The Breaking Point of Mate: Giving Up on My Alpha novel Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Melanie’s POV

Archer hadn’t shown up. Moira was clearly furious, and Trista was sulking.

I poured coffee into her cup, keeping my voice steady. “He probably got tied up with an urgent Pack matter. He couldn’t get away.

I explained a common situation for an Alpha; sometimes, once a task starts, the return time is completely unpredictable.

Moira was in a foul mood and went to her room early that night.

Trista repeatedly messaged Archer on her communication stone, but none of the calls connected.

The only sounds in the resort were the flowing of the hot spring water and the soft light of the hallway lamps.

The next morning, I woke up alone. Trista wasn’t in the room either.

I got ready and walked around the resort, but I couldn’t find them.

I asked an omega maid and found out that because Archer hadn’t arrived, Trista got bored. She had staff take her down the mountain to go hang out somewhere else at first light.

Moira had walked outside a bit too long the night before and caught a chill. She had a headache and had already gone back to the pack earlier, telling the staff not to wake me up.

The huge hot springs resort was empty, except for the staff and me.

Trista could have waited for me to wake up so we could go out together.

Trista leaving secretly without a word probably wasn’t to avoid waking me, but because she had gotten news from Archer and was rushing to meet up with him and Camille.

She left secretly so early because she was worried I’d ask questions and stop her from going.

The weather was gloomy today, drizzling rain.

The hot springs pool was covered by a canopy, and the mist gave the view of the distant mountains a soft, ethereal glow.

On a day like this, sitting in the hot spring, reading, and looking at the mountains was actually quite peaceful.

I like being alone, and this was a good chance to sort out a few unfinished things.

So, I stayed at the resort.

By Sunday afternoon, I planned to leave right after dinner.

Pefore dusk, Moira called. “Melanie, I called Archer this morning and asked him to come pick you up at the hot springs tonight. Did he contact you?”

“No,” I answered in my head.

He had promised to come, but he hadn’t shown up yet. And Trista hadn’t contacted me either since she secretly slipped away yesterday.

But I didn’t want to tell Moira any of that. “Yes, he did,” I lied.

I asked about her health. She said she was fine, and then she hung up.

As night fell, the hallway lamps flickered on one by one.

Chapter 40

+30 Bonus

I finished a light dinner at the restaurant and waited a bit longer.

It was nearly nine, and Archer still hadn’t appeared.

The hot springs resort was over an hour and a half away from my apartment. I didn’t want to wait any longer, so I asked the front desk to arrange a car to take me back.

The car drove down the mountain road. The rain tapped against the windshield, the wipers moving back and forth in a quiet rhythm.

I was tired and leaned back, drifting off to sleep.

I don’t know how long I slept, but my phone ringing woke me up. It was Gillian.

I answered, “Gillian?”

She immediately exploded. “Oh my god! That person is unbelievable!”

I was startled. She quickly explained, “It’s fine, I’m just cursing someone out.”

“What happened?” I steadied my voice, closing the window crack to block out the cold night rain.

My pheromones retracted immediately, like I was pulling a curtain shut, waiting for her to explain clearly.

Gillian launched straight into it. “I went to the L.A. Pack Assembly today, right? And I ran right into your awful father and Camille! This female wolf by the Stone Circle publicly accused Camille of being a mistress and stealing her fiancé, and then she splashed the ceremonial wine all over her. It was a complete scene. I was watching the drama, and then Archer just showed up!”

I froze.

Gillian continued, gritting her teeth. “This was the biggest werewolf assembly in L.A. He stepped in for her and carried her away. So many people got clear pictures of the whole thing. I recorded a clip, and I just sent it to you on the comms stone.”

I pulled up the video.

The assembly’s horn, the swearing–in commands, the sentries‘ whistle signals, and the crowd noise were all layered together.

I couldn’t hear the words clearly, but the picture was sharp: the girl walked up to Camille, argued with her, and then raised her hand and threw the ceremonial wine on her.

Then, the girl’s fiancé rushed in to pull her away, and they started fighting right there.

Next, the girl’s family arrived.

The camera swept over the edge of the stone circle. I could see the sentries on the perimeter closing ranks, but the elder’s flag hadn’t moved–meaning it hadn’t escalated enough to interrupt the ceremony.

Gillian added on the phone, “That she–wolf’s Pack was really aggressive, constantly blaming the Blackthorn members. Your dad tried to talk to them calmly, but they wouldn’t listen.”

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