All Chapters of Broken Ring, Hidden Queen: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The Third Person's POVThe desk rattled as Edgar slammed his fist down.His face was purple with rage."Julian! Explain this to me right now!" Edgar bellowed, his old Alpha aura vibrating with fury. "Why was that woman living in your house? In your bedroom?!"Julian stood there, stiff and silent."When you took over the pack, what did you promise me?!" Edgar gasped for air."You said you would respect the mate bond! You said you would treat Aria like a true Luna!"Before Julian could answer, the doors of the study burst open.Kierra stumbled into the room.Her eyes were red.Edgar's eyes snapped toward her, dark and dangerous."And who says you can come in here? Get out!"Kierra dropped to her knees, looking small and helpless."Please, Alpha Edgar, don't be mad at Julian. It's all my fault. Back then, my health was failing, and my wolf-spirit was too weak. Julian only let me stay in Aria's room because he pitied me. Please punish me, not him!""Kierra, what are you saying?" Julian st

Aria's POVI didn't check whether it really was Leon because I was holding Elena.She was still shaking violently, her pheromones spiking with a sour, curdled scent of pure terror.The cops and the Pack Medics arrived quickly.I walked with Elena all the way to the ambulance, holding her trembling hand.Her distress was bleeding into the air, making my own wolf pace uncomfortably."Your agent is already on the way to the medical bay. Everything is gonna be OK."Elena looked up at me, her eyes welled up with tears. "Thank you, Aria."I shook my head gently, squeezing her shoulder, trying to project a wave of calming energy to soothe her."If you need me to testify against them to the Alpha Council, just call me."After the ambulance sped away, the heavy scent of distress began to clear.I checked the time on my phone.My heart skipped a beat. The meeting with the client was about to start.I turned around and hurried toward the VIP room on the third floor.But right before I reached th

Aria's POVSo, it was them.My gaze swept over the crowd of upper-ranking wolves.I wasn't surprised to hear Leon's voice ringing out the loudest; his hostile, musky pheromones were practically shouting through the air.Julian's piercing gaze locked onto mine the moment I showed up.The medical bandage near my eye was gone now, leaving a raw, crescent-shaped scar—a marking that made his eyes darken with unreadable instinct.Kierra noticed Julian's intense focus on me, and her scent spiked with a sour note of jealousy. But soon, a practiced smile slid back onto her face."Aria, Jane, what a surprise!" Kierra gasped, clapping her hands together. "I can't believe I forgot to invite you to the party. You won't be mad at me, right?"She was putting on a full display of a future Luna.Julian didn't say a word. His heavy silence was a tacit approval.But my wolf remained detached; I truly didn't care anymore.Leon stepped up. "Kierra, are you sure you wanna invite them to join your birthday

Aria's POVThe rest of the night was perfect. For the first time in a very long time, I felt light."So, it's official then," Jane said, raising her glass of water. "Next Monday, you'll come back to Silver Star Studio.""Yep." I smiled."Do you want me to come pick you up on your first day?" Jane asked, looking at me with genuine care."It's OK, I can manage."I'd give up too much for Julian and the pups.And for what?Suddenly, Jane's phone buzzed. She picked it up, and the smile faded from her lips."Aria, sorry, I need to go," she sighed, hanging up. "My mother-in-law just arrived at the Willow Creek Pack territory. I have to go pick her up right now."I nodded. "Go ahead."After Jane left, I asked for the bill. But the waiter said, "It's paid already.""Was it Zack?" I asked, surprised."No, it's not him."I raised an eyebrow but didn't push further.As I walked toward the exit, my eyes caught a framed piece of paper hanging by the entrance.The restaurant's Blacklist!Right at t

Julian's POVThe real estate agent babbled on, leading Kierra and me through the courtyard of the luxury apartment complex.While I wasn't listening, my gaze was locked on a building just ahead.Near the entrance, a man and a woman were wrapped in a tight embrace.The woman was petite, wearing an apricot-colored plush coat.I couldn't see her face, but that coat looked hauntingly familiar.Aria had one just like it.I remembered a time, years ago, when I offered to buy her a new wardrobe."I prefer to design and sew my own clothes, Julian," she had said, her voice soft. "That way, I can weave my own fragrance energy into the fabric. It heals, and it protects."Back then, I thought it was a ridiculous waste of time.Who would spend hours sewing a single jacket just to put scent into it?But after Isaac and Lara were born, she stopped.She spent every waking second taking care of the pups.And she never made those "infused" clothes for herself again.I pulled my eyes away from the coupl