Ch. 281..285: Reclaiming My Broken Luna Chapter 281-285

Chapter 280: Velaris

Killian's POV

"Alpha, what should we do?" Ryder's voice pulled me back from the brink of my spiraling thoughts.

His eyes bore into mine, tense with the weight of what we had just discovered. "What Giselle did... it's worse than treason. We have proof of her betrayal. How should we deal with her?"

My heart raced, but I forced myself to stay calm. "Don't alert her just yet," I said firmly, my voice cutting through the tension like a knife.

Ryder looked at me, his eyes flickering with protest. "But, Alpha-"

I raised a hand to stop him, my voice low but unyielding. "We're barely scratching the surface, Ryder. If Giselle could pull something like this off for years, then we're dealing with something much bigger. There's more to this than we realize."

His jaw clenched as he tried to rein in his frustration, but I could see he understood. "You think there's more she's hiding?"

I let out a slow breath, the weight of my next words heavier than I wanted to admit. "Yes, Ryder. I do. I've been thinking about what happened years ago... that night I slept with someone I couldn't remember. I've been trying to piece it together, but it never made sense."

I paused, meeting his gaze. "Until now."

Ryder frowned, confused. "What are you saying, Alpha?"

I ran a hand through my hair, the frustration bubbling up. "That night... I thought I was just drunk. I thought

the headache, the blacking out - it was all from the alcohol. I drank too much, and I thought that was it."

I hesitated, the words difficult to force out. "But after what happened last night, I'm starting to think it wasn't just the alcohol back then. I wasn't just drunk, Ryder. I think I was drugged.'"

It was the only way to make sense of it. Even if I was just drunk, I would have still known what I was doing. I would also still be able to remember things than to be left with completely nothing.

Ryder's expression shifted to one of alarm. "Drugged? What makes you think that?"

I leaned forward, my voice dropping to a tense whisper. "Last night, on my date with Giselle... I didn't

drink. I stayed sober on purpose, but I still felt the same way- dizzy, disoriented, and filled with heat. It was like my mind was slipping, like it was being clouded and my body is starting to have a mind of its own. The same way it felt that night years ago."

Ryder's eyes widened as the realization hit him. "You think Giselle drugged you? Both then and now?"

I nodded slowly, the weight of the truth sinking. "Yes. There's a plant called Velaris. It's rare, but it has the power to cloud someone's mind, to make them feel disoriented and feel a sexual desire at the same time. It

I

would explain why I coappened

remember anything that happened that night."

Ryder's face darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. "Velaris... that's dangerous stuff. If Giselle's been using it on you—"

"She's been using it," I cut in, my voice sharp. "I didn't want to believe it, but the pieces are starting to fit together. She wanted me to think it was alcohol back then, and I was too blind to see the truth."

Ryder's jaw tightened, his anger barely contained. "So she drugged you to manipulate you into thinking you slept with her. That's how she convinced you Ryker was hers."

"Exactly," I said, my voice hard. "It all makes sense now. She needed me to believe it was her I slept with. I woke up beside her that morning, and I assumed... I assumed the worst. But I couldn't remember a thing."

My fists clenched, the memory of that night now tainted by the truth. "She's been playing this game for years, Ryder. And I fell for it."

Ryder stepped closer, his eyes filled with righteous fury. "What do you want to do, Alpha? We can't let her get away with this."

"We won't," I replied, my voice low but cold. "But we have to be smart about it. If Giselle's been using Velaris on me, then there's no telling how far her manipulation goes. She's more dangerous than we thought."

Ryder's gaze hardened. "Do you want me to gather more evidence? We can look into her connections, find out where she's getting the Velaris."

"I've been thinking about it so much.

How could she execute all this

things? Where did she get that Velaris and who is the person helping her to do all this. I refused to believe that she only did this by herself." My brows furrowed as I wondered about it, my mind already racing with the possibilities.

"Think about it. If she successfully convinced me and everyone else that she was Ryker's mother, then what else could she be capable of?" I voiced out my thoughts.

Ryder fell silent as he considered my words.

"There are still things that don't make any sense. How did she even got hold of Ryker and What

happened to her real child, the one she was carrying? There's so many questions that we can't leave unanswered," I pointed out to him.

Ryder slowly nodded his head and his expression darkened as the implications of my words sank in. "So, what do we do?"

"We play this carefully," I said, my voice deadly calm. "We can't let her know we're onto her. Not yet. If she realizes we're digging into this, she'll cover her tracks, and we'll never find the truth. We need to know what

really happened before we make a move."

