Chapter 3
Aria's POV
The next morning, I dragged my suitcase down the stairs, ready to leave Silver Creek behind for good.
I'd only packed clothes. Nothing that would tip Ethan off. As far as he knew, I was just sulking, throwing a tantrum like the spoiled wife he thought I was. Let him think that. It made everything easier.
I was almost at the door when a small figure came barreling toward me.
"Where are you going?"Marcus appeared at the bottom of the stairs, his small arms crossed, his blue eyes narrowed into slits. God, he looked exactly like Ethan when he did that.
I didn't answer him. I just kept walking.
That was a mistake.
The boy darted forward and, before I could react, scrambled up onto my suitcase, planting both feet on the top and bouncing with all his weight.
"You're leaving? Good! Nobody wants you here!" He jumped harder, the wheels wobbling beneath him. "I hope your stupid clothes break!"
Clara stood a few feet away, one hand pressed to her chest in a perfect imitation of concern.
"Marcus, honey, get down from there," she cooed, making no move to actually stop him. "Sweetie, that's not nice."
Empty words. She wasn't even pretending to try.
Something inside me went very still.
I crossed the room in three steps and slapped her clean across the face.
The sound cracked through the foyer like a gunshot.
Clara staggered back, her hand flying to her cheek, amber eyes wide with shock.
"You—you hit me!"
"You're the nanny, aren't you?" I said, my voice ice-cold. "You can't teach my son basic manners. So you take the punishment for it."
Marcus froze mid-jump, startled by the sound, and lost his balance. He tumbled off the suitcase and landed on his backside with a thud, immediately bursting into wails.
Right on cue, Ethan came thundering down the hall.
"What the hell is going on?" He dropped to his knees, scooping Marcus into his arms. Then he shot me a glare that would have terrified me two days ago. "Did you push him?"
"No. He fell." I looked between the three of them—the crying child, the sniveling mistress, the furious Alpha. My perfect little family. "Though I'm touched you assumed the worst. Really shows how much you think of me."
"Aria—"
"Save it." I grabbed the handle of my suitcase. "You want to raise your son to be a monster? Be my guest. But don't expect me to stand here and clean up the mess."
I walked out without looking back.
The penthouse was quiet when I arrived. My penthouse now—the one my father had left me.Blessedly, gloriously quiet.
Floor-to-ceiling windows. Heated marble floors. A soaking tub big enough to drown my regrets in. I ran a bath, poured myself a glass of wine from the fully stocked bar, and sank into the water with a sigh.
Two years. Two years of pinching pennies. Buying store-brand everything, skipping lunches, telling myself the sacrifice was worth it because I was building a life with my mate.
What a joke.
I'd handed Ethan everything—my money, my labor, my dignity—and he'd spent it all on Clara.
Never again.
I was halfway through my second glass when my phone buzzed. Unknown number.
I almost let it ring out. Then, on instinct, I answered.
"Hello?"
"Aria Smith?" The voice was deep, warm, unmistakably an Alpha's. "My name is Victor. Victor Smith." A pause. "I'm your uncle."
I sat up, water sloshing over the rim of the tub. "My uncle."
"Vincent was my foster brother. Crescent Moon Pack took him in when he had nothing." A soft breath. "I've been searching for you for a long time, sweetheart."
I gripped the phone tighter. "If you're calling to warn me off the inheritance, save your breath."
"Relax. I have businesses of my own." He didn't sound offended.
"I only wanted to tell you this, Aria—signing those papers put a target on your back. Sylvia won't let it go quietly, and she isn't the only one watching. You've stepped into something bigger than you know."
"I'm aware." My voice didn't waver. "I signed anyway. I don't do things I'm not prepared to fight for."
There was a long silence on the line. Then, softly, Victor chuckled.
"God. You sound just like him."
I said nothing. How could I? I'd never met Vincent. I didn't know if he'd been kind or cruel, brave or cowardly. To me, he was just a name on a will and a stranger who'd left me his fortune.
"There's a dinner tonight," Victor continued. "Small, private. The Alpha King is passing through to inspect the territory. As family, you're expected to attend." A beat. "I'd very much like to meet you properly, Aria."
The Alpha King. Even I knew that name carried weight.
"I'll be there," I said.
The boutique was the kind of place that didn't list prices.
I'd just slipped into a stunning emerald gown—one that made my green eyes glow—when a sharp voice cut through the fitting room.
"Excuse me. That's mine. I called it in this morning."
I turned. A blonde woman stood there, arms crossed, lip curled like she'd smelled something rotten.
"I don't think so," I said calmly. "I'm already wearing it."
Her amber eyes raked over me. "Let me guess. You wandered in off the street and can't even afford the zipper. Do yourself a favor and take it off before you embarrass yourself." She snapped her fingers at the two men by the door. "I'm Vanessa Crane. My father is Alpha Richard Crane of Riverside Pack. Get her out of my dress."
The guards stepped forward.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
A silver-haired man in an immaculate suit strode through the entrance, half a dozen men behind him. Vanessa's guards froze.
He stopped before me and inclined his head. "Miss Smith. Forgive the delay. Alpha Victor sent me to escort you to the family dinner. I'm Harrison, Beta of Crescent Moon Pack."
The color drained from Vanessa's face.
"Smith?" she whispered. "As in—Vincent Smith?"
"His daughter," Harrison said coolly. "And sole heir."
Vanessa nearly tripped over herself. "Miss Smith—I—I had no idea. Please, forgive me. I never meant—"
I studied her for a moment. I still didn't know what kind of power Crescent Moon truly held, or how many enemies I could afford. Making one more tonight seemed unwise.
"An apology's enough," I said. "You can go."
She fled without another word.
I turned to Harrison and smiled.
"Give me five minutes to change."
