Alina's POV
Alpha Aiden's eyes were locked on me, unblinking. I shifted under the weight of his gaze.
"Alpha Aiden?" I prompted.
He jolted, the intensity in his eyes breaking as he blinked rapidly. "Yes," he managed, the word catching in his throat.
"Why are you here?" I tilted my head, trying to make sense of him standing on my doorstep at this hour.
"I'm here to see my son." His voice turned brittle and sharp, like thin ice. "I do have the right to see him."
"Of course you do, but Leo is already asleep."
"I still want to see him." He didn't move.
I stepped back, pulling the door wide to let him in. "Follow me."
I led him down the hall toward the nursery. Inside, the only sound was Leo's soft, rhythmic breathing. Aiden headed straight for the cradle. The hard lines of his face melted as he looked down at the baby, a genuine smile tugging at his lips. I leaned against the doorframe, wondering why this couldn't have waited until morning.
His gaze flicked back to me, softened by a faint, tired smile. "I should let him sleep," he whispered.
I nodded and waited for him to step out before pulling the door shut with a soft click. We walked back to the living room in silence. Aiden stopped in the center of the room, his eyes scanning the walls and the modest furniture.
"Are you sure you don't want me to renovate this?" He knit his brows together. "We could make it much bigger."
"It's not needed." I let a small smile play on my lips. "It's just Leo and me. We're comfortable here."
"Very well then." He went quiet again, but he didn't head for the door. He stood there, hovering. "Can I get a glass of water?"
"Of course."
I hurried to the kitchen and returned with a cold glass. "Here you go."
"Thank you," he said softly. Our fingers brushed as he took the glass. He drank it quickly and handed it back. I gripped the empty cup, waiting for him to say goodbye, but he stayed put.
"Did I... did I wake you up?" he asked, his voice low.
I raised an eyebrow. Was he serious? "No, I wasn't asleep."
His expression shifted, a shadow of concern crossing his face. "You couldn't sleep either?"
"I mean, no, I couldn't. But does that mean you're having trouble sleeping?"
"Oh, no." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I just wanted to know about you. How have you been? I haven't heard a word from you in weeks."
"I've been great." I gave him a bright, easy smile. "No more pack responsibilities to worry about. It feels good to be free."
Aiden's face fell. The corners of his mouth turned down, and his shoulders stiffened as if I'd just slapped him.
"Very well then." Aiden's voice turned like ice. "I should leave."
I gave a short nod and followed him toward the door. Suddenly, the overhead lights began to flicker and hum. I froze. A crack of thunder exploded right above the house, shaking the floorboards. A scream tore from my throat before I could stop it.
"Are you okay, Alina?" Aiden's hands were suddenly on my shoulders, his grip firm and grounded.
The lights continued to blink, casting jagged shadows across the room. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. After a few tense minutes, the flickering stopped and the glow became steady again. I turned toward him, only to realize we were inches apart.
Our breaths mingled in the small space between us. Neither of us moved. He searched my eyes, his gaze heavy and dark, before he started to lean in. My stomach flipped, and I jerked my face away immediately.
"I think you should go now," I whispered to the floor.
"I should go," he repeated. He turned and walked out into the night.
I leaned against the door, clicking the lock into place. My hand went to my chest, trying to steady my heart—it felt like it was about to rip through my skin. Did he really try to kiss me? Or was I just overthinking it?
A sharp cry from the nursery snapped me out of my thoughts.
"My baby," I murmured, lifting Leo from his cradle. He didn't settle; his face was red as he wailed. I patted his back gently, but the crying only grew louder.
Holding him close, I hurried to the kitchen. I pulled the milk from the fridge and set it to heat over a low flame. As soon as it reached the right temperature, I tested it on my wrist. "Here you go."
I sat in the rocking chair, cradling him while he drank. My mind drifted back to the living room. There was something different about Aiden tonight. But I shook my head—I shouldn't be thinking about him. We were divorced. He belonged to Emily now, and the last thing I wanted was Emily's drama.
***
Business at the bakery had been booming. The display cases were usually empty by noon because the customers loved my pastries so much. This had always been my dream—to own a shop of my own. Now that I was no longer the Pack Luna, I finally had the time to make it happen.
"Ma'am, there is a problem," Eliana, one of my staff, said as she hurried into the back.
"What's the matter?" I wiped my flour-covered hands on my apron.
"A customer is throwing a tantrum."
I dropped my rolling pin and walked out to the front. My heart sank. Emily was standing there, a smug, sharp smile playing on her lips.
"What is the matter, ma'am?" I asked, my voice dropping to a cold, flat tone.
"So you are the boss?" Emily sneered, looking around the shop with disgust. "I should have known. Only people like you would sell poison to the public."
My jaw tightened. I felt a surge of heat in my chest—I hated this woman. I had already walked away from the pack and the man; what else could she possibly want?
"What seems to be the problem, ma'am?" I asked, digging my nails into my palms to keep my cool.
"There is a dead cockroach in my pie," Emily said, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. She held up the plate, showing the insect. My eyes widened.
"How is that possible?" I looked from the plate to the clean, white counters. "We scrub this place every night. How did that get there?"
"Are you saying I'm lying?" Emily stepped closer, her eyes glinting. "That I did this just to ruin your business?"
It clicked. The smug look, the perfect timing—she had planted it herself.
"I am so sorry," I said, keeping my voice level despite the fire in my chest. "We will take full responsibility for this."
Emily leaned in until her lips were inches from my ear. "The only thing I want," she hissed, "is to put you out of business and make sure you leave this city for good." She pulled back, a jagged smirk playing on her lips. "I don't want you to take responsibility. You've already made a mistake with me. If people aren't careful, you'll poison everyone else."
The customers began to murmur, casting disgusted looks at the counter. Some stood up and walked out without finishing their meals.
"I will be reporting this," Emily announced to the room, then turned and swept out the door.
"Ma'am, I promise the pie was clean! I don't know how—" Eliana started, her voice trembling.
"It's okay. Just get back to work," I told her. I watched Emily's car pull away, my fists clenched so tight my knuckles turned white. She wasn't going to leave me alone. Fine. I would have to handle her my own way.
Hours later, I finally locked up the shop. My phone wouldn't stop buzzing—Leo's sitter had called three times because he wouldn't stop crying. I gripped the steering wheel, my foot heavy on the gas as I raced home.
Suddenly, bright headlights blinded me. A car was speeding down the wrong side of the road, coming straight at me.
"No!" I slammed my foot on the brake, but the pedal hit the floor with a hollow thud. It wasn't grabbing.
The car roared closer. I yanked the steering wheel to the side, and my car careened off the road. There was a sickening crunch as I hit a tree. My head snapped forward, slamming into the glass.
Everything went quiet. Warm, sticky blood began to seep down my forehead, blurring my vision with red. I managed to push the door open and crawl out, but my legs gave way. I collapsed onto the grass.
"Help," I croaked. The word was barely a whisper. I fought to keep my eyelids from closing, but the world was spinning.
Through the haze, I saw a shape moving toward me. It wasn't a person. The heavy, rhythmic padding of paws hit the dirt. A wolf. A shifter. A rogue.
"Please... help me," I breathed, just as the darkness swallowed me whole.