The Breaking Point of Mate: Giving Up on My Alpha novel Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Melanie’s POV

I felt Archer’s gaze land on me, and the mating bond gave a tiny, unwelcome twitch in my chest.

Up ahead, his scent sliced the air–fir and iron, unmistakably Archer.

Edric raised an eyebrow, following my line of sight.

I pulled my attention back, my fingers withdrawing from Elmer’s arm, leaving a noticeable space where the warmth had been.

“Twisted your ankle?” Elmer asked under his breath.

He hadn’t seen the two men at the end of the hall, only catching my sharp intake of breath.

“Nah,” I shook my head.

“Let’s go then.”

“Sure.” I didn’t look back at them. I walked up the stairs beside Elmer, making a conscious effort to keep my stride steady.

The scent gland on the back of my neck stung, and Frost dropped her voice in my mind, “Don’t look back.”

I didn’t turn around, but Frost amplified my hearing. I caught a faint sound from a distance–Edric.

“Was that Melanie just now?”

Archer didn’t answer, but his scent tightened slightly.

Edric chuckled. “She’s getting close to Elmer–new tactic? Trying to make you jealous, get your attention?”

Then he let out a short, flippant laugh. “You’re thinking too much.”

Archer’s voice was flat. “Let’s go.”

I was speechless at Edric’s assumption. Then again, I realized he probably didn’t know about the bond severance petition yet.

The next morning, I went to the Hilltop Tech lab right after breakfast. As Elmer and I were reviewing the progress, his phone

vibrated.

He answered and put it on speaker.

“Did you guys piss off someone from the Razor Pack recently?” The person on the other end cut straight to the chase.

“What?” Elmer frowned, glancing at me.

“Someone at Archer’s Atkinson Group is trying to make trouble for your company. We managed to block it for now.”

My knuckles tightened.

After the gala, Archer hadn’t reacted to me publicly challenging Camille, and I thought he was too lazy to follow up.

Turns out, he wasn’t ignoring it–he just preferred actions over words.

He was telling me in his own way; you mess with Camille, you pay the price.

Elmer patted my hand, his voice calm. “Relax. Hilltop Tech has a working relationship with the Royal Werewolf Council They can’t come at us directly.”

I exhaled a breath that had been holding my aura in. “Got It.”

With Archer’s resources, he wouldn’t necessarily destroy Hilltop Tech, but he could definitely strip us down to the bone.

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Chapter 35

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He’s shielding her, going all out.

Elmer frowned. “Since they can’t touch Hilltop Tech, will they pivot and pressure the Red Rose Pack?”

“No,” I shook my head. “Monica’s there. Archer has to respect her.”

“That’s good.”

Near quitting time, Trista video–called me on the communications stone. Her voice was soft. “Mom, when are you coming home? I’m starving.” (1

“Didn’t you ask Shannon to make you something?” I pointed the screen toward me.

“I want your cooking–that sweet and tangy rib plate.” She thought for a second. “The one we didn’t get to have last time.”

I rubbed my forehead. Before I could answer, she added, “Daddy’s away on a trip, and the house is so boring. Just come home already, Mom.”

Archer was on a business trip. My fingers paused.

The mating bond between him and me was like thin ice, ready to crack any second, but Trista was my responsibility until she came of age.

“Alright, I’ll be home in a bit.”

That evening, I made Trista honey–smoked BBQ ribs and a big pot of creamy corn chowder.

The kitchen was filled with the sweet smell of butter and corn, and my pheromones slowly diffused into the steam, soft and

grounding.

On Friday, Monica called, saying she wanted me to come back to the Red Rose Pack for dinner.

I took Trista with me. Monica didn’t know Trista was back in L.A., so she was pleasantly surprised to see me walk in with her, throwing her arms wide for a big hug.

Trista has always been close with Monica, and she knows how to make her happy, instantly brightening up the mood in the

house.

The next morning, I got up and rolled out dough for beef and vegetable hand pies for breakfast.

My movements were sharper and more efficient than ever.

Monica watched me for a while, then suddenly sighed.

Before I mated, I never stepped foot in a kitchen in the Red Rose Pack.

I knew what she was thinking, so I smiled as I pushed the baking sheet into the oven. “Cooking calms me down. Keeps my hands busy so my head doesn’t start wandering.”

Maybe it was coming back from London, but my weight was back in a healthier range, and I wasn’t as skinny as I was before.

Monica looked at me, her expression easing up.

After the hand pies came out, I chatted with Monica for a bit, then carried the juice upstairs.

Trista was already up and washed. I was about to take her pajamas to the laundry room when her tablet dinged.

I caught a glimpse of a message from Camille. I paused, then looked away, carrying the pajamas into the laundry room.

In the warm swirl of water, the detergent smell mixed with my own pheromones, like it was trying to mask a sourness I didn’t want to think about.

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Chapter 25

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When I got back to the room, Trista saw me and reflexively hid the screen behind her back.

I pretended not to notice and just set the plate down. “Beef and vegetable hand pies are ready. Time for breakfast”

She jumped off the bed. “Awesome! It’s been so long since I had your cooking!”

Her smile rested against my shoulder, sweet as candy.

At breakfast, Monica held out the jam. “What do you want for dinner tonight? Grandma will have someone make it for you.”

Trista’s round eyes darted around, and she lowered her voice. “Grandma, Daddy is coming back tonight. I want to go home.”

I could hear the faint, fast rhythm of her heartbeat underneath the lie.

As her mother, I know her scent: a sharp, green–apple tang when she’s nervous.

I knew who she was trying to see and why she was lying.

In the afternoon, I called the Razor Pack’s beta and asked him to send a car to pick her up.

Not driving her back myself was a way of keeping my distance.

Monica looked at my face, her brow furrowing slightly, as if she sensed something was off, but she didn’t ask any questions.

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