Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow - Chapter 391

Chapter 391: Fallout 2
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CHAPTER 391

~Snow’s POV~

When I reached my car, my hands shook so badly that I had to take a few deep breaths before I could even grip the wheel.

I felt hollow. Drained. It was like all the fight had been stripped from my body, leaving me raw and exposed.

I didn’t know where I was going—only that I had to go.

Somewhere. Anywhere.

Just away.

My phone vibrated in my lap, but I didn’t look at it because I didn’t have the strength to.

But then it buzzed again. And again.

With a sigh, I finally glanced down.

It was a message from Ella: “Hey, baby. Long time. I didn’t see you, and I had to leave the mansion for now. Ares is giving me space or time to figure things out. You’re not here, so I guess I have to do that on my own, too. Miss you.”

After sending Ella my ‘I miss you too’ message, I saw an older message from Snow and clicked on it.

It was about him apologising and telling me how much he loved me; it was killing him inside to not tstorm my father’s pack t get me. He wants to but he thinks it will make it worse and he is scared of doing so.

Just hearing him tear himself up made my heart ache.

If he was trying so hard, why didn’t he? Snow wasn’t one to listen to reason when it came to me.

I shook my head before I got any other ideas and got carried away. “Enjoy,” I typed back. I stared at my phone for a long moment, my thumb hovering over the screen, before I finally locked it and set it aside.

A part of me wanted Snow to chase after me, to see the message and drive to me, to fight for me.

But he wouldn’t.

Not now.

Not after what had just happened.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, gripping the steering wheel tighter. There was nothing left to say, no more explanations to give. The truth was out, and now, we had to live with it.

I exhaled sharply, shaking my head as I put the car into gear and drove off.

For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t sure where I belonged anymore.

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~Richard’s POV~

It had been days now since I last saw Ella. She had taken her time, sorting through her thoughts, trying to find her answers. And while she did that, I had thrown myself into work.

Meetings. Pack duties. Strategy discussions.

But no matter what I did, the anger never left.

It simmered beneath the surface, boiling hotter with every passing day. I had always been patient, always in control, but now… now, it was like a storm waiting to break.

Kaid noticed it, of course. He always did.

Which was why we were here now, sitting in a private restaurant, away from prying eyes.

“Eat,” Kaid said, pushing a plate toward me.

I scowled, barely glancing at it. “Not hungry.”

Kaid arched a brow, his sharp gaze never leaving me. “You haven’t eaten properly in two days.”

I huffed, leaning back in my seat. “I’ve had enough to function.”

“That’s not enough,” he countered. “Whatever it is, you must let it out before it eats you alive.”

I clenched my jaw, gripping the edge of the table. He wasn’t wrong, but I wasn’t ready to talk about it either.

And then—movement outside the restaurant caught my eye. A familiar figure stepped out of a sleek black car.

Zara.

She didn’t see us. Her head was down, lost in thought as she walked toward the entrance.

Kaid sat up straighter, watching her as well. “She looks… distracted.”

I didn’t reply. I was still watching her. And then, before either of us could say anything, she bumped into him.

“Whoa, watch where you’re walking, Zara,” Kaid said, steadying her with a hand on her arm.

Her head snapped up, blue eyes widening in surprise. “Kaid?”

She blinked a few times as if pulling herself back to the present. Then, she quickly stepped back, shaking her head. “Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”

Kaid frowned, his gaze searching hers. “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” she muttered, already turning away. “I just need to be alone.”

But Kaid didn’t let go.

“Zara,” he said gently.

She tensed, looking anywhere but at us.

I watched her closely, the way her hands clenched, the way her shoulders curled slightly inward. Something was wrong. “Kaid… Zara needs…”

Before I could say anything, Kaid beat me to it.

“Richard, go inside.”

I stiffened at his tone. “Kaid—”

“Leave.” His voice held the unmistakable weight of authority, slipping into Alpha mode through our mind-link. “You’re too on edge. Right now, you’re more likely to push her away than help.”

I inhaled sharply, forcing myself to calm down.

After a moment, I exhaled and stood up. “Fine.”

I gave Zara one last glance before turning and walking further inside the restaurant.

As I did, I heard Kaid say softly, “Come on, Zara. Let’s go.”

And to my surprise—she followed. “Classic!”

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~Kaid’s POV~

I led Zara outside, away from the restaurant’s entrance, away from the noise and the weight of prying eyes. She followed silently, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, like she was holding herself together.

The night air was cool, a stark contrast to the tension radiating off her.

When we reached my car, I stopped and turned to her. “Alright,” I said, leaning against the hood. “Now, do you want to tell me what’s wrong, or do I have to guess?”

Zara let out a slow breath, looking away. “I told you, I’m fine.”

I arched a brow. “Right. And I’m the Queen of England.”

She shot me an unimpressed look but said nothing.

I sighed, tilting my head as I studied her. “Zara.”

She flinched slightly, like the sound of her name alone was too much.

I narrowed my eyes. “Is it about Snow?”

Her body stiffened.

I had my answer before she even said a word. Her reaction was everything.