Chapter 261
Chapter 262
ALEXANDER
Diana was still standing there.
“Get out, Diana. Now, or you’ll see the other side of me.”
“Alexander- ”
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“Get out,” I snarled, the words tearing out of me as something surged up from my chest. Heat flooded my vision, sharp and blinding, and for a heartbeat the world burned gold… I was losing control. I forced it down, my jaw locking as I fought the shift with everything I had.
Diana went pale. She started trembling outright, her knees buckling as the weight of my anger crashed over her. She stumbled backward, nearly falling as she turned and fled for the door, not daring to look back.
I was still breathing hard, my pulse pounding in my ears, when Cole stepped into the office, looking at me. “What’s going on?” he asked.
I froze. I didn’t know he was around too. What exactly was happening today?
“Cole,” I said sharply, my voice tight. “Did you see Faye?”
His expression changed instantly. “Yes. We came together. I drove her here.”
He paused, observing me.
“I was on a call when she rushed back out. She asked for the car keys–then didn’t wait. She snatched them and drove off before I could react,” he added. “What happened?”
I turned away abruptly, dragging a hand down my face as frustration coiled hot and merciless in my chest. My thoughts scattered, crashing into each other without order.
I went back to my chair and dropped into it.
“What happened in here?” he asked again. “And why was Diana here? I saw her.”
The way he asked–slow, careful–told me everything. He already knew the answer wouldn’t be something I could brush aside.
“Diana wasn’t supposed to be here,” I said, rubbing my temples. “I told my secretary to turn her away.”
Cole crossed his arms. “Then?”
I exhaled slowly, the sound heavy and strained.
“She forced her way in,” I admitted. “She was crying She wouldn’t listen…
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Cole tilted his head, listening.
“Faye might have seen something,” I said quietly.
Cole’s eyes sharpened instantly. “Seen what, Alexander?”
I hesitated–just a fraction of a second too long.
“She might have seen Diana kiss me,” I said.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Cole stared at me as if I’d just said something unthinkable. Maybe I had.
“What?” he said flatly.
The word felt heavy.
He looked at me like I’d broken an unspoken rule.
“Kissed Diana?” he asked again. “Really?”
My chest constricted painfully.
“Listen,” I said, my voice low, strained, almost raw. “It’s not what you think. Okay? I didn’t kiss her.”
His expression didn’t soften. Not even a little.
“She caught me off guard,” I went on quickly. “That’s all. I didn’t see it coming.”
I stood again, suddenly unable to sit still. The room felt too small, the walls closing in. I loosened
my tie–it felt too tight.
“I didn’t even know Faye was there,” I said. “Not until she was already leaving.”
Cole said nothing.
But the silence was worse than any accusation. It pressed down on me, thick and heavy, filled with judgment he didn’t need to voice.
I grabbed my phone, my thumb hovering over her name. Then I dialed her number.
“She’s not answering,” I muttered, more to myself than to him.
“Of course she won’t,” Cole said grimly. “She must be heading to the pack house, right? Maybe you
should go home.”
I didn’t respond… I dialed again.
It rang.
And rang.
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Chapter 262
No answer.
I was about to try again when the screen lit up.
Incoming call.
I looked at the screen. It was Derek. “Why is Derek calling?”
I took a deep breath before answering. “Hello,” I said.
There was a pause–just a fraction too long.
“Alpha,” Derek said, in a hushed tone.
That alone made my spine stiffen.
“Yes?” I said, already bracing.
“Sir… there’s been an accident on the major city road.”
My grip tightened on the phone. I couldn’t respond.
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I could hear it in his breathing now–the hesitation, the weight of whatever he was holding back.
“One of the vehicles involved matches the Luna’s car.”
The room tilted.
For a second, everything went quiet… like the world had sucked in a breath and forgotten how to
release it.
“What did you say? ” The words tore out of me.
“We responded as soon as the call came in,” Derek continued quickly, as if afraid I’d cut him off.”
Sir, when help arrived, the Luna wasn’t in the vehicle.”
My heart slammed violently against my ribs.
“What do you mean she wasn’t in the vehicle?” I demanded. “Where is she?”
“We don’t know yet,” he admitted. “I had to confirm it myself… Only the occupant of the second car
was found at the scene. Badly injured, they said, but breathing. There’s still no sign of the Luna.”
“Where,” I said slowly, forcing each word past the roar in my head, “are you right now?”
“At the scene, sir.”
“I’m coming,” I said.
“Okay, sir.”
The call ended.
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