Chapter 57

Aria’s POV

The phone continued to ring. Being alone in the house meant there was no one else around to answer it. It had to be me. I had to face the consequences of what I’d done.

“This is what you want,” I reminded myself, my heart pounding against my ribcage. Standing, I walked into the hallway and lifted the phone. For a second, I listened to the silence on the line, hoping to remember and cherish this last moment before everything would change forever…

“Aria?”

That wasn’t Lucian’s voice. It was Piper’s.

Relief hit me so fast and so hard that I nearly fell over. I leaned against the wall, trying to slow my heartrate and catch my breath.

“It’s me,” I said.

“I’m sorry to bother you when you are supposed to be resting, but Dr. A is needed at the hospital as soon as possible. One of our patients came in with chest pain…”

The words helped me recover myself. My patients needed me. I could deal with my own drama – and its implications later.

“I’ll be right there,” I said and hung up.

Walking back into my bedroom, I changed into my Dr. A disguise. At the last moment, I decided to grab the letter I’d written to Matt.

If he was at the hospital, I would give it to him. HE deserved to have a reply rather than wait around wondering if I would return his feelings.

I would hurt him, but I hoped the pain would only be brief.

As I went through the motions, I couldn’t deny the relief that flooded me. Knowing Lucian wasn’t ready to give me the divorce yet gave me more comfort than I wanted to admit, even to myself.

What was wrong with me? A divorce was what I wanted! Why was my heart being so contradictory?

Furious with myself, I hurried out the door, desperate to focus on work instead of my own confusing thoughts.

Lucian’s POV

I sat in my office that evening, not even trying to pretend to work. I was so thoroughly distracted by thoughts of Aria that I had no hope of focusing on anything else.

Running into her and Matt together had been bad enough, but then, she’d all but said she wanted a divorce so they could be together properly. The entire thing made my blood boil and worse, I had a growing ache in my chest.

I didn’t understand it. I’d never really felt anything like this before, and I had no idea how to make that tightness around my heart ease.

On my desk, I’d hoped the folder carrying the divorce paperwork that Aria’s lawyer had presented to me weeks ago. Flipping through it, I could tell it was a perfectly reasonable filing. More than reasonable, actually, with how little Aria was actually asking for.

From all angles, it seemed as if Aria just wanted to be free of me. She’d even only asked for enough money to help pay her legal fees.

Did she think me so callous as to not see her well-taken care of? I didn’t want a divorce, but if I were to ever give it, I wouldn’t see her destitute.

Frowning, I hated that I was even considering this divorce at all. If I had my way, Aria would have returned home after our conversation and would now be re-acclimating herself with our life.

By all accounts, I shouldn’t have been here in the office, when where I wanted to be was with Aria at home.

Although, with Sheila still there…

I was already ignoring the dozens of messages that had been piling up on my desk the past few days. Sheila would be much harder to avoid in person.

“Alpha?” Ben asked from the doorway, gently knocking on the doorframe.

I let the divorce paperwork flutter closed. “Yes?”

“I’ve received an update on Caleb’s son, Matt,” Ben said.

Immediately, my heart sank. Were he and Aria together right now? I wasn’t sure I wanted to know, but I supposed I needed to.

“What is it?” I asked.

“He’s been called back to the borderlands,” Ben said. “They informed him this morning and he’s already on a bus out of town.”

That… was not what I’d been expecting.

“Does Aria know?” I asked, mostly to myself. She had been so urgent for the divorce. Did she intend to go with him? Or… no. More likely, she didn’t know he was leaving.

“I’m not sure,” Ben said, face uncertain.

“Forget it,” I said. “I was just thinking aloud. Thank you for the update, Ben.”

“You are welcome, Alpha.”

As Ben turned and walked away, my thoughts wandered once more.

Would Matt’s departure change anything for Aria?

Aria’s POV

“He’s gone?” I asked Montgomery. Disguised as Dr. A, I had approached Montgomery in the hallway outside of Caleb’s room, hoping to deliver the letter to Matt. I’d already handled the issues with my patient, and now was hoping to tie up these more personal loose ends.

“Yes,” Montgomery said. “Matt was needed back at the borderlands. Some secret mission, I’m sure. He never discusses his work as a warrior, but I know it’s important.” Montgomery looked at me curiously. “Did you need him for something, Dr. A? I know we’ve had our disagreements before, but now I’ve –”

“It’s not that,” I was quick to assure him. I turned my letter over in my hands. “His friend Aria asked me to pass him along this message, in response to a letter he gave to her…”

Montgomery’s eyes widened slightly as he glanced down at the letter. “Oh.”

“Perhaps you could see that it is safely delivered to him?”

“Of course, Dr. A. I’m aware of my brother’s… fondness for our Luna. I’m sure he would be pleased to receive such a letter.”

He wasn’t going to be pleased with what it said, despite how gently I tried to reject him, but I couldn’t share that with Montgomery. Those words were for Matt alone.

“Thank you,” I said and passed Montgomery the letter.

After, I retreated to my office. As it was now after hours, I’d already sent Piper home for the day.

I walked through the main office into my personal one, letting the quiet in such a typically busy space bring me comfort.

In my office, I removed my mask and allowed myself to breathe deeply.

My personal life might have been a mess, but my professional career was becoming even more gratifying. I’d saved another werewolf’s life tonight with my quick action, knowledge, and experience.

These actions were all slowly reminding me of why I had wanted to be a Healer to begin with.

I’d wanted to help people, and now, I was finally able to do so, without judgement or ridicule. People looked to me with respect. After what happened with Caleb, they wanted me to see and treat them, and not just so they could have access to my medicine if needed.

They genuinely respected me as a doctor.

Things were starting to turn around for me. Good things were on the horizon, I could feel it.

Placing my hands to my stomach, I told my baby, “When you are born, I’ll be someone you can be proud of.”

Suddenly, a knock sounded against the door to my office.

Thinking Piper had forgotten something, I turned around…

And immediately saw Lucian standing in the doorway.