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ZACH.I needed to make a choice.‘She’s pregnant, Zach. I can sense a pup inside her.’ Apollo said, making my heart sink more. As if seeing her bleeding was not enough to torture me.So many thoughts were running through my head—things I should have worried about, but they were nothing compared to how my heart was shattering at the moment. Only Amber could instill this fear in me. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I don’t want to do this, but I don’t want to lose you…” I sobbed, talking to her wolf. “Please forgive me… I promise, in another life, Apollo and I will find you. I’m sorry.”My body was wracked with my cries, knowing that I was choosing to let her go. And I might have to pay the price for this. Aside from the council imposing a sanction for marking an Alpha Female outside of the Claiming, Amber might also hate me for killing her wolf.But I needed her alive. “Please don’t think that I don’t love you. I have loved you and Amber all my life.” With trembling hands, I carefully placed
ZACH.It worked.I wobbled. Pain was everywhere on my legs, but I didn’t mind. I kept going, walking in a slightly hunched position.If anyone were to see me, they would surely laugh at me. An Alpha would never walk like this without his back straight and head held high. But I didn’t care. I would even crawl if I needed to just to reach her. “Amber…” Tears continued to flow as I walked forward. I had a few choices—walking to the wheelchair to my right, or to the dresser to my left, where my phone was, or forward to Amber. I knew I should get my phone, but I wanted to hold her. So I walked forward, and I saw the emergency button just below the light switch beside the bathroom door. It took forever before I reached it, and when I finally did. I slammed my palm on it once. Twice. Thrice. Too many fucking times. I hope Cyrus was awake. He was my only hope. I hope he knew we would never touch it unless it were a matter of life and death.After I pressed it too many times, I moved forw
AMBER.“Let me just go up there…” I anchored my hand on the counter, gearing myself to jump up to reach the overhead cabinet attached to the ceiling. “No. No. No. Don’t do that. Get a chair, baby… Please.”“Relax. This is not the first time. Besides, even with a chair, I won’t reach it.” I softly chuckled. I was too short, and the ceiling was too high. “That part there is steep.” He was referring to the side where the cabinet was. “Why did you even need to put it up there?”“Don’t worry. I’ll be careful. Sit back and relax.” I winked at him and heard him say other things, but I ignored them and began climbing the counter. I moved toward the front of the cabinet, and like he said, the part of the counter was steep. It can only hold one-third of my foot, so I had to stand on my toes. I opened the cabinet door, using it for support as I scanned the inside looking for the boxes, when a burn suddenly hit my stomach. The hit turned into a massive pain like I was punched, making my body
AMBER.After our first kiss, we shared many more kisses that night. Then Zach stayed and lay down in bed with me. We didn’t discuss us or what the next step would be. We just told each other that we were happy to still be with each other’s company after all these years, but there was a silent understanding that we could no longer return to the friendship we once had. I slept comfortably in his arms, but he was already gone when I woke up. The packhouse had no idea he was here, except for Mom, who told me she saw Zach at the ground through the window as she was about to make her way to my room to greet me. When she realized he was aiming for my bedroom, she went back to their room and told Dad I was already asleep. It was a confirmation that she was giving me a blessing to love him.A month after that, Zach asked me to be his girlfriend. And the engagement came soon after that. We were both on cloud nine. We thought we had it easy compared to our friends. We didn’t know that the har
AMBER.FLASHBACK. A few minutes before Amber’s 18th birthday. I should be sleeping already, but I was waiting for the clock to hit twelve to see who would greet me first. The girls and I were in a video call earlier, except for Catherine, who was halfway around the world trying to mend her broken heart. So I wasn’t expecting anything from her, but Amara and Cassidy were competitive and were betting on who could greet me on the dot. And aside from that, I wanted to see if Zach would also message or call me right away, or would wait until tomorrow at my party. Which was something I also looked forward to. He was my escort, while Cyrus opted for our younger sister, Eva. My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of movement on my balcony. It must be the wind. But then something sounded as if someone was knocking on the glass door.My heart thudded loudly as I walked toward it. I should be worried, but my curiosity got the best of me. I drew the curtain to take a peek, and my eyes widen
(Continuation of the Flashback from the previous chapter)AMBER.“You can run. I’ll stay with Amber. I’ll wait until she shifts.” Zach told Cyrus, snapping me from my thoughts. “The pups might be too exhausted to run later if you keep waiting.”“Are you sure?” Cyrus asked, but I knew he had no reason not to leave me alone with Zach.Zach had been like my personal bodyguard since he learned how to drive and had accompanied me everywhere whenever he could.Zach nodded, and I gave my brother a thumbs-up sign.Soon, they began running under the full moon, and while I remained in the same spot, waiting for the moon to take pity on me and give me my wolf.But it didn’t happen. After more than an hour, Zach asked if I wanted to come with him. I had no idea where, but I had agreed. I mindlinked Dad and told him I would be with Zach, but he would take me home before dawn.Dad gave me his permission and didn’t ask about my shifting. I believed they already knew I wouldn’t be shifting tonight.In