Alle Kapitel von Not His Destiny : Kapitel 1 – Kapitel 10

Planning a wedding is exhausting. Planning the same wedding ten times is downright disabling, but still I do it with joy and hope in my heart. Just like the first, third, eighth time already, I truly believe this is the time when Dante and I will get married. It's been four years since we decided to get married and each time, one reason or another surfaces to cancel, postpone, or simply forget.But I won't give up. I know eventually, I’ll win over his pack. They hated me in the beginning because I am a rogue wolf, which is the usual attitude toward rogue wolves. They don't want their alpha having anything to do with me, especially since they were banking on him meeting his fated mate. But Dante is already past thirty and once a wolf passes that age, finding their fated one becomes wishful thinking.Hardly anyone waits to find their fated mate once they pass twenty-one. I didn't. I didn't even hope to find someone willing to marry a rogue wolf like me and take in my family, until Dant

I sigh, too tired to deal with my mom’s paranoia. “Look, just go back upstairs. I’ll handle dinner.”“No, you’re tired,” she says, already shifting toward the fridge, ready to pull out the things we need for dinner.I catch her by the shoulder. “I’m serious, mamá. Please go upstairs. Where are Lia and Elvira?” I glance out through the kitchen doorway. They should’ve been back from school by now.“They’re upstairs. I’ll check on them,” she says grudgingly. Then leans in, lowering her voice. “Be vigilant. Don’t let yourself be kicked out, Cici.”“Hm.” I force a tight smile, exhausted with it all. “Just make sure they’re up there.”She nods, eyes darting around the room like she expects danger to jump out of the walls, then finally leaves.My shoulders sag in relief. I press my fingers to my temple, feeling frayed down to the bone. Where the hell did she even get that idea? Usually her fears were about devils, demons, unseen things stalking us in the dark. Dante cheating? That’s ridiculo

I go through the day the way I always do. Cook, clean, give the downstairs bathroom a deep scrub this time, get everything ready for the early market, then head up to the attic to wake my sisters for school.“You’re going to be late,” I hear myself say when Elvira grumbles under the blankets. Lia is already sitting up in bed, rubbing her eyes. The bed next to hers is empty.“Where’s Mom?” I ask, my heart instantly jumping out of my chest.Lia twists around sharply, then turns wide blue eyes on me.“Elvira, where’s Mom?” I try not to raise my voice. Celeste and Andre will chew my ears off if I wake them with any noise.Elvira sits up straight, stares at the empty bed, and slowly shakes her head.Oh God. No. Don’t tell me.A hard ball of frustration rises in my throat, and it takes more effort than usual to force it back down. “Let’s find her,” I say, turning toward the door.My sisters fumble into their clothes while I’m already flying down the stairs. I haven’t even showered yet. I ne

Sales today are slow. I stare at a full pot of paella, it has never been like this. In the first four hours of opening, my pot is usually half empty, and during rush hour, it’s empty, customers complaining as they wait. But not today. Six hours in, and my pot is still full. I have never sold overnight paella since opening this restaurant. I’ll have to either give it all away or throw it out. It hurts my heart just thinking about it, so much food, so much money, going to waste.The door chime rings, and hope fills my heart. I step out from behind the counter and stop. The most beautiful woman I have ever seen is standing there. Her hair is so golden it looks like the sun has followed her inside. A foreigner, she is stunning."Hi," she says, waving. My brain reminds me to invite her in, get her a seat. The narrow store is empty."Good afternoon," I smile back. "Welcome to La Rosa. Please, have a seat." I guide her to the best spot in the store, right by the window where the sunlight h

Walking home clears my head a little, giving me time to figure out what the hell I’m supposed to say to Dante. There’s no escaping this conversation. I wish there was. But the truth is, I know exactly what a fated mate means to the Red Fang clan.They once told me I couldn’t marry Dante because I’m not fated to him, that my marriage to him would bring calamity down on the pack. They said I had to complete a ritual for forty days.And I did it.I dragged myself through that hellish, humiliating ritual that was obviously designed by Celeste to chase me away. I swallowed every insult, endured every snide comment, and laughter. I did everything. Everything just to be with him.Dante wouldn’t just… he wouldn’t just throw me away because of his fated mate, would he?I let out a breath when the house comes into view. I already know what’s waiting inside. Celeste with that smug look on her face, thrilled she stalled our wedding long enough for Dante to find his mate. Andre beside her, adding