CLAIMED - Fated to Two Chapter 44: As If I Don’t Exist

"What are you doing?! I didn’t raise you to ddle in soone else’s affair!" Harry hisses, his face creased with frustration.

"Papa, this is the first ti I’ve ever been this happy. Besides, Torrin said he’d be happy if I co with him. See? I’m his happiness too," Andrea argues, her voice trembling as she pleads for understanding. "Harleigh and I are the sa. We both feel a special bond with Torrin, but he doesn’t feel it with either of us. I just have the upper hand because he’s willing to try and create that special bond with so he can finally consider his mate too."

"Wrong," Harry snaps. "Harleigh has the upper hand because she’s pregnant with his heir. She isn’t just a mate, she’s fated to him. And didn’t you hear the Frostveil werewolves? Torrin is suffering from mory loss."

"mory loss won’t affect a mate bond," Andrea counters. "I had a patient with amnesia years ago, and his bond with his wife remained intact. Harleigh is lying about being his fated mate. She’s only exploiting Torrin’s ntal condition."

I bite back the urge to tell them about the multi-eyed seer - the only explanation for why Torrin’s case is one in a million. They don’t need to know the details of it. They can’t fix it anyway. Not even Andrea’s healing abilities can. And even if she could, I doubt she would. She’s the one trying to take advantage of him.

The mont they see stepping out of the kitchen curtain, they scatter. Andrea grabs her suitcase and rushes out the door, while Harry remains in the living area, unable to et my eyes.

"Thank you for trying," I say.

"I didn’t do it for you or Torrin, I did it for Andrea. She’s kind-hearted, selfless, and understanding. But love can change everyone for the better or for the worse. Torrin is her first love, her first mate."

"We lost her mother after giving birth to her. So she grew up with just . And she’s right. This is the first ti I’ve seen her very happy. It breaks my heart depriving her of her happiness."

"If Torrin chooses her over you, I hope you let them be happy. If he chooses you, tell , and I’ll be the one dragging my daughter back here myself."

I nod, forcing a grateful smile.

Outside, Andrea stands beside one of the Frostveil cars. I walk toward another car, coz I don’t wanna share a car with her.

Monts later, Torrin exits the house, carrying nothing but his anxiety for what lies ahead. His gaze flickers between Andrea and , hesitation written all over his face.

Then,...

He walks straight toward Andrea without so much as a glance in my direction. Together, they climb into the backseat of the car, as if I don’t exist.

My heart shatters further, my wolf howling in pain. Still, I refuse to cry, not when everyone is watching with pity again.

"I can talk to Alpha Torrin and ask him to transfer to your car," Eric offers.

"No," I say, my voice cracking. "He made his choice. Let him be."

In the backseat of my car, I fidget endlessly, unable to stop thinking about Torrin’s coldness toward , and his warmth toward another woman. It feels like Lance-Aiko déjà vu all over again.

To try to calm myself, I call Harper.

-["Hey! How’s it going? Did you find Alpha Torrin?"]- she asks brightly.

"We did, last night," I reply, forcing cheer into my voice. "Sorry, I forgot to call you imdiately."

There’s a mont of silence on her end, before she asks.

-["Are you crying?"]-

"I’m not. I did last night though, happy tears."

-["You don’t sound happy. What’s going?"]-

A strained sigh escapes . I’ve worried Harper enough already. I don’t wanna burden her again with sothing so small compared to everything I’ve survived.

"Nothing," I lie. "He still doesn’t rember or any of us. That’s all. But we’ll fix him. I’ll call you later."

The mont I end the call, tears finally slip free. I cover my mouth to muffle the sobs as they shake my body. From the front seats, the Deltas glance at through the rearview mirror, silent and sympathetic.

It takes more than two hours before we finally reach the eastern border of the Frostveil Pack’s territory, and another half hour before we arrive at the capital, where the Alpha’s mansion stands.

Behind the colossal iron gates, Beatrice is already waiting, excited tears glistening in her eyes. Ogas and Gammas gather behind her, equally eager.

When Alpha Torrin steps out of the car, Beatrice rushes toward him with open arms, then pulls him into a tight embrace. After a mont of hesitation, he hugs her back.

