“Missing. And that’s the part that scares me.” His voice had gone low. “You need to be on guard, Alpha. Check every corner of Nivelle. I’ll handle things here.”
“Does my dad know?”
“Yeah. Yours and mine. They wanted to fly out immediately. I told them not to. But they sent Jim and a few men your way on the jet. Should be landing soon.”
“Alright.”
“Be careful, Alpha.”
That was it. That was all it took for the fear to hit.
I couldn’t think. Couldn’t focus on anything. My hands were shaking, and my chest felt too tight. I couldn’t sit in that fucking office knowing she might still be out there. I had to see Anna. I had to make sure she was safe.
I could’ve told her. I should’ve maybe. But what good would that have done? She already had enough on her plate, exams, stress, trying to get her life back to normal after everything. I wasn’t about to dump more burden on her not when I could carry it for both of us.
>
So I went to the library.
And the second I saw her, sitting there with her hair falling over her shoulder, her eyes lighting up when she looked at me, it was like someone finally let me breathe again.
And I lost it.
I had to touch her. Feel her. Remind myself she was here. Mine. Alive. Real.
Was it stupid? Yeah. Reckless? Definitely. But at that moment, I didn’t care. I just needed her.
Afterward, I told her I was heading back to work. That was a lie. I didn’t go anywhere. I stayed right outside the library. Sat there watching, waiting. I’d already called Jim earlier to have a few men stationed around. The place was under silent surveillance for hours.
At seven, I sent her a text saying I was outside.
But she didn’t reply.
Didn’t come out either.
I could still see her through the glass. She was with Sasha, both of them packing up. Then Sasha stood, said something, and walked off.
I waited.
Five minutes.
Ten.
Still no Sasha.
Then Anna left. Alone.
That was when the dread hit me like a fucking truck.
I don’t even remember getting out of the car. One second I was sitting there, the next I was already running. My heart was pounding so hard I couldn’t even hear straight. I don’t know how long I ran before I saw Sasha coming from the side of the building.
She looked terrified, a streak of blood down her neck. When she saw me, she started crying, gasping Anna’s name.
That was it. I lost it completely.
That kind of fear, the one that feels like someone’s hand is wrapped tight around your throat and squeezing till you can’t breathe, that’s what hit me.
And now, standing here watching them carry Sophie’s dead body out, I should’ve felt relief. Maybe even peace.
But I didn’t.
All I felt was this heavy, burning weight sitting right in the middle of my chest.
Because Anna almost didn’t make it.
Because Sasha almost didn’t either.
Because if anything had happened to Sasha, Chris would never forgive me.
And if anything had happened to Anna… I wouldn’t forgive myself. Ever.
“Jim,” I said finally, my voice flat. “Take care of the rest.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
I turned toward Anna, she looked way too exhausted. I reached out and pulled her into my arms, holding her tight, like letting go might make her disappear.
“Come on, baby,” I whispered, brushing my fingers through her hair. “Let’s go home.”
She just nodded against my chest. Didn’t say a word.
I looked over at Sasha. She was standing a few feet away from us, arms wrapped tightly around herself, her face pale and shaken. Her eyes were distant, blank, like she was still trying to process everything that had just happened.
“Sasha,” I said softly, “I’ll drop you off at Chris’s, alright?”
She nodded, her lips trembling but no words came out.
I helped them into the passenger seat, shut the door softly, then walked around and got behind the wheel.
Nobody said a thing, and honestly, I didn’t need them to.
They were safe. That was all I gave a damn about right now.
ANNA’S POV
“Will you marry me, Anna?”
“Ryan…” I gasped, my voice catching a little. I blinked at him, caught completely off guard. My heart stuttered in my chest, my eyes wide as they dropped to the little velvet box in his hand and the ring sparkling inside it. I hadn’t expected this. Not here. Especially not when we were standing in front of my parents’ grave.
Ryan held the ring out with a soft smile, his eyes fixed on mine, steady and full of love.
I’d never been here before. Not even once. And it wasn’t because I didn’t care or didn’t love them-God, I did. I just couldn’t face it. I was scared… terrified, actually. Scared of seeing their names carved into stone. Scared of what it would stir up inside me. So for seventeen years, I stayed away, always telling myself I wasn’t ready.
But after everything that had happened, after Sophie’s death, after George’s downfall, after those endless letters from the European Council demanding answers and decisions, I don’t know… something in me finally knew it was time. To see my parents. I needed answers. I needed to hear from them, even if it was just silence carved into marble.”
So when Ryan asked where I wanted to go to celebrate finishing my exams, the words slipped out before I even thought them through. “My parents’ grave.” And he didn’t question it. He just gave me this quiet nod, like he already understood, and told me to get ready.
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