Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow - Chapter 407

Chapter 407: Hiding Feelings
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CHAPTER 407

~Zara’s POV~

The pain in my ribs was dull now, fading away as I walked down the dirt road toward my wrecked car.

The bastard had dented the hood and cracked the windscreen. I hated it because it was Snow’s gift to me. One of the things I cherished greatly.

I sighed and entered the car. Luckily, when I twisted the key in the ignition, the engine sputtered to life.

“Lucky me.”

I exhaled slowly, gripping the wheel tightly as I drove the familiar road toward Snow’s mansion.

The entire drive, my mind reeled. The attack hadn’t been random. It was carefully planned and coordinated.

And somehow, I knew that Shadow Clave wasn’t done with me yet, especially now that I had survived.

By the time I reached the mansion gates, my knuckles had turned white from gripping the wheel. The guards recognised me instantly, their gazes flickering between me and the battered state of my car before waving me through.

I didn’t wait for someone to escort me inside.

I wasn’t a guest. I was here to end something.

The moment I stepped into the grand foyer, Scott, Snow’s chauffeur and butler, greeted me with a deep bow. “Lady Zara, Alpha Snow is—”

Before he could finish, Snow appeared.

I knew he had sensed me. We still had the bond, and his senses as an alpha, were some of the sharpest.

His movements were quick and urgent. His blue eyes roamed over me, scanning for injuries, and when his gaze finally met mine, I saw the storm brewing in them.

“Zara.”

His voice was low, hoarse. But before I could answer, a gasp came from somewhere close by.

My head snapped to the side, my sharp gaze locking onto a figure disappearing around the hallway corner.

A smirk curled my lips.

“Vani.”

So she was watching.

Snow frowned, following my gaze before looking back at me. “What happened to you?” His voice was sharper now, his stance shifting. Concern crossed his features. He wasn’t bothered with his evil mate but with me.

“Hmm.”

I crossed my arms and kept my voice flat. “I was attacked.”

Snow stiffened, his hands clenching at his sides. “By who?”

I exhaled, rolling my shoulders. “Probably witches.” A half-truth. I wasn’t about to spill everything. Not yet.

His eyes darkened, anger flashing in them. “Zara—”

“It doesn’t matter. I survived. My car didn’t. Let’s just get this over with.”

He moved to touch me, his fingers reaching for my arm, but I stepped back quickly, avoiding Snow’s touch.

The rejection was instant and sharp and he felt it. Something flickered in his eyes before he exhaled heavily, his jaw tightening. “As you wish,” he said tensely.

A muscle ticked in his jaw, but he turned to Scott. “Ask two maids to assist her in gathering her things.”

I lifted a hand. “That won’t be necessary, Snow.” His gaze snapped back to mine. “I’m only taking the things I brought here.”

For a moment, his entire expression shifted. Something in his eyes flashed—pain, frustration, disbelief.

In the next second, Snow was in front of me.

I barely had time to react before his hands gripped my shoulders. “Zara, no.” His voice was low and desperate. I didn’t know if he wanted Vani to hear or not. “Don’t do this.”

I kept my expression cold. “Do what, Snow?”

His hands tightened slightly before he let out a sharp breath. His frustration was finally catching up with him. “I bought you those things because I wanted you to have them. They are yours. You don’t get to push them away just because you’re angry at me.”

I scoffed. “So what, you’re forcing me to take them?”

His blue eyes locked onto mine, raw and fierce. “It is my gift to you. Please don’t toss it to my face.”

“Snow, don’t play that with me.”

If that’s the only way to keep a part of you here, then yes.”

My chest tightened. Snow had never been one to beg especially this much but he had done a bit to me.

I rolled my eyes, sighing. “Fine.”

His grip loosened slightly, but he didn’t move away. We stood too close, his warmth pressing into my space. I could feel the tension humming between us, an invisible thread pulling tight.

For a second—just one second—his eyes dropped to my lips.

