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Alexander held me close against his side as we fought our way through the crowd. Neither of us spoke a single word to the reporters, and to shield my reaction from the relentless camera flashes, he pulled his jacket around me, effectively hiding my face.
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finally reached his car, and the driver pulled away immediately, leaving the reporters shouting futilely on the sidewalk. The sudden silence in the car was almost suffocating. I could feel Alexander’s gaze on me as I stared down at my shoes, trying to process the news.
And then, to my own surprise, I started to laugh. It was so c
completely ridiculous. After everything David had done to try to get me back, he was running to Amanda?
Her reputation had been utterly shattered, and he’d worked so hard to salvage his own. Yet, in the end, he went back to her. After everything he had said and done, he ended up right at Amanda’s side.
Alexander placed his hand lightly on my knee, drawing my attention to him. I looked up, doing my best to calm my laughter. His eyes searched mine, full of concern–understandable, given my sudden and inexplicable outburst.
“I’m sorry,” I said, swallowing down the remaining giggles and trying to compose myself. “It’s just so absurd.”
“It is absurd, I agree,” Alexander said, his expression thoughtful. “To think he would make such a rash decision, given his situation. I truly can’t decide if he’s a diabolical genius or a damned fool.”
“I fear it may be both,” I sighed,
“This doesn’t mean he’s won,” Alexander assured me, his voice firm. “I promise, I’m not going to make it easy for him.”
“You’ve done more than enough already,” I replied, looking up at him with a grateful smile. “I’m the one who owes you, remember? I couldn’t possibly ask you to help me with this… kind of mess. Maybe my father will know what to do. He and Alpha Derrick have been discussing David’s behavior. Even if there isn’t substantial proof yet, think Alpha Derrick knows, deep down, that it’s true. The last thing he wants is open conflict with Rowanwood.”
“He’d be a fool to let that happen,” Alexander agreed, “but it may not be his choice for much longer. David is clearly out of his father’s control.”
I nodded. Alexander was right. Once, I’d believed that Alpha Derrick had complete authority over David, but that illusion had shattered. There was no way David’s father approved of the schemes his son was involved in, and yet, it was clear David was acting independently–and dangerously so.
“He must have powerful allies somewhere,” Alexander mused. “There’s no way he’s pulling all of this off alone. We know he’s capable of manipulating naive young women into thinking they’re doing the right thing, but that doesn’t explain everything. There must be people who are fully aware of David’s nature and are willing to commit real crimes for him.”
“I think you’re right,” I admitted, “but we can’t make those kinds of accusations without solid proof. And I have no idea how we’d even begin to find that.”
“My investigators are still working,” he reminded me, his jaw tightening. “I’m not going to let him get away what he did to you.”
with
I saw the fire in Alexander’s eyes as he mentioned the hotel incident, and my chest tightened at the memory of David’s threats and the terror I’d felt. But even more vivid was the memory of how fiercely Alexander had protected me, how his rage had burned in my defense.
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+25 BONUS
A shiver ran through me, and I tried to push away the rising emotions. I knew my feelings for Alexander were becoming more complicated, straying far beyond what they should be. But I couldn’t let myself believe he truly cared for me, too.
This was all for show, an arrangement. I couldn’t let it get out of hand–no matter how much I wished otherwise.
I pulled out my phone and searched for David’s name. Sure enough, the first result was an article about his announcement. I skimmed over the words quickly.
“He’s holding a public event,” I said, looking up at Alexander. “All Alphas and Lunas of the Kingdom are invited.”
“What else does it say?” Alexander asked, leaning forward, is interest piqued.
I began reading David’s quote aloud: “I’m certain there are those who are confused by my decision to move forward with my fated mate, considering the hardship I’ve aced in the past few weeks. At our public celebration, I’m confident I’ll be able to explain everything. I’ve come to realize that the mate bond is what truly matters. And I was a fool to deny it.”
Alexander scoffed and rolled his eyes. “So dramatic”
“He’s going to sway people to his side with that argument, I said, my heart feeling unbearably heavy. How was David always able to complicate my life?
There will always be people who take his side,” Alexander said, offering me a reassuring smile. “But it won’t be the majority, not after the way he’s behaved and not after what Amanda did betraying her best friend.”
“He’s going to start showing off,” I murmured. “This event will just be the beginning. He’ll do everything he can to win over the Alphas and Lunas.”
“It’ll be difficult for him to show off, given his financial struggles,” Alexander said with a confident smirk.
I frowned, puzzled. “I know his pack isn’t the wealthiest, but they aren’t exactly struggling.”
“They will be,” Alexander replied with certainty.
1 stared at him in confusion. “What do you mean?”
Alexander’s eyes gleamed with purpose. “You and I are going to that event together.”
“No,” I said automatically. “I don’t want to see the two of them together.”
“It’ll be all right,” he assured me. “I’ll be by your side the entire time. And we have to go. Or have you forgotten about your contract with David and what happens if he betrays you again?”
My eyes widened as I remembered. After what happened at our engagement dinner, David had signed over a substantial amount of farmland to me, a safeguard in case he cheated or was caught lying again.
“The contract,” I said softly. “I had forgotten.”
“So you see,” Alexander said, his smile widening, “he will be in financial distress–once you collect on his debt. And what better place and time to do that than during his little announcement?”
Laughter bubbled up in my chest, the absurdity of the situation once again breaking through the tension. Alexander was right. Not only would David be humiliated, but he’d also be powerless to stop it.
Making our deal public would force him to follow through he wouldn’t be able to lie or manipulate his way out of it, not with all the Alphas and Lunas of the Kingdom watching. He would be forced to give me the farmland. And with Alexander by my side, I’d be safe. David wasn’t going to get the best of me again. If he thought he could
Chapter 0139
humiliate and betray me, only to move on as if nothing had happened, he was dead wrong.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0140
