Chapter 53 Fifty two

Chapter 53 Fifty two
Howard.

"You're discharged?" I inquired in amazement, but Miles didn't appear pleased, and I couldn't bring myself to care about his discontent.

"I am," he replied, his gaze sweeping around the lobby. "I was told Nora is here," he stated, and I had half a mind to tell him she wasn't, but I had promised Nora that I wouldn't cause trouble for Miles anymore.

"She is," I responded tersely. "Where?" he asked, and I felt an irrational urge to punch him in the throat. "She's in my office. Excuse me," I said and briskly brushed past him, leaving the building. I wanted to go back and find out what he wanted, but I forced myself to restrain that impulse.

I reached the car, claimed the keys from the driver, and got in. As I sat in the car, I closed my eyes, but all I could see were visions of Nora with the guy who claimed to be her stepbrother. I growled, wondering why I hadn't broken his jaw again. 

My hands clenched the steering wheel, turning my knuckles white. Gazing back at the office building, all I could imagine was Miles kissing Nora. I briskly jumped out of the car and returned to the building because, if I could trust Nora around Miles, I couldn't trust him around my wife.

I stormed into the building, feeling the prying eyes and fear of the workers. I took the stairs, opting for speed over the slow elevator. Upon reaching the top floor, I found Alex waiting outside my office door with his cousin, Zack.

"Where's Nora?" I demanded, trying to maintain a facade of calm and composure, though Alex had undoubtedly sensed my anger.

"Calm down, they're just talking. She'll be out any moment," Alex reassured me, although his words only irritated me more.

"So, you're telling me to wait out here while my wife is in my office with some jerk?" I snapped angrily. Alex exchanged glances with Zack and asked him to step away. Zack nodded and hurriedly left.

I cast an angry, bloodshot glare at the door but Alex to held me back. "You'll do something you'll regret if you enter. Just leave," Alex advised, and he was probably right. However, I couldn't bring myself to follow that advice. A lump formed in my throat, painful and obstructive, and I backed away from the door.

The office door swung open, and Miles emerged, looking furious. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw me, then walked away. Nora rushed out after him, calling his name, but she paused when she noticed me. She sighed and walked away, obviously going after him.

"It's honestly not that deep," Alex said, trying to downplay the situation. I shot him a glare because I couldn't comprehend what he meant. "Yes, the boy is clearly infatuated with her, but that's not the point. She's your wife, and she chose to be with you, not him," Alex added. While I should have been relieved to hear this, Miles remained a threat as long as he was around Nora.

"He should be dismissed today. I don't want to see him in my territory ever again! He is banned!" I declared and stormed into my office. Alex followed me, appearing perplexed.

I headed to the bar and poured myself a drink, despite the early hour. "It's too early to drink... Screw it, why would you ban him from seeing his sister..." Alex began, but I cut him off with a vehement retort.

"Nora is not his sister, damn it!" I yelled loudly. Alex chuckled, and I couldn't understand why. "She has nothing to do with him; he's the one sticking his nose where it doesn't belong," I added in a calmer tone. I gazed out the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of her, but she and Miles were nowhere to be seen. I wanted to go after them, but I knew Alex wouldn't allow me to leave, and Nora probably didn't want me there either.

This was precisely why I always avoided these feelings, why I preferred solitude and refusing to love. This was why I couldn't love – because I knew I couldn't control myself. I didn't love Nora, but look at how angry and reactive I was. Imagine if I were willing to let her into my heart – I would destroy the world for her.

"Then claim her," I heard Alex say. I turned to him, bewildered. "You heard me! Stop pretending like you don't have feelings for her, Howard. You're beginning to love her; that's why you're acting this way! Stop deluding yourself into believing you're incapable of love. You have a heart, damn it!" Alex declared firmly.

I just stood there, staring at him because what he had just said seemed insane. If I loved her, I wouldn't keep pushing her away, hurting her, getting angry with her, and blaming her for everything wrong in my life. I wouldn't abandon her every time she tried to fix me. I could admit that I hated her less, that I had softened towards her over time, but I didn't love her. This wasn't love – it was a toxic situation that she was too stubborn to grasp.

If Nora were to leave me right now, I would be the happiest-depressed man ever. I would be grateful and never seek her out, never look for her.

"I don't love her, Alex," I insisted, but he laughed. "You're so messed up, Howard!" he retorted, and I simply smiled.

I dropped the glass and headed to a drawer where I kept my suits for occasions like this. "We're already late," I told him, retrieving a suit. "For what exactly? Nora still has three minutes before the meeting begins, and she can decide to add a few more minutes before sitting," Alex playfully commented.

I scoffed as I put on my white shirt. "She has better things to do, apparently," I said, and it pained me to remember that she had gone after Miles because he was upset. Hadn't she noticed my face? Hadn't she noticed that I was upset too? Why hadn't she stayed with me instead of chasing that guy? I pushed these thoughts aside and finished getting dressed.

Alex led us out to the hall, and I noticed that everyone was already seated, including Herman. He glared at me, but I ignored his threatening gaze. It was amusing how he threatened me but was too afraid to compete with me. He was obstinate but also complied with the rules. 

