Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow - Chapter 237

Chapter 237: Vulnerable Chapter 237: Vulnerable *************** CHAPTER 237 ~Snow’s POV~ It had appeared twice now, buried deep in Marcus’s financial records.

A company with no public presence and no verifiable address.

‘Just a single account, funnelling money to Marcus’s network.

I narrowed my eyes, pulling up everything I could find on Eclipse.

The search turned up almost nothing-just a handful of transactions tied to locations that didn’t exist.

A front.

The deeper I dug, the clearer it became that this wasn’t just Marcus’s doing.

Whoever was behind this had resources, influence, and an uncanny ability to cover their tracks.

Then I saw it-a single, unexplained connection.

A transfer was routed through an account tied to a warehouse.

The same warehouse where Marcus had been killed.

I froze, staring at the screen.

It wasn’t a coincidence.

Someone really wanted me to go back there.

I typed a text to Draven, asking him to check on things for me while I figured out the rest.

*************** ~Tempest’s POV~ I stood outside, staring into the sky even as the soft rays of sunlight plastered on my skin but my thoughts weren’t as bright.

It had been days since Ryland’s confession, and I’d spent most of that time indoors, avoiding him and everyone else.

I couldn’t stop replaying his words in my head-the emotion, the raw honesty in his eyes.

I hadn’t been ready then.  I still wasn’t sure if I was ready now.

But I couldn’t keep running.

I found myself standing outside his house-a modest bungalow tucked away in the outskirts of the pack lands, just far enough from the main bustle to feel secluded.  I thought he was given a house close to the pack like the others.

Turns out when I asked a warrior, he had rejected my father’s offer and returned to his parents’ house instead.  My palms were clammy, and summer sttirred uneasily within me, urging me to leave before I made things worse.

But I couldn’t leave.

Not without saying what needed to be said.

Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door.

The sound seemed to echo louder than it should have, and I almost turned to walk away before it opened.

Ryland stood there, his expression neutral but his eyes betraying the soft ache he carried.

He stepped aside without a word, gesturing for me to enter.

“I won’t stay long,” I said quickly, stepping over the threshold.

The warmth of his home wrapped around me, but I refused to let it comfort me.

I had to stay focused, had to say what I’d come to say and leave before I lost my resolve.

He didn’t press me to sit, and I was grateful for that.

I stood awkwardly near the door, my hands clasped in front of me.

“I just…” I began, my voice faltering.

Ryland leaned casually against the wall.

His silence wasn’t intimidating; it was understanding, and that somehow made it harder.

“I wanted to talk to you,” I managed finally.

“Go ahead,” he said softly.

I hesitated, searching for the right words.

“Ryland, about what you said the other day…

I-” I paused.

I had rehearsed this a hundred times, but now, standing here, nothing felt right.

“I care about you,” I said slowly, my eyes fixed on the floor.

“But there’s something you need to know.” He tilted his head slightly, waiting.

“Koda…” I said his name carefully, gauging Ryland’s reaction.

He didn’t flinch, didn’t look angry or betrayed.

He just listened.

“He is my mate and we ended up sleeping wih each other.” I expected him to sneer, to scowl, or to demand why I had come here when I was tied to someone else.

But all he did was smile-a soft, sad smile that made my chest ache.

“I’ve been struggling,” I admitted.

“I feel like I owe it to Koda-to my wolf-to try.

To see if this thing with my mate could work.

But then you…” my words trailed off, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes.

Ryland straightened slightly, his expression shifting to something almost tender.

“Tempest,” he said quietly.

I shook my head, unable to stop the tears from slipping down my cheeks.

“You told me you love me, Ryland.

And it’s making everything so much harder.” “I know,” he stepped closer, “and I’m sorry.” His words caught me off guard, and I looked up at him, confused.

“I’m sorry my feelings have made this harder for you.” The sincerity in his tone was more raw than the truth I came to say.

“I didn’t mean for this to happen.

But I need you to know-I won’t leave you.” “Ryland…” He raised a hand, stopping me gently.

“Listen to me, Tempest.

You don’t have to love me back.

You don’t have to choose me.

But I can’t change how I feel about you.

I’ve found something in you I never thought I’d have.

You’ve shown me strength, passion, and a fire that makes me believe in things I never believed in before.” His words soaked into the parts of me I tried so hard to protect.

“The world can turn its back on you, Tempest,” he continued, “but I won’t.

You could hate me for how I feel, and I’d still stand by you.

Because you matter to me.

Because I love you.” I stared at him as his feelings weighed on me until it felt like I couldn’t breathe.

His love wasn’t demanding or selfish-it was selfless and it broke me.

Tears spilt freely now, and Ryland’s gaze softened further.

“You don’t have to say anything.

You don’t have to decide.

I’ll wait.

As long as it takes, I’ll wait for you to figure out what you want.” My heart clenched painfully, and I couldn’t hold back anymore.

Before I realized what I was doing, before I could stop myself from acting crazy again, I let my heart go free.

I let her enjoy what it means to be loved, and the next second, I stepped forward, closing the space between us.

“Tempest…” he began, but I cut him off.

I kissed him.