ALPHA BENEDICT'S OBSESSION

UNRAVELING THREADS

❤️~CHAPTER 20~❤️

The cool night air did little to soothe the burning frustration twisting in Amelia’s chest as she practically fled the venue. She couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Never in a million years did she expect Damien’s father—a powerful, commanding Alpha—to drop a bombshell like that in front of everyone. “I truly wish you were my daughter-in-law.” The words echoed in her mind, making her jaw clench. It was highly unprofessional, completely unexpected, and entirely chaotic.

But as she threw her keys onto the kitchen counter of her apartment, Amelia took a deep, centering breath. She forced herself to calm down. She didn't need to put her mind on it. She couldn't afford the distraction. Besides, the romantic expectations of Alpha fathers were the least of her concerns. The truth was much simpler, and much colder: she didn't believe she would ever love again. She might absolutely despise Benedict for the betrayal and pain he had put her through, but the wreckage of that bond had left a permanent scar. She didn’t think she could ever like another guy, let alone open her heart up to the complicated world of mates and relationships again. Her career was her only safe haven.

Determined to drown out her thoughts, Amelia immediately dove into her work. She spread her sketches across the large drafting table, pinning up fabric swatches and architectural layouts of the gala hall. The event for Damien’s father was massive, and the three-week deadline was a ticking clock. As she mapped out the runway flow, a sudden realization hit her—she needed more models. The scale of this gala required a much larger presentation than Sophia’s birthday party. She grabbed her notepad, furiously drafting audition schedules and reaching out to local agencies.

By the time the clock on the wall chimed 12:00 AM, her eyes were burning from the harsh glare of her desk lamp. Suddenly, the quiet hum of her apartment was broken by the ringing of her phone. It was Damien.

Before she could even ask what he wanted, a soft knock sounded at her front door. She answered it to find Damien standing on the threshold, holding a paper bag that wafted the rich, comforting scent of her favorite late-night takeout.

"I figured you'd be up working, and I knew you probably forgot to eat," Damien said, his eyes filled with a mixture of exhaustion and deep regret. He walked in, setting the food on the table, before turning to face her fully. "Amelia, I am so incredibly sorry. For what my dad said tonight... it was completely out of line. I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable or pressured, and I've been kicking myself the whole drive over here."

Amelia looked at him, seeing the genuine panic in her best friend's eyes. She offered a soft, reassuring smile, unpacking the dinner container. "Damien, breathe. It’s fine. I honestly didn't think much of it. Your dad was probably just excited about how well the party went, or maybe he had a glass of wine too many. You don't need to apologize for him."

Damien let out a breath he seemed to have been holding since the party, nodding quietly. But as he watched her eat, the unsaid words hung heavily in the air between them. He was relieved she wasn't angry, yet a small, hidden part of him wished his father's words hadn't been brushed off so easily.

Meanwhile, across the city, a very different kind of tension was brewing.

Benedict sat in his dimly lit study, staring intensely at the heavy, gold-embossed card resting on his desk. It was an exclusive VIP invitation to the upcoming high-society Alpha Gala—the very event Amelia was currently losing sleep over. Unbeknownst to him, his ex-mate was the mastermind behind the entire evening. He had no idea that her creative vision would be fueling the night, or that she had signed a contract with the city's most powerful families.

Benedict leaned back in his chair, his fingers tracing the elegant lettering of the invitation. It had been months, but the phantom ache in his chest hadn't faded. Despite everything that had fallen apart, despite the anger and the distance, he still felt something deep and undeniable for her. The mate bond was a stubborn, agonizing thing, refusing to let him move on.

A dark, determined look crossed Benedict's face as he flipped the invitation over. He was going to attend this gala. He needed to be in that room, unaware that the universe was setting a stage that would bring him face-to-face with the woman he lost—and the man who was waiting in the shadows to take his place.