Fated To Not Just One, But Three Chapter 497: Why?

Calvin’s POV

For a mont, we just stared at each other, neither of us willing to back down. Her eyes were blazing, daring to try it, but I could see the flicker of hesitation beneath her glare.

"Quite a bold threat, Alpha," she muttered, crossing her arms. "You wouldn’t dare."

I leaned in slightly, my voice low. "Try ."

Her nostrils flared. For a second, I thought she’d slap or worse, walk away again. But instead, she huffed, rolled her eyes, and turned sharply on her heel. "Fine. Whatever. I’ll go."

I didn’t move until she brushed past , the faint scent of jasmine and rain clinging to the air between us. My wolf purred with satisfaction. She walked ahead, muttering sothing under her breath about arrogant Alphas, and I followed behind, silent.

When we reached the car, she yanked the door open and slid into the passenger seat without looking at . I got in a mont later, started the engine, and drove off. The silence was thick. Only the hum of the tires on the road filled the space between us.

After a few minutes, she finally spoke. "Why don’t we just reject each other?"

My hands tightened on the wheel, but I didn’t answer.

Her voice was low but sharp. "You don’t like . I can tell. And I definitely don’t like you. So why keep pretending this thing doesn’t bother you?"

I stared straight ahead but didn’t say a word.

She let out a bitter laugh. "You hate that I exist. You hate that your wolf reacts to . You hate that you are mated to , an already girl."

My jaw flexed, but I said nothing.

"So, what’s the point?" she continued. "Why not just end it? Reject , Calvin. Set yourself free."

I pressed harder on the accelerator, the engine roaring as I fought the emotions building in my chest.

"Say sothing," she snapped. "Anything."

Still, I said nothing.

She scoffed, shaking her head. "You’re impossible. One minute you act like I’m the problem, the next you show up and drag out of a party like so jealous lover, and now you can’t even look at . You know what? Maybe the Moon Goddess made a mistake. Because I refuse to believe I was ant to be tied to soone who treats like this."

Her words cut deep, but I refused to show it.

We drove in silence after that, heavy, angry, suffocating silence, until the familiar gates of the packhouse ca into view.

The mont I parked, Nora unbuckled her seatbelt, flung the door open, and stord out without another word. I sat there gripping the steering wheel, my gaze fixed on her retreating figure.

My wolf’s voice rumbled low in my head. "You could’ve said sothing. Anything."

"I couldn’t," I muttered. "Not without making things worse."

I sighed and got out of the car, making my way straight to my room. I paced my room for what felt like hours, but the anger wouldn’t fade. Not at her. At myself. At the way her words echoed in my head.

"Reject , Calvin. Set yourself free."

She had no idea how badly I wanted to—not because I didn’t want her, but because I did. Too much.

My wolf wouldn’t stop pacing either. "You should’ve told her. You should’ve said the truth."

"No," I muttered, dragging a hand through my hair. "She doesn’t need to know."

But even as I said it, I could still see her face—the hurt in her eyes, the anger, the disbelief.

I tried to lie down, tried to sleep, but the silence was unbearable. Every sound in the house seed louder. Every second without her scent burned.

Finally, I snapped.

I stord out of my room and down the hall. My footsteps were heavy, my pulse wild. By the ti I reached her door, my chest felt like it was about to split open.

I didn’t knock softly. I banged.

A few seconds later, the door flew open, and there she was, standing there in her nightgown, hair loose, eyes tired and furious all at once.

"What now?" she snapped. "Did I break another one of your stupid Alpha rules?"

Her tone was sharp, but her voice trembled slightly. That small crack undid .

"I’m not here to argue," I said through gritted teeth.

She scoffed. "You could’ve fooled . You’ve been doing nothing but arguing since I got here."

"I’m trying to talk to you."

"Then talk!" she shouted, stepping closer. "Say what’s on your mind, Calvin! Why do you hate so much? Because I’m not so high-born she-wolf? Because I wasn’t born with a silver title or a pack crest?!"

Her words hit hard. I froze.

"That’s what this is, isn’t it?" she went on, her voice rising. "You can’t stand being mated to soone beneath you. You think I’m not worthy of your perfect Alpha na!"

I clenched my jaw. "You’re wrong."

"Then what is it?!" she yelled. "Tell what I did wrong! Tell why you look at like I’m so kind of mistake!"

"Because I can’t—" I stopped myself, my throat tight.

"Can’t what?" she demanded.

I looked away. "I can’t do this."

Her expression faltered. "Do what?"

"Feel," I said quietly, the word scraping from my chest like broken glass. "I can’t afford to feel anything for you."

She blinked, confused, angry. "You’re afraid of feeling?"

I didn’t answer.

She laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "You’re unbelievable. That’s pathetic, Calvin."

Sothing in snapped.

Before I knew it, I’d stepped forward, closing the distance between us until I could feel her breath on my skin.

"Watch your tone," I warned, my voice low.

"No," she shot back, standing her ground. "I’m done watching anything. You can’t keep pushing away just because you’re too much of a coward to—"

I didn’t let her finish.

My hand shot out, gripping her wrist. "You have no idea what you’re talking about," I growled.

Her eyes flashed. "Then enlighten ."

Our faces were inches apart now, our breaths mixing, hot and uneven.

"I told you, Nora," I whispered, my voice hoarse. "I can’t."

But she didn’t back away. "Then why are you here?" she asked softly, her voice trembling now. "If you don’t want , why are you standing in my doorway at midnight?"

I didn’t have an answer—at least, not one I could say.

The next thing I knew, her palm pressed against my chest, right over my heart. "Tell ," she said again, quieter this ti. "Tell why you don’t want ."

My control broke.

I grabbed her waist, pulling her flush against . "Who says I don’t want you?" I hissed. "I can’t stop thinking about you. Every ti you look at , I feel like I’m losing my mind."

Her breath hitched. "Then why won’t you accept this bond?"

I couldn’t respond. Instead, I kissed her.

It wasn’t gentle. It was rough, hungry, desperate—the kind of kiss born from too much restraint and too many lies.

She stiffened for a mont, then lted against , her hands gripping my shirt as if she hated and needed all at once.

When we finally pulled apart, both of us were breathing hard, staring at each other like the world had tilted off its axis.

Her voice ca out as a whisper. "What are we doing?"

I swallowed hard, my thumb brushing against her cheek. "I have no idea."

And before I could change my mind, I turned and walked away.