Chapter 7
Meeting their eyes, my heart instantly softened. “Alright, stop scaring the healer. There’s still more treatment to be done.”
At my words, the healer visibly relaxed.
After carefully checking me over and confirming there was nothing serious, he respectfully reported, “Alpha Ryder, the Luna only suffered some superficial wounds. Her pup is unharmed and doing well.
“I’ll apply the finest herbs to the Luna’s hand. There won’t be even the slightest scar.”
Ryder’s gaze darkened as he gave a small nod. I knew he was doing everything he could to keep his fury under control.
As the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, August, the one responsible for all this, swallowed hard. He had never imagined that the she-wolf he once saw as worthless would one day become someone he’d have to curry favor with.
Watching the closeness between Ryder and me, a wave of unwillingness surged in his chest. The possessiveness he had long buried now began to surface.
But he had no right to challenge the werewolf standing by my side. He could only suppress the turmoil in his heart.
Ryder pulled me into his arms, his cold gaze sweeping across the room. The sheer force of his presence made everyone instinctively lower their heads.
But I had seen the softer, sweeter side of him. That sharp contrast only made him all the more irresistible to me.
“What exactly have you all done to my mate for the past few days? I suggest that someone speak up voluntarily. If I have to uncover the truth on my own, I’ll make sure to repay it a hundred times over.”
It was a blatant, undisguised threat.
The guests at the party were all influential figures who had gone to great lengths to secure an invitation. Many of them were .hoping to win Ryder’s favor. They weren’t willing to risk his anger over a Beta like August.
Just as someone was about to speak up, August stepped forward first. His face was pale, his voice trembling.
“Mr. Weyland, this is all just a misunderstanding. Sophia was almost my mate before. I only wanted to catch up with her… I didn’t expect things to get out of hand.”
There was a faint trace of jealousy in his tone.
Even though he knew that he shouldn’t have mentioned it in front of Ryder after witnessing his possessiveness, he still did it anyway, because deep down, he wanted to outdo Ryder.
It was his pride, his obsessive need to win. He was lashing out, punishing me for choosing Ryder and not him.
I had always known what kind of selfish person August was. He was the one who gave up on me, yet still expected me to forgive and forget, to keep chasing after him like nothing ever happened.
Furthermore, he expected me to stay single for him too; in his eyes, it was impossible for me to love anyone else but him.
What he didn’t notice was Ryder’s fist slowly clenching at his side. But I did. I could hear the sharp crack of his knuckles as his wrist tightened.
August continued fearlessly, “I’m sure you know just how deeply Sophia once loved me. We shared a long and meaningful relationship. Catching up isn’t exactly unreasonable, is it?”
At some point, Ryder had picked up a wine glass. All that followed was a sharp crack. The glass shattered in his hand, and blood began to spill from his palm.
My heart ached at the sight.
Chapter 7
+15 Bonus
“August, have you no shame? If you keep trying to stir things up between my mate and me, I swear I won’t let you off!
“I must’ve been far too kind to you, letting you think you could run your mouth in front of my mate! There’s only one werewolf I’ve ever truly loved in this life, and that’s Ryder.”
I quickly reached for some gauze to bandage Ryder’s hand, all while continuing to reprimand August.
A flicker of hurt flashed in August’s eyes. Then, in a low voice, he said, “Sophia, I know you resent me… but I’ve already severed the mate bond with Hailey. We can have a pup of our own again.
“I know you must’ve formed a mate bond with him just to spite me, and that’s okay. I forgive you. Just sever your mate bond with him, and we can be together right away.
“Can a cold, distant werewolf like him love you the way I do? You should’ve chosen me!
“As long as you’re willing to come back and be a caretaker for my pup, take care of him, he’ll acknowledge your place. If you don’t like Hailey, I’ll get rid of her right now.”
August’s shamelessness was almost impressive. He was still trapped in his own delusions, building a dream that never belonged to him.
I gently picked the glass shards out of Ryder’s hand, my heart aching for him. My eyes were beginning to sting. “Don’t do that again!”
When I shot him an annoyed glare, he actually let out a pleased chuckle. I frowned. “Why are you laughing?”
Ryder cupped my face with his uninjured hand and pressed a tender kiss to my forehead. “Honey… just now, you said I’m the only werewolf you’ve ever truly loved.”
Darren quickly pouted and asked with a hint of grievance, “But Mommy, what about me?”
I smiled gently. “You’re also one I love deeply.”
Just those two simple lines were enough to make the two most important werewolves in my life light up with joy.
To all who are witnessing this moment, the scene was nothing short of enviable. Ryder, once thought to be cold and ruthless, now revealed a tender side that seemed to embody an entirely different persona within him.
“If a werewolf ever treated me like that, I’d die happy.”
“I’m so jealous Sophia found someone who loves her that much.”
