Chapter 3
Chapter 3
+ 5 Points
When I walked out of the kitchen, I saw Jameson and our son lounging on the sofa, flipping through channels as if nothing had happened. Neither of them had any intention of apologizing, hoping things would just blow over like always, expecting me to swallow the bitterness and pretend their cruelty was inconsequential. But I had had enough.
I bent down to pick up the mate contract termination agreement that had dropped earlier, ready to say something, when the front door opened. Alice walked in like she owned
the place, her red lips vivid, the tight red silk dress hugging her figure. A pearl necklace adorned her neck, her hair curled impeccably.
The diamond ring on her hand glinted-bright and conspicuous. This was the same ring I had found in Jameson’s bag three days ago.
She paused when she saw me crouched on the floor, then laughed lightly, barely hiding the disdain in her eyes. “Zara, what’s the matter?” she asked with feigned concern, deftly sidestepping me. “Still cleaning up this late?”
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I looked up and saw myself reflected in her perfectly drawn eyes-exhausted, haggard. My clothes hung loose on my body, kitchen water still dripping from my hands, a yellow rubber glove limp around my wrist, a miserable reminder snagged from the sink. I looked like a mother wolf chewed up and spit out by life.
But my mate earned $200,000 a year. I shouldn’t have been like this. Before I could even speak, Alice breezed past me, pulling out two exquisite gift boxes to hand them to Jameson and our son.
“Kieran, this is for you-I remembered you said you needed a new tie. Jameson, I also picked something special for you.”
Jameson opened his gift box and smiled faintly. But when he pulled out a set of branded underwear, he coughed and quickly closed the lid, his face flushing slightly. Kieran, of course, didn’t care and felt no embarrassment seeing another she-wolf give his father underwear. Instead, he proudly held up the tie.
“Aunt Alice, this is perfect,” he said happily. “I
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+5 Points
needed a tie for the engagement party.”
Jameson hurriedly tugged at him, but it was too late. I heard it loud and clear. Engagement party?
I locked my gaze on them, my voice slow and fragile. “You’re getting married?”
Neither of them looked at me.
I stepped forward. “Why am I just finding out now? I haven’t even met the girl.”
Kieran hesitated slightly, then shrugged. “Oh, come on, Mom. Look at yourself. If Diana saw you first, I doubt the bonding ceremony would
even proceed.”
I swallowed hard. “So who went in my place?”
He diverted his gaze. “Aunt Alice went for you.”
It felt like a truck had run over my wolf’s body, almost knocking me to the ground. Seeing my stunned silence, Kieran waved his hand dismissively. “She’s your good friend, right? Going in place of you is just like you going. Can
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we not make a big deal out of this?”
I stared at him. “I am your mother, Kieran,” my wolf roared angrily. “I am!”
It was the first time I had raised my voice in
years.
Kieran froze, standing there in shock. Silence was broken by Alice’s soft laugh. She stepped forward and effortlessly pulled the mate termination agreement from my hand as if it were a joke.
“Oh, Zara,” she said with a mocking smile. “Are you still playing these little games? At this age?”
Her tone was light, almost mocking, but every word hid a knife. “This might have been interesting when you were thirty. But now, forget it.”
Then, she looked at me with that slow, pitying gaze that made my wolf’s fur stand on end. “Do you really think, if Jameson were to dissolve the mate bond with you, you could find a better
mate?”
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+ 5 Points
Jameson sighed loudly, as if exhausted. “Since the concert, she’s been like this. Always saying we’re in the wrong.”
He turned to Alice, as if I didn’t exist. “You and I know we’re innocent, but she just won’t believe
it.”
Alice reached out and gently massaged his temples, exaggeratedly patient. “Let me talk to her. She’ll understand.”
At that moment, I laughed coldly. “Perfect,”
I said calmly, though my claws were nearly breaking through my skin. “Then I won’t disturb your happy ending.”
Jameson’s expression grew stiff, but before he could speak, Alice stepped forward. “Zara, you’ve misunderstood everything. Please, let me explain-”
She extended her hand, the diamond ring brushing against my skin, pricking slightly. Something snapped within our bond. I pushed her away. She stumbled and fell to the ground, silk and pearls swirling together. Jameson sprang to protect her like a soldier guarding his
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queen.
+ 5 Points
“Zara Phelps, are you insane?!?” he roared. He knelt beside Alice, scanning her arms and shoulders with his hands. “Are you hurt? Are you okay?”
His voice trembled with concern. “Ignore her. She’s completely lost it.” Alice slowly shook her head as if still in a daze.
Jameson turned to me, fuming. “I’ve tried to be patient with you, but this is too much. I told you nothing happened, and yet you still hit her!” He grabbed the mate termination agreement from her legs.
“You want to end the mate bond? Fine. Your wish is granted.” He furiously signed his name, nearly puncturing the paper, then threw the document at my feet. “I, Jameson Townsend,
reject you, Zara Phelps, as my mate. Now, pack your things and get the hell out of my house.”
With that, he led Alice away, making sure I heard every word. “Come upstairs, Alice. Now that I’ve dissolved the mate bond, we don’t have to worry about being accused of an
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improper relationship anymore.”
(+ 5 Points)
They went upstairs together, like actors in a
play I never agreed to star in. My wolf did not scream, did not cry, I just bent down, carefully signing my name, stroke by stroke,
Behind me, Kieran let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “Satisfied now?” he barked. “You’ve torn a perfectly good family apart. Moon Goddess, Mom… I’m so disappointed in you.”
I didn’t say a word. But my wolf responded softly in my heart. You have disappointed me too, Kieran.
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