Chapter 28: To the Territorial Registry Office, Now!
Chapter 28: To the Territorial Registry Office, Now!
(Aria’s POV)
Alexander stood there, his lips pressed into a thin line. His amber eyes bore into mine with an intensity that made my wolf shrink back. He said nothing, just stared.
“Yeah! They are severing their mate bond, are you happy?” Olivia snapped, unable to contain her anger any longer. “It’s just right to make room for you two scumbags!”
Claire’s perfect features twisted into a frown. “What nonsense are you talking about? Alexander and I are
good friends, we are innocent!” Her voice rose slightly, drawing attention from nearby shoppers. “What does
their mate bond severance have to do with me?”
“Bah! Shameless vixen!” Olivia’s eyes flashed dangerously. “You’ve been after him since you returned! Everyone knows it!”
–
Claire’s face cycled through several emotions – shock, anger, indignation before settling on a calculated
calm. She knew she couldn’t win against Olivia’s bluntness.
Instead, she turned her emerald eyes on me, hatred barely concealed beneath her perfect veneer. “No wonder
Alexander is severing your mate bond. You are suspicious and wrongly accusing people all day long!”
Heat rushed to my face. How dare she?
“You said I wronged you?” I stepped forward, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Do you dare to say
that you didn’t sever your mate bond with Beta David for Alexander?”
Claire’s expression hardened, her mouth tightening. “Why not?”
“How shameless.” I couldn’t believe her audacity. Alexander himself had admitted her motives to me, yet here
she was, playing innocent.
I saw something flicker in Claire’s eyes – surprise that I was so certain. Her gaze darted to Alexander, silently demanding to know why he had revealed their secret.
My patience had completely evaporated. I turned to Alexander, not bothering to hide my contempt.
“I think you should be in a good mood now. After all, you are both interested in shopping.” I crossed my arms,
steeling myself. “In this case, let’s go to the Territorial Registry Office together to complete the mate bond
severance procedures!”
Alexander’s lips curled into a sudden sneer. “Are you so eager to sever our mate bond? Because of Dominic
Blackwood?”
“What?” The question caught me off guard. I wasn’t sure I’d heard him correctly.
Alexander’s scowl deepened, his amber eyes flashing with barely contained fury. “Didn’t Dominic admit it
himself yesterday? He said he was helping you sever your mate bond because he wanted you for himself!”
His voice rose with each word. “What? Don’t you admit it?”
I felt an incredulous laugh building in my chest. So that was his angle?
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Chapter 28: To the Territor
Do you think we’re severing our mate bond because of Dominic?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
What else?” he shot back, his Alpha aura beginning to pulse around him.
The laugh died in my throat, replaced by white–hot anger that spread through my veins like wildfire. My wolf snarled beneath my skin, no longer cowering.
“Alexander, you are so shameless!” My voice trembled with rage. No one – NO ONE – knew better than him how we had reached this point. Yet he had the audacity to blame it on me and Dominic?
“I don’t care whatever you think. Just go to sever our mate bond!” I challenged, my hands balling into fists at my sides.
Alexander’s expression flickered. Something like uncertainty passed behind his eyes, but he remained silent, jaw clenched.
Claire, watching our exchange with barely concealed interest, suddenly nudged Alexander’s arm with her elbow. “What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and agree.” Her voice was sweet poison. “You are being bullied by others, how can you bear it? Alexander, are you still an Alpha?”
“Shut up!” Alexander rounded on her, his Alpha aura flaring so strongly that several nearby werewolves
flinched. “Don’t embarrass yourself here, let’s go.”
He turned and strode toward the exit, not looking back once.
Claire pursed her lips in obvious displeasure but quickly followed after him. “Wait for me, don’t leave so fast!” she called, scrambling to keep up with his long strides.
As they disappeared through the boutique doors, all the energy seemed to drain from my body. I collapsed onto the plush sofa in the rest area, suddenly exhausted.
This was the man I had loved for years. The wolf I had dreamed of since I was a teenager. Yet he didn’t even possess the minimum responsibility of a mate. He was willing to blame our failed relationship on anyone but
himself.
