Chapter 5 Chapter 5

SYDNEY'S POV

"I threw that damn mate bond dissolution request into the shredder," he spat. "I've already canceled an important meeting for you, I can't waste any more time."

He hadn't changed one bit. He was still that angry, impatient Alpha I'd left behind who thought the world revolved around him. Rather, "my world". If he didn't want his time wasted, why the hell did he follow me back there?

Whether he threw the documents into the shredder, or burnt them to ashes with a lighter from his study, or kept them somewhere, none of that was my business.

I stepped back from the door and stared angrily at his face.

"My intention to dissolve our mate bond is serious and solemn. If you don't accept it by agreement, then I will have to file a formal request with the Elder Council. That will only waste more of your "precious"time, Alpha Alexander!" I made that much clear.

At a point, my mind would slide back to think about the mysterious wolf who was probably still hiding somewhere in the house. I was also standing in front of the door and making sure to block Alexander from taking a peek inside and seeing something he shouldn't. The case might just escalate further from an ex-mate bickering over bond dissolution into something more dangerous.

Alexander climbed even closer towards the door. But I couldn't move an inch back at that point because it was the furthest I could go in protecting the entrance. But I silently reveled in the fact he was affected that I wasn't stepping away from him anymore.

Alexander gritted his teeth and said, "I'll say it one last time, whether we dissolve this bond or not is not up to you!"

"You know this is a crucial time for The Alpha Council elections campaign."

At a time like this, all he cares about is his own election.He even had the nerve to tell me that I had no say in the matter. That I had no right on my part to break off the alliance? Thanks to Alexander, the fear I'd been feeling initially, due to the mysterious wolf from earlier, had now turned into annoyance.

How dare he presume to dictate my choices, to deny me agency over my own life? I had tolerated his domineering attitude for far too long, but now I had reached my limit.

But I realized sooner that there was no reasoning with him. In fact, I didn't have that much time on my hands either, to spare for arguing with him. Alexander would always be stubborn like that.

I swallowed hard and bit back the next words I'd intended on hurling at him.

Instead, I sighed and asked, "You really want to talk about this?"

"Yes, and you're coming with me now!" he demanded. His tone brooked no argument.

I stood there for a moment, exhausted and rubbing temples tiredly before reluctantly agreeing, "Fine, if you're so interested in wasting your time talking, why not."

After taking a quick glance back into the house and not seeing that mysterious wolf anywhere in sight, I thought to myself that stepping out at that time would probably be in our interests. He probably also needed to leave.

I walked out of the front door and shut the door behind me.

"After you,"I said to Alexander.

He turned from me with a frown and stepped off the porch, while I followed behind him.

I walked slowly behind Alexander, who was striding angrily ahead of me, and while he continued to march ahead, my eyes caught a metal pole lying in the garden close by. It was a simple tool, but at that moment, it was the perfect weapon I needed.

Glancing back at Alexander, who was still a few steps ahead of me, I took a deep breath and stepped away from the path to pick up the pole from the ground.

The object was quite heavier in my hands than I'd imagined, but that was less of the problem. The problem was right in front of me.

My wolf, Aria, stirred within me, her voice sharp and urgent.?'Sydney, you'll need more than human strength to take him down. Let me help you. Just a little shift-enough to give you the power you need.'

I hesitated for a moment, but I knew she was right. Alexander's strength far surpassed mine in my human form. If I wanted to knock him out, I needed more than just my own strength.

I closed my eyes briefly, focusing on the bond between Aria and me. I felt the familiar surge of power as my claws extended slightly, my senses sharpening, and my muscles tightening with newfound strength. It wasn't a full shift-just enough to give me the edge I needed.

I began walking behind Alexander, the pole held tightly in my hands. I positioned myself right behind him and waited for the perfect time to strike. When he stopped to look at something on his phone, I saw my opportunity, and with all my strength, swung the pole.

The impact was solid, and I felt the force of the blow reverberate through my arms. Alexander's body stiffened for a moment before he crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Aria growled softly in my mind, her voice tinged with satisfaction.?'Well done, Sydney. He won't be bothering us for a while.'

