Chapter 9
“I loved you so damn deeply that even after you left all those
years ago, I couldn’t let go of
the anger. I held onto it like a
lifeline.”
“If you had just said you were
sorry–whispered something sweet–I would’ve pulled you
into my arms right then.”
“We’ve shared this bond for
years. You should know by
now, I respond to softness, not
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into my arms right then.”
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“We’ve shared this bond for
years. You should know by
now, I respond to softness, not
pressure.”
He reached his hand out, like he
could just pull me back into the
past.
But I stepped away, my voice
cutting sharp and cold. “Lucas,
don’t come near me.”
His face twisted with pain,
heartbreak written across every
line. “Isolde… vou’re still mad at
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His face twisted with pain,
heartbreak written across every
line. “Isolde… you’re still mad at
me, aren’t you?”
Watching him put on this whole
dramatic act made my stomach
turn.
I couldn’t get a word out.
Instead, I pointed to the
entrance of the pack hospital.
“Move. Now.”
And without a glance back, I
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And without a glance back, I
turned and walked away.
Behind me, his voice rang out, desperate and wrecked. “Isolde, I swear I still love you.”
“Seeing you at the airport to- day… I was beyond happy. I just wanted to get under your skin, to make you stop being so damn
stubborn.”
“You have no idea how good it
felt just to see you again.”
I muttered under my breath,
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“Freaking insane.
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Lucas scrambled to follow me,
but as he turned the corner
into the hospital lobby, two of
Aidan’s Enforcers stepped right
into his path.
I froze, startled, and my gaze
shot to the hallway.
Aidan was already standing
there, arms crossed, watching
me with that unreadable
expression he wore so well.
He didn’t look like someone who
had just woken up. No. He stood
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had just woken up. No. He stood
tall, alert–Alpha energy radiat-
ing off him like heat. Like he’d
been ready for this all morning.
“So… while your mate’s still in
bed, you sneak out to meet your
ex?” Aidan’s tone was teasing,
but there was a sharp gleam in
his eyes.
“I didn’t! I swear! I just needed
some air–I had no idea he’d be
out there,” I blurted out.
He didn’t blink. “All I saw was
you two meeting in secret.”
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My heart thudded hard in my
chest. “That’s not what hap-
pened,” I said quickly, anxiety
tightening my voice. “I swear,
Aidan.”
He gave a cold little smirk. “I might be able to forgive you…
but only if you agree to one
condition.”
Hope flared, quick and foolish.
“What condition?”
His gaze narrowed, the calculat-
ing Alpha King look in full force.
“You never show up late to pick
“”
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His gaze narrowed, the calculat-
ing Alpha King look in full force.
“You never show up late to pick
me up again.”
I opened my mouth, then closed
- it. Speechless.
Alpha Aidan of the Silvermoon
Crest Pack. Impossible to argue
with. Unshakeable. Infuriatingly
smug.
I wanted to cry–but the tears
had run out.
The next day, I couldn’t wait to
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The next day, I couldn’t wait to
get the hell out of that hospital.
But just as my car rolled up
to the front entrance, the
scene that greeted me was like
something out of a bad movie.
Lucas.
Standing right in the way like he
belonged there.
And above him, hanging from
the awning like a goddamn joke,
was a banner:
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And above him, hanging from
the awning like a goddamn joke,
was a banner:
“Isolde, give me one more
chance to win your heart.”
Aidan stared at the scene,
disbelief cutting across his fea-
tures. His voice dropped into a
dangerous growl. “Are you kid-
ding me? Has your taste always
been this trash?”
I buried my face in my hands,
utterly mortified. “Oh my god.
I have no idea what the hell’s
wrong with him.”
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I have no idea what the hell’s
wrong with him.”
“Honey, please,” I begged, “just
get rid of him.”
Aidan didn’t hesitate. He gave a
subtle nod to his Enforcers.
But before they could move,
a blur of fury came charging
down the sidewalk.
Emily.
She launched herself at Lucas
like a wild thing, scratching
and clawing, a full–on feral
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Emily.
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She launched herself at Lucas
like a wild thing, scratching
and clawing, a full–on feral
meltdown.
Lucas didn’t move. Guilt had
carved deep lines into his face.
He stood there and took it, not
even trying to block her blows.
Emily’s rage only grew. She jabbed her finger into his chest
so hard I thought it might leave
a mark.
“Lucas, you pathetic coward!”
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a mark.
“Lucas, you pathetic coward!”
“Golden Crescent Pack is cir-
cling the drain and you’re still
chasing after Isolde like some
lovesick pup?!”
“She’s married to Alpha Aidan now. You’re not just embarrass- ing yourself you’re dragging
the rest of us down with you!”
Lucas just stood there, silent
and shattered, like all the fire
had been drained out of him.
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and shattered, like all the fire
had been drained out of him.
The confident, arrogant wolf I
once knew? Gone. Completely
crushed–maybe by Aidan’s
sheer presence alone.
Then, suddenly, Emily turned to
our car.
Her whole posture shifted- gone was the wild anger. In its place, something strange.
Humility.
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