CHARLOTTE’S POV
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The past few days have been the longest I have ever lived. Everything dragged so slowly. And every morning reminded me of who Ace really was. What I saw at the arena that night stayed in my head, and I was determined to stay far away from it.
A lot of people only talked about how deadly and vicious Ace was, and I was one of those people who only heard the stories. I never truly understood it until that night. He wasn’t the same man who had showered me and my son with care and attention. This version of him was different. His eyes were cold, almost bloodthirsty, and the look alone scared me.
That night, Gavin’s driver stopped the car and escorted me toward the arena. I honestly thought Gavin was playing games. There was no way he would bring me here just to talk about my past. It didn’t make sense.
The arena was packed, filled to the brim and almost overflowing with wolves from different packs. I felt completely out of place. All I wanted was to turn around and leave. The air smelled of blood, nothing like anything I had ever experienced before.
It was obvious this place was a fighting ground, and a fight was about to happen. I didn’t want to witness whatever they were preparing for. I turned to the driver immediately. “I’m not comfortable here. Please take me back to the hospital.”
He gave me a warm look. “I would love to do that, doctor, but my boss says it’s important you see this.” His eyes searched mine, like he was asking me to trust him. Instead of leaving, he led me to a section with fewer people, which was a small relief.
I sat there, just wanting everything to end quickly. Then they started announcing the rules of the fight. Not long after, Gavin’s name was called.
I frowned. Was he trying to show off? Why would he bring me to a place like this just to watch him fight? It made no sense.
I was still trying to understand it when another name was called. A name I never expected to hear in a place like this.
Ace.
The way they introduced him was dark, like they knew things about him that other people didn’t. When he walked into the field, my attention locked on him without my permission, I almost forgot how to breathe. They exchanged cold looks, the kind that made it clear they had history, and I couldn’t stop myself from wondering how they even knew each other.
Gavin walked away just as armed men rushed Ace without warning. I gripped the seat, fear hitting me hard because I thought they were going to kill him. I was wrong. They never stood a chance. He moved through them like they were nothing, and that was when I saw the side of Ace I wished I had never seen. He wasn’t the man I knew. His eyes were bloodshot, wild, and empty of anything gentle. When he turned and looked at me, something in him shifted, and moments later Gavin was on the ground.
I couldn’t stay there anymore. I forced myself up and pushed through the crowd, my legs carrying me out of
9:01 Wed, Feb 11
Chapter 57
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the arena and into the woods without any clear direction. I didn’t know where I was going and I didn’t care. I just needed to be far away from that place and what I had seen.
I heard footsteps behind me, Ace followed me. I picked up my pace and started running, he was too fast and he caught up with me easily. I was breathless, my hands pressing against his bare, wet chest as I struggled to steady myself. When I could finally stand on my own, I pushed him away. I couldn’t stand to look at him, not with his eyes like that. They were red, and they scared me in a way I didn’t want to admit.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, catching my arm before I could slip away. “You don’t know your way around here.”
“Anywhere but here,” I said, trying to pull free. “I just want to get away from you.”
He didn’t let me go. Instead, he pulled me closer until there was barely any space between us. We were standing too close, close enough that I could feel his breath on my face, my heart started acting stupid even though my head was screaming at me to move away.
“Let me take you home,” he said, his voice low, almost begging.
“I don’t want you to take me home,” I replied, forcing myself to push him back this time. I stepped away and made sure there was space between us. “I can’t be in the same place with you right now.”
His eyes were still red but I could see the sudden pain and hurt that flashes through them. He stood there like he was searching for the right words and coming up empty. “Do I…” he paused, his voice uneven. “Do I repulse you?”
When I didn’t answer, he looked down. His voice dropped so low it sounded like he was talking to himself, but I heard every word. “I do repulse you. And you hate me.”
When he looked back at me, the hurt was still there, sitting in his eyes like it had nowhere else to go. “Why did you come here? Who invited you? How did you even locate this place?”
“It’s really none of your business, Alpha Virel,” I said sarcastically. I just wanted to be alone, but he wouldn’t let me have that.
A sad laugh slipped out of him. “You’re back to calling me Alpha again?” He ran a frustrated hand through his hair.
“I bet you didn’t want me here. You didn’t want me to see who you truly are,” I said, my hands settling on my waist. “So this is what you do every time you run back to your pack? You hide behind work and meetings? What I saw tonight is who you really are. You enjoy hurting people.” I shook my head. “How did I not see this before? You’re good, I’ll give you that. You’re a liar. You’re a coward. And I don’t ever want to see you again.”
He didn’t reply. He just stood there, taking everything I said without trying to stop me. I turned and walked away, but he still silently followed behind me. I was so angry I didn’t see the big rock in front of me. My foot hit it and I lost my balance, my body lifting off the ground. Before I could crash, Ace caught me. His arms wrapped around me and he pulled me back on my feet.
That was when I noticed the bruises on his body, dark marks covered with drying blood. There were too many. He should have healed already. “Why aren’t you healing?” I asked.
“They’re minor injuries,” he said. “I’m letting them heal naturally, without using my abilities.” I looked at him,
9:01 Wed, Feb 11
#Chapter 57
not believing a word of it. Those were not minor injuries.
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Not long after, I guess he mind–linked his beta because a car showed up. I didn’t want to get in, but my toes were throbbing badly from hitting the rock. I got into the back seat without a word and the car drove off. The drive was painfully quiet.
He dropped me off at the house and I walked in without looking back. I meant every word I said. I didn’t want- anything to do with him anymore, not after what I saw.
He didn’t contact me in the days that followed. But somehow, Damien or Kathryn always found a reason to show up at the hospital every day. One excuse or the other. I wasn’t stupid. It felt like he sent them to keep an eye on me without crossing the line I had drawn.
Leslie noticed the change in me. She asked a few times what was wrong, but I never told her. I didn’t want to explain it.
Ace respected my decision. That part hurt more than I expected. He even sent the documents I needed to sign for our London trip next week, like feelings were never involved. And yet, I missed him so badly it scared me. I wanted to see him, to hug him, to feel safe in his arms the way I always did. I thought the feeling would fade with time, but instead it grew stronger with each passing day.
I was sitting in my office, signing some files, when there was a soft knock. My assistant peeked in and told me Gavin was here to see me. I hadn’t seen him since that night, and I had so many unanswered questions. After a brief pause, I told her to let him in.
In a few minutes he was standing in my office, his face void of any emotions.
“I asked them to let you in because I believe you owe me some explanations,” I said.
He nodded, settling on the couch. “Yes I do but first, there’s something you need to hear.” He took out his phone and placed it on the table. “Something about your true mate.”
He played a voice recording.
田
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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.
