Chapter 17


    Matco


    “How could you?” Sum barged into my office as I looked up at her, cing the phone on the table. I came back to the pack house a few minutes ago after that altercation with Micah this afternoon. I headed back to handle the processing of the ves <bing </b>into the <b>pack</b>.


    1 just arrivedte this evening after everyone had dinner, so I was going to bed on an empty stomach.


    I didn’t have the strength to argue with her right now. Everything that was happening was just stress for me and we had <b>an </b>alpha ball in two days. If rumours of Micah punishing his mate got to our enemies, it could lead them to take advantage.


    “What the hell happened?” I asked her, knowing too well Rita exined to me everything that happened and I wasn’t happy that she would do something like that when people were watching


    <b>-she</b>


    fucking pped me in front of people.”


    “What do you want me to do? <b>Make </b>a fuss about it? Please, babe, can we deal with thister? The alpha ball is two days from now. Please let’s try to avoid such things”


    “Such things” She humiliated me in front of people who served under me. You don’t expect me to stand by and just watch,” she remarked as sighed heavily


    “Summer, please. I have had an exhausting day like that. <b>Can </b>we do this tomorrow?” I dismissed her <b>as </b>she scoffed.


    “<b>You </b>know what? Don’t bothering to <b>our </b>room tonight,” she said, turning on her heel as I scoffed. She <b>wasn’t </b><b>being </b>serious right now.


    I needed my sleep, and she suggested that I don’t go to our rooms.


    ner even more and I couldn’t risk it.


    Why don’t you check on Zara! Kian, my wolf, suggested, but I knew that would anger summer even


    I hate the way things <b>are </b>in the pack and Micah isn’t making things <b>any </b>easier,


    “She didn’t seem happy” Charlie, my beta. walked in with a smirk on his face as I scoffed sitting back


    on the chair<b>.</b>


    “She’s upset because 1 defended Zara. I don’t even know what to do now,” I said, defeated, as I looked out the window.


    When Micah suggested we move Zara from the old cottages, I was relieved that he <b>was </b>willing to ept that we have the same mate, but today just proved that he might never <b>ept </b>her in this pack.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    – I can’t ask her to leave. I was her fated mate<b>, </b>and it was my duty to protect her, but then there’s also Summer whom I promised <b>that </b>I would reject


    <b>my </b>mate if I ever found her


    “So, what are you going to do?” He asked, plopping down on the chair in front of me


    I shake my <b>head </b>as he chuckles softly.


    “Maybe if you stay away from Zara. Let things calm down and don’t provoke Micah because we don’t know <b>what </b>rogue Axel can do,” he suggested, as I nodded my head.


    He was right. A lot of things could happen if I continued being closer to Zara


    “So, is this how it’s going to be Micah barged into my office.


    I sighed heavily as I looked at Charlie, beckoning for him to excuse us because I wanted to have <b>a </b>conversation with Micah.


    “What did you expect me to do? Watch you treat her like some whore?” I asked, pushing back my chair <b>as </b>I stood up.


    “No! 1 expected you to let me handle it. <b>But </b>now! You had to get involved.


    “Of course, I had to get involved.


    <ol>


    <li>She’s our mate and we need her.” I fumed as he chuckled sofily.</li>


    </ol>


    This is all about you. You know if I reject her, she might be weak, hence your wolf bing weak as well.”


    “Oh please. You are going to <b>im </b>that <b>I </b>am doing this just for my benefit?! Really? Are you telling me Axel hasn’t felt stronger even since you met her?” <b>I </b><b>asked </b>him


    His silence told me everything I needed to know about what I was saying


    “she’s someone who needs help. I don’t know much about her, <b>but </b><b>I </b><b>am </b>sure she must <b>have </b>gone through a lot. And as her mate. I will <b>take </b>responsibility for her,” I maintained as he chuckled, <b>shaking </b>his head.


    305 PM


    <ul>


    <li>Chapter 17</li>


    </ul>


    “Well done. Do that. As soon as we sign those treaties. I <b>am </b>rejecting her.” He said, making his way towards the door.


    “Is that so! They do <b>that </b>even today. She’s there. No one will know about it,” I dared him as he stopped in his tracks, <b>ncing </b>at me.


    He continued to walk away as he mmed the door shut before walking away.


    Go to her. Just check how she is. We need her more now. Kian, my wolf, insisted as I <b>sighed </b>heavily, looking out the window.


    Making my way out of the pack house, I looked at her house and made my way there. I needed to just check if she was fine.


    Standing out the door, I failed to knock but just listened to the soft whimpersing from behind the door


    I wanted to walk <b>in </b>andfort her, but I couldn’t do it. This wasn’t right,


    I was torn between two women who matter to me right now. Sighing heavily, I stepped back from the door, walking away from <b>Zara</b>


    Maybe it was best if she <b>was </b>just alone. It would be easier, like Micah suggested, for me to let go of her.


    I know it would hurt a lot, but then it would probably be for the best.


    “Are you leaving?” Her voice came from behind as the door suddenly swung open.


    “Zara,” I mumbled, turning to look at her as she swallowed hard. Lowering her head


    “I wanted to speak with you,” she said to me as I sighed heavily. This wasn’t good news.


    Every time someone said they wished to speak. I know something ising up and I hope she wasn’t nning to reject me.


    Turning back to go inside the house, I followed her as she led the way


    “What’s up!” I asked her as she swallowed hard.


    “Let’s end this,” she said, tears filling her eyes as I furrowed my eyebrows, wondering what she was talking about.


    “End this? What do you mean?” I asked her as she sighed heavily, pursing her lips together.


    “Are you not tired?” She asked me as I put my hands in the pockets of my trousers.


    Tilting my head, I gaze at her and I know she probably has spent the entire day crying.


    “Please, just reject me,” she said, getting to her knees as I tried to walk towards her.


    “Zara.”


    “Please,” she pleaded with her hands sped together as tears streamed down her face.


    This wasn’t good. I hated seeing her sad.


    All I wanted was to <b>take </b>her in my arms and hold her tight.


    “Zara,” I whispered, squatting in front of her as she sniffled back. Letting the tears stream freely.


    *Please let me go,” she cried as 1 sighed heavily<b>, </b>cing my hand on her shoulder


    “I am sorry Zara. I can’t reject you,” I said to her as she shook her head while tears streamed down her face.


    Took her hand in mine and I brought them to my mouth, kissing them softly.


    “Promise to make sure things change.” I assured her as I brought my hand to her <b>face</b>, trying to wipe her tears as she whimpered, shaking her head.


    Letting go of her hand. I cupped her <b>face </b>in my hands while wiping her tears. <b>“</b>It will be fine,” I assuredly told her just as I <b>was </b>about to say the door


    <b>swung </b><b>open</b>.


    “Mateo!” Summer asked <b>as </b>the walked into the room.


    “Summer!”


    She looked at Zara, then <b>back </b>at me while shaking her <b>head</b>. “I knew it,” she <b>said </b>as I quickly let go of Zara turning to summer.


    “Sum. It’s not what you think,” I said, standing up as she turned on her heel running out of the room.