Chapter 95
It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Lirian. I did, more than I could ever put into words. But how could I explain something so… unexplainable?
The second chance at life, the overwhelming guilt of unfinished mistakes, and a desire to do it all differently–to take advantage of the present in ways I’d never managed before.
To love without hesitation, to be stronger than I was, to protect those I held dear.
But Lirian wasn’t ready to let go of the topic, not so easily. He crossed his arms and tilted his head, watching me with an expression that was equal parts intrigue and caution.
“A few days ago,” he began slowly, as if weighing each word carefully. “I went back to the slums. My neighbors told me you’d been there, asking around for me. Six months ago, they said.”
A pang shot through my chest as he continued. “Back then… you didn’t even know me, did you?”
I froze, my mind scrambling for an explanation, any plausible answer that could satisfy his curiosity without unraveling the truth.
But nothing came. I stared at him, hoping my silence wouldn’t betray me.
Lirian leaned in closer, his dark eyes searching mine with an intensity that made my heart clench.
After a moment, he sighed and straightened up, loosening his grip ever so slightly.
“It’s alright if you don’t want to tell me now,” he murmured, his gaze softening. “I’ll wait. I’ll wait until you’re ready to share everything.”
My chest tightened with a strange mix of relief and sadness.
I wanted to tell him–truly, I did. But not yet. Not when I still had so much to figure out myself.
We didn’t speak much after that. When we finally touched down, Lirian received a call and left almost immediately, his expression a mixture of urgency and concern.
He mentioned something about the Ironclaw pack, an issue he needed to handle. He left quickly, disappearing into the bustle of the airport, and I was left standing alone, wrapped in the afterglow of
his words.
was nearly Christmas, and the town was draped in snow and vibrant lights.
The Alpha
School was winding down, and the streets brimmed with holiday cheer, the sidewalks lined with people chatting and laughing, their breaths clouding the chilly air.
I stepped out of the school building, feeling the cool breeze nip at my cheeks, and tugged my y scarf little tighter around my neck.
As I walked towards my car, I saw a figure standing by the entrance, waiting. Ryan. He was staring off into the distance, looking both haggard and tense, his usual confident stance now weighed down by something far heavier.
I hadn’t seen him in days, and the dark circles under his eyes hinted at the kind of sleepless nights he’d been having.
Iconsidered pretending I hadn’t seen him and continuing towards my car, but Ryan caught sight of me almost instantly. He pushed away from the wall, heading toward me with a purposeful stride.
“Sophia,” he called out, his voice rougher than usual.
I stopped, turning to face him. “Um, yeah?”
Ryan paused a few steps away, taking in my expression. His once–polished appearance was replaced by disarray–a shadow of stubble lined his jaw, and his eyes held a haunted, almost desperate look.
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“Ryan,” I said, trying to cut through the silence that stretched between us. “What’s going on with you?”
He looked at me, his gaze hollow and searching. The silence thickened again, an uncomfortable heaviness between us.
Growing impatient, I shifted my weight, ready to leave. “If you have nothing to say, I’ll be going-”
But before I could finish, he reached out, his hand catching my arm and stopping me in my tracks.
His grip was firm, his touch sending an unexpected shiver up my spine. He didn’t let go, his eyes darkening as he searched my face, struggling to find the right words.
“Sophia,” he said again, his voice a whisper but edged with intensity. “You and Lirian… have you been together for a long time?”
My heart stuttered at his question, his voice carrying a pain that unsettled me. His eyes held a strange mixture of anger, regret, and something else–something that looked like resignation.
“I raised an eyebrow, feigning indifference. “What’s it to you?”
Chapter 95
His grip tightened, his hands warm but unyielding on my shoulders.
winced slightly, the pressure verging on painful. “Let go of me, Ryan.”
But he didn’t release me.
Instead, he leaned closer, as if afraid I wouldn’t hear him otherwise, his voice dropping to a strained whisper.
“I know I messed up,” he confessed, his voice laced with an unfamiliar vulnerability. “I admit… there was something between Linda and me before. But I was wrong. I want to fix things now. Sophia, you’re all I’ve got.”
