Adrian’s POV
After listening to Natalia’s reply, I grimaced.
“Dead? How?” I asked, moving closer.
She didn’t move, seemingly unaffected by my approach. She didn’t seem broken; this wasn’t the stuttering woman I knew, but a strong woman who showed no fear.
“You don’t have to know about him.”
I took another step closer. Her eyes were piercing, for reasons I couldn’t fathom. How could she stand so proudly after everything?
“You have to answer before you go. My mercy isn’t for everyone.”
I tried to intimidate her into revealing her secrets.
She glanced at the room where Aria had just gone. I saw fear for her daughter’s safety in her eyes. But she didn’t know I’d never harm the girl. I felt a strange connection with Aria all day—a connection like the one I felt with Noah. My dislike of Noah had irritated me constantly. I wouldn’t have cared about other children, but…
I lowered my voice. “Perhaps they are my chi—”
“NO WAY,” Natalia interrupted loudly.
Her expression, however, contradicted her words. A flicker of hope ignited—what if they were my children? The thought sent a strange chill down my spine.
‘Are you hiding my children from me?’ I thought, scrutinizing her face.
“They are not yours, Adrian. They are my children.”
“Then tell me about their father.”
“He is dead.”
“How?”
“I—I don’t know. But he is.”
I scoffed. She couldn’t even lie convincingly.
“Who was he?”
She looked away, mumbling, “I don’t know.”
I leaned in, whispering in her ear, “So you slept with a stranger? How disgraceful!”
She shoved me hard, her eyes blazing. “What did I do? You were a useless husband! You ignored me and slept with other women. What did you expect from me? To be a graceful wife, a doll?”
Her wrath surprised me. Was she telling the truth? Had she really slept with a stranger?
I grabbed her arms. “So that’s your excuse for fucking around?”
“It was one night. If you can do it, why can’t I?”
I wanted to tell her I hadn’t slept with Lynda those nights; I was in my company’s apartment. I had despised her, it was true.
“Who was that bastard? Who dared to sleep with my wife? Was he from my pack? Are they that bastard’s chi—”
A hard slap interrupted me. It wasn’t the first time. My initial inaction had emboldened her.
I glared, clenching my jaw. But seeing tears welling in her eyes, I froze. My heart ached, beating faster. I forgot the slap, desperate to understand her tears.
“Don’t call my babies that. They are innocent. They aren’t his children, only mine. I hate their father more than anything,” she said, gritting her teeth. “I’ve answered. Now let me and my child go.”
I stepped aside. She rushed to the room, returning with Aria. Aria looked at me. Seeing them leave felt…wrong. Aria waved as she clung to her mother.
After they left, I felt empty. The guards emerged, bowing.
“Alpha, take us to your pack. Alpha Jason won’t let us live if he learns of our betrayal.”
I sneered. “If you can betray him, you can betray me. I hate betrayers.”
I left them in the hotel room, the consequences their own. They’d come to me for money.
I left the hotel, my eyes elsewhere as my driver opened my car door. I watched Natalia and Aria leave with Beta Eric, following their car until it disappeared.
“Alpha,” my driver said, gaining my attention. I entered the car.
“To the Crystal Blood Pack,” I instructed once he started the engine.
He nodded, driving back to my pack.
I pulled out a transparent packet containing Aria’s hair. I wasn’t the fool Natalia thought. I called Patric.
“Arrange a doctor unconnected to Harold Reid.”
“What’s wrong, Adrian? Is everything okay? Harold is your physician, the pack’s head doctor. Why not him?” Patric asked, worried.
I looked at Aria’s hair. “That man’s too friendly with Natalia. I can’t trust him. I want a DNA test.”
Patric was stunned. “Adrian, don’t tell me you…”
“Get it done. I’m coming back to the pack.”
Hanging up, I looked out.
“It won’t be long before I find out the truth, Natalia.”