CHAPTER THREE: THE PRICE OF RETURING

CHAPTER THREE

***MEI'S POV ***

I'm barely able to carry myself to where my car is parked as I leave Borin's mansion. I inhale hard, but it seems almost impossible. My lungs feel heavy and every breath feels like a fire being lit in my lung over and over.

My wolf is awake and in pain. I clutch hard on my vintage Gàrice purse as I fight the primal instinct to go in search of my mate and seek comfort.

I wonder if he can feel my pain. Is he in pains too? Now that I'm in Vos he just might. Our bond might be weak but it's still there.

What if —

Nope.

Not doing this today—or any other day.

I shake my head slightly as I catch my mind drifting to what we've already established is off limits.

Curse the redhead bastard.

I grimace slightly, as a sharp pang courses through my veins but I keep my head straight and force my legs to keep moving. I'm well aware some maids are lurking around. Watching. I won't give them the satisfaction of seeing me hurt.

Curtis walks ahead of me. He doesn't try to help, because he knows I'd give him a handful. We've been through this before.

But a part of me wonders if he also shows no concern because he's mad at me.

I know he is. I also know, I'm about to get a handful myself.

The omega always lecturing me on whatever he feels I need lecturing on.

Ugh.

Thankfully, I reach the car in one piece. Curtis is already standing by the car. He quickly opens the door for me, and I plop down in the backseat relieved that my walk is over.

I close my eyes and try to think happy things in an attempt to calm my wolf.

It seems to work a bit as my mind flashes memories of mama June's pastries.

Now would be a good time for a treat.

"How about we go to DE'JALUNE'S?" I ask immediately Curtis starts the engine, as I stir in my seat to find a more comforting position.

He only nods, planting his hands on the wheels.

I fight the urge to roll my eyes and inhale rather loudly. I mean, I was expecting another lecturing session but I guess, silent treatment it is.

Stupid omega.

He knows I don't like being ignored.

I close my eyes for a bit but quickly open them and reach for my phone in my bag.

I don't trust my thoughts rights now.

I open my phone again and put in the password.

​The light from my screen blares into the dim backseat, and I squint, aggressively forcing the brightness down.

Stupid phone.

I resist the urge to smash the phone and do the breathing exercise I learned a while back when my wolf was always on edge.

But that was years ago. Around the early stages of my rejection.

Why do I feel so uptight all of a sudden? Is it because I'm back at Vos?

This must be the price of returning. I can heart my skip a few beats.

Good thoughts Mei. Good thoughts.

I open the Fame-A-Gram app—the exclusive digital playground for elite creators and corporate heavyweights. Five years ago, after I was named the 'Youngest Entrepreneur Under Thirty' on Pop Culture Epic Moments, this app used to be an ego boost. Now, it's just noise.

​My inbox is a wasteland of thousands of unopened messages from humans who only know my public face. I don't reply to any of it—that’s my team’s job—but right now, I need the distraction. I scroll.

​Scroll.

​Scroll.

​My thumb moves rapidly up and down the feed, flying past influencer net worth charts, trending videos, and brand metrics. Curtis is usually the one obsessed with monitoring my public image on these blogs, but today, I'm the one clinging to it. I focus hard on a headline about corporate asset liquidations, trying to force my brain to calculate profit margins.

Anything to stop my mind from drifting back to the Shadowcrest boardroom. Anything to drown out the low, agonizing whine of my wolf.

​"You were going to accept the proposal."

​Curtis’s voice cuts through the digital shield I'm trying to build.

Classic Cur. I knew it wouldn't be long before he spoke up.

I look up just in time to see his forearm flexing as he maneuvers the steering wheel to make a U-turn.

I can't tell if his statement was a question or an accusation so I roll my eyes and continue my scrolling.

We're equal now.

Curtis huffs and continues when he realises my choice and possible reason for ignoring him.

"I can't believe you actually even considered it..." he pauses for a while, his hands flexing as he makes another turn.

" We've discussed this before Mei. You really need to understand that you're the shit when it comes to your love life. You can't keep jumping into relationships here and there." He says, again, his eyes darting between the road and my eyes on the rear mirror.

Honestly, I'd have laughed at his silly attempt to imitate those slangs humans use in conversations but I'm too on edge so instead, I scoff and shoot him a glare. Is he really bringing up my past relationships now?

He wants to yell? I'll give him something to yell about. I open my mouth to say something but quickly shut it, choosing yet again, to be the bigger person. We're both on edge, spewing words won't get us anywhere.

Curtis notices my actions and goes on ranting. "No Mei, you're going to listen through my scolding." His brows crease as he speaks.

I pinch the skin between my brows and look away signalling that I don't care to listen to what he has to say but he continues anyway.

Ugh.

"You can't keep dating just anyone to make yourself feel better about....you know what. You have to think of these things first you know?"

I scoff. Who cares if I'm fascinated by human men and let myself kiss them every now and then? That was years ago, at the early stages of my rejection and even at that, it's not like there's any future in my bond. It won't hurt to move on.

My mate doesn't even care for me, he rejected me. If entering relationships with random men and kissing them will break the bond and rid me of this curse, so be it.

"Hey...hey...Mei." Curtis calls out, his voice calmer than before. "I don't mean it like that okay, I just....I care so much for you...you're the only family I have, I can't lose you. Not to yourself, not to death, or anyone else you truly don't want to be with." He says, and I swallow hard on the lump in my throat. My vision becomes blurry and I blink a few times. Is someone slicing onions in here?

"Here, take this." He says tossing me the tissue paper box. I don't notice my bleeding fingers until I reach to collect the box.

Fuck.

The injury is already healed.

It always does.

But the bond won't. Why?

I bite my lower lip as I fight back the urge to completely break down and before I can spiral back into my thoughts, the Mercedes smoothly pulls up to a curb, and the engine hums to a gentle stop.

​ The heavy, suffocating scent of werewolf politics and old trauma evaporates from the car, instantly replaced by the overwhelming, heavenly aroma of melted sugar, warm vanilla, and freshly baked dough.

​DE'JALUNE'S PASTRIES.

Mmmm.

​I look out the window. The little storefront looks exactly as it did a decade ago—quaint, warm, and entirely untouched by the power struggles of the packs. I wonder why the Iron claw hasn't claimed this place as territory.

​Curtis cuts the ignition, turns around in his seat, and gives me a soft, genuine smile, completely letting go of his previous lecture. "Go get your sugar fix, boss bitch. I'll wait right here." He says, winking at me as a silent way of saying it's okay to get sugar rush today.

​A genuine smirk finally tugs at my lips.

What would I do without my Omega?

For the first time since crossing the border into Vos City, the tight coil in my chest unravels.

Just a little bit.

​I open the car door, stepping out into the crisp air, ready to let myself slip out of my diet for once and drown my wolf's sorrows in Mama June’s pastries.