Chapter 184

[ 1,106 words ]

Third-Person POV:

Chris pulled up outside the packhouse just as Angela was telling him about the final alterations she’d requested for her wedding dress. “And the designer says she can have everything ready by Thursday,” she finished, gathering the shopping bags from the back seat.

Chris got out and came around to help her. “Thursday? That’s cutting it close, isn’t it?”

“Well, someone agreed to marry me on such short notice.” She said with a shrug.

He laughed. “You’re blaming me now?”

“Who else should I blame?” Chris took the bags from her, but instead of letting her walk away, he caught her around the waist and pulled her against him.

“Chris!” Angela protested, laughing as she glanced toward the packhouse entrance. “Someone might see us!”

“Let them.” Before she could argue, he kissed her.

Angela forgot all about the people who might be watching. She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss until Chris finally pulled away. “I have to report to the training grounds,” he told her. “I’ll see you at dinner?”

“You’d better.” He kissed her forehead and handed back her shopping bags before heading toward his car.

Angela watched him drive away before turning toward the packhouse, smiling to herself. She’d barely reached the entrance when she noticed Rick standing beside one of the pillars.

Her smile faded a little. “Rick? What are you doing here?”

He was dressed in his usual training clothes, but something about his expression made her stop. Normally, he would have greeted her with a joke or complained about how long she’d kept him waiting.

Today, he didn’t even smile. “Can we talk?” he asked politely.

“Of course.” Angela adjusted the bags in her hands. “Come inside.” She started toward the door, expecting him to follow.

“When did you get here, anyway?”

“This morning.” He said quietly. Angela glanced over her shoulder.

“This morning?”

Rick nodded. “Someone told me you’d gone shopping, so I decided to wait.”

“You’ve been standing here all this time?”

He shrugged in response. “I wanted to see you.”

Angela found that a little strange. She led him into one of the drawing rooms and placed her shopping bags on a nearby table. “Now, what’s so urgent that you couldn’t wait until tomorrow?”

She’d barely closed the door when Rick approached her and took both her hands. “Angela, please. Don’t do this.”

She frowned, trying to get over her shock. “Don’t do what?”

“Don’t marry Chris.” For a moment, she thought she’d misheard him.

“Rick, what are you talking about?”

“Please don’t do this to me. Or to yourself. Reject him.” His grip tightened when she tried to pull away. “You don’t have to marry him just because the Moon Goddess decided he’s your mate.”

“R… Rick, you’re hurting my hands.” He immediately loosened his hold, although he didn’t let go.

“I’m sorry. I just…” He looked at her helplessly. “I think… I know you feel something for me too, Angela. I’ve seen it in your eyes. You can’t tell me I imagined everything.”

Angela lowered her eyes, trying to avoid eye contact. She had always been close to Rick. They’d grown up together, spent countless hours talking, and shared things they wouldn’t have told anyone else.

There had even been a time when she’d wondered whether their friendship might become something more. But that was before Chris.

“Rick,” she began gently, “I won’t lie to you. Maybe I did feel something for you once. But now, I have a fated mate.” Rick released her hands and stepped away.

Angela continued, hoping he would understand. “Everything changed when I met Chris. I know it happened suddenly, but I’m happy with him. Really happy. And I think I’m falling in love with him.”

He started shaking his head. “You barely know him!”

“I know enough to want to spend my life with him.” Rick looked away, clearly struggling to accept her answer.

“Please wait for your fated mate,” Angela urged. “You might meet her tomorrow, or next month, or even next year. But when you do, you’ll understand why I can’t turn my back on Chris.”

“And what if I don’t want anyone else? I’ve loved you for years, Angela. Years! And now I’m supposed to stand there and congratulate another man for getting everything I’ve ever wanted?”

She didn’t know what to say to that. She’d known he cared for her, but she’d never imagined he’d been waiting all these years for her to choose him.

Angela closed her eyes briefly before shaking her head. “Listen to me. Before all this happened, we were best friends. We were good together, Rick, and I don’t want to lose that friendship.”

He remained silent.

“But you can’t ask me to give up my mate because of feelings we never even talked about. That wouldn’t be fair to Chris, and it wouldn’t be fair to me.” Rick walked toward the window, turning his back on her.

Angela waited a moment before speaking again. “If you really care about me, then please try to be happy for me. I’m getting married next week, and I want my best friend there.”

Rick didn’t turn around.

She picked up her shopping bags, feeling awful about how things had ended between them. “I hope you’ll attend our marriage, Rick. It would mean a lot to me.”

When he still stayed silent, Angela gave him one last look before leaving the drawing room, hoping that a little time would help him accept her decision.

That same evening, Vikki decided she’d spent enough time waiting for good fortune to come her way. Angela had everything she wanted, while Vikki had nothing to look forward to. She deserved a little happiness too, and if it wasn’t going to come to her, she’d have to do something about it herself.

With that thought, she prepared a cup of tea and went to Rick’s room. She found him sitting on the floor leaning against his bed, looking miserable. He barely acknowledged her when she entered.

“I brought you some tea,” she said gently, placing the cup on his bedside table. “Please, have some. You haven’t eaten or drunk anything all evening.”

Rick shook his head, but Vikki didn’t leave. Instead, she sat beside him on the floor and tried to comfort him. He was so distracted by his own misery that he hardly noticed when she moved closer and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

“Don’t worry, Rick. I’m here for you,” she whispered. “Don’t waste your life crying over Angela. She’s not worth it.”

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