Rejected, And Became A Heiress (Cara)

Cara's POV

I'm not ready to be alone with Alaric inside my house agal so soon. A public place would be much safer for my willpower and my heart.

So I take Alaric to a nearby coffee shop.

The moment we walk inside, we are greeted with the crisp roma of fresh coffee and a touch of cinnamon, Someone must be baking cinnamon rolls for the display case.

Talking

to Alaric was my idea, but I'm not quite ready for it yet. So I go to the counter and order a cup

of coffee, Alaric orders one too and then insists on paying.

"That's really not necessary," I tell him.

"Please," he says, already producing his bank card.

I leave a hefty tip in the tip jar.

Our coffees are given to us in ceramic mugs. Alaric looks at his curiously, perhaps used to the bigger-

business coffee shops that hand everything out in paper and plastic. This local shop is much homier than that, and I take comfort in that now, trying to gather strength for the conversation to come.

I sit against the wall, and he sits opposite

me. Neither of us has touched our coffees. Now

they sit on the table between us, slowly cooling.

"...Cara," Alaric says.

His words come out all at once, jumbled up like he's been holding them inside himself for too long, and now they are bursting forth.

"I know you might hate me, but I love you! And I'm not ready to let you go. I'll do whatever I have to, to win you back, if you would only-"

"-Stop," I say.

To my surprise, he does so.

Alaric's posture is tense. He's waiting for my answer.

I take a deep breath, fully prepared for what I have to say.

I did love him.

Or... maybe I still do.

But I say: "Sorry, Alaric, I'm asking you to let me go."

Perhaps years ago, I would have been more receptive to his words. But now? After all this time? After all the pain, the years apart, the children...

I say: "Give up on chasing me."

That's my final answer.

Alaric stares at me, his expression locked in a mixture of guilt and shock. His

piercing blue eyes still make my

heart race.

Maybe love still exists between us, but I've thought too much-

this man is not the person who can stand by my side for a lifetime.

Yes, he is remarkable. He is the Alpha King. He has the kind of looks and aura that make any woman weak in the knees. But I can no longer believe a single word that comes out of his mouth- not even "I love you."

"Listen, Alaric,” I murmur, staring into my untouched coffee. "I'm too tired. Maybe... maybe I've lost the ability to love a man."

"I-I'm so sorry!..."

Alaric apologizes desperately. "Cara, I'll do anything to make it up to you. I won't give up. Believe me, I'll find a way to make you love me again-"

"Enough," I say softly.

"You must be out of your mind, being idle here,” he continues, standing up from his seat. “They treat you like a princess, but you can't be happy doing nothing. Why not come back with me? Return to my side and be my beta again? Everything else can fall into place after that...!"

"-Enough!" I say. "You're being too loud,"

Alaric's confused face tightens into a frown. He falls silent for a moment before speaking again, this time in the softest, most bitter voice:

"... You know what will happen if you stay.

"BloodyMoon is a very traditional pack. As a mate-

less princess, you could be forced into a political marriage..."

Marriage with a stranger.

We both know what that means.

But I am not some helpless, unemployed, fragile princess. I have never needed anyone to save me.

In my long life as an orphan, I've learned one thing-

family members will have their own lives, and friends will move on with theirs. The only person who can save me, who can love me unconditionally, is me. "Look at me, Alaric."

I reach across the table and gently cup his face.

"In your eyes, who am I?"

Alaric stares at me, frozen. "Cara..."

"Who was I to you before?"

"My ex-fated mate. My beta."

Пlook at him, speaking each word slowly and deliberately:

"Yes. I am Cara. Take a good look."noveldrama

"I am the woman who became your beta through my own strength. I am not some helpless princess waiting to be rescued. I am not Lilia."

"The moment people hear 'princess,' they assume I live a luxurious, pampered life. BloodyMoon thinks that. DarkWood thinks that. The orphanage I grew up in thought that. And even you, Alaric."