Chapter 13: Don’t Touch Me!
Clam
Theodore stood in the doorway, his face white with shock and fury. My grip on Evelyn’s hands tightened unconsciously as panic shot through me. Had he heard our conversation?
Then I remembered-my office had the same soundproofing materials as the Alpha’s office. Theodore had personally designed it that way. He couldn’t have heard anything from outside the door.
Relief flooded through me, followed immediately by dread as Evelyn suddenly stood up.
“Theodore!” Evelyn’s voice was sharp with accusation. “What exactly is your relationship with that bitch
Clara?”
My face went white. I couldn’t let him know I already knew about the affair-not yet.
“What do you mean?” Theodore’s amber eyes flicked between us, confusion replacing the initial shock.
I jumped in quickly. “Evie is talking about the scandal between Caleb and Clara.” The lie tasted bitter on my tongue. “As Clara’s Alpha, how do you plan to discipline her for corrupting your pack member?”
Evelyn looked at me with bewilderment. I caught her eye and winked, hoping she’d understand my nervousness, that I needed Theodore not to know I’d discovered his betrayal.
Understanding dawned in her eyes. She played along, turning back to Theodore with manufactured fury. “That slut seduced my fiancé! What are you going to do about it?”
Theodore’s expression softened with what looked like genuine relief. He crossed the room in two strides and pulled me into his arms, his familiar scent wrapping around me like a suffocating blanket.
“My love,” he whispered against my ear, his breath warm on my skin. “I’ll always side with you. We can punish Caleb or Clara however you want.”
His arms tightened around me, coaxing and pleading. “Please don’t be angry. You know I can’t bear it when
you’re upset.”
The tenderness in his voice broke something inside me. Memories flooded back-meeting him as children, our first dance, our mating ceremony. He’d pulled me out of the wreckage of my broken family, held me through the agony of losing my mother.
How could the same man who’d sworn to grow old with me betray our mate bond so completely?
Even with my wolf in deep slumber, I couldn’t suppress the surging sorrow threatening to tear my heart
apart. My hand pressed against my chest, trying to contain the pain.
“Theodore must completely sever Clara’s pack bond,” I said, my voice ice-cold and rising to almost a shout. “Make her leave the pack and never see her again. Forget her.”
My bloodshot eyes stared directly into his. “Can you do that, Theo?”
Chapter 13 Don’t Touch Me!
Theodore seemed confused by my intense reaction, but Evelyn jumped in before he could respond.
Cinim
“Yes! Drive that bitch out of Stonehaven City!” she demanded. “If you don’t comply, I’ll beat her every time I
see Clara!”
“Of course,” Theodore said solemnly, his hands cupping my face. “Caleb’won’t maintain any relationship
with Clara. She’ll leave Stonehaven City.”
He leaned down to whisper in my ear. “As long as my little wolf is happy, I’ll do anything.”
“I know,” I replied flatly. “You always keep your promises to me.”
At least this meant I could spend my remaining weeks in peace, without being disgusted by Clara’s
presence.
“Let’s have lunch,” Theodore suggested, his arm still around my waist. “Since Evelyn’s here, I’ll call Caleb to join us.”
The high-end Western restaurant’s private room felt suffocating. I watched Caleb grovel for Evelyn’s forgiveness while Theodore played the supportive friend, helping him craft the perfect apology.
Their performance made my stomach turn.
“Excuse me,” I stood abruptly. “I need the restroom.”
Evelyn followed immediately.
In the marble-appointed restroom, she turned to me with urgent eyes. “Livvy, is Theodore really involved with that bitch? Did he really betray you?”
I gripped the edge of the sink, staring at my reflection.
Evelyn continued, “Maybe it’s a misunderstanding-”
“I saw it with my own eyes.” The words broke from me like a dam bursting, and suddenly I was sobbing.
Evelyn hurriedly wiped away my tears, her own eyes growing moist. “Why won’t you let me confront him? He’s an Alpha, how can he treat his destined mate like this! You’re his Luna, you’ve sacrificed so much for
him.”
“Thank you for standing by me. It’s not time yet.” I whispered as she brushed the hair from my face.
“What’s your plan?” she asked softly. “I can help you, whatever you need.”
Despite knowing Theodore longer, Evelyn had always been closer to me. But I couldn’t put her in danger.
“I’m going to sever our mate bond and leave for somewhere he can never find me.”
“Where?”
“You’ll know in time. But please, keep this secret. I’ll contact you after I leave.”
Her eyes filled with worry, but she nodded.
Chapter 13. Don’t Touch Me!
Claum
When we left the restaurant, a gleaming red Ferrari sat parked at the curb. Theodore emerged from the
driver’s seat, dangling the keys with a hopeful smile.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
Pack members gathered around us, their voices full of admiration.
“Alpha Theodore is so devoted!”
“Luna Olivia must be blessed by the Moon Goddess to have such an amazing mate!”
In the past, such comments would have filled me with joy. I would have thrown myself into his arms,
glowing with happiness.
Now, I coldly took the keys without even saying thank you and walked past him.
The pack members noticed my coldness, whispering among themselves.
“Maybe Alpha Theodore did something wrong?”
“Impossible! He’s completely loyal. Remember when he used himself as a hostage to save Luna from those rogue wolves?”
I just wanted to escape. As I reached for the car door handle, Theodore suddenly appeared behind me, grabbing my hand and pressing a passionate kiss to my forehead.
The familiar gesture that had once made me melt now felt like a violation.
I shoved him away with all my strength and slapped him across the face, the sound echoing through the
night air.
“Don’t touch me!” I shouted.
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