 

 

Chapter 281: Dark Secrets

Killian's

POV

Ryder exhaled slowly, tension rippling through his body as he processed the gravity of the situation. "Where do we start?" he asked, his voice tight with barely contained anger.

I took a moment before responding. "I couldn't think of anyone who could know more about this except for Giselle's doctor," I replied, my mind already working through the plan.

"The one who handled her pregnancy. He would know what happened, or at the very least, he'd have records. If there's a hole in her story, he's the key to unlocking it." I explained to him.

Ryder fell into a thoughtful silence, his eyes narrowing as he absorbed the implications. After a beat, his fists clenched, his jaw tightening in fury.

"Her doctors... They were all members of our Pack. How could they betray you? Betray us? How dare they lie to their Alpha!" His voice shook with righteous anger.

"To hide something this huge would take more than just Giselle," I continued, my voice steady but cold. "This wasn't the work of one person. You'll need to investigate and interrogate every doctor and nurse from the Pack who was involved in her care. Someone has to know something."

"But you have to tread carefully," I added, my tone dropping. "No one can know we're investigating, least of all Giselle. If she catches wind of this, we'll lose our chance to expose the full truth."

Ryder nodded, his expression hardening into grim determination. But then, after a moment, his brow furrowed. "What about her attendants? They're always with her. There's no way they know nothing about what Giselle's hiding."

I let out a deep sigh, feeling the weight of it all pressing down on me. "Giselle's attendants... they're too loyal to her. They follow her orders without question. If they were loyal to us, they would've come forward already."

I paused, choosing my next words carefully. "For now, leave them alone. Keep an eye on them, but don't push. We can't risk them alerting Giselle to what we're doing."

Ryder's eyes flickered with doubt, but he nodded, understanding the delicacy of the situation. Still, his concern lingered, and after a moment, he asked, "And what about Ryker? What do we do about him?" My chest tightened at the thought of Ryker - an innocent boy who doesn't even understand what is happening around him.

"We protect him," I said without hesitation. "No matter what, we protect Ryker. He's caught up in something he doesn't even understand. We keep things as they are for now, until we know the whole truth."

I felt bad for Ryder who was pulled into this mess. He grew up thinking that Giselle is his real mother. I'm worried on how he is going to adjust once he finds out the truth.

Ryder's gaze softened, his fierce loyalty shining through. "I'll make sure he's safe, Alpha. I'll make sure Giselle doesn't suspect a thing."

I nodded my head slightly. I fully trust him and his abilities.

Ryder paused, a question hanging in the air before he finally spoke. "Alpha... who do you think Ryker's real mother is?"

I hesitated my pulse quickening as

the name formed in my mind, a name I didn't want to say aloud but couldn't ignore. “Astrid,” I said, the word heavy with possibility. think Ryker is Astrid's son."

Ryder's eyes widened, but there was no shock. Only a grim understanding. "I was thinking the same thing."

A silence fell between us, thick and charged with the weight of what that meant. If Ryker was truly Astrid's son, then everything I had believed - about my life, about

for years

—

Astrid's child, about Giselle was a

lie.

A carefully constructed lie that had buried the truth deep beneath layers of deceit.

I took a deep breath, bracing myself for what I was about to say next. "Ryder," I started, my voice low but

resolute. "We need to do another DNA test. This time, between Astrid and Ryker."

Ryder looked at me, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Another test? How do we "

"Quietly," I cut him off, my tone

leaving no room for argument. "You're going to gather a DNA

sample from Astrid, but she canoet

know about it. No one can. This stays between you and me. No one else is to be involved."

Ryder's eyes widened slightly at the gravity of the command, but after a moment, he nodded,

understanding the importance of secrecy.

"How do you want me to go about this?" he asked, his voice calm but determined.

"Discreetly," I replied. "Get a sample without her noticing. We can't afford any mistakes. Once we have it, we'll know for sure."

Ryder's expression hardened with determination. "I'll take care of it, Alpha. You can trust me."

I met his gaze, knowing that Ryder was the only one I could rely on for this. "I know."

And with that, the weight of our secret plan hung heavy between us, the first step toward uncovering the truth.

Ryder left the room with a determined look, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The silence of the room was almost suffocating.

My mind raced, replaying every interaction with Giselle, every moment that seemed off but I had brushed aside. How had I been so blind? How had I allowed myself to be deceived for so long?

I stood up from my desk, pacing the room as the weight of it all began to settle on me. Giselle had orchestrated an elaborate lie, manipulating me, drugging me, all for what? Power? Control?

The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. Giselle ruined everything. He ruined my life and even Astrid and Ryker were caught in her schemes.

