Chapter 21
ACE’S POV
I left Charlotte’s office minutes ago, but every part of me, including Arix, wanted to turn back. To feel her presence one more time. Being close to her steadied something broken inside me. The noise in my head quiets down whenever she’s
around.
I haven’t felt that calm in years. Her presence calms the storm in my head and the pain in my body. I’m going to make her mine.
I pressed my tongue to my lips without thinking. Her taste was still there. The way her lips had parted for me replayed in my mind. I wanted to be there again, wanted to lose myself in that feeling and never pull away.
She said she didn’t like me, but her body says otherwise. I felt it in the way she trembled to my touch, in the sharp intake of her breath, in how she melted for that brief second before she remembered she was supposed to fight me.
I pretend her words don’t affect me but it does. Every time she says she doesn’t like me, it hurts so much. It feels like she’s tearing something out of my chest.
I don’t just want her to like me. I need her to.
Roman’s chuckle behind the wheel dragged me back to reality. I caught his eyes in the rearview mirror, his lips stretched in a knowing smile.
“Is something funny?” I hissed.
“I like you better when you’re grumpy,” he stated. “Always roaring, always looking for whose head to snap off. This new you?” He shook his head. “Smiling like you are love sick. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.”
A low snarl tore out of my chest. “Don’t call me love sick.”
He immediately bowed his head. “My apologies, Alpha.”
Yet the smile stayed. “This is better. This is the sight I’m used to.”
“Have you found who posted that picture online?” I queried. I needed to know who was stupid enough to post a picture of Moon kissing me online.
“I checked everything,” Roman replied. “There was no one outside or near the meeting room with the elders.”
I scoffed. “So you’re telling me a ghost took the picture?” I asked dryly. “I want a name.”
“The only conclusion I came to is that the picture was taken by someone inside the room with us.”
I stopped breathing for a second. “You’re saying one of the elders took a picture of Moon and me and posted it online?” I shook my head. “That’s childish. The only person stupid enough to do something like that would be…”
“Shit.” The realization hit me hard. My teeth clenched, my hands curling into fists.
“Moon, sir,” Roman added quietly. “My guess is she had it planned before stepping into that room. Or maybe her father took the picture for her.” That made too much sense.
He drove me to my penthouse before heading back to the pack house. Ever since Moon drugged me and tried to take advantage of me, for whatever foolish reason best known to her, I stopped sleeping there. We don’t share a room. She has hers, and I have mine in another wing. These days, I don’t even want to smell her perfume. She irritates me.
1/4
4:35 pm
Chapter 21
I took a cold shower and went into my study to get some work done.
But my mind refused to focus. Charlotte’s words kept echoing in my head. Her voice held so much anger for me. especially after the picture was shown again on the television. If her memories ever return and she finds out that she is the mate I rejected, the one I punished, locked up in prison, had beaten, and banished, she would never forgive me.
For the first time in my life, I closed my eyes and prayed to the moon goddess. Not for my curse to be broken, but for Charlotte not to regain her memories. At least not yet.
I called her nonstop today after the picture of Moon and me kissing went viral. I had never cared this much about what anyone thought of me. People talk and I don’t give a shit, but this time was different. I didn’t want Charlotte misunderstanding the situation.
Moon kissing me in that room caught me off guard. Before I could even process what she was about to do, her lips were already on mine. She had planned it, every bit of it, long before she stepped into that office.
my soulmate. I was going to do everything possible to make Charlotte believe me. Moon means nothing to me anymore. Maybe she once did, but that was in the past. Whatever I thought I felt for her died the time I banished
I walked to the fridge and poured myself a glass of alcohol when I felt her presence. The door opened and she walked in, smiling.
My face twisted into a scowl. “What are you doing here? And how did you get the key?” I barked. She flinched.
Her smile vanished, fear slipping into her eyes. “You have some nerve showing up here after what you did the last time.” Her face crumpled, her eyes turning glassy, like she was holding back tears. She looked sorry, or at least she wanted me to believe she was.
“You can’t cast me out forever,” she said softly. “I was only trying to get you to touch me. If you did your duty as my and mate, I would never have thought of doing that.”
She rushed toward me, arms lifting to wrap around me, but one look at my face made her freeze mid step.
husband
“I need you,” she continued, her voice breaking with frustration. “I need you to touch me, to make love to me. It’s been years, Ace. I’m a woman.”
