The Breaking Point of Mate: Giving Up on My Alpha novel Chapter 20

Melanie’s POV

I reached out to Frost in my mind, subtly releasing my Luna aura.

A Luna’s aura can make pack members feel soothed and help them calm down fast.

That’s one of the reasons a pack can’t function without a Luna.

I hugged Trista again and spoke to her gently. “Trista, Mom knows you feel really cool right now. But everyone has different taste, right? You like your style, and some people like a cute style. We can’t call someone ‘ugly‘ just because they like something different than you do. We have to respect everyone’s choices. You get that, don’t you?”

I knew Trista was smart. Other kids might not understand, but she definitely would.

Trista clearly understood and knew what she’d said just now was wrong. She just pressed her lips together and didn’t speak.

I ruffled her hair, took out a tissue, and gently wiped her tears. “It’s okay to make a mistake, just fix it—but you can’t talk to people like that again, okay?”

Trista reached up to hug my neck, rested her head against my chest, sniffled, and nodded softly. “Okay.”

I kissed her cheek, then turned to Hedwig and said, “Hedwig, this is Trista, my daughter. She knows she was wrong. Would you forgive her?”

Hedwig was still a little scared of Trista, but my voice was gentle, so she nodded obediently. “Yeah, I will.”

“Thank you, Hedwig.”

I smiled and looked at Trista. “Trista, what should you do now?”

Trista looked up from my embrace and said in a tiny voice, “I’m sorry.”

Hedwig smiled shyly. “It’s, it’s okay…”

With the situation finally resolved, I breathed a sigh of relief and led both kids toward the classroom.

After the teacher took Hedwig, I crouched down to Trista and said gently, “All right, everything’s fine now. Should we go into the classroom?”

Trista wasn’t embarrassed at all about being watched when she pushed and yelled at someone, nor was she too timid to go into class.

She was never a shy kid, and she didn’t care what the other students thought.

But right now, she suddenly wrapped her arms around my waist and wouldn’t let go. “Mom…”

I hugged her back. “What is it?”

“I want to “Trista opened her mouth, like she wanted to say something, but then she swallowed the words, her eyes flashing She slowly let go of my waist. “Nothing, never mind.”

“Okay, then hurry in. Don’t keep the teacher waiting too long.

“Mhm.” Trista finally let go, but before stepping into the classroom, she couldn’t help but turn back and instruct me,‘ Remember to call me at lunchtime, Mom.”

I promised her, “I will.”

Only then did Trista feel secure enough to walk into the classroom.

Chapter 20

+25 Bonus

I watched her confidently introduce herself to the class at the front, and then quietly take her seat. Only then did I leave the school and heading to the Atkinson Group.

When I got to the company, I didn’t see Archer, but I did see Herbert walking over to my desk with someone. “This is Jewell. She’ll be taking over your position.”

Jewell was very pretty, and her clothes and accessories looked like designer brands.

She looked me up and down a few times, a strange look flashing in her eyes, but she quickly hid it. She then reached out her hand enthusiastically to introduce herself. “Hi, I’m Jewell. I’ll need your guidance for the next few days.”

I shook her hand. “Don’t mention it.”

“I went to UCLA. I just finished grad school and graduated this June. Melanie, where did you go to college? And you—”

Graduated just this past semester?

That meant Jewell probably didn’t have much work experience, and they were putting her in my spot?

But that was usually how it went. Maybe Jewell had some exceptional talent?

After all, purely based on degrees, there were plenty of Masters graduates in the office, but I still ended up as their team leader.

With that in mind, I gently cut Jewell off. “Ms. Pierce, we have a meeting soon. Let’s talk about the job first.”

Jewell let out a charming, “Oops! You’re right, I almost forgot the important stuff. Let’s talk work, let’s talk work.”

On the way to the meeting, Jewell lowered her voice and asked, “I heard Archer is super hot. Is that true?”

I answered truthfully. “Mhm.”

Jewell looked especially excited. “Hearing you say that makes me even more eager to meet Archer! Too bad I hear he won’t be in the office today…”

Archer wasn’t coming in today? I didn’t know that.

But Archer has a lot of private ventures, so he definitely doesn’t come to the Atkinson Group every day.

At lunchtime, Jewell dragged me to the company cafeteria to eat. After we sat down, I picked up my phone to call Trista.

Jewell teased, “Calling your boyfriend?”

“No, my daughter.”

“You have a daughter? You’re married?”

“Yes.”

When she took too long to answer, I got worried and called her homeroom teacher instead.

The teacher laughed. “Trista is fine. She’s actually on a video call with her dad and, I think, another woman. Tell you what, I’ll go let Trista know so she can

“Don’t worry about it.”

Hearing that was enough. I knew Trista was on a video call with Archer and Camille, which meant Archer was probably having lunch with Camille right now.

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