Chapter 5
1552 Words
** Aria’s POV **
“Sweetheart, what is it?” Thorne asks as he swings the car around.
“I left my purse in my car,” I say, hiding the pure rage coursing through me.
Thorne gives me a practised smile, reaching over and placing a possessive hand on my thigh, and it takes a huge effort not to flinch away. He stood by, seeming indifferent as his mistress was sent away, yet now he looks at me with adoration. His performance is seamless, with not a hint of deception. I just hope mine is better, because if he gets even a hint that I’m planning to leave, I’m sure I’ll be kept under constant surveillance.
The car rolls to a stop in the garage moments later, and Thorne unbuckles his seatbelt.
“I’ll get it for you, baby, stay here where it’s warm,” he says as he climbs out.
“Thanks,” I say softly and watch as he makes his way to the garages further back where the butler likely moved my car.
I hadn’t lied. I did leave my purse in there, but it holds nothing of importance, not really.
As soon as he’s out of sight, I check on Lucas, who still sleeps peacefully, and then I slip out of the car, creeping towards the side entrance of the house that the cooks always leave open.
I allow my wolf to come forward just enough to lend me her gifts, manipulating the air around me to make me stealthy. I make it to the hall without being noticed and follow the sound of voices towards the lounge.
I peek around the door to a sight that almost floors me. Sierra is standing behind Sandra, massaging her shoulders with a familiarity that looks disturbingly like a mother/daughter relationship.
My knuckles turn white as I watch the scene, and I feel a pit form in my stomach.
Memories flood my mind — Sandra keeping vigil at my dying mother’s bedside, promising to love me like her own.
This woman, who’d always protected me, couldn’t possibly betray me now, could she? There has to be some other explanation.
I bring a hand to my mouth to muffle the sob I can’t stop, and Sierra’s eyes flash to me. She smiles, looking far too pleased as she continues to work the knots from Sandra’s shoulders.
“I’m sorry for the drama today, Sandra. I promise I’ll give Thorne all the children you wish. You know my loyalty to your family, and if I can take this burden from Aria, I will. I hate to see her so stressed over her inability to produce another child.”
“Providing children is her duty as Luna. If she weren’t so weak, I wouldn’t have to pull all these strings to strengthen our family line,” Sandra says with a sigh.
Tears roll down my face. I had loved Sandra as a mother. I really hope my mum hasn’t been looking down on us to see her best friend has been plotting against me all this time. There’s no way she would be resting peacefully if she knew any of this.
I turn and run, unable to listen to another word of this. In a month, I’ll be free of them all. Back out in the garden, I lean against the wall, sucking in breaths of fresh air. I need to calm down before anyone sees me, before I unleash the scream that’s been building in my chest all day.
When I get myself composed enough, I head back to the car where I find Thorne leaning against the car, my purse clutched in his hand.
“Where did you go, babe?”
“Sorry, I wasn’t feeling well. I needed to use the bathroom.”
Thorne looks at me with a worried expression, and my eyes lock onto his, hunting for the lie beneath the concern.
“You look pale, let’s get you home,” he says, guiding me to the car with tender hands.
The same hands that have touched another woman. A desperate thought flickers: Was Thorne just another puppet in Sandra’s game?
He had always been a dutiful son. Could Sandra have pressured him into betraying me?
She had said she wanted more grandchildren, but I’d seen the evidence of Thorne actively trying to prevent that, there had been condoms everywhere. He wouldn’t be using them if the goal was another child.
Thorne helps me into the back seat of the car, so I can spread out next to Lucas. Silent tears roll down my face as I desperately try to hide my crumbling composure. I pull a packet of tissues from the pocket on the seat in front of me, and a cascade of items falls out. More condom packets and a slip of red lace carrying the unmistakable scent of Sierra. Lucas shifts beside me at the commotion.
“Daddy, what are these weird things?” He asks, wrinkling his nose as he picks up the red thong and a condom packet.
I stare at Thorne through the rearview mirror. “Why do you have these in your car?”
“Yuck!” Lucas shouts as he recognises that he’s holding underwear and throws it at his father like it’s toxic.
Thorne stares back at me for a moment, his eyes wide. Then, without a word, he floors the accelerator, throwing us back against our seats as he speeds away.
“Thorne!” I shout over the roar of the engine, but he ignores me. His jaw tight and his knuckles white as he grips the steering wheel.
He drives like a maniac straight to the social club, where most of the male pack members hang out when they are off duty.
“Come!” Thorne demands, holding open the door for me.
I hesitate, looking back at Lucas before I slide out of my seat.
“Lucas, stay here,” Throne says before slamming the door closed.
He pulls me into the club, and I try to snatch my hand from his grasp, but he ignores my protests.
“Thorne, you’re scaring me. Why are you acting like this?” I try as he bursts through the door to a crowd of his most loyal men.
Thorne releases me to pull one of his enforcers, Cole, from his seat by his collar. He slams the red lace thong against his chest.
“What the hell did you do in my car yesterday?” He roars in Cole’s face.
Cole stares at him like a deer caught in headlights.
“s**t, bro, I’m sorry. We got wasted last night, and one thing led to another. We ended up getting busy in your car.”
Thorne releases Cole, who stumbles towards me. “Luna, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.” He bows his head. “I didn’t mean to make you worry about Thorne’s loyalty to you. I swear I’ll never use his car again.”
As I look around, everyone in the room fixes their eyes on me, waiting for my reaction. When I don’t respond fast enough, Cole pulls out his phone, and the room fills with the sounds of panting and moans from the phone’s speaker. I turn away, not wanting to see his s*x video.
The crowd sneers in disgust, throwing reprimands at Cole.
“You idiot.”
“How dare you mess around in Alpha's car!”
“Don’t let him off easily, Aria. Make sure Thorne teaches him a lesson.”
“Turn it off,” I say to Cole, the sounds reminding me too much of what I’d seen on Thorne’s computer this morning.
“Please say you will forgive me, Luna,” Cole says, reaching for my hand then jerking it back when he notices Thorne’s icy glare.
“Yes,” I sigh, just wanting this public charade to be over.
Cole sags in relief, as if I’ve just spared him execution. There’s an unspoken rule in our pack. Cross Thorne and, as Luna, I might intercede, but offend me and Thorne will have your head.
“Luna, your generosity knows no bounds.” Someone says.
More flattery is called out to me, and I manage to force a gentle smile. Throughout my time here, everyone close to Thorne has shown me nothing but respect.
I meet Thorne’s gaze and nod slightly. “Lucas is waiting outside. I’m going to check on him,” I say and turn without waiting for a reply.
“I’ll be out soon. I just need to have a word with Cole,” he calls after me.
Outside, I find Lucas standing beside a new car pleading with one of the pack drivers.
“Please, my toys are still in there, bring the old car back!” he whines.
“Where is the car?” I ask as I approach.
“The Alpha had it towed for scrap.”
“Mummy, please, my toys,” Lucas wails, tugging at my sleeve.
“Okay, wait here.”
I nod at Lucas and turn back, ready to demand Lucas’ toys are recovered before the car is destroyed. Back in the club, I pause in the hall as drunken catcalls and laughter spill from the main room.
- Writer
