The Breaking Point of Mate: Giving Up on My Alpha novel Chapter 43

Melanie’s POV

Camille showed up; of course, he would follow.

He was standing right next to her.

The crowd naturally gave them space, acknowledging a kind of public, yet unannounced, commitment.

The Alpha auras around the room–heat, metal, and electricity—intertwined over the cold AC smell, giving the mating bond behind my sternum a slight, painful twist.

I quickly glanced over, then pulled my eyes away.

The next second, I saw Edric. He was there, too, talking with a few corporate reps, the family crest on his cuff flashing in the light.

He noticed me, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but I coldly looked away.

“Did he know you were coming?” Elmer asked, keeping his voice low.

I shook my head. “He shouldn’t have.”

Lately, Archer and I only interacted briefly, usually because of Trista.

We never talked about our relationship directly. It was unlikely he knew I’d be at the expo.

Elmer was clearly annoyed. “You’re just going to let him stand there with Camille? Aren’t you even going to say hello?”

I knew what he meant–show up as his mate and force him to declare his intentions right here, right now.

I shook my head again. “No point.”

First, it wasn’t necessary. Second, knowing Archer, if he were cornered publicly, he would probably throw his old accusation back at me-“You planned all of this.”

He always believed I intentionally designed the situation that led to our mating–that his susceptibility during his rut, when he couldn’t resist my pheromones, was my fault.

He even suspected I used wolfsbane to provoke his heat.

Even though that wasn’t true, I couldn’t produce evidence that would silence everyone in the room.

Today was filled with top business leaders. If I lost control, I wouldn’t just be humiliated under the spotlight; my uncle’s project would also be destroyed.

I wasn’t going to trade a moment of anger for a major disaster.

I shifted my focus away from their group.

Ainslie waved me over, signaling he needed to confirm a technical detail.

I walked straight to him and went over the parameters quietly. I kept my scent on the “clean setting,” suppressing my wolf’s presence to avoid attracting unnecessary attention from other werewolves in the crowd. D

As I turned away, I felt a faint prick at the back of my neck–like a gaze had brushed past me.

An Alpha’s stare has weight; it lands on the skin, then settles into the bones.

I looked up to find the source. Across the crowd and the lights, I met Archer’s eyes.

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Chapter 43

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The mating bond behind my sternum thunked, like a pulled string suddenly snapping taut and then springing back.

My wolf, Frost, lifted her head in my consciousness, “He…”

Then, a quieter, more controlled thought, “We should sever the bond now.”

She wasn’t willing to risk a public meltdown. She channeled her bitterness and alertness into a cold sensation that crawled up

my spine.

The distance was too great to read his expression, but I thought I saw his lips twitch slightly.

Was he smiling at me?

Or was it just a polite muscle spasm?

I wasn’t sure.

But a familiar scent spectrum wafted through the air—his pheromones flashed, then instantly retreated, like residual heat from a fire pressed out by a palm, carrying the scent of pine and wet iron.

My scent instinctively fluctuated for a split second, but I immediately re–established my boundaries, preventing any shift from escaping.

I pulled my gaze from him and focused on the task at hand.

The mating bond still gave a subtle twinge, but the pain felt more like a warning–stop tying yourself to a string that someone else is actively pulling.

་

Staff members moved through the crowd with signs, guiding key attendees to the main hall for the summary session.

Elmer and I represented Hilltop Tech.

The lighting in the hall was low. The air was a complex mix of carpet fibers, speaker heat, and dozens of different scents.

We were guided to seats slightly toward the front of the middle section.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the front row–Archer and Camille were seated in a row closer to the stage.

Haines Group didn’t have any exhibits at the expo. By the rules, Camille shouldn’t have been in the front rows, but…

A wave of bitterness rose in my mouth. With Archer around, she could enjoy all the privilege she wanted.

Although I had logically decided to let go of Archer, the habit of loving him for so many years still made my heart ache.

Soon, I heard people around me nudging each other, whispering in awe.

“I hear Marcus is sitting in the front row. It’s so much easier to talk to him directly if you sit there. I’m so jealous.”

“Yeah, I know.”

I ignored them, focusing on stabilizing my breathing.

Camille and Daphne passed our row, walking past us toward the front.

Camille walked straight ahead, her pace steady.

Elmer and I remained seated.

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