Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow - Chapter 361

Chapter 361: War Within
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CHAPTER 361

~Snow’s POV~

I swallowed hard, willing my voice to stay steady. “Because this… whatever this is… shouldn’t be happening.”

Pain flashed in Vera’s eyes, but she quickly masked it. She straightened slightly, her hands clasping in front of her.

“Then maybe,” she said softly, “you should just do the right thing and—” She hesitated, her lips trembling. And I knew what she was going to say. “Reject me.”

Glacier roared in fury.

A snarl ripped from my throat before I even realized what was happening. A sharp, possessive force slammed through me, taking over in an instant.

Before I could stop myself, I was on her.

My hands grabbed her arm, yanking her closer. My breathing was ragged, my vision blurring as my wolf surged forward.

“I won’t reject you,” Glacier growled, my voice deep and wrong. “Snow can’t make me.”

Vera’s eyes widened, her lips parting in surprise. But she didn’t pull away. If anything, she leaned in slightly, her body responding to the mate bond just as mine was.

No.

No, no, no. Glacier had taken control of my body in that brief moment. His rage broke through for her. I hissed internally, trying to force back control.

I hated how good our body contact made me—us—feel and waned only one person—Zara.

The mere thought of my chosen mate suffering such betrayal was more than enough for me to try and push.

And that was what I did.

A sharp pain exploded in my head, like claws tearing through my skull. I gritted my teeth, squeezing my eyes shut as I fought for control.

This isn’t me.

With sheer force of will, I ripped myself away from her, releasing her arm as if it had burned me. My breath came in heavy gasps as I stumbled back, my head throbbing violently.

Vera blinked, momentarily stunned, before her expression darkened with something unreadable.

I didn’t wait for her to speak.

I turned and walked out of the room. Glacier growled, clawed, and tried to fight his way back, but I ignored him, shutting him down without a second thought.

I wanted to go to our shared bedroom to see my woman, my love, my heart, the lady of my dreams, but Glacier kept forcing me to go back to Vera. To comfort our mate but no.

Since he won’t let me have Zara, he won’t have Vera either.

At once, I left the house and drove away. I needed to be anywhere but here.

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~Ella’s POV~

I sat by the window in my room, watching as Snow’s car sped off into the night. The way he had gripped the wheel, the tension in his shoulders—I knew something was wrong. I just didn’t know what.

Did he and Zara have a fight?

No. If that were the case, she may have come to me by now.

I shook my head, reminding myself to stop prying.

“Not my business,” I reminded myself, but it was hard to ignore.

This house, this family, had been nothing but kind to me. And Snow? He had always been calm and collected, even when dealing with the worst situations. But today? He looked like a man barely holding himself together.

I sighed, shifting my injured leg carefully when my phone vibrated on the nightstand. I reached for it and saw a name I hadn’t expected.

Ares.

A sharp pang of guilt hit me. Since the last time he came to my house, warning me about Kent, I had done exactly what he told me not to do. And worse, I hadn’t spoken to him since.

I hesitated before answering. “Hello?”

A pause. Then, his deep voice came through. “So, are we just ignoring each other now?”

I bit my lip, holding back my guilt any way I could. “I—I’ve been busy.”

Another silence. Then, “I heard you were in the hospital.”

I tensed. “Who told you?”

“A neighbour.” His voice was clipped like he was holding back his frustration. “I called you, Ella. Multiple times.”

I winced. “I lost my phone for a while,” I lied.

“Where are you now?” Ares demanded, ignoring my lie.

I hesitated again. “A friend’s house.”

He exhaled loudly. “Ella.”

There was something about the way he said my name that sent shivers down my spine. I could hear the warning in his tone—the demand for honesty.

With a sigh, I relented. “I’m at Snow Zephyr’s mansion.”

Silence.

And then the line went dead.

I pulled the phone away from my ear, frowning. Did he just—

A sudden pit formed in my stomach.

Oh no.

Time seemed to skip as I waited for his call. At exactly 40 minutes later, the distant sound of engines rumbled outside. I turned my head toward the window just in time to see the mansion gates slowly opening. My heartbeat quickened.

He was here.

My phone vibrated again. Ares.

I answered quickly. “Tell me you didn’t—”

“I’m outside.”

I closed my eyes, groaning inwardly.

Damn it, Ares.

I set my phone down and sat up as best as I could, already trying to figure out how to shoo him away before Zara or, worse, Snow found out. But before I could come up with anything, there was a knock at my door.

I stiffened.

“Ella?” Zara’s voice came from the other side.

I swallowed hard. A maid must have told her about the unexpected visitor. Of course, she would know exactly who he was here for.

I exhaled shakily. “Come in.”

The door swung open, and Zara stepped inside. Her eyes held curiosity, but there was a knowing smirk tugging at her lips.

“Your visitor is here,” she said lightly.

I groaned, rubbing my temples. “Of course, he is.”

“Should I send him away?”

I hesitated. Would that even work? This was Ares we were talking about. If he wanted to see me, he would see me, whether I liked it or not.

I sighed. “No. Bring him in.”

Zara nodded, stepping out for a moment. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to calm the nervous energy buzzing inside me.

Then, a minute later, the door opened again.

And there he was.

Ares walked in, his tall frame filling the space effortlessly. His usual confident stride was slower, controlled. But his eyes—those piercing eyes—were locked onto mine, unreadable yet intense.

“Hello, Ella,” he said smoothly. “Running from me now, are we?”

I swallowed hard.

I am so screwed.