<b>Chapter </b><b>59 </b>


    Amber’s POV


    Before I knew it, two weeks went by without hearing anything from Julian.


    <b>ás </b>


    Perhaps I had been too harsh in using him of harassing me. That hadn’t truly been the case. I just never knew how to react when he had been around, as my feelings from the past mixed with my hurt and jealousy. Despite the time that had passed from when I had left him to now, everything still felt raw, like it had just happened.


    I had wanted him out of my life, and I still did. Or at least, I was telling myself I did.


    Yet that didn’t mean I felt no hurt now that he was gone.


    Instead, I felt… empty. Like a piece of me was missing.


    It was infuriating. After all he had done, and all he continued to do, I should be celebrating his absence from my life, not mourning it. Everything was so much simpler now I didn’t have to worry about him or my feelings. <b>I </b>could just focus on Alice.


    Still though… with each passing day, my heart grew heavy.


    I’d still see him on the news, of course, so I knew he was well. More and more, it seemed as if Olivia was on his


    arm.


    Together, they seemed to be making the highlight reel of every news show, and their faces adorned every magazine cover in the checkout line at the grocery store.


    There were photos of them at events together, Olivia’s armced through Julian’s as he wore a sharp tux and she a revealing gown. But there were intimate photos too, and those cut into me the worst.


    Like the two of them at the beach, both in their swimsuits, standing side by side among the waves.


    There was another, with Julian sitting in a lounge chair, Olivia sat on the armrest, pushing her fingers through Julian’s damp hair.


    The headlines were just as terrible and heartbreaking.


    Alpha Julian and Olivia’s Love Rekindled!


    What’s Next for the Lovebirds? Do I Hear Wedding Bells?


    Ten Reasons Why Olivia Will Make a Great Luna!


    The past few weeks, while Julian’s behavior had been confusing, tangling me up inside, it had shown that he at least still cared for me in some capacity.


    I still could feel the phantom touch of his hand on the small of my back while he held me so closely during our dance. I thought I might feel that touch forever.


    The headlines would be worse if Alice was with me. I wasn‘ sure how much she could understand about what <b>was </b>happening with Roman, Julian, Olivia, and me, but seeing the pictures of Julian and Olivia seemed to make her


    sad.


    “He was supposed to be my Daddy…” she said to herself.


    I had no idea how to properly console her, though I tried.


    At the end of the long days though, I didn’t know who would be there to console me<b>. </b>


    Julian may have seemed like he cared for me these past few weeks, but the truth was clear in the photos.


    As much as he may or may not have cared for me, he always cared for Olivia more.


    I told myself again and again, this was what I wanted. I wanted to be left alone. He and Olivia could have each other for all I cared.


    Yet… that wasn’t the truth… Deep down I knew that. My wolf did too, though I could feel her restraint in pointing it out. Anna hadn’t been quite as subtle, though when I talked to her, she said, “He never deserved you, Amber. Now you are free to find someone who will.”


    I wished things could be that simple. What if I could meet another man who could sweep me right off my feet?


    Instead, my heart just mourned, missing Julian.


    Foolish, foolish heart.


    Julian’s POV


    “Is she doing well?” I asked Beta during our daily meeting. At the end of every meeting for the past two weeks, he had given me an update on Amber. Today was no exception


    “Things have been busy at the hospital,” Beta said. “But she has always managed to satisfy her patients and leave on time.”


    “She seems like she has everything she needs?” I asked.


    “I believe so, Alpha.”


    Good. That was good. Even though I was devastated by the truth about Alice not being my child, I still cared about Amber and Alice. If there was anything in the whole world that they needed, I wanted to be there to give it to them, whether they knew that gift was from me or not.


    Now came the dreaded question. I braced myself for it. “And Roman?”


    <b>“</b>To my knowledge, there has been no contact,” Beta said.


    That meant publically. They could still be talking on the phone. I wanted to have Amber checked in on to make sure she was alright, but I wasn’t going to wire her phone. She still deserved her privacy, whether she had cheated on me in the past or not. We weren’t together now.


    She’d probably think I was overstepping just by keeping tabs on her. Maybe I was, but I couldn’t help myself. I needed to make sure she was okay.


    She would definitely disapprove of the times I drove by her house, just to feel close to her. I never stayed, always just driving by, only before and after work.


    I’d never disturb her, but there had been times when I wish I could stop and talk to her, to clear the air between us and set things right.


    But everything felt so messy anymore. Could we fix the things between us, even if we tried? And what would that even look like?


    Maybe it was for the best if we both moved on.


    Maybe if I finally signed those divorce papers, giving Amber her freedom…


    Would she be happy?


    “Roman returned to his own pack recently,” Beta continued. “I’ve been keeping an eye on the airline records, but


    there’s no indication he has ns to return at this moment


    “But he hasn’t rescinded the engagement?” I asked.


    “No, Alpha,” Beta said. “Nor has Amber. And neither are answering any questions the reporters have been asking them about it.”


    Thatst part didn’t totally surprise me. Whatever Amber was thinking, she was keeping it to herself. She’d always been a private person<b>, </b>though that had partially been my fault. When we’d been together, I never gave her much choice otherwise.


    Sighing, I realized there wasn’t much <b>of </b>anything I could do right now.


    “Is that all?” I asked.


    “That’s all,” he said.


    Nodding, I stood up from my desk. I had a meeting with the elders in ten minutes and figured that I had better get a head start on the way over there.


    Just as I stepped outside my office, though, I heard amotion.


    “Alpha!” one of the assistants called as she ran to me. “Ohe quickly!”


    “What is it?” I asked, already moving to follow her. “What’s wrong?”


    “It’s Elder Jeffers, Alpha,” she said. “He’s copsed!”


    I followed her with haste down the hallways toward the meeting room. There, Elder Jeffers was slumped over in his chair. He was barely breathing.


    “Call emergency,” I said, taking charge at once. “This man needs a Healer.”


    He didn’t just need a Healer. He needed the best Healer there was.


    Healer Amanda<i>. </i>