Chapter 68: SUPERVISION INTENSIFIES

Aria's POV

I opened the door before he could knock again. “You’re persistent.”

Caden stood there, arms crossed, face unreadable. “New orders from Marcus. I’m with you all day. Every movement.”

I stared at him. “You’re joking.”

“I’m not.” He stepped past me without waiting. “Get ready. We start with breakfast.”

“This is ridiculous,” I snapped, grabbing my shawl. “What am I going to do? Sprint away at eight and a half months pregnant?”

“Blame my father,” he said, already heading for the hallway. “Let’s go.”

I followed, muttering under my breath, but he didn’t slow down. Every step he took, I matched, aware of how close he was, how his presence filled the space around me like a wall I couldn’t get past.

The dining hall fell quiet the second we walked in together.

Of course it did.

“Sit,” he said, pulling out a chair across from him.

“I know how chairs work,” I shot back, dropping into it anyway.

His eyes stayed on me as I picked at my food. Every movement. Every bite. It was suffocating.

“Stop staring,” I said.

“I’m supervising.”

“You’re making me uncomfortable.”

“Good.” He leaned back slightly, eyes never leaving me. “Maybe you’ll slip up and tell me what you’re hiding.”

I laughed, short and sharp. “You really think I’d confess anything to you?”

“I think you’re already slipping,” he said quietly.

My fork paused mid-air. I forced myself to keep eating, even though my stomach had twisted into knots.

“Eat properly,” he added. “For the baby.”

“There you go again,” I snapped. “Acting like you care.”

His jaw tightened. “I don’t have to act. My wolf cares. That’s enough.”

I looked up at him, meeting his gaze. For a second, something flickered there. Something raw.

Then it was gone.

“Clinic,” he said, standing abruptly. “You have a checkup.”

“I didn’t ask—”

“You don’t get to ask,” he cut in. “You get escorted.”

I shoved my chair back and stood. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re still here,” he shot back.

Maya looked up the second we entered the clinic, her eyes narrowing when she saw him.

“You’re staying?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“This is a private examination,” she argued. “You can wait outside.”

“No.” His voice was flat. “I stay.”

I crossed my arms. “You’re really going to watch this?”

“If that’s what it takes.”

Maya sighed. “Fine. But don’t interfere.”

“I won’t.”

He stood near the wall while Maya guided me onto the examination table. His presence was like a weight pressing down on my chest.

“Relax,” Maya murmured.

“Hard to do that with him staring holes into me,” I muttered back.

“I’m not staring,” Caden said.

“You are.”

“I’m ensuring you’re safe.”

I rolled my eyes. “From what? A medical checkup?”

“From everything,” he replied.

Maya continued the examination, her hands gentle but efficient. “Baby’s strong,” she said. “Heartbeat is steady.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

Caden shifted slightly, his posture changing. “Good.”

I glanced at him. His fists were clenched at his sides.

“You’re tense,” I said.

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”

“I said I’m fine.”

Maya gave me a look that said drop it.

I didn’t.

“You act like this is your problem,” I said.

“It is my problem,” he snapped. “You’re in my territory. Under my protection. That makes it my responsibility.”

“Responsibility,” I repeated. “That’s what you call it.”

“What would you call it?”

I held his gaze. “Complication.”

His eyes darkened, but he didn’t respond.

Maya cleared her throat. “We’re done here.”

I slid off the table, grabbing my things. “Finally.”

“Library,” Caden said immediately.

“Of course,” I muttered.

The library was quiet, but not peaceful. Not with him sitting across from me, pretending to read while his eyes tracked every movement I made.

I slammed my book shut. “Are you serious right now?”

“What?”

“You’re not even trying to hide it.”

“I’m supervising.”

“You’re staring.”

“I’m watching.”

“You’re being annoying.”

“And you’re being suspicious.”

I leaned forward. “You think I’m plotting something?”

“I think you’re hiding something,” he said. “And I’m going to find out what.”

I laughed again, softer this time. “You really don’t get it, do you?”

“Get what?”

I stared at him, something snapping inside me. “What I’m doing is surviving. In a pack that hates me. Carrying a child whose father won’t claim him. Investigating whether your father murdered my parents.” The words came out fast, sharp. “There. Now you know.”

Silence.

His face went completely blank.

“What did you say?” he asked, voice low.

I froze.

Too much. I said too much.

I pushed back my chair, standing quickly. “Forget it.”

“No.” He stood too, faster than I expected, his hand catching my wrist. “Explain. Now.”

I tried to pull free. “Let go.”

“Not until you tell me what you meant.”

“You heard me.”

“My father?” His grip tightened slightly, not enough to hurt, but enough to stop me. “You’re accusing my father of murder?”

“I’m stating facts,” I said, forcing my voice steady.

“That’s not a fact. That’s—” He stopped, his expression flickering. Confusion. Anger. Something else.

“Ask him,” I said quietly. “Ask Marcus about Theodore Winters’ corruption complaint. See if he tells you the truth.”

His grip loosened just enough.

I pulled free immediately, stepping back. “Or don’t. Keep pretending everything is fine.”

“You’re lying,” he said, but there was hesitation now.

“Am I?”

“Yes.”

“Then prove it.”

He stared at me, his jaw clenched, his breathing uneven.

“Go ahead,” I pushed. “Ask him. See what happens.”

His eyes flashed. “You don’t get to throw accusations like that and walk away.”

“Watch me.”

I turned and walked toward the door.

“Aria.”

I didn’t stop.

“Aria, come back here.”

I kept going.

His footsteps didn’t follow.

I reached the hallway, my heart pounding so hard it hurt. My hands were shaking, but I kept moving, not daring to look back.

Behind me, the silence felt heavier than any shout.

Inside the library, I knew he was still standing there, trying to process what I’d said.

Trying to make sense of something that didn’t fit.

But I’d planted the seed.

And seeds grew.

I pressed a hand to my belly as I walked, feeling the baby shift. “We’re running out of time,” I whispered.

Because now it wasn’t just Marcus and Thorne.

It was Caden too.

Caught in the middle.

Breaking.

And if he broke the wrong way…

Everything would fall apart.