Chapter 215 What would she do when she no longer needed him?
Author’s POV
That afternoon, Sylvia had just returned home when she found Nathan already waiting by the entrance.
She glanced at him briefly, dismissing her assistant with a wave before handing her bag and coat to Nathan’s waiting arms.
"Is it done?" Her voice was clipped, businesslike.
"It’s done. Just as you predicted, the Blackwoods should be hearing about it by now," Nathan replied quietly.
When Sylvia had instructed him days ago to contact her mysterious connections and leak Damian’s travel itinerary, Nathan had immediately understood her intention—she was making a move against the Alpha King himself.
Sylvia might not hold much sway in the traditional business world, but her network extended into both legitimate circles and shadowy underworld connections. Especially internationally.
Nathan had only recently discovered that before marrying Vincent, Sylvia had been involved with a powerful figure in the international underworld—someone who was anything but benevolent.
When clean methods didn’t work, Sylvia had no qualms about taking darker paths.
It wasn’t hard to imagine that during Vincent’s years of monopolizing the pharmaceutical industry in their city, Sylvia’s hands hadn’t remained entirely clean either.
Once they reached the study, Nathan closed the door behind them and continued his report.
The Blackwoods had already dispatched people to Damian’s location.
Grace—the former Luna Queen and Damian’s grandmother—had gone personally, along with Elena, the current Luna Queen.
Andrew Blackwood, the former Alpha King, was currently attending an international summit and hadn’t shown any signs of leaving yet.
Sylvia hadn’t expected things to go this smoothly.
Her contacts had moved incredibly fast—the information had been leaked less than half a day ago, and they’d already struck. She’d expected it to take at least a full day.
The word coming through their channels was that it had been made to look like an accidental plunge into the sea.
Usually these types of operations involved tampering with vehicles, but Sylvia didn’t care about the details. The goal had been achieved.
A cold smile curved Sylvia’s lips. "Andrew Blackwood really is the most ruthless wolf in that family, isn’t he? I bet even if his son dies, his first thought will be stabilizing the Pack’s position."
"Mom..." Nathan hesitated, his brow furrowing. "Are you sure this was the right move?But the man we killed was the Alpha King. What if the investigation leads them back to us?"
Sylvia’s good mood hadn’t faded, so she didn’t reprimand Nathan for questioning her.
Instead, she crossed to the wine cabinet and pulled out an expensive bottle, retrieving two glasses in celebration.
She handed one to Nathan.
He quickly moved to pour the wine, though his expression remained troubled.
"Even if Alpha King is... lost found, and the Blackwood Pack is thrown into chaos, I don’t think it’ll affect Aria much," Nathan said carefully.
He understood exactly what Sylvia was planning. He’d seen Victor’s car at V&A Group that morning.
The company had a major product launch coming up—a pharmaceutical breakthrough that had been a decade in development. Victor was one of the primary investors.
If Aria wasn’t at the office when something went wrong with the launch, if she made a critical error because she was distracted... it would be enough grounds to have her removed from her position as CEO.
But Nathan genuinely doubted Aria would be that affected.
"Aria isn’t the sentimental type," he continued. "She was tangled up with Ethan for six years, and the moment she was done with him, she destroyed the Holt family without hesitation. Look at what she did to them—they’re practically bankrupt now."
He paused, choosing his words carefully. "And Vanessa’s been busy on her end too. I gave her some guidance earlier, and this time she actually used her brain. The news about Alpha Blackwood’s accident is still being contained, but somehow photos of him and Vanessa together have already leaked to the public."
Nathan met his mother’s eyes. "Do you really think Aria will fall apart over Damian when she sees those pictures?"
"Nathan, you’re still too young." Sylvia took a slow sip of wine, her smile turning predatory. "You think I’d give Aria any way out?"
---
Sylvia’s laugh was cold and mirthless as she set down her glass.
The trap had been laid perfectly, no matter which path Aria chose.
If Aria abandoned her responsibilities at V&A Group to rush to Damian’s side, she’d be opening herself up to attacks from the board and investors.
Missing the pharmaceutical launch—especially as CEO—would be a catastrophic failure. The kind of failure that could get her voted out entirely.
But if Aria stayed and focused on work, ignoring Damian’s critical condition?
The Blackwood family would see it as the ultimate betrayal. Grace and Elena would never forgive her. Andrew would view her as cold-blooded and unworthy of his son.
And when the Blackwoods turned their backs on her, when Aria lost the most powerful Pack alliance in the region...
Sylvia would finally have her opening.
Without the Blackwoods’ protection, Aria would be vulnerable. Fair game.
"Either way," Sylvia murmured, swirling the wine in her glass, "she loses."
Faint Beta triumph curled through her scent—cold, sharp, unmistakable.
The daughter of the Crescent Moon Pack’s former Beta never let her ambitions show on her face, but scent never lied.
Nathan felt a chill run down his spine, but he forced himself to smile, tilting his head to bare his throat in wolfish submission.
"Aria’s always been so arrogant, thinking she’s untouchable. I’m sure one day she’ll regret not listening to you—not giving up her claim to the Smith inheritance when she had the chance."
Sylvia let out a long breath and glanced at Nathan with cool appraisal. "Go rest."
"Yes, Mother."
Alone in the dim hallway, Nathan finally released the breath he had been holding. Beneath his skin, his wolf settled as well, uncoiling like a spring wound too tight.
He thought again of what Aria had said to him weeks ago, her voice cutting and precise:
*"People like Sylvia don’t adopt children out of kindness, Nathan. There’s always a reason. Always a price."*
At the time, he’d dismissed it as bitterness. Aria lashing out because she felt threatened.
But now, standing alone in the hallway, Nathan couldn’t shake the cold knot forming in his chest.
Why *had* Sylvia adopted him?
*You saw it too, didn’t you,* he said to his wolf. *Tell me I’m wrong about her.*
*I won’t lie to you,* the wolf replied. *A wolf raises a pup with warmth. She keeps us the way a hunter keeps a blade—clean, useful, and nothing more.*
And what would she do when she no longer needed him?