Chapter 72
Lucian’s POV
“A person should not continue to be punished forever for the mistakes of their past,” Lucian said into the microphone, while thinking of his own situation.
If Sheila could not be forgiven, then what hope did Lucian have with how much he’d hurt her?
“Regardless, I would request that you honor Sheila’s privacy in this matter. I have already contacted the chief investigator at the police, and he agreed with me that this leak of Sheila’s private information is a violation of her right to medical privacy. As such, an investigation will be opened to uncover the source of this information.”
Some of the reports in the room before me started to glance at each other. I could already guess what they were thinking, and not just because I heard one loudly whisper.
Why would Lucian defend someone like her?
Perhaps if this information had been revealed without Sheila having previously speaking out against Dr. A, we could have more easily weathered this storm. But now, with Sheila already disliked by the public, this new issue only made everything worse.
Mate bonds were held in high regard by werewolves. In many cases, they were viewed as sacred. For anyone to go outside of the bond for sex was a massive betrayal but to the other mate as well as the werewolf species as a whole. Some less forgiving types even believed the infertility to be a rightful punishment naturally bestowed in such situations.
Protecting her in this case felt like facing an uphill battle. By aligning myself with Sheila, I was tanking my own popularity. But I couldn’t let her be exiled, not after what I’d done to her.
“We ask that you respect our privacy at this time,” I said.
My advisors had tried to talk me out of speaking tonight. I understood their reasons – they wanted to protect me – but I couldn’t let Sheila face this alone.
Facing the reports and the cameras, I wondered if Aria was watching. What would she be thinking right now, seeing me up here defending Sheila?
Would she approve?
No, I knew she wouldn’t. She never understood my situation with Sheila. But then, I’d never really properly explained it.
With a new discomfort panging through my empty chest, I hurried to end this press conference. “That’s all.”
Turning, I immediately walked away from the podium, ignoring the shouted questions of the reporters.
Aria’s POV
Lucian’s press conference had me shaken, but I still managed to rally afterwards. After all, Lucian’s blind defense of Sheila was nothing new. He’d been supporting her for years, often choosing her over me, his own wife. It made sense that he would continue to do so.
Especially since he was probably in love with her.
But still, I pressed on, focusing on getting everything organized so that I could move out of Cathy’s home and my office as soon as possible. At work, I had most of my notes packed into boxes to be used for the hospital’s reference.
Piper helped me in the back of the office. A pair of patients were waiting together for a later appointment. As Piper and I worked, the pair loudly spoke to each other.
“Did you see the news last night?” one woman said to the other.
“I couldn’t miss it even if I wanted to,” the other woman said. “It’s all anyone is talking about.”
I should go out there, I realized. I didn’t want to hear any talk about Sheila, good or bad. I was ready to put all of this – this entire pack – far behind me.
Just as I turned, the first woman continued.
“Do you really think Lucian will divorce Aria for Sheila?”
The second woman laughed. “Why else would he defend her so fervently? And don’t forget we haven’t seen Aria in the public light in a long time. I bet we hear news of their divorce soon, and then news of Lucian and Sheila’s engagement soon after.”
My stomach twisted. I was going to be sick.
Piper moved at once, providing me a trash can. She very generously held my hair back as I lost my breakfast.
When I’d finished and was sitting on the floor, Piper said, “I send your patients home.”
“No,” I said. “I need to finish everything here. I have to leave Nightfall pack as soon as possible.”
“But…” Piper started, a worried look crossing her face.
“It will be fine,” I told her. “I will be fine.”
She didn’t look convinced.
Lucian’s POV
Sheila was having one of her rage episodes again. She wasn’t throwing anything this time, thank God, but she was storming back and forth across the living room, occasionally shouting, but mostly ranting.
“My reputation has never been worse in the pack,” she grumbled. “And it makes no sense! What kind of half-wit morons are members of your pack, Lucian? Can’t they see that I’ve only ever had the best interests of the pack at heart? Dr. A might have saved the day, but she was dancing on the edge for far too long. If she could have awakened Caleb, why didn’t she do so sooner?”
“Sheila,” I said, warning thick with warning. She was walking on thin ice, insulting my pack members as well as insulting Dr. A again. “Careful.”
She shook her head. “I’m only speaking my mind. Everyone is so quick to judge me! Why can’t they see how much I’ve suffered? Why does no one actually think of me?”
“There are ways you can improve your reputation,” I suggested.
“Like what?” she said. “Throwing whoever leaked my information into prison for 100 years?”
“We are looking for the leaker,” I replied, “But that’s not what I’m talking about. You need to take steps to improve your own reputation.”
“It’s hopeless!”
“You didn’t even hear my suggestion.”
She sighed dramatically, then turned to look at me. “Well? What is it?”
“If you started donating some of your time to charity work, such as helping the less fortunate, then I’m sure you could work to improve your reputation.”
She gave me a shocked kind of look, as if mortified that I could ever suggest such a thing. “Do you have any idea how dangerous that would be for me? Those less fortunate would see me from a mile away. I’d be robbed, Lucian, or worse. Then how would you feel?”
“I’m asking you to donate your time to an organization, Sheila. Not to simply wander the streets.”
“No,” she said. “I’m not famous. People would know that I have money and I’m close to you. I’d be kidnapped or worse. No, I can’t possible do that.”
I bit back my own sigh, trying to remain supportive. “Volunteer at an animal shelter then.”
“And be scratched to hell? No thank you.”
This time, I did rub my hand over my face in my frustration.
“Wait,” Sheila said, “I have a great idea.” She bounced toward me. For the first time all afternoon, she looked more excited than annoyed. “We should have a child!”
I gave her a flat look. “Be serious.”
“I am!” she said at once. “What better way could there be to improve my reputation than by having the Alpha King’s first child? I’d be loved for sure.”
Immediately, my thoughts wander to Harper. She would have never made this kind of demand on me.
But then, Aria would have never been in this position to begin with.
Sheila might have thought herself a more respectable woman than Aria, but in truth, Aria was the one to be envious of.
“You will volunteer your time to charity and that’s final.”
