-Alex’s POV-


    I stood there, watching Amaya flee the scene, my wolf surged forward, urging me to chase after her. But I knew better. I knew I shouldn’t have been ther


    Ivan’s eyes narrowed, his gaze burning with a fierce intensity as he


    turned his attention back to me. His mask was slipping, revealing a glimmer of the darkness beneath. I almost smiled, knowing that no one could be that


    And Ivan was definitely hiding something.


    “Why won’t you leave her the fuck alone?” he snarled, his voice low and menacing.


    I met his gaze, my expression neutral, but my wolf seething beneath the surface. He must really have a death wish, I thought, to challenge me like this. I


    was lunging against the surface, eager to break free and defend me, but I kept him in check.


    Ivan’s eyes darkened, and his alpha aura hit me like a wave. It was a dark, tainted energy, one that made me question my previous assessment of him a


    Almost.


    Miranda’s voice broke through the tension, her tone tiny and fragile. “Ivan,” she whispered, her hand on his arm. “Let’s just go.”


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    She sounded like a scared little girl, her usual maniptive demeanor reced by a quivering uncertainty. I allowed myself to look at her, and she looke


    “Stay away from Amaya,” he growled, before turning and walking away, leaving me and Miranda in an awkward silence.


    I thought it was rather ironic how we were engaged, yet so distant.


    The only connection we would ever have was when I fucked her. I expected her to say something, anything, in her usual calcting manner, but she did


    It was sealed.


    I had to know what the fuck just


    happened. I needed to know what Ivan was hiding, what he was capable of. The questions swirled in my head, making my wolf restless.


    I pulled out my phone and dialed Christian’s number, my mind still reeling from the encounter with Ivan and Miranda. He answered on the first ring, his s


    I narrowed my eyes, my gaze fixed on some


    point in the distance. I had almost forgotten about ourst encounter, what with everything that had been happening, Christian had a habit of provoking m


    had taken it a little too farst time. But I wasn’t in the mood for his games right now.


    “Where are you?” I said instead of answering his question, my voice firm andmanding.


    BeelShort


    He let out an irritated sigh, the sound carrying clearly over the phone line. “Italy.”


    “Okay,” I said, my mind already racing with the logistics of getting to him.


    “Okay what?”


    “I’m on my way.


    I ended the call without another word, my mind already moving on to the next step.


    I made another call, this one to my pilot, instructing him to prepare my private jet for takeoff. Less than thirty minutester, I was boarding the ne, Rut


    I took off my suit, feeling a little more at case in my casual clothes. It was just me on the ne, which was exactly how I liked it. I couldn’t stand the air ho


    I went to the bar and poured


    myself a drink, the amber liquid glowing in the dim light of the ne. I sat down, swirling the liquid in the ss as the pilot announced it was time to take


    ss to my lips, feeling the coolness of the ss against my skin, then tipped it back, letting the liquid burn down my throat.


    As the ne lifted


    off the ground, I closed my eyes, letting the memories I tried not to remember flood my mind. Amaya’s smile, herughter, the way she used to look at m


    a pang in my chest, a familiar ache that I had


    been trying to ignore for months now. But it was no use. She had imnted herself under my skin, I tried to act like I could tear myself away from


    me but I couldn’t.


    But when I rested my head against the seat, Amaya’s face vanished, reced by another woman’s face. This woman still had a smile on her face, but it


    My mother’s.


    I was transported back to a memory from my childhood, one that I had


    long suppressed. I was eight years old, holding up a crude drawing for her to see. “What is this?” she asked, her voice gentle, butced with


    a hint of wariness.


    I beamed with pride, “It’s a picture of you and me. My family.” I had drawn us the best way any eight–year–old would–


    like stick figures. But my mother’s face fell, a frown immediately growing on her face. She gently pushed my hand down, the painting going along with it,


    around nervously to see if anyone had noticed. There were some of my father’s men lurking in the background, pretending


    not to pay attention, but I knew they were watching us, watching my mother particrly, to make sure she didn’t escape.


    “Where is your father?” she whispered. I frowned, feeling a surge of anger and fear. “He’s not a part of my family. He is a monster.” My mother quickly co


    pleading. “Don’t let anyone here hear you say that, Alex. Your father is not a monster. He is just aplicated man.”


    I started to protest, but she cut me off. “No buts, Alex Please, for my sake, don’t ever say that again. To me, or to anyone.” Her beautiful eyes were


    pleading, and there was no way I could say no to her. I nodded silently, feeling a lump form in my throat. She finally smiled, and I loved it when she smile


    Then she tried to move, but winced in pain. I knew why. She hadn’t fully healed from the lesson my father had taught her for raising me to be “insolent“. I


    A lone tear slid down her face, and she opened her mouth to talk, but before she could say a word, a shadow fell above the two of us, and we


    10:23 Sat, 22 Jun 201


    both looked up to see a man with a stony expression standing over us. His eyes were cold, his jaw clenched, and his voice was firm andmanding. “T


    I stood up, instinctively wanting to protect her, but his voice cut in, sharp and authoritative. “Not you.” He turned his gaze to my mother, his eyes


    lingering on her face for a moment before he spoke again. “Let’s go.”


    She squeezed my hand lightly, a gentle pressure that spoke volumes. She stood up, her movements slow


    and hesitant, and followed the man out of the room. She turned her head onest time, and she still had that smile on her face when she whispered, “I lo


    The memory faded, and I was back on the ne, the drink still clutched in my hand. I wish I had told her that I loved her a thousand more times, told her


    I would have if i had known that that was thest time I would ever see it.


    I would have held on to her tighter, would have never let her go.