Chapter 101

Aria’s POV

The sight of Sheila with her arms wrapped around Lucian stayed with me long after the day of our divorce ceremony. It might have shattered what remained of my heart, and caused my wolf to go into mourning once again, but at the same time, it gave me the strength and determination to keep going.

It reassured me that I had made the right choice in choosing to divorce Lucian. He was bound to Sheila in a way he never wanted with me. For both our sakes, it was right of me to let him go.

That didn’t make it easier. For every moment after the divorce, I felt as if I was carrying a lead weight around my neck, so lost to grief and regret and despair. Yet, knowing this had been the right choice for Lucian pushed me forward.

He could finally find the happiness he had been denying himself because of his obligations to me as his wife. Now, free of him and Sheila both, I could search out that same happiness for me and my baby.

Now, sitting in Dr. A’s private office in the hospital, I had a map unfurled across the entire width of my desk. The packs nearest to Nightfall pack were the most likely candidates for me to move to, but I wasn’t above moving even farther away.

It’d been some time since my geography classes. I needed to do some research on the faraway packs before I’d consider moving there. Though I was certain my reputation as Dr. A would proceed me and make me welcome anywhere, I wanted to ensure my baby would grow up in the most welcoming and safest pack there was. Outside of Nightfall, of course.

For days, as I continued to wrap up my contracts with my patients, I would spend all my free time looking over this map, trying to decide.

Then, when I was in my office alone one day, my phone rang. Immediately, I answered it. “This is Dr. A.”

“Good afternoon, Aria.” I recognized Silas’s voice right away. It took all the sting out of him using my real name. I didn’t speak with my old mentor that often, but when I did, it gave me the same comforting feelings it had back when he helped guide me in creating the medicine that could extend a werewolf’s life.

“It’s nice to hear from you, Silas.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, a touch of regret in his voice. “I really should call more often.”

“We have both been busy.” By saying this, I assured him there was no hard feelings. “Is this a social call? Or do you need something?” Either were okay with me.

“A little of both,” Silas said. “Well, I want to ask you something, but first I want to check in on you. I heard about the divorce…”

“Yes,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t say more. That event still hurt to think about. That it was replayed nightly on the news since it happened only added to the injury of it.

“The news is also saying that you are looking to leave the pack,” Silas continued. “I wanted to ask you if that was correct, knowing how wrong the news could be about these things.”

“That’s right,” I said. “I’m looking at the map right now, trying to decide where to go.”

“Find Moonglow pack,” Silas said. “To the east, along the coast.”

Following his direction, I found it, far to the east, with two different pack lands splitting it from Nightfall pack. Moonglow pack lands was mostly coastline, long and skinny, stretching from the frigid north all the way down to the more temperate climates of the south.

“Cold, much of the time,” Silas said. “Rocky beaches in the north but sandy ones in the sound. It will be summer soon, and those sandier beaches will be quite pleasant.”

“You sound like a travel brochure,” I said.

“Maybe because I am trying to convince you to go there,” Silas said.

“I’m not looking for a vacation spot, Silas. I need somewhere to live.”

“I wouldn’t suggest it just as a vacation spot. The fact is, that pack is relatively poor. They mostly rely on tourism for their trade, but the packs beside theirs are at war, cutting off most travel to the region. The people there, as such, as poor and in need of good medical help.”

Instinctively, I placed my hand over my stomach. “I can’t travel into a warzone right now,” I said. If it was me alone, I would have no hesitation. But I was looking for a safe pack for my child, and one in the midst of a war was not it.

“Moonglow is neutral in the war,” Silas said. “Their lands are safe. It’s those around them that are fighting. I would never bring you into a place of danger, Aria. These people are just in dire straits and in need of help. I will be traveling there soon to offer that assistance, and I am asking you if you would like to join me.”

I trusted Silas. Though the talk of war made me nervous, there were often skirmishes among the packs. For Moonglow to declare themselves neutral boded well for them. The other packs could attack them without receiving retaliation from the rest of the region.

My child and I would be safe there. And I’d get to help people. I’d also get to work with Silas again, which pleased me as well.

I’d been looking for the right pack. A place where I could do the most good while still provide a good life for my pup.

This was the perfect opportunity.

“I accept,” I said.

“Good,” Silas replied, a warm smile in his voice. Immediately, I felt as if I made the right decision.

We continued talking for a bit, about Moonglow, and what specific ailments they were facing there.

Near the end of our conversation, Silas started to hesitate in his words. Though I didn’t speak with him as often nowadays as I had in the past, I knew he was building up to something. Patiently, I waited for him to broach whatever topic he wanted to discuss.

Then, he asked, “Did you ever tell Lucian the truth about who you are?”

I could see why he hesitated, likely not wanting to upset me.

“No,” I said. There had never been an opportunity. And even if there had been, what good would it had ultimately done? Lucian wanted to be with Sheila. He wouldn’t have cared whether his meek housewife Aria was actually a confident and capable healer.

“Maybe you should,” he said. “Before you leave.”

“Thank you, Silas,” I replied. “But things are over between Lucian and I. There’s nothing left to say.”

After hanging up the phone, Piper knocked on my door. “Forgive me for intruding, Dr. A. But Alpha King Lucian is here to speak with you regarding your cooperative project.”

“Ah.” Yes, I’d been meaning to tie up that particular loose end. Though everything was mostly in place now, there was still some paperwork that needed filling out and signed. Ben had called earlier and said that Lucian might be stopping by. “Show him in.”

“She will see you now,” Piper said to someone beyond the door.

Then Lucian appeared, walking into my office.

He seemed the same as ever, if not slightly more tired. But he was dressed in a suit with his hair perfect – not a strand out of place. His eyes were cold though, and his face expressionless. Though he had a good rapport with Dr. A, in that moment, he seemed entirely closed off from anyone and everyone.

As he stepped into the office, his gaze immediately dropped from me down to the map on my desk. Impossibly, his face hardened further.

“Still planning on leaving us, Dr. A?”

“I am,” I said.

He nodded curtly. Then spoke again, “I’ll only ask once more. But I don’t suppose I could convince you to stay with the pack?”