“I’m not going to touch you, Moon,” I said slowly, making sure every word landed. “I made it clear years ago that I didn’t want to marry you. You insisted. You said you were fine being my Luna only on paper.”
She shook her head, desperation written all over her face. “You loved me once. I can make you love me again. Give me a chance, don’t throw me out,” she begged.
“And you thought running to the elders would help?” I asked, a dry laugh slipping out. “Is that how you planned to do it?”
“I just want you to mark me. I’m your mate and your Luna, and I deserve to bear your mark. Other Lunas carry their marks proudly as proof of their mate bonds. Make me a proud mate and Luna.”
Something in me snapped at the mention of the word ‘mate. I crossed the space between us in seconds, my hand closing around her neck, pinning her to the spot.
“You’re not my mate,” I growled. “You never were. You never will be.”
Her lips slowly curved upward. A soft sound slipped from her throat, low and amused, her shoulders shaking as her eyes lit up with mockery.
“I found out about Charlotte being your mate six years ago.” she said, still smiling. “But I also knew you loved me too much
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4.35 pm
hapter 31
to accept her”
Her words hit me hard in the chest.
“You knew,” I said quietly. “You knew Charlotte was my mate?”
I released her and she crumpled back, coughing hard, one hand clutching her throat as she struggled to breathe. She straightened slowly, eyes watering, then nodded.
“I did,” she said hoarsely. “I went to see her in the cage. I wanted to know why she tried to kill me.” Fler lips twisted. “That was when I heard you talking to her.”
My body went still.
“You slept with her,” she continued. “You like painting me as the devil, but you cheated on me with my own sister.”
She stepped closer, reaching for my face, her fingers shaking. “I was furious when I heard you two that night. But you earned my forgiveness when you rejected her.” Her smile widened. “The fear on her foolish face was priceless.”
Her head tipped back as she laughed, her shoulders shaking.
“That girl loved you,” she went on. “She looked at you like you were her world. Especially that night you saved her from the wild rogues.”
My voice dropped. “How did you know about the rogues?”
“Does it really matter?” she said with a careless shrug. “That girl stupidly adored me. She was always trying to get into my good books.” Her lips curved. “I invited her to hang out with us and she came without asking questions. She was so excited to be around me.”
My jaw tightened at her explanation. She was the one who lured Charlotte out that name that night? And left her by herself in the lonely bush?
“We lost each other that night, but you found her,” she continued. “That silly girl loved and admired you to death. But love doesn’t make her innocent.” Her eyes hardened. “She tried to kill me. She killed our pup.”
My fist clenched at my side, my nails biting into my palm. “The chef said she was innocent.”
She scoffed. “Innocent? She couldn’t stop staring at you. Always stealing glances. Admiring the ground you walked on.” Her gaze burned into me. “But you never noticed her. She was invisible to you. You never loved her.”
“So what changed?” she pressed. “You banished her for my sake. You destroyed her life for me.” Her eyes narrowed. “Why does her name make you angry now? Why do you hate it when anyone talks about her?”
Tears spilled from her eyes, sliding down her cheeks. “Why don’t you love me anymore?” Her voice broke. “I just want you to love me like you did years ago. Please.” She wrapped her arms around my torso, holding on like she would break if she let go.
“I need to bear your mark,” she whispered desperately. “I’m your Luna. I deserve it. You’re not the only Alpha who rejected his mate.”
I grabbed her wrists and pushed her back, freeing myself from her hold. “I am the only Alpha cursed by the moon goddess for rejecting his mate,” I snapped. My chest burned. “I don’t love you, Moon. I don’t think I ever truly did. And I will never love you.” My voice dropped. “Even if I could mark you, I won’t.”
I walked to the door and pulled it open. “Get out of my house. Don’t ever come back.”
3/4
4:35 pin
ppter 21
“You’re going to mark met” she screamed. “I’m your mate! Why do you keep treating me like I’m nothing?”
“Get out!” I roared, barely holding myself together.
She ran past me, out of the house, shaking like a scared cat. She freaking knew. She always knew Charlotte was my mate.
My breathing turned rough, uneven. My hands trembled. I was stupid. So damn stupid.
I dropped into a squat on the floor, my head in my hands, fighting the urge to tear my study apart.
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.
