After I left Alpha father and son went crazy with regret

"I'm at the airport," Nora interrupted, her tone quiet but firm.

Arnold inhaled sharply. "Then wait. I'm coming."

Silence.

Then, a deep breath from the other end.

The next words she spoke sent a shock through him.

"I, Nora, reject you, Arnold, as my mate."

His breath caught, his entire body seizing up as an invisible force ripped through his soul.

The mate bond... the sacred connection that had always tethered them... snapped like a cord cut with a blade.

The pain was instant. A sharp, twisting agony that was not physical, but

something deeper... something primal. His wolf howled in protest, but there was nothing he could do.

And then, she was gone.

The mind-link shattered.

The emptiness left behind was suffocating.

Arnold pressed a hand to his chest, gasping slightly. It felt like something had

been torn out of him, leaving a hollow void.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. Mechanically, he pulled it out.

A message.

"The signed divorce papers are in the mail. By the time you sign them, you'll be free."

Arnold stared at the words, his grip tightening around the device.

Free.noveldrama

The word felt like an illusion, a cruel joke.

For years, he had believed he wanted nothing more than to be rid of her... to be untangled from the bond that tied them together...

It was unexpectedly painful for him to go through all this. He just didn't think it through..

And deep down Nora knew the feelings of Arnold and that he was in love with her but just too blurred to see his own feelings and that is why Nora stayed even beyond her endurance...

Arnold had spent years convincing himself that it was Nora who had failed their relationship, that it was her persistence, her insistence on holding onto the bond, that made things complicated.

But now, standing in the emptiness of his own choices, he understood too late... before he could even begin to see the truth of his own heart, Nora had already given up on him.

And she was gone.

The weight of it settled deep in his chest, a gnawing ache that refused to fade. He sat in silence, gripping the signed divorce papers as if they held the remnants of something he had once taken for granted.

At the airport, Nora exhaled deeply, steadying herself. Her fingers rested lightly on

her abdomen... a subconscious gesture, as if to ground herself. The plane's boarding call was still a few minutes away, but her heart felt miles ahead.

She had chosen this. She had chosen herself.

Still, her body wasn't immune to the exhaustion of the past weeks.

A faint dizziness swept over her, and as if sensing it, a cup of tea was suddenly extended toward her.

"Miss, are you alright?"

The voice was smooth, warm... almost familiar.

Nora blinked and turned her head, her gaze locking onto the man standing beside her.

Cole.

He was smiling, his usual calm and composed demeanor present, but there was something else in his expression... something deeper.

Her lips parted in surprise. "What are you doing here...?"

Cole's smile didn't waver. "My family sent me overseas to develop business opportunities," he replied casually, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes.

Nora tilted her head, finding it strangely amusing. "And where exactly is your destination?"

Cole held her gaze for a long moment before answering, his voice soft but unwavering.

"My destination is you."

Nora stilled.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the cup. The words should have sent a thrill through her, should have awakened something... but instead, all she felt was an aching numbness.

She lowered her eyes.

"Cole... I don't think I can fall in love with anyone right now. Maybe not for a long time."

She expected him to retreat, to brush off his words as a passing remark. But

instead, he simply chuckled, as if he had already known her answer.

"There's plenty of time between us,” he said, his tone patient, unwavering.

Nora looked at him then... really looked at him. There was no rush in his eyes, no expectation, only quiet certainty.

She sighed, allowing herself a small smile.

"Then let's see where time takes us."

Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

Under Nora's Jeadership, STARLINE Studio's overseas division flourished beyond anyone's expectations. What had once been a promising but modest expansion had become empire, cementing the brand's position among the elite of the

werewolf business world?

Nora was no longer just an ambitious young strategist... she had become a force

in her own right, a name spoken with admiration, even reverence.

The world took notice.

So did the Lycan Alliance.

When the nomination came for the position of Global Strategic Advisor, no one was surprised that Nora was at the top of the list. It was a prestigious role, an acknowledgment of her brilliance, her influence

The annual council meeting would be held in Silvermoon Pack.

For the first time in years, she was going home.