Chapter 46
Chapter 46
The sharp intake of breath from Nadia creates an echo that pierces through the heavy silence, as if a thunderclap has erupted in the air. When I turned my gaze towards her, I couldn’t help but notice the unmistakable panic and confusion etched onto her features, mirroring the inner turmoil that I was experiencing.
She rushes to her father’s side, desperate for answers, desperate for reassurance, but all she finds is a deafening silence that fills the air.
“Father,” Her voice trembles with fear and uncertainty as she pleads desperately. “Can he do that? Can Zeke really force me to stay, even with our Mating coming soon?”
With a conflicted expression, Nadia’s father stood there, torn between his loyalty to the pack and the overwhelming love he felt for his daughter. When he opens his mouth, the weight of his emotions leaves him unable to articulate his thoughts, his voice consumed by the tempest of feelings swirling around
him.
Tears welled up in Nadia’s eyes, her frustration becoming more evident with each passing moment as her voice grew louder. Her hands trembled as she reached out to Zeke, gripping his aims tightly, her fingertips pressing into his skin for support amidst the chaos.
“Why, Zeke, would you subject me to this?” Tears streamed down her face, her voice breaking with raw emotion as she turned to gaze at him. “Thave to stay by your side, I can’t bear to be apart from you. Why would you put me through this?”
Ignoring her completely, Zeke’s gaze remains transfixed on a point far beyond the horizon. His command is delivered with a cold, detached voice that lacks any trace of emotion, sending a shiver down all our spines.
“I expect you to comply with my directive, Nadia,” with a final and unwavering tone, he says the words, leaving no room for argument. “That is the sole concern you should have.”
Nadia’s body jerks back instinctively, her hands going limp by her sides as she gazes at Zeke, unable to comprehend what she’s hearing. The realization of his betrayal crashes into her like a tidal wave, overwhelming her with a mix of emotions. Her heart is torn between loyalty to her Alpha and the love she still holds for the man who was meant to be her mate.
Nadia’s anger burns like a simmering flame, its intensity tangible as it emanates from her in pulsating waves. The anger in her eyes is unmistakable, and the expression on her face reveals a deep sense of betrayal. I can see the fire of accusation in her eyes as she locks her gaze on me, and I mentally prepare for the wave of her fury.
“You!” she spits, her voice laced with venom. “This is all your fault!”
The accusation hits me like a punch to the gut, and I feel the weight of her words suffocating me. It’s clear to me that Nadia’s anger is unfocused, and I am the one who bears the brunt of it because she cannot bring herself to confront Zeke. He is her Alpha, her future mate, and her feelings for him prevent her from expressing the full extent of her rage.
I would know, having gone through that exact situation before Zeke rejected me
“I want you to know, Nadia, that the blame doesn’t lie with me,” Despite the trembling in my heart, I manage to speak calmly, my voice steady “Making that decision was Zeke’s choice, not mine. This was not what Thad hoped for, any of it. I wanted to leave, but he stubbornly refused to let me go.”
Despite my attempts to reason with her, Nadia’s anger persists, causing her to blindly heap blame upon me, I watch as her hand slowly ascends, fingers coiling into a fist, and my body tenses in readiness for the impending blow. Anticipating the pain, I turn my head to the side, shutting my eyes, and my
jaw clenched in anticipation.
Just before the slap could land, I hear two low, menacing growls that pierce the stillness.
providing a In that moment, I become aware of movement behind me, causing my heart to race within my chest. Suddenly, an arm encircles me, comforting warmth as it pulls me close to a secure, safeguarding chest. Even with my eyes squeezed shut, I can’t help but hear the audible gasp that escapes Nadia’s lips.
Opening my
my eyes, I am immediately taken aback by the unexpected scene that unfolds before me. Axton stands behind Nadia, his grip on her wrist tight and unyielding, as he positions himself a shield, safeguarding me from any danger.
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“Stop,” With a commanding presence, he says in a low, authoritative voice. “This isn’t the way to handle things” Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
But if Axton was in front of me, then who’s clutching onto me with an iron grip?
It was as if the person holding me could read my mind, their arms wrapping around me tightly, providing a sense of security. With a slow motion, I pivot around, my eyes widening in surprise as Teatch a glimpse of the person standing behind me.
Zeke
With a gaze that could pierce through walls, he locks eyes with Nadia, his darkened eyes adding an extra layer of intensity. He pulls me tightly against his chest again, his embrace both protective and possessive, as if he is determined to shield me from any harm that may come my way.
With a menacing growl, Zeke bares his sharp canines and saliva drips from his lips.
“You will not lay a hand on her
Nadia’s eyes widen in shock at Zeke’s sudden display of authority, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly as she struggles to find the words to respond. But Zeke’s glare is unyielding his resolve unwavering as he stands between us, a formidable barrier against Nadia’s anger. Even Axton’s expression turned to one of confusion, as his eyes darted from Zeke to the way Zeke’s arm was wrapped around me
The four of us stand frozen in a tense standoff, the air heavy with unspoken tension and emotion. However, Nadia’s shoulders gradually slump as she succumbs to defeat, her fiery anger fading away and leaving behind a feeling of resignation in the face of overwhelming odds. She then breaks down, her sobs muffled by her hands, as she turns towards Axton, concealing her tears from our view.