It's time for me to find out what happened years ago and know what kind of person Giselle really is. And she will have to pay for everything that she had done.

 

Chapter 282: To Fight for Love

Nova's POV

I fold the last piece of clothing into my bag, my hands shaking with every movement.

Everything feels heavier than it should, like the weight of my decision is pressing down on me, threatening to crush me.

This room, this pack, it was my home for so long. But now, it's become unbearable.

Every corner holds memories I wish I could forget, memories that keep me tied to a past I no longer have a place in.

Drystan.

His name alone sends a sharp pang through my chest. I close my eyes, trying to push away the thoughts of him, of what could've been, but it's no use.

He's everywhere, in everything. I can't escape him, not while I'm here. I can't pretend anymore. It hurts too much.

I open my eyes, looking down at the half-packed bag. My heart feels like it's shattering with every item I shove inside, but this is the only option. I can't stay.

Not when Drystan and Astrid have found their way back to each other. I can't be the reason they fall apart again. I won't be the one standing in the way of their happiness.

No matter how much it tears me apart inside.

I bite my lip, the tears threatening to spill over, but I won't let them. Not now. I've cried enough over this. Over him. Over what we could've been.

But what's the point of holding on to something that was never truly mine? Drystan made his choice. And I have to make mine.

Leaving is the only way I'll survive this. I can't keep pretending that I'm okay, that seeing him with her every day doesn't kill me a little more each time.

He deserves happiness, and so does Astrid. I care about them both too much to stay and cause more pain. And if I'm honest with myself, I deserve a chance to move on too.

But why does it hurt so much to walk away?

The sound of the zipper closing feels final, like I'm sealing away every last hope, every last bit of love I've kept hidden for so long.

My chest tightens, and I have to remind myself to breathe, to keep going. There's no turning back now.

I can't wait for Drystan's permission, can't wait for him to try and convince me to stay. He wouldn't understand why I need to do this.

He'd tell me things will get better, that we can all figure it out. But he doesn't see what I see. He doesn't feel what I feel.

Staying will break me.

I throw my bag over my shoulder, casting one last look around the room. The memories here - the late- night conversations, the shared laughter, the unspoken moments-none of it matters anymore.

It's all in the past. I need to leave it behind before it drowns me.

"Nova, are you really sure about leaving?" I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard Michael's voice.

I turned to where his voice came

from and saw him standing at the doorway, staring at me with concern etched on his face, his arms crossed as if he was preparing for a battle I hadn't expected to fight.

"Have you packed your bags already?" I asked, trying to brush off the question, trying to avoid the inevitable confrontation. I didn't want to talk about it. Not now. Not when my emotions were already teetering on the edge.

Michael stepped into the room, his gaze steady, not giving in to my attempt to change the subject. "Nova, don't change the topic. Are you really sure about this?"

I exhaled sharply, avoiding his eyes. "I have to go, Michael. There's nothing left for me here."

His brows furrowed, and he took another step closer, his voice gentler but firm. "You think leaving is going to solve everything? Just like that?"

I clenched my jaw, trying to keep the emotions from spilling over. "I don't have a choice. Drystan and Astrid... they're back together, and I can't stay here and watch that. It'll kill me."

Michael didn't move. He just stood

there, staring at me with an intensity that made it impossible to ignore

him. "You're running away, Novanet

That's what this is. You're not solving anything by leaving. You're just avoiding it."

"I'm not running," I snapped, my voice harsher than I intended. "I'm doing what I have to do. I can't be

here anymore, not when I'm constantly reminded of what I'll never have."

He shook his head, his expression hardening with determination. "No, you're giving up. You're giving up without even fighting."

 

Chapter 283: Runner

Nova's POV

My hands curled into tight fists at my sides, anger boiling inside me. How could Michael assume I hadn't fought for Drystan?

How could he stand there and accuse me of running away when he had no clue what I had been through? "You don't understand, Michael," I snapped, my voice trembling with a mix of frustration and grief. "I did confess my feelings to him. I put my heart on the line, and you know what happened? He rejected me," my voice wavered.

"Don't you realize how humiliating that was? To bear my soul, only to be turned away?" I saw guilt flicker across his face as my words hit home.

"Drystan made it painfully clear that I'd never be more than a friend. And now, you're standing here, telling me to go through that again? To relive that pain? Why? So I can watch him choose Astrid over me again?" I saw a change in Michael's expression-a hint of regret, maybe, but he didn't back down. "That was three years ago, Nova. People change. What if Drystan feels differently now?"

