Elle’s POV
I studied Lester’s face as he stood before me.
Mr. Harrison,‘ I said carefully. “What did you want to talk about?”
‘Please,‘ he said, his voice rough. Just Lester. And could we…” He gestured toward a set of cushioned chairs in the ship’s lounge area. Somewhere we can
sit?
I glanced around. The area was public enough other passengers were scattered about, some reading, others chatting quietly.
–
“Alright, I agreed.
Lester nodded, not arguing. We made our way to a pair of facing chairs near the large windows overlooking the ocean.
The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken questions.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “So,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “What exactly did you want to say to me?”
“You,” he said, his voice low and accusatory. “Everything was fine before you showed up. Brad, Mira, Sophia, me relationships, our understandings. And then you appear, and suddenly everything’s falling apart.”
we all knew where we stood. We had our
1 felt a laugh bubble up in my throat, though there was no humor in it. “You’re giving me way too much credit, Lester. Really.”
“Am I?” His eyes narrowed. “Because from where I’m sitting, the timing is pretty fucking suspicious. You show up, and suddenly Brad won’t look at Mira. Sophia won’t talk to me. Everything I thought I knew about my closest friends has turned to shit.”
“Hold on,” I said, raising my hand. “Just hold on right there. You think this is all my fault? You think I have some kind of magical power that made everyone suddenly see their relationships differently?”
“First, I said, holding up one finger, “Brad gave up on Mira six years ago. Six years, Lester. Long before I was even a blip on anyone’s radar. And in those six years, he dated other women. Marissa, for instance. So this idea that I somehow stole him away? That’s bullshit, and you know it.”
Lester started to speak, but I stopped him.
“Even if I had never existed, Brad would have found someone else eventually. The point is, he and Mira were done long before I came along. And you know what? As an Alpha, Brad has every right to choose his own mate. That’s not something friends get to vote on.”
‘But-
“I’m not finished, I said, and there was steel in my voice now. “Second, why the hell are you so hostile toward me specifically? My issues with Mira are purely personal. I’ve never done anything to you, never even met you before this trip, and yet you’re treating me like I’m some kind of enemy.”
Lester’s face was flushing, but I wasn’t done.
“Third, I continued, “let’s talk about Sophia. Are you really going to sit there and tell me you don’t understand why she’s hurt? Sophia proud. And you expected her to share you with another woman? To stand by while you prioritize Mira’s feelings over hers?”
brilliant, capable,
1/3
16:54 Tue, Dec 23 MO‘
Chapter 204
“That’s not ”
Like hell it’s not. I leaned forward, feeling angry now. “You want to know what your problem is, Lester? You’re so used to being an Alpha that you think everyone else should just accept whatever scraps of attention you’re willing to give them. Well, guess what? Sophia is too good for that. She deserves someone who puts her first, not someone who makes her compete for basic respect.‘
Lester’s hands were shaking now, whether from anger or something else, I couldn’t tell.
“And fourth,” I said, my voice dropping lower, “let’s talk about your relationship with Mira. You’re willing to scheme against Brad – your supposed friend- because Mira asked you to. That’s not even friendship. That’s obsession.”
“You don’t understand-
“Don’t I?‘ I challenged. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like you care more about Mira’s happiness than about anyone else’s. Including Sophia’s. Including your own, apparently.”
I sat back, studying his increasingly pale face. “You know what I think? I think you’re so convinced that your feelings matter more than everyone else’s that you can’t see the damage you’re causing. Sophia doesn’t want to be second choice, Lester. No woman does. And the fact that you can’t understand that? That tells me everything I need to know about why she won’t trust you with her future.”
The silence that followed was deafening. Lester stared at me, his mouth slightly open, like I’d just spoken in a foreign language.
“Let me ask you something,” I said quietly. “If Mira and Sophia got into a fight, whose side would you take?”
“I… I’d try to stay neutral-‘
“Wrong answer,” I cut him off. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about. Your mate matters. But you can’t even commit to that, can you?”
–
your potential mate – should know that you’ll stand with her when it
Lester’s face was getting redder. “That’s not fair. There could be circumstances-
“Okay, let me try another one,” I said. “If Sophia was giving birth to your child, and Mira called crying and begging for help with some crisis, would you leave Sophia’s side?”
‘Of course not,” he said quickly. “There would be medical staff. She wouldn’t be alone-
I stared at him. “Jesus Christ, Lester. Do you even hear yourself?”
His face went white.
“Here’s the thing,” I continued. “You’re so busy justifying your divided loyalties that you can’t see how that feels to the woman who’s supposed to be your priority. Let me flip it for you – how would you feel if Sophia had a male friend that she prioritized the way you prioritize Mira? What if she left you bleeding and hurt to go comfort some other Alpha?”
Lester’s whole body went rigid, his Alpha possessiveness clearly kicking in at the thought.
‘Not so comfortable when the shoe’s on the other foot, is it?” I asked softly.
“That’s… that’s different,” he managed.
“Is it? How?”
6
2/3
16:54 Tue, Dec 23 MOT
Chapter 204
He opened his mouth, then closed it again, clearly struggling.
I sighed, suddenly feeling very tired. “Look, Lester, I don’t actually want to fight with you. I’ve got enough problems of my own. My issues with Mira are going to resolve themselves one way or another, and soon. I’ve already shown that I’m willing to back down – that’s why I’m on this ship instead of in Moon Lake City.”
I shifted in my chair, trying to find a more comfortable position. “Here’s the thing you need to understand: if Brad wants to break our mate bond, I’ll cooperate. If he wants to go back to Mira, that’s his choice. I can’t control what he feels or doesn’t feel.
Lester frowned, like he was trying to process this.
“But,” I continued, “if Brad doesn’t want to break the bond, then there’s nothing I can do about that either. You can’t force someone to stop feeling what
they feel, Lester. Trust me, I’ve tried.”
I looked at him directly, seeing the confusion and pain in his eyes. “So here’s my question for you, the one that really matters: Are you absolutely certain
that you believe everything Mira’s been telling you?”
Lester blinked. “What do you mean?”
Comments
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.
