Fated to the Alpha Who Killed Me (by Sherry) novel Chapter 81

Chapter 81

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I stood there staring at my phone, my whole body trembling. Not with fear. With rage. With the bone–deep

exhaustion of being held to standards he’d never met himself.

Shadow landed on my arm, talons gripping tight, and I welcomed the bite of pressure.

“Was that-” Zane approached cautiously, his smile fading.

I nodded, not trusting my voice.

“He heard me.” Zane’s face went pale, and he immediately stepped back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause

trouble for you.”

“It’s not your fault,” I said, accepting the hot chocolate with shaking hands. “He’s been looking for an

excuse.”

We sat back down on the bench. For a long moment, neither of us spoke.

“I’m so tired, Zane,” I heard myself say. “So tired of this.”

He sat beside me, careful to maintain distance now. “Do you need–I mean, if there’s anything I can do-”

“No.” I shook my head. “This is my mess to handle. But thank you.”

The wind picked up, cutting through my jacket.

“I should probably head back to campus,” Zane said quietly. “But are you okay to drive?”

“I need to drive alone for a bit,” I said. “Clear my head.”

He nodded, understanding. We stood, and I watched him walk away, shoulders hunched against the wind.

The ride home was a blur. I didn’t go straight to the manor. Instead, I found myself riding aimlessly through

the city, past storefronts and couples and families living their normal lives while mine fractured into pieces

I couldn’t hold together.

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Chapter 81

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At a red light, I watched a young couple across the street. The woman was laughing, and the man pulled her

close, pressing a kiss to her temple. Simple. Easy. Uncomplicated affection I’d never known.

My eyes burned. I blinked hard.

When I finally turned toward home, the sun was setting. The iron gates loomed ahead, and I keyed in the

code with numb fingers.

Mara appeared at the door as I climbed the steps. “Luna, you’re back. Dinner is ready whenever you need it.”

“Thank you, Mara. I’ll eat later.”

I went straight upstairs to check on Shadow, falling into the familiar routine of feeding him and checking

his feathers.

I was about to head downstairs when I heard it. An engine in the driveway.

I moved to the window and looked down to see Daemon’s black SUV pulling through the gates.

My heart stuttered. He’d said he was in the northern territory. He’d said-

The door slammed, and Daemon strode toward the house, movements sharp and aggressive. Even from here,

I could read the barely contained anger in every line of his body.

I heard his voice downstairs. “Where is she?”

“Luna just went up to check on the hawk.”

Footsteps on the stairs. Heavy. Purposeful.

I stood frozen as Daemon appeared at the top of the landing. Our eyes locked.

“You’re back early,” I said, my voice steady despite my hammering heart.

He closed the distance in three strides. “Did you think I wouldn’t come back?”

“We should talk inside,” I said quietly.

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Chapter 81

His laugh was cold. “Now you care about propriety?” He caught my wrist, firm but not painful. “Main

bedroom. Now.”

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I let him lead me down the hall and pull me inside. He released my wrist and turned away, shrugging off his

jacket with too–controlled movements.

“Explain,” he said.

I took a deep breath. “Explain what? That I helped rescue a dog? That I took care of Evan’s hawk? Or that I

exist outside of this suffocating bond?”

He spun around, blood–red eyes blazing. “You were with him.”

“His name is Zane. And yes, I was with him for one hour doing charity work. While you were at a hotel with

Celeste. Where’s the crime?”

His jaw clenched. “You want details?”

The implication made me cold. “I want the severance ceremony. I’ve requested it multiple times. This is

getting ridiculous.”

Something flickered across his face.

“My father’s birthday is tomorrow,” he said abruptly.

I stared. “What does that have to do with-”

“You’ll come with me. We’ll present a united front.” He turned toward the bathroom. “Non–negotiable.”

The shower started running before I could respond.

He still wouldn’t agree to severance. Maybe the political benefits still outweighed the inconvenience of my

existence.

But I’d learned something. Bringing up the severance was the one thing that got a reaction. The one card

that made him recalculate.

It wasn’t much. But it was something.

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I left for my guest room and showered. When I emerged, I found Celeste’s latest post on social media. Snow

outside a hotel window. Lyrics: “You don’t know how much you affect me.”

My chest tightened. She was faster this time. More direct.

My phone buzzed. A message from Celeste: “Did Daemon get home?”

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selena ortiz

why is she texting her?

1 days ago

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