Chapter 21
During the time Tessa had been gone, Ryan had felt that not a single day had been bearable.
In his large house, he felt empty, and as he walked past the living room, memories of her flooded
back.
He missed the times they had curled up together on the couch, watching TV.
With Christmas approaching, he found himself longing for the moments when he used to put so much thought into choosing gifts for her.
Back when they had just mated to each other, Tessa had stayed up late designing clothes, working for two or three nights in a row, unable to sleep.
She worked tirelessly just to make a little extra money, and on Christmas Day, she had given him a luxury watch.
Ryan knew that she knew he didn’t need a brand–name watch. But it was the first time he truly felt the sincerity and thoughtfulness of her love.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he watched her work so hard, only to give him that watch.
He held her tightly in his arms, silently promising to love her as long as he breathed.
When had that promise stopped meaning anything?
Maybe he had even forgotten all those promises himself.
He mocked himself for his own mistakes, yet he couldn’t stop wishing she would come back.
He had searched for her desperately, but there had been no news, no sign of her.
His wolf, once so fierce and agitated, had become increasingly despondent, losing its vitality.
Audrey had also recovered and left the hospital. Now, she spent her days quietly resting in the pack.
Occasionally, she would pull out the journal Tessa had left behind, reading it over and over.
Each time she read it, memories of the countless times she had been cold, unfeeling, and had pushed Tessa away resurfaced.
It was like a knife piercing her heart, a constant reminder of the past she couldn’t forget. How could she forget?
She had been the one to send her daughter away, the one who had driven her out of the house.
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But by the time she realized what she had done, it was too late.
The house felt empty, and the memories of the year she had brought Tessa home haunted her.
Tessa had been afraid that she would be sent away again. She remembered how, when Tessa was young, she would wake up early every day to attend Alpha training, while other children were still in bed.
She never made her parents worry about her studies and always excelled, always ranking first in Luna classes.
But when she brought home perfect report cards, no words of praise ever came.
Chloe, on the other hand, was different. Whenever Chloe’s grades improved even slightly, Audrey would reward her with gifts.
Tessa, however, had grown wise beyond her years. She stopped trying to please them, realizing that no matter how hard she tried, it was all in vain with people who didn’t care.
After that, Audrey often stared out the window, lost in thought. Since the day she realized Tessa would never come back, she had lost all sense of joy.
What mother wouldn’t want her child to be happy?
Audrey thought about Tessa constantly, wondering how she was doing, if she had enough to eat, if she was cold and wearing enough clothes, and if she had enough money to get by.
But Audrey would never know.
They would never know that Tessa was still the same strong, independent person.
She was already capable of supporting herself and had long since stopped relying on the Bloodmoon
Pack.
All their concerns were for nothing.
Life went on in this quiet, empty way for a long time.
Then one day, Ryan’s phone rang. It was Nick, their mutual friend and the Beta’s son.
“Have you been in touch with Tessa lately? Have you seen her?” Nick asked.
Recently, several people had called with similar questions, and Ryan assumed it was just another inquiry.
“No, what’s going on?”
He paused for a long moment before answering.
Chapter 21
“I’m currently in Naples, on a cruise ship. I think I saw someone who looks just like Tessa.”
Ryan’s body tensed at the words, his grip tightening on the phone.
“What did you say? Where?”
“Are you sure you didn’t mistake her for someone else?”
Ryan’s voice was strained, his disbelief obvious.
Nick, sensing his doubt, quickly snapped a photo and sent it over.
“There’s no mistake. It’s Tessa.”
Chapter 21
