Shattered Bonds A Second Chance Mate (by Yui) novel Chapter 265

Alpha Ethan POV

I couldn’t sleep all night.

My mind was all over Reven her scent, her eyes, and the strange curren

last night.

Even with my wolf silent, buried somewhere deep in the darkness where he had hidden he ever in the troutes we reject each other, I felt something, a pull, a small spark beneath ashes that should have your

Maybe it was because I hadn’t seen her in five years.

Maybe it was because fate has a cruel sense of humor.

Or maybe it was because seeing her standing beside Alpha Derick, beautiful, calm, Lana of another, fe’s Beene tove a blade straight through my chest and twisted it.

I lay awake until dawn, watching the faint morning light creep through the windows of the guest room 18 been goes

My legs refused to move; my whole body felt as heavy as the guilt that had lived inside me all these years

I did back then replayed in painful flashes.

The way I pushed her away.

The way I refused to listen.

The night she stood in front of me, eyes swollen from crying, voice shaking as she told me she wanted us to reject each other.

I remembered her exact words: “Just do it, Ethan. I can’t live like this.”

My wolf had howled in agony when the last of the bond snapped.

And then… silence.

Five years of silence.

Maybe I deserved it.

I dragged my hand over my face and inhaled deeply. Staying in bed was pointless. My thoughts were loud enough to dru out everything else. With a sigh, I reached for my phone on the bedside table and dialed Matthew

The phone rang several times before he finally picked up.

“Alpha?” his voice came through, calm but curious. “How’s everything going over there?”

I let out a quiet breath. “Fine. But I didn’t come back last night. Something happened.”

Matthew immediately sounded alert. “What happened? You sound strange.”

“I saw someone.” I swallowed. “You won’t believe who.”

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Chapter 265

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“Who?” he asked.

I hesitated for half a second before saying it. “Reven”

Silence.

Long. Heavy.

I could practically feel Matthew’s shock from miles away.

“She’s alive,” I continued softly. “And she’s here.”

“What?” Matthew finally breathed. “Raven?”

“Yes,”

“Did she… recognize you?”

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“She did.” My chest tightened. “But she pretended not to. And honestly… I was fine with that. She has a new life now” 1 paused. “She’s Alpha Derick’s Luna. He announced her at the party.”

Another silence,

But this one wasn’t a shock.

It was something else, something Matthew was trying to swallow back.

“Did you see?” he started, then abruptly stopped.

“What?” I asked sharply. “See what?”

“Nothing,” he said too quickly. “Never mind.”

“No, Matthew. Say it.”

“It’s nothing important. Leave it,” he muttered, clearly nervous.

I wanted to push, but I was too tired. Instead we let the conversation drift to safer topics: pack issues, border patrol, and the elders being their usual headache. Finally, I asked, “How is Zara?”

“She missed you yesterday,” he said. “But she’s fine. She’s with the nanny.”

A small smile touched my lips. “Good. I’ll be back this evening.”

“Alright, Alpha.”

The call ended, leaving the room painfully quiet again.

Just then, a knock sounded on the door.

“Come in,” I said.

The same maid from last night stepped inside. She bowed politely. “Sir, Alpha Derick asked me to inform you that you will be joining the family for breakfast.”

I frowned. “Tell him thanks, but I have other things to do.”

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7:40 pm

Chapter 265

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She nodded and turned to leave.

But as the door closed behind her, I found myself staring at the ceiling chance, my last chance to see her before I left.

reakfast Marybe

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One look.

One moment.

Then I could go back to my life, back to the silence, back to forgetting

With a sigh. I pushed myself out of bed, wheeled toward the bathroom, and took a long shower. The water did nothing to cool the ache in my chest.

Afterward, I wore the clean clothes I asked my driver to bring: dark trousers, a crisp shirt, something simple. I asked a guard for directions and wheeled myself toward the dining room.

When I got there, Alpha Derick and his parents were already seated.

But Raven wasn’t.

My heart sank, though I didn’t let it show. I took my seat quietly.

Derick looked at me with a surprised smile. “You decided to join us?”

“I finished what I had to do earlier than expected,” I said calmly.

A maid poured tea into my cup, and I tried tried to focus on anything else. But my mind was restless. My chest was tight. My eyes kept drifting to the door like an idiot waiting for something he shouldn’t want.

Minutes passed.

Long enough for disappointment to settle into my bones.

Then the door opened.

Raven walked in.

My breath caught.

She looked… different. Older, yes. More refined. More Luna–like. But still undeniably her.

She moved with grace, confidence, and softness all at once. She sat next to Derick, greeted his parents warmly…

But she never looked in my direction.

Not once.

She was served food and began eating, completely composed. I tried to do the same, but every bite felt like swallowing glass. The air in the dining room grew heavy. I could feel her presence like heat against my skin, familiar yet distant.

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