Chapter 184 184

Chapter 184 184
Asher did not speak much to Alyna for the next two days. It was not complete silence, but there was a distance between them again.

He still asked whether she had eaten. He still carried Leo around the pack and stayed beside their son whenever he cried for either of them. At night, he still slept in the same room, though lately he had started returning much later after finishing his duties.

But something had changed after he saw her with Xander near the cascade.

Alyna noticed it clearly and she did not ask him why. Somehow, she felt she had no right to.

They were no longer mates. The bond between them had been broken by her own decision years ago. They were not truly husband and wife anymore either, no matter how deeply they still loved each other.

Everything between them now existed in fragile uncertainty. So Alyna gave him space. Even though it hurt.

That morning, she walked slowly through the pack with Leo in her arms. The weather was pleasant, and the cool breeze carried the scent of wet earth after last night’s rain.

Leo pointed excitedly at everything around him. He's so excited whenever he comes out of the house.

Alyna smiled faintly despite the heaviness in her heart. At least her son was happy. That alone kept her grounded.

As she walked past the market area, she suddenly spotted Ryan sitting outside a small tea house near the center of the pack.

The moment he saw her, he raised a hand casually.

“Alyna.”

She smiled softly and walked toward him.

“Good morning.”

Ryan glanced toward Leo, whose eyes were already fixed curiously on the snacks placed on nearby tables.

“I see someone woke up with great energy today,” Ryan chuckled.

Leo immediately stretched his arms toward him.

Ryan sighed dramatically.

“You only like me because I secretly give you sweets.”

Leo giggled happily.

Alyna could not help but laugh softly hearing that.

For a moment, things almost felt normal again.

“Come,” Ryan said, gesturing toward the empty chair opposite him. “Have tea with me.”

Alyna agreed quietly.

Ryan ordered tea for both of them while Leo quickly ran toward the open area nearby, where a few children from the pack were already playing with wooden toys.

Alyna watched him carefully at first, but Ryan reassured her.

“He’s safe here.”

She nodded slowly.

For a few moments, neither of them spoke.

The warm steam from the tea rose gently between them while distant pack noises filled the silence.

Then Ryan suddenly leaned back slightly and asked the question directly.

“Are you in love with Xander?”

Alyna blinked in surprise.

Ryan, however, remained completely calm.

“And do you want a relationship with him?” he added.

Alyna lowered her eyes toward the tea in her hands.

She had expected everyone to misunderstand her eventually.

Perhaps even Asher already did.

After a few seconds, she answered honestly.

“I like Xander,” she admitted quietly. “I care about him.”

Ryan listened silently.

“But I’m not in the state to have a relationship with anyone,” she continued softly. “Right now I’m only trying to find a way for everyone to live peacefully.”

Her voice sounded tired.

Ryan could hear it clearly.

Alyna sighed faintly before continuing.

“Everything keeps getting more complicated no matter what I do.”

Ryan stirred his tea lazily before finally speaking.

“That’s because you keep trying to carry everyone’s burdens alone.”

Alyna looked at him.

Ryan’s expression softened slightly.

“You need to stop meddling between Asher and Xander,” he said calmly. “They already hate each other for reasons beyond you.”

Alyna remained silent.

Deep down, she knew he was right.

Even before she came into their lives completely, their rivalry already existed.

She had only become another reason added to the fire between them.

“I know,” she admitted quietly.

Ryan nodded slightly and glanced toward Leo playing nearby.

The little boy had somehow become friends with everyone in the pack within days. He laughed loudly while chasing another child across the grass, completely unaware of the darkness surrounding the adults around him.

Ryan watched him for a moment before speaking again.

“There’s something else you should know.”

Alyna frowned slightly.

“What is it?”

Ryan’s expression turned serious.

“Sarmon isn’t dead.”

A cold feeling spread through Alyna instantly.

Ryan leaned forward slightly.

“That much is certain now.”

Her fingers tightened around the tea cup unconsciously.

“He’s somewhere close,” Ryan continued quietly. “Closer than we originally thought.”

Alyna immediately remembered the strange fear inside her visions.

The darkness.

The blood.

The feeling of something monstrous approaching.

Ryan continued speaking carefully.

“But his target isn’t us.”

Alyna looked up immediately.

“It’s Xander’s pack.”

That statement startled her completely.

“What?”

Ryan nodded.

“All signs point toward them being watched first.”

Alyna’s heart began racing.

Xander.

Suddenly, she remembered the uneasiness in his eyes lately. The strange scent he found near the woods. The way his instincts had started warning him repeatedly.

Everything connected.

“You won’t help him?” she asked quietly.

Ryan looked at her calmly.

“Only if he asks.”

Alyna frowned slightly.

“And I don’t think Asher would help him in that situation,” Ryan added honestly.

Her brows furrowed instantly.

“Why?”

Ryan stared at her for a long moment before answering.

“It’s because of you.”

Alyna froze.

Ryan sighed softly.

“Asher doesn’t want any situation where you might get hurt again.”

Her chest tightened painfully.

“He knows if he gets involved deeply with Xander’s problems, you’ll involve yourself too,” Ryan explained. “And lately… you’ve already been carrying too much.”

Alyna lowered her gaze slowly.

Again.

Again and again, Asher kept proving how deeply he loved her.

Even after everything she had done. Even after she broke their mate bond. Even after she left him for two whole years. He still thought about her safety before anything else.

That realization hurt her heart more than anger ever could. Alyna looked toward Leo again.

He was laughing brightly beneath the sunlight while running clumsily across the grass.

For a moment, tears burned faintly behind her eyes. She had spent so long fearing Asher because of her visions. But the real tragedy was that the man destined to hurt her was also the man who loved her the most.