Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow - Chapter 422

Chapter 422: The First Step
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CHAPTER 422

~Alpha Storm’s POV~

My heart slammed against my ribs as I gripped Star’s shoulders, steadying her trembling form. Her breathing was uneven, her body shaking with a fear I had never seen in her before.

“Star,” I called firmly, trying to ground her, but her wide, tear-filled eyes locked onto mine with pure desperation.

“Tell me,” I demanded, my voice sharp. “What is wrong with our son?”

She sucked in a shaky breath. “Storm… honey, I cannot feel my boy. My—” Her voice broke as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.

Dread sank into my bones. No.

I held her tightly, helping her over to the couch in my study, but even as she sat, she clutched my hand like I was her last lifeline.

“Call him,” she pleaded, her grip tightening. “Call my son. Please, Storm. Get in touch with Snow. I need to know what’s happened.”

I hesitated. I had to remain calm. I had to be the level-headed one. But how could I, when my mate—my son’s mother—was on the verge of breaking apart?

“Star—”

“Don’t you dare,” she cut me off, her voice rising with panic. “Don’t you dare try to delay this! If you won’t call him, then I will drive there myself! I swear it, Storm!”

I clenched my jaw, knowing she meant every word. If I didn’t act, she would.

I released a slow breath before grabbing my phone from the desk and dialing Snow’s number.

My finger tapped on my desk, my foot tapping on the floor as I waited for Snow to pick up his call but still nothing.

Please, son, pick up.

The line rang. Once. Twice but nothing. My stomach clenched. I tried again.

Still nothing.

I heaved. It wasn’t easy to get me rattled but right now I was and my mind immediately went over to my first son, Ivan’s dad.

Was this connected to Ivan’s death?

Is he making Snow pay somehow for this? I gritted myteeth as my mind swirled with different scenarios.

I was tempted to call his mother and clarify but right now i couldn’t leave Star’s side. Who knows what she would do or think?

“Storm,” Star whispered, her voice barely holding itself together.

I gritted my teeth, then switched tactics. I pressed the call button once more—but this time, I wasn’t calling my son.

I was calling Zade.

“Just hold on. I will get information soon, love.”

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~Tempest’s POV~

A strange unease stirred in my chest. I had been feeling it for a while now, like a heavy weight pressing against my ribs. I didn’t know why, but something felt… off.

I stood abruptly, pacing toward the window of my living room. The cool evening breeze slipped through the open balcony doors, brushing against my skin, but it did little to ease the tension building inside me.

What is this?

Was it something to do with Ryland? With Crystal? No… that wasn’t it. I would know as I had investigated them just to be sure that he tried to be with his mate, even if some may consider my actions selfish.

Before I could dwell on it further, a sudden knock on the door startled me.

I turned sharply, my brows furrowing. I wasn’t expecting anyone so my heart pounded, the uneasy feeling intensifying, but I forced myself to exhale and move toward the door.

When I pulled it open, my breath hitched.

Koda.

A million emotions crashed into me all at once. Shock. Confusion. Warmth. A touch of lingering pain. And… something else. Something softer, buried beneath everything else.

He stood there with a hesitant smile on his lips, licking them nervously as he rubbed his palms together.

“Can I come in?”

I blinked, trying to push past the whirlwind of emotions in my chest. Slowly, I nodded. “Yeah… of course.”

I stepped aside, letting him enter before closing the door behind him.

The tension in my chest remained, but this time, I wasn’t sure if it was because of whatever unease I had felt earlier or because Koda was here.

“Um, Tempest…”

I turned toward him. “Please, have a seat first, Koda. You’re no stranger to me.”

He gave a small nod and walked into the living room, lowering himself onto the couch. I took the seat opposite him, my fingers curling slightly in my lap.

Koda glanced at me with those warm but guarded eyes, so I decided to make a conversation if he wouldn’t.

“It’s nice seeing you again. How are you?”

He gave a weak chuckle. “Well, you didn’t call or visit me,” he teased lightly.

