side the restaurant caught my eye–the Alpha had spotted me.
Before I could retreat, he dashed out, calling my name desperately. “Marcia!”
He caught up to me and grabbed my hand. “Tricia was upset and crying, so we came out for fries. That’s why I’m here.”
His explanation, tinged with desperation, fell on deaf ears. My hand instinctively recoiled from his touch, as if scorched. “It’s fine, Alpha. Go back to them.”
But my mate shook his head stubbornly. “No, I’ll come with you. Why are you with Beta Clifton?
Let me accompany you.”
‘There’s no need. Beta Clifton can handle it,” I replied tersely.
I
His brows furrowed, irritation flashing in his eyes at the thought of me being with Beta Clifton. He tightened his grip on my hand, refusing to let go.
‘I can accompany the Luna perfectly well, Alpha, Beta Clifton interjected firmly. “Go back to your… family.”
Preston’s presence bristled in the alley, drawing attention from passersby. “What do you mean by that? Do you know who you’re talking with?” His voice carried a dangerous edge, his alpha authority asserting itself.
To my surprise, Beta Clifton didn’t flinch. Instead, he released an overwhelming wave of his woll presence, an aura stronger than Preston’s own. It seemed to give Preston pause, his stance tensing as if preparing for a confrontation.
Before Preston could react further, a small hand tugged at his other arm. “Daddy, I want you to take me to the amusement park.”
After the tense encounter in the alley, both Preston’s and Beta Clifton’s imposing presences dissipated. I blinked rapidly, trying to process what had just unfolded. Had I imagined Beta
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Clifton’s strength just now?
Beside me, Beta Clifton appeared calm and composed, as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. Was it all in my head?
Gwen emerged from the restaurant, her voice oozing with insincere sympathy. “Marcia, I’m sorry Tricia is still young and doesn’t understand.”
Yes, Tricia was young, but even children should know not to call another she–wolf’s mate “Daddy.” Basic etiquette should have been taught at home, shouldn’t it?
With a curt nod in Gwen’s direction, I turned to face Preston. My voice, once brimming with simmering anger, was now tinged with indifference. “You’re right, Alpha Preston. A child needs a father figure. Perhaps you should spend more time with them.”
I pulled my hand from his grasp and began to walk away with Beta Clifton. Yet, my mate let gc of the child’s hand and followed me. “Marcia, wait! Listen to me!”
Behind us, Tricia began to cry loudly, and Gwen comforted her. They both looked pitiful as were the one tearing their family apart.
“There’s nothing to explain,” I replied flatly. “It’s perfectly clear.”
I
if
isn’t it tragic?
“Marcia, please, just listen,” the Alpha pleaded, gripping my hand tightly. “It’s about the child Marcia. You have to understand. Losing his Alpha father at such a young ag That’s why she’s so attached to me. Can’t you see that, Marcia?”
“I understand,” I said tersely, stopping in my tracks. What did he expect me to understand? The hypocrisy?
In our first year of marriage, his family pressured us to have children. His parents had event started blaming me, thinking it was my fault we hadn’t conceived yet. But my mate had always assured me he wasn’t ready, that we should wait. Little did I know, it wasn’t readiness. That was not the issue–it was simply that he didn’t want children with me.
All he wanted since then was Gwen, his first love. And perhaps, he wanted her to be his fated mate instead.
Silence stretched between us, and just as I turned to leave, he stepped in front of me, blocking my path. “Marcia, why?” he stammered. “Why aren’t you angry anymore? What are you thinking?” I met his gaze, my expression was neutral. He searched my eyes, desperately seeking a trace of the woman who would fight for him. But at that moment, his phone buzzed insistently. When he glanced at it, I saw the name on the screen–Gwen, My Love–a painful reminder of his betrayal. The Alpha still answered the call. “Don’t cry,” he murmured. “What’s wrong?” A pause, then a sharp intake of breath. “Tricia is missing? How did that happen? Stay calm, I’m coming right away!”
After hanging up, he seemed torn, torn between explaining himself to me and just letting me rush off with Beta Clifton. His hesitation and the flicker of guilt in his eyes spoke volumes, yet the panic was clear.
I simply stepped aside, creating an unobstructed path for him. “Go quickly,” I said quietly, my voice devoid of emotion.
He pocketed his phone, hesitated for a moment, then hurried past me, leaving me standing
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there, grappling with the shattered remnants of what was once our bond.
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