All Chapters of BRIDE FOR RENT IS MY FATED MATE.: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Donald’s POV The soft knock on the door was so quiet it almost didn’t wake me. But it did. My eyes popped open right away. I’ve spent too many years sleeping with one ear open to ignore something like that. Rebecca was still asleep behind me. Her breathing was slow and steady, and her back was turned toward me. She’s usually up before the sun. I don't know if that's her usual lifestyle. But since we started staying together, it's been that way. Seeing her still in bed told me she hadn’t slept well. It's probably the same reason I hadn’t—too many thoughts spinning in our heads after we said goodnight. Another knock came, but it was a little louder this time. I slid out of bed without making a sound, walked across the room, and opened the door just enough to see who it was. Rowan stood there in the hallway, already dressed, and looking serious. I glanced back at Rebecca one more time and then at the clock by the mirror, which read 4:45, then stepped outside and closed the do

Rebecca’s POV I stayed a few steps behind Mr. Smith, as we crossed the lawn toward the outhouse. I wasn't too close or too far. The space i gave was just enough so he could walk beside Mr. Kent without me crowding them. The sun was hot on my shoulders, but my skin felt cold. Something about this whole visit had felt wrong from the moment we drove through the gates.Mr. Kent reached the small stone building first. He turned the handle, pushed the heavy door open, and gestured for Mr. Smith to step inside.“After you, Donald,” he said with a smile that seemed too friendly and fake.Mr. Smith walked in without hesitation. I hurried to follow.But before I could cross the threshold, a thick arm wrapped around my waist from behind. Then, a black-gloved hand clamped over my mouth hard.I tried to scream, but nothing came out since the hands were pressed over my mouth.Mr. Kent spun around, eyes wide for half a second, then he rushed out and slammed the giant door shut. The sound echoed lou

“You again?” I growled. “How dare you? What were you about to do?”The room smelled of fear, sweat, and cheap alcohol. It clung to the walls, soaked into the sheets, and burned my lungs. I could feel myself growing stronger by the second, as though Rebecca’s presence alone was feeding the fire inside me. The ache in my bones eased. My vision sharpened, and my heartbeat steadied and became dangerously powerful.I forced the shift back.My bones cracked softly, my fur receded, and within seconds, I was back in human form once more. The air felt colder against my skin, but my control returned. Rebecca scrambled off the bed immediately and ran to me, pressing herself behind my back.“Are you okay?” I asked her, turning slightly and cupping her face in my hands.Her skin was cold. Her eyes were wide and glassy with shock.She nodded. “Yes,” she whispered, though tears continued to stream down her cheeks.Behind us, Mr. Kent groaned from where he lay sprawled on the floor, clutching his rib

Rebecca’s POV The drive back to the estate felt unreal.I sat quietly in the passenger seat, wrapped in Mr. Smith’s coat, the fabric still warm from his body. My hands trembled slightly, and I pressed them together on my lap, trying to steady myself. The road stretched ahead, dark and empty, while the headlights cut through the night like sharp blades. Neither of us spoke at first.Mr. Smith drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting near the gear, his posture calm, controlled, as if he hadn’t just easily fought two men. But I noticed the tightness in his jaw. The way his eyes flicked to the rearview mirror more often than necessary.He was still alert, ensuring that we weren't followed.“Does it hurt?” he asked suddenly.I blinked. “What?”“Your neck,” he said, his voice quieter now. “Where the knife touched you.”I hesitated, then nodded. “A little.”His grip on the steering wheel tightened.“I should have ended it faster,” he muttered.“No,” I said quickly, turning towar

Rebecca’s POVI had the strangest dream last night.Still, as strange as the dream had been, it was not the most unsettling part of my morning.When I finally became fully aware of my surroundings, I realized Mr Smith was sitting beside me.For several long seconds, I did nothing but stare at him, trying to reconcile what I was seeing with reality. My head felt thick and heavy, as though every thought had to push its way through fog before it could form properly. My limbs felt weak, my body slow to respond, and when I finally shifted and sat upright, something cool slipped from my forehead and landed softly on my lap.I looked down and saw a damp towel lying crumpled against my thighs.Confusion swept through me in waves, and I lifted it slowly, feeling the cool moisture against my fingers. My first instinct was disbelief. Why would there be a wet towel on my head? And why was Mr Smith here, sleeping beside me like this on a chair instead of the mattress?Then I remembered that there