《The Ex-Luna's Return: No Longer His Doormat》全部章節：第 41 章 - 第 50 章

~ 42 ~~ Mia ~The glass doors of the delegation lobby slid open with a soft hiss, and the autumn breeze hit my face.Across the paved courtyard, pacing like a caged beast before the line of Red Moon sentries, Darian stopped dead in his tracks.The moment his dark eyes found me, a look of raw, staggering relief washed over his face. His shoulders dropped their defensive hunch, his features softening in an instant into naked, undisguised joy.He moved forward, his long strides eating the pavement until he stood mere feet from the security threshold, separated from me only by Ryker's unyielding wall of armored guards."Mia," Darian breathed, his voice thick with ragged emotion, his gaze drinking in every inch of me — from my blouse down to the steady stance I forced into my boots. "You're awake. Thank the Goddess. Come with me. Let's get you out of here and back to the estate."He reached a hand past the barricade line, fully expecting me to step into his grasp.I didn't move an inch."

~ 44 ~~ Mia ~For four days, East Lake settled back into an uneasy calm.The floodwaters in West Valley gradually receded, leaving behind mud and endless emergency relief reports. In that quiet window, I threw myself into my syllabus and delivered two full morning lectures without a single Alpha aura disturbing the air."See?" I had told Hailey over breakfast on Thursday. "The flood dragged him back to reality. Faced with real pack duties and Fanny clinging to his arm, his sudden mate-bond fever broke.""I hope you're right, Lili," Hailey had muttered. "Alphas don't usually let go that easily."I thought I had read him correctly.Then came Friday morning.I walked out through the arched glass doors of the central lecture hall into the sunlit courtyard, and the breath caught in my throat.Standing beneath the golden maples was Darian. He wore a black wool coat, hands in his pockets, watching the entrance. Beside him, clutching his pack academy blazer, stood Nick.The moment our eyes m

~ 46 ~~ Mia ~"Have dinner with me tonight," Darian said, leaning against the wooden railing with a careless grin. "Just one dinner. You, me, and Nick. You agree to dinner, and I promise I will walk out that door right now and never set foot in another one of your lectures.""Absolutely not," I answered instantly, without a heartbeat of hesitation. "I would rather cancel the entire semester."Nick’s small face fell from behind his father, his shoulders slumping in disappointment.Darian didn't seem surprised by the rejection. He simply let out a low chuckle, tapping his fingers against the wood as he offered an immediate alternative."Fine. A compromise, then," Darian said, his tone turning reasonable, though the predatory gleam in his dark eyes never wavered. "If you won't give me dinner, give me your current contact information. Your direct mobile number. That's all."I stared at him, my jaw tight. "Why on earth would I give you my number?""Because if I have a direct line to ask a

~ 48 ~~ Mia ~The morning mist was still clinging to the academy lawns when I walked through the main archway at eight-fifteen.Standing right by the central stone fountain, was Darian. He wore a dark coat, looking completely composed, and in his hands rested an elaborate bouquet of fresh, pristine white camellias.The moment our eyes met, he stepped forward, intercepting me on the flagstones."Good morning, Dr. Quinn," he said smoothly, offering the blossoms toward me. The scent of storm and crushed cedar clung to the crisp petals. "I remember you used to like having these on the table in the mornings."I stopped, my fingers tightening around the handle of my briefcase. The sight of the white flowers didn't bring warmth; it brought a cold, sharp spike of irritation."Do you truly have nothing else to do, Alpha Darian?" I asked, my voice cutting cleanly through the morning chill. "Doesn't the Alpha of East Lake have pack responsibilities? Isn't half your southern district recovering

~ 50 ~~ Darian ~The doors of the Pack Council chamber slammed shut behind me. I was now trapped inside the room with seven aging Elders.At the center of the room sat Elder Thomas. His gray brows were pulled together, his cold eyes fixed on me. Spread across the table were printed pack forum posts, security logs from the university gates, and photos taken by students in the campus courtyard.On top of everything was a photo of fresh white camellias thrown into a stone trash bin."Do you care to explain this, Alpha?" Thomas asked. His rough voice held no respect. "The sovereign ruler of East Lake, sitting at the back of an undergraduate class like an unruly pup. Following a visiting researcher through the halls. And having gifts thrown into the trash in front of dozens of medical students."I leaned back into the carved wood of my chair, keeping my features flat as slate. "Dr. Quinn is my fated mate, Thomas. What passes between us is an affair of the Moon Goddess, not a line item in t