Chapter 9: Chapter 9 Aria’s Counterattack
Aria’s POV
The shower water was still warm on my skin when my phone lit up on the counter.
I picked it up. Ethan’s name flashed across the screen.
"Aria, it’s late. Why aren’t you at the pack house? Did something happen?"
His voice carried that practiced concern I’d fallen for once. Now it just sounded hollow.
I wasn’t really listening though. My attention had drifted to the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city lights sprawling below like scattered stars. My new apartment had one hell of a view.
Worth every penny.
"Aria?"
"Mm? Oh. Client meeting ran late. I’m at a hotel."
I’d moved out three days ago. Apparently he still hadn’t noticed his mate wasn’t sleeping in his room anymore.
Then again, Clara probably kept him plenty occupied.
"A hotel? Which one? I’ll come get you."
"Don’t bother. I’m exhausted. Just want to sleep."
Silence stretched between us. I could practically hear him trying to figure out if he should push.
"Alright. See you at the office tomorrow then."
"Sure."
I was about to hang up when his voice stopped me.
"Babe, I miss you. Do you miss me?"
I stared at my reflection in the dark window. Phone pressed to my ear. Said nothing.
"Aria?"
"Mmm... falling asleep..."
I let my voice go soft and drowsy.
He sighed. "Okay. Rest well. Goodnight."
"Night."
I ended the call and tossed the phone onto the bed.
Done.
---
Ethan’s POV
The dial tone buzzed in my ear.
Something felt off. Empty.
I’d been playing devoted mate for two years now—the sweet words, the tender touches, all of it carefully performed. Never once had I actually felt anything.
But lately... something had changed.
These past few days, I’d caught myself worrying about Aria. Actually missing her. Like she’d gotten under my skin without me realizing.
"Ethan, do you love me?"
Clara’s arms slid around my waist from behind, her voice soft.
My wolf immediately settled. It always did around her.
I covered her hands with mine. "You really need to ask? You’re the only woman I’ll ever love."
I meant it too. Clara had saved my life when I was sixteen. Since then, I’d sworn to give her everything—security, happiness, forever.
"But I’m scared."
"Of what?" I turned, cupping her face.
"Scared your family will separate us. Scared Marcus and I will never have your name." Her voice cracked. "Scared you’ll stop loving me."
"Never." I brushed away the moisture gathering in her eyes. "I told you—I’ll protect you. No one’s keeping us apart."
"I’ll never stop loving you."
"Ethan..."
She kissed me, and I lost myself in her warmth.
---
Next morning, I reached the office before sunrise.
I’d gotten calls on the drive—several key partners had pulled their contracts. Just like that.
By the time I hit the conference room, I was furious.
"What the hell happened?" I slammed my hands on the table.
Everyone flinched.
Silence.
"Well?!"
"The payment was delayed, Alpha."
"Delayed? How does a payment get delayed?"
"You weren’t here yesterday to authorize it—"
I stopped. Right. I’d gotten that call. But I’d been with Clara, so I’d told them to go to Aria.
"What about Aria? Why didn’t you go to her?"
The words were halfway out before I remembered—officially, Aria didn’t have signing authority. I’d never given it to her.
Shit.
"Get out. All of you."
They scrambled to leave. I sank into my chair, rubbing my temples.
This was my fault.
But then another possibility occurred to me—could she be getting back at me?
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
Aria stepped inside, expression calm as always.
Just seeing her eased some of the tension in my shoulders.
"You’re here."
She walked to my desk. "Your beta tried to get me to sign yesterday, but I was in a critical client meeting. Had to leave in a hurry."
She paused. "And you know I don’t have actual signing authority. If something had gone wrong, it wouldn’t just be on me—it’d reflect badly on you too."
She sighed softly. "Didn’t expect those partners to be so impatient though. One day late and they pulled out entirely."
Seeing her look so genuinely distressed, my suspicion evaporated.
