Chapter 186 What had she wanted to say?

Chapter 186: Chapter 186 What had she wanted to say?

Author’s POV

The next morning, Jennifer slipped into Aria’s office before anyone else arrived.

Yesterday, her brother James had called in a panic.

The prestigious academy had suddenly refused his enrollment over vague "background concerns"—despite the deposit she’d already paid.

James had worked so hard to earn that spot; losing it would hurt his future badly.

Then, right on cue, a text from Nathan arrived, asking with unsettling familiarity if she was "having difficulties" and offering his help.

Jennifer knew immediately—this had Nathan’s fingerprints all over it. She decided to go straight to Aria and confess everything before it spiraled further.

But Nathan had anticipated her. He cornered her in the elevator lobby, blocking her escape.

"Jennifer, you really think Aria can save you?" His voice was soft, almost conversational, which made it worse.

"You only just joined this Pack. Aria can help you for a while, but she can’t protect you forever. Your brother’s future doesn’t matter? What about your mother’s treatments? Can you really afford to be careless with her health?"

The threat was clear. Today it was James’s enrollment. Tomorrow, it could be her mother’s medical care.

Jennifer had worked at Silver Creek long enough to understand how deep the Crescent Moon Pack’s influence ran in this city.

Even within a company where Aria held real authority, Nathan’s underhanded moves could slip past her notice entirely.

"I won’t betray her," Jennifer said, voice shaking. "I’d rather leave the Pack. Become rogue, if that’s what it takes."

Nathan’s brow lifted slightly—clearly not the answer he expected. Giving up Pack protection, status, the safety of belonging somewhere, wasn’t a threat most wolves made lightly.

A rogue had no territory, no backup, no one who’d come running if trouble found them.

"Suit yourself." His smile stayed lazy, predatory. "I’m not the monster you think I am. Just one small request. Do this, and I’ll never bother you again."

What Nathan wanted was data from one of Aria’s recent projects.

As Aria’s team lead and most trusted assistant, Jennifer frequently backed up files for her.

She was one of the few people who knew Aria’s computer password. However, core project data was protected by encryption keys that Jennifer couldn’t access.

So what Nathan claimed was technically true—it was just ordinary project data.

According to Nathan, he needed the information to help Sylvia’s business contacts compete for a contract. It wouldn’t affect Aria at all.

But Jennifer didn’t trust a single word that came out of Nathan Smith’s mouth.

She’d spent thirty minutes in Aria’s office, her hands shaking as she stared at the computer screen. In the end, she’d copied nothing.

She couldn’t do it. She’d rather run without a Pack, without a name, than betray the woman who’d given her a chance when no one else would.

When she finally emerged from the office, she nearly collided with Aria herself.

---

Aria’s POV

"Jennifer? Were you looking for me?"

I couldn’t hide my confusion seeing her coming out of my office. Jennifer’s face was flushed, her eyes darting everywhere except at me.

"Yes, Aria," she said, her voice slightly breathless. "I wanted to talk to you about something."

Recognition flickered. "Is this about what you tried to tell me the other night? At the Riverside Pack dinner?"

She nodded quickly. "Yes. That’s it exactly."

"Okay, let’s go inside and—"

"Good morning, little sister."

Nathan’s voice cut through the air.

Jennifer’s head snapped down instantly, her whole body tensing like a rabbit that had just spotted a wolf—which, I supposed, was exactly what had happened.

"Morning, Nathan," I said, keeping my tone cool.

"Strategy meeting. Won’t take long." His eyes flicked from my face to Jennifer’s bowed head, lingering a beat too long. "Everyone’s waiting."

"I’ll be right there." I turned back to Jennifer once he’d gone. "I’ll be back in a few minutes. Don’t go anywhere."

"Aria, wait." Her hand shot out, gripping my arm, fingers trembling.

"Be careful around Nathan. And that Vanessa Crane woman. And—" She took a shaky breath. "Please don’t work yourself so hard. Your health matters more than any of this."

My stomach dropped. "Jennifer, what’s going on? You sound like you’re saying goodbye."

"No, I just—" She stepped back, eyes meeting mine for one second—fear, guilt, desperation, all tangled together. "I’m just worried about you."

Before I could respond, she’d fled down the hallway.

The meeting ran long. When I finally went looking for her, Jennifer’s desk was empty—cleared out completely.

I found Diana, Leo, and Kyle nearby. "Where’s Jennifer?"

They exchanged confused looks. "She was here this morning," Diana said. "Brought us coffee and pastries, said she wanted to treat us."

"We had the project review," Kyle added. "She said she needed the restroom. That was... almost two hours ago."

"When we got back, her desk looked like this," Leo said, gesturing at the bare space. "All her stuff’s gone. Like she was never here."

My phone buzzed. A resignation request. From Jennifer.

No. This wasn’t right. She needed this job—a brother in school, a sick mother with mounting bills. She wouldn’t walk away without talking to me first.

I called her. One ring, then straight to voicemail. Again. Same result. Phone off, or I’d been blocked.

Dread settled into my bones as I walked back to my office. Centered on my desk sat a formal resignation letter.

I picked it up with numb fingers and read through Jennifer’s neat handwriting.

She thanked me profusely for the opportunity, for believing in her, for being such an inspiring leader.

She cited "personal reasons" for her sudden departure and apologized for not saying goodbye in person—she claimed she was too emotional, that she couldn’t bear to see us all face-to-face.

It was bullshit. All of it.

I sank into my desk chair, the letter still clutched in my hand. Jennifer wasn’t the type to run away. She’d been off since the Riverside Pack dinner, I’d noticed that much.

But I’d assumed she was just tired, maybe coming down with something. I hadn’t pushed, hadn’t dug deeper.

I should have. I should have seen this coming.

I pulled up the company HR system and put a hold on Jennifer’s resignation request, refusing to approve it. Then I opened my messaging app and typed quickly:

*Jennifer, I don’t know what’s happening, but please talk to me. Whatever trouble you’re in, we can figure it out together. You don’t have to face this alone. Please trust me enough to let me help*

Delivered. Then, after a long moment—read.

No response came.

I leaned back, closing my eyes, trying to piece together what I knew.

Jennifer had been fine until the Riverside Pack dinner. Then she’d tried to tell me something and gotten interrupted.

What had she wanted to say?

Ethan’s POV

"You—you’re saying what? Aria already knows about you and Clara?"

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."

"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."

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—"

"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—"

"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."

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."

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?"

"Clara, watch your tongue," my mother snapped, immediately leaping to my defense. "My son has a conscience and principles, unlike certain people..."

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?"

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?"

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."

"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."

"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?"

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?"

"You—"

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..."

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."

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."

"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..."

"You’re willing to risk everything on that?" My father’s eyes narrowed. "On a human girl’s forgiveness?"

"A wolf who won’t sacrifice for his Pack isn’t worthy of being Alpha," I said quietly. "You taught me that."

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."

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?