Beatrice soon turns to Andrea, gently cupping her face as if it’s sothing fragile and precious. They speak to each other, but I don’t have the courage to listen. I wait until they start walking into the mansion before finally stepping out of the car myself.

Once we reach the lobby, Beatrice announces enthusiastically, "I’ve prepared a feast for you. I’m sure you’re both starving after the long trip."

"Thank you," Andrea and Alpha Torrin reply at the sa ti.

Only then does Beatrice notice . The warmth drains from her face, replaced with cold disdain. "Except you. You can’t join us. I’ll lose my appetite if you do."

Both Alpha Torrin and Andrea look shocked by her hostility, but I keep my expression blank, refusing to let the tension break in front of them.

Without a word, I walk past them and head upstairs. Once inside my bedroom, I lock the door and cry myself to sleep.

When I wake up, darkness has already fallen. My stomach growls painfully, reminding I haven’t eaten all day. I head downstairs to look for food, but as I pass the study, Beatrice’s voice stops in my tracks.

"If you’ve already found soone else, why don’t you just reject her?" she demands.

My heart slams against my chest, but I force myself to stay behind the door and listen.

"I can’t reject her," Alpha Torrin replies.

Relief washes through .

But,...

Only to be crushed a second later.

"She’s pregnant with my child. If I reject her now, she could die. I’ll reject her after she gives birth," he explains.

"But we’re not even sure that child is yours," Beatrice snaps. "She’s not only fated to you, she’s also fated to Damian. I’ve heard she and Damian spent ti alone in her bedroom so many tis before. They even went on a yacht together after you died. All that woman wants is our pack, coz she was raised without a real one that would truly accept her."

Through the slightly open door, I see Alpha Torrin’s face tighten with anger.

"I knew she couldn’t be trusted. I hope that child isn’t mine," he says coldly. "Still, we have to be considerate of her condition, whether the baby is mine or not."

I can barely breathe. My hand grips the doorfra for support, causing it to creak and draw their attention.

"Look who’s eavesdropping," Beatrice sneers.

Before Alpha Torrin can speak, I step forward. "I was the one who freed your mother from being locked in the tower. Even when she treats like trash, even when everyone else avoids her because of her condition, I demand that she stays free. But go ahead, listen to her and let her poison your mind, the way Atticus did to hers."

Beatrice’s face turns crimson. As always, she loses control: yelling, cursing, and throwing anything within reach. The Gammas and her nurses rush into the study to restrain her and calm her down.

Alpha Torrin watches the scene with disbelief and pity. Then he gently takes my arm and leads away.

"If my mother is only poisoning my mind, tell , is Damian also your fated mate? Did you spend ti with him on a yacht after he and his father killed ?" he asks, there’s threat in his tone.

I open my mouth, but no words co out.

He lets out a bitter chuckle. "See? You can’t even deny it."

"I already rejected Damian. We’re no longer fated to each other," I finally manage. "I tried to kill him several tis. One of those tis was on that yacht. But I failed every ti."

His expression softens slightly.

Silence stretches between us. And it’s who desperately breaks it.

"It was who exposed Atticus and Damian’s cris against you. You can check the Forstveil Court and the United Alliance Court to see that I filed cases to give you justice. You can also check Damian’s dical records how many tis he was hospitalized. Those were the tis I nearly succeeded in killing him. If I love him, do you think I’d be capable of doing all that?"

His gaze drops to the floor. So I cup his jaw and force him to look at again.

"If I don’t love you, why do you think I’m hurting this much?" I ask, tears stinging my eyes again..

I rise on my toes, reaching for his lips.

But then,...

"Torrin." Andrea’s voice cuts through the mont. She approaches with a bright, practiced smile and hooks her arm around his as if she owns him.

"Your house is so big. I got lost trying to find my bedroom. Can you help ?" she asks sweetly.

I blurt out, "Alpha Torrin’s mory is still hazy. Why don’t you ask an Oga’s help instead?"

Her smile falters.

But,...

It quickly returns, even wider than before, when Alpha Torrin replies, "Co on. I’ll help you find it."

Without another glance at , they walk away together, as if I don’t exist. And once again, a fresh wave of pain crashes down on .