Semua Bab Alpha Santa : Bab 31 - Bab 40

Standing in front of the hotel feels like standing at the edge of a cliff. I thought I had left this place behind for good—along with everything it represented.I should be in my tiny apartment, curled up in my bed. Instead, I’m staring at the glowing "Wildwood Hotel" sign, the place I swore I’d never step foot in again. My stomach churns, and I clench my fists. A part of me—a part I hate—is craving to see Elijah again. His name alone sends a shiver down my spine.I hate myself for it.I glance at Adam, who’s leaning casually against the front desk, a smug look plastered across his face as he checks us in. I want to throttle him. The bile rises in my throat at the thought of being called Mrs. Adams.“Why are you standing there like a lost puppy? Come on, we need to check into our room,” he says, loud enough to draw attention.I glare at him, my voice dripping with venom. “Our room? You’ve got to be kidding me. There’s no way I’m sharing a room with your miserable ass.”Adam smirks, th

Piper The sharp click of my heels echoes through the long hallway, but it’s drowned out by the heavier thud of Adam’s footsteps behind me despite my attempt to outpace him. I can feel his eyes boring into the back of my head. My hands clench into fists as I struggle to ignore him. This part of the hotel is supposed to be relaxing—lined with boutique stores and soft music playing in the background. But with Adam tailing me, it feels like a battlefield.“Who was the waiter?” His voice is a harsh hiss, sharp enough to turn a few heads nearby. “The one you dated while staying here? Were you cheating on me?”I stop dead in my tracks, whirling around to face him, disbelief written all over my face. Is he serious? Him—accusing me of cheating? The audacity almost makes me laugh.“Have you started smoking something, Adam?” I ask, tilting my head with mock concern, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Because you’re clearly delusional if you think I’m the cheater in this equation.”His lips curl i

The sight of Adam reluctantly handing over his card to pay for the cheap plastic ring is almost too much to bear. I have to hold the magazine over my face to stifle the laugh threatening to burst out. My shoulders shake slightly, and I bite down hard on my lip, the effort to stay composed nearly painful.When we finally step out of the store, I can’t do it anymore. I need to get away before I burst into uncontrollable laughter right in his face. I spin on my heel and head straight for the main hotel.“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Adam’s sharp voice cuts through the air behind me. His long strides quickly close the distance, and I curse his towering legs.“Duh,” I say, not bothering to slow down or turn to look at him, “to my room. I’m tired, and I need rest.”“Not yet,” he snaps, grabbing my arm and forcing me to stop. “We’re not done for the day. We still have to do cake testing.”I groan dramatically, pulling my arm free from his grip. “Cake testing? Are you serious? A

The door clicks shut, leaving me staring at it in stunned silence, Elijah’s words echoing relentlessly in my mind.Second chance mate.The phrase slashes through my heart, leaving a raw ache in its wake. My throat tightens, and my stomach churns violently. My eyes had come across it in the werewolf book accidentally. It’s what happens when a wolf rejects their first mate—they’re given another chance at love, at destiny, with someone else. Someone better suited to them.Does that mean he’s planning to reject me? Is he already imagining another woman in my place?My fists clench at the thought, the sting of his words sharper than I’d care to admit. He had the audacity to say it to my face, as if it wouldn’t matter. As if it wouldn’t hurt.I’m not jealous. I can’t be. I don’t give a damn if he finds another woman. That’s what I want, isn’t it? For him to move on, for me to be free of this forced bond.But the idea of him finding another woman, calling her his mate, giving her everything

I wake up with a gasp, my chest heaving as the remnants of the dream cling to me. My skin feels clammy, damp with sweat, and my heart races as if I’ve just been running. The image of those piercing red eyes burns in my mind. They stared at me, unblinking, filled with a hunger that made my stomach twist. Just as I felt them reaching for me—claws ready to tear into my heart—I bolted upright.The sound of heavy rain fills my ears, its rhythmic pounding against the window oddly soothing and unsettling at the same time. I glance outside, and my breath hitches. The sky is a dull, oppressive grey, rain pouring in relentless sheets.“Rain on a wedding day,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around myself. “Isn’t that supposed to be a bad sign?” I shake my head, forcing a weak smile. “No, it’s Christmas. It’s a good day. It has to be.”Sliding out of bed, I walk toward the bathroom, determined to shake off the unease. My bare feet press against the cold floor, grounding me. I light the scented candl