Chapter 9 Did You Get A New Alpha?

• If… if Zvonimir wanted to do something here, there was no way she could resist.
• Rishima warily watched Zvonimir.
• Thankfully, Zvonimir didn’t make any further moves. He only asked calmly, "Why did you throw the invitation away?"
• So it was about that.
• Rishima quietly sighed in relief but couldn’t help finding the situation amusing.
• Perhaps Zvonimir had purposely come to deliver the mate-bonding ceremony invitation just to mock her, to see her heartbroken. But she had taken that very invitation and thrown it into the trash.
• That must have annoyed him.
• "Sorry, I’m not interested in my ex-mate’s mating ceremony."
• Rishima smiled faintly, deliberately emphasizing the words "ex-mate".
• Zvonimir’s expression darkened.
• Pretending not to notice, Rishima continued, "I’m afraid that if I show up at your mate-bonding ceremony, your ‘adopted sister’ might think I’m still clinging to you."
• Zvonimir narrowed his eyes. "So you’re saying you have no feelings for me now?"
• "Exactly, not a trace." Rishima’s tone was light, hitting just the right nerve, showing no sign of pretense. "You see, you told me to behave, to know my place, not to cling to you… How could I dare have any improper thoughts about you?"
• "Shut up!" Zvonimir snapped, his face contorted, unable to find words to refute her.
• In truth, after their severed mate bond, he had hoped Rishima would behave, not trouble him, and certainly not try to reignite the bond they once shared. After all, mating with an Alpha wolf was considered the greatest pride in life, and no female wolf would want to let go of an Alpha wolf.
• But he hadn’t expected Rishima to forget him so quickly.
• The more Zvonimir thought about it, the more irritated he became. Something didn’t sit right with him, and he suddenly asked darkly, "You’ve found another wolf, haven’t you?"
• Rishima was caught off guard by his question. "What?"
• "Don’t play dumb!" Zvonimir tightened his grip on her chin, staring at her fiercely. "After our bond was severed, you went and erased my mark right away. So, you must have been cheating with another wolf all along, right?"
• Rishima froze, and when she realized what he was saying, she burst into laughter.
• "Zvonimir, are you insane? The one who cheated and left me to sneak around with Farah was you. And now you have the nerve to accuse me of cheating? If you want to insult me, at least don’t use such despicable tactics!"
• Zvonimir's face darkened, not believing a single word, he sneered coldly, "I won’t let this go! You’d better hide your lover well, don’t let me find him, or else..."
• He didn’t finish his sentence, but the tone was so cruel it sent chills down her spine.
• Rishima closed her eyes, trying to hold back her tears. She didn’t want Zvonimir to know that just a few of his words could shatter her heart into pieces.
• Knowing that her three years of sincerity had only earned her Zvonimir’s humiliating suspicion, she would rather give her heart to a stray wolf than continue to endure his malicious insults to her dignity after their severed mate bond.
• Unfortunately, there’s no medicine for regret in this world.
• Seeing her remain silent, Zvonimir’s anger flared even more. "Say something! Aren’t you usually quick with your words? Why aren’t you talking now? Did I guess right?"
• His thumb harshly rubbed against Rishima’s lower lip, his gaze vicious and cruel, as if he wanted to devour her whole.
• Rishima retorted mockingly, "Think whatever you want."
• She turned her head forcefully, trying to escape Zvonimir’s grip, but he fiercely kissed her.
• "Mmph...!" Rishima’s lips were sealed by Zvonimir’s, and his overpowering presence surrounded her, while her body was pressed down, unable to move.
• This bastard!
• Rishima was on the verge of not being able to breathe.
• Luckily, Zvonimir still had some sanity left, pulling away just as she was about to suffocate.
• The elevator doors opened with a "ding," and Zvonimir stepped out. But after only two steps, he turned back to stare at her. "Whether you want to go to the mate-bonding ceremony party or not, you will go. I’ll have someone pick you up."
• Rishima panted heavily, mocking him over and over in her heart.
• What Zvonimir said in a polite way meant she was being forced to attend, and in a harsher sense, it meant he would tie her up and throw her at his mate-bonding ceremony, forcing her to watch her ex-mate and the other female wolf get engaged.
• The car drove straight ahead without stopping, and inside, the atmosphere was so quiet it made one feel slightly pressured.
• Lucas, Zvonimir’s trusted pack secretary, was sitting in the front seat. This was the fifth time he had pretended to absentmindedly glance at the rearview mirror.
• However, the moment he saw Zvonimir's grim expression, he quickly averted his gaze.
• He realized that the Boss was in a very bad mood.
• Zvonimir's face was as cold as a corpse, and his whole body exuded a low pressure that warned others to stay away, with the constant threat of an outburst.
• Lucas had no idea what had happened between the Boss and Miss Watson to make him so furious.
• Was Lucas curious? Yes.
• Did he dare to ask? No.
• Lucas brushed aside his questions and focused on driving carefully. Back at the Silverfang mansion, as soon as Zvonimir stepped through the door, Farah stood up from the sofa, ran over to cling to his arm, and sweetly said, "Zvonimir, you're back."
• She was beautiful, with large round eyes, plump lips, and a pair of faint dimples on her cheeks. Her voice was soft and sweet.
• Any wolf who saw her would think she was surely a simple and innocent female wolf.
• Such soft and adorable female wolves were always favored by wolves. Because only when they were around such fragile female wolves could wolves display their strength and authority, and even Zvonimir was no exception.
• After seeing her, his previously grim face softened.
• "What are you up to?" Zvonimir's lips curved into a slight smile as he wrapped his arms tightly around Farah's slender figure. His eyes drifted toward the tangle of yarn and knitting needles on the sofa.
• Farah’s face turned slightly pink as she bit her lip and said, "I wanted to knit you a scarf, but it’s really difficult."