With a heavy heart and Zeke’s piercing gaze locked on me, I reluctantly disentangle myself from his embrace, my emotions left unresolved. Determined not to give in, I avert my eyes from his, feeling a surge of defiance and frustration..
“Keep it together, you asshole,” Harshly, I whisper, my voice barely above a breath, the sound barely reaching my own ears. “We’re not mates, not
anymore.”
Zeke’s demeanor instantly changes when I speak, his expression darkening and his jaw visibly tensing in anger. I hold my breath, half–expecting him to explode with rage, hurling a barrage of words and accusations my way. However, he chooses to stay silent, his piercing glare never wavering from Nadia.
I sigh heavily, my head shaking in disappointment as I feel the weight of my broken heart, realizing that our once unbreakable bond is now beyond repair. As I turn away from Zeke, my heart pounding, I take a hesitant step towards Nadia, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.
Despite my simmering anger, a hint of compassion for Nadia tugs at my heart. After all, she was once my best friend, my confidante, the one person could always rely on in times of need. Even with the recent events causing tension between us, I cannot bring myself to completely abandon our friendship.
As I approach Nadia, I notice the tears shimmering in her eyes, her shoulders quivering under the weight of her emotions, Hesitation briefly consumes me as I contemplate how to approach her, questioning if she’ll be receptive to my presence.
But then, before I can speak, Nadia’s father rushes towards her, his arms outstretched in a gesture of comfort and protection. With a gentle touch, he wipes away her tears, his expression filled with a mixture of concern and love.
“Nadia, stop crying” he says, his tone laced with authority. “Everything will be fine.”
But Nadia’s sobs grew louder, her tears streaming down her cheeks and wetting her father’s arm.
“I can’t leave, Father,” she sobs, her voice choked with emotion. “I don’t want to, please don’t make me…”
Uttered in hushed tones, the words hang in the air, their echoes growing louder amidst the charged silence, enveloping the space in an overpowering wave of despair, Nervously glancing around, I feel the weight of eyes upon us, observing our every action with a blend of curiosity and apprehension.
Nadia’s father let out a deep, weary sigh, his face filled with acceptance, as he gently reached out to console his daughter.
“Nadia, listen to me, he says gently, his voice tinged with sadness. “You need to go home and fix your things. It’s only for one month. We’ll figure things out, I promise.”
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The sound of Nadia’s sobs filled the air, each cry growing louder and more desperate, her shoulders heaving uncontrollably. With one longing glance towards Zeke, her eyes betrayed a deep sense of longing and regiet, before she redirected her gaze towards me, her expression now a mix of anger and resentment,
As Nadia turns to leave, her sobs become fainter and fainter, and a heavy silence settles in, thick with tension that suffocates the air. We feel the weight of the recent events bearing down on us, suffusing the space with an overwhelming senise of unease. With a wary glance, my heart pounding, I brated myself for what comes next, the tension thick in the air.
As Nadia’s father turned his attention to Zeke, a blend of anger and disappointment flashed across his face. His voice, though calm, carries a simmering anger that slices through the tense air with each word he utters.
“I hope, for your sake, that you possess a thorough understanding of what you’re doing, Alpha,” With a stem tone, he says. “I found it highly disconcerting to observe your abrupt dismissal of my daughter. This is a serious issue that should be treated with utmost gravity”
As Zeke strode purposefully towards me, his gaze never faltered, his response conveyed through a dismissive shrug. I couldn’t help but notice the intensity in his eyes, a determination that made me shiver. With a heavy sigh, I prepare myself for what comes next, fully aware that his words will only amplify the chaos swirling within me.
“Maya,” he says, his voice low and commanding “Come back after the month is over. We need to talk.”
“I don’t need a babysitter, Zeke,” I retort, my voice tinged with anger. “I got permission from the Beta. I can handle myself.”
“This isn’t up for debate, Maya,” he says firmly. “You’re coming back, whether you like it or not.”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I turn away from Zeke, trying to alleviate the throbbing headache. I don’t really want to talk to him anymore, but he’s persistently making it harder than necessary. When my eyes flutter open, I meet Axton’s anxious stare, his concern evident in his eyes. With a sigh, I mouthed the words “I’m fine” to him, hoping he would understand. Upon seeing that, he gives a nod of acknowledgment and reluctantly takes a step back, granting our pack the space we desperately needed.
“I’m leaving Zeke, that’s final.”
“Don’t make this harder than it needs to be, Maya,” Zeke tells me, his voice tinged with exasperation. “You know where you belong.”
y defiant
“I’ll decide where I belong, Zeke,” My I words echoed through the air, filled with determination, as I turned and forcefully shoved him backwards.
“And it’s not here.”