119

I strode straight into my room, Nathaniel still at my heels, his excitement palpable. I approached my phone, heart racing as I prepared to dial the number I had yearned to call every night and day.

Taking a deep breath, I punched in the digits, my fingers trembling slightly with anticipation.

“Hello?” I heard my mate’s voice on the other end, and a wave of relief washed over me.

“Alyssa,” I breathed, the sound of her name sending a rush of warmth through my veins. “It’s me.”

There was a moment of silence before she responded, her tone a mixture of surprise and joy. “Xavier! I can’t believe it’s really you!”

Hearing her voice brought back the memories of our moments together—the laughter, the love, the dreams we shared for our future. I closed my eyes, allowing the sound of her voice to wash over me like a soothing balm.

“I’ve missed you every day,” I confessed, my heart aching with longing. “I finally stood up to the council. They tried to break me, but they can’t control what I’ve bu