Chapter 56
Arthur
Arthur watched in alarm as Almara ran out of the chapel. He wanted to go after her, but he had to deal with Sofia first. He didn’t think Almara would get far and this wouldn’t take very long. At least he hoped it didn’t.
He pulled away from Sofia and held her at arm’s length. She was looking up at him with so much love and reverence that his heart ached for her. He knew what it was like to have his heart broken and he did not envy the feeling. He hated that he had to do the same to Sofia.
“Sofia, I am sorry about your injury. I know how much your career meant to you. But I can’t take you back. I can’t marry you.”
Sofia’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. It was clear that she had never expected Arthur to say that to her.
“What do you mean? Why ever not? We love each other. We’re fated mates. Why can’t you marry me?” Sofia asked, taking a step back. Arthur let his arms fall to his side. Here was the moment of truth. He was about to admit something to everyone that he had only just admitted to himself.
“Because I’m in love with Almara. I’m sorry, Sofia. I never thought that it would happen and it was never my intention to hurt you. But it did and I don’t want to be with anyone else but her,” Arthur answered, looking Sofia directly in the eyes. He didn’t want to be a coward. He would meet Sofia’s emotions head on.
“You can’t be serious. How can you love someone who isn't your mate? I don’t understand,” Sofia said, her lower lip quivering. Her eyes filled with tears and she blinked rapidly, trying to hold them back.
“I’m sorry, Sofia, but I have to do this. I, Arthur Covington, Alpha of the Hurricane Pack -” Arthur was cut off as Sofia flung herself at him, beating her hands against his chest.
“No, Arthur, please don’t do this! Don’t reject me! You can’t!” she cried, tears spilling freely now.
Arthur grabbed both of her wrists in one hand. He looked around for some help and was shocked when his father stood up and joined them. Roman gently pulled Sofia away and held her there.
“Do what you need to do, son. I fully support you,” Roman said and Arthur’s eyes widened. His father had never once said anything like that to him. Roman’s lips pulled into a familiar smirk as he took in his son’s expression.
“Thank you, Father,” Arthur said before continuing what he had started. “ I, Arthur Covington, Alpha of the Hurricane Pack, officially reject you, Sofia Pierce, Princess of the Red Wood Pack, as my fated mate.”
Arthur waited for the pain of the rejection, but it never came. He could still feel the mate bond. His lips pulled back in a snarl. This proved it. His mate bond with Sofia was a fake. He would have to find some other way to break it.
But that didn’t matter. What mattered was that he rejected her in public. It was as official as it could be in everyone else’s eyes.
Arthur turned away from Sofia, letting his father deal with her. He had to go after Almara. But before he could make it two steps down the aisle, Almara’s father stepped in his way. Arthur held back a growl. It wouldn’t look good if he growled as his future father-in-law.
“Did you mean what you said? Do you really love her?” Almara’s father asked and Arthur didn’t hesitate.
“Yes, very much. More than I have ever loved anyone,” he admitted freely. Now that it was out there, he didn’t feel the need to hide just how much Almara meant to him anymore, especially with her parents.
“Then go get her. I had my doubts about you, especially when your relationship moved so fast, but you have my blessing,” her father said, patting Arthur on the shoulder. He stepped out of the way and Arthur shot him a grateful smile before once again making his way out of the chapel.
Kaylee met him at the door. She was frowning and her hands clenched and unclenched at her side. She looked like she wanted to punch someone.
“Kaylee, what are you doing here? Why aren’t you with Almara?” Arthur asked brusquely, not happy with the situation.
“She managed to give me the slip, Alpha. I’m sorry, but I lost her,” Kaylee said, hanging her head. Arthur knew that she had grown fond of Almara and it must have been killing her that she had failed to stay with her.
“Are you saying she’s no longer here?”
Kaylee nodded. Arthur’s own hands fisted. Where the hell would she have gone?
He whipped out his cell phone and called Almara’s phone. It went straight to voicemail. He called several more times and they all went straight to voicemail. She wasn’t answering.
Arthur gritted his teeth. He should have told Almara how he felt. He had thought he made it clear to her, but he couldn’t remember if he’d ever actually said the words. He should have told her the minute he realized it. She had told him, even though she had been drunk. Arthur should have returned the favor.
He shook his head. He could regret his decisions later. He had to go find Almara. It shouldn’t be too hard. There were only a few places that she would go.
Hours later, he still hadn’t found Almara. She wasn’t at the estate. She wasn’t at the gallery. She wasn’t at her parents’ house either. Nobody could get a hold of her. Arthur had even checked her account. She hadn’t made any purchases with her card so he didn’t think she was at a hotel.
There was only one place that he could think of where she could have gone. And he was absolutely going to be pissed off if she had gone running to Noah Cunningham.
Reluctantly, he dialed Noah’s phone number. Of course there was no answer. He hadn’t really expected the asshole to pick up.
About thirty minutes later, his phone vibrated with a text message. He opened it, hoping that it would be from Almara. It wasn’t.
The screen read Noah Cunningham.
She’s with me. She doesn’t want to talk to you. Checkmate, Alpha.
Arthur clutched the phone tightly before throwing it on the ground. He watched it break apart, the pieces scattering in all directions. His chest constricted. He had to go get her. He had to get her away from that snake.
He barked orders at his driver and they sped for Noah’s house. Arthur watched the scenery go by, not really taking any of it in. All he could think about is what the two of them might be doing in that house. He didn’t think Almara would sleep with Noah right away, but he wouldn’t put it past the creep to put the moves on her.
When they reached the house, Arthur jumped out of the car and banged on the door with his fist. The door shook with his fury.
But everything was silent. No one came to the door. No one even peeked out of a window. Fine. Arthur guessed he would just have to force his way inside.
Arthur backed up, intending to kick the door in. As soon as his foot connected with the wood, he was thrown backward, almost off the property. He hit the ground with a loud thud. Arthur lay there for a second, stunned. The bastard had warded the place.
Arthur stood up, dusting dirt off of his clothes. He couldn’t break into the house, but he could camp outside of it. Almara couldn’t stay inside there forever.