I shook my head, swallowing the lump in my throat. I refused to fall into that trap again. "It doesn't matter, Michael. I could confess a thousand times, and it would always end the same. He will always choose Astrid."

She's everything I'm not, and I'm done pretending I have a chance." My voice broke as I shoved more clothes into my bag, the finality of my words echoing in the silence.

Michael sighed, running a hand through his hair, frustration evident. But when he spoke again, his tone was gentler. "But what if you're wrong? What if he has changed?"

I sighed in exasperation, feeling my patience wear thin. I had already said my piece; why couldn't he just let it go?

"I've seen the way he looks at you, Nova. You think I haven't noticed? The way his eyes linger when you're not looking, the way his jaw tightens whenever he sees us together, like he's... jealous."

I scoffed, shaking my head. "He sees me as his little sister, Michael. It's nothing more than that."

He's just being protective, fulfilling some promise he made to my sister. It's not romantic, no matter what you think." The words stung, a harsh truth I had come to accept after so much heartache.

"Maybe that was true before, but this is different," Michael insisted, his gaze piercing. "I'm a guy, Nova. I know what it looks like when a man is in love."

His words hit me like a blow to the chest, stirring a flicker of hope that I quickly smothered. Could Drystan have changed? No, I couldn't let myself believe it. I refused to be that foolish again.

I tightened my grip on the bag's strap, willing myself to keep breathing. "Even if you're right, it changes nothing," I whispered, my voice barely steady. "I've made up my mind, Michael. I can't keep hurting myself like this."

With that, I zipped up my bag and slung it over my shoulder, my heart pounding in my chest. "Grab your things. We're leaving," I muttered before brushing past him and walking out of the room, each step feeling heavier than the last.

****************

Michael moved with a hesitation

that I felt in my bones. He picked up his bag and walked to the car, glancing at me a few times as if searching for one last opening to change my mind. But I avoided his eyes, focusing instead on loading my luggage into the back,

The silence between us was thick, suffocating, but I didn't have the energy to break it. I had already said all I needed to say.

He placed his bag beside mine,

pausing for a second before finally shutting the trunk. I caught a glimpse of the conflict on his face- he didn't want to leave, didn't want me to leave - but he knew arguing would only push me further away.

I climbed into the passenger seat, shutting the door a bit too hard. Michael got behind the wheel, still glancing at me, but he said nothing.

The engine roared to life, and just like that, we were off. My heart squeezed painfully as we pulled away from the place I had called home for so long.

I refused to look back, keeping my eyes fixed on the road ahead as the pack house disappeared in the rearview mirror.

The car was eerily silent. No music played, no idle chatter filled the space. Only the hum of the engine and the rhythmic clatter of the tires against the road broke through the quiet.

Michael kept his hands on the wheel, his jaw set tight, eyes focused on the road. He didn't try to speak, didn't push me for more explanations. He simply drove, respecting the boundary I had drawn between us. I stole a glance at him out of the corner of my eye. His face was set in a mixture of determination and reluctance.

He was angry, sad, frustrated-everything I was but couldn't express. His grip tightened on the wheel, knuckles turning white.

The silence was suffocating. Every passing mile felt like a piece of my heart being stripped away, leaving me hollow.

I crossed my arms over my chest, pressing down on the ache that threatened to consume me.

Finally, I understood his words. I now understand why he told me those things. I was indeed running away from everything that is why I have this heavy feeling inside my chest

 

Chapter 284: Heartbreak

Drystan's

POV

A storm broke loose inside me the moment I turned away from Astrid.

My feet moved without thought, each step heavier than the last, and I didn't care where I was going-I just needed to leave. To get away from the weight of her words, her rejection.

The sound of my boots pounding against the earth drowned out the distant voices behind me, but it wasn't enough to quiet the roar in my chest.

I passed through the pack's courtyard in a blur, the cold night air biting against my skin, but I barely noticed. I only had one thing in mind - distance. I needed to get away from everything.

"Drystan!" Damien's voice cut through the air, sharp with confusion. I had no choice but to walk past through them to leave the Pack.

"What the hell is going on?" He asked out loud, sensing the tension gripping my entire body.

I ignored him. My jaw clenched so tightly I could feel the muscles strain. I heard their footsteps quicken, coming up behind me.

Damien, Killian, and a few others stood in curiosity, watching me. Their surprise was evident, but I couldn't bring myself to stop. Not even for them.

Killian caught up first, his brow furrowed in concern. "Drystan, wait - what happened? Where are you going?" His voice was firm, a mixture of authority and confusion.

I glanced at him, just enough to see the question burning in his eyes. I stilled, my hands clenching tightly as I stared at him.

