Chapter 49: Confrontation at Silver Moon
Chapter 49: Confrontation at Silver Moon
(Aria’s POV)
+4 Points
“We’re here,” Dominic announced as his luxury SUV pulled up to the elegant entrance of Silver Moon restaurant.
I smoothed my dress nervously. Silver Moon was the most upscale werewolf establishment in the Northern Territory, known for
its exceptional cuisine and exclusive clientele.
“I’ve never been here before,” I admitted, taking in the polished stone facade and the silver crescent moon emblem above the
entrance.
Dominic flashed me a smile as he handed his keys to the valet. “Their moonberry tarts are worth the visit alone.”
As we approached the entrance, a middle–aged werewolf with salt–and–pepper hair rushed forward to greet us.
“Alpha Blackwood! What a pleasure to see you again,” he exclaimed, bowing slightly. His wolf’s deference to Dominic’s Alpha
status was instinctive.
“Marco,” Dominic nodded, his voice carrying that casual authority that seemed effortless to him. “Table for two, please.”
“Of course, sir, your usual private dining room is ready,” Marco replied, motioning us to follow him.
The restaurant’s interior was breathtaking. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over polished wood and silver accents. The air
carried delicious aromas that made my pregnant wolf stir hungrily within me.
As we followed Marco through the main dining area, I froze. A painfully familiar scent hit me before I even saw them.
Alexander and Claire.
They were seated at a corner table, Claire rubbing her barely–showing belly while Alexander looked around with obvious impatience. Neither had noticed us yet.
“I can’t believe the morning sickness,” Claire was saying, her voice carrying. “The chef better accommodate my cravings or I’ll-”
She cut off abruptly when she spotted us. Her emerald eyes widened, then narrowed. Alexander turned to see what had caught her attention, and his amber eyes locked with mine.
For a suspended moment, no one spoke. My wolf bristled defensively, while my hand instinctively moved to my own stomach,
protecting my secret.
“Aria,” Alexander finally said, his tone stiff. “Dominic.”
Dominic placed his hand lightly on the small of my back, a subtle gesture of support that didn’t go unnoticed by Alexander, whose jaw tightened visibly.
“What a coincidence,” Claire said with a forced smile, her emerald eyes cold. “Alexander brought me here to satisfy my pregnancy cravings. The baby wants what it wants!”
I wanted to laugh bitterly. Just days ago, Alexander had been at the Territorial Registry Office, asking if I still loved him, practically begging for another chance. Now here he was, playing devoted father–to–be to Claire’s pup.
“How lovely,” I replied, my voice dripping with insincerity.
Claire leaned against Alexander possessively. “It’s so important to have a supportive mate during pregnancy. Alexander has
been absolutely wonderful.”
Alexander shifted uncomfortably, avoiding my gaze. His discomfort was almost satisfying to witness.
“We should continue to our table,” Dominic suggested, his silver–gray eyes assessing the tense situation.
“Oh, but we’ve hardly caught up!” Claire protested with fake cheerfulness. “How are you, Aria? I assume the mate bond severance is proceeding?”
Marco, the restaurant manager, looked between us with sudden understanding, his nose twitching as he scented the complex dynamics at play.
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<Chapter 49 Confrontation at Silver…
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“I’ll show you to your table immediately, Alpha Blackwood,” he murmured, clearly eager to remove us from this awkward encounter.
“Of course it is,” I replied to Claire, ignoring Marco’s attempt at intervention. “Alexander signed the papers quite willingly.”
Alexander flinched slightly. Claire’s smile faltered for a second before she recovered.
“Well, everything worked out for the best, didn’t it?” Her voice was sweet but her eyes were hard. “If you hadn’t been so cold to Alexander, driving him to seek comfort elsewhere, we might never have rekindled our connection.”
My wolf snarled beneath my skin. The audacity of this woman! Blaming me for her homewrecking?
Before I could respond, Dominic stepped forward, his powerful Alpha aura filling the space between us.
