Chapter 45
2:58 PM
The plane touched down at the Cloud Pack’s airport, the engines sputtering to a halt.
As we disembarked, I spotted a sleek Jaguar parked ahead, its black paint glinting in the sun.
I flashed a smile at Alpha Gideon.
“Alpha Gideon, you go on ahead. Don’t worry about me.”
His eyes flickered with a faint, unreadable look.
Without a word, he strode off.
Elliot tossed me a quick “Catch you later” before hurrying after him, opening the car door and sliding into the
front sea.
Inside the car, Frank’s voice rang through the tinted windows, his tone dazed as he glanced at them in the
rearview mirror.
“Why’s Vivian in a wheelchair? Did her mate hurt her? If we leave her, is she gonna be okay?”
Elliot chuckled.
“Frank, you’re overthinking it. Her injury’s got nothing to do with Alpha Adrian. They haven’t even broken their bond yet, so he’s not exactly her ex-mate. And, judging by how things are going, they might just patch things up.”
“What? They’re getting back together?” Frank asked, incredulous.
“She told us to go ahead and leave her with Alpha Adrian. Sounds like she wants to head home with him, like a proper mated pair. That’s reconciliation vibes, right?”
Alpha Adrian was riding high, pushing my wheelchair through the VIP exit, occasionally brushing a strand of hair off my shoulder or leaning down to murmur something about “getting you home,” his joy so thick I could taste it.
Then he saw Vanessa, and that joy shattered.
She stood on the busy roadside, her posture fragile, like a leaf in a storm, her frame so thin it looked like a breeze could knock her over.
Most striking was the blood-stained bandage wrapped around her forearm.
Ryan, standing by a car, phone in hand, looked like he’d tried to warn Adrian-too late.
Adrian’s face iced over, his jaw locking.
“Alpha Adrian!”
Vanessa rushed forward, her voice breathless, her eyes wide and pleading.
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As she neared, Adrian stepped in front of me, arm outstretched to block her, his voice cold as steel.
“I had your brother pass on my message. If you still don’t get it, let me spell it out: we’re done. No more
contact. Stop chasing me.”
Tears streamed down her face.
“I’m not here to cling to you. I won’t ruin your bond with Vivian anymore. I’ll do whatever you want-go back to just being your friend, like a sister. Is that okay?”
Adrian’s expression softened slightly.
“Good you understand. Now step aside. We’re leaving.”
He wanted her gone, not interested in games, but relief laced his tone-like he was glad she’d finally “seen sense.”
Vanessa sniffled pitifully, then suddenly darted past him and dropped to her knees before me, drawing gasps and stares from the crowd.
Adrian’s veins bulged.
“Vanessa! What the hell are you doing?”
I waved him off, feigning magnanimity.
“Let her speak.”
“Vivian, please don’t blame Alpha Adrian,” Vanessa sobbed, tears flowing freely, her voice trembling with pathos. “It was all my fault, my one-sided feelings. I’ll break things off with him, I swear. I won’t cling to him anymore. Please don’t break your bond with him, I’m begging you.”
She looked like a repentant she-wolf, selfless and sorrowful.
Kneeling there, pleading for him?
Adrian blinked, stunned.
Had she actually come around?
I smirked inwardly.
Retreat to advance? Who taught her that?
“If you’re begging, act like it,” I said, tilting my chin, my voice sharp.
“Slap yourself a hundred times. Make your face swell like a ripe plum, and I’ll consider your request.”
Adrian gaped at me, his eyes wide.
Vanessa’s eyes flashed with fury, then glee-perfect, she thinks I’m showing my true colors-before she bit her lip, closed her eyes, and started slapping herself, each smack ringing out in the quiet airport square.
I raised my chin higher.
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“What, you skip breakfast? Hit harder.”
Onlookers gasped, some pulling out phones to record, whispers rippling through the crowd-“Is she serious?”
“That’s her mate’s other she-wolf?”
“Pathetic. Can’t even slap right,” I taunted, leaning forward to grab her face, my fingers digging into her
cheeks with a cruel sneer.
“Let me show you how it’s done.”
I delivered four hard slaps, back and forth, lightning-fast, each one leaving a red mark.
As I raised my hand for a fifth, Adrian grabbed my wrist, his voice roaring.
“Enough!”
“Enough? She seduced you, tried to wreck our bond, set me up to get hurt, and you’re feeling sorry for her
after a few slaps?”
“Oh, wait, she shouldn’t be the only one. You need to kneel and take some hits too.”
“Are you insane?”
“Not kneeling? Fine, she’ll take it all.”
I turned to Vanessa, whose face was already swollen and bruised, and flashed a radiant smile.
“Any complaints?”
Vanessa shook her head, crawling forward to grab my other hand, her voice a whimper.
“Hit me. It’s not Alpha Adrian’s fault. I’ll take it for him.”
I patted her head, like one would a dog. “Good pup.”
In a flash, I yanked her head down and landed another slap before Adrian could react.
Vanessa crumpled, blood trickling from her mouth as her eyes rolled back-playing dead, how original.
“Vanessa!”
Adrian dropped my wrist and rushed to scoop her up, his face contorted with panic.
“To the hospital!”
Ryan opened the car door, glancing back at me, still in my wheelchair.
“But Vivian…”
Before he could finish, Adrian slammed the door shut.
Ryan gave me an apologetic nod and drove off, the car disappearing down the road.
The crowd’s gazes turned to me-some pitying, like I’d been abandoned, others judgmental, like I was a
monster. But a few?
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15:23
< Chapter 45
They looked impressed, their eyes glinting with respect for a she-wolf who didn’t back down.
I watched the car disappear, a sly curve to my lips.
Across the street, I spotted a parked car, its windows dark.
Frank, who’d driven off earlier, must’ve circled back-he’d seen Vanessa at the exit, her mood swinging from manic to eerily calm, and sensed trouble.
Alpha Gideon hadn’t objected, so they’d stayed, watching.
In the back seat, Alpha Gideon was watching me.
< The Alpha Regret
