Chapter 182
Dunh
Damn it. Why do I give a fuck about him or the things he said? This is who I am. I take what isn’t meant to be taken. That’s always 1 ruthless, dominant, untouchable.
s been my way
But now, something gnaws at me.
Something about Ivar hangs still in my mind long after he’s gone. His words echo in my head, looping around the same danur question: why do f care? I don’t even understand it myself.
Samantha lies beside me, still fast asleep. Her breathing is steady, her body curled into the sheets, but I can’t rest. My eyes are wide open, my still, but my mind is racing. The room feels too silent, too still–his absence makes it colder somehow.
body
I try to shut my eyes and force sleep to come. It doesn’t. Every time I start to drift off, the memory of his voice, his moans, the way he looked at me… it crashes in like a wave, dragging me under again.
When morning comes, I finally rise from bed. Samantha is already gone, the sheets where she slept crumpled and cold. Maybe she slipped out early. Maybe she feels embarrassed after last night. She was drunk–too far gone to know what she was doing. I don’t blarne her.
I shake the thought off and head to freshen up. There’s only one thing on my mind now.
I need to find Ivar..
1 follow his strong scent through the hallways and find him in one of the extra rooms, lying across the bed. He looks even finer than he did last night–hair tousled, skin glowing in the early morning light, his robe barely holding together.
But the moment he senses my presence, he shuts his eyes like he’s asleep.
I smirk. He’s pretending, but I know better.
“Well, good morning, handsome,” I say smoothly, leaning against the doorway.
No response.
“Come on, Ivar,” I continue, stepping into the room. “You can’t stay mad forever.”
He stays silence. He doesn’t even flinch.
“I mean seriously, why did you refuse to warm my bed last night?” I ask my voice softer, almost leasing–though there’s something real behind the words.
Finally, he speaks, voice cool and sharp. “What? Will you deny me a night’s rest loo?”
“Of course not,” I say, stepping closer. “You needed it. I gave you space, didn’t I But that’s not how things should be between us not after last night. I want us on good terms.”
He lets out a low, humorless laugh. “Do you even know how to have a proper conversation with a person?” he snaps, opening his eyes at last. They’re tired.. but piercing. “Have you ever apologized to anyone before? Or perceived your own deeds a wrong? Or do you just float through life in your own delusions!”
His words hit me harder than I expect. Still, I don’t show it.
But deep down. I know he’s right
“Why wo
would I ever have
to apologize to anyone? Do you even know who I am?” I snap, my voice rising with frustration,
“I forgot,” he shoots back, his tone laced with sarcasm. “Please, remind me.”
1 glare at him. “Oh, I see–you’re trying to be funny now.”
His words are getting under my skin in a way no one else’s ever has
*Can you leave me alone, please!” he suddenly shouts.
“I don’t want to,” I say, breath heavy. “And I don’t understand what
If you
want me to
want to do to make it right!”
“Lam Scarface,” I continue, louder now, pacing the room. “The King of Rogues. I have never been wrong! I don’t do apologies! I’ve never been in a
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Chapter 182
sinuation where I had to second guess myself or ask for forgiveness. This is who I am–and I won’t apologize for it!”
“I take what I want, when I want. And I do whatever the hell I please
with it.”
I stop, turn to him, voice sharp. “Do you want me to call another ceremony? Return you to your fake mate in front of the other Alphast Humiliate you all over again! Because let me tell you right now–I’m not doing that!”
His eyes burn with anger, but beneath it, something else–something pained.
“You think I have a problem with you taking what you want?” he says, voice low but steady. “You’re wrong”
“Ladmire that about you, Scar. You have the freedom I crave. You can do whatever you want, damn the consequences. But me?” He scoffs bitterly. “I have to look over my shoulder at every step. I have in pretend every single day–walk a line that isn’t mine, hold onto a mare bond I never asked for You don’t understand what that’s like.
“You have no idea how many Alphas wish they could be you,” Ivar says, his voice tight with restrained emotion. “How many of us want to break free from the shackles of doing what’s right just because the community says so. Even the so–called Alpha Deckard was bound by those same rules. Bur you?” He pauses, shaking his head slightly. “You took power by the horn–with an iron fist,”
I raise a brow, trying to piece him together. “From the way you’re speaking. It sounds a lot like admiration. So tell me, why won’t you share a bed with me then?”
usk it sincerely, genuinely confused.
His jaw clenches. He looks away before finally replying, “Why would I? Why would I want to lie beside someone who clearly sees me as nothing? You made that perfectly obvious to the whole damn world. You chose Samantha as your mate–and me?” He scoffs. “What am I to you, Scar?
I laugh dryly, unsure whether to be amused or annoyed. “Oh, I see. So what do you want, then? You want to be an Alpha? Or maybe, a Luna?” 1. add with a mocking smirk.
His eyes blaze. “Of course it’s a joke to your My life is a joke now, right?” His voice rises. “After everything you’ve done to me–after you tore apart the image I worked so hard to maintain–you think I’m just some entertainment. A novelty. A fuck
He steps closer now, chest rising with rage. “You ruined me in one night and still expect me to just crawl back into y
> your armo
“Okay. I apologize,” I say, my voice lower than usual. “I want you to be more, Ivar. I find that I enjoy your presence. It’s strange, but all night, y kept creeping into my mind. And even this morning, Leame all the way here just to find you,“
“Oh wow, thanks for the great effort,” he replies in sarcasm.
I sigh, frustrated but trying to stay calm. “Alright, tell me what you want then. What can I do to make this right?”
you
He crosses his arms and looks away, “Sadly, that ship has sailed too far,” he says, voice tinged with self–pity. “I’m already exposed and humiliated. There’s no coming back from that.”
I go quiet, letting his words sink in. For a moment, the weight of what I’ve done actually hits me. Ivar’s entire world–his image shattered by my selfishness. Daman. I shouldn’t have to worry about this. But I do. And now I have to do something
After a long pause, I speak “Okay.. what if I make you my Beta?”
His gaze snaps to me, caught off guard.
“You’d be more powerful than most Alphas.” I continue. “To others, you’d stand shoulder to shoulder with me. Every decision I make, you’d be part of it. You’d know things before anyone else. You’d never be seen as less again.”
“Really? You can do that” he finally turns to me, a spark of enthusiasm lighting up his face. It clearly catches his attention.
“Yes, I can do that,” 1 say, firm and confident.
He tils his head, studying me, “What about your Luna then? What about Samantha?”
“What about her?” I ask, unfazed
“Well where does that leave heri
“It leaves her as my Luna. She’ll bear my pups and give me heirs,” I reply smoothly. “But she will never stand equal to you. Not in power. Not in presence.”
har rises from the bed, this time with a soft smile curving his lips. “Thank you,” he says, reaching out to hold
my
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Chapter 182
1 chuckle lightly. “I think I deserve a bit more than a hand tap
Without hesitation, he leans in and plants a slow, deliberate kiu on my lips. It’s deeper than before–warmer, more real:
But as our lips part, a strange weight settles on me. What the hell am I doing, making promises like this? Carelessly, without thought. That’s not me. I don’t promise. I take. And yet here I am–giving, offering, bending in ways I never imagined.
Am I really going to follow through with all of it
I guess. I will. Maybe it doesn’t hurt to do things differently for enor
Amica thought she was the best thing that could ever happen to me. But look at me now–I’ve not only replaced her. I’ve doubled the deal. Two prople to keep my nights warm. Her ex–husband at my side, whispering bold ideas into my car.
Life as the Alpha of Alphas is turning out sweeter than I ever imagined.
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