“That’s an interesting perspective, Claire,” Dominic said, his voice deceptively casual. “I’ve always found it fascinating how homewreckers rewrite history to ease their conscience.”
Claire gasped, her hand flying to her chest in feigned offense. “How dare you-”
“And speaking of conscience,” Dominic continued as if she hadn’t spoken, “have you considered what kind of karma your unborn pup will inherit?”
Claire’s face paled visibly. Alexander straightened, his amber eyes flashing with the beginning of anger.
“Dominic-” he started warningly.
Dominic turned his attention to Alexander, his expression unreadable. “You might want to question the paternity of that pup, Alexander. Just a friendly suggestion.”
The color drained from Claire’s face completely. Her emerald eyes widened with a flash of genuine fear before hardening again.
“Come on,” Dominic said quietly to me, placing his hand on my elbow in a gentle guide. “Our food is waiting.”
We left Claire sputtering indignantly behind us, Alexander’s expression a mixture of confusion and dawning suspicion.
Marco led us to a secluded private dining room, closing the door behind us with obvious relief. The room was elegant, with a
large window overlooking a moonlit garden. A table was already set with silver cutlery and crystal glasses.
“That was… intense,” I said once we were alone, sliding into the plush chair Dominic pulled out for me.
Dominic chuckled as he took his seat across from me. “Ciaire Watson deserves much worse than a public calling–out.”
I couldn’t disagree, but worry nagged at me. “Do you think Alexander will really question the paternity?”
“Perhaps,” Dominic replied, unfolding his napkin with practiced grace. “Would that concern you?”
I bit my lip. “If he realizes the pup isn’t his, he might reconsider severing our mate bond.”
The thought filled me with dread. After everything I’d been through, the last thing I wanted was Alexander changing his mind.
Dominic reached across the table and squeezed my hand reassuringly. His touch was warm and strangely comforting.
“Don’t worry about Claire. She’s quite capable of handling Alexander,” he said with confidence. “She’s manipulated him this far,
hasn’t she?”
Before I could respond, raised voices carried from the corridor outside our private room.
“How could you even ask me that?” Claire’s voice was shrill with indignation. “After everything we’ve been through, you’d believe
Dominic’s insinuations?”
“I just asked a simple question,” Alexander’s voice replied, strained with irritation. “Is it so wrong to want to be sure?”
“Wrong? WRONG?” Claire’s voice rose higher. “I’m carrying your pup, Alexander! Your pup! What kind of Alpha are you to doubt the
mother of your child?”
I exchanged a glance with Dominic, who smirked slightly. He’d clearly anticipated this reaction.
“I’m not doubting you,” Alexander backpedaled, his voice taking on a placating tone. “I just asked. It was a casual question.”
“There is nothing casual about questioning if this is your baby!” Claire snapped. “If you don’t believe me, I might as well terminate this pregnancy! See if you ever get another chance to be a father!”
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My jaw dropped at her blatant manipulation. She knew exactly which buttons to push with Alexander, who desperately wanted a pup after years of struggling with fertility issues.
“Claire, please,” Alexander’s voice softened, becoming almost pleading. “I believe you. I do. Let’s go home and talk about this privately.”
Their voices faded as they moved away from our private dining room. I sat back, stunned by the exchange.
“See?” Dominic said with a knowing smile, lifting his glass of wolf–whiskey. “Claire knows exactly how to handle him.”
I picked up my own glass of sparkling water, still processing the argument we’d overheard.
“I almost feel sorry for him,” I admitted.
Dominic’s silver–gray eyes met mine over the rim of his glass. “Don’t waste your sympathy. He made his choice.”
I nodded slowly, realizing Dominic was right. Alexander had made his choice when he abandoned me at our mating ceremony. When he chose Claire over me. When he prioritized his guilt and obsession with her over our mate bond.
“To new beginnings,” Dominic proposed, raising his glass.
I clinked my glass against his, feeling a weight lifting from my shoulders. “To new beginnings.”