Of course she hadn’t sabotaged anything. Aria always put the company first. She’d been out meeting clients while I was off with Clara.
The fault was mine.
"Ethan."
I looked up.
"With the deal coming up, things are only getting more intense. Why don’t you give me partial system access? That way if something urgent comes up and you’re unavailable, I can handle it."
I blinked, surprised.
Aria had never asked for access before. She’d always deferred to me.
"Is that a problem?" She tilted her head. "If you’re not comfortable—"
"No. No, it’s fine." I said it quickly. "I trust you completely."
I did. I just hadn’t expected her to ask.
"Full access requires elders approval, but I can give you partial clearance now."
"That works. Thank you."
She smiled—small, polite—and left.
I stared at the door after she was gone, that hollow feeling creeping back.
---
Aria’s POV
I smiled to myself walking back to my office.
Of course he wouldn’t give me full access. Not yet.
But partial access was more than enough.
Financial records, client lists, project timelines—everything I needed to pull the rug out from under him.
Taking down Ethan’s company wasn’t going to happen overnight. But I was patient.
I plugged in my flash drive and started copying files.
Two years of core data, right at my fingertips.
With this, I could control everything—the deals, the bidding process, all of it.
My phone buzzed.
Margaret’s name flashed on the screen.
I answered, already bracing myself.
"Sophie’s craving your cooking again. I already told Ethan. Get over here."
Click.
No response expected. Never was.
I set the phone down, unsurprised.
Margaret had hated me from day one. To her, I was some gold-digging nobody who’d trapped her son. Never mind that he’d pursued me.
Their pack house had staff. A full kitchen. But I was still expected to cook and clean every week like some unpaid omega servant.
When Sophie got pregnant, suddenly only my food would do. So I’d spent months cooking fresh meals and delivering them daily.
All to avoid making things difficult for Ethan.
Two years of that.
I looked at my phone screen, expression icy.
Then I turned back to my computer, opening the project files. One flagged in red—a major contract I’d personally developed with V&A International Group.
I wondered what expression Vincent would have when he discovered I was the one representing V&A at the signing ceremony.
This should be fun.
Thirty minutes later, Margaret called again.
"Aria, what’s taking so long? The office isn’t far from Sophie’s place. Are you crawling?"
Her tone was sharper this time, but she didn’t hang up immediately.
Good. She was waiting for an answer.
I leaned back in my chair, letting the silence stretch.
"Luna Margaret." My voice was cool. "I’m in a meeting right now. The Pack’s deal with is in its critical phase. One wrong move could cost millions. I really can’t leave."
Silence on the other end.
I could practically hear her choking.
"Aria, have you lost your mind? How dare you refuse me? You forget pack hierarchy? An omega doesn’t—"
"I told you, I can’t leave. Ethan’s work comes first. You’ve always taught me that."
I cut her off smoothly.
"What does Sophie want? Clara’s staying at the house as a nanny anyway—she can bring Marcus back and cook for her. It’s part of her job."
"You—"
She sputtered.
I’d never talked back before. Never pushed back. Always just obeyed.
Now I’d flipped it. Made her the unreasonable one.
"Let me know what meal Sophie wants. I will call Clara.I really need to go—lots to handle here."
I ended the call.
Somewhere across town, Margaret was probably shaking with rage.
Good.
My phone buzzed again.
Sophie this time.
I answered, already bored.
"Aria, do you have some problem with me?" Her voice trembled. "I thought we were close. Ethan asked you to take care of me, and you said yes. But now Mom’s saying you won’t even cook one meal..."
I kept my eyes on my computer screen, watching stock data fluctuate while Sophie’s theatrical sniffling continued.
"Of course I don’t have a problem with you, Sophie. I’m just busy today. You should call Clara—she’s the nanny now."
"But—"
"I have to go."
Click.
I tossed my phone onto the desk and went back to work.
Let them stew.
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