Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow - Chapter 402

Chapter 402: Tracking Her
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CHAPTER 402

~Ryland’s POV~

Crystal’s lips were soft and hesitant, but the moment they pressed against mine, a spark shot down my spine.

The mate bond surged between us like a flame catching dry wood, burning hotter than I expected.

My hands instinctively found her waist, pulling her closer, needing to feel more of her. She shivered, her fingers curling into my shirt as if grounding herself. She didn’t want to lose herself to me entirely. I couldn’t say I blamed her either.

We were both caught in something neither of us could control.

Her lips parted slightly, and my wolf growled in approval, urging me to deepen the kiss. But before I could, Crystal suddenly pulled back, her breath coming in short, uneven pants.

Her eyes flickered with uncertainty. “Ryland… I—”

I stared at her, my own breathing ragged, my hands still resting on her waist. “I know.”

We were both confused.

This was too much, too fast.

She closed her eyes for a second before looking back up at me. “I can’t deny what I felt just now.”

I swallowed hard, nodding. “Neither can I.”

Crystal exhaled, biting her lip. “I never thought I’d be the type to blindly follow fate, but… I’ve always dreamed of meeting my mate. And now that you’re here…” She hesitated, searching for the right words.

Either that or she was completely unsure how to say that without making herself look too available or begging.

I remained silent, letting her speak. She took a deep breath. “I’d love to be with my mate—with you—but…”

I felt something shift inside me. Was it a realisation that I could be losing my mate?

She was choosing me.

The bond was real, and even though it scared me, even though I wasn’t sure if I could let go of the past just yet… I knew one thing.

I wanted to try.

I cupped her cheek gently, running my thumb over her smooth skin. “Then let’s try.”

Her lips parted slightly, her eyes widening. “Are you sure?”

“No,” I admitted with a dry chuckle. “But I want to be.”

She laughed softly, resting her forehead against mine. “Me too.”

We stayed like that for a moment, wrapped in the quiet, the tension between us easing into something softer.

Something real.

And for the first time since everything fell apart, I felt like maybe… just maybe… things could fall into place again.

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~Koda’s POV~

The garden behind the packhouse was peaceful at this hour. The scent of fresh earth and wildflowers mixed with the crisp evening air, but it did little to calm my raging thoughts nor the conflicting emotions inside me.

I sat on the stone bench, staring blankly at the darkening sky, lost in the same thoughts that had plagued me for weeks.

I had left Tempest, my mate. And yet, every second since then had been filled with nothing but regret.

I thought I could handle it. I thought that walking away was the right choice. But now? Now, I wasn’t so sure anymore.

Footsteps crunched on the gravel behind me. I didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

Alpha Slade. The man had always been observant, but lately, he had been watching me even more closely. Not that I cared at this point.

“Mind if I join you?” he asked casually.

I shook my head. “Go ahead.”

He took a seat beside me, silent for a moment before finally speaking. “You’ve been distant, Koda. You’re barely present in training, and you’ve been keeping to yourself more than usual.”

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “I know.”

Slade leaned back slightly, studying me. “What’s wrong?”

I hesitated. Should I tell him?

Should I admit that I had walked away from my mate because I was too much of a coward to share her?

Slade didn’t push, but his gaze was steady and somewhat patient.

I sighed. “I left my mate.”

His brows furrowed slightly, but he said nothing, waiting for me to continue.

“I left because…” I clenched my fists. “Because I couldn’t share her. Because she had feelings for someone else before me, and I—” I exhaled sharply. “I didn’t think I could handle that.”

Slade hummed thoughtfully. “And how do you feel now?”

I was shocked by his question, given that I expected him to have scolded me or something but no. He didn’t.

I didn’t even have to think about my answer. “Like I made the biggest mistake of my life.”

Slade nodded. “You miss her?”

“Every damn day.”

He sighed, shaking his head. “Then why are you still here, Koda?”

I blinked, looking at him. “What?”

“Why are you still here instead of fighting for her?” He arched a brow. “Do you think she doesn’t miss you? Do you think she doesn’t hurt just as much as you do?”

I swallowed hard. “I doubt. Tempest seems to be having the time of her life.”

“You know, not everything is as it seems. It could be she is trying to toughen up and move on but as much as I can advise you to do the same, I know you, Koda, you can’t. You’ve fallen in love with her.”

“I did, didn’t I? And part of me feels responsible for the feeling she had for the other guy. When I found out she was my mate, I was so focused on her twin sister and my love for her that I practically drove the hot-headed princess away and into another man’s arms.”

Slade leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I’ve been Alpha for a long time, Koda. And if there’s one thing I’ve learnt, it’s that true mates don’t come around often. You got lucky. You found her.”

I looked away. “And I let her go.”

“Then go get her back.” His voice was firm.

I clenched my jaw. “What if she doesn’t want me anymore?”

Slade scoffed. “Then you fight until the only thing she wants is you.”

Something in my chest tightened.

He was right. I had been sitting here, wallowing in my own misery, when I should have been fighting for Tempest—for us.

I inhaled sharply, determination settling into my bones.

It was time to fix what I had broken. “Thank you, Alpha. I’ll set things straight.”

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~Zara’s POV~

My phone buzzed on the table, vibrating against the glass surface. When I picked it up and looked, it was Kaid.

I answered. “Hey.”

“Good, you picked up.” His voice was as smooth as ever. “I wanted to talk to you about the business meeting we discussed last time.”

I leaned back on my couch. “Alright, what’s the plan?”

“Today at noon. It’s with a few high-profile investors who are interested in our project. It’ll be at the Regal Hotel.”

I nodded. “Sounds good.”

“Great,” he said. “I’ll come pick you up.”

I hesitated for only a moment before agreeing. “Alright.”

“See you then, partner.”

I didn’t want to say anything more and risk any further leading-on the situation.

After I left my mother’s, I rented an apartment in the city where I could be at peace while I made my move and plans.

Thanks to Kaid, I already informed him I needed to talk to Siona and he was willing to help contact her.

The call ended, and I set my phone down with a sigh.

I had been keeping myself busy, throwing all my energy into this new project, but I knew I was avoiding something.

Or someone.

And I wasn’t the only one.

Because what I didn’t know… was that Snow was outside my apartment at that very moment.

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~Snow’s POV~

I watched, my blood boiling, as I gripped the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I had come here with every intention of going inside and seeing Zara.

I had Dare Devil help me out in finding her new apartment and as soon as he gave me the address, I was on my way here.

Today was the day I was fixing the problem we had—of fixing this.

But then I saw Kaid.

I watched as he pulled up in front of her apartment, his sleek black car shining under the streetlights.

I watched as Zara stepped out about a minute later, looking breathtaking in that fitted black dress while Kiad smiled at her and she, him.

And then, I watched as she got into his car.

Something inside me snapped. But I was keeping my cool. Now I was walking on thin ice with Zara and needed to be on my best behaviour.

Without thinking, without hesitation, I turned on my engine and drove after them.

I didn’t care where they were going. I didn’t care if I had no right to do this.

She was mine.

And I wasn’t about to let Kaid take her away.

What was the worst that could happen, huh?

I glanced at my side, taking note of the signed divorce papers on the passenger’s seat. It needed Zara’s signature. And if things went awry, I could use that excuse to get her away from Kaid a bit and plead with her.

I smiled at my plan as I stepped on the accelerator, chasing after them.