The Alpha’s Final Lesson: I Played Along, Then Left Him Forever Chapter 07
My first full day of Beta orientation had just ended. I walked
out of the Ravencrest council hall, and someone grabbed my hand.
Ronan. Bloodshot eyes, dark stubble crawling across his jaw.
He gripped both my shoulders.
“Are you hurt? Do you have enough money?”
His eyes raked over me from head to toe, searching for
damage. His voice was barely holding together.
Has anyone messed with you? Is your place safe? You can’t
even understand the local dialect–do you have any idea how
easy it is for people to take advantage of someone like you?”
I remembered him kicking that iron door open. Pulling me
out of the rogue hideout. Telling me he was the only person
I’d ever need to trust. And now the biggest liar of them all
was standing right in front of me.
‘I’m fine. Nobody’s scammed me.”
I stepped back. Put distance between us.
‘Ronan, we severed the bond. What I do isn’t your problem
anymore.”
His hands hung in the air where my shoulders had been.
He froze for a moment. Then the panic drained out of his face
and settled into something I recognized: that familiar,
long–suffering look.
He sighed. His voice went soft.
Zoe, come on. Stop this.”
“I know you’re still mad.“.
Come home. I messed up with Poppy, I get it. We’ll go to the
pet store right now, pick out a new one.”
I looked at his face and saw that he was so sure of himself, so
certain this would work, that I almost laughed.
It wasn’t just Poppy.”
“It was the exam pass.
The blanket.”
The chip you ate out of her hand in the car.”
“You rubbed her ankle at Starfall Kingdom while I stood in
line with my back screaming.”
With every word, the color bled out of his face.
“You dressed up your sick pranks as grand lessons.”
“You crossed every single line and didn’t even notice.”
And you really don’t know why I left?“/
Ronan was completely dumbfounded.
His mouth opened slightly, like it had never occurred to him
that I’d been keeping count.
“Zoe…”
“…It’s not what you think. I was trying to protect you, keep you
away from the real world. You’re too soft, Zoe. I thought… I
thought if I was the one who hurt you, at least you’d learn
from it. I never thought I’d end up being the one who hurt
you worst.”
And Sera…”
His voice grew rushed on her name.
I know I let things go too far with her.”
Every time I saw that look on your face, it killed me too.”
When it was just me, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. But
with Sera there, it was like the guilt got split in half. Easier to live with.”
‘I didn’t know you were hurting so much.”
He held up his hand, his eyes locked on mine urgently, “I
promise. Never again. I’ll put distance between me and Sera.
A real line.”
“But don’t throw your future away over this. Come back with me.”
I brushed my hair aside, showing him the Ravencrest senior
member badge pinned above my heart.
“My future’s right here.”
“I’m the Beta of Ravencrest Pack now. My salary’s double what
a council seat in your pack would’ve paid.”
Ronan stood there like the ground had shifted under him.
“But you…. you spent a whole year training for the council.
Don’t you want to build something with me anymore?”
I turned toward the parking lot and headed for my assigned
car from the Ravencrest Pack.
That’s my business. It doesn’t involve you.”
Ronan was on my heels. “I don’t accept that we’re over. I was
angry that night, and accepting your rejection was the
biggest mistake I’ve ever made!”
His tone was stubborn. “I’m here now. And I’m not leaving.”