I hadn't expected him to get knocked out that quickly. Despite all his bravado, he crumpled to the ground, unconscious after one blow to his head. Look at all that aggression sprawled on the ground with him.

After dropping the pole, I went to meet Beta Johnson waiting outside the gate.

"Come and take your Alpha out of my premises," I said.

Johnson sat up in the driver's seat.

At first, he didn't seem to have understood what I was saying. Then, he looked behind me and sprang out of the car when he saw Alexander lying on the floor.

"Alpha Alexander, Alpha Alexander!" he exclaimed, rushing to Alexander's side, checking for any signs of consciousness.

Alexander was out, unfortunately.

Even when the Beta tried to lift Alexander up, he was too heavy. But he eventually was able to lift Alexander over his shoulders and carry him away.

Alexander's hands dangled ridiculously over the man's shoulders. With some effort, Johnson managed to shove Alexander's body into the backseat of the car.

Then he returned to me after closing the door.

"Luna Sydney-"

I held out my hand to silence him.

"A new Luna will soon inherit that title, please call me Miss Turner. Also, tell your Alpha that I will resend him a mate bond dissolution request. Please sign it as soon as possible, so we don't waste each other's time."

Johnson nodded with the kind of expression that said, 'I don't mean to get involved'. He turned after a curt bow.

"Have a good day," I said into the wind after him as he settled into the car with his Alpha and started the engine.

I waited until the car had zoomed off into the distance before I finally turned away from there. And when I saw my front door again and remembered who was still waiting inside, the tension and fear that had left me earlier, returned.

At first, I thought to myself. Should I just take this opportunity to run away?

But something held me back, I didn't know what. Aria growled softly in my mind, her voice steady and reassuring.?'Sydney,You don't run from danger-you face it. Besides, this is your territory.'

I took a deep breath, letting Aria's words ground me. She was right.

I kept on walking to the door.

I pushed the door open after a deep breath and stepped inside. But I didn't go too far from the door, only using my eyes to search around for any signs of him. But he was nowhere. I walked even further into the house and looked around a bit more dedicatedly.

He really was gone.

I wouldn't have been able to explain the relief that descended on me right there and then, as well as the immediate anger that someone had actually come into my house despite the tight and expensive security.

Angrily, I marched to the landline and dialed the number for the security company.

"I need to upgrade the security system for my villa," I snapped as soon as I reached the other end, not bothering to sound friendly. "Villa number 27, in the hills. Your security system failed me tonight, and I won't tolerate it any longer. My life was in danger just moments ago."

The operator on the other end of the line was saying something but I was already too annoyed to listen patiently.

"We apologize for any inconvenience, the operator apologized, "We will send a team to upgrade your security system as soon as possible."

I gave them my villa number again. "I expect your team to be here first thing in the morning," I added and hung up the phone with a frustrated sigh. The events of the evening had rattled me already in a matter of minutes. Just when I thought I could finally rest, my phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID and sighed. It was my father, Alpha Michael of the Shadowmoon Pack.

I answered the call reluctantly.

"You must come to my birthday gathering this weekend with Alexander!" Dad's voice roared through the phone, and before I could respond, he hung up.

I rolled my eyes in speechless frustration. Dad had always been adamant about me being with Alexander, despite my repeated attempts at showing how much I hated it. He saw our mating bond as a political alliance, not a personal choice, and he refused to accept that I wanted out.

I pulled out my phone, opened the call log, and found my dad's number. With a firm press of my finger, I brought up the options menu and selected "Block Number." A confirmation message popped up, and I tapped "Confirm." The number disappeared from my contacts; outrightly banished from my phone.

I dropped the phone on the couch, sank down to the floor, my back against the soft cushions, and rested my head tiredly on the arm of the couch.

Despite how angry and upset I was, I knew I still had to go back for a visit this weekend. It was Dad's birthday, and it wouldn't be the perfect opportunity to announce my intention to dissolve the mate bond with Alexander. They needed to see that I was really serious about outing myself from it all.