Chapter 9. Small World

*Avery*

"Zander, did you see the news? We looked amazing in those pictures," I exclaimed to Zander, my excitement bubbling over. However, his attention remained fixed on his laptop screen, seemingly uninterested.

I set his laptop aside and positioned myself on his lap, attempting to capture his focus.

"What's going on, Avery? Can't you see I was engrossed in important work?" he snapped with a scowl. I felt disappointed that he didn't even spare me a glance, especially since I was wearing such a revealing dress that accentuated my curves and exposed so much.

But, I even found him hot when he was angry. Truth be told, I loved every aspect of him. Yes, I was head over heels in love with my best friend.

"You're leaving for a week, and you're still glued to your dull laptop?!" I complained, pouting and sensually batting my eyelashes.

"Spend some quality time with me," I leaned in closer, whispering seductively. I took his hand and placed it on my slim waist. His touch was enough to make my panties drenching wet, leaving me wanting more.

"Have you lost your mind, Avery?" Zander barked, his expression suddenly annoyed. "Remember the agreement between us," he continued sharply. "I'm not interested in getting intimate before the wedding," he reminded me in a cold, icy tone.

I let out a sigh of exasperation. Zander's self-control was truly remarkable. No matter how hard I tried to seduce him, his reaction remained disappointingly unaffected. My workaholic Alpha! He’d made sure we were getting married because he needed an heir, and I was more than willing to give him one.

"We're engaged, darling, and you are mine officially," I purred, my finger tracing a path along his lips as I closed the distance between us. However, just as our lips were about to meet, he suddenly pulled away, setting me down on the couch before standing up.

"I'm running behind schedule. I need to leave," he stated formally as he left abruptly and briskly.

A soft chuckle escaped my lips. It was merely a matter of a few more days, and then he would be bound to me forever. I could sense the excitement in my wolf, Leah, as her growls of anticipation echoed in my mind. She shared my desires, my aspirations.

Despite having admirers who appreciated my beauty from all corners of the world, my heart longed for only one man: Zander Blake. Men were ready to kill and die for me. But I only wanted Zander. I had wanted him all my life. He had been with me since our childhood. He was my first crush, my first kiss, and my first in everything. I sighed hopelessly.

I knew he always had eyes only for me. I wanted to be the only woman in his life. Only me. So, I had never let a woman come close to him. He was mine. Our fathers were friends, and they wanted us to marry and choose each other as mates. Everything was going so perfectly, and marriage was in the cards. I was so happy and was on cloud nine. The ruthless Alpha King Zander Blake was mine until... that bitch, Selena, came between us.

I had loved him since we were children and always wanted to marry him. I even rejected my fated mate just to be with Zander, and I believed Zander also loved me as he agreed to marry me. But then, he met that ugly bitch, and all the hell broke loose after that.

I didn't know what kind of spell she and her father had cast on Zander, that he had forgotten everything after seeing that whore. He forgot about our love, friendship, and promises and wanted to marry that wolfless filthy daughter of a useless Alpha of the world's weakest pack.

That cunning witch took everything from me; my Zander, my love, and my position. I always dreamed of being the Luna Queen of the North. But my dream was shattered in a blink of an eye when Zander announced he was going to marry Selena in a pack’s alliance. I swallowed the lump of insult down my throat and waited for the right time to come. It was tough to manipulate Zander. But how long could he resist my beauty? After my diligent efforts, Selena was finally out of his life, and he was mine again.

I threw my head back and laughed smugly as I remembered.

That ugly bitch couldn't hold a candle before me. She was useless in the name of a woman and Luna. She was a mistake. I made sure Zander saw that, and once he realized what a mistake he had made by marrying her, he kicked her out of his life.

Nevertheless, finally, the day had come for which I had been waiting for so long. Zander would marry me and mark me as his Luna and mate.