Aria’s POV

“Mydy…”

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The officer’s voice trembled as he spoke. He clearly recognized her–and was terrified. “I–I didn’t know you were here. All nobles and Alphas are supposed to use the VIP gate…”

“Lady Quentina heard the noise and came to check,” said Torvi, that tall warrior beside her. Her voice was sharp. “Good thing she did. Otherwise, you’d still be bullying our girl here.”

“I–I didn’t mean to, mydy. She couldn’t provide a valid ID or invitation, so I thought she might be a spy or something…”

“Now you don’t need to see her ID. You already know she’s with me.” Lady Quentina said. Then she reached out a hand toward me. “Come.”

I walked to her immediately, letting her fingers wrap around mine. The officer bowed again and again, stammering apologies as we passed.

We took the VIP corridor. It was quiet, private, and empty. No one dared stop us again.

When we finally stepped past customs and into Spiky Hill territory, I let out a shaky breath of relief. Then I turned to her and said, “Thank you so much, Lady Quentina. If it weren’t for you, I’d probably be on my way back home right now.”

“Oh that’s alright. You are from Frostpine Pack right? I couldn’t just stand by while one of my own members was in trouble… What’s your name again?” she asked.

I paused. “I…I’m Aria.”

“Aria.” She nced over at me with curiosity. “Though I don’t recall your name on Frostpine’s travel list. Did Alpha Thalira send you?”

I hesitated.

Should I tell her the truth? That I am THE Aria Collins?

Revealing who I was might cause trouble. Nevertheless, we barely knew each other. But for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to lie to her. Every instinct told me I could open up to this woman.

“Actually… I’m not part of Frostpine anymore.” I took in a deep breath, then added quietly, “My full name is… Aria Collins.”

The reaction was instant.

It was like I’d dropped a bomb in the middle of the group. Everyone flinched and stepped back. Torvi immediately moved in front of Lady Quentina, blocking me with her broad shoulders.

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“Mydy, get back!” she barked.

“Torvi, it’s fine.”

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“No it’s not!” Torvi snapped. “She’s THAT girl. The one dragging I onto the trial. You’ve seen the news. She’s nothing but trouble.”

“Yeah, mydy,” said one of the maids with long braids. She red at me with disgust. “Haven’t you heard yet? She betrayed Frostpine Pack and joined Red Stone. A total traitor. She doesn’t deserve your help.

I stood there in silence, swallowing down the sting of humiliation.

I wanted to exin. To tell them that I only joined Red Stone to save my own life, that I didn’t have a choice back then. But one look at their faces told me it wouldn’t matter. They’d already decided who I was.

Just like everyone else in this world had.

“It’s all right,” I murmured. “I don’t want to cause you any more trouble, mydy. I’ll leave now.”

But before I could take a step, Lady Quentina’s voice stopped me:

“No. You’reing with me Aria.”

“Mydy-!” Torvi protested.

“Torvi. My decision is final.”

It’s amazing. Though her voice was still soft, it carried a natural authority. It probably had something to do with her Alpha bloodline.

Torvi fell silent instantly.

Yet that maid with the braids frowned and muttered, “Mydy, she’s not here with Alpha Grayson. They probably had a fight or something. He’s not someone we want toe across. It’d be a terrible idea to let her join us.”

“I’m not afraid of Grayson Hart,” Quentina replied smoothly.

“Of course you’re not, mydy. It’s just…if Alpha Thalira hears that you let this kind of trouble join us-

Lady Quentina interrupted her. “Selena, let me remind you onest time–you work for me, not Alpha Thalira. So you should know what to tell Alpha Thalira, and what not to tell her.”

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Selena flinched, and lowered her head at once. The conversation ended there. Lady Quentina reached for my hand again, guiding me out of the airport.

Outside, a roll of sleek ck cars were already waiting. We got into the first one. Even at this point, I still couldn’t believe she was actually helping me. We’d met only a few times. She had no reason to get involved.

