Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow novel Chapter 402

Chapter 402: Tracking Her

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Chapter 402

~Ryland’s POV~

Crystal’s lips were soft and hesitant, but the moment they pressed against mine, a spark shot down my spine.

The mate bond surged between us like a flame catching dry wood, burning hotter than I expected.

My hands instinctively found her waist, pulling her closer, needing to feel more of her. She shivered, her fingers curling into my shirt as if grounding herself. She didn’t want to lose herself to me entirely. I couldn’t say I blamed her either.

We were both caught in something neither of us could control.

Her lips parted slightly, and my wolf growled in approval, urging me to deepen the kiss. But before I could, Crystal suddenly pulled back, her breath coming in short, uneven pants.

Her eyes flickered with uncertainty. "Ryland... I—"

I stared at her, my own breathing ragged, my hands still resting on her waist. "I know."

We were both confused.

This was too much, too fast.

She closed her eyes for a second before looking back up at me. "I can’t deny what I felt just now."

I swallowed hard, nodding. "Neither can I."

Crystal exhaled, biting her lip. "I never thought I’d be the type to blindly follow fate, but... I’ve always dreamed of meeting my mate. And now that you’re here..." She hesitated, searching for the right words.

Either that or she was completely unsure how to say that without making herself look too available or begging.

I remained silent, letting her speak. She took a deep breath. "I’d love to be with my mate—with you—but..."

I felt something shift inside me. Was it a realisation that I could be losing my mate?

She was choosing me.

The bond was real, and even though it scared me, even though I wasn’t sure if I could let go of the past just yet... I knew one thing.

I wanted to try.

I cupped her cheek gently, running my thumb over her smooth skin. "Then let’s try."

Her lips parted slightly, her eyes widening. "Are you sure?"

"No," I admitted with a dry chuckle. "But I want to be."

She laughed softly, resting her forehead against mine. "Me too."

We stayed like that for a moment, wrapped in the quiet, the tension between us easing into something softer.

Something real.

And for the first time since everything fell apart, I felt like maybe... just maybe... things could fall into place again.

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~Koda’s POV~

The garden behind the packhouse was peaceful at this hour. The scent of fresh earth and wildflowers mixed with the crisp evening air, but it did little to calm my raging thoughts nor the conflicting emotions inside me.

I sat on the stone bench, staring blankly at the darkening sky, lost in the same thoughts that had plagued me for weeks.

I had left Tempest, my mate. And yet, every second since then had been filled with nothing but regret.

I thought I could handle it. I thought that walking away was the right choice. But now? Now, I wasn’t so sure anymore.

Footsteps crunched on the gravel behind me. I didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

Alpha Slade. The man had always been observant, but lately, he had been watching me even more closely. Not that I cared at this point.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked casually.

I shook my head. "Go ahead."

He took a seat beside me, silent for a moment before finally speaking. "You’ve been distant, Koda. You’re barely present in training, and you’ve been keeping to yourself more than usual."

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "I know."

Slade leaned back slightly, studying me. "What’s wrong?"

I hesitated. Should I tell him?

Should I admit that I had walked away from my mate because I was too much of a coward to share her?

Slade didn’t push, but his gaze was steady and somewhat patient.

I sighed. "I left my mate." _{ƒreewebηoveℓ.com}

His brows furrowed slightly, but he said nothing, waiting for me to continue.

"I left because..." I clenched my fists. "Because I couldn’t share her. Because she had feelings for someone else before me, and I—" I exhaled sharply. "I didn’t think I could handle that."

Slade hummed thoughtfully. "And how do you feel now?"

I was shocked by his question, given that I expected him to have scolded me or something but no. He didn’t.

I didn’t even have to think about my answer. "Like I made the biggest mistake of my life."

Slade nodded. "You miss her?"

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~Zara’s POV~