Chapter 110

Lucian’s POV

“I want the truth, Sheila,” I demanded.

The longer Sheila looked at me, the more her wide-eyed nervous gaze shifted into one of fury. “You trust him over me?”

“Give me a reason not to.”

In the past, I had let my guilt over having introduced Sheila to Travis to fully critique her story. I had thought back then, why would she lie about something so terrible?

Now, I was seeing that while Travis was far from perfect, Sheila was infinitely worse.

“Fine,” she said after too long a moment. “I might have embellished some of it.”

“It’s all a lie!” Travis insisted.

Looking between them, I said firmly to Sheila. “The truth. Now.” Adding in my Alpha voice compelled her to obey me.

She straightened somewhat, like she was trying to fight my command. In the end, the compulsion to tell the truth won out.

“It’s all as he says,” Sheila admitted. “I couldn’t stand being married to Travis, when the only one I’ve ever wanted is you, Lucian.”

“So you lied… about everything?” I still couldn’t believe it. I had to, it was all happening right in front of me. But it seemed too hard to fathom. How could someone be so willing ruin someone else’s life? And her own? By cheating on Travis, she messed up her own pheromones and made it impossible to have children.

If Dr. A hadn’t developed a cure, she still would be unable to be a mother. But she’d willingly sacrificed that to… what? To be my Luna?

At the time all of this went on, I had been with Aria. Sheila had likely made her story as tragic as possible to keep me as her emotional prisoner, in part ensuring that she would maintain all of my focus so I wouldn’t be able to open up to Aria.

And Aria…

I had been so distant with her. There had been so many times where I had chosen to spend time with Sheila over Aria because of my guilt. Now, looking back, I realized how very wrong I’d been. I should have been focusing on Aria.

Thinking back, I recalled time after time where Aria had tried to tell me about Sheila, about how cruel Sheila could be when I wasn’t around. Always, I had cast Aria’s concerns to the side, thinking her no more than a jealous, fickle woman.

How wrong I’d been. About everything.

“The leaks to the news,” I said, slowly piecing everything together. I had blamed Jasper for revealing things I had said to him in confidence.

“I thought that by leaking all the negative things about me, I could garner sympathy,” Sheila said. “With that sympathy, I could round up enough support to become your Luna.”

Sheila took a few steps toward me. She was cautious of Travis, giving him a wide berth, while still moving closer to me.

“Please, Lucian. Can’t you see how much I love you? Everything I’ve ever done has been for you and you alone? I want to be your wife more than I want anything else in the entire world.”

“Enough to ruin a man’s life for it,” I said. I didn’t accuse her of ruining my marriage. I did enough of that all on my own. I had made regrettable choices in the past, choosing Sheila over Aria again and again. Sheila should have told me the truth, but likewise, I should have been more observant of Aria’s needs and my failing marriage.

“Please,” Sheila said, softer. The tears in her eyes were real now. Likely she was understanding that my heart was closed off to her. I would not be swayed by her or her tears. Not anymore. Not after finding out how ruthlessly and easily she lied. If she lied about this, who knew what else she lied about.

Looking past her, I motioned toward Ben, my Beta. “Take her away, Beta. I want her in lockup until the time for a trial can be arrange.”

“A trial?” Sheila gasped.

“Yes,” I said, looking at her. “You will face punishment for your crimes. I will personally see to that.”

“But, Lucian –”

“Do not say anything more to me,” I told her. “I will suffer your excuses no longer.”

Ben grabbed Sheila by the arm and dragged her back toward the group of guards. There, he passed her over to two other guards who led her to the stairs. Her face was pale and slack, as if she was in shock. Perhaps she thought she could continue to deceive me.

I would not listen to her any longer. Even her declarations of love were a lie. Someone in love with me wouldn’t ruin someone else’s life just to have me.

My heart ached, thinking of Aria, and missing her so.

“I understand I will also face punishment,” Travis said, reclaiming my attention. “After all, I did enter the pack lands illegally, and I’ve been most unkind to Dr. A. Apologies.” He dipped his head in Dr. A’s direction. “I just didn’t know how else to get close enough to Sheila to make a difference.”

“You made no effort to set the record straight,” I said. “All these years. You could have called or written.”

“I wrote a ton of letters,” Travis said. “None of them ever seemed to make it to you. At least at first, I was adamant in trying to defend myself. But then, the more time went on, the less I tried. It was only recently, when I saw her in the news again, still lying, and using all of those deceptions to better herself and take advantage of you… I had to act.”

He lowered his head. “I know I was exiled. I will accept punishment for being here illegally.”

I nodded to Ben again, who stepped forward. Travis willingly turned to go with him.

I’d look over Ben’s trial, and I’d be sure to be more lenient. While he did break the rules by returning to the pack as a rogue, I couldn’t deny that his return saved me from a potentially terrible fate.

All of that would be considered during his trial.

Aria’s POV

I stood in shock, watching the scene unfold in front of me. After all this time, it seemed unreal that Sheila would finally be caught in her lies.

I hadn’t been thrilled when Travis insisted he be allowed to confront Sheila. I didn’t want to allow it, not wanting to abuse my position as healer, but Travis told me he would not take no for an answer. While I didn’t think he would hurt me, I wasn’t sure what he would do.

For the sake of the hospital, I had no choice but to go along with his wishes, helping to arrange this strange ambush.

Yet, what surprised me more than the revelations about Sheila was that Lucian actually seemed to believe it. He even took action against her!

All this time, I’d wanted him to turn away from Sheila and notice me.

Why did it have to happen so late?

Piper, who came into the hallway during the commotion, made her way over to me.

“You okay?” she asked.

As I nodded, Lucian also approached me.

“I’m sorry for this, Dr. A,” he said.

Honestly, I was just pleased that Lucian was finally seeing Sheila for who she was, even if it was too late. I couldn’t say that though, not as Dr. A, so instead I just nodded.

Piper, however, cast a harsh glare at Lucian. “So,” she said. “Are you still going to marry Sheila?”