Chapter 95 The Oddest Of Persons

Chapter 95 The Oddest Of Persons
NYRA

The soft rustle of fabric filled the room as Aria folded yet another one of my shirts with more force than necessary.

The sharp snap of cloth between her hands made it clear she wasn’t just folding clothes, but rather she was working through irritation.

I watched her briefly through the mirror before returning my attention to the small jar in my hands.

The cream was cool against my skin as I smoothed it over my arm, slow and deliberate, like I had all the time in the world.

“You’re not even listening to me,” Aria muttered.

“I am,” I replied calmly, not turning. “You’ve only repeated the same thing three times.”

“That’s because you’re not taking it seriously.”

I sighed quietly, rubbing the last of the cream into my skin before placing the jar down on the table.

My eyes lifted to meet hers through the mirror.
“I am taking it seriously.” I muttered.

Her expression didn’t soften. If anything, it hardened. “Then stop acting like getting close to Samantha is harmless,” she said. “Because it’s not, Nyra. You don’t know her. Not really.”

I turned slightly, leaning my hip against the table.

“And you do?” I asked.

“No,” she admitted, frustration edging her voice. “But I know enough to be cautious. You don’t just trust people like that, especially not here.”

I studied her for a moment. Aria had always been like this with her sharp instincts, quicker to distrust than to accept as I had come to know her.

Well, she had always said it had kept her alive more times than I could count.

For the past twenty minutes since she walked in, all she had tried to do was give me reasons why I shouldn't go on with the plan of getting close to her.

I sighed deeply for the umpteenth time after one of her sarcastical comments again.

“I’m not trusting her blindly,” I said. “I’m observing.”

Aria scoffed softly. “By letting her get comfortable around you?”

“By letting her think I’m comfortable around her,” I corrected.

That made her pause. Just for a second but it was enough.

I pushed off the table, turning fully to face her now. “There’s a difference.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, studying me like she was trying to figure out if I was being reckless or calculated.

“Still risky,” she said after a moment.

“Everything is,” I replied simply.

She exhaled sharply but didn’t argue again. Instead, she turned back to the clothes, folding another piece with less aggression this time.

“I don’t like it,” she muttered. “I am scared for you, what if something goes wrong."

“I know, but nothing will believe me." I muttered.

Silence settled between us, softer now but still carrying the weight of her concern. I turned back to the mirror, adjusting the loose sleeve of my top when I noticed Aria had stopped moving again.

This time, it wasn’t frustrating. It was something different. The kind that meant something had caught her attention.

“What is it?” I asked.

She didn’t answer immediately. Her gaze had shifted to the window, her brows drawing together slightly like she was trying to recall something just out of reach.

Then her expression changed not drastically but enough to let me know her next words were going to be serious.

“I forgot to tell you something,” she said slowly.

Something in her tone made my fingers still against the fabric of my sleeve..

“What?” I asked, seemingly very curious.

She hesitated for a second before stepping closer to the window, pushing the curtain aside just slightly.

“There’s been someone asking around for you.”

The words landed heavier than they should have. My stomach tightened instinctively.

“Who?” I asked, already moving toward her.

“I didn’t see him properly earlier,” she said. “But he didn’t look like he belonged here.”

That was enough. I reached the window, my gaze sweeping the area below with practiced ease and then I saw him.

Everything inside me went still. For a moment, the world seemed to narrow down to just that single figure standing at a distance, speaking to one of the guards.

“No…” I breathed under my breath.

Aria glanced at me. “You know him?”

I didn’t answer immediately, because I did and that was the problem.

“He’s from my previous pack,” I said quietly.

Aria’s posture straightened instantly. “What?”

My mind was already racing ahead, piecing together possibilities, none of them good.

“What is he doing here?” I muttered more to myself than to her.

“Should we be worried?” Aria asked.

“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “He is the beta. You remember Kael right, that is his friend."

That alone told her everything she needed to know. Her expression hardened.

“Do you want me to get rid of him?” she enquired.

I tore my gaze away from the window, looking at her fully now.

“Yes,” I said. “Find a way to send him…Out.”

“No confrontation?” she asked.

“Not yet.”

She nodded once, already moving toward the door. “I’ll handle it.”

“Aria,” I called before she stepped out.

She paused, glancing back at me with confidence written over her face.

“Be careful.” I whispered.

A small, confident smirk touched her lips. “Always.” she muttered. Then she was gone.

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving the room quieter than before but not calmer. Not even close.

I turned back to the window, but the man was already shifting away from where I had seen him.

My mind spun with questions, so many of which I couldn't answer at that moment.

Why was he here?

Who sent him?

Did Kael know?

That thought settled uneasily in my chest.
I crossed my arms, pacing slowly across the room. It didn’t make sense. If Kael wanted me back, he wouldn’t send someone like him. No… this felt different.

I stopped mid-step, exhaling slowly. “Think,” I muttered to myself.

But the more I tried, the less everything fit together cleanly. A knock at the door cut through my thoughts.

I froze at first with my mind spinning wildly.

For a brief second, my mind jumped back to the man outside. Had Aria already—

The knock came again. Lighter this time not forcefully.

I moved toward the door cautiously, my senses sharpening with each step that I took. When I opened it, I wasn’t prepared for who stood on the other side.

“Samantha?” I gasped.

She smiled, bright and easy like nothing in the world was wrong.

“Hi.” she muttered.

I blinked once, quickly masking my surprise.
“Hi,” I replied, stepping slightly aside. “What are you doing here?”

She lifted the small box in her hands. “Peace offering?”

My gaze dropped to it briefly before returning to her face.

“Do I need one?” I asked lightly.

She laughed softly. “No… but I thought it wouldn’t hurt.”

There was something disarming about her tone as it felt too natural.

“Can I come in?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.

I hesitated for a fraction of a second. Then I stepped back.

“Sure.” I muttered.

She walked in without waiting further, her eyes immediately wandering around the room with open curiosity.

“Wow,” she said, turning slightly. “Your room is really pretty.”

I closed the door behind her, watching her carefully now.

“Thank you.” I replied finally.

She moved closer to the window, glancing out briefly before turning back to me with a small smile.

“I’m glad things aren’t weird between us anymore.” she said.

I leaned against the table, crossing my arms loosely.

“Me too,” I replied.

She stepped closer, holding out the box toward me.

“I brought cake,” she said. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I just picked something simple.”

I took it from her, my fingers brushing lightly against the cardboard.

“Thanks.” I muttered rolling my eyes as I turned away from her.

“You’re welcome.” she responded.

There was a brief pause, the kind that is usually filled with something meaningful but this one didn’t. It just… lingered.

“Well,” she said after a moment, clasping her hands together lightly. “I should go. I didn’t want to interrupt your evening or anything.”

“You’re not,” I replied.

She smiled again, softer this time. “Still… I’ll see you later?”

“Yeah,” I said. “Later.”

She gave a small nod before turning toward the door. I watched her as she left, her movements unhurried, completely at ease.

The door closed behind her with a quiet click and as silence returned I couldn't help but breathe out finally.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the door for a long minute. Then slowly, I looked down at the box in my hands.

My grip tightened slightly as I moved toward the table, placing the box down carefully.

For a few seconds, I just looked at it. Then I opened it.

The sweet scent of cake drifted up as I leaned closer, inhaling again this time more carefully.

My expression hardened. Without another thought, I snapped the box shut and I didn’t hesitate this time as I picked it up, walked straight to the waste bin, and dropped it in.

The soft thud it made as it landed felt louder than it should have.

I stood there for a moment, staring down at it.

“Nice try,” I muttered quietly.