The Alpha’s Final Lesson: I Played Along, Then Left Him Forever Chapter 02
She smiled at me. “I always crank the AC when I’m in Ronan’s
car. He got me this blanket so I wouldn’t freeze.”
I looked at Ronan. He couldn’t even be bothered to explain.
Like looking after my best friend was just something he did.
Funny how he forgot. My wolf was the one who couldn’t stand the cold.
Every time I’d ridden with him before, I’d be shivering,
practically begging him to turn the heat up.
And he’d always hit me with that same arrogant tone. “The
weaker you are, the more you need to toughen up. If you can’t
handle a little cold, how are you supposed to be my Luna someday?”
I dropped my gaze and reached for the blanket.
A hand caught Sera’s wrist before I could take it.
Ronan tucked the blanket back over Sera’s legs. “Keep it. If
you give it away, what are you gonna use?”
Sera pouted. “I’m not even cold.”
“Don’t argue. You’re already cramping. Keep the blanket and
rest.. She’ll be fine. Leave it.”
Another wave of sharp pain hit me, piercing my chest.
I pulled my hand back. Said nothing.
Then Ronan reached into the center console and produced a
massive bag of snacks like it had been waiting there all along.
Every single one was Sera’s favorite.
Sera squealed, grabbed a chip, and pressed it right against Ronan’s mouth.
“Oh my God, this flavor’s amazing. Try it.”
The Alpha’s son, who was a severe germaphobe, ate it straight from her fingers.
His eyes softened. “Yeah. That’s good.”
This was the same man who’d once pulled over with a
stone–cold face because I ate a saltine when my blood sugar
dropped. He wouldn’t let me back in the car until I’d cleaned
up every last crumb.
I tried to smile. Couldn’t feel my own face.
The car pulled into the Starfall Kingdom lot. The line at the entrance stretched forever.
Sera was in three–inch heels. Ten minutes in, her face pinched.
Ronan, my ankle’s killing me.”
Ronan’s head swung toward me.
“Zoe, hold our spot. Sera needs to sit down. I’ll take her
somewhere shady. Text me when you’re up front.”
I didn’t move. “My back hurts too.”
The old injury had been flaring up for months.
Ronan’s expression shifted. Impatience.
“You push yourself until midnight every night without a
word, but you can’t stand in line for a few minutes? Don’t pull that.”
He let out a sigh like I was a child throwing a tantrum. “She’s
in heels. You’re in flats. Standing in line isn’t going to kill you.”
He didn’t wait for my answer. Just took Sera’s hand and
walked her to a bench under a tree, far enough that I couldn’t hear them.
He dropped to one knee, set her ankle across his thigh, and
rubbed it with a gentleness that made my wolf whimper.
Į turned away. Inside, my wolf was clawing at me, and I
pressed her down. It’s fine. We can take it.
Half an hour in, my throat was so dry it hurt. I texted Ronan.
(Can you bring me some water?]
[Message Delivered.]
No reply.
Two minutes.
Five minutes.
Ten minutes.
Finally, my phone buzzed.
[No.]
[Sera’s not feeling well. Just wait–you can get some water when we go inside.]
[Just wait. You can drink when we get inside.]
licked my cracked lips. My wolf snarled low in my chest.
Right when I thought I might snap, a small hand tapped my shoulder.
A bottle of water appeared in front of me, ice–cold and
dripping. “Hey, miss? You don’t look so good. Here.”
blinked at her. “You sure?”
She nodded. “My mom says you’re supposed to help other pack members.”
I took the bottle. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking. “Thank you.”
The plastic was freezing against my skin.
My eyes stung so hard I had to look up at the sky.
A stranger saw me. My own mate didn’t.
Forty more minutes. I finally made it to the front.
I’m at the front. Come over.]
One minute passed.
Two minutes passed.
Nothing from Ronan.
The attendant waved me forward, annoyed.
I called. It rang and rang. He finally picked up.
“Hello?”
“I’m at the front. Where are you?”
A pause on the other end.
Oh. Forgot to tell you.”
Sera’s on her period, so she can’t do the big rides. She said
the tickets weren’t worth it. We returned them. We’re at the aquarium.”
The line went dead.
Around me, groups of people laughed together. Kids chased each other in circles.
I stood there soaked in sweat, my back screaming, completely alone.
There was an email I’d been ignoring for days. I opened it. An
invitation from Ravencrest Pack.
They sincerely invited me to join their pack as the Alpha’s Beta.
The salary was nearly double what a Blackridge council seat would’ve paid.
I’d planned to stay. Blackridge, Ronan, a life built side by side!
That plan was already dead.
I stared at the screen until my vision blurred.
Then I hit [Accept].
My wolf was quiet. Unusually so.
For the first time, she didn’t feel like this place was home.