I knew that look. I had seen it before. He was going to kiss me.

I turned my head and brushed past him, stepping toward the grand staircase without another word. Not today.

When I reached my old room, I paused at the doorway.

Everything was exactly as I had left it. Untouched like it was frozen in time. Like he had been waiting for me to come back.

I shook my head and stepped inside, pushing the thought away. I had a job to do. As I moved toward my closet, a thought nagged at the back of my mind.

Vani.

Her reaction earlier on, the way she gasped and ran off the second she saw me, was suspicious. I knew my appearance wasn’t that terrible to cause that or was she just trying to make her presence known?

Either that or she knew something that I didn’t know. And I was going to find out what.

I brushed the thought aside when a knock came on the door. Two maids stepped inside.

“Lady Zara, we’re here to assist you.”

I nodded, my eyes never leaving my reflection in the mirror.

Because no matter how much I tried to act indifferent, there was one thing I couldn’t ignore—Snow was still holding on and so was I. A part of me wanted to hope.

I exhaled slowly, watching the two maids zip up my last suitcase. The room felt… emptier and colder.

Like I had taken the last of myself out of it. It was strange. This place had been my home. The walls had held laughter, passion and love.

Now, it was just a house again.

Nothing more.

I stood, smoothing my jacket, as the maids lifted my bags. “Has Aira, Tempest or Zade been around?”

One of them hesitated before shaking her head. “No, Lady Zara. Since you left, they haven’t returned. Alpha Snow has been handling things alone.”

I nodded, something tight curling in my chest. Of course.

I knew Snow was close to his sisters in the usual way siblings are, but their presence had always filled the mansion. Tempest’s sharp wit, Aira’s calm cunningness, Zade’s brooding presence, and even little Storm running around, making trouble.

Now?

Now, Snow was alone. And that realisation hurt more than I wanted to admit. I shouldn’t care.

I shouldn’t. But… I did.

I sighed, brushing away the thought as I made my way downstairs. The maids carried my bags outside and set them near the entrance.

I could’ve left right then. Could’ve walked out and never looked back. But there was one last thing I needed to do. Something Astrid and I discussed.

The final tie binding me to Snow. The mate bond.

I turned to the maid closest to me. “Where is he?”

“The alpha is in his study, Lady Zara.”

Of course.

I nodded and walked through the familiar halls, my heels clicking softly against the marble floors. The closer I got, the heavier my chest felt.

Memories surged forward—memories of us in that study. Snow pressing me against the bookshelves, his table and kissing me like I was his world.

Snow lifting me onto his desk, his hands gripping my thighs while his voice was deep with need.

Snow standing in that very room, looking at me with betrayal in his blue eyes when I found out about her.

I shuddered, forcing myself to breathe.

That was the past. This was now. With renewed determination, I reached the door and knocked.

“Come in,” came the deep voice from inside.

I pushed the door open. Snow stood behind his desk, his broad shoulders tense, his gaze sharp as it landed on me.

I could tell he hadn’t expected me to come here.

He took a step forward, his blue eyes flickering with something unreadable. “Zara.”

I swallowed hard. Just say it, I encouraged myself. “I’m leaving,” I announced.

Snow’s jaw clenched. “It’s late.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

His fists tightened at his sides. “What if there are more out there? It does matter, Zara. Stop being stubborn and listen to me.”

“No.”

He moved before I could stop him, gripping my wrist and pulling me close.

Too close.

“You are mine,” he growled. “And you will do as I say for your safety, Zara.”

I stiffened. “Not anymore.”

Snow’s grip faltered slightly, but he didn’t let go. His voice softened. “Zara, please stop this. My mark is still engraved on your neck. I love you. So please, let me protect you.”

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to melt into his arms, let him hold me, let him be mine again.

But reality had already torn us apart.

I pulled back. “I am doing just fine. I defeated the beast in your territory, Snow. I can handle myself. I don’t need to stay under the same roof as your mate.”