To Love the Alpha Who Wears My Mate’s Heart Chapter 07
After we broke the bond, Ryan stopped hiding his love for Mia.
Every night, the big screen in the city square played his
confession videos on a loop.
He used Silver Moon Corp’s evaporating market value to
shout to the world that he didn’t love me.
Everyone assumed Ryan would get kicked out of his
position.
But instead, the Silver Moon Pack released an official
statement–edited clips of our conversation that painted
me as the cheating ex who’d never gotten over her old
flame. Ryan was the devoted mate who’d stood by me,
even after I broke his heart.
Within hours, the internet turned on me,
[Poor Alpha Ryan, three years of taking the blame for that
cheating Luna and he still stayed loyal-]
[If she loves her ex that much, why didn’t she run off with
him? Cheaters deserve to be stuck together forever!]
[When you and your ex finally mate, I’ll throw you a grand
funeral. Don’t bother thanking me.]
[Alpha Ryan deserves better. Mia, please get together with
him already and comfort the poor guy.]
A few voices tried to defend me, but they got drowned out
in seconds.
My company caved to the public pressure and let me go.
On my last day, the rain came down hard. I was waiting by
the curb with my boxes when cars swerved through
puddles, splashing me on purpose. I was shivering, soaked
to the bone, when a black umbrella appeared over my head.
Ryan looked down at me and tossed me a clean
handkerchief.
“The whole online mess was my mother’s doing. She told
me to pass along a message–apologize, and she’ll make
sure you live like royalty for the rest of your life.”
I wiped my face with the handkerchief and smiled up at
him. “Tell her she’ll have to die first. Otherwise, dream on.”
Ryan’s expression flickered with something complicated. “I
thought you two got along.”
After all, Julia was the one who’d pushed him to marry me.
She’d made him escort me everywhere, like I was some
fragile thing that’d shatter if left alone,
I didn’t answer, I just opened the cab door,
Ryan’s voice stopped me. “I’m having the marking
ceremony with Mia.”
I paused for half a second. “Congratulations.”
He watched me drive away, fists clenched.
Why didn’t I care at all?
That night, he announced their engagement exactly as he’d wanted.
The day of their marking ceremony, I showed up.
Ryan pulled me aside, voice low and sharp. “Who invited
you? Amelia, this is being streamed live. Keep your head down.”
He paused, then added, “You couldn’t ruin my wedding
just because things ended badly between you and your old mate.”
I glanced toward Mia and said flatly, “I’m not that kind of
person. I won’t make you unhappy.”
Something in his face softened. He reached out and
touched my lips and his fingers went cold at how chilled they were.
“Have you been skipping your doctor’s appointments
again? After the ceremony, I’ll take you to get checked.”
His worry looked real.
I found myself wondering if one person could really split
their care between two people? Or was he just too deep in
his own act?
“Don’t bother, Go take care of your mate.” I pulled away
and pushed him back toward Mia.
The ceremony went smoothly. Ryan finally got the mate
he’d always wanted.
But his chest felt hollow, like something was missing. His
eyes drifted to where I was sitting.
I was alone in the corner, staring blankly at the
centerpiece flowers.
He didn’t realize he’d spoken out loud. “Amelia.”
I looked up and met his gaze.
A tear slipped down my cheek.
Ryan’s heart seized with a sharp, unbearable pain. He
pulled his arm from Mia’s and used his sleeve to wipe my tears.
Mia didn’t stop him. Instead, she quietly slipped to the
back and handed a USB drive to one of the stage techs.
Julia’s face tightened. “Ryan. What are you doing? This is
your marking ceremony.”
He froze, realizing everyone was watching him. He tried to
pull away.
But I caught his hand and pressed it to my cheek.
“I haven’t slept well in so long,” I whispered. “I don’t have
any bad intentions. I just wanted to see what a marking
ceremony looked like.”
Ryan’s throat went dry.
He suddenly remembered that we’d never had one. From
the start, he’d resented Julia for choosing his mate for
him, so why would he have cared about my feelings?
He tucked a stray white hair behind my ear, hiding it.
“Amelia. I admit that I ignored how you felt all these years.
Forgive me. If I’d loved you sooner, maybe we wouldn’t
have ended up like this.”
The room erupted. Online comments exploded.
[What does Alpha Ryan mean by ‘loved her sooner?]
[Told you this was just a PR stunt by the Silver Moon Pack.
This cheating bastard is about to marry his first love and
he’s still chasing his ex!]
[Bullshit! Clearly the ex is the one seducing him.]
The live comments section went nuclear over me.
I collapsed against his chest, laughing through the tears.
“I forgive you.”
The comments stalled for a second and then came the
flood of rage.
[And I thought you finally grew a spine. One ‘I love you‘
and you’re back in his arms?]
[Such a lovesick fool. She deserves to be stuck with Ryan.
Keep her away from normal people.]
[This is how you repay the people who defended you?]
[Whatever. Cheaters never change. Move on.]
My smile slowly faded.
“I said that because he’s still listening,” I said softly. “I
didn’t want him to hear me being petty.”
I stepped closer and pressed my palm flat against his chest.
His heart pounded beneath my hand–so loud I could feel the vibration.
“Ryan,” I said, looking straight into his eyes. “How does it
feel? The heart you carved out of your own brother?”