Alex.

I couldn’t understand what was taking Philip so long.

Three hours had already passed, and still, nothing. No solid lead. No confirmation. Just silence that stretched longer than I was willing to tolerate. It gnawed at me, slowly wearing down the thin thread of patience I had left.

Ella was out there, somewhere and every passing moment without her only made things worse.

With a quiet exhale, I turned away from the window and headed toward my room. Maybe rest would help clear my thoughts, if only for a while.

The moment I stepped inside, her voice greeted me.

"Darling, I have been waiting for you!"

Eva. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

I couldn’t help the small smile that formed on my lips as I saw her. She stood there so effortlessly, her presence warm, familiar, comforting in a way I hadn’t realized I needed.

"Sorry I took a long time, love," I said as I walked toward her, pulling her into a brief embrace.

Her body melted into mine easily, naturally, as though it belonged there.

"I had urgent pack matters to attend to," I added, my voice quieter now.

I inhaled deeply, taking in her scent.

It grounded me.

For a moment, it felt like everything else faded, the tension, the pressure, the endless thoughts running through my mind. Just her presence alone was enough to steady me, to remind me that not everything was slipping out of control.

"Alright," she said lightly as she pulled away, her lips curving into a playful smile. "Just you wait, I’m going to spoil you tonight."

She winked.

Then turned and headed toward the bathroom, wrapped loosely in nothing but a towel.

I swallowed hard.

A sudden heat rushed through me at the sight, my body reacting before my mind could catch up. My gaze lingered for a moment longer than it should have before I forced myself to look away.

I exhaled slowly and dropped onto the bed, letting my body sink into the mattress.

For the first time that day, I allowed myself to relax, just slightly. My mind began to drift, anticipation building quietly, the tension from earlier shifting into something else entirely.

And then, a sound broke through, a soft buzz.

I frowned slightly, turning my head toward the bedside stand.

Eva’s phone.

It buzzed again.

Without thinking much of it, I leaned over and picked it up, my curiosity getting the better of me.

The screen lit up and the moment I read the message...

I froze.

> Alex is a fool if he thinks he has everything under control, my love. I can’t wait to see the expression on his face when he finds out the whole truth.

My grip tightened around the phone.

The words on the screen blurred for a second, slipping out of focus as if my mind refused to process them. I blinked once, slowly and when they settled again, they were clearer this time.

My chest tightened suddenly, the shift sharp and immediate, my heartbeat slowing into something colder... something far more deliberate.

My love.

The words echoed quietly in my mind, heavy with meaning.

My gaze dropped to the sender.

Thomas.

Just that name alone was enough.

The warmth that had filled the room moments ago disappeared completely, like it had never existed, replaced by something darker... sharper... more unsettling.

My fingers curled slightly around the phone as my mind began to race.

Why was Thomas texting her?

And more importantly...

What truth was he talking about?

The questions came fast, one after the other, refusing to slow down, refusing to give me a moment to think.

How could this be happening?

The thought echoed louder this time, pressing against my mind, demanding answers that weren’t there.

It didn’t make sense.

None of it did.

A cold unease crept into my chest, slow and suffocating, refusing to let go.

Without wasting another second, I tried to unlock the phone. My thumb hovered over the screen, then pressed, but it didn’t open. I tried again, slower this time, more deliberate.

But still I needed to input the password.

And then it dawned on me harder than I expected.

With Ella... it had never been like this. There had never been a barrier. No locked doors, no hidden things. Everything had been open, simple, within reach.

But this?

This felt different, it felt like distance.

My jaw tightened slightly as I lowered the phone, my thoughts spiraling once again.

What truth was he talking about?

Before I could think further, a knock sounded at the door, sharp and interrupting.

I turned immediately, my expression hardening.

"Come inside!" I ordered.

The door opened almost at once, and an omega rushed in, his movements quick but respectful. He held a letter carefully in his hands, his head lowering slightly as he approached.

"Alpha," he said, his voice steady despite the urgency, "this letter was mailed from Ironclad’s pack."

Ironclad’s pack?

My brows furrowed instantly.

What now?

A familiar tension rose within me, sharp and instinctive. For years, our packs had been at odds, rivals bound by a history neither side had forgotten. Conflict had always lingered beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to erupt.

But since I took over as Alpha five years ago...They had stayed quiet, no provocation, no interference.

So why now?

Were they looking for war again?

I reached for the letter without hesitation, my fingers brushing against the paper as I took it from him. The omega stepped back immediately, still bowing his head as I unfolded it.

My eyes scanned the contents and then, I stilled once more.

A divorce.

The word stared back at me, cold and undeniable.

For a moment, everything else faded.

My grip tightened slightly on the paper, my mind struggling to catch up with what I was seeing.

How and why was the divorce paper from Ella mailed through the Ironclad?

My thoughts collided all at once.

How did Ella meet them?

When?

Why?

And more importantly...Why would she need a divorce?

My chest tightened as the questions piled up, each one heavier than the last.