How could I have been so blind?
“Aria?” Olivia’s voice was gentler now as she sat beside me, taking my hand in hers. Her wolf’s protective scent wrapped around me. “Okay, don’t be angry, it’s not worth it to get angry with such a scumbag.”
“Yes, that’s right.” I took a deep breath, trying to center myself. My wolf whimpered softly, confused and hurt by the confrontation.
Olivia tilted her head, studying me carefully. “Well, I have to ask a question. I heard Alexander just say that Dominic admitted yesterday that ‘he wanted you for himself‘. What’s this?”
I turned to look at her and immediately regretted it. Her eyes were burning with unrestrained curiosity, like a wolf who’d caught an interesting scent.
I couldn’t help but laugh despite the situation. “It was Alexander who chased me to where I live yesterday. Dominic happened to send me home, so he helped me get rid of Alexander…”
Olivia bumped my shoulder playfully. “What did I tell you? I said Dominic likes you, right?” Her grin widened. “You are the only one who can’t see it.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.” I stopped her immediately, feeling my cheeks warm. My wolf bristled beneath my skin
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Chapter 28 To the Territor
at the suggestion.
This kind of joke wasn’t something I could entertain. Not with my mate bond still intact, my pregnancy secret, and my entire life in upheaval.
Olivia rolled her eyes dramatically. “Forget it, believe it or not.” She stood and pulled me to my feet. “Come on, let’s finish shopping. You have an interview to prepare for.”
The next day, I arrived at Silver Leaf Herbalists with nervous excitement brewing in my chest. Their offices were housed in a beautiful glass building that seemed to emerge organically from the surrounding forest. Inside, natural light filtered through skylights, illuminating workstations where werewolves carefully measured and mixed ingredients for medicinal remedies.
A graying she–wolf with kind brown eyes greeted me at the reception. “Aria Summers? I’m Matilda, senior manager here at Silver Leaf. Welcome.”
She led me through a series of demonstrations where I prepared several traditional remedies under her watchful eye. Her approving nods made my confidence grow with each successful mixture.
“Your technique with the silver sage is impressive,” she commented as I finished a complex pain–relief tincture. “Most apprentices struggle with the proper dosage.”
By the end of the afternoon, Matilda sat me down in her office. “We’d like to offer you an apprenticeship position with potential for permanent placement after three months.”
My heart soared. “Thank you! I accept.”
“Wonderful,” she smiled, sliding a contract toward me. “There is one detail we should discuss. You’ll be
primarily preparing remedies for our spokesperson’s healing practice.”
My happiness faltered slightly. “Spokesperson?”
“Yes, Claire Watson was recently named our public representative. Her healing skills have brought significant
attention to our cooperative.”
My stomach dropped. Claire? I would be making remedies for Claire?
Matilda must have noticed my expression. “Is there a problem?”
I hesitated, unsure how to respond without seeming unprofessional. 1… know Claire personally. Our
relationship is somewhat complicated.*
Understanding dawned in Matilda’s eyes. “Ah, I see. Rest assured, herbalists work behind the scenes. Direct
interaction with healers is minimal, if any.”
I weighed my options. The position was perfect in every other way, and I needed to build my career now that I
was on my own.
“It won’t be a problem,” I said finally. “I can separate personal feelings from professional duties.”
Matilda smiled approvingly. “Excellent. We expect you to begin tomorrow.”
I stayed late that first day, familiarizing myself with their extensive recipe books and ingredient storage. The
cooperative’s collection of rare herbs was impressive, many of which I’d only read about in ancient texts.
The sky had darkened outside when I finally gathered my things to leave. As I approached my apartment building, a familiar scent hit me – wolf–whiskey, pine, and that unmistakable Alpha musk that belonged to
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Chapter 8 To the Territo
Alexander.
Sure enough, he was leaning against my door, his usually immaculate appearance disheveled. His eyes were
slightly unfocused, suggesting he’d been drinking heavily.
“Aria,” he slurred when he saw me. “Please. Don’t sever our mate bond.”
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