Chapter 61
As the plane ascended into the sky, leaving the ground far below, I leaned back in my seat, my mind a tangled web of thoughts and emotions. The reality of my situation was beginning to sink in, and I couldn’t help but feel a gnawing sense of unease. I turned to Lena, my wolf, and quietly asked her to
reach out to Lorne.
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“Lena, please tell Lorne that Maurice and I are just friends. There’s nothing more between us,” I whispered, closing my eyes. “Tell him not to waste his efforts; we’re on a plane, and he won’t be able to catch up.”
tena’s presence within me was comforting, though I could sense her reluctance. “I’ll do as you ask, Shirley,” she replied softly, her voice tinged with concern. “But be careful. Lorne and Lorik are not in the best state of mind right now.”
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure if I was reassuring her or myself. Maurice, sitting beside me, seemed to sense my turmoil. He turned to me with a playful glint in his eyes. “You know, I had a feeling I was running away with a beautiful woman,” he said, chuckling softly.
I managed a bitter laugh, though the humor felt hollow. “More like you’re being dragged into my mess,” I replied, shaking my head.
“Mess or not, I’m here willingly,” Maurice said with a shrug, his easygoing demeanor unwavering. “And besides, it’s not every day I get to whisk someone away on an impromptu adventure.”
The hours passed slowly as the plane carried us toward our destination. The rhythmic hum of the engines did little to soothe the whirlwind of emotions churning inside me. Lorik had been trying to reach me incessantly, his calls and messages flooding my phone. Each one only added to the confusion and turmoil in my mind. I hadn’t yet figured out how I was going to face him, let alone what I would say when I did.
By the time we landed and checked into our hotel, I was emotionally drained. The tournament Serevia City loomed ahead, but I could barely focus on it. That night, as I lay in the darkness of my hotel room, sleep eluded me. The emptiness beside me was a stark reminder of the distance I’d put between myself and Lorik.
Unable to bear the loneliness any longer, I decided to go for a walk. The hotel lobby was quiet, a few late–night travelers milling about, but my attention was drawn to a familiar figure seated at the grand piano in the corner. Maurice, his fingers dancing across the keys, was lost in the music, a serene expression on his face. I had never seen him play before, and I was taken aback by how talented he was. The music flowed from him effortlessly, filling the space with a melody that tugged atmy heartstrings.
After I Let Go My Alpha, He Knelt in Regret
34.5%
apter 61
As I approached, Maurice noticed me and gave a warm smile. “Couldn’t sleep?” he asked, his fingers still moving over the keys.
I shook my head. “No, too much on my mind,” I admitted.
He patted the empty space on the bench beside him. “Why don’t you join me? We can play a duet,
something to take your mind off things.”
I hesitated for a moment, but the thought of playing alongside him was too tempting to resist. I sat down next to him, and together, we began to play. The music flowed between us, a conversation of notes and harmonies that seemed to express everything words couldn’t. For a little while, I lost
myself in the melody, the weight on my shoulders lifting ever so slightly.
When the piece ended, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “Thank you, Maurice,” I said, my voice tinged with emotion. “For everything. I never imagined I’d be able to play like this, to compete at such a high level. You’ve helped me so much.”
Maurice turned to me, his expression soft. “You never have to thank me, Shirley,” he said, his voice sincere. “But do you remember coming to the human world more than ten years ago?”
I frowned, surprised by the question. “Yes, I do,” I replied slowly. “I was just a child then. I fled to the human world because I couldn’t stand the bullying from my adoptive parents and Alice. I stayed
there for a while, trying to escape everything.”
Maurice nodded, his gaze distant as if recalling a long–buried memory. “One night, during that time, you came across a man collapsed on the side of the road. You thought he was a homeless man and gave him the last of your food, didn’t you?” He looked at me with a depth of meaning and emotion: that I couldn’t read, “Maybe you’ve forgotten him, but he definitely remembers you.”
