Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow - Chapter 340

Chapter 340: His Mate Chapter 340: His Mate *************** CHAPTER 341 ~Snow’s POV~ My entire body went still.

No.

This€¦ this wasn’t happening.

I stared down at the girl in front of me, my wolf howling inside my mind, the word mate echoing between us like a curse.

My breath came in sharp, uneven bursts as Glacier pushed forward, his emotions clawing at my chest.

Confusion.

Need.

Anger.

How?

How could this be?

I had Zara.

Zara.

My wife.

My mate.  “Vera, our mate.” “No.

Zara is my only mate.” And yet, here I was, standing in the middle of the road with my wolf snarling mine at a girl I didn’t even know.

She trembled beneath my touch, her delicate frame shaking as she met my gaze with fear-filled, icy blue eyes.

Eyes I recognised.

Dark, sleek hair clung to her face, dirt and blood smearing her pale skin.

Her lips trembled as she swallowed hard, her breathing ragged.

Then, in a voice so soft I almost didn’t hear it, she whispered, “Mate?” My heart slammed against my ribs.

This had to be a mistake.

Glacier growled inside me, restless, eager, angry.

He wanted to claim her, protect her.

The instinct was violent and overwhelming.

But my rational mind-the part of me that belonged to Zara-screamed in denial.

“No.

This isn’t real.

This can’t be real.” I forced myself to push back the chaos in my head, to focus on what was happening right now.

She was wounded.

Bruised.

Terrified.

Her wide, tear-filled eyes darted around frantically as if expecting another attack.

Then, she gasped, realization dawning on her.

“They’re gone,” she whispered.

Her voice broke, and a sob racked her body.

“Oh my Goddess€¦ my parents-” She doubled over, clutching her arms as fresh tears streamed down her cheeks.

I snapped out of my daze.  Focus.

Deal with the mess in my head later.

I hesitated before placing a hand on her shoulder.

“Hey€¦ breathe.” She barely reacted, her sobs only growing louder.

“My parents€¦” she gasped between choked cries.

“They€¦ they were right behind me.

They fought-they fought so I could get away.

But if that last rogue caught up to me-” Her body trembled violently.

“That means€¦ that means they’re€¦” Her breath hitched, and she crumpled forward, shaking.

I swallowed hard, ignoring the storm inside me as I wrapped my arms around her.

She flinched at first.

Then, as if something in her shattered completely, she collapsed against me, clutching my shirt in her fists, sobbing so hard her body shook.

Glacier purred.

I gritted my teeth at the reaction, forcing myself to focus on the broken girl in my arms and not how annoying my wolf was right now.  I didn’t know whether or not to cuss at the moon goddess.

I mean, why?

Why this time after how long?  I was happy with Zara as my chosen mate.

Scratch that; I am happy.

I don’t need anyone else.

But when I looked down at her, all I could feel was this pity, longing, and the need to keep her safe, protect her at any cost.

Fuck!

“You’re safe now,” I muttered against my own emotions, even though now they were complicated, my hand moving to rub slow, steady circles against her back.

“No one’s going to hurt you.” She didn’t respond-just kept crying, gripping onto me like I was the only thing keeping her tethered to the world.

Minutes passed, but eventually, her cries softened into quiet sniffles.

She pulled back slightly, wiping at her face with shaking hands.

I took the moment to study her properly.

The bruises on her arms were deep, her lip was split, and the torn fabric of her clothes did little to hide the gashes along her side.

Anger surged through me once more but I managed to choke it down and focus.  She needed medical attention.

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair.

“What’s your name?” She swallowed hard, her fingers gripping the fabric of her ripped shirt.

“I’m€¦ I€¦” she hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You don’t have to be scared,” I assured her, keeping my tone even.

“I won’t hurt you.” She nodded slowly, biting her lip.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, she whispered, “My name’s Vera.” Every muscle in my body locked.

Vera.

My pulse roared in my ears, drowning out the night sounds around us.

But as soon as it came, Glacier purred with delight inside me.  “Yes, my€¦ our mate.” “No.

Mine is Zara.

And Astrid€¦” I growled back internally.  “Astrid, good.

Zara, good.

Vera, mate.” God knows he was not thinking rationally anymore, and seeing his-our mate bruised and hurt only made Glacier worse.

He was on edge, ready to pounce, but I couldn’t let him.

“No.

Zara is my mate.

My only mate.” Glacier growled, pacing inside me, his instincts clear.

“You cannot deny fate, Snow.” “Watch me.” “She needs us.

Look at her.” Glacier tried to reason, but I was trying my best not to look with the same eyes he had seen her.

His feelings, the bond between us.

“I see her.

I see her bruises, her pain.

And I see Zara.

My wife.

My love.

My real mate.” Glacier let out a low rumble, his irritation leaking into my bones.

“You don’t get to choose this.

The Moon Goddess already has.” I clenched my fists, my head throbbing from the sheer weight of the bond pulling me toward Vera.

It was wrong.

It felt wrong.

I already had everything I needed-a wife and even my nephew.

We would have our kids in futture.

That was all I needed.

“You’re being stubborn,” Glacier muttered.

“And you’re being a traitor.

What about Astrid, huh?

What about Zara?” Glacier stilled.

For a second, I thought I had won.

But then, he let out a deep, knowing hum.

“You know it’s not that simple.

You feel it, don’t you?” I hated that he was right.

Because, despite every rational thought in my head, despite my love for Zara-this bond was real.

Unwanted.

Unexpected.

But real.

And when Vera lifted her tear-streaked face and those pitiful eyes that sucked the breath out of me, while whispering, “I€¦ I’m scared.” I had no choice but to acknowledge it.