Wrong Way, Wrong Mate Chapter 10

glass doors at the rear entrance.

Paxton has lost a considerable amount of weight, and his eyes are bloodshot.

He looks at me, his voice so hoarse that he can barely speak.

“Willow.”

I stop and look at them calmly, giving them a polite nod.

“Alpha Paxton. Alpha Zane. Alpha Nathan.”

Those distant, formal titles drain the color from their faces.

I no longer call them my brothers, and I no longer address Nathan with the affection I once reserved for him.

With trembling hands, Paxton pulls the old compass from his pocket and carefully holds it out to me.

“I was wrong. I know I was wrong.”

“Please take it back. From now on… from now on, I’ll be the one to show you the way, okay?”

I look at the compass but make no move to take it.

“I know how to read a map now.”

“And if I really can’t find my way, I’ll ask someone who’s actually willing to give me an honest answer.”

Nathan’s eyes are frighteningly red. He takes a step forward, his voice thick with desperation.

“Willow, I promised I’d protect you. Can you give me one chance to start over?”

I look at him, my expression and voice remaining perfectly calm.

“You did protect me once. I remember that. But I also remember how you hurt me later for someone else.”

“Nathan, some wrong turns take you so far off course that you can never find your way back.”

Just then, a black SUV pulls up to the curb.

Mom pushes open the door, clutching an elegant gift box tightly against her chest.

She hurries toward me, tears spilling down her cheeks.

“Willow, I bought you a new white dress. It’s exactly like the one you had before.”

“Please, just try it on, okay? Come home with me.”

I look at the gift box and gently shake my head.

“I don’t like dresses like that anymore.”

Then I turn and walk toward the car my teammates have arranged for us.

As the door closes, one of my teammates smiles and asks, “Willow, do you want us to set up the GPS for you?”

I gaze out the window at the streets sliding past and smile softly.

“No need. This time, I know exactly where I’m going.”

The car merges into traffic, leaving them far behind.

The girl who once dragged her suitcase around on the first day of school, trapped by a location pin that led her to the wrong place, has finally arrived somewhere that truly belongs to her.