envisioned her lazing about all day, working hard only in a few brief instances throughout the day.

I hadn’t considered that there was actually some talent and effort required in caring for the house, in making it a home.

Now that Aria was gone and Sheila was trying and failing to take her place, my former opinions were very clearly misguided.

Aria had the talent and skill and dedication to ensure I hadn’t needed to worry about the home at all. She accomplished it all on her own, without my having to even think about it.

Until now, I had underappreciated Aria’s efforts. I would attempt to rectify this view, when Aria gave up this foolishness and returned home.

I imagined it wouldn’t be long now until she came back. She might threaten divorce, but I doubted she would ever fully go through with it. We were playing a little game. Aria felt unappreciated and was testing my limits. She would find that while I was firmly against games, I also wasn’t going to just let her go.

“It’s not just you who keeps Aria from returning home,” Max told me.

Admittedly, upon reflection, I could admit that my underappreciation of her efforts wasn’t the only reason she’d left. In fact, it was unlikely to even be the biggest reason. I had treated her more or less the same for three years, and she seemed contented.

We weren’t as close as other couples, but we had been comfortable.

Some other recent change was what truly drove her away.

That change had to be Sheila.

Aria would likely return if I sent Sheila away, but I couldn’t do that to Sheila. After what I’d done to her… I couldn’t ignore her or her plight to restore her fertility.

Yet, at the same time, I couldn’t go through with divorcing Aria.

I felt himself standing at an impasse, unsure of which direction to turn.

I was so distracted that the meeting passed by without my noticing, or giving much input. It must have gone well enough though, as no one seemed particularly upset or annoyed at my lack of contribution.

As everyone packed up and dispersed from the meeting room, I lingered, reviewing the notes of the meeting, trying to refocus. It wasn’t like me to become distracted while working. This kerfuffle with Aria was throwing me off more than I realized.

“Alpha?” said a familiar voice from the doorway.

I looked up to find Ben, my Beta, standing there, waiting for permission to approach. I waved him forward.

“Did you deliver the gift, Ben? How did Dr. A react?” After Sheila’s rudeness during their meeting, I was determined to make amends. To continue to manifest Dr. A’s help and goodwill, we needed to maintain a good rapport with her.

“Did you remember to treat her with the upmost respect?”

“Unfortunately, Sir, when I arrived, Dr. A had already went home for the day. However, I did leave the gift in her office, along with the card you prepared, so she should receive it the next time she returns to work.”

“Very good,” I replied.

Ben lingered, which told me there was more. Whatever it was must have been bad, for Ben to be so hesitant to report it.

“Was there something else?” I prompted. I hated wasting time.

“Yes, Sir. Though…”

“Report, Beta,” I said, taking a more authoritative tone.

Ben straightened slightly. “One of our contacts sent this over.”

Ben held out a photo from an instant camera. The photo was slightly blurry and the flash made much of it too light in some spots and too dark in others.

Yet the central two figures were clear.

Aria, in a very short, sexy skirt, was standing next to Jasper at a bar. They were leaning toward each other. Jasper was giving the flirtatious smile he was well-known for.

Aria seemed to be blushing.

I froze in shock for one moment, my eyes wide. Then, my blood started to boil.

Inside, my wolf growled, “Another male desires our mate!…”

“When was this taken?” I asked.

“Very recently. Our contact rushed it over.”

I looked up, tearing my eyes away from the photo. My anger rose, twisting dangerously within me.

“Get the car. We’re going to this bar.”

Concern immediately filled Jasper’s face. “But Alpha, that bar is a place for commoners!”

“I said, we are going.”

With fury in my voice, I left no room for argument.

“Now.”