All Chapters of Abandoned Alpha Mate After His First Love Came Back: Chapter 11 - Chapter 19

I arrived at the drop-off point on the edge of Blueberry Sanctuary in the late afternoon.I unbuckled my seatbelt and peered through the dusty car window.The afternoon sunlight bathed the open gravel lot without obstruction, a stark contrast to the perpetually overcast sky of the Stormfang territory I had left behind.The air here was unfamiliar, a mixture of human-world influences and the unique atmosphere of a wolf sanctuary.I followed the others out of the vehicle, stepping onto land that fell under Lena's jurisdiction.A distinct sense of alienation washed over me—not just because of the physical distance, but because of the shift in my identity.I took a deep breath of the air, a mix of pine, dust, and the faint sweetness of blueberries, and forced myself to remain calm as I followed the instructions to claim my luggage.The 28-inch hard-shell suitcase. It was heavy, not just with clothes and personal items, but with the assets I had acquired during my time in the Stormfang Pack

The lunch lasted an hour.Throughout the entire meal, Lena acted as a go-between, trying to encourage a conversation between us.One moment she was asking Damine about Stormfang's recent hunts and resource management; the next, she was turning to me for my first impressions of sanctuary life, doing her best to keep neither of us feeling isolated.I mostly offered short answers or simply nodded.The rest of the time, I kept my head down, focused on the roasted venison on my plate, pointedly ignoring Damine's presence.Damine wasn't very talkative either.His answers to Lena were brief and to the point, but his gaze would occasionally drift to the figure sitting across from me.All the questions that had been building up inside him—about the termination agreement, my sudden disappearance, what had gone so fundamentally wrong between us.He knew this wasn't the time or place to start an interrogation.Halfway through the meal, Lena's emergency comm device blinked and vibrated softly.She

I didn't fully understand Lena's intentions.I was a new member of the sanctuary, with no prestigious pack lineage or deep connections. Why would she want me involved in such a critical alliance?The only connection I could think of was that I was Damine's former mate.But Damine hadn't cared about me. Our relationship had ended cleanly, and he hadn't contacted me since.Why would Lena think he'd make concessions for my sake?I sat in Lena's office cabin, trying to process her proposal.The alliance with Stormfang was the sanctuary's most important external affair of the year. Many packs, both large and small, were watching from the sidelines, some even trying to intervene.This treaty was about whether traditional wolf packs could coexist harmoniously with humans.Yet she, Lena, wanted me to join the core negotiation team simply because I knew Damine."Lena, I appreciate your trust," I said, "but I'm not sure I'm the right person for this."I had no experience in high-level treaty neg

The work with the cooperative project finally settled into a rhythm, and I managed to carve out a little time to meet with Lidia at a quiet tavern near the edge of the pack's territory. It was far from the bustle of the main area, perfect for a chat between friends.We sat by a window, two cups of steaming herbal tea on the wooden table between us.Outside the window was the dense Forbidden Forest. Afternoon sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled spots of light on the ground."You look different, Sylvia," Lidia observed, a genuine smile on her face. "I mean, in a good way. More... at ease. It seems like getting away from that mess and focusing on your own work has been good for you."I picked up my teacup, feeling the warmth seep through the ceramic. "It does feel good," I admitted. "Waking up every day knowing I'm busy with something meaningful... it gives you a sense of purpose."Just as Lidia was about to reply, the tavern door was thrown open with a heavy thud, bangi