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Chapter 3745
~Ella’s POV~
The next morning, I woke up feeling slightly better than the previous days. My body was still healing, but at least I didn’t feel like collapsing every ti I moved.
I stretched, letting out a slow breath before sitting up. Just as I was about to reach for my phone, a knock on my door made pause.
"Co in," I called, expecting a maid.
Instead, Richard stepped in.
My breath hitched slightly as his presence filled the room. I should have known and sensed it when he ca into the compound, but I didn’t, which ant he masked his presence in a way even I never knew he was around.
He looked effortlessly composed, dressed in a dark grey shirt and jeans, but his piercing green eyes were locked onto with an unreadable expression.
"Good morning," he greeted, his voice deep and smooth.
I swallowed. "Morning."
He stepped closer, his gaze scanning as if assessing my condition. "You look... better."
I let out a small, nervous chuckle. "Thanks, I guess?"
Richard’s lips twitched slightly before he glanced at the chair near my bed and sat down. "I want to take you out today," he said, getting straight to the point.
I blinked. "What?"
"Just a walk, maybe so fresh air," he continued. "And a conversation."
I knew exactly what he ant. A conversation about us. About the mate bond.
I hesitated. A part of wanted to avoid this talk, to run away from the whole situation and pretend like none of it was happening. But that was cowardly, and I wasn’t a coward.
"Okay," I agreed, ignoring the nervous flutter in my stomach.
Richard nodded as if he expected to say yes. "Good. I’ll wait downstairs."
With that, he stood and left the room, leaving staring at the door long after he was gone.
About twenty minutes later, I was dressed in a simple pair of jeans, a fitted sweater, and sneakers. I made my way downstairs, my heart hamring slightly as I spotted Richard standing near the entrance.
The mont his eyes landed on , sothing shifted in his gaze—sothing warm, sothing possessive.
"Ready?" he asked.
I nodded. "Yeah."
We stepped outside, the cool morning air brushing against my skin. Richard led toward a quiet park not too far from the mansion, the silence between us was thick with unspoken words.
Finally, after what felt like forever, Richard stopped near a bench and turned to face .
"I know this is a lot for you," he started in a calm but firm voice. "And I won’t force you into anything, Ella. But I won’t lie to you either—I won’t just walk away."
I bit my lip. "Richard—"
"You felt it," he interrupted, stepping closer. "I know you did."
I did. That was the problem.
I inhaled sharply, looking up at him. "I don’t know what I want yet."
His jaw tensed slightly, but he nodded. "Then take your ti," he said. "But understand sothing, Ella. I waited my whole life for you. I won’t just disappear. It may sound untrue, but the mont I t you, it felt as if my entire life had been waiting for you, and I had finally found you. I lo... want you with all my being."
I felt the sincerity in his words, and it made my chest tighten. This wasn’t just about . It was about him too.
And that made everything so much harder.
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~Crystal’s POV~
The next morning, I found myself once again in Ares’s hotel room.
He sighed when he saw walk in. "Again?"
"Of course," I grinned, plopping onto his couch. "Can’t let you mope around all day, big bro."
Ares groaned. "I’m not moping."
I raised an eyebrow. "Really? Then why are you staring at your phone like it holds all the answers to life?"
Ares shot a glare before tossing the phone onto the bed. "You’re annoying."
"I know," I said proudly. "Now, let’s talk about her."
Ares ran a hand down his face. "Crystal—"
"I’m serious, Ares," I interrupted, my voice softer now. "What are you going to do? Just sit here and let her make a decision without you? Or are you going to fight for her?"
He hesitated. I could see the war going on inside him. The previous day I had managed to get so information out of him and now... I had learnt much about hima nd Ella.
"She needs to decide what she wants," he muttered.
"And she can’t do that if you’re not even giving her a real choice," I pointed out. "Right now, it’s just her and Richard. If you love her—"
"I never said I love her," Ares growled.
I smirked. "Right. You really, really care about her." I made a quote with my fingers.
He glared at . "Shut up."
I laughed but then sat up straighter. "Seriously, Ares. Go see her. Ask her what she wants. Also, talk to your wolf. You guys need to discuss your feelings for Ella."
Ares was silent for a mont before he let out a deep breath. "Fine."
I grinned. "Great. Let’s go."
"Eh? Right now?"
"No ti like the present, don’t you think? Besides, what do you think Richard is doing?"
Ares couldn’t argue with that. We left the hotel and drove straight toward Snow’s mansion.
The ride was mostly quiet, Ares lost in his thoughts. But I couldn’t shake this weird feeling creeping into my chest.
Sothing... unfamiliar. The mont we arrived at the mansion, that feeling exploded.
A shiver ran down my spine as my heart started pounding.
Sothing was wrong. No—not wrong. Sothing was here.
The car pulled up in front of the house, and I felt it—a pull so sharp it felt like ripping and nding altogether.
I gasped, my hand flying to my chest as the sensation nearly knocked the breath out of .
Ares looked at , frowning. "Crystal?"
I barely heard him. My heart was racing, my entire body frozen, and my sense of sll heightened as a strange sll overwheld .
No. No. No.
This can’t be happening.
And then—The mansion gates opened, and another car drove in.
I didn’t even think. I just moved. I threw open the car door and rushed out, my heartbeat deafening in my ears.
I stopped right in front of the car as it ca to a halt, my breath shallow, my hands trembling.
The door opened. And then he stepped out.
The mont our eyes t, the bond snapped into place like a steel chain locking around my soul.
My mate.
Oh, fuck.
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