Chapter 231

When the Alpha wrapped up his duties for the evening and was preparing to head home, a loud, urgent howl pierced the night air. Moments later, his phone buzzed with a call from one of his subordinates—a factory manager. The man’s voice was tense, nearly frantic.

“Alpha, there’s been a serious incident at the factory. You’re needed immediately!”

Startled, the Alpha shot to his feet, his instincts already on high alert. Without wasting a moment, he rushed out, his urgency palpable. As he climbed into the car, he repeatedly urged the driver to pick up the pace, his anxiety mounting with every passing second. The roads were eerily desolate, and the tension was suffocating.

Suddenly, the driver shouted, his voice sharp with alarm.

“Alpha, look ahead!”

The vehicle screeched to a halt. Peering ahead, the Alpha’s sharp gaze locked onto the scene before them. Just a few meters away, a figure lay sprawled on the road, drenched in blood and eerily still.

“Get out and check!” he commanded, his voice a mix of authority and urgency as he flung open the car door and stepped out.

The driver hesitated but obeyed, carefully approaching the motionless figure. He knelt beside the injured woman, his trembling hand gently turning her head to check for signs of life.

“She’s alive,” the driver murmured, his voice laced with uncertainty. “Barely.”

The Alpha moved closer, and the moment his eyes landed on the woman’s face, he froze, his breath catching in his throat.

“It’s… her,” he whispered, his shock unmistakable.

“You know her, Alpha?” the driver asked, glancing up hesitantly.

“Yes,” the Alpha replied, his tone firm as he regained his composure. “Her body is still warm. We need to get her to the hospital immediately.”

Ignoring the blood staining her clothes and his own, the Alpha helped lift her into the car. The driver started the engine, speeding toward the nearest hospital. Upon arrival, the medical staff acted swiftly, rushing the woman into surgery.

The Alpha checked his watch, his responsibilities weighing heavily on him. “Stay here and keep me updated on her condition,” he instructed the driver before heading back to the factory to handle the urgent situation.

As the car sped through the night once more, his thoughts drifted back to the injured woman. He knew her—but their connection was fleeting, almost forgotten until now.

Years ago, at a gathering hosted by the Pack, the Alpha had been delayed by heavy traffic. By the time he arrived at the conference venue, he was in a rush, weaving through the crowd toward the hotel. In his haste, he accidentally collided with someone standing near the entrance.

The impact knocked the person to the ground. Stopping abruptly, he turned to offer assistance, only to find himself stunned by the sight before him. A young woman lay at his feet, her face elegant yet strikingly familiar.

Her beauty wasn’t what caught his attention; it was her uncanny resemblance to Bella. For a moment, he stood frozen, his mind reeling.

The woman, nursing the pain from her fall, began to cry softly, snapping him out of his daze. Embarrassed, he extended his hand to help her up.

“Are you hurt? Should I take you to a hospital?” he asked, his voice awkward yet concerned.

Before she could respond, his attendant stepped forward. “Alpha Zachary, we’re already running late. Everyone is waiting for you inside. Let me handle this issue.”

Reluctantly, the Alpha allowed his attendant to take over and continued into the meeting. Afterward, he inquired about the woman, but his attendant reported that she had refused medical attention, insisting she was fine before leaving.

The incident had slipped from his memory over time—until tonight. Finding her injured and vulnerable in the middle of nowhere had stirred something deep within him.

Lost in these thoughts, the car arrived at the factory gates. The Alpha exited swiftly and immersed himself in resolving the crisis that had prompted the late-night summons.

Once the factory matters were under control, the Alpha returned to the hospital to check on the woman. The doctors informed him that her surgery had been successful, and though she was in the intensive care unit, her life was no longer in immediate danger. Satisfied, he instructed his driver to remain and monitor her condition before heading home.

When he entered his house, the clock read midnight. As was his routine, he quietly stepped into Leo’s room to check on him. The sight that greeted him made him pause.

Alpha Xavier was there, cradling Leo as they slept peacefully together. The scene stirred an unfamiliar ache in the Alpha’s chest. It was clear that Xavier’s love for Bella and Leo was genuine. In another life, perhaps things could have been different—perhaps they all could have been happy together.

The Alpha closed the door softly and retreated. Bella, awakened by the faint sound, emerged from her room.

“You’re back,” she said, her voice gentle. “Let me prepare something for you to eat.”

He stopped her with a shake of his head. “You should rest. I’ll have the staff handle it. You and Leo need your strength.”

Bella hesitated, then smiled faintly. “I understand. Don’t worry. I’m not completely helpless, you know.” She followed him down the stairs, her steps careful and quiet.

Meanwhile, upstairs, Xavier stirred awake. Carefully disentangling himself from Leo, he rose and stepped out of the room. Seeing Bella heading toward the kitchen to prepare a meal for the Alpha brought an ache to his heart.

Memories of their past together flooded his mind. He recalled the days when she would greet him after long hours of work, her bright smile and warm meals waiting for him. Those days were long gone, but the pain of their absence lingered.

Sighing heavily, he turned back and returned to Leo’s side. Gazing down at his son’s peaceful face, the weight in his heart began to lift. Leo was his solace, his anchor.

Unable to resist, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to his son’s cheek.

“Leo,” he whispered softly, his voice filled with emotion. “Stay by my side. You’re all I have. You’re my strength.”

As the night deepened, elsewhere in the city, two figures moved stealthily through the quiet hospital corridors. Itzel and Samantha, cloaked in the shadows, approached the operating theater. The silence of the hour made their presence feel all the more ominous.

Itzel accidentally bumped into a nurse on duty. The nurse looked at her, startled. “Dr. Lott, what are you doing here at this hour?”