The Breaking Point of Mate: Giving Up on My Alpha novel Chapter 47

Third Person’s POV

The meal was winding down. People at the long table started getting up, moving in small groups to the high–top bar tables and sofa areas by the window to continue the discussion on collaboration details.

The possibility Archer had mentioned at the dinner table–that they could explore cooperation with Hilltop Tech–was just a hint. Melanie wasn’t sure if it would actually happen.

However, others at the table were serious about connecting. Midway through the meal, they called over their managers to start discussing initial contacts with Elmer.

Melanie followed them, as she was the most knowledgeable about the technical side of the project. Elmer still handled the

business terms.

She sat next to him, taking notes. Seeing Elmer’s glass empty, she stood up and took it. “I’ll grab you a refill.”

“Thanks,” Elmer nodded.

To an outsider, this looked like a standard assistant’s role.

Camille and Daphne exchanged a look, solidifying their belief that Melanie was mostly there for coordination and execution.

Melanie carried the glass of water and took two steps.

As she passed another group, someone suddenly backed up, and their elbow bumped her wrist.

Her footing slipped. The water glass stayed in her hand, but she lost her balance, stumbling directly into Archer’s arms.

The nearby scents and gazes froze instantly.

Some people dismissed it as a simple accident, but others mentally raised an eyebrow. “Did she plan that route?”

Why else would she fall right into Alpha Archer’s embrace?

It was true that Melanie was beautiful, with a soft figure and bright, delicate skin. While Camille was equally stunning and sexy, by some people’s standards, Melanie was still seen as more classically beautiful. If she had fallen into the arms of any other man, it would have been hard for them not to react.

Archer didn’t.

His aura was rock–steady. He only held her shoulder for a fraction of a second, just long enough to stabilize her, then immediately stepped back, cutting off any potential spark right at the source.

But in that brief moment of contact, Melanie distinctly caught his wolf–like a fire suddenly stoked by the wind.

The edge of his pheromones settled into a warm magnetic pull, almost coiling up the side of her neck.

The familiar mint and metallic heat got close, and the area behind her sternum violently recoiled. Frost alertly clamped down on her reason.

She sucked in a sharp breath and immediately stepped back a full pace, creating a clear gap between their scents.

Her face expressionless, she stood straight and whispered, “My apologies.”

She then quickly turned and walked away, not giving their scents a chance to mix any further.

Camille and Daphne saw the whole thing and instantly concluded Melanie did that on purpose.

Daphne lowered her voice. “I told you she wouldn’t stay quiet.” Then she sneered, “But all that trouble was for nothing.”

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Chapter 47

+25 Bonus

Archer remained completely unfazed. His composure was enough to reassure Camille.

Camille’s lips curled into a faint smile, and she looked away.

Marvin frowned. He was starting to think he might have been wrong about his own daughter: the one who seemed outwardly reserved actually had plenty of hidden agendas.

The commotion wasn’t small. Elmer paused the discussion and quickly rushed over. “Are you okay?”

“Just lost my balance for a second,” Melanie shook her head, her voice even.

But a sharp, piercing pain shot up her ankle. She had likely twisted it.

She knew the temperature of the eyes watching them. Most people would blame her for “seeking attention,” and even if they saw she was hurt, they would dismiss it as a clumsy scene.

And Archer–he hadn’t even offered a single, “Are you alright?”

The only person who genuinely treated her like a friend was Elmer.

“Let me see.” He didn’t waste time being polite. He immediately bent down and lifted her into his arms, carrying her away from the crowd to a low sofa nearby.

His actions were quick, clean, and totally unconcerned with public view.

He half–knelt, removed her high heels, and gently held her ankle. It was already starting to swell.

He looked up and instructed the hotel staff, “Please call the in–house medic and bring a pair of flats.”

Seeing him openly care for her in public, many people were stunned. The opinion in the room shifted instantly. That moment hadn’t been a “deliberate fall” after all; it was genuinely an accident.

Moreover, Elmer’s closeness to her was clearly more than just a simple coworker relationship.

Camille tightened her lips, looked away, and glanced back at Archer. She saw Archer notice the commotion but continue his conversation as if nothing happened, entirely uninterested in Elmer’s show of affection.

Camille’s lips relaxed, and she went back to talking with the people around her, ignoring them.

Soon, the hotel’s resident doctor arrived,

After checking the swelling and mobility, he diagnosed a sprained ligament and prescribed “ice packs and a topical anti- inflammatory,” advising her to minimize walking for a while.

To humans, it was a nasty injury. Melanie knew that if her mating bond hadn’t been so torn for so long, and if Frost hadn’t been so weak, her self–healing wouldn’t have been this slow.

The doctor provided the ointment and an elastic bandage. Elmer took them, crouching down to treat her ankle himself.

She reached out, wanting to take over, but his calm look stopped her. She relaxed her leg, gripping the edge of the chait to steady her breathing

The cold from the ointment immediately eased the burning pain.

A server brought the flats. She changed into them and tried to stand. “It’s okay. I can manage to walk”

“Don’t push it.” Elmer looked up, his tone gentle but firm with concern. “I had a colleague record all the technical content. You can review the playback later.”

Melanie nodded, not arguing.

He briefly excused them to the people at the table and helped her leave first.

Chapter 47

+25 Bonus

The neon lights outside the car window blurred past. She felt the pain in her ankle subside, but the ache behind her sternum persisted–the mating bond’s backlash, like a string pulled too tight, refusing to break, but also refusing to let go.

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