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Chapter 370
~Ella’s POV~
I swallowed hard, my fingers curling into the sheets. "It’s just... It is a lot, Zara. I don’t even know how to process this. One second, I’m living my life, trying to move on, and the next, fate decides to throw a damn Lycan mate at ?"
Zara leaned back, tapping her fingers against the armrest. "So, what are you going to do?"
I blinked at her, my heart skipping a beat. "What do you an?"
She gave a pointed look. "Ella. You have a mate bond with Richard now. That changes things. But you also have Ares, and whether or not you want to admit it, there’s still sothing there between you two."
I shook my head quickly. "No. Ares and I are in the past. We just had our chemistry. He’s just being possessive because he thinks he still has a claim over ."
Zara raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that?"
I opened my mouth to answer but found myself hesitating. This was due to my deep-seated uncertainty.
Ares and I had a fiery history. And despite everything, there was still sothing there.
But Richard... he was different. I didn’t know him, but I felt him. The mate bond wasn’t sothing I could ignore. It was powerful, primal, sothing my soul recognised even before my mind could catch up.
And that terrified .
Zara must have noticed my internal struggle because she leaned forward, her expression softer now. "Listen, Ella. No one’s going to force you into anything. But you need to figure out what you want and not what fate, Ares or Richard wants. You... you gotta think about you. Ypou’ve nbeen hurt before but not all n are scum. Rember that."
"I know but..."
"No buts, young lady. You deserve happiness, and you cannot get it from Kent. Try as you may, but Kent is the epito of danger. Look out there and see for yourself. Ares might have lied about his identity, but that’s because he was scared of losing you."
I wanted to speak, but Zara lifted her finger, cutting off before I started. "Which was his mistake, but then again, you guys had chemistry, babe. And now Richard..."
Zara inhaled as she raked her fingers through her hair, leaving a scattered ss around her shoulders.
"Babe, he is your mate. I may not have had a fated mate, but the bond I have with Snow, I wouldn’t give that up for anything. I love him, and I chose him."
I took a sharp breath as her words struck deeply.
What do I want?
Silence stretched between us as I wrestled with my own emotions. My chest felt tight, my head clouded with conflicting thoughts.
"So think carefully and make your decision. Who do you choose? What do you want? Do not make that mistake that Tempest made. I don’t think you can handle having them both, either. So make the right call."
"I don’t know," I admitted finally, my voice small.
Zara nodded slowly, reaching out to squeeze my hand. "Then it’s ti to figure it out, Ella. Because whether you like it or not, things just got a lot more complicated."
I swallowed hard, nodding in agreent.
Complicated was an understatent, and all I wanted to do now was escape, but...
"I won’t let you go, Ella. I’ve waited all my life for you."
My heart skipped a beat when I felt Richard’s thoughts in my head, and I inhaled. This was hard.
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~Zara’s POV~
I exhaled, watching Ella as she silently contemplated her next move. This wasn’t an easy choice for her—hell, if I were in her shoes, I wouldn’t know what to do either.
The weight of fate, the past, and her own emotions was pressing down on her, and I could see the exhaustion written all over her face.
She needed ti, and I wasn’t going to rush her.
Reaching out, I squeezed Ella’s hand once more. "Get so rest, okay? You don’t have to figure this out right now."
Ella gave a small nod, though her eyes were still clouded with uncertainty.
With that, I stood and walked toward the door, pausing for just a second to glance back at her. She was staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.
She would be fine. Eventually.
Stepping into the hallway, I barely made it two steps before a familiar presence blocked my path.
Kaid.
The Lycan King leaned casually against the wall, his sharp eyes studying in that unreadable way of his. "She’ll be alright?" he asked.
I sighed. "I hope so."
He pushed off the wall and walked beside as we made our way toward the lobby. "If I were her," he started, "I’d choose Richard."
I arched a brow, glancing at him. "You’re biased."
Kaid chuckled. "Maybe. But it’s not just because he’s my Beta." His expression turned serious. "Richard is cool-headed—except when it cos to protecting the people he cares about. And unlike Ares, he doesn’t play gas."
I crossed my arms. "Ares has his own way of caring. He may have had a record, but he is good."
Kaid shot a knowing look. "Doesn’t change the fact that he lost her because of his pride."
"Pride? I won’t call that pride."
"Oh well."
"He just lied about his identity and nothing more because he wanted a chance with her."
"The end doesn’t always justify the ans. And knowing him, he won’t make it easy for Richard either."
I sighed. "And Richard?"
"He’s waited for his mate his whole life, Zara," Kaid said, his voice quieter now. "Unlike so of us, he never believed in casual flings or temporary distractions. He always believed his mate was out there, waiting for him."
That made pause. I glanced at Kaid, searching his face for any deeper aning behind his words.
"So, you’re saying he hasn’t been seeing anyone?" I asked.
Kaid shook his head. "No one. He’s one of the most loyal people I know. If Ella gives him a chance, she’ll see that."
I humd processing that. "You sure know a lot about ’lovable’ people."
Kaid smirked, tilting his head. "What’s that supposed to an?"
I shrugged. "Just wondering how, with all these supposedly lovable people around you, you haven’t changed."
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