Chapter 13

Chapter 13

“Move in, into my house,” his whisper entered my ear so softly that even the thunder. and lightning outside silenced themselves before the weight of his words.

“Your house?” Shocked, speechless I could only stare into his possessive green eyes for a long time. Earlier, after learning of Sky’s gambling away the Wade Moon Pack territory away, I had entered the Emerald Bright Pack to meet with Reuben right away. I had to handle this situation quickly before other packs or Alpha Benjamin learned about it. It was not an easy decision to return to the place that held almost all of my most painful memories, it instantly triggered the pain that I had been hiding deep in my heart for years. It was not easy to stand in front of Reuben again in a place where all those shared memories of us were wounding my heart, and now he wanted me to move in? “Impossible,” I closed my eyes for a second in an attempt to control my emotions. “I am not moving in with you,” I declared.

“Why?” he demanded, his expression changing. I admired the audacity it took for him. to ask me such a question.

“I don’t want to play your mistress when you have a wife,” I snapped, wriggling to break free from his hold.

“My wife?” Reuben growled bitterly, stubbornly holding me tight. “I never got f ucking married, Willow,” he remarked sharply, clenching my cheeks.

“Never married?” I froze in his arms, staring at him with wide eyes. How was that possible? Six years ago, he had brought a fiancée back to the pack. He wanted to get engaged to her.

“That’s right, I never married,” he loosened his grip on my cheeks as he caressed them. My heart quickened with this discovery as my wolf’s presence in my head grew sharper. Ceri had been listening to Reuben along with me and was just as shocked as me. Why had he not married during these six years?

Time seemed to stop as Reuben and I stared into each other’s eyes in silence. Suddenly, Reuben’s wolf Dex began making moves towards Ceri, catching me off guard. What…. What was he doing? This feeling rooted me in place, I was unable to resist as Reuben leaned closer to my l*ps. I held my breath as I watched his l*ps mere inches away from mine. Just as our l*ps were about to touch, my phone rang.

I jolted back to my senses. I placed my hand on Reuben’s chest, then pushed him away before I could make a mistake that there would be no coming back from. I took a step back hurriedly, gazing up at him with wide eyes. What had gotten into me that I let

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Chapter 13

things reach that point?

What had happened to Ceri when Dex made that bold move towards us? I stood there for a couple of seconds in confusion with a crazy heartbeat until my phone rang the second time.

I averted my gaze from Reuben and glanced at my phone. Wyatt was calling. I took a deep breath before speaking, but Wyatt’s panicked voice erupted from the other end.

first.

“Mommy, where are you? Grandpa Benjamin is in bad condition.”

“What?” I nearly shouted in shock. “Bad condition? Did the Alpha return to the pack? What’s happening?” I rapidly fired off my questions in confusion and panic. Wyatt normally did not panic over things. Simultaneously, I heard some odd noises coming from the other side of the phone. It seemed that they were not home even though I had left them in Beta Ken’s care, “Wyatt, where are you? And where is Lori?”

As I asked, I noticed Reuben growing alert beside me. His expression did not seem good, it quickly turned into a crazy one again.

Suddenly, Beta Ken’s voice cut in. “Willow, quickly come to the city hospital. I don’t know all the details, but when I returned from a meeting late tonight, I found out that Alpha Benjamin had returned and had an argument with Sky about the pack territory or some gambling issue. Then Alpha discovered something and was suffering from chest pain. The pack’s Ga mma has taken him to the hospital. I’m on my way there now. Since you weren’t home, I couldn’t leave Wyatt and Lori behind. So I’m taking them with me but I will send them back to the pack with the G amma once I arrive at the hospital. I’ll send you the address. Hurry up,” he said hurriedly and the line went dead.

“No…” I put my hand over my mouth. What I feared had happened, “The Alpha… found. out about Sky’s gambling and the loss of Wade Moon Pack….” I looked at Reuben who was silently watching ine. Alpha Benjamin had undergone surgery a few days ago, and now he had experienced chest pain after hearing the news. It was not a good sign. He was like a father to me and I could not lose him, “I need to go…” I turned on my heel to leave.

“I will take you,” Reuben came to stand beside me. I paused and glanced at him. Obviously, he had heard everything with his wolf hearing.

“There’s no need. I will take a taxi,” I stated firmly. There was no way I could be seen with him in public.

“That would be a waste of half an hour and dangerous this late at night,” he remarked.

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His statement made me think twice. I really didn’t have time to waste, but if someone from the Emerald Bright Pack saw me then it was going to be a big problem.

“Then just take me to the hospital doors and don’t act like we know each other,” I muttered, preparing to leave.

“Fine,” he grabbed the car keys. His compliance caught me off guard. It was unusual for him. Ignoring the doubts in my heart, I strode out of his study, but I could feel him. trailing behind me. He didn’t walk beside me, instead he followed a few paces back. Descending the stairs, I sensed his intense gaze burning into my back. A sudden heat spread through me, and I stopped catching him staring at my hips. “Why are you walking behind me?” I shot a glare at him.

He gave me a lazy look, “You said not to act like I know you. Strangers don’t walk together, right? So, I’m behind you,” he reasoned with his hands shoved into his pockets.

A bitter twitch touched my l*ps. Without a word, I turned around, hastening through the living room toward the packhouse’s exit.

Fortunately, the rain had ceased. As I stepped into the courtyard, my pace slowed and Reuben walked passed me, heading toward his car. I hurried after him until a sensation of being watched sent a chill down my spine. I scanned my surroundings slowly, finding only darkness. I had deliberately chosen this late hour to avoid familiar faces and curious gazes. Glancing back at the trees, I wondered if it was just my imagination.

“Get in,” Reuben opened the car door for me. Shaking off my unease, I averted my gaze from the trees and swiftly entered the car. He drove us out of the pack territory toward the hospital.

As the car sped along the main road, I couldn’t help but repeatedly check my watch, my thoughts were consumed with Alpha Benjamin’s condition. Simultaneously, I sensed Reuben’s persistent gaze fixed on my face throughout the drive. It had been six years since I’d last been in a car with him, but circumstances were vastly different now.

The journey remained silent, yet Reuben’s intense stare spoke volumes. I maintained a composed demeanor and avoided looking at him until we arrived at the hospital. As soon as the car stopped, I hastily exited and hurried into the hospital without glancing back.

After confirming the room number with reception, I rushed into the corridor only to find Beta Ken walking in my direction.

“Beta Ken,” I jogged closer to him in a hurry. How is the Alpha doing?”

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“Willow, you are finally here. I have sent Wyatt and Lori safely back to the pack and the Alpha is fine but still unconscious. The doctor said that he could not handle the stress and he is incredibly sensitive because of surgery. I also learned about what has transpired with Alpha Sky. He really lost our pack. It is obvious that the Alpha could not bear the news,” his voice was full of disappointment and sadness. “I can’t even dare to think what will happen when the pack members learn that they are going to be homeless…”

“No, I will not let that happen!” I exclaimed.

“Really? How?” he asked, his eyes full of hope.

I bit my l*p and internally made up my mind. “I will find a way

I assured.

Beta Ken nodded and said, “Alright, I trust you, Willow. For now I am returning to the pack. I can’t be away too long when the Alpha is not there,” he smiled lightly and left. while I remained standing there. I slowly pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed that number that I had not forgotten even though it had been six years since I had called it last.

He answered the call after one ring but did not say a word. He kept listening to my breathing until I chose to speak. “Let’s talk. Come out. I know you are watching me.”

A couple of seconds later, Reuben’s footsteps stopped behind me and I turned to look at him. He stood right in front of me with both of his hands shoved in his pocket while his handsome face remained expressionless as he waited for me to speak.

“Will you give me the papers to Wade Moon if I agree to move in with you?” I questioned.

His eyes changed immediately as he took a step closer, “Wanna come with me and I will give them to you right now?” He raised his hand and tucked a stray piece of behind my car. I stared at him in surprise. He was willing to return something that he

my hair paid ten times its worth for, in exchange for me agreeing to move in with him.

I looked deep into his eyes and could not help but ask, “Why are you so obsessed with me moving in with you?”

Reuben’s hand paused as he stared into my eyes, “Because I want you back…”

Before he could complete his sentence, the news playing on the screen behind him said. loudly. I looked pass by Reuben to the screen where it played a news of him.

“News about Billionaire Reuben Emerald has been leaked on the internet, The

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marriage that has been on pause for the last six years has finally been given a date with his fiancee. It is said that within the next month or two he will be getting married. While it is still unknown why there was a years-long pause before the marriage was suddenly back on the table?”

Reuben furiously glared at the screen, “What the f uck? Who leaked this news….

I let out a low laugh, causing Reuben pause. He glanced at me to see my smile, “So this is the reason you want me back?” my heart was stabbed like a sword was shoved inside my chest.

“Willow. I

“Stop it!” I yelled, pushing him away. He dared to deny it, after the whole world knew about his impending marriage.

“Now I understand why you are not married yet. We have not rejected each other, we are still tied together by our mate bond. You could not marry your fiance, make her your mate, and the pack’s luna until you break all bonds with me, right? That is the reason you want me to move into your pack, it’s so we can finish the rejection. ceremony!” I clenched my fist at my side, my eyes slightly watery in anger.

“Willow….” he tried to get closer to me but I took a step back.

“You could have simply asked me for a rejection Reuben.”

“What the f uck you are saying?!” he growled and grabbed my hand, pulling me into his chest.

“Why? How can I reject this rejection in a more d*rty and humiliating way?” I chuckled, my eyes slightly watery in anger.

“Stop it…” he took a deep and angry breath.

“True, it is really time to stop and end everything, Reuben,” I looked straight into his eyes, my expression serious.

“What do you mean?” he frowned, his expression changing as he felt something unexpected coming his way.

“You want me to move in with you so that you can be free from our mate bond, right? Then I will do it,” I declared and pulled him down closer to my l*p., “I will move in then I will leave after rejecting you.”

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