My fingers tighten around the phone 59

Aria’s POV
Moonlight painted silver ribbons across my apartment floor as I sank into the worn armchair, the events of the day weighing heavily on my shoulders. Every muscle ached from the tension, but I couldn’t bring myself to relax.
“Let me see to this,” Ethan’s deep voice cut through my brooding. He knelt before my chair, reaching for my hand with
unexpected gentleness. His touch was feather-light as he examined my palm, now an angry red from the force of striking
Bella.
I tried to pull away. “It’s nothing. Just a—”
“Stop being stubborn for once,” he interrupted, his voice soft but brooking no argument. The heir of Shadow Fang,
known throughout the territory for his commanding presence, now handled my injured hand as if it were made of
precious glass. His fingers ghosted over my skin as he unscrewed the cap of the healing salve, the herbal scent mixing
with his natural alpha aroma of pine and mountain air.
“This might sting,” he warned, carefully applying the cool ointment. Each stroke of his thumb sent tingles up my arm,
though I told myself it was just the medicine taking effect. His alpha energy, usually so overwhelming, now wrapped
around me like a protective blanket, soothing my frayed nerves.
“You have surprisingly gentle hands for a future alpha,” I murmured without thinking, then felt heat rush to my cheeks at
the admission.
A hint of a smile played at the corners of his mouth. “We’re not all brute force, you know.” His eyes met mine, forestgreen depths holding something that made my breath catch. “Some situations require a… softer touch.”
On the couch, Lucas shifted in his sleep, drawing both our attention. He’d finally succumbed to exhaustion, his small
body curled into a tight ball like he used to sleep as a toddler. The events of the day had taken their toll, but even in
sleep, his face retained that stubborn set to his jaw that reminded me so much of… I pushed the thought away, focusing
instead on the steady rise and fall of his chest.
Ethan moved with that predatory grace inherent to alphas, yet his steps were deliberately quiet as he approached the
couch. My breath caught as he reached down, his large hand impossibly gentle as he brushed Lucas’s dark hair from his
forehead.
“He’s strong,” Ethan observed softly. “Like his mother.”
The tenderness in his voice made my chest ache. I watched as he studied my son’s sleeping face, his expression a mixture
of wonder and something deeper, something that scared me to examine too closely. The realization hit me then – from
our impromptu shopping trip to this moment, Ethan had been a constant presence.
“I…” The words stuck in my throat as he turned those forest-green eyes on me. They were so like Lucas’s that it made my
heart stutter. “I’ll come meet your mother. She’s invited me before, and I… I think it’s time I accepted.”
It was a poor repayment and gratitude for everything he’d done, but it was all I could offer. The smile that crossed his
face was brief but genuine, transforming his usually stern features into something that made my pulse quicken.
“She’ll be pleased,” he said, his voice warm. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, “And so am I.”
That simple admission hung in the air between us, charged with possibilities I wasn’t ready to face. Ethan seemed to
sense my unease, taking a step back to restore the careful distance I always tried to maintain.
“Try to get some rest,” he said, his voice returning to its usual commanding tone, though his eyes remained soft.
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After he left, I sat in the quiet apartment, the ghost of his touch still lingering on my skin.
Sleep eluded me that night, though exhaustion pulled at every fiber of my being. I tossed and turned on my bed, the
sheets tangling around my legs as fragments of the day’s events chased through my mind. In my fitful dreams, I saw
Lucas lost and crying, his small voice calling for me while faceless crowds swept him further away. Then Bella’s face would
swim into view, her false tears mocking my real fear. The scene would shift, and suddenly I’d feel Ethan’s warm hands on
mine again, his forest-green eyes full of concern as he gently applied the healing salve, promising that everything would
be alright.
The dreams cycled endlessly, each one bleeding into the next until I couldn’t tell what was memory and what was
imagination.
A sharp knock at my door finally broke through the haze of my troubled sleep. Sunlight was streaming through the
windows, marking the arrival of morning. I pushed myself up, running a hand through my tangled hair as I made my way
to the door.
When I opened it, I almost didn’t recognize the man standing there. Marcus, the mighty Silver Moon alpha, looked as if
he’d aged years overnight. He clutched a bag of Lucas’s favorite candies and a stuffed wolf toy like lifelines, his usually
commanding presence diminished by guilt.
“Aria, I…” He swallowed hard, the words seeming to stick in his throat. “I’m so sorry. I should have been more careful.
Should have known better than to trust…” He trailed off, unable to finish the thought.
The sight of him – my father, the unshakeable alpha I’d once idolized, now weighted down by remorse – melted some of
the ice around my heart. “Come in,” I said softly, stepping aside.
“How is he?” Marcus asked, his eyes darting toward Lucas’s closed bedroom door.
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“Sleeping,” I replied, wrapping my arms around myself. “I think he had nightmares last night. So do I.”
Marcus flinched as if I’d struck him. “I’ve failed him. Failed you both.”
“I only ask one thing,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite the storm of emotions in my chest. “Keep Bella away from
Lucas. I won’t risk my son’s safety again.”
Marcus nodded slowly, pain flashing across his features. I knew what I was asking – to choose between his daughters, to
acknowledge that one had deliberately endangered his grandson. But I couldn’t afford to care about his emotional
struggle. My priority had to be Lucas.
“I understand,” he said finally, his voice rough with unshed tears.
The raw honesty in his voice made my throat tight. Six years ago, he’d chosen to believe Bella’s lies about me. Now, he
was finally seeing the truth, but at what cost?
“We can’t change the past,” I said, gathering my courage. “But we can protect the future.”
As he left, I caught him pausing in the doorway, looking back at me with eyes full of regret. “You’ve become so strong,
Aria,” he said softly. “Your mother would be proud.”