Chapter 4

Nathan's POV

Aria's scent still lingered in the air when my men returned to the bedroom. I stood by the window, staring out into the ink-black night, my wolf restless beneath my skin.

"Sir," one of the guards said, his tone cautious. "We've checked the entire villa, reviewed the cameras. No trace of Luna Aria. But we did find this."

He handed me a tablet. A grainy clip flickered on the screen, movement near Aria's bedroom. It was a woman, one of the house keepers.

I clenched my jaw as the guard continued, "We've detained the woman in the footage. Her name is Sandra Keith. Here's her background."

The file slipped from his hand into mine. Sandra. The old maid who'd served this house for years. She was loyal, quiet and unassuming.

Minutes later, I was standing in her quarters. The small room smelled of dust. She flinched when my men entered, twisting her arms behind her back.

"The footage shows you near Luna Aria's bedroom ten minutes before items went missing," one of the guards said, his voice clipped.

Sandra stammered something, her pulse racing so fast I could hear it. My wolf pushed against my skin, demanding control, wanting to bare its fangs. Where is she? it snarled in my head. Where did she take her?

I stepped forward, and the air shifted instantly. My presence filled the room with Alpha energy.

"Enough," I muttered. "Let her go."

The guards obeyed instantly.

Sandra exhaled shakily, probably thinking the worst had passed. But she didn't understand. I wasn't angry about the missing items. I didn't give a damn about jewelry or papers. What mattered was the scent still lingering in Aria's room.

I crouched in front of her, my voice low, "Tell me… did she come back?"

Her pupils dilated. Her heartbeat stuttered. Lies formed before her lips even moved. "I—I don't know what you're talking about, Alpha. I haven't seen anyone tonight."

I tilted my head, studying her trembling hands. My wolf growled softly inside me. She was lying. I could smell it, her fear and guilt thick in the air like smoke.

"Sandra," I said quietly, almost conversationally, "you have a daughter in Sunnyville, don't you?"

Her breath hitched.

"Married five years, first child on the way. Her husband finally got promoted after six years in that tiny company." I smiled faintly, but my tone cut like a blade. "What do you think will happen to them when I end his career tomorrow morning? When your daughter loses the life she's built because you couldn't tell me the truth?"

Her lips parted in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief. I straightened slowly, letting the weight of my words crush the air between us.

"Your daughter's happiness… or your silence." I let my gaze pierce hers. "Choose."

A faint whimper escaped her. The room reeked of fear, her fear.

"P-please…" she stammered. "Don't hurt my daughter. I'll tell you everything."

My wolf's growl softened, a dark satisfaction curling in my chest.

"Where is Aria?" I asked, my voice no louder than a whisper. "Did you help her leave?"

Her tears fell freely now. She nodded and gave me details of what happened. Aria had come back and taken some of her valuables with her.

When Sandra was done, she collapsed to the floor, her sobs echoing faintly through the hall. I stood there, watching her shake and plead. "I've told you everything," she cried, her voice hoarse. "Please, Alpha—don't hurt Luna Aria. She's suffered enough already—"

I felt my jaw tighten. Suffered enough?

My lips curved into a cold, humorless sneer. "Being my wife wasn't enough for her?" I growled, my voice low and dangerous. "She wants to run from me? Fine. Let's see how far she makes it."

I turned and left. The security team retreated too.

Moments later, I was in my study. My beta stood by the door, hesitant. I could smell the unease rolling off him.

"Alpha Nathan" he began carefully, "should we… bring Luna Aria back?"

I turned my gaze on him. My eyes glowing with my wolf's fury.

"No need, I have had a change of heart" I said, flicking a dismissive hand. "If she wants to run, let her. Freeze her accounts, her cards, every cent she has. I want to see how long she survives without me."

A sharp crack split the silence, the pen in my hand had snapped clean in two. Ink bled over my fingers like black venom.

"She'll come crawling back," I muttered. "Begging."

Collins hesitated, his voice cautious. "But, sir… Sandra said Luna Aria has nothing. If we cut her off completely, how will she manage? Where will she even stay tonight?"

I turned on him sharply, my eyes glowing faintly now. "What, you feel sorry for her?" The snarl slipped out before I could stop it. "No food, no roof, no help—that's her choice. Since when is pity part of your job, Collins?"

He flinched. "No, sir. I just thought, perhaps—it might be too harsh."

I laughed—a hollow, brittle sound that even my wolf didn't recognize. "Harsh?" I stepped closer, the air rippling faintly with my aura.

"When she sold my company's secrets to the Cowen group, did she think about how that would destroy me? Did she think about the lives depending on my leadership? She made her choices, Collins. Now she'll live with them."