The meeting began, and with each passing minute, I kept looking at the door, hoping Nora would burst in, running late and apologizing, but it never happened.

"Some of these festive events are pointless in my opinion. They should be banned to avoid having strangers in our homes because it's a threat," I heard Herman say. Some agreed, while others disagreed.

"Alpha Herman," I called out, and all eyes turned toward me. "If I recall correctly, you're not from any of the packs in this region. You came from an undisclosed pack, and you met Luna Betty years ago at one of the annual festivals. Is that right?" I heard murmuring in the crowd, but I focused on Herman's response. He looked around, his brows furrowed.

"Y-yes, that's correct," he stammered. "I did not expect you to be one of the people advocating against these joyous events we have every year, especially considering that you met your late wife at one of them, and she's the reason you became the Alpha of her pack," I stated, and he shifted uncomfortably.

"I strongly disagree with banning these events because, despite not being a fan of crowds myself, I still love to see my people happy. These events bring us together and make us happy. They're the reason some of you have met your mates. Do you still wish to ban them over such a minor issue? And how can having your friendly neighbor in your home be a threat? We only get attacked when we become careless with our homes. My home was attacked by Alpha Gray, but you don't see me protesting these events."

I glanced over at Gray, who had the audacity to attend this meeting. I could have him locked up if I wanted. He slumped into his seat under the watchful gazes of others. I could sense the tension emanating from my father, but I chose to ignore it. I believed in speaking the truth, no matter how brutal or bitter it might be.

"I believe we've settled that matter where Alpha Gray explained his reasons for his actions and also compensated the pack for the damages he'd caused," my father clarified.

"Yes, and I believe my men are still held captive in Direwood pack prison," Alpha Gray chimed in.

"I am still yet to be satisfied with your reasons for attacking my home. Until then, your men will be kept here. About the festive events, I believe everyone is still on board with the events?" I asked, and the majority nodded in agreement.

We came to a conclusion afterward, and the meeting ended. Alex and I made our way back to my office.

"Smooth speech," he commented, but I only offered a small smile in response.

"I have to hand it to you, you really know how to handle these old folks. I mean, being the youngest among them and the wisest is cool," he added, but I remained silent. My mind was far from what had just transpired. All I wanted to know was where Nora was and what she was doing.

We entered my office, and I found Nora sitting in my office chair. I didn't know whether to be mad at her or to smile, but I was relieved to see her there. She stood up and approached me.

"You won," she said with a small smile. "I couldn't find the courage to enter that meeting hall," she added, her hands resting on my chest. Alex excused himself, leaving us alone, which was exactly what I had hoped for.

“I’m sorry,” she muttered. 

I placed my hands on her waist. "You didn't do anything. It was a good thing you didn't come to the meeting. It was stressful, Herman was there, and he wanted to give us all a headache," I explained to her.

She shook her head. "Not that. I know you hate Miles," she said, and my heart sank. I hated how my reaction gave away my true feelings.

"He's gone now. He was upset that I wasn't there when he was discharged, like I promised I would be. I'm a terrible person," she pouted, tilting her head. She kept avoiding my eyes, fixated on my chest.

I gently lifted her chin with my finger. "You were with your husband," I reminded her. "And he didn't die because you weren't there," I said, but she scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"Miles has always been there for me my whole life. He was there when my mother died. He was there when you were giving me a hard time..." My chest ached at the reminder of the time when I had cruelly rejected her.

She moved away from my hold. "I wish I could stop loving you, I really do," she said, then turned and walked to the desk. Leaning on it, she rested her hands and sighed. "You're really, really hurting me, Howard..." Her words were low and filled with pain.

I let out a sigh, hoping to ease the heaviness in my heart, but it persisted. "Nora..." She chuckled, interrupting me.

She stood up straight and looked at me. "It's not your fault," she said, folding her arms across her chest. "You warned me. You warned me not once, not twice," she said with a smile that I couldn't quite decipher. "I can't control what my heart wants. I can't control what the Moon Goddess has chosen for us. I can't control you."

I cautiously approached her and held her, but she turned her face away from mine. I didn't know what to say because I couldn't bring myself to lie and tell her I wanted to be with her. I simply enjoyed her company.

"I'm sorry," I blurted out, because it was better than standing there in silence.

She finally looked at me, searching my eyes, but I gave her no expression. Our moment was interrupted by the door to my office being thrown open. It was my father, and he looked furious.

"We need to talk this instant," he demanded without caring that Nora was present.

"I'll see you at home," she murmured and walked out of the room. I glared at my father for interrupting us, clearly annoyed.

"What the hell was that nonsense you pulled?" he shouted.

"What nonsense?" I asked, leaning back on the desk and folding my arms.

"Threatening Gray? Calling out Herman? Are you insane?" he yelled.

I watched him vent, staying calm and composed. "Why are you always defending the enemy?" I asked him.

"They are not enemies! You're married to Herman's stepdaughter! He's technically your father-in-law. Have some respect for the guy, goddamn it!" His reaction sparked a thought. My father was hiding something.

"I believe there's something crazy and dark that you're hiding! I will find out, and I will not hesitate to bring you to justice."