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Chapter 14: Scandalous Headlines
Chapter 14: Scandalous Headlines
(Aria’s POV)
“Do you intend to stay? Dominic’s question hung in the air between us.
I stared at him, struck by the directness of his question. The ceremonial gown suddenly felt heavy on my shoulders.
“How did you know Alexander isn’t here? I asked instead of answering:
Dominic’s silver–gray eyes held mine steadily. He opened his mouth to respond when Olivia burst through the door, her face pale with panic.
“Aria! You need to see this!” She thrust her phone in front of me, her hand trembling.
My eyes widened as I took in the screen. Social media was exploding with trending topics. The top three trends were all about Alexander and Claire:
JAlphaReedAffair
JiltedLuna
ClairesConquest
Beneath the hashtags were blurry photos of Alexander rushing into Silvercrest Hospital, his face clearly recognizable despite the poor quality. Another showed him embracing someone with auburn hair–Claire.
“It’s everywhere,” Olivia whispered. “Everyone at the ceremony is talking about it.”
My blood ran cold. “My mother-”
Without finishing my sentence, I gathered my ceremonial gown and rushed out. The elaborate headdress bobbed precariously as I hurried down the corridor toward the main hall, my heart hammering against my ribs.
I found my mother seated in her place of honor, her face ashen as she clutched her phone. Around her, guests whispered and stared, some not even bothering to hide their gossiping.
“Mother,” I called softly, kneeling beside her chair.
She looked up at me, her amber eyes–so like my own–filled with confusion and worry
“Aria, dear, everyone is saying Alexander isn’t coming,” she whispered. “They’re saying he’s with… with that healer woman.”
I forced a smile, taking her frail hand in mine. “It’s just a misunderstanding. He’s… he’s fetching someone important for the
ceremony.”
Even to my own ears, the lie sounded hollow.
My mother’s gaze sharpened. “Call him. Call your mate right now,
“Mother, I don’t think-
“Please, Aria,” she insisted, her fingers tightening around mine with surprising strength. “Call him where I can hear.”
With trembling fingers, I pulled out my phone and dialed Alexander’s number. Olivia and Dominic had followed me and now stood protectively nearby Dominic’s powerful presence keeping most of the whispering guests at a distance.
The phone rang for so long I thought it would go to voicemail. Then, unexpectedly, it connected.
“Hello?” The voice that answered wasn’t Alexander’s.
It was Claire’s.
“Alexander can’t come to the phone right now she continued, her voice honey–sweet. “He’s in quite the… position.”
The implication in her tone made my stomach turn. In the background, I could hear rustling fabric and soft murmuring
“Claire,” Alexander’s voice suddenly cut in, sounding irritated “Give me the phone.”
More rustling, then Alexander’s voice came through clearly.
“Aria, I’m on my way,” he said quickly. Til explain everything when I arrive.”
“Alexander, the ceremony starts in ten minutes,” I replied, my voice surprisingly steady despite the storm raging inside me. “Where are you?”
Before he could answer, Claire’s voice intruded again, closer to
closer to the phone
phone this time.
“Alex, I need help with this wound dressing” she purred. It’s coming undone.”
I looked at my mother, whose face had drained of all color. Her eyes were wide with shock.
“Til call you back,” I said quickly, and ended the call.
“It’s not what it sounded like, I began, desperate to protect my mother from the truth. “Claire was injured and
I never finished my sentence. My mother’s eyes rolled back, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as she slumped sideways.
“Mother!” I screamed, lunging forward to catch her.
Olivia shrieked while I cradled my mother’s limp form. The ceremony guests gasped collectively, some rushing forward to help. others backing away in horror.
“Emily!” Dominic was suddenly there, gently taking my mother from my arms. “We need to get her to Silvercrest immediately.”
Without waiting for a response, he lifted her effortlessly and strode toward the exit. I stumbled after him, the elaborate ceremonial gown tangling around my feet. Pain shot through my ankle as I twisted it, but I barely noticed.
“My car is outside,” Dominic called over his shoulder.
I followed him, half–running, half–limping. Guests parted before us, their shocked faces blurring as tears clouded my vision
Outside, Dominic’s sleek black SUV waited. He carefully placed my mother in the back seat, then helped me climb in beside her. Olivia squeezed in on the other side, her face streaked with tears.
“Hold her steady, Dominic instructed as he slid into the driver’s seat.
The engine roared to life, and we shot forward with a speed that would have terrified me under normal circumstances. Dominic drove like a man possessed, weaving through traffic and running red lights
I cradled my mother’s head in my lap, whispering desperate prayers. Her skin felt cool beneath my fingers, her breathing shallow and irregular.
“Don’t leave me, I begged, tears falling onto her pale face. “Please, Mother, hold on.”
Dominic’s voice was calm as he spoke into his phone. “Dr. Lewis, emergency arrival in three minutes. Female, mid–fifties, severe hematemesis. Rare blood condition, Have the team ready
When we
screeched to a halt outside Silvercrest Hospital’s emergency entrance, a team of doctors and nurses was already waiting with a gurney.
“Emily Summers, werewolf blood disease,” Dr. Nathan Lewis called out as they rushed forward. “Get her to OR 3!”
Everything happened in a blur after that. My mother was whisked away, leaving me standing shakily in my ruined ceremonial gown, blood staining the once–pristine silk.
Dominic guided me to a private waiting area outside the operating room. The harsh red light above the door indicated surgery was in progress.
The weight of everything–Alexander’s betrayal, the public humiliation, my mother’s collapse–suddenly crashed down upon me. I sank into a chair, my legs no longer able to support me.
“Your ankle,” Dominic said suddenly, crouching before me. “It’s swollen.”
I glanced down, noticing for the first time the angry red swelling above my ceremonial shoe.
“It’s nothing.” I mumbled.
Dominic ignored my dismissal. To my shock, he removed his own polished leather shoes, then carefully slipped off my damaged
ceremonial footwear.
“What are you doing?” I asked, bewildered.
“You can’t walk in those,” he replied simply gently sliding his much larger shoes onto my feet. These will have to do for now.”
The unexpected kindness of this gesture–so small yet so thoughtful–broke through the last of my composure. I began to sob, great heaving cries that shook my entire body.
Without hesitation, Dominic pulled me close, his strong arms enveloping me as I wept against his chest. He said nothing, just held me, his steady heartbeat a comforting rhythm beneath my ear.
Im so
“I’m sorry, I finally hiccupped, pulling back to wipe my tears. “Your shirt-”
“Is just a shin,” he finished, his gray eyes intent on my face. “Are you in pain?
I nodded, though the pain I felt had little to do with my injured ankle.
“Dr. L
“Dr. Lewis is the best,” Dominic said quietly, correctly interpreting my concern. “If anyone can help your mother, it’s him.”
I tried to smile, but my lips trembled too much. “Thank you. For everything”
He squeezed my hand gently in response.
The quiet of the hospital corridor was suddenly shattered by the shrill ring of my phone. Alexander’s name flashed on the screen, sending a wave of complex emotions crashing through me. Love, once so strong and pure, now twisted with anger, betrayal, and a budding hatred I’d never thought possible.
I stared at the screen for several moments before answering
“Where are you?” Alexander’s voice demanded immediately, accusation heavy in his tone. “The guests are leaving. Do you have any idea how this makes me look? Our mating ceremony-”
“It’s off,” I replied, a new calmness settling over me
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