THREE DAYS AFTER THE LAST CHAPTER.NADINE. “Are you ready?” Mindy asked me as soon as I opened my bedroom door.I was still staying in the room I shared with Xander. I didn’t want to move to another floor, especially the floor Maddox used. Even with him gone, I was still not comfortable owning the floor he used to own. I examined the budget to determine if we could afford a new packhouse. But with all the debts and rehabilitation needed throughout the whole territory, there was no room for a new home. So, in the meantime, I had to live with the truth that I had to use the office that Maddox once owned. But I hope someday, when the finances are better, I can build a new home. However, this morning, I got a call from Nadia, and she excitedly informed me that she and Riley decided to give me a gift—they would finance the building of the new packhouse. It was a gift for me and not for the pack. Of course, their pack, as well as the other packs, had been giving me assistance in all aspe
NADINE.“Did you say they got him?” I asked Jake. I was sure I heard him right the first time, but I wanted to be sure. “Yes. He has arrived at the Council territory and is currently being detained.” He answered. “Fuck! Fuck!” I kept tapping my palm against my table. “I was supposed to go to him today. I was exactly on my way out when you called.”“You are slower than them, then!”“Jake! Don’t let them do anything to him! I swear to Selene, he is innocent! He just came here four months ago and knew nothing of his business! I asked him to try to sneak in and get more details, but that was it! Maddox had never trusted anyone with his business, especially Xander!” I was too fast, explaining what I knew as if it could save him.“Calm down! All they need to do is roll out an Alpha Command when they question him, and if he answers his innocence, they will let him go.” Jake sounded relaxed this time, and my heart clenched in pain. Saying this out loud was even more painful. “He is an Alpha
NADINE.I lowered my Alpha aura as I walked to where Xander was. I didn’t want him to think I was letting it out on him. Or, maybe I just want us to talk more about us and not me being an Alpha.Xander was already sitting at the small table when I entered the room. There were only two chairs at both ends.His head snapped up, and our eyes met. My stomach churned just by looking at him. He didn’t have any expression on his face and like earlier, he didn’t hold my gaze.His attention went back to his hands resting on the table, as if taking out the invisible dirt under his nails was far more important than looking at me. I took a deep breath and thanked the person who let me in. He gave me a nod and left the room, closing the door behind him.Although the room had a big glass window so anyone from the outside could see us if they wanted to, I was glad we were left alone.I sat in the vacant chair, my heart thudding loudly as I looked at him, but he didn’t even budge from his position.“
NADINE. “I was sure I reminded you to ask him important questions and not eat his face,” I heard Riley say, and Jake chuckled. I stopped the words wanting to come out of my throat and discreetly looked at Xander through my lashes. He had his back on them, and since I was on his front, I was the only one who could see his face. He bit his bottom lip, suppressing a smile to crack on his face. That was enough for me. He was not grumpy about Riley’s comment.“Stop talking as if you don’t forget you’re the Alpha whenever Nadia kisses you. She bats her eyelashes, and you immediately pant like a dog.” Jake mocked him, and I rolled my eyes. I wanted to tell him as if he were not the same as Riley, but Riley did the honor of telling him that, until they realized Xander and I were just quiet and just staring at each other. “Ahem..” Jake cleared his throat again. “I understand you don’t want us here, but you need us. Trust me.”I was not able to stop my chuckles as I walked past Xander and
NADINE.“So this is the reason he looked terrified whenever I told him I would leave the pack. He didn’t need me as his Beta. He wanted me there so he could use Maxwell’s money.”“You didn’t know about your father’s will?” Riley asked. Xander shook his head. “No. I never cared about it.”I couldn’t think straight. I couldn’t even comprehend what was going on. I heard them, but the only thing that continued to reverberate in my mind was the realization that I was the one with nothing.I had a pack with no money or resources. I had a mate who thought I was not someone he could come home to. I thought I was already over the worst, but it seemed that was not the case yet. “Nadine, I know this is very upsetting, and it looks like you really have to start from scratch. Soon, the debtors would find out Maddox is dead, or they found out already and they would ask for their money back.” Jake added.“My pack has nothing,” I responded.Riley reached for my hand and squeezed it. “I will talk w
NADINE.After waking up early today, Arlo drove me to the Council Territory so I could visit Xander. It had been five days since the last time I was here. We talked twice on the phone, and although he sounded cold, I knew he cared. He always made sure to ask about me and if I was resting. I knew despite the indifference he was showing me, deep down, he cared. And that made me so excited today. I woke up early and made food for him as I was able to secure an hour and a half of visiting time.Maybe being excited was an understatement. I was beyond ecstatic. Jake told me they were able to contact Maddox’s accountant, and, from the looks of it, the Council was able to invite him for questioning. Jake had no idea what the current status was, but the proceeding that was scheduled in two days had already been canceled. It was still to be determined if they would announce a new date or if the case against him would be closed. I was hoping it was the latter. I also had a closed-door meetin
NADINE.And broke my heart, he did. Xander was not in the territory, and there were no phone calls from him.The next five days were spent sending people to where he was found by the Council, as well as to home and work addresses that Mindy gave me. But there was nothing. No one had seen him. I also sent people to Maximus’ farm, and they went home without any news about him. The farm was still functioning, with some workers still doing their work despite Maximus being gone. However, none of the workers had encountered Xander.He vanished. He disappeared as if he didn’t want to be found.I felt so lost. I was struggling to complete my task and keep a straight face. I couldn’t pretend anymore. Most days, I would just stare blankly at the wall.I felt worse than when I was in that cell, chained and tortured. “Your mom told me I could find you here.” Dad’s voice snapped me from my thoughts, and I immediately wiped the tears from my face.“I just need time to think,” I replied. I didn’t
XANDER.I moved into the small house attached to the main house of the Trevino Farm. This was where Maximus’ driver used to reside. The space was enough for me. I didn’t need the big house. I didn’t need a reminder that I was alone again. I moved in four days ago, but I’d been visiting this place for a week before that to meet the workers and assess the situation. To be fair, the humans working here seemed happy and thriving. It appeared Maximus was a better person with humans than when he was with shifters, or maybe his age had calmed him down from his old ways. The farm had been producing milk, cow products, and several vegetables, but the net income wasn’t great lately. It kept the farm going with enough money to cover bills and the salaries of the workers. In short, it was still surviving. But for how long? That was the question. I had no idea how to manage this place, but I was used to skilled labor, so I didn’t mind working alongside the people. The workers here were kind e