Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce!-Chapter 180

Aria’s POV

Sophie hadn’t stopped staring at Kael since she walked through the door.

Not in a friendly way.

"So." She leaned back against the counter. Arms crossed. Eyes narrowed. "You’re the famous Bastard Alpha."

Kael’s eyebrow rose. "I prefer just Kael."

"I bet you do."

The temperature in the room dropped about ten degrees.

Lina, bless her, was completely oblivious. She was showing Lilith her collection of stuffed animals. Chattering away about which one was the bravest and which one was the best at sleeping.

I shot Sophie a look. *Behave.*

She ignored me completely.

"You know what’s funny?" Sophie pushed off the counter. Walked closer to Kael. "Aria told me all about you. Three years ago. When she showed up pregnant and crying and completely broken."

"Sophie—"

"No no." She held up a hand. Still staring at Kael. "Let me finish. She told me about this man who paid her off like she was nothing. Who made her feel worthless. Who destroyed her so completely she ran to another territory just to get away."

Kael’s jaw tightened.

"And NOW." Sophie gestured at him. "Now you’re standing in her apartment. Eating her food. Acting like you belong here."

"I’m trying to make things right," Kael said quietly.

"Are you?" Sophie tilted her head. "Or are you just bored? Looking for entertainment? Planning to hurt her again when something shinier comes along?"

"That’s not—"

"Because if you are." Her voice dropped. Got colder. "If you even THINK about hurting her again, I will personally fly back here and make your life a living hell. I don’t care if you’re an Alpha. I don’t care if you’re powerful. I will END you."

I grabbed Sophie’s arm. "Okay. That’s enough."

"Is it though?"

"Yes." I pulled her away from Kael. Lowered my voice. "I appreciate the protective friend routine. Really. But he’s actually trying. He’s been good to me. To both girls."

Sophie looked at me. Really looked at me.

Then she sighed.

"Fine." She turned back to Kael. "But I’m watching you. Very closely. All night."

"Understood," Kael said.

---

Dinner was... interesting.

I’d set the table. Five plates. Five sets of silverware. The lasagna in the center, still steaming.

Sophie sat across from Kael. Her eyes tracking his every movement like a hawk watching prey.

Lina was oblivious to the tension. She was telling Lilith about her favorite teacher. About the art project they were working on. About how glitter got EVERYWHERE and it was the best thing ever.

"So Kael." Sophie’s voice cut through the moment. "What are your intentions with Aria?"

I choked on my water.

"Sophie!"

"What?" She looked at me innocently. "It’s a valid question. He shows up at your door with expensive takeout. Kisses you in front of your children. Acts like he’s part of the family." She turned back to Kael. "So I’m asking. What’s the endgame here?"

Kael set down his fork. Wiped his mouth. Met Sophie’s gaze directly.

"I love her." The words came out simple. Direct. "And I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving I’m worthy of her."

Silence.

Sophie blinked.

"Oh." She sat back. "Well. That’s... that’s actually a good answer."

---

After dinner, Kael helped clear the table. Sophie watched him carry plates to the sink. Watched him rinse them. Watched him load them into the dishwasher with careful precision.

"You don’t have servants to do this?" she asked.

"I do." He dried his hands. "But I prefer doing it myself. Especially here."

The girls had migrated to Lina’s room. I could hear them talking. Giggling. The sound of stuffed animals being arranged and rearranged.

Normal kid sounds.

The kind Lilith probably hadn’t made in years.

Kael checked his watch. "I should probably go."

"What?" Lina appeared in the doorway. "But you just got here!"

"I’ve been here for three hours, little monster."

"That’s not long enough!"

He smiled. Walked over to her. Ruffled her hair gently.

"Your mommy has guests. You girls need time to catch up. Talk about girl things."

"Like what?"

"I have no idea. That’s why I’m leaving."

Lina giggled.

He turned to Lilith. She was standing behind Lina. Quieter. More reserved.

"Goodnight, Lilith."

She nodded. "Goodnight."

Then Kael walked to me.

My heart kicked into overdrive.

He cupped my face. Those black-gold eyes warm. Intense.

"I’ll see you tomorrow," he said softly.

Then he kissed me.

A real kiss. Deep. Thorough. The kind that made my toes curl and my brain stop working.

When he pulled back, I was breathless.

He walked to the door. Opened it. Stepped into the hallway.

The door clicked shut.

I turned around.

Sophie was standing there. Arms crossed. That serious expression on her face.

Then she broke into a huge grin.

"Okay." She threw her hands up. "Fine. FINE. He passed."

I blinked. "What?"

"He passed!" She walked over. Grabbed my shoulders. "I was planning to torture him for DAYS. Test him. Push his buttons. See if he’d snap or get angry or show his true colors."

"You were going to torture my boyfriend?"

"Obviously! That’s what best friends do!" She shook me slightly. "But he passed everything in ONE DAY. One day! Do you know how rare that is?"

My face burned.

"So yeah." Sophie dropped her hands. "He’s good. I approve. You can keep him."

"Thank you for your permission," I said dryly.

"You’re welcome!"

An hour later, both girls were asleep.

Lilith in Lina’s bed. Lina on the floor in a sleeping bag she’d insisted on using because it was "more fun."

Sophie and I were in my room. Sprawled across my bed like we used to do in college.

The string lights from the living room cast soft shadows through the open door.

"So." Sophie turned on her side. Propped her head on her hand. "Have you told him yet?"

My stomach twisted.

"Told him what?"

"Don’t play dumb." She poked my shoulder. "About Lina. About her being his daughter."

I looked at the ceiling. At the crack in the corner that I kept meaning to fix.

"No."

"Why not?"

"I don’t know." The words came out frustrated. Confused. "I keep thinking about it. Keep planning to say something. But then I... I can’t."

"What are you afraid of?"

I took a breath. Let it out slowly.

"I’m human now." The admission hurt. "No wolf. No scent. No connection to their world except through Kael."

"So?"

"So what happens when the pack finds out?" My voice got smaller. "What happens when they realize their future Alpha has a half-human daughter? "

We lay there in silence for a bit. The kind of comfortable silence only old friends can have.

"Speaking of relationships." My voice turned sly. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Any new dating prospects? In the human world?"

She groaned.

Dramatically threw her arm over her face.

"Don’t even get me STARTED. I’ve been on like six dates in the past three months. All terrible. ALL OF THEM."

"That bad?"

"Worse." She sat up. Started counting on her fingers. "First guy spent the entire dinner talking about his ex. Second guy was nice but boring. Like watching paint dry levels of boring. Third guy tried to get me to join his pyramid scheme."

I reached over. Squeezed her hand.

"You’ll find someone."

"Will I though?" She looked at me. "You found Kael. Twice. Against all odds. But what if I’m just meant to be alone?"

We lay back down.

Sophie turned to face me again. That mischievous look returning.

"So." She drew out the word. "Since you’re all happily coupled up now... what about that hot doctor? Cassius?"

My brain short-circuited.

"What?"

"He’s single, right? And nice? And employed? Those are my only three requirements at this point!"

I started laughing.

Couldn’t help it.

"Oh my god." I shook my head. "I see right through you. You didn’t come here to check on me. You came here to steal my doctor friend."