We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 147

Ian’s gaze was drawn to the small, pure white face of a girl who was humming a tune and smiling pleasantly. Monica and Alex, who were standing behind Ian and had been about to disembark, also looked at the girl.

Before Ian could even fully grasp the source of the pleasant feeling he was experiencing, Monica stepped forward.

“Aunt, do you know where this place is?”

Ian, sensing a strangely antagonistic tone, looked at Monica’s back with a puzzled expression. At that moment, a small voice reached his ear.

“I came here to play with you…”

The timid voice sounded so cute that Ian couldn’t help but smile softly. Perhaps the innocence in the words of a child who seemed to be around Monica’s age made her seem even more endearing.

However, it seemed that this thought was only Ian’s.

Monica openly laughed at the girl’s response, and Alex, sounding threatening, exclaimed,

“Hah! What did you just say?”

Why were they so displeased? Alex often showed aggression towards those weaker than himself. Although Ian disliked seeing this, he had ignored it as long as it didn’t directly affect him.

But now, it was quite irritating. Ian made a displeased face, and at the same time, his pheromones began to spread. It was difficult for him to control them when he was younger, and they would often leak out depending on his emotions.

At that moment, the fairy-like girl looked directly at him. Her gaze, intense and direct, seemed to resemble his mother’s in a strange way, making it feel oddly familiar.

Her violet eyes, which stared persistently, shone even more brightly under the sunlight. Not wanting to shift her gaze to anyone else, Ian continued to stare back for a long while.

Then, as if realizing something, the girl shivered slightly and wrapped her arms around herself. His gaze fell on the outdated choker she was wearing.

For some unknown reason, the choker seemed strangely bothersome, and as Ian squinted at it, Monica spoke up with a voice that oozed overly deliberate kindness.

“Aunt, have you ever ridden a boat like that?”

Ian knew that Monica’s supposed kindness often masked a lack of genuine quality. But it wasn’t just her; he was aware that others could be the same.

Noble families, in fact, often hide their true feelings behind a mask of politeness, and most noblewomen pretend to be kind to conceal their true emotions.

“No.”

“Then, would you like to try?”

Melissa’s willing nod made Ian feel a bit frustrated. Was she simply naïve or just foolish?

Nevertheless, Ian couldn’t take his eyes away from her innocent, bright smile as he watched her board the boat.

Even her hesitant, awkward demeanor seemed adorable to him, but things started to take an odd turn. As Ian had suspected, Monica had intended to be mischievous and put Melissa on the boat.

However, seeing her in distress also appeared cute, which made Ian momentarily self-reflect. In retrospect, he was just a clumsy alpha, unsure of how to act around an omega. It could be that he simply enjoyed everything she did.

When Melissa struggled and eventually fell into the water, Ian jumped in without hesitation. It was an instinctive move. His body screamed that an alpha must protect an omega.

After saving Melissa, he understood for certain that she was indeed an omega.

However, he never revealed Melissa’s true nature to others. He kept silent not only to betas but also to other alphas.

Perhaps it was instinct. There was no need to reveal an omega, whose numbers were dwindling and being desperately sought after, to anyone.

But what if he did it because he didn’t want to lose Melissa to another alpha? What if he regularly visited County Rosewood under the pretense of meeting Monica?

Like a wolf lurking for a hunting opportunity, he created various excuses to stay close to Melissa. He noticed every detail, from her outdated clothing and melancholic expression to her occasionally reddened eyes.

When the opportunity finally arose to claim her, he pushed forward without hesitation. When she unexpectedly emerged in front of the carriage with a pale face, even he, who was rarely surprised, was taken aback. Of course, he never showed his emotions, as he had been harshly taught to do so from a young age.

Despite persistently hovering around Melissa, Ian was too clueless to recognize his own feelings. He was internally shouting in frustration at being around an omega.

Despite this, he brought Melissa into his home, and even after doing so, he made various excuses to prove that he didn’t harbor any feelings for her.

It was like a clumsy first love from his inexperienced youth.

He hadn’t even recognized that he had imprinted on her.

Even more foolishly, he only realized it after pushing Melissa away. He had missed the signs of imprinting that were evident if he had only paid a little attention.

From the way her potent pheromones flowed more intensely towards him, to the fact that he was able to find her during her heat cycle alone in the annex. Most of all, his obsessive behavior towards her, it was clear that he had imprinted.

Yet, why was it that she had to suffer the consequences of ignoring his instincts, instead of him?

He recalled Melissa, with a pale face, confessing her imprinting. He remembered her shyly saying that she loved him, her sweet moans under him, her serene expression as she looked at him, and her warm greeting from the balcony.

Various versions of Melissa surrounded him. They all spoke simultaneously.

‘You made me die!’

The resentment-filled purple eyes tightened around his throat. Ian’s face went pale as he opened his eyes.

“Huwaahh!”

“Your Grace!”

“Aaaahh!”

Overcome with a splitting headache, Ian screamed and threw everything within reach. His violent energy made those around him slowly step back.