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He chuckles. “Baby, I’m the only alpha you will ever need.”
He isn’t. My last heat?—
Don’t think about it. Just don’t.
“Oh look,” I squeak. “I see Aunt Sara.” Luckily, that isn’t a lie, and with a sigh, he lets me go. He isn’t happy about it, but he does it.
As we step out of the car, I spot Aunt Sara standing on her porch, waving at us with a warm smile. Her presence is a comforting balm to my frayed nerves. Beside her stands a tall, well-built man with kind eyes and a gentle demeanor. This must be the new boyfriend she mentioned in her last call.
“Aria, Noah!” Aunt Sara exclaims, hurrying down the steps to greet us. She wraps me in a tight hug, and I breathe in her familiar scent, feeling a brief sense of peace. She’s a beta, so her scent isn’t overpowering, but that’s what always made her special to me. She smells like peace, like home. “It’s wonderful to see you both.”
“Fuck, I missed you, Aunt Sara,” I mutter into her hair, my voice steady for the first time in hours. Noah stands a few steps back, his charming mask firmly in place.
His charisma is his superpower…or rather villain power.
“This is Peter,” Aunt Sara says, gesturing to the man beside her. “Peter, this is my niece, Aria, and her boyfriend, Noah.”
Peter steps forward with an easy smile, extending his hand to Noah. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Sara’s spoken so highly of you.”
Noah shakes his hand firmly, his eyes assessing. “Nice to meet you too, Peter.”
How do I keep them safe? How do I protect them from Noah’s wrath?
I smile at Peter, feeling a tentative warmth toward him. “Hi, Peter. It’s nice to finally meet you. I heard so much about you.”
“All bad things, I hope.” His eyes sparkle, and he gives Aunt Sara a kiss on the cheek, causing her to blush. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so happy.
“Come inside,” Aunt Sara says, herding us toward the house. “I have some wine and snacks ready. Let’s catch up.”
As we cross the threshold, the familiar warmth of Aunt Sara’s home washes over me. The living room glows with soft, amber light, creating pockets of shadow that seem to whisper of safety and secrets. The air is rich with the comforting aroma of home-cooked food—a stark contrast to the tension I carry within me. For a moment, I let myself believe in the illusion of normalcy. A platter of cheese and crackers sits on the coffee table, along with a bottle of red wine and four glasses.
We settle onto the couch, and Aunt Sara pours us each a glass of wine. I take a sip, savoring the rich flavor and the way it soothes my nerves. I’d chug it, but I fear that would give away too much.
“So how have you been, Aria?” Aunt Sara asks, her eyes filled with concern and love.
“I’ve been…managing,” I say carefully, not wanting to reveal too much. “Work’s been busy, and Noah’s been keeping me on my toes.”
Noah chuckles, slipping an arm around my shoulders. His finger digs into my collarbone, causing a flinch of pain to zap through me. It’s a reminder—behave or else. “Aria’s being modest. She’s been amazing.”
Aunt Sara glances between us, a hint of suspicion in her gaze, but she lets it pass. “Well, I’m glad you’re here, and I’m really happy to introduce you to Peter.”
Peter smiles warmly. “Sara’s told me so much about you, Aria. It’s great to finally put a face to the name.”
I return his smile. “I hope it’s all been good things.”
“Of course,” he says with a chuckle. “Sara’s very proud of you.”
“So, Peter,” I begin, curious about the man who has brought so much joy to Aunt Sara’s life, “how did you and Aunt Sara meet?”
Peter chuckles and glances fondly at Aunt Sara. “It’s a bit of a funny story, actually. We met at a charity event for the local animal shelter.”
Aunt Sara laughs, her eyes sparkling. “I was there volunteering, and Peter showed up with a donation that was larger than life.”
Peter shakes his head modestly. “It wasn’t that big.”
“Oh, it was!” Aunt Sara insists, playfully nudging him. “You should have seen the look on everyone’s faces.”
“All right, it might have been a bit more than they expected,” Peter concedes with a grin. “But honestly, I just wanted to help out. I love animals.”
