<b>Chapter </b><b>127 </b>


    Aria’s POV


    When I stepped out of the Frostpine Pack airport, a wave of nostalgia hit me.


    163


    EL 55 vouchert


    God, I’d gotten so used to Red Stone Pack’s warm weather that I’d almost forgotten I was born and raised in this cold ce.


    “Are you cold?” Grayson asked. He unwrapped his scarf and wrapped it around my neck. “Don’t worry, we’ll be in the car in a minute.”


    I paused and gave him a small smile. “No, people from Frostpine Pack aren’t afraid of the cold. Ouring- of–age ritual is going into the snowy mountains wearing almost nothing to hunt. If you don’t bring back enough prey, you’re not a real warrior.”


    He lifted my chin, his gray eyes focused on me. “But you’re not part of Frostpine Pack anymore, remember? You’re one of my pack now. You share my blood, my legacy, my honor.”


    Oh, right.


    When he saved me, he gave me his blood and brought me into Red Stone Pack. I didn’t belong to this frozennd anymore.


    Don’t get me wrong–I’m grateful for what he did, and I’m happy to share his blood.


    But stepping back onto my homnd and knowing I no longer belonged here made me feel… lost.


    “The car’s here. Let’s go.” Grayson opened the door for me, and we got in.


    We nned to go straight to my father. The car drove through the city and headed directly toward the neighborhood I knew best.


    At first, I eagerly pointed out familiar ces to Grayson. That shopping mall must’ve been rebuilt, which looks brand new; the riverside park I used to run in; the factory where I worked half–time…


    But slowly, the car entered the area where I grew up. I awkwardly fell silent.


    I didn’t know how to describe this ce. Everything here smelled of poverty and chaos, like a sewer full of rats. I felt like my most shameful past was being exposed right in front of him.


    “Well<b>, </b>nothing much to see here,” I said, trying to hide my embarrassment.


    But he squeezed my hand. “Of course there is. This is where you were born. I want to know every detail.


    The car stopped in front of a dirty bar. I looked through the window at the familiar neon sign. I’d lost count of how many times I’d run into this bar to drag my drunk father out. God, it’s been five or six years. I can’t believe this ce was still up and running.


    “Is this it?” Grayson’s voice was cold.


    <b>14:13 </b>Fri, <b>Sep </b>12 B


    “Yes, Alpha. Mr. Collins is inside. Shall we go in?”


    “Drag the man out.”


    <i>20 </i>


    1255 vouchers


    The soldiers got out and rushed into the bar. In less than five minutes, they came back out, dragging a drunk man between them like a sack of potatoes.


    For a moment, I felt so nervous I thought I might throw up.


    … It was my father.


    Almost 6 years since I’dst seen him. And he hadn’t changed at all. Still covered in filth and vomit like he just climbed out of a sewer.


    “Are you okay?” Grayson held my icy hand. “You don’t have to face him alone. I’lle with you.”


    I took a deep breath and shook my head quickly. “No, no. I want to talk to him alone first… That’s what I need to do.”


    I won’t run from my fears anymore. I’ve grown up. He can’t hurt me now.


    Grayson studied my face for a moment, then finally nodded and let go of my hand.


    I got out of the car alone.


    The soldiers threw my father at my feet. He groaned, struggling to lift his head from the snow, muttering curses as he looked up at me.


    I tried to keep my voice steady, despite the emotions rising in my chest: “Remember me, Dad?”


    He blinked his blurry eyes and stared at me.


    Then suddenly, he burst into mockingughter: “Well, well, look who it is! My dear daughter, Aria Collins! The star of the Collins family. We all thought she forgot about her family after fucking some big shot in the city… But she came back! What are you here for? To see if your poor father is dead yet?”


    My heart sank at his crazedughter. How stupid of me to think years would change him. To think he’d be d to see me back. To care if I was doing OK.


    “I came back to ask about my mother,” I said, my voice dropping cold. “I need to know where she is.”


    He burped and mumbled vaguely, “I told you, that bitch ran away… both of you, ungrateful bitches… I should’ve sold you both to the red–light district at least that way you’d be making me some pennies…”


    “STOP LYING!!” I couldn’t help shouting at him. “I know you’ve been in contact with her! Why hide it from me? What secret from my past are you trying to keep from me?!”


    He flinched, and some of the drunkenness left his eyes<b>. </b>


    Slowly, he gave me a sinister smile. And then he said something I never expected:


    14:13 Fri<b>, </b>Sep 12 B…


    “…You want to know about your mother? Then how about I take you to see her? She’s in town. Right Now


    AD


    <b>cond gift </b>