Chapter 45: Chapter 45

Mink’s P.O.V

As I approached the soldier, my heart raced with anticipation. The letter in his hand was crucial, a message that could change the course of our pack's future. But the stain of blood on it made my stomach churn with unease.

"I'll take that letter, Abhijeet." I said, extending my hand.

Just as the soldier began to hand it over, a voice cut through the air. "Hold on a moment," Abhay said, striding towards us with purpose.

"I'll be taking that letter instead."

I frowned, confused, knitting my brows together. "Abhay, what are you doing?" I asked, my tone tinged with irritation. "This is pack business."

Abhay's jaw tightened, but he didn't falter. "I know," he replied cryptically, reaching for the letter. “But I think it’s better if I read it first, just in case.”

Abhay took the letter from Abhijeet’s hands and he excused himself, rushing out quickly and leaving only the three of us alone in the office. Since there was no one else to witness what was going on, I turned to Abhay sharply.

“Just in case?” I asked incredulously, my temper spiking so suddenly that I didn’t have time to compose myself. “Abhay, I think I made it clear that the letter is pack matter! You are human, Abhay, you’re not even a real pack member! Is this because of your male ego that you suddenly want to intervene in my matters?”

Ruksaar stepped forward immediately. "Let's not jump to conclusions, Mink," she said, placing a calming hand on my arm. "There may be a valid explanation. Let Abhay talk first-"

But I couldn't shake the anger bubbling inside me as I cut her off. "Valid explanation or not, he's overstepping his bounds," I retorted, pulling away from Ruksaar's touch.

Abhay's gaze met mine, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. "Mikalya, I didn’t mean it in that sense." He tried to plead with me but with the letter still in his hands, I refused to listen to any excuses.

I clenched my fists, frustration coursing through me. "I won't let you take it without an explanation," I insisted, standing my ground. “Tell me now, Abhay. Why did you take it?”

Ruksaar sighed softly beside me, her voice gentle as she tried to coax me into calming down. "Mink, perhaps we should hear him out before jumping to conclusions."

But I was done waiting. "No, Ruksaar," I said firmly, turning back to Abhay. "I want answers now. Why do you want the letter? Is it because we are mates that you think you can try to assert some kind of dominance over me," I snapped, unable to hold my tongue. “You can’t stand the fact that a woman is more powerful than you, isn’t it? That’s why you’re trying to show my packmates who the real Alpha is?”

Absolute silence descended in the room as I finished speaking…realizing the gravity of my words only after I had spoken. A hint of hurt and betrayal crossed Abhay’s features as he looked at me, and it was only then that the full impact of my words hit me.

Abhay's voice wavered slightly as he spoke, his tone soft yet full of hurt. "Is that what you really think of me, Mink? That I'm the kind of man who would want to take over your position, even though I'm human?"

I remained silent, unable to form a coherent reply.

He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "Mink, I've supported you through everything. I've loved you regardless of who you are, regardless of everything. I left my house, my family, my job…I left everything I knew for you," he paused, his voice choked with emotion. "And you still think I want to assert some kind of dominance over you?"

The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, and I felt a lump form in my throat. "Abhay, I'm…I…”

He simply shook his head, and just turned and started to walk away, the letter slipping from his hand to land on the cold stone floor. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the silence, each step a painful reminder of the rift that had formed between us.

As he disappeared from view, I sank onto the couch, feeling the weight of my words crushing me. How could I have been so blind, so foolish? Abhay had given up everything for me, and here I was, questioning his motives, his love.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I replayed our conversation in my mind, each word a dagger to my heart. I had hurt him, wounded him with my doubts and insecurities and now, as I sat there, I realized just how much I had to make up for.

"Ruksaar, what did I just do?" I asked, my voice tinged with anxiety. "I feel like I just snapped at Abhay for no reason. What…why…why would I do that?"

Ruksaar looked at me with a sympathetic gaze, her expression softening with understanding.

"Mink, it's okay. I think it's just the pregnancy hormones playing tricks on you," she reassured me gently. "You've been under a lot of stress lately, and it's perfectly normal to feel a little overwhelmed."

I let out a sigh of relief, grateful for Ruksaar's calming presence. "But still, I shouldn't have lashed out at Abhay like that," I admitted, feeling a pang of remorse gnawing at my conscience.

"He doesn't deserve to bear the brunt of my mood swings."

Ruksaar nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with empathy. "You're right, Mink. Abhay cares about you deeply, and he's just worried about your well-being, especially now that you're carrying his child," she pointed out gently.

"I'm sure he was concerned when he saw the blood on the envelope that soldier had been carrying. Pregnancy can make us more sensitive to these things, and it's understandable that he'd be worried about stressing you."

I felt a knot form in my stomach as guilt washed over me. "I didn't even think about how he must have felt," I confessed, feeling a pang of shame for my thoughtlessness. "I've been so wrapped up in my own emotions that I didn't consider how my actions might affect him."

Ruksaar placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, offering me a reassuring smile. "Don't be too hard on yourself, Mink. We all have moments where our emotions get the better of us," she said softly.

"The important thing is that you recognize it and try to make amends."

I nodded, feeling a sense of determination welling up inside me. "You're right, Ruksaar. I need to apologize to Abhay and make things right," I resolved, my voice tinged with determination. "He deserves an explanation for my behavior, and I owe him that much."

Ruksaar squeezed my shoulder gently, her gaze filled with pride. "I'm proud of you, Mink. It takes courage to admit when we're wrong and take steps to make things right," she said, her voice filled with warmth. "I'm sure Abhay will understand, and your relationship will be stronger for it."

With Ruksaar's encouragement, I felt a newfound sense of resolve coursing through me. I knew that apologizing to Abhay wouldn't erase my mistake, but it was the first step towards repairing the damage I had done. I felt confident that I could make things right and mend the rift I had unintentionally created with my mate.

However, the letter, crumpled and discarded on the ground, held answers we desperately needed. With a deep breath, I nodded at Ruksaar, silently urging her to pick it up and reveal its contents.

"Go ahead, Ruksaar," I encouraged, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me. "Read it aloud."

Ruksaar hesitated for a moment, her fingers trembling slightly as she reached for the envelope. She knew as well as I did that whatever was written inside could change everything for us. But she was brave, always willing to face challenges head-on.

As she unfolded the paper and cleared her throat, I could feel the tension in the air thickening. "Are you sure about this, Mink?" Ruksaar asked softly, her gaze searching mine for reassurance.

I met her eyes with determination, my resolve unwavering. "Yes, I'm sure," I replied firmly. "We need to know what it says. We need to know who killed Akram."

"So, you’re not going after Abhay first?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I took a moment to gather my thoughts before I came to my conclusion. "No," I replied finally, my voice firm with conviction. "I will go after him, rest assured. But first, I must fulfill my duty as Alpha. The safety of my pack comes first, even before my duties as a mate."

Ruksaar nodded in understanding, her support unwavering. "Of course," she said, her voice filled with respect.

"Then let's find out what this letter has to say," she said, determination shining in her eyes.