Chapter 8

Second chances

I quietly watched Melissa from across the room with an inexplicable tightness squeezing my chest.

There she was, my former sugar baby Melissa, embracing the two children she had borne to another man with a softness that caused an ache inside me.

It was shocking to see how much of her had changed over the years. The scrawny, meek eighteen-year-old girl I remembered was gone. She was now replaced by a confident, wealthy doctor and mother who carried herself with an air of sophistication and strength.

It was hard to believe that she was the same Melissa who used to shuffle around with her head down, the timid Omega maid who had clung to me as if I were her entire world.

Back then, I was everything to her—the sun and moon, the center of her universe. Her addiction to me had been intoxicating, and I had enjoyed it so much that I felt invincible.

When we made love, her eyes used to make an unspoken promise that she would never leave my side, that I was the most valuable and most important person in her life.

It had made me think that her love for me was totally unshakeable, even though I didn't give her love back or even act like she meant anything to me.

And yet, everything had changed.

I still remember the shock I felt that day, the searing pain that consumed my chest, when she suddenly broke our contract after learning I was engaged to her step sister Susie.

I had always believed that Melissa would love me now matter what, that her love for me was strong enough to endure whatever I did to her.

Yes, I had always known she was in love with me, and I had enjoyed every moment of it. I pretended to not know her feelings while still soaking in every warmth and affection she could give.

But even though I knew how much she loved me, I had betrayed her with Susie. I had gotten Susie pregnant because I had to—at least, that's what I told myself.

There was no place for an Omega like Melissa to be my wife. She was wolfless and unwanted, and she was not fit to be a Luna.

If I tried to make her my wife, the people would revolt against me, the council's elders of the pack had made that painfully clear to me.

Closing my heart to Melissa had been one of the hardest things I had ever done, yet I convinced myself it was the right choice.

Susie was her sister, but while her father and stepmother abandoned Melissa, they showered love and adoration on Susie, especially since her mother was a wealthy woman from a noble family.

Marrying Susie promised wealth, influence and a strategic alliance that could upgrade my pack's standing in the region.

But marrying Melissa would only bring shame and probably riot from the people.

But watching Melissa now, I couldn't help but wonder if I had made a huge mistake by letting her go.

My gaze trailed over her body, and I remembered the feeling of those slim legs wrapped around me, those fingers that used to claw eagerly at my back, and the mouth that always sought to give me pleasure.

But this Melissa was different now. She stronger, more beautiful, with a fit body that could make me sin for days.

She had transformed into a world-renowned pediatrician and was also an amazing mother.

As she touched her twins with obvious warmth and care, I couldn't help but think about my own wife.

Susie had never once shown this kind of dedication our own son. When our son was born, she practically dropped him on my lap, leaving me to shoulder the responsibility of raising him while she did whatever the Fuck she wanted to do.

But Melissa, she was different, she poured everything into her children, showering them with the kind of love that I only wished my son could experience.

A dull ache settled in my chest as I considered what I had lost. Melissa's twins were very handsome boys too.

They looked way too much like her, and somehow, that made me feel a little bitter.

Melissa suddenly looked up and caught me staring, and her eyes narrowed at me.

She was practically shooting daggers my way. "What are you looking at?" she demanded in a sharp voice. All the warmth in her eyes disappeared when she looked at me.

I met her gaze, and composed my expression so that she wouldn't see what I was feeling.

"Your children are beautiful," I simply said in a calm and measured tone. "But they look too much like you. I'm sure their father wasn't very happy with that." I drawled.

She raised her chin and glared at me. "Their father absolutely loves that they look like me," she snapped back. "Because he loves looking at my face every single day. He constantly says so." She boasted.

Hector, my wolf, suddenly snarled in anger. We both did not want to hear anything about her damn baby daddy!

I felt hot jealousy fill my blood at her words.

The thought of her with another man made me unbelievably mad. I couldn't imagine her moving on and finding happiness with another man that was not me.

Call me proud, but I had always assumed I would always be the most important person in her life, the only one she couldn't forget.

But she had shocked the shit out of me. She had quickly moved on with another man like I was nothing to her.

She had moved into his house, gave birth to his children and they were even building a life together. It was as if I had never existed. Like I never mattered to her.

I now realize that all that love she pretended to have for me was probably fake and shallow to keep me with her. Maybe that's why she ended our arrangement, because she failed to marry me, so she didn't want to pretend anymore.

How did I know all this? I knew because I had followed up on her life immediately after she left. I searched and researched every detail about her whereabouts her banishment, but she was nowhere to be found.

It was like she had disappeared, leaving no trace behind.

I had been desperate to find her, so I had poured a lot of resources into locating her, but nothing.

Then three years ago, I finally discovered her whereabouts. I was told she had settled with a new partner, and she was raising his twins now. The report had filled me with a violent rage.

In a fit of anger, I had torn up the file, destroyed my office, and vowed never to speak of her again, until the day my son fell sick.

But If I had known we were fated mates back then, I would have chased her down long ago and brought her back to me by any means necessary.

But she was finally here now, standing infront of me, and fate had granted me a second chance—a chance I intended to not waste.

I took a step toward her and lowered my voice so only she could hear. "Melissa, we need to talk. Can we step outside?"

For a moment, she hesitated, her eyes searching mine with something unreadable. Then, with a resigned sigh, she nodded. "Fine," she agreed.

We stepped into the hall way and I turned to face her.

"Melissa, since we are mates, I think we should—"

But she cut me off by suddenly turning around to face me, "I, Melissa Gregory, reject you, Alpha Knox, as my mate."

I froze in disbelief.

"What did you say?"