Chapter 229

Andrew's POV

I couldn't breathe.

Not because the room was stuffy. Not because anyone was shouting. In fact, it was too quiet. The kind of silence that squeezes your chest.

I stood there, in the center of my office, with the weight of everything pressing down on me—Elara gone, my mate stolen like she meant nothing.

But she meant everything.

“I’m going after her,” I said, my voice low, rough, almost unrecognizable to my own ears.

Michael, who had been pacing near the window, stopped dead in his tracks. He turned to me, eyes narrowing. “You sure you want to do that now?”

“Of course he is,” Lora cut in before I could answer. Her arms were folded, her jaw tight. “Look at him. He’s not gonna sit still while she’s out there.”

“I’m not asking for permission.” I looked each of them in the eye. “I’m telling you. Elara’s out there somewhere, and I’m bringing her back.”

Greg, who had been leaning against the wall like he always did when he was thinking, pushed off it and came to stand beside me.