CLAIMED - Fated to Two-Chapter 44: As If I Don’t Exist

"What are you doing?! I didn’t raise you to meddle in someone else’s affair!" Harry hisses, his face creased with frustration.

"Papa, this is the first time I’ve ever been this happy. Besides, Torrin said he’d be happy if I come with him. See? I’m his happiness too," Andrea argues, her voice trembling as she pleads for understanding. "Harleigh and I are the same. We both feel a special bond with Torrin, but he doesn’t feel it with either of us. I just have the upper hand because he’s willing to try and create that special bond with me so he can finally consider me his mate too."

"Wrong," Harry snaps. "Harleigh has the upper hand because she’s pregnant with his heir. She isn’t just a mate, she’s fated to him. And didn’t you hear the Frostveil werewolves? Torrin is suffering from memory loss."

"Memory loss won’t affect a mate bond," Andrea counters. "I had a patient with amnesia years ago, and his bond with his wife remained intact. Harleigh is lying about being his fated mate. She’s only exploiting Torrin’s mental condition."

I bite back the urge to tell them about the multi-eyed seer - the only explanation for why Torrin’s case is one in a million. They don’t need to know the details of it. They can’t fix it anyway. Not even Andrea’s healing abilities can. And even if she could, I doubt she would. She’s the one trying to take advantage of him.

The moment they see me stepping out of the kitchen curtain, they scatter. Andrea grabs her suitcase and rushes out the door, while Harry remains in the living area, unable to meet my eyes.

"Thank you for trying," I say.

"I didn’t do it for you or Torrin, I did it for Andrea. She’s kind-hearted, selfless, and understanding. But love can change everyone for the better or for the worse. Torrin is her first love, her first mate."

"We lost her mother after giving birth to her. So she grew up with just me. And she’s right. This is the first time I’ve seen her very happy. It breaks my heart depriving her of her happiness."

"If Torrin chooses her over you, I hope you let them be happy. If he chooses you, tell me, and I’ll be the one dragging my daughter back here myself."

I nod, forcing a grateful smile.

Outside, Andrea stands beside one of the Frostveil cars. I walk toward another car, coz I don’t wanna share a car with her.

Moments later, Torrin exits the house, carrying nothing but his anxiety for what lies ahead. His gaze flickers between Andrea and me, hesitation written all over his face.

Then,...

He walks straight toward Andrea without so much as a glance in my direction. Together, they climb into the backseat of the car, as if I don’t exist.

My heart shatters further, my wolf howling in pain. Still, I refuse to cry, not when everyone is watching me with pity again.

"I can talk to Alpha Torrin and ask him to transfer to your car," Eric offers.

"No," I say, my voice cracking. "He made his choice. Let him be."

In the backseat of my car, I fidget endlessly, unable to stop thinking about Torrin’s coldness toward me, and his warmth toward another woman. It feels like Lance-Aiko déjà vu all over again.

To try to calm myself, I call Harper.

-["Hey! How’s it going? Did you find Alpha Torrin?"]- she asks brightly.

"We did, last night," I reply, forcing cheer into my voice. "Sorry, I forgot to call you immediately."

There’s a moment of silence on her end, before she asks.

-["Are you crying?"]-

"I’m not. I did last night though, happy tears."

-["You don’t sound happy. What’s going?"]-

A strained sigh escapes me. I’ve worried Harper enough already. I don’t wanna burden her again with something so small compared to everything I’ve survived.

"Nothing," I lie. "He still doesn’t remember me or any of us. That’s all. But we’ll fix him. I’ll call you later."

The moment I end the call, tears finally slip free. I cover my mouth to muffle the sobs as they shake my body. From the front seats, the Deltas glance at me through the rearview mirror, silent and sympathetic.

It takes more than two hours before we finally reach the eastern border of the Frostveil Pack’s territory, and another half hour before we arrive at the capital, where the Alpha’s mansion stands.

Behind the colossal iron gates, Beatrice is already waiting, excited tears glistening in her eyes. Omegas and Gammas gather behind her, equally eager.

When Alpha Torrin steps out of the car, Beatrice rushes toward him with open arms, then pulls him into a tight embrace. After a moment of hesitation, he hugs her back.

