Chapter 24 Alpha, Wait


    Henry’s Pov


    When I noticed Aubrey staring at me. I frowned and pulled away, snapping impatiently. “I’m fe


    I turned my streistion back to Sant, lying on the floor, and asked with clear irritation, “Why did you go after Vivian? What grudge do you have against her?”


    Saul trembled violently on the ground, stammering, “She we’re from the same vige. But the made it big and never looked back… not even once.”


    That’s it? I almostughed out loud. The Shadowmoon Pack allocated enough schrship funds to poor regions every year to buy out half the city. And this lunatic killed someone over something like that?


    “Send him to werewolf enforcement. And get an ambnce,” I ordered.


    “Yes. Alpha?”


    Once Saul had been taken care of, I went inside to check on Vivian.


    There was a hidden room in the apartment, and that’s where Vivian was. Her face was pale and she was unconscious. She’d been tied up with silverced ropes, and cuts covered her body. Traces of silver still lingered in her wounds, making it impossible for them to close or heal. Blood kept seeping from her skin in slow, steady drips.


    I narrowed my eyes. If I hadn’t followed Aubrey upstairs today, Vivian would’ve been dead by tomorrow.


    Aubrey… what was her rtionship with Vivian? How did she know the killer? And why had shepletely changed–like a whole new person?


    I wasn’t curious because I cared. I was concerned that whatever change she’d gone through might hurt my mother. That–I would never allow.


    Just then, Aubrey walked over. When she saw Vivian was still alive, she let out a breath of relief.


    Then she looked at me, hesitated, and asked, “Alpha, do you want me to bandage you…”


    “No need,” I said coolly, turning away.


    But Callen clicked his tongue in my mind. “You don’t seem to hate her that much. How’d it feel, ying the hero?”


    “Shut up“, I told him. “I only saved her because I’m the Alpha. I won’t let anyone in my pack get hurt in front of me.”


    Aubrey’s <i>POV</i>:


    The way Henry turned his back–like he was brushing off something filthy.


    E whimpered in my head. <i>He </i><i>looked </i><i>so </i><i>cool </i>when he <i>saved </i><i>you</i><i>…</i>,


    Great. My wolf’s a hopeless romantic, and my fated mate’s a jerk.


    Even though I’d already made up my mind to let go of Alpha Henry, I couldn’t deny it–after learning he was my fated mate, my heart still wavered.


    <b>15:50 </b>Sat<b>, </b><b>9 </b>Aug


    Chapter 24 Alpha, Walt


    And he did just save me.


    But then, he went right back to being cold–and it crushed every ounce of hesitation.


    +8 Pearls


    A sharp ache spread through my chest. <i>I </i>must <i>be </i><i>insane </i><i>to </i><i>care </i>whether <i>Alpha </i><i>Henry </i>lives or dies. He was an Alpha. That wound would heal in no time. He didn’t need my concern.


    Soon, two enforcement officers arrived to take over. Since Vivian was Alpha Henry’s chief secretary, he went to the werewolf enforcement station too. Our broken engagement hadn’t been announced yet, so with him around, I received unusually good treatment the entire way.


    On the road, I used my link to contact Charles. When we got to the station, he was already there. I handed him back his wallet.


    Charles hesitated, then asked with a conflicted expression, “Are you sure you had nothing to do with this?”


    I understood instantly–he still suspected me. I looked straight at him and replied,


    “Come talk to me when you’ve learned how to stop being biased.”


    Charles frowned. In the hallway, he raised his voice. “This has nothing to do with bias. It’s a logical conclusion. If you weren’t involved, how could you know exactly where the killer was?”


    Logical?


    I almostughed. I took a step closer and lowered my voice. “Then why don’t you ask the killer first, before using me? Officer?”


    With that, I turned and headed off to give my statement. But when I walked into the room, Alpha Henry was already there. The officer hadn’t arrived yet. It was just the two of us in the room.


    The atmosphere instantly turned heavy, suffocating. Even E went quiet.


    I turned my head and saw that Henry’s arm was nearly healed–just a shallow scar left. It wouldn’t be long before even that fadedpletely. That’s the regeneration of an Alpha–powerful enough to make your teeth ache.


    Maybe he felt my stare, because Alpha Henry suddenly stood up and headed for the door. Clearly, he had no intention of staying for the statement. And who would dare stop him?


    “Wait, Alpha.”


    I called out to him.


    I thought he wouldn’t stop–but at the door, Alpha Henry paused. He didn’t turn around, just stood there with his back to me.


    I pressed my lips together, then said calmly, “Alpha, I know you can’t stand me. But please, give me just a few minutes to say what I need to say. After that, just like you want–once everything’s been said, I swear I won’t bother you again.”


    There were some things I’d been holding in for too long. Even if I was truly ready to let go, I needed to ask them–just once.