Chapter 12
I froze, meeting his gaze as he approached, flanked by two armed Gamma guards. “How
are you?” he asked, his tone neutral, his face unreadable.
I managed a slight smile, lifting my head to meet his eyes. “Fine,” I said, brushing off the
discomfort I still felt. Compared to the tension over the radio that night, he seemed much colder, his expression guarded. The hesitation in his gaze made me raise an eyebrow. “Anything else to do?”
He nodded slightly, looking down, almost as if he were weighing his words carefully.
Finally, he spoke. “Yes…”
Zoe’s head whipped up, sensing the weight in his tone. “Alright, everyone, let’s give them
some privacy,” she said brightly, ushering my colleagues out. My teammates chuckled,
shooting me curious glances as they left, even taking the two yapping omega wolf pups with
them. The room fell silent.
I gestured toward a sofa near the bed, trying to lighten the atmosphere. “Please, have a seat. And… thank you for getting me out of there.” I noted how Zoe hadn’t bothered to tidy up, an
assortment of blankets and magazines scattered across the seat.
He shook his head, declining the offer with a polite but firm gesture. “I’ll stand.”
The stiffness in his stance made me pull my hand back. I tried to relax, managing a wry smile. “Guess I got lucky this time.”
Henry’s eyes lingered on me, an appraising look flickering through his gaze, as if he were
asi sizing me up. His face shifted subtly, betraying hints of disbelief, curiosity, and something else–something unreadable.
And then, out of nowhere, he asked, “Do you know Ethan Blaine?”
The question hit me like a jolt of electricity, my expression freezing. The mention of Ethan’s name dredged up memories, emotions tangled and raw. I could see that Henry noticed my reaction, his gaze narrowing slightly.
12:35
Forsaken Mate. Alpha’s Second Chance at Love
Chapter
“Why?” I asked, my voice steady, but the question hung heavy between us, a silence fúlf of
tension.
Henry’s gaze remained fixed on me, studying every nuance of my face as if searching for a
clue.
I raised an eyebrow and let out a light, airy laugh. “Why bring him up?” I asked, voice calm and smooth, masking the tension bubbling beneath.
For a moment, Henry seemed unsure. Then, with a quick intake of breath, he pulled out his phone and began scrolling through his photo album. Finally, he found what he was looking for and held the phone out to me, showing a photo of a man. “Alpha of the Nightwish Pack,” he announced, eyes sharp. “You don’t know him?”
I lowered my gaze, examining the photo with an air of indifference, though my fingers tightened slightly. The picture seemed like a graduation shot or some formal event–several men were dressed in crisp uniforms, their faces stoic and proud. But it was his face, the one in the center, that held my attention.
Ethan.
I forced my face into a neutral mask, keeping my gaze soft and unreadable. After a few beats of silence, Henry zoomed in on Ethan’s face, as if afraid I hadn’t recognized him. “Are you sure you don’t know him?” he pressed, his voice a bit unsteady.
I studied the man’s face in the photo for a few more moments, letting the silence stretch. Ethan’s familiar features stirred memories I’d long since buried. But instead of showing any trace of recognition, I looked back up at Henry with a faint, teasing smile. “Honestly, you look much more handsome on camera.”
For a heartbeat, Henry froze, staring at me with pure disbelief. Then, his fingers jabbed at the screen. “Him! He’s the Alpha of the Nightwish Pack! And you’re the first… the “only person to call me handsome in Ethan’s presence.”
I chuckled, letting my expression soften just a bit. “But you really are attractive. When you came to rescue me, I nearly pledged myself to you.” I let my voice drip with sweetness, watching with amusement as his face flushed a deep shade of red.
“Oh, stop it…” he muttered, shifting uncomfortably.
