Chapter 5
Three years have gone since I arrived in London. I have rebuilt my life and became the owner of a coffee shop located on a busy street in the downtown area. It was my sanctuary because it kept me busy, and I enjoyed it. It had helped with my healing. “Welcome! What can I get you today?” I asked without looking up from the counter.
It was routine for me to greet customers, but sometimes I couldn’t look at them. When there was no response, I glanced up and almost held my breath. Axl stood in the doorway and clung to him was Lia. It was Lia who first noticed me, and as usual, she still wore that smug smile, making her look like a bitch. And I wondered why our paths crossed again.
“Lianna,” Axl said, his voice low and unsure. His eyes scanned the café as if he couldn’t believe I was working there.
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“I didn’t think I’d find you here.
My heartbeat raced, but I kept it cool, hoping they would not see how close I was to breaking.
“What would you like to drink?” I asked with a smile.
Lia’s gaze flickered between me and Axl, so she spoke first to break the pause. She still had that flirty and sweet voice when she spoke. But I knew how sarcastic she was when she talked to me.
“It’s been a while. We wondered where you disappeared when Axl didn’t hear from you. Looks like you‘ ve been busy.”
I thought I had moved on, but now I realize how suppressed my anger and bitterness were. Seeing Axl and Lia together had resurfaced it and opened the wounds I thought were already healed.
Suddenly, Axl looked awkward, but his hand was still entwined with Lia’s. However, his eyes were fixated on me,
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making me so uncomfortable.
“You‘ ve done well for yourself. The café… it‘ s… nice,” Axl said softly.
“Thanks,” I responded curtly, keeping my emotions in check.
“Now, if you’re not ordering anything, I have other customers to serve.”
Axl immediately let go of Lia’s hand and hesitantly moved to reach for me.
“Lianna, wait. I…”
“You don’t need to explain anything, Axl,” I cut him off, keeping my eyes on the register, hoping it would mask the pain that I was feeling.
“That’s all in the past now.”
“I was wrong. Back then, I didn’t know what I had… with you. I’ve been thinking about it ever since. We were good together, Lianna.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and
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responded, “That was a long time ago.
I’ve moved on. You should, too.
!!
Lia’s smirk widened as if she enjoyed seeing Axl’s desperate attempt at redemption.
“Funny how things turn out, don’t they? But some things were just meant to be, I guess,” she said, her eyes gleaming with
amusement.
I could feel the tension between us rising, and I struggled not to scream at her to leave. Good thing Aiden emerged from the kitchen, wiping his hands with a towel, and almost froze when he saw the two.
“You alright?” Aiden asked, looking at me with concern.
“I’m fine,” I replied and turned to him with
a smile.
Aiden had been my rock these past two years. He had always been there, supportive, and gentle in ways I never expected him to be. It was never the case
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with Axl.
Axl’s gaze hardened as he looked at me and Aiden.
“You and him?” he asked, almost about to laugh in disbelief.
Aiden stepped forward, his arm around my waist, and answered him calmly and with a smile.
“Yeah, we‘ re together.”
Axl’s eyes widened as he got taken aback. He turned to look at me with eyes that I thought I would never see – regret. He must have thought that I would never find
another Alpha to replace him. But what he said after shook me.
“You know, Lianna. I waited for you to call. Surely, I made a mistake, but I had never stopped loving you. We can still fix this. You don’t belong with him.”
My chest tightened, but I didn’t let his words get to my weak heart.
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“It’s too late, Axl. You made your choice
the night you proposed to her,” I replied with a low voice.
Lia felt embarrassed with Axl but tried so hard not to show it. She narrowed her eyes and gripped Axl’s arm to remind him of her presence. But Axl ignored her and never left my gaze.
“We were mates, Lianna. We are destined to be together. You know that.”
I had to draw the line between us and speak firmly.
“No. Axl. You broke the bond. Now, you have to live with it.”
Before Axl could respond, Aiden rubbed my back, looked at me, and signaled me to go to the kitchen.
“I think it’s time for you both to leave,” Aiden said, towering Axl.
Aiden’s authoritative voice and height made no room for argument. Axl’s
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shoulder sagged, and he let Lia tug him towards the door. But he looked at me one
last time before the door shut behind them.
As soon as they were gone, I was finally able to exhale. The encounter weighed so heavily on my chest that it almost hurt. Aiden looked at me and asked, “Are you sure you‘ re, okay?”
“I’m fine. I just… wasn’t expecting to see Axl again. I thought I never would,” I replied.
Aiden let out a warm and reassuring smile.
“You know I am here for you. You don’t have to face him alone.”
I nodded, grateful for his presence. But even as I embraced Aiden, a part of me felt Axl and I weren’t over. As much as I would like to close that chapter of my life, it still haunted me like an unfinished business. I thought of what Axl said earlier and
wondered if he meant it. Did he say those words because he felt the same way I do?
