Chapter 34
The banquet wrapped up.
Alpha Gideon emerged looking sharp-eyes clear, steps steady.
But when he handed over his room card to settle the bill, Elliot and I knew he was absolutely plastered.
Camilla, less drunk than last night, scurried to his side, tugging at his arm.
“Wanna come to my place? I’ve got that whiskey you like.”
“No thanks.”
Alpha Gideon shut her down flat.
There was an uneven patch in the hallway carpet, and he tripped slightly.
Before Elliot or I could move, Camilla stepped in front, arms outstretched, ready to catch him.
At the last second, Alpha Gideon reached back.
I felt myself yanked forward, practically flying.
I crashed into Camilla’s arms, our faces inches from a kiss.
I was floored.
Is Alpha Gideon for real?
Was I a wolf bumper? A shield?
Camilla was livid-Alpha Gideon would rather throw his secretary at her than let her catch him?
She stormed out of the restaurant, fuming.
Three days into the job, I had to suck it up.
In the car, I noticed my knee aching.
Looking down, I saw bruises flecked with blood-Alpha Gideon’s iron-hard leg bone had done a number when he pulled me.
My pale, delicate skin bruised easily, and marks lingered for days.
Beside me, Alpha Gideon leaned on one hand, eyes closed.
At the hotel, I called his name a few times.
No response.
Totally out of it.
Elliot and a male hotel staffer hauled the six-foot-three wolf to his room, sweating buckets from the effort.
“Your knee okay? Need ice?”
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Elliot asked, emerging from the bedroom, eyeing my injury.
If this kept up, I’d quit.
It wasn’t easy finding a secretary Alpha Gideon approved of-one who was flawless and capable.
“I’ll ice it back in my room,” I said.
“Go ahead. I’ll stay and keep an eye on him,” Elliot replied.
I nodded. “Cool.”
At the door, I paused, turning back.
“Tomorrow, you’re with Alpha Gideon at the summit. I’m skipping the morning-the factory’s on the west island, a bit of a trek. I’ll head out early to get back sooner.”
Elliot nodded.
“Got it. Call if you need me.”
I hummed in agreement and left.
Back in my room, I showered and sat in a lounge chair, icing my knee.
The cold stung, making me hiss.
The pain made me laugh-half amused, half exasperated.
But thinking it over, this trip-a chance to heal from my shattered bond-was pretty wild.
Not worse than a solo trek to Belmor Pack chasing freedom’s lonely thrill.
Busy and chaotic, I hadn’t had time to dwell.
At the same time, in Cloud Pack.
Cassie met Alpha Adrian at her office.
Outside, the night was dark.
Rain had poured all day in Cloud Pack, the temperature plunging, thick clouds cloaking the pack in gloom.
Alpha Adrian, in a sharp gray suit, hair neat, face clean-shaven, sat with legs crossed on the sofa.
Still the polished, commanding Alpha Adrian.
As if the crazed, broken wolf sobbing yesterday wasn’t him.
“I thought you’d mope a bit longer. Keep up the act,” Cassie said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
“But fine, better you pull it together. Let’s get this process done.”
She slid the bond-severing agreement across the desk.
Alpha Adrian picked it up, flipping to the last page, staring at his signature.
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The date was from a month ago, when he’d returned from a trip.
He remembered that day-I’d come to his office with a stack of papers to sign. I’d been calm, smiling as he
scrawled his name.
“Cooling-off period’s over,” Cassie said.
“When Vivian’s back, you two hit the pack court, get the papers, and this bond’s done.”
He stayed silent, so she pressed on.
“As for the compensation you and your mom promised, Vivian says if you try to dodge it, she’s ready to play hardball. Your little sidepiece left plenty of proof of your cheating. You don’t want another charity banquet disaster, do you?”
Alpha Adrian’s fingers tightened, crumpling the agreement.
“When did she find out?”
“What, feeling guilty now? Save it, Alpha Adrian. You got any right to feel bad? Did you feel guilty when you slept with Vanessa? When you vacationed with her? When you watched sunrises and made cutesy heart signs with her?”
“How long’s it been since you came home? Since you sat down for a real meal with her?”
“When you formed your bond, you promised to take her to Belmor Pack to see the aurora. But when you had time, you lied about a work trip and took your sidepiece instead.”
“Vivian knows every rotten thing you did.”
“When she first found out, she couldn’t sleep, popping pills just to rest. She didn’t cry or fight-she kept working. But one day, she broke. I’ve known her since we were pups, and I’ve never seen her that wrecked. You really did a number, Alpha Adrian.”
“You carved her heart to pieces. She knew you stopped loving her.”
“Remember how you chased her? You were smitten, said it had to be her.”
“She wanted to study arts, but to be with you, she chose finance. For you, she went against her parents. For you, she kept your bond quiet.She worked her tail off to prove to your parents that even without a fancy pack background, she could be your strongest ally.”
“She poured everything into loving you, and you gutted her with one swing.”
“No amount of making up will ever fix the hurt you caused.”
“She sold off every piece of your past together-even the bonding ring. Burned the bonding photos right in front of you, to tell herself never to look back.”
Cassie turned, wiping a tear from her eye.
“I’m not saying this to tear you down. I just want you to know she’s done. If you’re really sorry, finish the bond-severing process. Pay the compensation. Give your nine years some final dignity.”
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<Chapter 34
Alpha Adrian hunched over, pain ripping through him, threatening to crush him.
He tore the agreement to shreds.
“I won’t break the bond. Who says I don’t love her? I love her! I love her!”
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