My Ex Left Me Years Ago Then I’m Married to a Billionaire novel Chapter 35

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Crowned by Fate

Chapter 35

Leon’s POV

The morning sunlight beat down on the training grounds as I surveyed my domain, heat already rising from the earth despite the early hour

Last year’s Hunt Festival had marked my formal ascension when my father, James, officially stepped down and named me Alpha of Frostshadow Pack

In the months since taking the Alpha position, my days had stretched even longer. Beyond the physical training I’d always maintained, I now spent countles hours studying pack management, politics, and diplomacy.

Each quarter, I traveled to the North American Werewolf Council chambers, observing their meetings, building relationships with influential members who would eventually vote in the Alpha King election.

All my efforts focused on a single goal: winning the Alpha King election next November.

The council members seemed pleased with my progress, and Frostshadow enjoyed an excellent reputation among the fifty–plus packs across the continent. 1 couldn’t help the surge of confidence that rose in my chest whenever I contemplated my chances.

My father’s words echoed in my mind, tempering that pride.

“Don’t rush, don’t become arrogant,” he’d cautioned just yesterday. “Your greatest flaw has always been impatience. A worthy leader needs more than courage -he needs steadiness of character.”

I rolled my shoulders, feeling the pleasant burn of muscles already worked hard despite the early hour. The dry grass crunched beneath my boots as I paced the training grounds, checking equipment and reviewing today’s schedule in my mind.

Ethan was late–unusual for my Beta, but understandable. He’d found his mate recently and completed the marking ceremony just last week. They were still in that phase where newly mated pairs could hardly bear to leave their beds.

The thought brought an unexpected twinge. I pushed it away.

“Alpha Leon!”

I turned to see a courier jogging toward me, sweat beading on his forehead in the summer heat. He bowed slightly, then extended a white envelope.

“This letter arrived for Beta Ethan, but I couldn’t locate his new residence.” The courier looked apologetic. “Would you mind delivering it to him? I know he moved after the marking ceremony…”

“Of course,” I replied, taking the envelope. Ethan had indeed moved out of his parents‘ home after mating, settling into a cabin at the eastern edge of our territory. The courier couldn’t be faulted for not knowing his new address.

I nodded dismissal to the courier, who hurried away to complete his other deliveries. I was about to slip the letter into my jacket pocket when the sender’s name caught my eye, and my heart stuttered to a halt.

Skye.

A flood of emotions rushed through me. I gripped the envelope tighter, crumpling its edge.

Three years ago, after she’d disappeared, I’d searched for her relentlessly for two months. My father and Skye’s parents had berated me daily for those same two months.

They blamed me entirely for her departure–criticizing my public rejection, my failure to consult them beforehand, my callous handling of the mate bond.

George Anderson, Skye’s father and our pack Beta, had nearly resigned his position, threatening to leave Frostshadow Pack to search for his daughter.

Only when they began receiving New Moon Festival gifts from her, mailed from anonymous locations, did the furor finally subside.

Even now,

the memory fueled a simmering anger.

1/3

Chapter 35

How could she have been so selfish? (1)

How could she have abandoned her family, her pack, het responsibilities without a backward glance?

Just because she hadn’t shifted, just because I’d rejected her as my Luna?

I stared at the envelope, curiosity burning through me. What had she written to her brother? Where was she now?

My finger slid under the seal, beginning to tear it open before I caught myself. This wasn’t my letter to read. As Alphia, I needed to respect my Beta’s privacy.

I resumed my training, pushing myself harder than usual, as if physical exertion could drive away the questions circling in my mind. By the time Ethan finally appeared at the edge of the training grounds, I’d worked up a sweat.

I couldn’t help the smirk that formed. “You might want to consider some restraint at night, Ethan. How do you expect to train properly if you arrive exhausted every morning?”

He ran a hand through his rumpled hair, looking sheepish. “Lily’s still adjusting to the bond. It’s… intense.”

“She’s shifted,” he murmured, eyes still scanning the page. After all this time. And she’s-” His gaze shot up to meet mine. “She’s joined another pack. Oasisborn, in the western territories.”

Has she found another mate? The question burned in my throat, but I couldn’t bring myself to voice it.

Ethan shook his head, returning to the letter. “She doesn’t mention a Second Chance mate. Just says she’s finally shifted–her wolf is silver, like her hair- and that she’s been welcomed by Oasisborn despite her ‘unusual history.“”

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