I sighed. “I didn’t think you’d want to have anything to do with me after my… insane demand.”

Koda let out a short laugh, scratching the back of his head. “Yeah, well… let’s just say I was a bit crazy too.”

“Yeah, we both were,” I murmured averting my gaze. “But it’s okay. To be honest, I thought that was the end of everything between us. No friendship, nothing. And I… I lived with that as my punishment.”

Something flickered in his gaze. A deep, unreadable emotion. He scooted forward, sitting at the edge of the couch.

“Tempest,” he said carefully. “I don’t know how to say this in the right way, but I’d like for us to… renew our—”

“Our friendship?” I guessed, arching a brow.

Koda looked embarrassed. “Our… relationship,” he corrected. “I mean, if it’s okay with you. I’d love to pick up from where we left off.”

My lips parted slightly in shock before I let out a small, breathy laugh as much as I tried to hide it. I failed. “You’re joking, right?”

He shook his head.

“I had time to think,” he admitted. “I realized I didn’t mean it when I said I couldn’t share. I was scared. Scared of losing you. But I do love you, Tempest. And if it means sharing, then…” he hesitated, “…fine. But I don’t want to lose you again.”

I swallowed hard, feeling my heart squeeze painfully. A small, bittersweet smile formed on my lips. “Koda… well, you won’t have to share me.”

His brows shot up. “What?”

I inhaled deeply, bracing myself. “That’s if we end up together, you won’t. Ryland and I… we’re no longer together.”

His entire body tensed. “Why?” His voice darkened slightly. “What did that—”

I held up my hand, stopping him. “He didn’t do anything,” I assured him. “I ended things. I forced him to stay away.”

For a moment, I thought Koda would gloat, but to my surprise, he only looked concerned. Too calm.

“Are you okay?” he asked softly.

I hesitated. “Honestly? No. But… I—”

“You sure?”

I nodded, even though the lump in my throat made it hard to speak. “It’s nothing. It’s just… I thought you’d ask why.”

Koda studied me carefully. “I want to ask why, but I don’t want to be insensitive.”

That… that surprised me.

A small chuckle escaped me. “It’s okay,” I reassured him. “Ryland found his mate. And a part of him… he wanted to reject her, but—”

“But he didn’t?” Koda finished for me.

I swallowed. “I didn’t give him the choice,” I admitted. “I ended it. Because I…”

Koda’s gaze didn’t waver. “You saw yourself in her, didn’t you?”

I faltered.

The lump in my throat grew bigger. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. But finally, I nodded. “Yeah. I did.”

Koda didn’t speak. He didn’t say I was right, nor did he tell me I was stupid for letting Ryland go. He just… sat there. Listening.

“I couldn’t do it,” I whispered. “I knew the pain of my mate loving someone else. I knew what it felt like to watch someone choose another over me. And I guess I was selfish before, but I… I couldn’t be the reason she felt that pain too.”

For a long moment, Koda was silent. Then, he exhaled and got up from his seat.

I tensed slightly when he walked toward me, but instead of saying anything, he simply crouched down in front of me.

His hands reached for mine—warm, steady, familiar. He gave them a gentle squeeze. “You’re stronger than you think,” he said softly.

I bit my lip. “Koda…”

After a moment, he took a deep breath. “Can I make you happy again?”

I stiffened.

Koda’s thumbs brushed over my knuckles as he continued, “My offer still stands, Tempest. I meant it before, and I mean it now. Let me love you like how I should have done right from the onset.”

I inhaled sharply, shaking my head.

“I… I don’t want to rush into anything,” I admitted. “I need time before I jump into another relationship again.”

Koda searched my eyes for a long moment before sighing. After a few seconds, he nodded.

“As you wish,” he murmured. Then, his lips curled into a small smirk. “But I will wait. And this time, I want to court you properly.”

A laugh bubbled in my throat despite the emotions threatening to overwhelm me. “Court me?”

“Yeah.” He squeezed my hands again before letting go. “And this time, I won’t mess it up.”