Alpha, Let's End This Bond!

- Aria Walking side by side, Luca and I moved through the glossy hospital corridor that smelled strongly of antiseptic and lemon floor cleaner. He walked confidently like he owned the place. I walked like I'd slept three hours, cried in my bathroom, and had two toddlers drooling on my shoulder before dawn. Basically, that was exactly how my sleepless nights went. "He should be awake by now," Luca murmured, rubbing the back of his neck. "Doctors said he had a stable night." I nodded, biting my lip. "Good. I. I need to talk to him." Luca frowned a little. "About what?" "About nothing you need to worry about," I muttered. He shot me a look. "Aria." I shrugged and stared straight ahead. "Let's just go inside." But just as Luca reached for the door handle, I heard a sudden, sharp clicking sound of heels behind us. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. "I'm so sorry I'm late! Traffic was awful," Ivy Castemont announced dramatically. Everyone in the hallway seemed to lift their heads a little, as if the queen of the pack had finally arrived. Ivy wore a cream dress of obvious high quality and cost, her dark hair bouncing in perfect curls, one hand holding a designer clutch that probably cost more than my monthly budget. Luca stiffened. "Ivy." She gave him a sweet smile that was startlingly bright for a hospital environment. "Luca. I came as soon as I heard. How is he? Is he awake? Can I go in?" Before Luca could answer, his mother stepped out from around the corner. Her eyes lit up when she saw Ivy. "Ivy, darling! Thank the Moon you came," Helena said warmly, pulling Ivy into a soft embrace. Of course. That greeting was practically velvet-wrapped compared to the cold nod I usually got. "Of course, Helena," Ivy said sweetly, bowing her head politely. "I came as soon as I heard. Magnus means so much to me." Helena cupped Ivy's cheek like she was her long-lost daughter. "Magnus would be so happy to know you're here." I stood there awkwardly, invisible in plain sight, holding my hands together like some underpaid assistant instead of the actual Luna. Helena gave Ivy a warm peck on the cheek. Then she turned her eyes on me and gave a tight nod that lasted. maybe half a second. "Aria." Right. That was my welcome. "Hello, Ivy," I said, forcing a smile. But she'd already turned back to Helena. A fast glance. Barely a second. Almost like shaking hands with someone she didn't want to touch. "Go ahead, sweetheart. Magnus would love to see you," Helena said dismissively. I blinked, trying not to grit my teeth. "We were about to go in." Helena looked at me like she was trying to figure out why I had a speaking role. "Yes, yes, of course. But Ivy should go first." Ivy stepped forward with a soft, pitying smile. "It's fine, Aria. I'm sure you'll get your turn." Luca's jaw tightened. "Everyone goes in together, Mother." Helena frowned. "Luca, there's no need for that. Let Ivy say hello first. She's practically family." I opened my mouth, then shut it. No point. It was the same old reminder that I was the Luna on paper, but Ivy was the Luna of their dreams. Her perfume hit my nose as she passed, a scent that felt like an insult. Her husband, Rowan Crestfall, appeared behind her, a tall figure with a calm, cold expression. He nodded politely at Luca, then gave me a brief, stoic look before following Ivy inside. Luca hesitated, then looked at me. "Let's go too." We stepped inside the dim hospital room. Machines beeped quietly. Old Alpha Magnus lay on the bed, pale but breathing steadily. Ivy was already at his side, holding the old man's hand like the cameras were rolling. "Old Alpha Magnus," she whispered dramatically. "I'm here." His eyelids fluttered. "Ivy. child." He looked tired. But when he turned his head slightly, his eyes drifted to me just for a moment and they softened, only for me. "You. came," he murmured. I stepped closer. "Of course I did." Ivy's lips tightened. Luca stood awkwardly at the foot of the bed, clearly feeling anxious. "Grandfather, how are you feeling?" Magnus coughed weakly. "Old and annoyed. Everyone keeps telling me to rest. It's boring." Luca huffed a small laugh. "You scared all of us." "Hah. The Stormbourne line is hard to kill." Magnus's eyes drifted past Luca. "Rowan." Rowan bowed his head respectfully. "Old Alpha." "And Ivy." Magnus gave another cough. "You two. should consider having a child soon." Ivy gasped