Mated to My Intended's Enemy novel Chapter 126

Chapter 126: Chapter 126 Apologies

Victoria

I’d nearly packed my bags and walked out on my mate—my Alpha—over what? A glimpse of him with his ex in the market square? The shame of my impulsive reaction burned hot in my chest.

Our bond thrummed with tension as I slipped through the front door. Leo wasn’t in the living room or kitchen, though the lingering scent of whiskey told me he’d been drinking. I couldn’t blame him. My wolf, Ava, whimpered apologetically inside me, urging me to find him, to make things right.

I found him on the terrace, his powerful silhouette outlined by moonlight, muscles tense beneath his shirt as he gripped the railing.

"I’m sorry," I whispered, my voice still raw from crying. "I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions."

Leo remained silent for several long moments, his jaw working as he stared out at the dark sea. When he finally turned, the intensity in his amber eyes made me shiver.

"Do you truly believe I would dishonor our bond that way?" he asked, his voice controlled but laced with hurt. "That I would take you as my Luna only to continue with another woman?"

I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly cold despite the warm night air. "No," I admitted. "Not when I’m thinking clearly. But when I saw you with her..."

"You saw what your insecurities wanted you to see," he finished, taking a step toward me. "Not what was actually happening."

The truth of his words stung, but I couldn’t deny them. "My past—before you—I was never enough for anyone. Not for Enzo, not for the pack..." I swallowed hard. "Sometimes I still can’t believe someone like you would choose someone like me."

Leo’s expression softened marginally. He reached out, his fingers gently tilting my chin up. "Victoria," he said, his thumb brushing away a tear I hadn’t realized had fallen. "When will you understand that you are not something I settled for? You are everything I never dared hope for."

The sincerity in his eyes broke something in me. I leaned into his touch, desperate for connection after our fight. "I’m sorry," I repeated. "I should have trusted you."

He sighed, drawing me against his chest, his familiar scent of sandalwood and pine enveloping me. "Yes, you should have," he agreed, his voice rumbling against my ear. "But I understand why it’s difficult for you."

We stood like that for several minutes, the tension gradually melting between us as our bond hummed with reconnection. His arms around me felt like home—safe, secure, where I belonged.

"What was in the package?" I finally asked, my voice small against his chest.

His body tensed slightly before relaxing again. "You’ll find out tomorrow," he said, dropping a kiss on the top of my head. "Get some sleep. We have a busy day ahead."

That night, we slept with a careful distance between us—the fight not quite forgotten, but the worst of the storm had passed. Leo’s breathing eventually deepened into sleep, while I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, planning how I could make it up to him.

---

The next morning, I called Nicos as soon as the sun rose.

"I need the day off," I told him when he answered, his voice still groggy with sleep.

"Everything okay?" he asked, immediately concerned.

"Just some... mate stuff I need to fix," I admitted. "I messed up, and I want to make it right."

He chuckled knowingly. "Go on then, fix things with your husband."

After hanging up, I set about making Leo’s favorite breakfast—steak and eggs with sourdough toast. My cooking skills had improved dramatically under Rosa’s tutelage these past months, though I still occasionally set off the smoke alarm.

Leo appeared in the kitchen doorway just as I was plating the food, his hair damp from his morning shower. He wore dark jeans and a button-down shirt—more formal than his usual attire for a day at home.

"You cooked," he observed, surprise evident in his tone.

I nodded, suddenly shy. "I wanted to... apologize properly." I gestured to the table where I’d set out the food alongside a single rose I’d cut from the garden. "It’s not much, but—"

"It’s perfect," he interrupted, his eyes softening as he took in my efforts. He crossed to me in two long strides and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. "Thank you, little wolf."

The endearment made my heart flutter. He only called me that in our most intimate moments, a nod to my cleverness and the reddish tint in my brown hair that sometimes caught the sunlight.

We ate in companionable silence, the tension from yesterday gradually dissipating with each shared smile and brush of hands. When Leo finished his coffee, he checked his watch.

"Get dressed," he said, standing from the table. "Wear something nice. I’m taking you somewhere."

Curiosity piqued, I hurried to change, selecting a flowing sundress in soft blue that Leo had once said matched the color of the Aegean on a clear day. I left my hair loose, knowing he liked to run his fingers through the waves when we were alone.

Leo was waiting by the car when I emerged, his eyes darkening appreciatively as he took in my appearance. "Beautiful," he murmured, opening the passenger door.

As we drove along the coastal road, I tried to guess our destination. "Are we going to town? To the vineyard?" I asked, watching the stunning landscape roll by.

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