Chapter 40

Osborne Just like Alex had said, the very next day he showed up at the office, sitting right across from me. I couldn’t help but wonder why he would leave his bride so soon. A part of me figured he was probably just bored, but another part whispered something I didn’t want to admit. “Thanks for letting me come back to work. Honeymoon’s exhausting, especially when you’re stuck eating the same food you ate before marriage,” he said with a dramatic sigh. I chuckled, shaking my head. “You realize you’re speaking foul about your mate, right?” I teased. He clicked his tongue in irritation, clearly not caring how it sounded. “Whatever that may be. Here, handle this,” I said, passing him a drive. “Oh, the construction of XXV,” he muttered as he opened it. I gave a short nod while he settled into the work. I watched him briefly before shifting back to my own. Today, my mother is with Aina, and now that I’ve marked her, the only right thing left is to prepare for our mating ceremony as quickly as possible. As for Bella, she’s with my father, but whatever nonsense she says to him doesn’t concern me. The marriage between Aina and I will happen. We worked in silence for a while before he finally spoke. “When will your mating ceremony take place?” I smiled faintly, amused that it took him this long to ask. “We haven’t set a date yet, but it won’t be far off. If it were up to me, I’d have it done today. But for formality’s sake, we’ll plan it properly.” He nodded, though I noticed he still hadn’t looked at me once. That was enough reason to end whatever hope might still be stirring in him. Aina’s scent is intoxicating, dangerous even. Any man who catches it could lose his mind and that would be a problem. So I decided to put it plainly. “Besides,” I said casually, “I’ve already marked her.” His head snapped up instantly, eyes wide as he stared at me. I couldn’t help but smirk—the look on his face was almost too satisfying. “You marked her before the mating ceremony?” he asked in disbelief, clearly shaken. I gave a simple nod. “Does Bella know about it?” he pressed, his face twisting with more emotions than I cared to name. “I don’t give a damn about Bella or what she thinks,” I replied flatly. “I’ve made it clear, I want nothing to do with her.” He nodded slowly but added, “I don’t think Alpha Hamilton will take that lightly. What will you do about it?” I scoffed, already irritated. This same conversation, Bella, Hamilton, over and over again. It was getting dull, a waste of my breath. So I said nothing more. I turned back to my work, ignoring him entirely, though I could feel his eyes fixed on me as I didn't answer his question and he knew not to push it. “Are you done with that?” I asked without looking up trying to change the subject before I lost my cool. “Almost,” he muttered and I could feel the hurt in his voice. I really want to punch him but he hasn't done anything yet for me to do so, I'll just have to wait for the right opportunity. Alex After finishing my duties with a forced smile plastered on my face, I finally left the office while Osborne went off to handle a bidding. It took every ounce of strength in me not to lose control. That bastard had marked Aina, my Aina. And the worst part? That girl didn’t even resist. When I rejected her, she simply rejected me right back, without so much as a fight, even though I had disgraced her. The thought gnawed at me. Where was she now? I wandered the hall, mind clouded, until I spotted Bella striding toward me with her guards in tow. She always carried herself like royalty, elegance dripping off her every move. Yet beneath it all, I knew her obsession, Osborne. From the moment she laid eyes on him, she’d been consumed by it. When her gaze landed on me, she approached with that practiced, sultry grace. “It seems we meet again, Alex,” she purred. I bowed lightly, keeping my tone polite. “And you look as stunning as ever.” Her hand rose delicately to cover a smile, feigning modesty. “And congratulations on your mating ceremony. I wished I could have been there, but unfortunately, I wasn’t.” The false apology in her voice was almost laughable. Two can play that game. I returned her smile smoothly. “No problem, Bella. And thank you.” But truthfully, my thoughts weren’t with her. My mind was restless, desperate for just a glimpse of Aina. Still, Bella wasn’t one to waste an opportunity. Her eyes glinted as she tilted her head. “Oh, and I also heard that the one Osborne has claimed… was once yours.” My head snapped toward her, and the smug grin spreading across her lips told me she enjoyed the reaction. I scoffed, forcing a laugh. “So you’ve done your digging, I see.” “Obviously,” she said sweetly. “I should know about the one who stole my man, shouldn’t I? And from the looks of it, you gave them your blessings. How typical of you, Alex—always trailing behind Osborne like a loyal dog.” Her words were meant to sting, and maybe they did. But I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. Instead, I chuckled. “Yes, indeed. But whether I gave him my blessings or not, Osborne will always do whatever he sets his mind to. My advice, Bella? Back down while you still have your pride. Otherwise, you’ll only end up humiliated.” The twist of disgust that crossed her perfect face almost made me smirk. Because only a fool would openly challenge Osborne. Yes, I wanted his mate, the woman who was once fated to me, but I valued my life more. And as much as it burned, I knew crossing Osborne was the quickest way to lose it. “We'll see about that, whether he marked her or not, he'll never marry her, that I can guarantee, I'd rather he stayed single and lost for the entirety of his life just like me even if he doesn't claim me" with which she walked away not looking back.