Chapter 22
Islomme my hands on the erering wheel Farting it svin and eye, my chest pling us for my freathing we all gear place Sweat rolled dosen my forehead and 1 wiped it off angle, then fartheid ning rear away like they were the proident
was pro fex miles away from Ace’s penthouse. My fingers tightened around the wheel his words replayed in my bead. He threw me out like I meant nothing. Like I was come cheap woman who didn’t belong there
He had never allowed me into his penthouse before. Tonight was my first time there. I thought maybe things would change I warned to apologize. I wanted to sit with him, talk to him, remind him of us. But he didn’t even let me get inse
My lips trembled as I reached into the phone compartment and grabbed my phone. My hands were shaking so badly i almost dropped it. I dialed my dad’s number, clutching the phone tight as it rang.
Hello, my cupcake, my father’s voice came through the line the moment he picked up.
“Dad, you need to do something.” I blurted, my voice shaking. “You need to talk to the elders again. Ace isn’t even trying get me pregnant before the full moon.” My throat clamped and I swallowed hard, fighting the tears.
“You need to calm down, Moon,” he urged gently. “I already spoke to the elders once and I believe Ace will do what they asked. Surely, he isn’t bigger than them.” Worry laced his words, but he was trying to comfort me.
“He doesn’t look like he cares what they think,” I snapped. “He knows they can’t touch him.” I grabbed a wipe from the compartment and furiously scrubbed my nose. “Dad, I need his mark. I need to carry his pups again. I want to be a mother.”
There was a short pause before he spoke again. “I’ll talk to Elder Simon. He’s one of the few who can stand up to the Alpha without fear. We’ll give him a deadline. The Moon Ascension Festival is coming with the full moon. It only happens once every six years.”
His tone brightened up. “By then, he must mark you. His wife, which is you, is expected to be pregnant. That night. Alphas parade their pregnant Lunas, or their Lunas with pups.”
He exhaled slowly. “It’s also the night their wolves take over. They barely have control. Some lose their minds completely if they resist. You have nothing to worry about, that night, you’ll have him all to yourself and for the many nights to come.”
“Dad…” My voice cracked.
“Just trust me, cupcake,” he reassured firmly. “He knows the consequences if he refuses to do what’s expected of him.”
After promising that everything would be handled, the line went dead.
The passenger door opened and Roman slid in, holding out his palm like he was collecting payment.
“What?!” I snapped, shooting him a glare.
“The key,” he drawled. “You stole the penthouse key from me. Is that why you suddenly stopped me earlier? Just to steal it?”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not giving you back the key.”
He slowly dropped his hand. “You can keep it. By now, the Alpha is probably calling the technicians to change every lock in that penthouse.”
“It’s late. He wouldn’t do that,” I muttered. He doesn’t hate me that much.
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Roman her cur a short laugh. “Trust me?
Right on cue, two vans sped past us and screeched to a stop in front of the gate. Men jumped out, moving, East.
Roman smirked. “Told you. There was a reason he didn’t want you there, ever”
Fresh tears slid down my cheeks. “What did I do wrong? Why does he hate me this much? We were so in love once”
He shook his head slowly. “Don’t sit there and act like he didn’t warn you. He told you he didn’t want to marry you. He was clear about it. You agreed to his terms.”
“He couldn’t have just stopped loving me like that,” I insisted, my voice breaking. “Everything was fine until he banished my sister. Then the curse happened, but even then he still chose me. He still loved me. I just want him to love me again the way
he used to.”
He sighed, rubbing his jaw. “Men change, Moon. Sometimes you take what you get. And you didn’t help matters. You drugged him, then you posted that picture of you two kissing.”
My tears dried up instantly. My face hardened. “Yeah, I’m sorry for drugging him but I’m not sorry for kissing my husband. The hell! Also, tell me, why does he lose his mind anytime Charlotte’s name comes up? That girl is dead. She’s been gone for years.”
His brows creased as he stared at me. “Dead?” He tilted his head. “How did you arrive at that? Last I checked, she was banished, not killed.”
“Oh shit!” I screamed in my head. No one knows what I did to Charlotte that night and no one must ever find out.
I cleared my throat, forcing my face to stay calm. “I’m not saying she’s dead. I mean… she’s dead to us. No one talks about her anymore. We forgot her face and moved on.”
He studied me for a moment, like he was weighing my words. He didn’t look convinced. “Go home, Moon,” he warned. He opened the door and stepped out. “And let this be the last time you steal from me. You got that?”
I swallowed hard and nodded. I watched him walk to Ace’s car, get in, and drive off.
