Chapter 144

Lucian’s POV

I had no idea how some of these nobles received permission to be in this room for this revelation, but at this point, I was beyond caring about logistics. The facts were, they were here and they were giving Aria grief. That was more than enough reason for him to, not just lose his temper, but to also want to put them all in their place.

Some of them were looking at me like I would be on their side. They had no idea what was happening here. Perhaps they believed that because Aria and I divorced that I would not be quick to defend her.

They could not be more wrong.

“Dr. A has done more medically for this pack than anyone else,” I said loudly. “Do you all need reminding of how she cured you or treated your children? Do you need reminding of the potion that extends life which she developed? Do I need to bring up Caleb?”

Caleb had passed away after Aria left for Moonglow. He was honored with a Celebration of Life, the festivities of which lasted for over a month. His family was still recognized. I noticed that none of them were here today.

“Your only issue now is that you have discovered Dr. A is actually our former Luna Aria. Instead of being awed by our former Luna’s secret talents, you attempt to ridicule and lambast her, ignoring all the good work she’s done for this pack. We should be thrilled to have such a talent among us.”

The dissenters shut their mouths while the reporters scribbled wildly in their notepads.

“Years ago, I made clear that Dr. A was favored by the Alpha King, and that any who would speak against her would have to stand against me to do so. I hold to that now,” I said. “Dr. A is honored in this pack, and therefore Aria is. Any that have issue with this can reach out to me, but leave Aria out of it. That is all.”

I looked over at Aria, who stared back at me strangely, like she couldn’t quite believe that I would stand up for her. Why wouldn’t she? Had I failed her not just as a husband, and not just as a friend, but also has her Alpha? Did she believe when I offered her the pack’s gratitude that it was somehow temporary?

She was still Dr. A, even if she didn’t wear the mask anymore.

I motioned to move closer to her, but at the same time, Jasper stepped out from the wings, as did Piper. Piper ushered Aria away to a backroom, while Jasper took over the microphones and the podium.

“That’s it for today. Thank you for your time,” Jasper said.

His face was tight, no hint of a smile. I wondered if some of this mess wasn’t his fault.

He glanced over at me, and then disappeared into the room where Aria had gone. I wanted to follow them, but I was too far away to make a quick escape. The reporters surrounded me instead.

If it meant that Aria would be safe, I happily answered their questions.

“No, I didn’t know her secret,” I confirmed, “But I bear no ill will to her for keeping in. In fact, in seeing the reaction of a few here in the room today, I understand why she didn’t feel comfortable sharing this for so long. I hope that we can honor her courage in coming forward now by giving her the respect she deserves.”

Aria’s POV

I hid away for a few hours after the press conference, frightened by what the ramifications of this revelation might be.

Jasper, with me for a part of that time, had been increasingly apologetic. As he had invited the nobles who disliked me, he felt responsible for what was almost my public humiliation. Fortunately Lucian had deterred the mob before they became out of control. Jasper still felt responsible.

I tried to tell him I had no malice for him, and that he was forgiven, but Jasper still walked away from me, throwing his hands in the air.

I could forgive him, but there was no telling if he would forgive himself.

Eventually, I could no longer hide away. I needed to get back to the hospital and continue my work. I couldn’t do that from Cathy’s spare bedroom.

So I hugged the kids goodbye.

At the door, I felt strangely without my mask, but Cathy gave me an encouraging smile.

“You did the right thing,” she said, which helped me feel a little better, because I still wasn’t sure.

The walk from the parking lot to the hospital wasn’t all that far, yet without my Dr. A mask, I drew a lot of attention from literally anyone who saw me.

I could see some of the benefits to my former secret life now.

Twice I was stopped on the way to the hospital by people wanting to ask me about their various medical ailments. To each, I gave a quick diagnosis but told them they had to see a Healer on staff, since I wasn’t going to be here long enough to actually treat anyone other than Cathy.

I supposed these encounters, though somewhat surprising, were far more pleasant that I’d been expecting after that press conference.

Perhaps what had happened wasn’t going to be the rule, but rather the exception. Maybe, like Cathy and Piper had predicted, most of the pack wouldn’t care that Aria and Dr. A were the same person.

Still, I approached the hospital somewhat nervously, wondering what the other Healers would think.

Lucian’s POV

Even back at the Alpha headquarters building, I fielded questions related to Aria. Not just from reporters either. Ben kept giving me curious glances, until I finally asked him what was going on.

“How long had you known about Aria?” Ben asked me.

I wished I could tell him forever. I was still feeling horrible that so many others had been able to tell the truth while I, her husband, had been blissfully unaware of the amazing accomplishments of my wife.

I truly had underestimated everything about her. I could only hope to begin to rectify that now.

“Not long,” I said, frowning. “Certainly not long enough.”

Ben nodded with understanding. “She truly is a remarkable woman.”

“She is.”

“It was a shame for our pack to lose her.”

“It was.” Hell, it still was a shame. Not just for the pack, but for me. If I had known what I had. If I had…

No. I could have known if I had taken the time to truly see her. Instead, I constantly took her for granted, turning the other way, assuming she would always be there as my homemaker and wife, while never truly seeing all the good she did for our home and my life.

All while I remained entire ignorant to the career she had given up just to be with me.

I felt like the worst kind of jerk. But that ended now.

Yes, I had underappreciated her in the past, so I couldn’t fault her for having questions about my intentions now.

But I was more serious now than ever before in my hopes to romantically pursue her and make her my wife and Luna once more.

The only thing I had to do now was think of ways I could prove that seriousness to Aria…