Billionaire Alpha's 99 Deadly Games

Chapter 18

For the next two weeks, Aria immersed herself completely in the remaining performances, leaving no mental space to dwell on Lucas or their unsettling reunion.

As the final curtain fell on their schedule, she welcomed her first real break in months, planning a solo road trip along the Southeast territory borders.

Just as she was comparing rental cars on her phone, an unfamiliar number lit up her screen. Against her better judgment, she answered.

"Luna Collins," Michael's voice was tight with barely suppressed urgency. "There's been an incident with Alpha. He's in a bad state. Please-if you could just come to the estate-"

Having survived three years of Lucas's elaborate manipulations, Aria immediately recognized the familiar pattern of another manufactured "emergency."

"I'm not qualified to handle whatever crisis Lucas has created for himself," she replied evenly. "That stopped being my job when he arranged my death."

Before Michael could launch into whatever script he'd prepared, she ended the call and promptly blocked the number, dropping her phone into her bag with a mixture of irritation and finality.

Twenty minutes later, settled in the back seat of an Uber, Aria gave the driver the address of the rental agency before closing her eyes for a much-needed power nap.

She awoke disoriented some time later to the driver announcing their arrival. Still groggy, she paid through the app and stepped out, only to find herself standing before the imposing iron gates of the Lucas's den in the Thornwood Pack instead of the rental car office.

Realization hit with a jolt of anger. Either the driver had deliberately ignored her instructions, or someone had intercepted and changed her ride details remotely.

Just as she pulled out her phone to order another Uber, the den's massive entry doors swung open. Davis, the Thornwood family's long-serving pack guardian, emerged with several guards, their faces lined with evident relief.

"Luna!" Davis hurried down the steps. "Thank the Moon Goddess you've come back!"

Before she could articulate her protest, she found herself efficiently escorted through the marble

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she had once called

back into this space sent an unexpected wave of déjà vu washing over her. Her hasty "death" had left everything preserved exactly as it had been-her dance theory books still stacked on the side table, her favorite cashmere throw draped over the sofa arm, even the half-finished cup of tea she'd left on the mantle

effect was deeply unsettling, like walking through a museum exhibit dedicated to her

life.

elbow, explaining the situation as he guided her

staircase.

Thornwood hasn't been...functional...since encountering you at the

days, expelled his healer team, and

voice dropped even further. "I know I had no

but I have to take some-" he hesitated, "-permanent solutions. I feared what might

ascended the marble stairs, Aria struggled to maintain her emotional detachment.

another performance designed to manipulate her back into

him beyond all reason-couldn't help wondering if his apparent self-destruction might

he truly loved her now, how could he have

How could love and such calculated cruelty possibly coexist within

his hand hesitating on the

overpowering stench of bourbon

assaulted her senses.

the dim light, she could just make out a figure slumped against the foot of the

composed smile. "Well,

as she pivoted to leave. "Alpha!" he

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Chapter 18