Semua Bab Alpha Nick: Bab 51 - Bab 55

Nick’s POVThe tension in the air is thick as we make our way down the hall toward the interrogation room. My mind is still reeling from what the two women did for Mariah. They risked everything to save her, and I need to know exactly what happened—and who’s responsible.But something feels… off.Josh has been quiet. Too quiet. His footsteps are heavy beside me, but his energy is all over the place. His usual steady presence feels… unhinged. His breathing is sharp, his fists clenching and unclenching like he’s barely keeping himself from losing control.“Josh, you good?” I ask, glancing at him as we approach the door.“Yeah…” His voice is strained, but his jaw is locked so tight I’m surprised he hasn’t cracked a tooth.But the second I open the door, everything changes.The moment the scent of the two women hits the air, Josh freezes beside me like he’s been hit by a freight train.“Josh?” I say again, but he’s not listening.His entire body goes rigid, his eyes locking onto the small

Mariah's POVA breath shudders from my lips, my body aching as if I’ve been torn apart and stitched back together again. My eyelids feel impossibly heavy, my limbs sluggish, my throat raw. Every part of me protests as I force my eyes open, the dim light above me sending a dull throb through my skull.“Nick?” My voice is barely above a whisper, but it’s enough.A choked sound breaks the silence, raw and filled with so much emotion it makes my chest tighten. I blink slowly, my vision still blurred, but I don’t need to see clearly to recognize the warmth surrounding me, the familiar scent of pine and earth that grounds me even as my body trembles.Nick.The bed shifts slightly, and then his face comes into focus. His usually sharp, confident eyes are red-rimmed, his jaw clenched so tightly I can see the strain in his expression. He looks wrecked. Like he’s been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders for far too long.“You’re awake,” he breathes, his voice breaking as he grips

Mariah's POVThe sound of light footsteps in the hallway reached me just before the door to my room creaked open. My parents were the first to step in, their faces breaking into expressions of pure relief when they saw I was awake."Oh, sweetheart," my mom whispered, her voice thick with emotion as she hurried to my side. "You're awake." She leaned down, kissing my forehead before taking my hand in hers, her fingers warm and gentle.My dad stood behind her, his usual stoic demeanor giving way to a rare softness. He gave me a small smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes, but it was enough. He didn't need to say anything—his presence alone was comforting."Thank God, Mariah," he muttered, his voice hoarse with unshed tears. He squeezed my hand before turning to Nick, who still sat by my side, never straying too far. "You've been through hell."Nick, who had been holding my hand ever since I woke up, gave a small nod but didn't speak. His eyes remained glued to me, like he was afrai