Chapter 7 Chapter7

I turned my face to the window, throwing his "sister" excuse right back at him. "My new brother's."

Alpha Adrian's expression darkened into something murderous.

In one violent motion, he ripped the blazer off me and hurled it into the rain-soaked grass by the roadside.

My anger erupted, hot and searing.

I threw open the car door and jumped out to retrieve it-I'd promised Frank I'd return it clean.

When I bent to grab it, Alpha Adrian yanked me back.

He leaned in, crushing his lips against mine in a forceful, unrelenting kiss.

I clamped my lips shut, teeth grinding together.

Feeling my resistance, he pried my mouth open with his thumb, his kiss as unyielding as a wolf marking its claim. When he finally pulled back, his heavy, ragged breaths fanned my face, his eyes black with fury.

"Don't pull this crap to piss me off. Think about the pack's reputation for once."

I was beyond speech, my chest heaving with rage.

The blazer lay in the rain, soaking up water like a sponge.

I'd promised to return it clean.

After the weekend's chaos, I came down with a cold and fever that night.

Alpha Adrian stayed home from the pack's moonlit gathering, playing the doting mate-stoking the fireplace, making me herbal tea, almost convincing me he still cared, at least for show.

By midnight, my fever hadn't broken.

I felt groggy, miserable, my body aching like I'd run a hundred miles.

Bzz-bzz-

Alpha Adrian's phone vibrated.

I propped myself up, and both our eyes flickered to the screen. 11:50 PM.

The name flashing: My Vanessa.

What an intimate little contact name. It made my blood boil.

I stayed silent, watching him, waiting.

Alpha Adrian's handsome face betrayed a flicker of unease, though he tried to play it cool, his jaw tightening.

His phone kept buzzing-calls, video chat requests, then a relentless stream of texts, bold and unapologetic, like Vanessa knew exactly who was in the room with him.

"Not gonna answer?"

I asked, my voice cool and sharp, cutting through the silence.

Only then did Alpha Adrian grab the phone.

Without glancing at the screen, he powered it off and set it back on the coffee table.

He reached out, touching my forehead, his palm warm against my skin.

"Still warm. It's okay, sleep. I'll keep watch, like old times."

I lay back and closed my eyes.

An hour later, my breathing was steady, like I'd drifted off.

Alpha Adrian picked up his phone, switched it back on, and slipped out to the porch.

After scanning the texts, he made a call, his voice hushed, almost tender.

"She's okay, don't worry. I'm coming over now. the elders won't notice I'm gone."

He grabbed his coat and left, the door clicking shut softly behind him.

Behind him, my eyes opened. I hadn't slept a wink.

I didn't even know what I was still hoping for.

A wolf whose heart had strayed was like a rotten branch-no amount of tending would make it bloom again.

At 5:30 AM, Alpha Adrian returned, the faint scent of Vanessa's floral perfume clinging to his shirt.

Seeing me still "asleep," he exhaled in relief.

He touched my forehead-no fever. Good.

He headed to the bathroom for a shower, the water running for an unusually long time, as if he were scrubbing away evidence.

When he came out in a towel and slid into bed, he wrapped an arm around my waist from behind, his body warm against mine.

I waited until his breathing deepened, then gently lifted his hand off me and sat up.

My cold gaze studied the sleeping wolf.

His face was as striking as ever-full lips, sharp jaw, that damn sexy line of his throat.

My eyes landed on a row of delicate bite marks along his collarbone, fresh enough to still be pink, a clear claim from another she-wolf.

My chest felt like it'd been skewered with a stake.

When Alpha Adrian woke, I was already up.

Downstairs, I was in a woolen apron, setting out breakfast for two on the wooden table, calling him over to eat with a smile that didn't reach my eyes.

"Your fever just broke. Why not sleep in?" he asked, reaching to check my forehead.

I dodged subtly, pouring him a cup of coffee.

"Just a little cold. I'm fine, thanks to your 'care.'"

I untied the apron and sat, my posture straight.

Alpha Adrian's hand hovered awkwardly in the air, but seeing me calm, no longer yelling, he let it go.

He sat across from me, reaching for a slice of toast.

"Got something to talk about," I said, my voice steady.

"What's up?"

Alpha Adrian asked, sipping his coffee, his eyes narrowing slightly-he could sense something was off.

"I'm quitting my job at the pack's council support department."

Alpha Adrian froze, caught off guard.

The supporting department was where I'd first caught the elders' attention.

Before he could ask why, I continued,

"I've been grinding for years, organizing hunts and ceremonies. I'm burned out. I wanna try living the high life, like some fancy pack matriarch who doesn't lift a finger."

He studied me, gauging if I was serious, if this was another test.

"You're not messing with me? The elders will ask questions-"

"Nope. What, you think I'm some workhorse who can't enjoy the perks of being an alpha's mate?"

I teased, smiling, my tone light but my eyes dead.

Alpha Adrian thought it over and nodded, relief flooding his features-maybe I was finally accepting my role, stopping the fights.

"Alright, quitting's fine. Stay home. Maybe it's time we think about cubs."

I smiled, my fork clinking against my plate.

Yeah, right.

You want me to pop out cubs while you're off howling with Vanessa every full moon? Keep dreaming.

"I'll handle the resignation this week," I said.

"Also, I'm planning a trip to visit the Silverpine pack. Already set it up with Cassie. It's been forever since I traveled, and their full moon festival is supposed to be amazing."

"Her herbal shop's not swamped? She's got time to jet off with you?"

Alpha Adrian asked, skeptical-Cassie was the pack's healer, rarely leaving her post.

"Oh, she's slammed, but she's making time for me. We're old friends, remember?" I said, my smile bright, too bright.

Alpha Adrian went quiet, his brow furrowing, like he was piecing something together, but he let it drop.

After a beat, he said, "A trip could be good. I'll arrange for the pack's car to take you, and I'll send a guard, but you can never be too careful."

I smiled again, neither agreeing nor refusing.

The gash on my forehead was too noticeable, a jagged line that screamed "abused mate," and I didn't want to show up at the pack council support center looking like a tragedy during my resignation.

So I took a few extra days to recover, wandering the woods alone, letting the fresh air clear my head.

With time to spare, I slowly packed my things-clothes, shoes, books-bit by bit, moving them to my hidden cabin in the hills, a place Alpha Adrian didn't know existed.

Today a little, tomorrow a little more.

The closets were noticeably emptier, the shelves bare.

But Alpha Adrian? Clueless, too busy texting Vanessa, laughing at her jokes, his attention elsewhere.

I even burned our mating ceremony photo in the fire pit, right in front of him, the flames curling around the paper, turning our smiling faces to ash.

He was too busy on his phone, chuckling at something.