Chapter 183 183

Chapter 183 183
Alyna stared at him silently.
Xander’s question lingered heavily in the cold night air, making her chest tighten painfully. The waterfall behind them roared endlessly, yet somehow his words drowned out every other sound around her.
Do you love me? Even a little?
The truth was complicated. She could not say she felt nothing for him. That would be cruel and false.
Xander had stood beside her during the emptiest period of her life. When she had lost her memories, when she had no understanding of who she truly was, when loneliness consumed her every day.
A part of her would always care about him deeply because of that.
But it was not the kind of love he wanted.
Not the kind that could build a future together.
Not the kind that could replace Asher inside her heart.
Still, looking at him now, standing in front of her with such vulnerable eyes, she could not bring herself to hurt him completely.
Especially when she no longer knew how much time she had left in this world.
“I love you, Xander,” she admitted softly.
His entire expression changed instantly.
Hope flickered visibly across his face.
Alyna’s heart ached seeing it.
“You were good to me,” she continued quietly. “And I’ll always be grateful for that. When I was alone… you stayed beside me.”
The hope in his eyes deepened.
But before he could speak, she slowly shook her head.
“But…”
That single word immediately dimmed something inside him.
Alyna lowered her gaze briefly before forcing herself to continue.
“I want you to move on, Xander.”
His jaw tightened slightly.
“There are so many women out there who can truly love you,” she said gently. “Someone who can stay by your side properly… someone who can give you happiness, a family, and the heir you always wanted.”
But Xander was no longer listening rationally.
Not when she had just admitted she loved him.
He stepped closer toward her.
“Whatever you say,” he murmured, “I love you, Alyna.”
There was desperation hidden beneath his calm voice now.
“I’ve never loved anyone more than you,” he confessed honestly. “And I don’t know what to do with these feelings anymore.”
Alyna’s chest tightened painfully. She understood him now better than before. Perhaps that made everything harder. Because she knew Xander was not entirely evil. Not entirely selfish.
He was simply a man consumed by emptiness, obsession, pride, and loneliness all at once. And somehow, that made him dangerous to himself, too.
“Please,” he said suddenly, reaching for her hand. “Come with me.”
Alyna looked at him quietly.
“Whatever the problem is… I’ll take care of you.”
Her eyes softened sadly at his words.
“You can’t,” she whispered.
Xander frowned immediately.
“What do you mean?”
Alyna hesitated.
She had not told anyone everything she truly felt about her visions. Not even Asher knew the depth of her fear.
But somehow, standing here beneath the moonlight with Xander looking at her so desperately, she suddenly felt exhausted hiding it anymore.
“I don’t even know how long I’ll stay alive,” she admitted quietly.
The moment those words left her mouth, Xander’s expression completely changed.
“What?”
Alyna slowly pulled her hand away and looked toward the rushing waterfall.
“I can’t see my future anymore,” she confessed. “I see everyone else’s future clearly… but not mine.”
His face hardened with concern instantly.
“And every vision…” her voice trembled slightly, “…every vision continues without me in it.”
Xander stared at her silently.
For the first time since meeting her, genuine fear crossed his eyes.
Alyna swallowed painfully before continuing.
“I think this power is slowly destroying me,” she admitted. “The more I use it, the worse it becomes. I can’t stop seeing things. I can’t stop feeling death around me.”
Xander stepped closer again immediately.
“No,” he said firmly.
Alyna looked at him.
“You’re not going to die.”
“You can’t know that.”
“I’ll make sure you stay alive.”
The determination in his voice startled her.
“You don’t understand,”
“I do understand,” he interrupted sharply. “And I’m not going to stand here and watch you accept your death.”
His wolf’s emotions were practically radiating through him now, protectiveness, fear, and frustration.
For a moment, Alyna did not know what to say. No one had reacted like this before.
Everyone else either tried to comfort her or ignored the seriousness of her visions.
But Xander looked genuinely terrified of losing her. And somehow… that scared her too. Before either of them could speak again, another scent suddenly filled the air.
Alyna stiffened instantly. So did Xander.
They both turned at the same time.
Asher stood several feet away beneath the trees.
Moonlight filtered through the branches above him while rainwater still clung faintly to his dark clothes. His expression was unreadable at first glance, but his eyes immediately settled on Alyna. Then shifted toward Xander.
Surprisingly, there was no visible rage on his face.
No territorial aggression.
No immediate hostility even though Xander had crossed into his land without permission.
Instead… he looked hurt.
Not because Xander was here. But because he had overheard enough to realize how much Alyna was truly suffering inside, while he remained unable to ease her pain. Alyna’s heart tightened immediately seeing him there.
“Asher…” she whispered softly.
His gaze softened the moment she said his name.
For a few seconds, silence stretched painfully between the three of them while the waterfall continued roaring beside them.
Then Asher finally spoke quietly.
“So this is why you’ve been avoiding everyone.”