All Chapters of The Alpha’s Cold Snap: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

"The next afternoon."Even though Theo had already executed the orders to jam the Council’s filing systems, I couldn't stop the dark satisfaction of imagining Elena showing up at the courthouse only to find the doors metaphorically barred. I could practically hear the frustrated growl she’d emit, her eyes flashing that defiant gold I was becoming obsessed with.Still, I arrived at the European Screen Awards district fifteen minutes before three. I wasn't about to miss the chance to see her realize she was still pinned under my paw.Except… she never showed.Instead, my phone vibrated in the pocket of my tactical coat. Elena. Her voice was steady, but I caught the scent of exhaustion even through the speaker—a heavy, metallic tang of stress. She said something had come up; she couldn't make the appointment. The severance of our bond would have to wait.I felt a strange, jagged mix of relief and suspicion. She’d been so desperate to run—what could have tethered her? She refused to give

"I clenched my jaw, the scent of his expensive cologne—sandalwood and cold rain—warring with the lingering aroma of the steak. 'You said if I attended Lucia’s pack-bonding lunch, you’d personally deliver the solstice truffles to Doña Carmen. I kept my end of the bargain, Sebastian.'""Ah, right." He nodded slowly, his eyes tracking the pulse in my throat. "But I've been thinking—since we're severing the bond, my mother has no reason to accept such high-tier tributes from the Navarro family anymore. Perhaps we should cancel the arrangement."My fingers curled into my palms, my claws itching to break the skin. This petty, stubborn Alpha..."It’s a traditional offering," I lied smoothly. "And just because we're undergoing a legal separation doesn't mean our packs have to become enemies. We can be civilized about this, can’t we?"Sebastian’s lips curved into a cold, predatory smile. "Civilized? I thought we were divorcing because your husband is 'physically incompatible' and can't satisfy

Elena"Truffle crisis averted?" Mason’s voice greeted me the moment I stepped through the apartment door, his energy buzzing like a live wire."Yeah," I said, collapsing onto the velvet sofa beside him. "It was messy, but that stubborn Alpha should be delivering them to Doña Carmen as we speak."Mason’s eyes suddenly widened, locking onto the side of my neck with predatory precision. "Holy moon, Elena! Is that a marking bruise? Spill everything, you little rogue—" He cut himself off with a grin, that familiar teasing sparkle back in his eyes.Damn it. The mark. I’d completely forgotten about the way Sebastian’s teeth had grazed my skin in that office—a silent, possessive claim that still throbbed with a dull heat.I leaned back and recounted the entire fiasco—from Noah Price's frosty reception at the Tower to Sebastian’s infuriating Alpha-command tactics, right down to my petty revenge of scheduling him for a performance exam at the Manchester Andrology Centre. I glossed over the full

ElenaI squinted at my empty glass, the neon lights of the Iron Chain Bar tilting like a carnival ride."Where's my drink?" I slurred, waving the glass in the humid air. "Who stole my damn liquid courage?"The bartender, a weary-looking Beta with a scarred ear, slid a glass of water toward me with a placating smile. "Here's your drink, Luna. Or whatever you are tonight."I laughed—a short, bitter sound that felt like gravel in my throat—and took a huge gulp before promptly spraying it across the scuffed wood. "This is water!" I accused, my face scrunching in disgust. "You think a Navarro can't pay? Let me tell you something—my husband has the biggest hoard in the North. If he wanted to, he could buy every dive bar in Manchester. You think I can't cover a tab? Give me something that burns!"The poor bartender looked like he'd rather be facing a Silver-Claw than dealing with me. I couldn't blame him. I was a disaster—cycling between bragging about my Alpha's fleet of high-end SUVs and p

"You don't want me carrying another man's pup... so now, do you want to sire mine?" I asked, each word deliberate and sharp.He paused for a heartbeat, the gold in his eyes flickering like a dying ember. Then he spoke, his voice dropping into that deep, possessive register. "You still want an heir... I've thought it over. Fine." He leaned in, his scent—dark cedar and winter rain—washing over me as he moved to claim my lips again.I couldn't believe it. How could he shift his stance so rapidly? Was that just an impulsive Alpha response to a challenge? I felt like I was forever at the mercy of his whims.I shoved his solid chest away. "You know what? I don’t want to have a pup with you right now."He looked genuinely stunned. "What is wrong with you, Elena?""Because you already have a litter on the way, so I don't want to start one with you!" I ground out, finally letting the secret scream into the room.He stared at me, his gaze boring into mine, and then slowly said, "You mean... Val