Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow - Chapter 382

Chapter 382: Tempest’s Decision
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CHAPTER 382

~Ares’ POV~

I smirked. “You need therapy, Damon.”

“That too,” Damon chuckled, walking toward the minibar.

Crystal remained silent, her mind clearly still tangled in a web of uncertainty concerning all this mate bond stuff.

I watched her for a moment before finally saying, “You don’t have to want the mate bond, Crystal. But you owe it to yourself to see what it could be before you run from it.”

She exhaled slowly, nodding once. “Yeah. Maybe.”

But I knew that ‘maybe’ wasn’t a real answer. And I had a feeling Ryland wasn’t going to wait forever.

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~Tempest’s POV~

The apartment was silent except for the occasional crackling of the candle burning on the table. I sat curled up on the couch, hugging my knees to my chest, my face buried in them as silent tears slid down my cheeks.

I wasn’t the type to cry—not over things I couldn’t control, not over fate’s cruel games. But this? This hurt.

Because for the first time in my life, I finally understood what it had been like for Crystal.

What it had been like for me when Koda had chosen Aira over me, when he had looked at her the way I had always dreamed he’d look at me.

And now? Now, I was playing Aira’s role. The woman was caught in between a mate bond and a love that wasn’t meant to last.

A sharp knock on the door startled me, pulling me from my thoughts. I wiped at my face quickly, swallowing down my emotions as I stood up. I had half a mind to ignore whoever it was, but something told me I already knew.

Another knock came, only firmer this time.

I took a slow breath and stepped forward, hesitating for just a second before pulling the door open.

Richard stood there, dressed in a simple blue jean trousers and

His face was unreadable, but his green eyes flickered with something—hesitation, guilt, sorrow. I felt the mate bond tug at me immediately, but I shoved it down.

My chest tightened as our gazes locked, and for a brief moment, neither of us spoke.

Then, instinct took over.

I gripped the door and started to close it.

His hand shot out, stopping me gently. “Tempest, wait.”

I stared at him, my jaw tightening. I wanted to tell him to go away, that I didn’t have the energy for this. But instead, I found myself stepping aside, letting him in.

The second the door shut, the tension thickened.

Ryland ran a hand through his hair before turning to face me. “I—” He exhaled sharply. “I owe you an apology. A real one.”

I let out a small, humourless laugh while crossing my arms. “For what? Being blessed by the moon goddess?”

Ryland held back the need to laugh and focused. Immediately, his serious expression returned.

“For everything.”

I raised a brow. “You’re going to have to be more specific.”

He let out a slow breath before stepping closer. Then he knelt down in front of me and my breath caught in my throat.

“Richard,” I whispered, my heart pounding. The only time I imagined him going down on one knee for me was to propose but not for this—whatever this was, anyway.

His gaze was steady, full of regret. “I’m sorry for how I treated you that day and for keeping my attention on her. For making you feel like you weren’t enough.” His voice wavered slightly. “I should have done better.”

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat, forcing a weak smile. “It doesn’t matter anymore, Ryland.”

He shook his head. “It does matter.” His hands clenched into fists on his thighs. “Because now I understand how much it hurt you. And I hate that I was the one who caused it.”

My heart ached at his words, but I forced myself to keep my walls up.

Ryland exhaled, his voice quieter now. “I feel the mate bond, Tempest. It’s strong. It’s overwhelming. But I don’t want to just rely on the bond—I want to love her.”

Something inside me shattered.

Because I had heard those words before.

From Koda.

When he had chosen Aira, he had told me he loved her, that it wasn’t just about fate—it was about choice.

And now Ryland was standing in front of me, unknowingly saying the same thing.

“But, it is not her I love. It is you, I love, Tempest, and you know that.”

Oh shit It was happening again and just like mine.

I smiled, but it didn’t reach my eyes. Then I shook my head. “Then don’t make the same mistake Koda did.”

Richard frowned. “What do you mean?”

I took a slow step forward, lifting a hand to his cheek. His skin was warm beneath my fingertips, familiar yet distant.

“You need to love her, Richard,” I whispered. “You need to choose her before she thinks she isn’t worth it.”

Richard’s entire body tensed. “Tempest—”

Before he could finish, I leaned in and kissed him.

It wasn’t a desperate kiss, not filled with longing or passion.

It was goodbye.

Ever since he left, I have taken time to think about my decision. I loved Ryland, but perhaps it was selfish.

I was selfish before when I asked him to love me while I had Koda still.

But seeing Crystal, how shaken she was by everything, I didn’t have the heart to do that to her—to them—to Ryland.

When I pulled away, I hugged him tightly, pressing my face into his shoulder. “I don’t want her to feel what I felt,” I murmured. “I don’t want her to doubt herself the way I did.”

Richard shook his head, gripping me tightly. “No,” he rasped.

Tears burnt in my eyes, but I forced myself to smile, brushing a hand through his hair. “Yes.”

He pulled back slightly, his eyes shining with emotion. “I will not let you reject me like this. Tempest, I love you.”

I inhaled sharply, seeing the pain flicker across his face.

“You need to love her,” I repeated, my voice breaking. “You need to let me go.”

Tears welled in Richard’s eyes, and his grip on me tightened. “I don’t want to.”

But I knew… deep down, he had to and it pained me greatly.