Mated To The Cold Hearted Alpha
Chapter 98

Was I done with Leander? The memory of Leander’s hurt and betrayed face flashed before my eyes. Yes, I was done…I didn’t have a choice, not anymore. I swallowed thickly, trying to generate enough saliva in my mouth to speak. It didn’t help. Lifting the cold drink to my lips, I took a few sips of iced tea before setting the glass down. “Y-Yes.”

Tommy’s intelligent gaze remained trained on my face. From his expression, it was clear he hadn’t missed the conflict in my response but then seemed to let it go, lifting his drink to his lips. Ice clinked in the glass as he turned it up and swallowed the remaining liquid inside.

The conversation at the tables transitioned to much less serious subjects, gruff laughter ringing out intermittently as the bikers finished their meal.

Luca’s voice carried an undertone of stress but he did his best to engage in the banter. I preferred to remain silent, comforted by the familiar voices around me and thankful for their unspoken understanding in giving me some quiet time alone with my thoughts.

When it was time to go, Tommy paid the bill and we left the diner, riding for another hour and a half before finally reaching our second-story loft and the tattoo studio beneath it.

Goodbyes were short as we dismounted the motorcycle and handed it back over to its rightful owner. The atmosphere of the group was more subdued than earlier. Similar expressions of fatigue and eagerness to return home to their families played on their faces after the long day on the road.

When they were gone, I followed Luca up the stairs. Every muscle in my body ached. Reaching the landing, Lucky took a few steps past from the door and crouched, fishing the spare key out of its hiding place behind an innocuous piece of loose siding. It only took a few seconds for him to engage the lock and open the door.

Stepping through the entryway felt like I was walking into a different world. Everything looked exactly like we’d left it, but so much had changed. I was different now…and there was no going back to the person I used to be.

Luca flipped a nearby switch. Soft-white light illuminated the interior. “Sit down on the couch,” he murmured as he disappeared into the kitchen.

Eyes blinking to adjust to the increased light, I crossed the room and sank onto a comfortable beige sofa. My thoughts were chaotic…too many…too much.

“Do you want anything to drink?” Luca called from the kitchen.

“Um…n-no,” I muttered.

Lucky reappeared and settled into an oversized chair next to me, comfortably resting his knees apart and elbows on the armrest. He held a bottle of beer in his left hand.

I waited for him to speak because it was obvious he had something on his mind.

“Cinn, now that we know our pack exists, we have to make a decision. Do you want to go home?”

Home…what would that be like? We’d been gone for more than three years. Everything must have changed by now…including the leadership.

“You said Leander had loyal wolves there, ready to capture us if we returned?”

Luca nodded and echoed my thoughts, “Adamant Moon wolves must be in charge. There’s no way Leander would have left the Diamante hierarchy in place.”

I shook my head slowly. “I’m just not ready…for that.”

I didn’t want any reminders of the pack who clearly didn’t want me anymore. No one had been there to say goodbye. After everything I went through for them…the Claiming Ceremony…I guessed none of that mattered now.

Luca ran his free hand through his hair and stared down at the bottle of beer. “Okay. I get it.” His attempt to cover his disappointment caused my heart to twist. I knew him too well…and I couldn’t continue to do this to him..

Just because I didn’t have a pack I could truly call home didn’t mean Luca had to go without. The Adamant Moon wolves weren’t angry with him, and certainly, the Diamante wolves would be thrilled to have him back.

Reaching out my hand, I placed it on top of his to capture his absolute attention. As expected, his deep absinthe gaze lifted and locked on mine.

“But I think you should go.” The words killed me, but they had to be said. Taking a deep breath didn’t ease the pit in my stomach. “I’ll be fine on my own now-“

“Stop,” he interrupted, eyes narrowing. “I’m not leaving you.”

His words said he wanted to stay with me, but the raging conflict in his expression conveyed another truth altogether. He was desperate to replace the Wolf meant for him.

“Lucky,” my voice hitched, “you need to be around other wolves so you can replace your mate.”

His brows furrowed, lips set in a tight line. After a long moment, he sighed, “Why don’t we just wait and see what happens? We don’t have to decide anything right now.”

I nodded. It seemed like the best choice.

We sat in silence for a few minutes before I stood to my feet and mumbled, “I’m going to go to bed.”

Lucky glanced up. He swirled the beer and took another swig. “Okay…night.”

………..

It had been six days, seven hours and fourteen minutes since I’d said goodbye to Leander…and the hole in my heart wasn’t getting any smaller. Every moment felt like an eternity. If anything, I felt flayed open, chest torn apart, raw and bleeding.

I lay curled in a ball beneath the covers. I needed to get up for work but had already hit the snooze three times. I just couldn’t function…not yet. Even getting enough air in my lungs hurt like hell. I just couldn’t breathe.

Without warning, Lucky didn’t bother knocking before barging in and swiping the blinds open. Sunlight flooded the room, causing me to snap my eyes shut and throw the covers over my head as I hid from the overbearing light.

“None of that, little sister,” Lucky ordered. He’d been like a slave driver, making me get up every day, and get dressed and eat. I both loved and hated him for it.

“F**k you,” I grouched from beneath the covers.

He had the nerve to chuckle, and abruptly the covers were rudely torn from my grip.

“Hey!” I yelped, sitting up in bed.

I expected him to laugh or joke or at the very least, chastise me into getting ready, but the new expression on his face made my heart stand still. He had gone pale, no color in his skin. He stood frozen and stared at me like he’d seen a ghost.

“Lucky…” I whispered, pulling my knees to my chest and wrapping my arms protectively around them. “W-What is it? What’s wrong?”

He still didn’t move. Instead, his nostrils flared. He inhaled slowly, the expression on his face pained.

“You’re scaring me,” I whimpered. I’d never seen him like this.

Letting the blanket drop from his grip, he sank onto the bed next to me and clutched my trembling hands. “F**k, Cin…I-I don’t know how to tell you this…”

My anxiety was reaching a breaking point. “Just tell me…whatever it is.”

He dropped his head and stared at the bed for a moment and then lifted to meet my gaze again. “I’m sorry…but y-you’re pregnant…”