Chapter 13
Nadia’s POV
I spent the whole morning in a meeting at the Pack. By the time the clock struck noon, I finally had a moment to breathe. As I stepped out of the conference room, a message from Marcus popped up on my phone.
[I’m waiting for you at the Italian restaurant downstairs.]
Lately, Marcus had developed the habit of coming back every afternoon to have lunch with me. This wasn’t the first time the members of the Amavorn Pack had seen him doing this. I caught glimpses of admiration and jealousy flickering across the faces of the female Pack members. It must be such a
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privilege to be cared for by an Alpha like him -thoughtful, reliable, and always punctual like clockwork.
Downstairs, Marcus was waiting for me by the entrance. As we walked toward the restaurant, he slipped his arm through mine, and we laughed and chatted.
“I’ve already ordered lunch,” he winked at me, “everything you like.”
I couldn’t help but smile, half amused and half exasperated. “You really don’t have to do this every day. Your Pack is so far from here. It must be exhausting to run back and forth.”
“If I don’t come, will you eat on time?” His voice was soft but unwavering. “I’ve seen your medical reports. You have chronic gastritis. You need regular meals–no exceptions.”
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I paused for a moment. I’d had stomach issues for years, especially during those three years in the Rhoskar Pack. When Rhoskar was first starting out, I was always so busy that I barely had time to eat. Over time, it developed into a chronic problem. But Roland never noticed. To be honest, he never really cared about me, did he?
“Fine,” I said with a smile, surrendering, “I’ll listen to you.”
But just as we walked into the restaurant, we ran into Roland. No one had expected this scene–and judging by his expression, he clearly hadn’t expected it either. He had been looking for me in the Amavorn Pack for days, as though I had vanished into thin air. And now, here I was standing beside another
man.
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“Nadia!” Roland’s eyes locked onto me as he reached out to grab my arm. “I finally found you! Come home with me!”
Marcus reacted quickly, tightening his arm. around me to shield me.
“Alpha Roland,” his tone was warning, “can’t you see? She doesn’t want to go with you.”
Roland froze. He wasn’t often in this part of the territory, but he knew who Marcus was.
“Alpha Marcus,” he said, struggling to stay calm, “she’s my mate. Don’t you think it’s inappropriate to be hugging another man’s mate?”
He turned to me. “Nadia, darling, this is a misunderstanding. The situation with
Brianna-”
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He tried to explain, hoping to bridge the gap between us with his words. But I interrupted him without hesitation.
“The situation with Brianna?” I cut him off. “I don’t care. This isn’t Rhoskar Pack. I suggest you watch your words here.”
I paused deliberately. “By the way, I added, “I’m no longer your mate. Didn’t you personally sign the papers to dissolve our mate bond? I left them in your safe–unless you’re blind, I’m sure you saw them.”
“So from now on,” I continued, “don’t touch me. Marcus is a bit of a jealous guy.”
At those words, Marcus stiffened slightly. I’d called him that since we were pups. His ears turned a faint red, while Roland’s face drained of color. His body trembled slightly, but he forced himself to remain composed.
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He stared at me, his voice low and commanding. “You can’t just erase
everything we had, Nadia, as though it never meant anything.”
He turned to Marcus. “Alpha Marcus, I know your Pack has power in the Southern Pack Alliance, but I’ve also heard you’re engaged. Don’t you think it’s a little shameless to flaunt your affair in public? Aren’t you worried your fiancée will find out?”
Then, as if he still had the right to, he turned the blame back on me.
“Nadia, I can explain everything about Brianna. I’ve only ever loved you. What you’ve done these past few months, or what you’ve become, doesn’t matter. If you come back now, I’ll protect you–even if it means going up against the Alpha of Drakemere
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Pack.”
Once, those words might have moved me. But now, they just made me sick.
My wolf snorted in my mind. “Love that comes too late is worth less than dirt.”
“Wow,” I nearly laughed. “You really have a high opinion of yourself, don’t you? I must have been way too kind to you all these years, for you to completely forget your place.”
“Let me make this clear.” I pointed at myself. “I-” I paused, making sure my words hit. “I was the one who initiated our mate bond. I decided when it would begin. Now, I’m saying it’s over. You don’t have a say in it.”
“You?” I pointed at him. “Aren’t you obsessed with that fragile female wolf, Brianna? I’m
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setting you free. You can officially have her now. But look at you, here you are, regretting
it.”
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