Chapter 193 Stay, Please


    TESSA


    “I now pronounce you husband and wife.”


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    s


    “You may now kiss the bride,” the Pastor ended the ceremony with a bright smile, watching as Cade slowly unveiled Arden and ced a kiss on her lips.


    Well, it was a kiss at first. However, he couldn’t control himself in the end and devoured her lips like they were in the bedroom.


    I giggled to myself when the elders began covering the eyes of the children. Goodness, Cade. He couldn’t have reserved this for their honeymoon? Although I was sure the honeymoon happened every day in their house. I heard from Owen that the United Factions knew whenever they did it because Cade would be super happy.


    And Cade was often super happy.


    Good for him. I mean, good for them.


    As they parted and looked into each other’s eyes, appearing like they were the only people in the world, I decided it was time to go.


    I could still feel Rowan’s gaze on the side of my face, but I decided to ignore it. My wolf continued whimpering inside my mind to let him hold us, but there was no way I was going to ask him to do that. Without bidding goodbye, I decided to leave.


    That was all I came here for anyway. I wanted to see Arden on arguably one of the happiest moments in her life. Coming here was already a tough decision, and seeing her already made me want to stay a bit longer and talk about our lives.


    This was wrong. I couldn’t stay here.


    With that, I took a stealthy step forward and prepared to leave. However, I felt a hand wrap around my wrist before that could happen.


    My eyes widened. I turned back and saw Rowan holding onto me, a frown on his face. He appeared to want to say a lot but was holding back.


    “What are you doing?” I whispered, not wanting to bring attention to both of us. I needed to leave without


    a trace!


    He countered my question with another question.


    “Where are you going?”


    I bit my lip and tried to shake my arm away; however, he held on for dear life. It didn’t help that every jostle sent tingles down my spine.


    “Let go,” I said firmly. However, it was his grip that firmed up instead. It wasn’t tight enough to hurt, but it was tight enough to the point I couldn’t escape. I also couldn’t exactly karate chop my way out of this. I wasn’t going to ruin Arden’s wedding!


    In


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    11:34 Fri, 29 Aug


    Chapter 193 Stay, Please


    “There’s still a reception,” he said. “And answer my question. Where are you going?”


    I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment.


    “Home.”


    “I’m going home.”


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    I saw his breath hitch, then his throat bobbed while swallowing. He ran his fingers through his hair.


    “I answered your question,” I impatiently said. “Now let me go.”


    “I want to talk,” he insisted.


    “I don’t,” I countered, feeling a rush of confidence in my nerves. “I’ve wanted to talk for a long time, and now I don’t. I don’t even want to be in the same space as you,” I continued,


    Again, my wolf whimpered inside me when his grip on me loosened slightly. However, it felt like these were the right things to say. Maybe I didn’t onlye here to witness this important day, but to say the things I’ve always wanted him to hear.


    I’ve never quite acknowledged it back then, but I suffered a lot. When he was the one who should believe me more than anyone else, he left me hanging in the air, then watched as I fell to the ground.


    Even if he has changed now, the past we had still hasn’t changed. Thinking about my little girl, Ca, and how he could treat her even a percentage of the way he treated me back then, made me want to retreat to my safe space–the cabin in Eternal Woods.


    “We have nothing to do with each other now,” I continued. “So, just let me go.”


    His grip finally loosened fully, and I saw how he gulped. I swore I also saw his eyes getting ssy for a moment, but I looked away, unable to take his gaze.


    I shook my head and watched as his hand lingered on my skin for just a couple of seconds before finally settling on his side.


    With that, I was about to turn away and leave quickly. However, that was when I heard another voice that made me stop dead in my tracks. It was a voice I knew would be able to make me stay.


    Tessa?”


    I turned to the person.


    “Arden,” I whispered. Her eyes widened. Right beside her was Cade, who also appeared shocked to see me. I pursed my lips. Owen should have been here to cover for me. Damn him, really. His boss, too!


    “Tessa, it’s really you,” she whispered. Cade let go of her, and she walked slowly toward where I was. The others already turned to our direction, and those who knew me watched with shocked expressions.


    I saw Zaria in my peripheral vision, but I didn’t even spare her a nce. All I could focus on was my best friend, standing in front of me, appearing afraid to get close because my arrival might be an illusion.


    Shit.


    11:34 Fri, 29 Aug 0


    Chapter 193 Stay, Please


    I already knew where this was going.


    Then, she finally closed the distance between the two of us and gave me a hug.


    ??36?? –


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    “Tessa,” she eximed. I resisted only for a moment, but knew it was no use, so I also wrapped my arms around her, my tears freely falling onto her shoulder.


    “I can’t believe it,” she continued. “I missed you so much. I’m so happy you’re alive and appear to be doing well.”


    I couldn’t understand how she could say all of these things while I felt like a whole mess.


    “Arden,” it was all I could say. Her touch was still familiar, ever–soforting like the days we shared in the small dorm room in Elite.


    When we finally parted, she still looked as ethereal as ever. Meanwhile, I probably looked like a mess.


    “Stay,” she muttered.


    “You need to stay, please. We have a lot to talk about.”