Semua Bab This Mate Bond? I'm Done: Bab 1 - Bab 10

I was just dropping off some food for my mate, Joe Herring, when I happened to catch him talking to his Beta, Oscar Payne, about the proposal setup."We'll need 999 Nightglow Roses in the ballroom. The carpet must be pure wool. And let's swap out the lights for crystal chandeliers in soft and dreamy tones…"I'd told him what kind of proposal I wanted. And now, every single thing he said was exactly what I'd described. I never thought he'd remember everything.I clamped a hand over my mouth, shaking as happy tears rolled down my face. My heart was pounding with anticipation and excitement.It had been ten years. I'd pictured this moment a million times—Joe getting down on one knee and asking me to be his mate."Anna? What are you doing here?" he asked.He'd just wrapped up his call. When he turned around and saw me, surprise flashed across his face, followed by a smile.I pointed at the lunchbox, trying to keep my voice from cracking. "I made this for you.""Gosh, you're the swe

Joe stopped me in my tracks, mouth opening and closing a few times before he finally got the words out, clearly uncomfortable. "Would you mind… staying somewhere else for a bit?"Worried I might take it the wrong way, he quickly added, "I mean, Nora and I just hit the news. If you're living here, I'm worried the rest of the pack will start talking..."My body swayed, and I grabbed the door handle with all my strength, barely managing to keep myself from collapsing.I'd lived here for ten years. This place was home to me. And now Joe wanted me gone?He kept explaining, calm as ever. "I bought a villa in the suburbs. It's furnished just like this one, so you'll feel right at home. And you won't be stuck there for long."Nora's setting up a healing center in the pack. It should be up and running in a few days. Once she's got it off the ground, I'll talk to the press and set the record straight. It's not going to mess with our mate-bonding ceremony next week."Perhaps I had looked to

When Joe picked up the call, he was in the middle of escorting Nora through the newly opened healing center. Reporters crowded around, all trying to get an interview with the two of them.He hung up in a hurry and turned off his phone so I wouldn't keep calling."I'll talk to her once this is all over. Anna's sweet. She'll get it," he thought.Then he wrapped an arm around Nora, pulling her close so she wouldn't get pushed around."Alpha Joe, is it true you and Chief Healer Nora are having your mate-bonding ceremony tomorrow? Will it be open to the public? A bunch of pack members are dying to be there."Joe stiffened. The ceremony hadn't even been made public yet. How did the reporters find out?Nora tugged on his sleeve, guilt written all over her face as she murmured, "I think Anna might've said something, Joe. She once bragged to me that she was going to have a mate-bonding ceremony with you and told me to stop dreaming."I didn't think she'd actually go to the media. Is she

I disappeared without a trace. After that, there was no sign of me left in Joe's world. Everyone in the Fangtooth pack said their Alpha had lost his mind.He walked out on his mate in front of everyone at that over-the-top mate-bonding ceremony, then spent every day after that searching the world for her.Nora, the chief healer he used to protect so carefully, became the pack's biggest laughingstock. The rest of the pack was dying to know who Joe's mystery mate was.Nora stood in front of Joe, blocking his way in despair. "Stop torturing yourself, Joe. Anna's already gone. Can't you just look at me? I'm not worse than her. We were this close to becoming mates. Please, don't go after her anymore."Joe stared at her without saying a word.Nora mustered her courage and slowly stepped closer. "I've loved you for a long time, Joe. We've been happy these past few weeks, haven't we? You love me, too. I can tell! Can't we be together? Please?"Joe scowled and recoiled, a look of indiffer

It had been six months since I last saw Joe.I had just gotten back from painting outdoors when I spotted him from a distance, standing in the middle of the grassland. I had no idea how he'd found this place, or when he'd even gotten here.His clothes were a mess, his eyes looked dead tired, and his face was covered in stubble. He looked so rough that I barely recognized him.The moment he saw me, he rushed over, eyes shining with relief. "Anna, thank goodness you're okay! I'm so sorry. I had no idea Nora would do something like that."I stepped back, pulling away from his hug.Joe froze, his face crumpling with despair. "This is my fault, Anna. I put you through so much. I've already made Nora pay for what she did. Can you… forgive me?"I shook my head, keeping my voice even. "Joe, we were done the moment you proposed to Nora."He staggered back like he'd been hit by a truck, staring at me in disbelief. "N-No… that wasn't real—""It doesn't matter if it was or wasn't," I said,