For a moment, I considered it saying what had been building inside me for so long, letting him bear the weight of everything I had been holding in. The rejection. The frustration. The pain that Astrid's words had left behind.

It was his fault. All of this. Astrid's coldness, her distance-it all traced back to him.

To the way he treated her, the way he never truly valued what he had. If it weren't for him, maybe Astrid wouldn't be so guarded, so broken.

Maybe she could have loved me the way I loved her. Maybe... maybe I wouldn't be standing here now, with this bitterness clawing its way out of my chest.

I opened my mouth to speak, to hurl those words at him, to make him understand what he had done.

My chest tightened, the anger rising, threatening to spill out in ways I wasn't sure I could control. But as I stared at him - his confusion, his concern-something stopped me.

So I shut my mouth. I let the words wither and die on my tongue. I turned my back on him, the weight of silence heavier than anything I could have said.

"Where is Astrid?" Killian shouted after me.

I didn't answer him. I didn't owe him anything - least of all an explanation. The rage that twisted inside me like a violent storm was too much, too dangerous.

Words would only make it worse. So I kept walking, my boots crunching against the gravel, their voices fading into the background as I reached my car.

My hand shook as I pulled the keys from my pocket, but I didn't care. The engine roared to life, loud and angry, echoing the fury that burned inside me.

I threw the car into gear and peeled out of the forest, the wheels kicking up dirt and leaves as I sped away from the pack, from Killian, from everything.

The night stretched ahead of me, the road winding through the thick trees like a dark vein cutting through the earth.

My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white, but I didn't slow down. If anything, I pressed harder on the gas.

The speedometer climbed higher, I'm driving recklessly too fast, putting myself in danger but I didn't care. The wind whipped through the open windows, cold and biting against my face, but it wasn't enough to cool the fire raging inside me.

I wanted to scream, to tear the world apart the way it felt like I was being torn apart from the inside. Astrid's rejection was like a knife, still twisting, still bleeding.

The headlights cut through the dark, illuminating the empty road ahead, but my mind was somewhere else.

Astrid. Always Astrid.

She was all I could see, all I could think about. Her words, her distance, her indifference. I wanted to hate her. I wanted to blame her for all of it.

But no matter how much I tried to

convince myself that she was the problem, that she was the reason I was driving down this road like a madman, the truth gnawed at the back of my mind. FindNovel

It wasn't just her. It wasn't just the rejection.

It was me.

The realization hit me like a punch to the gut, the anger draining away, leaving only a cold, empty ache in its place.

My foot eased off the gas, the car slowing as the weight of the truth settled on my chest. I had been selfish. Just like Astrid.

I had waited for her, not because it was best for her, but because it was what *I* wanted. Because I had convinced myself that I was the one who deserved her love, her attention.

And in doing so, I had ignored everything else. Everyone else. Nova.

Her name cut through my thoughts like a whisper, soft but relentless. Nova, who had been there, waiting watching. Nova, who had cared for me, who had given me everything without asking for anything in return.

And what had I done? I had pushed her aside. Used her. Ignored her, all for a fantasy that was never going to happen.

I clenched the steering wheel harder,

my chest tightening with guilt. I had hurt Nova. I had been selfish, thinking only of what I wanted, never

once considering her feelings, her

needs.

I had treated her the same way Astrid had treated me. The same way Killian had treated Astrid.

The irony of it was suffocating.

 

 

Chapter 285: No More Running

Drystan's POV

I slammed the brakes, the tires screeching as the car jolted to a violent stop in the middle of the empty road.

The sudden silence felt deafening, as though the world had paused just to witness my breakdown.

My hands gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white, but this time it wasn't the rage that fueled me.

It wasn't the blinding, red-hot anger that had consumed me minutes ago. It was something far heavier, something I couldn't escape from - guilt.

My hands shook, trembling uncontrollably, but not because I was furious. The fire that had raged within me had burned out, leaving only ashes of regret.

I had been so obsessed with my own pain, my own selfish desire, that I'd failed to see the damage I was leaving in my wake. I had been blind-willfully blind to the hurt I was causing.

I let out a long, shaky breath, my chest tight as I leaned back into the seat.

My head fell against the headrest, and for a moment, I closed my eyes, wishing I could shut out the

crushing weight of the truth. But it was there, looming over me, undeniable.

When I opened my eyes, I stared up at the dark sky. The stars were hidden, suffocated behind thick clouds, as if they were refusing to witness my downfall.

And for the first time in as long as I could remember, I felt just as lost as they were.

Nova deserved better. