Harper pov
I found it difficult to comprehend the intensity of her gaze, which seemed to pierce through me as if she were a sorceress from a fantastical realm. My thoughts raced with various scenarios. Alpha Lucas had granted both Alpha Ethan and me the liberty to depart from the pack, yet I was convinced that Amelia had a hand in orchestrating this arrangement.
As I continued to pack my belongings, Alpha Ethan entered the room, his gaze fixed on me with admiration. “Hello, Harper. Are you prepared to join me in your new pack?”
I nodded in response.
“I require a definitive answer.”
“Very well, yes, I am eager to leave with you, Alpha Ethan,” I replied with a calm demeanor, though my heart soared with joy.
The prospect of departing with my second-chance mate filled me with happiness, yet I was acutely aware that Alpha Lucas, my first mate who had foolishly rejected me, would undoubtedly seek me out. He was a sycophant.
“Where is Alpha Lucas?” I inquired, momentarily pausing my packing to stand upright and gaze at him.
“He may be in his chamber. Since he has given his approval, there should be no issues with our visit to my pack, Harper.”
I nodded, striving to maintain a composed exterior, though my heart raced with a mix of excitement and trepidation. The idea of leaving with Alpha Ethan, my second-chance mate, felt like a dream realized, yet the thought of Alpha Lucas’s possible anger loomed over me.
“Let us proceed,” Alpha Ethan declared, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. “My pack awaits, and I am eager to present you as my mate.”
As we exited my room, he grasped my hand tightly, and I turned to him, a smile breaking across my face.
However, just as we reached the top of the stairs, a figure stepped out from the shadows-Alpha Lucas. His intense gaze fixed on me, his jaw set in determination.
“Harper, do not think you can leave so easily,” he growled, his voice laced with hostility.
My heart plummeted. Ethan’s hand instinctively tightened around mine, offering a sense of comfort.
“Lucas, we have already had this conversation,” Ethan cautioned, his voice resolute. “You granted your consent.”
“Consent?” Lucas scoffed. “Do you believe a mere word can dissolve the connection we share, Harper?”
I stood my ground, despite the quiver in my voice. “You rejected me, Lucas. You made it clear that I was unworthy.”
Lucas’s face contorted, revealing a blend of fury and desire. “That was an error. One I intend to correct.”
Ethan moved closer, his eyes blazing with protectiveness. “You will do no such thing. Harper belongs to me now.”
The atmosphere grew heavy with tension as the two alphas confronted each other. I held my breath, uncertain of what would unfold.
Would Lucas concede, or would he fight for what he believed was rightfully his?
My heart raced with anticipation, my feelings caught between the excitement of a new romance and the dread of past rejection.
I can only hope that Amelia’s intervention will facilitate my departure with my mate.
Ethan drew me closer, but as footsteps approached, he seemed to falter, unable to speak. Amelia, his fiancee, would undoubtedly pave the way for us, as she had always supported our union, driven by her desire to possess the foolish Lucas for herself.
“Alpha Ethan, what is happening?” Clark inquired, his gaze fixed on us with intensity. He clung to Harper even after he had given his consent for her to leave.
At that moment, Amelia emerged from the room adjacent to the staircase. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she took in the sight of alpha Lucas’s distress.
“Lucas, could you explain what is transpiring here?”
“It’s nothing, Amelia; I was merely bidding them farewell,” he replied deceitfully.
Amelia narrowed her eyes, skepticism evident in her expression. “Bidding them farewell?” she echoed, her tone filled with doubt.
Lucas’s jaw tightened, his complexion drained. “Yes, that is all.”
Amelia’s focus shifted to Ethan and me, her demeanor softening. “Harper, are you alright?”
I nodded, attempting to provide her with reassurance. “Yes, Amelia. Alpha Ethan and I were just about to leave.”
Amelia’s gaze returned to Lucas, her tone resolute. “And Lucas is permitting you to go of your own accord?”
The atmosphere was thick with tension as Lucas’s eyes flickered between Amelia and me. For a brief moment, I detected a hint of desperation in his expression.
“Certainly,” Lucas murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
Amelia’s stare lingered on Lucas before she turned back to us. “Very well. I will accompany you both to the compound to ensure your safe passage.”
Ethan’s grip on my hand tightened, conveying his silent gratitude.
As Amelia began to walk away, Lucas’s voice halted her. “Amelia, please don’t.”
Amelia pivoted, her eyes flashing with a warning glare. “Don’t what, Lucas?”
Lucas’s face twisted in a blend of torment and yearning. “Do not assist them in leaving. Harper belongs to me.”
Amelia’s expression turned frigid. “You rejected her, Lucas. Do not forget that.”
The atmosphere was charged with Amelia’s discontent.
“Are you only now coming to terms with your error?” Amelia pressed on, her tone sharp. “After you shattered her heart and embarrassed her before the pack?”
Lucas advanced a step, his gaze imploring. “Amelia, I beg you.”
Amelia’s voice softened to a mere whisper. “You forfeited your right to plead when you turned your back on Harper. Now, move aside.”
The most agonizing aspect of his entreaty was that he was imploring his fiancee not to let me go; it was utterly foolish, and she remained unmoved.
The authority in Amelia’s voice was clear. Lucas’s expression fell, yet he remained stationary.
Amelia directed her attention to Clark. “Make sure Alpha Lucas does not follow you back to your pack. We cannot afford any… complications.”
Clark acknowledged her with a solemn nod.
Are you out of your mind? What kind of order is that, Amelia?
I retreated hastily as the situation escalated.
“Alpha Ethan, you may depart with your mate, Harper.” He finally offered his genuine consent.
“Very well, thank you.”
“Clark, please take Harper’s bags to the car; we need to leave. Harper, let’s go,” Alpha Ethan murmured, grasping my arms as I gracefully descended the stairs. At last, I was free from Alpha Lucas.