Chapter 42
Alpha Marcus trembled as he reached out a shaky hand to help me up.
I bit my lip, suppressing my anger as I pushed
him away.
“Get lost! While I still have a shred of sanity,
take your Isabella and get as far away from me
as you can!”
Alpha Marcus looked at me in shock, probably
because he had never seen me this furious
before.
All these years, I’d been so submissive that it might have given him the illusion that I wouldn’t hold him accountable for anything.
But now, all I wanted was for him to face the consequences he deserved.
I stumbled back to my room, clutching the
shards of that broken thing.
My tears had run dry, and my heart felt numbed by pain.
Even so, when I pulled out my phone and saw
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Shadow’s adorable face on the screen, my heart twisted painfully.
I had contacted a lawyer, and soon after, the
drafted mate termination agreement was sent
to my phone.
After printing it out and signing, I asked a nurse to pass it along to Alpha Marcus.
I thought I wouldn’t have to see him again before the paperwork was finalized.
But that night, Alpha Marcus appeared in my
room.
He had somehow brought a small puppy that looked strikingly like Shadow, cradled in his
arms.
As soon as he saw me, he carefully held up the puppy, pride all over his face.
“Aria, look! I went all over the pet shops to find a puppy just like Shadow for you. Do you like
it?”
“What an idiot!” Selene growled in anger. “Does he really think a dog can replace Shadow?”
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I didn’t even look at it; I just turned away coldly.
“Alpha Marcus, do you really think a look–alike can replace Shadow?”
“You believe love is transferable, don’t you?”
“Do you even understand that some things are irreplaceable, and once lost, they’re gone for good?”
Alpha Marcus seemed taken aback, his arm frozen in mid–air as he held the puppy.
He fell silent for a long time before speaking, his eyes reddened:
“Aria, why? Why won’t you give me another
chance?”
I couldn’t help but feel it was the biggest joke in the world; I looked at him mockingly.
“A chance? Do you think you deserve one?”
“When you left me and Shadow on that
mountain, didn’t you ever consider giving us a
chance?”
“You didn’t even care whether we’d survive
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up there. You knew I was blind, and a single misstep could mean my death.”
“And Shadow died because of you. I can’t keep the murderer of my beloved near me. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life wanting to vomit every time I see your face–got it?”
*“Well said!“* Selene chimed in support.
Alpha Marcus hung his head, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs. I knew he was crying,
but I couldn’t care less.
Suddenly, he dropped the puppy, his knees buckled, and he knelt by my bed, raising his hand and slapping his own face hard.
The sound of his palm hitting his skin echoed sharply in the empty room.
I remained unmoved, staring at him coldly.
He knew I had a soft spot, and he was trying to
exploit it.
But he seemed to forget that all my compassion
was built on love.
Without that love, whether he lived or died, I’d
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After slapping himself over a dozen times, his
cheeks were swollen, and blood oozed from the
corner of his mouth.
Alpha Marcus looked at me in disbelief, not understanding why I wasn’t affected.
I chuckled softly, my eyes only reflecting
indifference.
“Wrap it up and get out of my sight. I’ll be discharged in three days–meet me at the Elder
Council then.”
“It doesn’t matter if you disagree; I just want a dignified ending for both of us, but I wouldn’t mind tearing the mask off and suing you if
needed.”
Alpha Marcus scrambled to his feet, stumbling
toward the door.
As he reached the entrance, I called out softly.
He turned back, eyes gleaming with hope, but I coldly instructed him:
“Don’t forget to take your dog. Shadow is irreplaceable to me, and I don’t need another.”
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The light in Alpha Marcus’s eyes dimmed, snuffing out like a candle flame.
He didn’t say a word, silently picking up the trembling puppy in the corner, not looking back again.
Just then, a familiar, intense scent of mint
suddenly filled the room.
My heart began to race, every drop of blood in my body boiling.
“MATE! Our destined mate!” Selene howled in
excitement, “Aria! Our true mate has arrived!”
“Selene, are you sure?”
“Absolutely! That smell, that feeling! He’s our true mate chosen by the Moon Goddess!”
A tall figure appeared in the doorway, bathed in moonlight as if a deity had descended.
He had golden hair and deep blue eyes, radiating the powerful aura of an Alpha.
“My Luna.” His deep voice rumbled, “I am Alpha Adrian, and I felt the Moon Goddess’s call. Your are my destined mate.”
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I stood there, stunned, feeling an unprecedented flutter in my chest.
Is this what a destined mate feels like? Even in
such a painful moment, I could still sense that pull from deep within my soul.
Alpha Marcus froze at the door, his face draining of color as he watched Alpha Adrian.
“It’s impossible… Aria is my mate; you can’t…”
Alpha Adrian shot him a cold glance, and his formidable Alpha presence instantly rendered Alpha Marcus motionless.
“A worthless piece of trash who can’t even protect his own mate has no right to speak
about mate bonds.”
He stepped toward me, gently extending his hand, “My beautiful Luna, if you wish, I will protect you with my life.”
*“Accept him! Accept our destined mate!“* Selene urged me, thrilled.
I looked into his sincere eyes, feeling the hatred and pain in my heart meld into something
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But I knew it wasn’t the right time yet.
I needed to settle things with Alpha Marcus before opening myself up to a new beginning.
“Alpha Adrian,” I said softly, “please give me some time to handle these matters.”
He nodded in understanding, “I will wait for you, my Luna. No matter how long it takes, I will wait for you.”
Alpha Marcus observed our interaction, despair deepening in his gaze.
He finally understood–he had truly lost me, and it was forev
