122 Second Chance Mate
**************CHAPTER 122
-Zara’s POV-
Snow’s voice rang out, cutting through the tension like a blade. “Zade.”
The man turned, his sharp blue eyes lighting up as a slow smile curved his lips. “Snow,” he drawled
smoothly, the faintest hint of mischief in his tone. “Surprise.”
Snow’s expression softened into an uncharacteristic grin, and before I could even process the exchange, he moved forward, pulling Zade into a firm, brotherly hug.
Andrew chuckled at their interaction, his usual composed demeanour relaxing slightly. “I take it the reunion’s going well?”
Snow released Zade, stepping back but keeping his hand on the man’s shoulder. “It’s been too long,” he said. “And you show up here, of all places?”
Zade shrugged, the faintest smirk tugging at the
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corners of his mouth. “You know me. I like to keep things interesting.”
“Interesting is an understatement,” Andrew remarked with a grin, glancing between them.
“Snow, meet Andrew Blake, my maternal cousin. Andrew, meet Snow Zephyr, my best friend.”
“Best friend?” the shock had come on too strong and I was sure Snow or Glacier sensed it. The next thing, Snow’s gaze shifted to me, his expression softening further. “And Zade, meet my wife, Zara.”
My heart skipped a beat at his words, but the shock on Zade’s face quickly stole my attention. His blue eyes widened, darting between Snow and Andrew. “Your wife?” he echoed.
Andrew smiled, raising his champagne glass. “True. Unfortunately for the rest of us.”
Snow shot him a sharp look, his brows lifting slightly as his aura shot out, warning Andrew. I shook my head internally at his protectiveness and possessiveness.
Andrew lifted his hands in mock surrender, laughing. “Relax, Snow. I’m not stealing her from you.”
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“Better,” Snow replied, though his tone held a teasing edge.
Zade’s gaze landed on me again, his smile turning warmer, though his eyes carried an unreadable glint. “Well, Zara, it’s an honour. You’ve tamed the untamable, it seems.”
I smiled faintly, unsure how to respond to the mysterious man who radiated familiarity and mystery, especially when my mind could not wrap around the image I had seen earlier.
Was I seeing things or was it just a trick of the light?
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-Aira’s POV-
The atmosphere of the party was intoxicating- laughter, clinking glasses, and the hum of lively conversations filled the air. I leaned against the bar, sipping my champagne, while Tempest stood beside me, swirling her drink absentmindedly.
“So,” I began, nudging her playfully. “What’s this I hear about you ‘moving on‘ and ‘finding happiness
elsewhere“?”
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Tempest’s lips curled into a small smile, her eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. “I wish you and Koda nothing but happiness, sis. But I’ve decided it’s time to let that dream go. I’m setting my sights on other… possibilities.”
I tilted my head curiously. “Possibilities? Like who? Is it the warrior Mom mentioned?”
She laughed softly, shaking her head. “Mum. I knew she would barely be able to keep it from you, her soft star child.” She exhaled sharply and sipped from her glass before passing on the cup for a refill.
“And no. I know how guarded Mom and Dad have been since Ivan, and they wouldn’t approve of that match. So, I’ve been exploring other options–looking at bigger fish in the sea.”
I blinked, impressed by her pragmatism. “Well, have you found a fish worth catching? Or did you come here to fish one out of this crowd of hunky CEOs?”
Tempest chuckled, taking a sip of her drink. “Actually, I already met someone. He caught my attention before I could even approach him, but he left quickly.“,
The way she carried herself even amid heartache was
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impressive, like her name.
“Playing hard to get?” I teased.
She shook her head, a fond look crossing her face. “No, I don’t think he noticed me. There was a hesitation, though, like he sensed something before leaving. We did talk later, though, and he’s… intriguing. I even got
his business card.”
“Well, well,” I said, grinning. “Congratulations. You seem happy.”
“I am,” she said sincerely. “You can keep Koda. I’ve made peace with letting him go.”
I frowned slightly, unsure how to respond. “A mate bond is different, sis. You can try, but it’s hard to break unless there’s a rejection–and that’s painful.”
Tempest’s smile didn’t waver. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I’ve accepted it and I am moving forward.”
“Same. I would find someone else, not Koda nor my mate and be happy. Storm and I deserve a fresh start and that was why I left Ivory Crescent Pack for this.”
“Good for you and my nephew.”
Before I could reply, something clicked in my mind–a
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pull so strong that it left me breathless. Autumn stirred within me, her presence surging to the surface.
I knew that feeling. I’d experienced it before and my mind, heart, body and soul sparked with recognition.
“Mate.”
The word echoed in my mind, sending a shiver down my spine. I froze, scanning the room frantically in search of that person.
It wasn’t my mate. I knew that scum anytime and Autumn would have been triggered had he been
around.
This, whoever he was, was different. Suddenly something parked in my head and my head stopped. My gaze landed on him–a tall man with dark hair and piercing eyes that seemed to draw me in from across
the room.
My breath hitched as my lips parted, the word escaping in a whisper. “Mate” (2
-Tempest’s POV-
Aira froze beside me, her glass of champagne halfway
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to her lips. Her gaze was locked across the room, her eyes wide with shock. Curious, I followed her line of sight, and my gaze landed on the blond man standing near Andrew Blake.
A familiar jolt shot through me. “Oh yes,” I exclaimed, grinning as my chest fluttered. “That’s him, standing near the host. Oh, there’s Snow and Zara too! He’s the one I like. The one I told you about”
The words tumbled out before I could stop them, but -my excitement faded almost instantly when I turned back to Aira. The shock in her eyes wasn’t fading. If anything, it deepened into something raw and painful.
“What is it?” I asked, alarmed, but Aira didn’t respond. She was staring at Zade as though he had just shattered her world.
The blond man–Zade–turned at that moment, his eyes scanning the room. I felt a surge of anticipation as his gaze flickered in my direction.
My heart raced when his gaze settled on me, a fleeting smile tugging at his lips. But then he looked past me, his expression softening in a way that wasn’t meant for
- me.
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It was meant for… Aira.
My smile faltered, confusion and dread filling me.
“Oh no,” I breathed, my voice coming off in a whisper. A horrible, sinking feeling washed over me as I realized what had just happened. My throat tightened as the words tumbled out, unbidden. “Not… again.”
Aira’s head whipped toward me, her expression shifting from pain to something unreadable. I wanted to explain, to tell her this couldn’t possibly be happening–not again.
But then, Zade’s gaze met Aira’s, and everything fell into place as the word rolled out of his lips.
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