slightly, then smiled like she'd just won a prize. "We've been thinking about it." My stomach twisted. Luca stiffened. Wow. So the family wanted Ivy to have the child everyone expected me to give them two years ago? The hypocrisy was insane. Magnus then turned to Luca, his voice was a slightly louder as he spoke. "You. Take care of your family." Luca blinked. "I am." "Not well enough," Magnus rasped. "Your mate. your children. don't make the same mistakes I did. Don't take them for granted." Luca's eyes flicked to me briefly with a blank expression. But the moment lasted only seconds before Ivy leaned closer to Magnus with a soft, innocent smile. "He tries his best, Old Alpha. You know Luca. he's always been responsible." Magnus gave her a look that was half amusement, half disbelief. "Girl, your flattery is too sweet. Makes my teeth hurt." I snorted before I could stop myself. Ivy glared at me. After a few more minutes, the nurse came in and told us Magnus needed to rest. Everyone filed out. Luca walked beside me silently, Rowan following Ivy, who practically floated down the hall as she owned it. And just when we reached the waiting lounge, she turned to me. "Aria," Ivy called, tilting her head with faux concern. I stopped. "Yes?" She eyed me up and down slowly. "You look. tired." I smiled back. "Oh, thanks for your concern. Is that supposed to be a compliment? Her jaw twitched. "I'm serious," she said. "You're pale, your eyes are puffy, and your dress looks like you pulled it from the back of a laundry basket. You should really take better care of yourself. Especially since you're supposed to be Luna." "I'm here because my mate's grandfather collapsed," I said coolly. "Not auditioning for a beauty pageant." Ivy smiled sweetly. "Well, maybe you should. Because if you want to keep Luca interested, you might actually have to try. Men like him get bored easily." Luca stiffened. "Ivy-" But I cut him off. "No, let her talk," I said, stepping closer to Ivy with a smile that wasn't even trying to be nice. "It's funny hearing advice from someone who couldn't even keep her own husband entertained." Rowan's brow twitched just slightly. Ivy flushed. "Excuse me?" "You heard me," I said. "But don't worry. Not everyone is built for loyalty." "Aria," Luca muttered, like he was scolding her but secretly admiring her. Ivy glared at me so hard it could've cracked the floor. "You really should learn how to please Luca," she hissed quietly. "You know he has needs you apparently can't meet." I took a step closer, our faces inches apart. "Funny. Because it seems like you've been trying to please him for years, and he still didn't choose you." Her breath hitched. Rowan looked between us, deadpan as ever, but I didn't miss the faint twitch at the corner of his mouth. He was amused. I leaned back slightly. "Maybe your problem isn't me, Ivy. Maybe it's that Luca never wanted you as much as he wanted the idea of you." Her face went red. Luca cleared his throat. "That's enough." But the smirk on his lips said he didn't mind the show. I turned away, ready to walk off because this conversation was beneath me and frankly, I had better things to worry about, like my twins adapting to the nanny or my emotional whiplash from the night before. But Ivy wasn't done. "You think you've won?" she called out sharply. I turned back. "I don't care about winning. I care about surviving." Ivy rolled her eyes. "You're such a-" Rowan suddenly stepped forward and spoke calmly but firmly. "Ivy. Enough." Ivy whipped her head toward him. "She started it!" "Let's go," Rowan said, his voice making it clear there was no discussion. Ivy snarled under her breath but stomped toward the exit, her heels clicking like tiny thunderclaps. When they disappeared around the corner, the hallway finally felt breathable again. I exhaled slowly. Luca stared at me with a blank expression. "You didn't have to say all of that." "Someone needed to," I muttered. "Aria-" "Not now," I said, walking past him. "I'm going home. The twins need me." He reached out, catching my wrist gently. "Aria. thank you. For being there today." I looked down at his hand holding mine. For two years, he rarely reached for me. And now suddenly he was touching me like we were something real. "We'll talk later," I said, pulling my hand free. Because if I stood there any longer, I might break in ways I wouldn't recover from. And I was done breaking. *****