“You’re probably wondering why,” she said as we drove out of the airport. As if she could read my thoughts.

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“Um, yeah… I mean, I know I’m not exactly popr right now,” I said awkwardly.

She chuckled. “You remind me of myself when I was younger. Especially when I saw you with My rtionship with my own mom wasn’t so great either.”

your mother.

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I instantly remembered the gossip I heard back in Frostpine Pack. How Lady Quentina had once defied Alpha Thalira and paid dearly for it. People said that was why she’d vanished from public life for so many years.

“My mom’s crazy,” I muttered. “No matter what Alpha Thalira did, she can’t be worse than mine.”

After a small pause, Lady Quentina removed her veil.

My breath caught in my throat.

She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, and I’d met plenty beauties: I, Barbara, all those Grayson’s exes… Yet none of them could evenpare. She was like the Moon Goddess herself: elegant, radiant, divine. You instantly want to get to know her. To be close to her.

“Pretty bad, huh?” she said with a wry smile.

“Huh?” I blinked, confused.

It took me a moment to notice the scar on her face. fn37cb ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find?novel/fn37cb

You wouldn’t notice it at first. Because her beauty was too striking. But when you did see it, you’d definitely be shocked. It’s horrible. The scar ran from her right temple down to her left lip, cutting across her wless skin like a crack through porcin.

I nearly jumped from my seat. “Your mom did this to you?!”

She scoffed. “I was very stubborn back then. And my mother… Well she wasn’t the most patient woman alive. Most of the time we made up after our fights, but that one…That one time, I refused to apologize. The dagger was right there, a decoration on the wall. She took it off and dragged it across my face. “That’s your punishment,’ she said. ‘I’m taking away the thing you’re most proud of.“”

I trembled, horror and anger heavy on my chest.

What kind of mother could do that to her own daughter? Shit. I’d always admired Alpha Thalira, thought she was strong, fierce, a symbol of female power. But turns out she’s nothing but a violent psycho. A fucking sadist!

“I know you and your mother have your issues,” Quentina said with a sigh, “but trust me, it’s not as bad as you think. Try to make peace with her while you still can, OK? Not every mother and daughter get that chance.”

“You shouldn’t forgive her!“.I blurted out, furious. “She did this to you and never apologized? And she’s still spying on you, doesn’t she? You should expose her. Throw her into jail or something!”

Sheughed softly. Even with the scar, that smile was still breathtaking. “You’re so much like me when I was your age. Fierce and fearlessb./bb” /b

I didn’t know what to say. Also not sure if that’s apliment. Before I could respond, she patted my hand

gently.

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“I’m guessing you don’t want your boyfriend to know you’re here, do you?” she said with a knowing look.

“… Yeah,” I admitted.

“Then you’ll stay with me. We’ll get some food and head back to the hotel. Tomorrow’s the trial. You need a good rest.”

Her car took us to an upscale restaurant, one of the best in Spiky Hill. The moment she walked in with her entire entourage of maids and guards, the whole ce turned to look. But she didn’t seem to notice, or maybe she was already used to it after so many years living under supervision.

“Please arrange a private corner,” Torvi told the nervous manager. “We don’t want to disturb the other guestsb./bb” /b

We sat down in a quiet booth. The waiter handed us wine menus, and Quentina passed one to me. “Would you like a drink? They say the wine list here is exceptional.”

I was about to tell her that I knew nothing about wine when I heard a waiter’s voice from the near distance:

“Alpha Grayson, this way please.”

My head snapped up.

It was really him.

Across the room, the waiter was leading Grayson toward a table by the window. He sat down gracefully and said to him, “Lady I will join me shortly. Bring her here when she arrives.”

“Of course, Alpha.”

My heart nearly stopped.

I couldn’t believe this. Grayson was meeting that goddamn criminal. The night before her trial! And he didn’t even tell me.

What the hell were they doingb??? /b

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