Alex''s POV-


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    The days stretched out like an endless desert. Time, once a steadypanion, had be a relentless tormentor. I''d gone from being the king of my world to a prisoner of it. Over these past months, the world had shrunk to the size of this cell. I''d learned that even with power at your fingertips, life could still knock you down.


    Ivan had yed his cards close to his chest. I''d underestimated him, thinking I''d ended the game when I ended his life. But his ns, carefullyid, were like a time bomb I hadn''t defused. Adrian, that backstabbing leech, had seized the opportunity to take over mypany. It was a bitter pill to


    swallow.


    Hours turned into days, days into weeks. I stopped counting. There was no point. All that mattered were the moments I''d spend with Amaya and the kids. It was a long road to get here. Ivy, my little firecracker, had slowly warmed up to me. I think it was my beard. She''d giggle and tug at it, saying I looked like a beast from her stories. It was the first time she''d touched me without fear. Being called a beast didn''t matter in that moment.


    Nate was different. Quiet, watchful, like a young hawk. His eyes always seemed to be asking questions without making a sound. But I think he found his answers in just watching.


    And Amaya. Every time I saw her, she was like a sunrise, a new kind of beauty. It was hard to believe she was the same woman I''d left behind but she was a master of deception. She''d put on a brave face for the kids, a smile that didn''t quite reach her eyes. I could see the worry gnawing at her, hidden beneath the surface. Every visit ended with the same promise: she was getting closer, she''d get me out. I wished she''d stop. She was burning herself out. With all my resources, I couldn''t escape this ce, what chance did she have? I''d epted my fate, but at least I had them to visit. I''d done a lot of bad things. Maybe this was karma, paying my dues like my father. Thinking about him brought back the day of the battle. For once, he''d acted like a real father. His death hurt, a wound that wouldn''t heal. Damon Thorne, the architect of my misery, was dead. I hadn''t forgiven him, but maybe one day I would. As a final act of closure, I''d asked for his body to be found and buried next to my mother. Maybe their souls would sync and he would finally apologize for all that he had done, all the misery he put her thought and maybe together, they could find peace.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Amaya had also asked for a proper burial for Miranda. She was a victim, a broken soul caught in the crossfire. That is what she had said and she hoped she''d found peace wherever she was.


    All of that?


    It all led to this moment. Standing before the judge, I felt a strange sense of peace. A word with only five letters, but it held the weight of the world. I''d lost my freedom, but in the chaos, I''d found myself. I could break out of this prison, my mind had raced with the idea for months. An idea fueled by my wolf who had been relentless to break free. But for the first time in my life, I wanted to do the right thing. I wasn''t responsible for the mass murders, but I was responsible for deaths.


    Maybe this was my penance.


    Amaya hadn''t given up. She was here again, fighting for me. But I knew the oue. Guilty. The room would fall silent, and I''d ept my fate.


    But then he said, "Not guilty."


    The words hung in the air, a fog in my brain. The m of his gavel brought me back to reality. Not guilty. I was free. I stood frozen, unable to process it. Then, two tiny bodies crashed into me, Ivy and Nate. Amaya came up behind them, tears streaming down her face. "We did it," she whispered.


    No, she did it. I held my children tight, the first tear escaping my eye.


    I was free.


    Amaya turned her head towards the door, her eyes filled with a mix of anticipation and happiness. "You have to walk out that door, Alex," she said softly. I took a deep breath, the reality of the moment sinking in. I wanted to be with my family, with them. All eyes were on me. I steadied the twins in my arms and took the first step.


    With each step, I felt a sense of vindication. The world outside was a blur of camera shes and reporters shouting questions I couldn''tprehend. All I wanted was to go home with my family. And then I saw them - Christian, Riley, Natalia, Nathan, and Sarah. Sarah and Natalia were cheering, their joy infectious. Riley was trying to calin them down, Nathan looking amused. For the first time in what felt like forever, the loneliness that had haunted me for years was gone. I had my family, these crazy people Amaya had brought into my life, and Christian, my true friend, not just an someone who worked for me. Amaya''s hand found mine as we navigated through the crowd of reporters. When we finally reached them, Christian''s smile was the biggest I''d ever seen. "The beard is suiting," he said, a hint of teasing in his voice.


    I looked at him, and augh burst out of me unexpectedly. He returned theugh, his eyes filled with genuine relief. "I''m really d you''re out, Alex. His voice was thick with emotion. He turned to Amaya, his gaze softening. Tm d she didn''t give up."


    His tone shifted to seriousness, "Now, enough mushy stuff. We''ve got apany to reim.


    I looked down at Amaya who simply nodded, her determination clear so I let them take the lead. She, Christian, and I stepped into one car while the others followed in the other vehicles. The drive to thepany was a whirlwind of emotions. Every familiar sight was a stark reminder of the life I''d left behind. When we arrived, heads turned as we entered the building. I felt like a ghost, a relic of a past era. Amaya, however, moved through the crowd with the confidence of


    00


    queen.


    We reached the top floor, my office. Or, rather, Adrian''s. A sleek, modern woman, presumably his PA, stood in front of the door. Her expression was cold and dismissive. "You can''t go in there," she stated tly.


    Amaya''s demeanor shifted. Her eyes shed dangerously, and for a brief moment, she seemed to be someone else entirely. "I believe there''s been a misunderstanding," she said, her voice low and menacing. "Step aside." The PA hesitated, her grip tightening on the door.


    "I said, step aside," Amaya repeated, her voice rising. There was an unspoken threat in her tone that made the PA take a step back. With a swift movement, Amaya pushed past her, and I followed. Christian stayed behind to handle the PA.


    As we entered, my eyesnded on Adrian, perched arrogantly on my chair. Anger red within me, but I knew I had to let Amaya handle this because she looked like she had a n and I would only escte things and have myself thrown straight in jail again. He stood up, his mouth opening to speak, but Amaya cut him off.


    "I don''t want to waste any more time than necessary," she started, her voice cold and calcted. "You and I were at the start of this. The fake pictures of us broke Alex and me apart. I understood your anger, your need for revenge. But you crossed the line when you started working with him." She produced a file of documents. "I have proof of every life you helped him take. You might have gotten away with it once, but not this time." She stepped closer, her voice dripping with contempt. "You''re going away for a very long time."


    A surge of pride washed over me. This was a different Amaya, stronger, more fearless. The police sirens red through the office. Adrian was caught off guard barely having time to react, his bravado crumbling. As they handcuffed him, he hurled insults my way. I watched in silence as they started to take him away knowing that I deserved his words. I let out a sigh, "Can I have a moment with him?" Thec policemen turned to Amaya like they were asking for her permission and she nodded, turning to me and giving me a smile.


    "I''m sorry for what I did to you," I began, my voice sincere. "I let my trust issues control me, and I''ll never forgive myself. I truly am sorry. But revenge blinded you. You went too far. I have paid my due. It''s time for you to pay the consequences of your actions."


    He was dragged away after that, still shouting curses. I turned to Amaya, my mind racing. "I don''t even know where to begin," I pulled her towards me, my voice filled with awe.


    She smiled, her green eyes sparkling. "You can thank meter."


    "Can we go home now?" I asked, my voice filled with relief.


    The determined glint returned to her eyes. "Not yet. We have one more stop and it is a one long overdue. We need to pay another old friend a visit."


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