Chapter 360: Uping Her Game_Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow

<h4>Chapter 360: Uping Her Game</h4>

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 Chapter 360

 ~Vera’s POV~

 After leaving E, I went to theundry room, where I folded freshly cleaned sheets. I worked methodically but all the while, my mind was elsewhere—on her.

 E.

 Her face as I massaged her ankle. The trust in her eyes was palpable. She was unaware of the danger that loomed ahead.

 A smirk tugged at my lips. E was nothing but a pawn in this game. And yet, I knew someone who would not see it that way.

 As if summoned by my thoughts, my phone vibrated in my pocket. A private number.

 I tensed. I knew exactly who it was.

 Dropping the sheet in my hands, I grabbed the phone and slipped out of theundry room, walking briskly toward my quarters. Once inside, I closed the door and pressed the phone to my ear.

 "Hello, fiancé."

 A deep chuckle. Followed before he spoke. "Hey, betrothed."

 I rolled my eyes. "What do you want, Kent?"

 "Simple," he said, his voice dropping to something sharper. "The reason why E sent me a text, you sent her a location, deleted the message, and then... hurt her."

 I smirked, twirling a strand of my hair around my finger. "Well, well. Why should I let any woman near my fiancé, huh?"

 He sighed. "I wonder how your new work is going." His tone turned almost mocking. "You wouldn’t want me ruining your precious n to get Zara Zephyr, would you? I mean... one word from me and—poof! Everything goes up in smoke."

 I clenched my jaw. That bastard.

 "Why do you care about E so much?" I pressed, my voice colder now. "Do you love her?"

 There was a pause. Then, his response was as nonchnt as ever. "And why are you bothered? E’s old news. It’s not like I cheated on you."

 I scoffed. "Tsk. Keep telling yourself that," I muttered. "You want her. I can feel it. You want her like you need her."

 Kent let out a slow breath. "Then you leave me no choice." His voice turned deadly calm. "Go after E again, and the marriage is off."

 My fingers tightened around the phone. "Are you threatening me?"

 "If I were threatening you, you’d know."

 The line went dead immediately.

 My blood boiled. "That son of a bitch."

 A growl ripped from my throat as I hurled the phone across the room. It hit the wall with a thud before ttering onto the floor.

 "How dare he!" I seethed. "Threatening me?!"

 I paced furiously, my nails digging into my palms. He thinks he can control me? That I’d back down just because he said so?

 No. No one tells me what to do. Not Kent. Not E. Not even Snow.

 I would have it all.

 I grabbed the ss of water on my nightstand and smashed it onto the ground. Shards of ss scattered across the floor, water soaking into the carpet. My breath came in rapid, angry bursts.

 Calm down, Vera.

 Just then, I heard hurried footsteps approaching. Someone wasing.

 Shit.

 Acting quickly, I grabbed one of the broken ss pieces and pressed it into my palm, wincing as a sharp sting tore through my skin. Blood welled up, dripping onto the floor.

 The door burst open. One of the maids rushed in, her face filled with concern. "Miss Vani! Are you alright? I heard—"

 I gasped, clutching my hand. "I... I’m so sorry," I stammered, feigning dizziness as I swayed slightly. "I got dizzy and... well..."

 The maid’s eyes widened as she saw the blood on my hand. "Oh, goddess! You’re hurt!" She hurried toward me, grabbing a nearby towel.

 I let her fuss over me, biting my lip to suppress a triumphant smile.

 Kent thought he could control me? Fool.

 I wasn’t the one who would lose in the end.

 E. Zara. Even Kent.

 They would all fall. After all, I would soon get my mate to be with me.

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 ~Snow’s POV~

 The drive home felt longer than usual, but my mind was too upied to notice. I couldn’t stop thinking of Zara.

 Her training, the dangers surrounding her and the way she had copsed after using her powers.

 I clenched the steering wheel. My chest was still tight with frustration. I knew she wanted to protect me from her troubles, but shutting me out? That was uneptable. We were supposed to face everything together.

 With a sigh, I pulled into the driveway and parked. The mansion was quiet as I entered, most of the household either busy with duties or retired for the evening. I made my way to my study, hoping for a few moments of peace before I went to Zara.

 I barely had time to settle behind my desk when a soft knock came at the door.

 "Come in," I called, rubbing my temples.

 The door creaked open, and a familiar scent filled the room—soft, floral, intoxicating—Vera.

 Or Vani, as she called herself here.

 She stepped inside, a tray in her hands. "Good evening, Alpha," she said gently, her voice smooth and pleasant. "I brought you some tea."

 I nced at her warily, my muscles tensing involuntarily. "That’s not necessary," I said.

 "But you’ve had a long day," she countered, setting the tray down on my desk. "A warm drink might help."

 I didn’t respond immediately, my eyes flicking toward her. She was dressed in the maid’s uniform, but something about the way she carried herself felt... unnatural. Too poised. Too controlled.

 She reached for the teapot, pouring a cup for me. As she did, she leaned in slightly, just enough for her scent to wrap around me like a noose.

 And that was when the mate bond surged to life.

 A sharp pull in my chest—warmth curling through my veins.

 No.

 cier stirred instantly, pushing against my control. "Touch her."

 I gritted my teeth, gripping the arms of my chair. "No, I won’t."

 cier growled, the force of the bond making it harder to resist. Vera’s fingers brushed the cup lightly, as if by ident, and I felt it—a surge of electricity, a desperate need wing at my insides.

 "Snow," she murmured, her gaze softening as she looked at me. "Why are you avoiding me?"

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Chapter 360: Uping Her Game