Chapter 89

Aria’s POV

The next morning, at home, I worried that photo taken of Lucian and Dr. A was going to show up on the news. Coffee in hand, I watched and waited with dread for confirmation that I’d be further pulled into drama regarding Lucian and Sheila.

Yet, as I watched, the only time Dr. A seemed to be referenced at all was when they were covering Harold’s health. His fainting had started many at the party, a few of whom must have reached out to the news, as they reported a few eyewitness recounts of the incident that seemed fairly accurate.

“The renowned Dr. A has been treating the Alpha King’s father, who is recovering,” the news anchor said. “Confirmed by several sources, his heart condition is directly connected to an increased stress level. Some believe that the rumors of the Alpha King’s apparent divorce from Luna Aria are to blame, but those reports have not been verified.”

Some guilt swelled up inside of me. I hated any part I might have played in Harold’s failing health. He didn’t agree with the divorce and had been trying to talk me out of it.

Yet, even with his disapproval of the divorce, I knew Sheila was truly the one to blame for his condition, as the two greatly despised each other.

“We go now to Clyde for a special report regarding the recent rumors about Sheila,” the news anchor said. “Clyde.”

The screen shifted to a different section of the news room where a younger man was sitting behind a desk. Wearing a suit, his hair was mussed in a fashionable style. He was much younger than the former anchor, looking as if he was barely out of college, perhaps someone new to the channel.

I braced myself for what he might say. Had Sheila herself called in for an interview again? Or was there something else going on?

“The pack has had some unfavorable opinions about Sheila lately, though our recent reports indicate that those opinions might have been formed under false pretenses,” Clyde said. “Some of what I’m about to say is shocking so please have any small children leave the room.”

I leaned forward on the couch, concerned over what I was about to hear. Cathy chose just that moment to walk into the room. Seeing me, she then looked at the television.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

I shushed her lightly.

“We at the studio have received information that Sheila’s infertility is the result of her time with an abusive mate. Many believed that she had been disloyal, but recent reports reveal that she had been made to do things for the sake of her relationship that resulted in her inability to have children.”

Cathy paled a little. “Do you think that’s true?”

I didn’t know, and that made me feel like an asshole. I, too, had thought that her infertility had been because of her cheating. I remembered her old mate. He’d seemed a reasonable sort, but then Lucian had exiled him.

Maybe the writing should have been on the wall. Perhaps I should have seen this sooner.

Having I misjudged Sheila all along?

She wasn’t without faults, even with this tragedy, but now her behavior at least had reason.

“Aria?” Cathy asked.

“I genuinely don’t know what to believe,” I said.

While I still disliked her, I now felt pity as well.

“I wonder who their source is,” Cathy asked, looking back at the screen. “With something like this, only a handful of people would know the truth. And after such a long time, what prompted them to finally come forward?”

Glancing at her, I could see the skepticism on her face.

“You don’t believe it?” I asked.

“I don’t know what to believe,” Cathy said. “But, with Sheila, I know you can’t really trust anything she says, can you?”

I frowned. “This is a hell of a thing to lie about. The man did get exiled.”

Cathy conceded, shrugging. “Just something to consider.”

Inside, I was torn.

Lucian’s POV

When I arrived at the Alpha Headquarters building the next morning, the main entrance was blocked with protestors. The car detoured, driving around to the back of the building to a more secured entrance. There, I was immediately surrounded by security who helped whisk me inside without the protestors’ notice.

“What’s going on?” I asked Ben, the moment I was inside and he was beside me.

“Two separate groups of protestors have converged on our doorstep this morning, Alpha.”

“And what are their grievances?” I asked.

When Ben hesitated, I stopped and turned to look at him. Under my direct focus, he shrunk slightly.

“Did you watch the news this morning?” Ben asked.

I had, and I was absolutely furious that Jasper had leaked the things I’d told him in confidence. Sheila had never wanted the truth of what happened to be exposed, and I betrayed that request by sharing with Jasper. He betrayed my confidence by sharing that same information with the world.

I was going to call him later to give him a piece of my mind.

“This has to do with Sheila,” I said now, to Ben.

“I’m afraid so, Sir. One group of protestors is directly blaming you for what happened to Sheila.”

That was fine. I also blamed me.

“They say that you are responsible for her current state and therefore have an obligation to her,” Ben said. “I, uh, believe they want you to marry her.”

I rubbed my forehead. “And the other group?”

“The other protesters are adamantly against your marrying of Sheila. Though some express sympathy, they believe Sheila is unfit to be Luna.”

“What a mess,” I grumbled, and continued walking to my office.

Ben kept pace beside me. “Yes, sir.”

In my office, I had a clearer view of the protestors. They’d isolated themselves into two separate groups and were shouting at each other.

Watching them, I wished I could have handled things differently. If I’d never introduced Sheila to my old friend, then none of this would have occurred. I couldn’t go back and change things now, though. I had to keep pushing forward the best that I could.

Maybe I did have an obligation to marry Sheila, as I was responsible for her condition. She was cured now though, thanks to Dr. A. Why would she even want to be with me? I didn’t love her. My only tie to her would be one out of a sense of duty. How could that be enough for her?

But then, I never really needed love in my marriage, did I? At first, with Aria, I had thought there was potential, but…

Then there was Aria. All of these protestors were talking about my next marriage, when my current one wasn’t finished yet. Though I supposed that was only a technicality now that Aria had moved on.

Pain flared in my chest once more at the thought. I pressed my palm to my chest and tried to massage it away, but nothing worked. Nothing ever worked.

In front of the building, new protestors were joining each side. One, a young woman, joined the side demanding I marry someone other than Sheila. As she lifted her sign, I read the words.

Dr. A for Luna!