Chapter 17
After Deacon finished speaking, Chelsea was stunned for a moment. Then she gently shook her head and reassured him,
“Mr. Munro, you don’t have to blame yourself. What happened wasn’t your fault. Even if it hadn’t been Anna, it would’ve
been someone else.”
Adam had enough room in his heart for her and someone else at the same time. Things ended up like this because his love had never been pure enough, or lasting enough.
“I’m just glad you don’t blame me. But stop calling me Mr. Munro. Just call me Deacon.” Deacon said with a faint smile, trying to sound lighthearted.
He grinned. “I’m done being a lawyer. I’ve decided to dedicate myself to building up the pack in the town just like you. From now on, consider me your right-hand man.”
“You don’t have to do this. I’m really fine now,” Chelsea replied, trying to politely refuse.
“I know you are. I just want to learn from you and do what I can to help.”
Deacon deliberately ignored her rejection, smiling as he took the initiative to take the bow from her hands and continued teaching the children.
Deacon settled in the town and spent most of his days helping with pack construction and training the young wolves.
He looked after Chelsea with unwavering attentiveness, always anticipating her needs and respecting her boundaries.
Without overstepping, he offered her quiet, overflowing love.
Every werewolf in the town could see he had feelings for her. Even Traci often urged Chelsea to give him a chance. But it
only made Chelsea feel conflicted.
That evening, as the sun began to set, Chelsea climbed up to the observation platform to watch the sunset.
Deacon had followed her up at some point. He handed her a peeled apple.
“Try it. It’s sweet.”
“Thanks,” she said, taking it, but she didn’t eat. Instead, her eyes were fixed on the distant horizon, painted crimson by the
dying sun.
“Deacon, are you really happy here?” she asked softly.
“Yeah, I am.” Deacon nodded. “Anywhere you are, I’ll be happy.”
Chelsea looked away. “I know how you feel. But I can’t love anymore. I don’t have it in me. Don’t waste your time on me just because you feel guilty.”
She handed the apple back to him. “A few days ago, I found a worm in an apple. I don’t think I’ll ever eat one again.”
Deacon didn’t flinch. “Chelsea, life is long. I believe one day you’ll heal and move on. You’ll believe in love again. It’s okay if you don’t want apples anymore. There are other fruits.” Deacon insisted.
Chapter 17
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He said something like that wasn’t because of guilt. It was because he had truly loved Chelsea.
From the moment he first saw her five years ago, he had fallen for her.
Back then, he had deliberately applied to work for her parents’ pack as the beta’s assistant, then became the legal consultant of the pack. He had done everything he could just to get close to her.
He was willing to wait, no matter how long it took.
Even if he could only stay by her side as a friend for the rest of his life, just watching her live well would be enough.
As the sun dipped below the horizon and twilight swallowed the last of the golden light, Chelsea didn’t say another word. She quietly stood up and walked away.
Forget it, she thought. If I can’t talk him out of it, then I won’t try anymore. He’ll come to understand someday.
Meanwhile, Adam had never given up on looking for Chelsea.
Every time he found a lead and rushed over, he’d discover she had already bought tickets to multiple places.
She was deliberately hiding from him.
The more he realized this, the more panicked and the more irritable he became. His frustration turned into aggression. He lashed out during meetings with other pack Alphas, causing several deals to fall through. The reputation of his pack began to suffer.
Pack elders and pack members joined forces to protest, demanding that the Alpha be replaced.
“Alpha, you betrayed your mate bond and damaged the pack’s image. It’s time to consider stepping down for a while.”
“This pack doesn’t belong to you alone. You have to think about the pack members. We’ve already informed the Luna. If you keep being stubborn, we’ll leave the pack.”
Adam showed no reaction to their threats, completely unfazed. He didn’t take them seriously at all.
Just then, Jeremy came rushing in, breathless and wide-eyed. “Alpha, we’ve found Luna’s whereabouts!”