Beatrice soon turns to Andrea, gently cupping her face as if it’s something fragile and precious. They speak to each other, but I don’t have the courage to listen. I wait until they start walking into the mansion before finally stepping out of the car myself.

Once we reach the lobby, Beatrice announces enthusiastically, "I’ve prepared a feast for you. I’m sure you’re both starving after the long trip."

"Thank you," Andrea and Alpha Torrin reply at the same time.

Only then does Beatrice notice me. The warmth drains from her face, replaced with cold disdain. "Except you. You can’t join us. I’ll lose my appetite if you do."

Both Alpha Torrin and Andrea look shocked by her hostility, but I keep my expression blank, refusing to let the tension break me in front of them.

Without a word, I walk past them and head upstairs. Once inside my bedroom, I lock the door and cry myself to sleep.

When I wake up, darkness has already fallen. My stomach growls painfully, reminding me I haven’t eaten all day. I head downstairs to look for food, but as I pass the study, Beatrice’s voice stops me in my tracks.

"If you’ve already found someone else, why don’t you just reject her?" she demands.

My heart slams against my chest, but I force myself to stay behind the door and listen.

"I can’t reject her," Alpha Torrin replies.

Relief washes through me.

But,...

Only to be crushed a second later.

"She’s pregnant with my child. If I reject her now, she could die. I’ll reject her after she gives birth," he explains.

"But we’re not even sure that child is yours," Beatrice snaps. "She’s not only fated to you, she’s also fated to Damian. I’ve heard she and Damian spent time alone in her bedroom so many times before. They even went on a yacht together after you died. All that woman wants is our pack, coz she was raised without a real one that would truly accept her."

Through the slightly open door, I see Alpha Torrin’s face tighten with anger.

"I knew she couldn’t be trusted. I hope that child isn’t mine," he says coldly. "Still, we have to be considerate of her condition, whether the baby is mine or not."

I can barely breathe. My hand grips the doorframe for support, causing it to creak and draw their attention.

"Look who’s eavesdropping," Beatrice sneers.

Before Alpha Torrin can speak, I step forward. "I was the one who freed your mother from being locked in the tower. Even when she treats me like trash, even when everyone else avoids her because of her condition, I demand that she stays free. But go ahead, listen to her and let her poison your mind, the way Atticus did to hers."

Beatrice’s face turns crimson. As always, she loses control: yelling, cursing, and throwing anything within reach. The Gammas and her nurses rush into the study to restrain her and calm her down.

Alpha Torrin watches the scene with disbelief and pity. Then he gently takes my arm and leads me away.

"If my mother is only poisoning my mind, tell me, is Damian also your fated mate? Did you spend time with him on a yacht after he and his father killed me?" he asks, there’s threat in his tone.

I open my mouth, but no words come out.

He lets out a bitter chuckle. "See? You can’t even deny it."

"I already rejected Damian. We’re no longer fated to each other," I finally manage. "I tried to kill him several times. One of those times was on that yacht. But I failed every time."

His expression softens slightly.

Silence stretches between us. And it’s me who desperately breaks it.

"It was me who exposed Atticus and Damian’s crimes against you. You can check the Forstveil Court and the United Alliance Court to see that I filed cases to give you justice. You can also check Damian’s medical records how many times he was hospitalized. Those were the times I nearly succeeded in killing him. If I love him, do you think I’d be capable of doing all that?"

His gaze drops to the floor. So I cup his jaw and force him to look at me again.

"If I don’t love you, why do you think I’m hurting this much?" I ask, tears stinging my eyes again..

I rise on my toes, reaching for his lips.

But then,...

"Torrin." Andrea’s voice cuts through the moment. She approaches with a bright, practiced smile and hooks her arm around his as if she owns him.

"Your house is so big. I got lost trying to find my bedroom. Can you help me?" she asks sweetly.

I blurt out, "Alpha Torrin’s memory is still hazy. Why don’t you ask an Omega’s help instead?"

Her smile falters.

But,...

It quickly returns, even wider than before, when Alpha Torrin replies, "Come on. I’ll help you find it."

Without another glance at me, they walk away together, as if I don’t exist. And once again, a fresh wave of pain crashes down on me.