Chapter 19 Alpha Ethan's POV I made my way back to my car . I entered and slammed the door shut with more force than necessary . My jaw clenched tightly as I leaned my head back against the seat , letting out a long , bitter sigh . The seer had been a complete waste of time . Speaking in riddles , parables that barely made sense what good were visions that didn't offer answers ! " She's near but far , bound by pain , guarded by fate . " What the hell was I supposed to do with that ? " Guess you have to wait , " my wolf said inside me , his voice low and resigned . I shut my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose , massaging away the building pressure in my skull . Maybe he was right . Maybe all this ... confusion , frustration , tension - maybe it was all just the result of being sex - starved for too long . I hadn't been intimate with Olivia for so long that I can't even remember . If I just get intimate with Olivia again , maybe I can forget all about her . Her . That thought alone had me slamming my hand against the steering wheel . The memory of her face , her scent , and - damn it - her perfect body had haunted me for days now in ways I couldn't understand . I shook my head to clear those thoughts . I had a mate . So why was I thinking about another ? The drive back to the office was a blur . My mind was spinning , drowning in thoughts I couldn't control . The city's familiar skyline greeted me like a slap in the face when I pulled into the underground garage . I parked in my usual spot , got out , and slammed the door again . It echoed in the concrete silence . Upstairs , the office was mostly quiet . My Beta had gone home for the day , and the rest of the staff knew better than to disturb me when I was in one of these moods . I locked myself in my office , threw off my jacket , rolled up my sleeves , and dove into the work I had been avoiding . Hours passed . I barely noticed the moon rising high outside the glass windows behind my desk . Pack reports , border patrol logs , rogue sightings - a necessary , all repetitive . My handwriting grew sloppier with each passing minute , and I found myself rereading the same paragraph three times without understanding a single word . I was exhausted . But still , I worked . Maybe if I buried myself in these files , in my duties as Alpha , I wouldn't have to think about the ache in my chest . About the warmth that was missing from my bed . And the way she no longer saw me as a mate anymore . About how Olivia barely looked at me with love - only frustration . About how I missed the way we used to be . Back in the first year of our mating , things had been different . We couldn't keep our hands off each other . We were always lang , stealing kisses behind closed doors , whispering dreams of the future . Somewhere along the way , the spark had dimmed . I pushed my chair back suddenly and stood . couldn't take it anymore . If I stayed here any longer , I was going to lose my damn mind . Chapter 19 I grabbed my coat , shrugged it on , and left the building without a word : The night air was crisp , cool against my face as I stepped outside , the stre were quieter now , city lights casting long shadows across the pavement . I walked for a bit , trying to clear my head , not sure where I was even going Then I saw it . A small gift shop still open , the glow of its interior lights warm and inviting . I paused . Maybe ... Maybe a gift would help . Maybe if I brought Olivia something - something thoughtful , something beautiful - it could be a small start . A reminder of how things used to be . Of how much I once loved her . Perhaps it would spark something between us again . With a hesitant breath , I stepped inside . The shop smelled faintly of lavender and vanilla . Soft music played in the background , and the shelves were full of trinkets , candles , custom jewelry , and handcrafted items . A woman behind the counter greeted me with a nod , but I barely noticed . I was too busy scanning the aisles , trying to find something Anything . I picked up a delicate necklace , silver , with a moonstone pendant . Olivia always loved moonstones . She said they reminded her of our first run together under the full moon as mates . I grabbed it . Then a journal with a leather cover , engraved with a quote about love enduring the test of time . I added that too . A small bottle of perfume - the same kind she used to wear back when we first got together , before she switched to something fancier . My arms were full by the time I reached the counter . The cashier gave me a knowing smile . " Anniversary ? " she asked kindly . I hesitated . " Something like that . " She rang me up , and I left the store with a neatly wrapped bag in hand . As I walked back to my car , a strange feeling settled in my chest . Hope . It was small , fragile , but it was there . Maybe this gesture would mean something to her . Maybe she would remember what we once were . Still ... as I slid behind the wheel and set the bag on the passenger seat , a whisper of doubt crept in . Why had it taken me this long to try ? And why did she still linger in my thoughts , even now ? The scent of the perfume , though not yet opened , teased my senses . A memory came unbidden - not of Olivia , but of someone else . Someone with a softer laugh , haunted eyes , and a spirit that burned like wildfire . I cursed under my breath and shoved the key into the ignition . This wasn't how it was supposed to be. I was an Alpha . I had made my choice years ago . I had a mate . But what if fate wasn't done with me yet ? Chapter 19 What if there was more to the seer's riddle than I realized ? N Comment Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!