That night replayed in my head. The night I hit her with my car and watched her body roll off the cliff. That wasn’t the first time I tried to kill her.
The first time was the night I invited her to play with me. I had been hearing feral beasts roaming the forest every night, sniffing for prey. I knew they would tear her apart if they found her.
But Ace, of all people, Ace had to save her.
She was the ugly duckling of the pack. Invisible and forgettable. Ace never looked at her, not even once. What he was doing in that bush that night, how he found her, will always haunt me.
I tried again. When she was cleaning at the pack house, tired and alone. She survived that too. She always survived.
But that night at the cliff, I finally got what I wanted. Charlotte was gone, Ace became completely mine.
I knew she was his mate. I knew one day he would return to her, and I couldn’t allow that. Ending her was the safest choice.
The ugly duckling is dead. She will never crawl back into his life.
And if she ever does, I’ll send her straight back to the moon goddess.
I started the ignition and drove deeper into the woods, a few miles past the safety of the Brownleague pack and far from
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Chapter 29
Ace’s protection. I had to see him tonight. He had been calling nonstop, and I knew better than to ignore him. When he wanted something, he always got it.
I stopped the car and stepped out. I pulled out a small pocket blade and dragged it across my palm, then the back of my hand, until blood welled up. I clenched my fist, letting it drip.
The cabin stood between thick trees, old and half–hidden. The woods were too quiet. No insects, no wind. Just darkness pressing in from every side. The door was slightly open, so I went in.
Inside was cold and dark. The air smelled damp. The only light came from a weak bulb hanging near the far corner, flickering like it might give up any second. I pulled out my phone and turned on the flashlight. Suddenly, my phone flew out of my hand.
Before I could scream, my back slammed into the wall. My wrists were trapped above my head. The wall cracked slightly behind me. He was standing right in front of me.
Growling, breathing hard. His chest rose and fell against mine. I could feel his hot breath on my face, he was growling and breathing hard. His eyes glowed in the dark.
He leaned in slowly, his nose brushing my neck, my jaw, my cheek. He inhaled deeply, once, then again, like he was starving. His growl deepened. His grip tightened around me.
“You’re choking me.” My voice came out broken. His grip loosened at once. I dropped to the floor, coughing, dragging air into my lungs. He stepped back like he’d been burned, his fists were clenched and his chest heaving too fast.
“You reek of him,” he snarled. His nose flared as he paced the small space. “You went to see him tonight. Did you sleep with him? Did you let him touch what’s mine?”
His growl shook the room. He was barely holding it in.
I forced my lips into a smile, even though my hands were shaking. I wasn’t sure he could even see my face clearly. “Calm down. Please.” I lifted my hands slowly. “I didn’t let him touch me. He tried to force himself on me and I pushed him away.”
“Liar!” he snapped. His head jerked toward me. “He’s an Alpha. You don’t just walk away from him.”
My fingers brushed the wall until I found the switch. I flicked it on.
I raised my scratched, bleeding hands. “He did this when I tried to escape.” My voice trembled just right. “I promised you. I told you I wouldn’t let him touch me anymore.”
His eyes burned red. His lips pulled back, fangs sliding out. “He hurt my mate.” His voice dropped. “I’ll kill him. I’ll rip his head from his body.” He turned for the door.
I rushed forward and threw myself in front of him, pressing my body against his chest. “No!”
“Please don’t.” I pressed my palms to his chest. “It’s not the right time yet. He’s not just an Alpha. He’s the most powerful Alpha in America and beyond. He’s strong, hot.headed, deadly.” I shook my head slowly. “He’ll crush you before you even get close to him.”
His lips peeled back, fangs fully out. “Then how long am I supposed to wait?” he snapped. “You pushed me away because of
him.”
“I know.” I reached for his face, forcing him to look at me. “And I know I was wrong. I see it now.” My thumb brushed his jaw, “That’s why I’ve been fixing things. I love you. Only you.” My voice dropped. “You know we have steps to take before we can be together. I can’t do this alone. I need you thinking clearly.”
His
eyes darkened. “He’s the reason our pup died,” he growled. “Because of him. Because of him and his stupid mate.”
4:44 pm
Chapter 29
I hated a finger to his lips, stopping the words, “It’s okay.” I leaned closer, my forehead touching his. “We can have a thousand pups when everything is in place.”
His answer was sudden. His mouth crashed onto mine, rough and claiming, like he was trying to brand me with it
Later, he was sprawled on the bed, breathing slowly and deeply asleep.
I pulled on my clothes quietly and slipped out of the cabin, heading back toward the pack. If Ace keeps pushing me away like this, then I’ll give him a reason to look my way again.
And I already know exactly how.
AD
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
