Chapter 25

Anita’s Pov

Just as I was about to head toward my quarters, Alpha Hades appeared at the entrance, his gaze fixed on me. “Let me take you home,” he offered, his voice carrying a note of concern that I hadn’t expected.

I shook my head, trying to manage a smile. “Thank you, but I’ll be fine. I don’t want to trouble you any more than I already have.”

His brow furrowed slightly,  “Anita, I insist. You’ve been through a lot, and I can’t let you go back alone in your condition.”

The warmth in his voice tugged at something inside me, but I resisted the pull. I waved my phone in the air and then offered him a reassuring smile, “Don’t worry. Someone’s coming to pick me up.”

His eyes narrowed and skepticism became evident in his expression, “Who?” he asked.

I hesitated, but only for a moment before I dialed Zach's number.

The phone rang twice before a his cheerful, deep voice answered, “Honey!”

I could practically feel Alpha Hades freeze beside me, his entire demeanor shifting.

There was something unsettling in the way he suddenly stiffened, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat.

Ignoring his reaction, I turned my attention back to the call.

“Can you come get me?” I asked, “I need a ride home.”

There was a brief pause on the other end before he responded, “Of course, I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Thanks, I’ll be waiting.” I ended the call, tucking my phone back into my pocket. When I looked up, Alpha Hades was still staring at me, with an unreadable expression.

“Is that your husband?” he asked with a curious look on his face.

I sighed and made a small, wry smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “My cheap husband has been MIA since we got married,” I replied with bitterness in my voice. “There’s no way he’d be the one to show up.”

Alpha Hades didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze out toward the packhouse garden with a slightly tightened jaw and fist.

Seems like he wasn't expecting the kind of response that I gave to him.

The silence between us grew thick, and I felt a pang of regret for being so straight forward about my situation. But before I could dwell on it, a small car appeared at the edge of the garden, winding its way up the driveway until it parked just outside the main entrance.

The sound of the car horn startled both of us, pulling Alpha Hades from his thoughts. I brightened upon seeing the familiar vehicle.

It was Zach's.

Yes.

This was the kind of relief I needed to have an excuse to leave the awkwardness brewing before me behind.

“That’s him,” I said, more to myself than to Alpha Hades. “I should go.”

Alpha Hades remained silent, his eyes fixed on the car and his jaw clenched. Something about his demeanor made me hesitate, and as I turned to leave, I felt a sudden grip on my arm.

Startled, I looked back to find Alpha Hades holding me gently with a conflicted emotion on his face.

Before I could ask what he was doing, he pulled something from his pocket and pressed it into my hand. It was a small, elegantly wrapped package. “Take this,” he said quietly. “Consider it as a compensation.”

My eyes widened in shock as confusion flickered through me.

Then I turned to the package in my hands, turning it over immediately.

The wrapping was exquisite, the kind of gift one might give to someone very special. My heart sank as I realized what it was. “Isn’t this meant for your mate?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

How could he give me a necklace with his mate's name engraved on it?

I know the both of us has the same name but how could he do this?

My mind started racing with various thoughts.

Isn't this supposed to be for her?

Then I turned to Alpha Hades, his facial expressions were just like the way it was then. Nothing changed.

But I could see the storm brewing in his eyes. He didn’t respond immediately, and when he finally did, his voice was strained. “Just take it.”

I shook my head, gently pushing the gift back toward him. “Alpha, you should give this to your mate. Make sure to explain things clearly, don’t leave anything unsaid please.”

For a moment, he simply stared at me, the tension in the air growing thicker with each passing second. There was something in his gaze that I couldn’t quite decipher but that made my heart ache in a way I couldn’t explain.

But before he could say anything, the car horn blared again, breaking the spell. We both turned to look as the car’s driver waved impatiently, a broad grin plastered across his face.

It was unmistakably him—my best friend’s brother, Zach, a man who had always treated me with the kindness and warmth that my husband never had.

So without wasting anymorr time, I turned my back to Alpha Hades, who seemed to be struggling with something. His jaw remained tight and but his fist was slightly tight and  after some moments, he finally released my arm.

“You should go,” he said with a voice barely above a whisper  words almost caught up in his throat.

I hesitated for just a moment longer, wanting to say something—anything—that might ease the tension between us. But I knew there was nothing I could say that would change the situation.

So instead, I offered him a small, sad smile before turning and walking toward the car.