Surrogate Luna For The Cursed Alpha

Aria Sinclair stepped into the precinct that morning, just a few days before Christmas, feeling the familiar buzz of activity around her. Phones rang constantly, detectives huddled together discussing cases, and fingers tapped rapidly on keyboards as reports were typed. This was her world—a place that felt as natural as breathing. To her, it was more than just a job; it was a calling. She made her way toward her desk, Aria nodded at a few familiar faces and exchanged a quick smile with a rookie officer. Just as she settled into her seat, she noticed her colleague, Maria, standing nearby, looking at her with a strange expression. “Hey, Maria,” Aria greeted, trying to lighten the heavy look in her friend’s eyes. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Everything alright?” Maria hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor before she met Aria’s eyes again. “Actually… the chief wants to see you. He asked me to let you know.” Aria frowned, caught off guard. “The chief wants to see me? Right now?” Maria nodded, glancing around as if making sure no one else was listening. “Yeah, right now. And… I don’t know, Aria, he didn’t look too happy.” Aria raised her eyebrows, trying to brush off the uneasy feeling settling in her stomach. “Maybe he just wants an update on the Langford case. You know how he gets when there’s a high-profile case on the line.” Maria didn’t smile, her expression remaining tense. “I hope so. But… just be careful, okay?” Aria gave her colleague a reassuring smile, though she could feel her own nerves creeping in. “Thanks, Maria.” With a steadying breath, she made her way to the chief’s office, knocking softly on the door. “Come in,” a gruff voice called out from the other side. Aria stepped inside, closing the door gently behind her. Chief Reynolds was seated at his desk, his usually hard expression somehow even more intense this morning. He barely looked up as she walked in, his eyes fixed on a file in front of him. “Chief,” Aria greeted, trying to keep her tone professional. Chief Reynolds glanced up, his expression unreadable as he finally looked her in the eye. “Aria, have a seat.” The seriousness in his tone caught her off guard. She slid into the chair opposite him, trying to hide her growing anxiety. “There’s no easy way to say this,” he began, folding his hands in front of him, “but we’re going to have to let you go.” Aria’s heart skipped a beat. “Let me go?” She barely recognized her own voice, the words feeling strange and foreign. “Chief, what… why?” The chief let out a sigh, running a hand over his face. “Evidence went missing in one of your cases, Sinclair. The Langford case, to be specific. And it was evidence we were relying on heavily.” Aria stared at him, her mind racing. “I would never — Chief, you know I would never mess with evidence. I’ve worked this job with my whole heart.” He didn’t meet her gaze. “It doesn’t matter what I believe, Aria. It’s about what this department can handle right now. You know how high-profile this case is. The media’s already picking it apart, and we’re barely holding it together as it is.” “But…” Her voice cracked, and she took a moment to steady herself. “I had nothing to do with that. You know me.” Chief Reynolds closed the file and pushed it aside. “I’m sorry, Aria. This wasn’t an easy decision. But we need to act quickly to maintain the department’s integrity. I don’t have a choice.” Aria sat there, numb, as the chief’s words settled over her. She wanted to shout, to protest, to tell him this was all wrong. But she knew it wouldn’t matter. The decision had already been made. After a heavy silence, Chief Reynolds finally looked at her, his eyes softened with regret. “Look, Aria… if it were up to me, things would be different. But it’s out of my hands. You can pack up your things and leave.” With a slow nod, Aria stood up, feeling as though her legs might give way at any moment. She gave her boss one last look before turning and leaving his office. She tried to keep it together as she walked through the precinct, but as soon as she reached her car, the tears started to fall. Her job had meant everything to her. She had dedicated years of her life to being a detective, and in one moment, it had all been taken away. By the time Aria got home, she was exhausted. Her face was damp and swollen from the tears that hadn’t stopped since she left the precinct. She could barely make it through the door before she crumpled onto the couch, burying her face in her hands. She felt hollow, the weight of the day crushing her. After sitting there for what felt like an eternity, she finally lifted her head, letting her gaze wander around the living room. As she did, something caught her attention. There were clothes scattered around the room — clothes that definitely weren’t hers. A dress was draped over a chair, a pair of heels lay abandoned near the coffee table, and undergarments were tossed carelessly on the floor. For a moment, she was too numb to process it, but then the reality started to sink in. These were women’s clothes. Clothes she had never seen before. Confused and slightly alarmed, Aria scanned the room. The only person who lived here with her was her boyfriend, Charlie. They had been together for six years, their relationship solid and steady. But then… why were there strange clothes lying around their living room? Aria stood up, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of it. Her eyes landed on a faint trail of rose petals leading toward the hallway. The sight of it made her heart sink even further. She took a shaky breath, dread creeping over her as she followed the trail. “Charlie?” she called out, her voice echoing through the silent house. There was no answer. She called his name again, her voice cracking slightly, but the silence was the only response she got. The petal trail continued down the hallway and stopped just outside their bedroom door. Aria’s heart was pounding, each beat heavy with a sense of impending heartbreak. With her hand hovering just above the door handle, she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. But then, she heard something from the other side — muffled sounds, low and intimate. Her heart seemed to freeze, a sick feeling settling in her stomach. She leaned in, her ear pressed against the door, listening carefully. Moans. She could hear the unmistakable sounds of a man and a woman together, their voices mingling in a way that made her blood run cold. She knew what she was hearing, but it felt surreal, like a horrible dream she couldn’t wake up from. In a surge of emotion, she grabbed the door handle and threw it open. The scene that greeted her was like a punch to the gut. There, tangled in the sheets, was Charlie — the man she’d loved for six long years — with another woman in their bed.