Chapter 4

Aria lay awake that night, listening to the manor go quiet. She didn't sleep. She couldn't stop thinking about Vivienne's whispered words — and the cold certainty in them. She would do it. Aria knew she would.

But the next morning, Vivienne arrived with a team of servants and Pack guards.

"Good morning, Mrs. Thorne."

Aria sat up fast, and flinched — she'd pulled the stitches in her abdomen.

"What do you want now?"

"Ethan says I'm in charge of the baby's care. It's bath time. I'm here to take him."

Before Aria could respond, a servant had already lifted her son out of the bassinet.

"Vivienne, he just came home from the infirmary. He doesn't need a bath. Put him down."

"I'm the one responsible for him now. I decide whether he needs a bath."

Vivienne signaled with a look. The servant disappeared into the bathroom with the baby.

Aria swung out of bed to follow. Three guards stepped in her way.

She fought against them — and tore the stitches harder. The pain was blinding.

She forced her voice steady. "Vivienne, please. Whatever you want from me, I'll give it. Just don't touch my son."

"I said — it's just a bath."

Vivienne picked up the showerhead and aimed a cold spray directly at the baby's face.

The baby screamed.

Aria lost it. "Stop! Stop it, Vivienne! Are you insane? He's only a few days old! You're going to kill him! Stop!"

"Kill him? I'm just giving him a bath. How is that going to kill anyone?"

She didn't stop.

Aria bit down on the arm of one of the guards. In the second before they grabbed her again, she snatched the fruit knife off the nightstand and pressed it to Vivienne's throat.

"I told you to stop. Or I will kill you."

The blade against her throat stopped Vivienne. The pain was real this time and it scared her.

"Mrs. Thorne, why are you so upset? You want to kill me? Go ahead. But if you do, your son will grow up without a mother. You love him that much — can you really do that?"

Aria shoved her away.

"I'm warning you. If you touch my son again, I will kill you."

"Then take him and get out," Vivienne said.

"I'll leave," Aria said, eyes steady. "But not today. And until I step down as Luna of this Pack, you will always be the other woman."

"What's going on in here?"

The noise had woken Ethan. He walked in, took one look at Aria holding the knife, and his face went dark.

"Aria. What is this?"

"Ethan, she's lost it!" Vivienne was crying already. "I just tried to give the baby a bath. She pulled a blade on me."

She pointed to the mark on her throat and sobbed.

Ethan looked at the wound. Then he looked at Aria. "I warned you yesterday. And now you've got a knife out?"

"I didn't — she's the one who was hurting my son. I was trying to —"

"What happened?" He turned to the servants.

One servant said quietly, "Miss Vivienne wanted to give the pup a bath. Mrs. Thorne thought she meant harm, so she took the knife and cut Miss Vivienne's neck."

In that moment, Aria understood everything.

There was no one in this house she could trust. They'd all been turned.

"Aria." Ethan's voice went ice-cold. He grabbed her by the arm. "You made up that story to frame Vivienne. She's kind. She'd never do something like that."

He raised his voice. "From today, Aria is no longer fit to raise this pup. Vivienne takes over."

"You're the one who's lost his mind," Aria said. "Why would you believe everything she tells you and nothing I say? That's my son. I will never hand him over to Vivienne. Dream on."

"You don't have a choice."

Ethan gave the order. Guards pinned Aria's arms. Servants carried her son to Vivienne.

"No! Don't touch him. Vivienne, put him down!"

"Oh, he's all wet." Vivienne put on her gentle voice. "Don't worry, Mrs. Thorne. I'll take excellent care of him."

She walked out with the baby.

"Stop — don't —"

Aria tried to follow. She couldn't move.

She looked at Ethan, desperate, crying. "Ethan, please. Give him back. He's my son."

"Aria, the shock of what I told you — it did something to you. Your mind isn't right. The pup is better off with Vivienne for now. You need to rest. I have to get back to Pack business. I'll check on you later."

"Someone stay with the Luna."

He met her eyes once more. Then he left.

The door slammed shut. Someone turned the lock.

Aria sank to her knees on the floor, screaming until her voice cracked.

"Why? Why are you doing this to me?"