Chapter 8
1156 Words
ARIA
I freeze on the road, my breath catching in my throat.
No.
This can't be happening.
Declan Cross stands beside my car, his tall frame silhouetted against the fading sunlight. Even from this distance, even after six years, I'd know him anywhere. The broad shoulders, the confident stance, the way he holds himself like he owns the world.
Kelly, whimpers in recognition, a sound of longing and pain all tangled together.
I force myself to keep walking, my legs moving mechanically toward the car. Toward him. I can't turn back now—the kids are right there, and running would only make things worse.
As I get closer, details sharpen into focus.
He's still devastatingly handsome. Maybe more so now. His dark hair is slightly longer than I remember, swept back from his face in a way that emphasizes those sharp cheekbones and strong jaw.
He's wearing all black—a fitted shirt and dark jeans that show off the lean muscle of his frame. Six years have only refined him, adding a harder edge to his features, a weight to his presence that wasn't there before.
He looks like an Alpha in every sense of the word.
My heart clenches painfully, memories flooding back before I can stop them. His hands tangled in my hair. His laugh, warm and genuine, when I'd say something that surprised him. The way he used to look at me like I was the only person in the world that mattered.
Before he marked Celeste.
Before he chose her.
Before he exiled me.
I shut the memories down hard, my jaw clenching beneath the mask.
I won't be drawn in again. I won't let him affect me like he used to. He's married to Celeste now. They have their life, their pack, their perfect fated mate bond. And I have mine. We're strangers now. That's all we can ever be.
My only goal right now is protecting my pups. Nothing else matters.
I approach the car, keeping my movements calm and controlled despite the panic screaming through every nerve in my body. The mask covers most of my face, and I've learned to suppress my scent so thoroughly that even trained wolves can't detect it. He won't recognize me.
He can't recognize me.
Declan's storm-gray eyes lock onto mine, and my breath stutters.
"You're the mother?" His voice is deeper than I remember, rougher, and it sends an unwanted shiver down my spine.
I nod once, not trusting myself to speak.
His gaze sweeps over me, assessing. There's something in his expression—confusion? Recognition? I can't tell.
"You're a werewolf," he says. It's not a question.
I don't respond.
"It's rare to find stray wolves in the human world," he continues, taking a step closer. "Even rarer to find one raising pups here. May I ask what pack you're from?"
My heart pounds so hard I'm sure he can hear it. "That's none of your concern."
His eyes narrow slightly at my cold tone.
"Mommy!" Lily's voice calls from inside the car. "Is this the nice uncle helping us?"
Declan's expression softens slightly as he glances at the car, at my babies waving through the window. Something flickers across his face—something almost wistful.
"They're beautiful," he says quietly.
The words hit me like a physical blow.
They're yours, I want to scream. These are your children. Your daughter is waving at you right now, and you don't even know.
But I swallow the words down and keep my face blank.
"Thank you," I say curtly.
Declan studies me again, and I can see him trying to place me. His eyes trace the shape of my face, the curve of my shoulders, searching for something familiar beneath the mask.
"Have we met before?" he asks suddenly.
My blood runs cold.
"No."
"You seem familiar."
"I have one of those faces."
"Do you know someone named Aria Sinclair?"
The name—my name—coming from his lips nearly breaks me. I dig my nails into my palms to keep my hands from shaking.
"No," I say, my voice ice-cold. "I don't know anyone by that name."
He watches me for a long moment, his gaze searching. I hold perfectly still, refusing to give anything away. Refusing to let him see the terror and pain warring inside me.
Finally, he nods slowly, though he doesn't look convinced.
"If you're just passing through, you should know that rogue activity has increased in this region. It's not safe for a lone wolf with pups." He pauses. "If you need assistance or protection, Crescent Ridge Pack—"
"We're fine," I cut him off sharply.
His eyes flash with something—irritation? Hurt? I can't tell, and I don't care.
The kids are pressing their faces against the window now, clearly fascinated by Declan and his Beta. Noah is staring at Declan with wide eyes, and I realize with a sinking feeling that they're starting to look curious. Interested.
No. Absolutely not.
"We need to go," I say abruptly, moving toward the car. "Thank you for your... concern. But we're leaving now."
"Your tire is still flat," Declan points out.
Damn it. He's right.
I glance back toward the gas station, calculating. The mechanic should be here any minute with the spare. I just need to stall until then. Keep Declan talking without revealing anything. Keep the kids in the car. Keep everything under control.
"The mechanic is on his way," I say stiffly.
"We can wait with you. Make sure you get back on the road safely."
"That's not necessary."
"I insist."
The command in his voice makes my wolf bristle. Kelly snarls softly in my mind, torn between submission and defiance.
We stand there, locked in a silent standoff.
Behind Declan, his Beta suddenly fumbles with a tablet he's holding, his eyes going wide. He's scrolling frantically through something, his movements jerky and urgent.
My stomach drops.
What is he looking at?
"Alpha," the Beta says, his voice tight with excitement. "I think I found—"
"Not now, Antony," Declan says without looking away from me.
But Antony isn't listening. He's staring at the screen, then at me, then back at the screen. His expression shifts from confusion to shock to something that looks like triumph.
No. No, no, no.
I take a step back, my instincts screaming at me to run. To grab the kids and bolt. But I'm trapped—the car is behind me, Declan is in front of me, and I have no way out.
"We really need to go," I say, my voice coming out strained despite my best efforts to stay calm.
Declan's gaze sharpens on me, reading the sudden panic I can't quite hide.
Antony looks up from his tablet, his eyes bright with realization.
"Alpha," he says, his voice ringing with certainty. "I found it! She must be—!"
- Writer
