Frustration

Derek’s POV

The moment I shoved Laura away, she staggered backward, eyes wide with shock. She had pushed me too far this time. My patience with her had run out, and I was done pretending to tolerate her.

“You can’t do this to me, Derek,” she whispered, pressing a hand against the wall for support. “I am your Luna.”

I clenched my jaw. “You were never my Luna. You forced your way into my life through lies and manipulation. And now, I’m taking my life back.”

Her expression darkened, and her lips curled in frustration. “And what? You think Melissa will run back into your arms? That she’ll forgive you just like that?” She laughed bitterly. “She’s happy with someone else. She has a life without you.”

A growl rumbled in my chest, but I kept myself in control. “You don’t know a damn thing about Melissa.”

“I know she doesn’t want you,” Laura spat. “She made that very clear when she accepted your rejection.”

I inhaled deeply, my nails digging into my palms. She wasn’t wrong, but she didn’t know the full truth either. Melissa had accepted my rejection, but the bond hadn’t broken—not fully. That meant something. That meant she still felt something, even if it was buried under all the pain I had caused her.

Laura took a step closer, eyes narrowing. “You think you have a chance with her?” She scoffed. “You’re delusional. Elijah has given her everything you denied her—love, protection, stability. Why would she ever choose you over him?”

My wolf growled, furious at her words, but I knew I couldn’t lose control. Not now. I straightened my posture and leveled her with a cold glare.

“I don’t need to explain myself to you,” I said firmly. “But hear this, Laura—your time here is over. From this moment on, you are no longer allowed in my chambers. You are no longer welcome in my life. If you try to manipulate me again, I’ll strip you of your title and exile you from this pack.”

Her breath hitched, and she looked at me as if I had struck her. “You wouldn’t dare,” she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief.

“Try me,” I challenged.

For a long moment, she just stared at me, her face pale and stricken. Then, without another word, she turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

The moment she was gone, I let out a slow breath and ran a hand through my hair. I should have done this years ago. I should have never let her manipulate me into rejecting Melissa.

But there was no point in regretting the past. All I could do now was fight for what I had lost.

And that started with Melissa.

The next morning, I barely touched my breakfast. My mind was too preoccupied with thoughts of Melissa. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her—her beautiful face, the way she had looked at me with so much hatred and pain.

I had spent five years searching for her, only to find out she had moved on. But that wasn’t what hurt the most. What truly shattered me was realizing how much I had broken her.

She had loved me once. I had been her world. And I had destroyed her.

I exhaled sharply and pushed my plate away.

Michael, my Beta, entered the dining hall just as I stood up. “Alpha,” he greeted, bowing slightly.

I nodded at him. “Did you get more information on Melissa?”

He nodded, handing me another file. “I dug deeper into her life with Elijah. They’ve been together for years, but something doesn’t add up.”

I frowned, flipping through the file. “What do you mean?”

“Elijah has influence and money, but there’s no record of a mating bond between them. He’s never marked her.”

I froze. “What?”

Michael nodded. “From what I found, they’ve been living together, but they’re not officially mated. It’s like they’re just... together for appearances.”

Hope flickered in my chest.

If Elijah hadn’t marked her, that meant the bond between Melissa and me still had a chance. It meant she wasn’t fully his.

It meant I still had time.

Michael studied me carefully. “Alpha, if you really want to win her back, you need to be smart about this. Melissa isn’t the same girl she used to be. She’s strong now. Independent. She won’t just fall back into your arms.”

“I know,” I admitted, clenching my jaw. “But I don’t care how long it takes. I’ll do whatever it takes to fix what I broke.”

Michael sighed. “Just be careful, Alpha. Elijah is powerful. If he finds out you’re trying to take Melissa back, he won’t let you do it easily.”

“I don’t care,” I said firmly. “Melissa is mine, and I’m going to fight for her.”

Later that day, I decided to see Melissa. I had to talk to her—to make her understand.

I drove to the company where she worked, my heart pounding with anticipation. When I arrived, I spotted her in the lobby, talking to a colleague.

She looked stunning. She wore a fitted black dress that accentuated her curves, her hair flowing down her back. She looked confident, powerful—so different from the Melissa I had known.

For a moment, I hesitated. What if she refused to see me? What if she had truly moved on?

But I couldn’t turn back now.

I took a deep breath and stepped forward.

The moment she saw me, her body tensed. Her smile vanished, and her eyes hardened.

“What are you doing here?” she asked coldly.

I swallowed. “We need to talk.”

Her jaw tightened. “We have nothing to talk about, Derek. Leave.”

“I can’t,” I said, my voice firm but gentle. “Not until you hear me out.”

Her hands clenched at her sides, and she glanced around, as if checking to see if anyone was watching.

Then she sighed. “Fine. Five minutes.”

Relief washed over me, and I followed her into a private office.

The moment the door closed, she turned to face me. “Say what you need to say and leave.”

I took a step closer, but she immediately took a step back. The distance between us felt unbearable.

“I was deceived, Melissa,” I began, my voice thick with emotion. “Laura set me up. She made me believe you betrayed me. If I had known the truth—”

“But you didn’t,” she cut in sharply. “You didn’t believe me. You didn’t even give me a chance to explain.”

I flinched. “I know. And I regret it every single day.”

She laughed bitterly. “Regret? Do you have any idea what you put me through, Derek? Do you know how much I suffered because of you?”

Guilt crashed over me like a tidal wave. “I do,” I admitted. “And I hate myself for it.”

She shook her head. “It doesn’t change anything. I’ve moved on.”

“Then why haven’t you let Elijah mark you?” I asked quietly.

Her breath hitched, and for the first time, uncertainty flickered in her eyes.

I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “You still feel the bond, don’t you?”

She didn’t answer.

I reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Melissa, please,” I whispered. “Give me a chance to make things right.”

She closed her eyes, inhaling shakily. For a moment, I thought she might give in.

But then she stepped back, her eyes cold once more. “It’s too late, Derek.”

And with that, she walked away, leaving me standing there, heartbroken but more determined than ever.

Melissa still felt the bond.

And I was going to make her admit it.