Seven
Sitara’s POV
My hands shook as I clutched the phone. “Don’t hurt her. Why do you want me back, Zach? We’re done!”
“Done?” His voice was venomous.
“Sitara, your jealousy has gone too far. If you don’t return, Elisha will pay for your defiance.”
My thoughts a storm of emotions. I
couldn’t let Elisha suffer, but there was no way I’d crawl back to Zach‘ s pack–not after everything he’d done.
He seemed want me to apologize to Hazel. For something I didn’t even do?
Not again. Never again.
The phone felt heavy in my hand as I replied, my voice cold and sharp. “Do
whatever you want, Zach. I don‘ t care.” I ended the call before he could respond.
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I wouldn’t go back–not to his pack, not to his punishments, and definitely not asking forgiveness to Hazel!
Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the dressing room wearing a different gown. My parents‘ faces lit up as they saw me.
“Look at you, Sitara! You‘ re stunning in that gown. It suits you perfectly!” my mother said, her pride evident.
I glanced at myself in the mirror, my reflection a painful reminder of what I once dreamed of. This gown was supposed to be for a wedding with Zach, for the life I thought we’d share. But now? It was for
someone else—a mate I never knew but
was willing to marry to secure my pack‘ s
future.
My throat tightened, and my eyes burned with unshed tears. Still, I forced a bright smile. “I like this one,” I said to the
dresser.
After changing back into my regular
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Sev a
clothes, my father caught up with me as we headed back to the pack house. “We need to meet your future mate, Sylvian
Dierksheide. You should talk to him before the wedding.
“No, Papa,” I said, shaking my head firmly. “I’d rather meet him on the wedding day. It doesn’t matter what he looks like. You said he’s a good man, and I trust your judgment.”
I could tell my lack of enthusiasm wasn’t lost on my parents, but they didn’t push the issue. Thankfully, Sylvian didn’t seem eager to meet me either–he clearly wanted this arrangement finalized as quickly as I did.
As I retreated to my room, exhaustion weighed heavily on me. Even my wolf, usually a source of comfort, couldn’t lift my spirits. I needed rest, but as soon as I lay down, my phone buzzed again.
It was Zach again. I answered it.
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Sean
“Sitara! Why the hell are you in a wedding gown? Where are you? You think I’m joking about Elisha’s punishment? Don’t push me to do something you’ll regret!”
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, noting the lifelessness in my eyes. I wasn’t the same person I used to be.
“Sitara, are you listening? I know you‘ re upset, but you need to understand–Hazel didn’t do anything wrong. Just apologize to her. It’s not that hard. I know I’ve
neglected you, but that’s no reason to act like this. If you just apologize, we can move forward. Things can go back to how they were.”
I laughed bitterly, the sound hollow. “Go back? There’s nothing to go back to, Zach. I’m not coming back. And that gown? It’s for my wedding–to the mate I love.” The lie rolled off my tongue, each word a shield against the truth.
“You‘ re lying,” he said, his voice smug. “You love me. You can’t live without
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Seve
me.”
His arrogance made my blood boil. “I can, and I will. Don’t call me again, Zach. This
is the last time you’ll ever hear from me.”
He chuckled, clearly unconvinced. “Stop the drama, Sitara. You‘ re throwing a tantrum. Come home so we can talk. Stop acting like a child.”
“Tantrum?” I snapped, my teeth
clenching in anger. “I’m not throwing a tantrum, Zach. Watch me prove it to you!”
I ended the call and ignored the string of call and messages that followed. Let him stew in his frustration. Let him wonder what he’d lost.
The next day, I buried myself in wedding preparations. If I was going to marry someone else, this wedding would be everything I’d once dreamed of.
“Sitara, there’s a gift for you,” my mother said, entering the room with a
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carefully wrapped blue box.
