Chapter 187
Ethan’s POV
“You—you’re saying what? Aria already knows about you and Clara p>
My mother’s shrill voice cut through the living room like a blade. Everyone sat rigid, faces carved from stone.
Last night had been hell—beaten bloody by some bastard wolf at Aria’s side who moved like a trained killer. My pride couldn’t take that humiliation, so I’d lied, claimed it was a scuffle with security. Even Clara didn’t know the truth.
But I couldn’t hide the bigger problem any longer. My family needed to know what we were facing.
“She’s given us three days,” I said, ribs aching with every breath. “Transfer half of Silver Creek’s territory and assets to her, or she exposes everything to the Council p>
“She’s lost her goddamn mind!” My mother shot up, wolf flashing in her eyes. “What kind of worthless human thinks she can threaten this Pack?” She shot Clara a pointed look. Clara flushed, saying nothing, hurt flickering in her amber eyes.
“I’m not surprised,” my grandmother said quietly, shoulders heavy with disappointment. “Given how stubborn that girl is, this was inevitable p>
If Aria had stayed in the dark, we’d have had room to maneuver. Now there was no going back.
“That human girl thinks she can threaten this Pack?” My mother’s eyes went cold, calculating. “I say we handle this permanently p>
“Mom!” Clara’s voice cracked, trying to stop the words before they fully formed.
I understood anyway. If Aria disappeared, our problems vanished with her.
I shot to my feet, wolf snarling. “Are you insane? That’s murder. The Council would p>
“We wouldn’t do anything illegal,” my mother said smoothly, smile razor-sharp. “But accidents happen. Especially to humans wandering into territory they don’t understand p>
She glanced at my grandmother, who said nothing—didn’t object once. She was thinking the same thing.
“There’s no need to go that far,” I said, surprised by the vehemence in my own voice. “Aria… she’s not going to push this to the end p>
I didn’t know why I was defending her.But thinking about Aria made my chest ache worse than my broken ribs. My wolf whined, restless and confused.
“Ethan, has that woman bewitched you?” Clara’s voice shook with fury and hurt. “Aria is nothing but a conniving bitch. You were so good to her for two years, and this is how she repays you—with blackmail and threats. And you’re still defending her p>
“Clara, watch your tongue,” my mother snapped, immediately leaping to my defense. “My son has a conscience and principles, unlike certain people p>
The barb was clearly aimed at Clara, and I saw her flinch.
“Enough!” My grandmother’s voice cracked like a whip through the room. “Is bickering going to solve our current situation p>
Both women fell silent immediately. An Alpha command from my grandmother still carried weight, even at her advanced age.
She turned her shrewd gaze on me. “Ethan, what do you plan to do p>
I hesitated, my eyes sliding past Clara to the window beyond. My wolf was pacing in my mind, agitated and conflicted.
“I want I took a breath, tasting blood from my split lip. “I want to reconcile with Aria p>
“What?!” Clara’s face went crimson. She stared at me like I’d just stabbed her in the heart.
My wolf whimpered at her distress, but I pushed the feeling aside.
“It’s just strategy,” I said, though the words felt hollow. “Aria has always been soft-hearted. If I court her seriously, show her I’m sincere… we can stabilize the situation. Buy ourselves time p>
“And what about me?” Clara’s voice trembled. “You chosen me, Ethan. We have a son together. Are you going to reject me to win her back p>
The pain in her eyes cut through me like silver. My wolf howled.
“You claim to love Ethan so much, don’t you?” my mother said sweetly.
“Real love requires sacrifice. If divorcing him—or pretending to—helps the Pack survive, why wouldn’t you do it p>
“You p>
Clara’s wolf flashed in her eyes, and I knew we were seconds from a fight breaking out in my living room.
I grabbed Clara’s arm and pulled her against my chest, gentling my voice the way I’d learned she needed.
“I’m not rejecting you. But I can deceive Aria. Make her think I’m ending things with you.” I stroked her hair, feeling her gradually relax.
“It’ll buy us time. Once the new territory acquisitions are finalized and our position with the Council is secure p>
I let the sentence trail off meaningfully. Clara’s breathing steadied.
I glanced at my mother and grandmother, my expression hardening.
“As for Aria… I have my own plans for her p>
The truth was, I still hadn’t given up on her. Not completely.
Later that evening, I sought out my father in his office. The situation with Aria couldn’t wait any longer.
I told him I was willing to give up my personal share of Pack territory rights—everything I’d inherited from him—to make up half of what Aria was demanding.
Combined with some business assets, it might be enough.
My father’s face went dark with anger. “Absolutely not p>
“Dad, please.” I leaned forward, putting every ounce of sincerity I had into my voice. “I can get her back. The bond Aria and I shared for two years—that wasn’t fake. She wants to hurt me because I hurt her first. If I can show her I’m serious about making amends, show her real devotion p>
“You’re willing to risk everything on that?” My father’s eyes narrowed. “On a human girl’s forgiveness p>
“A wolf who won’t sacrifice for his Pack isn’t worthy of being Alpha,” I said quietly. “You taught me that p>
Something flickered in his expression—doubt, maybe, or concern.
But my father finally relented. “Three days. You have three days to fix this, Ethan. After that, we do things my way p>
I didn’t ask what “my way” meant. I didn’t want to know.
Plans don’t survive contact with the enemy, though. The next morning, before I could even implement my strategy, everything went to hell.
I was still in bed when my phone exploded with notifications. The Pack group chat was going absolutely insane.
Our S-Class project—the massive development deal that was supposed to cement Silver Creek Pack’s position among the elite Packs—had just been flagged for investigation.
And not by some local Pack Council committee.
By members of the Royal Family itself.
My blood went cold as I scrolled through the messages. If this wasn’t resolved immediately, our partnership with the V&A Group would collapse.
Years of negotiations, millions in projected revenue, our chance to expand our territory—all of it could vanish overnight.
I threw off the covers and grabbed my clothes, my mind racing.
This couldn’t be a coincidence. The timing was too perfect.
Had Aria made her first move?