Chapter 10 No need to guess, of course it was Damian. Xavier, sitting across from me, snatched the phone and unleashed a vicious string of curses before hanging up with a satisfied swipe. "There. That felt good." I couldn't help but laugh. But on the way to the Alpha conference, our car was suddenly cut off and forced to stop. In the tense moments that followed, Damian stepped out of his vehicle, looking worn down but stubbornly defiant. "Fine, Norah, you win. Is that what you want to hear?" "Who the hell is this guy? Are you seriously trying to provoke me like this?" I rolled my eyes. "Why should I explain anything to you? Have you forgotten? Our bond is already broken." "Now move your car. Don't make a fool of yourself here." As I finished speaking, Damian's eyes reddened, and he raised a fist, lunging toward Xavier, but before he could swing, I slapped him hard across the face. Damian froze. In all our five years together, I had never once raised a hand against him. Now, he could only stare back at me, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief. "You hit me... for another man? I'm your..." I met his gaze directly. "You're my what? You think you're still my mate? My Alpha? I can't hit you? He's like family to me. And you? You're nothing." Just one sentence, and it shattered him. His eyes turned bloodshot. "Norah... we've been together for five years. You're not even going to give me one last chance?" I gave him a cold laugh. Chapter 10 8.93% "Even now, every time I think about the pup I lost... it still tears me apart. I looked into his eyes. He instinctively stepped closer "Because every time I look at your eyes, I remember her." "Norah..." he looked devastated, but I went on. There was a time... I dreamed she might've had your blue eyes." "We can have another pup!" he blurted, desperate. "We can start over!" "Damian," I said calmly, "if you lost your eyes, would another pair just grow back?" At my response, a flicker of disappointment crossed his eyes, but he pressed on eagerly, "Anything you don't like, I can change. I'll keep changing until you're satisfied. I swear.' Another laugh escaped my lips, sharper this time. "It's you I can't stand. No amount of change will fix that." Damian shut briefly in pain, trying to say something, but his phone rang again. Quinn's voice came through, laced with sobs. "Alpha, I'm being followed by some rogues, I'm so scared!" "I know I messed up before, and I'm sorry, but please help me! They're almost on me!" Damian exploded at the phone. "You really think I'd fall for your pranks again? Haven't you heard the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf?" "Call me again, and I swear I'll make you regret it!" He ended the call in a fury, then turned to me like a child seeking praise. "See? I'm done with Quinn. I won't be fooled by her again." "Isn't that what you wanted?" I shook my head impatiently. "What I really want is to never see you again." Without another word, I took Xavier's arm and stepped back into the car. Damian's car trailed closely behind us, his headlights glaring in the rearview mirror. Xavier accelerated, then made a sharp, sudden turn down a narrow side road, finally shaking him off. I sank back into the passenger seat, releasing a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. Chapter 10 8.93% But just half an hour later, a beta arrived with urgent news: Damian had been in a severe accident.. He said the brakes had failed, and Damian had crashed straight into a bridge. By the time the healer arrived, he was barely alive. At the same time, Quinn was found in a similarly tragic state. She'd genuinely been followed by rogues when she called Damian. After he hung up on her, she was dragged into a dark alley... By the time a passing pack patrol found her, she was lying on the ground-filthy, disheveled, and completely unhinged. I turned off my phone. I didn't want to hear another word about either of them. All I knew was that without Damian and Quinn, my life was finally going to be better. Xavier slung his arm around my neck and tugged me playfully toward the house. "Let me show you what I've got. You're not leaving the table until you finish two cheeseburgers." "I could eat a horse right now!" Amid the playful laughter and teasing, the irises swaying gently by the gate in the evening breeze began to bloom-quietly, beautifully, as if welcoming a new beginning. Chapter 10 8.93%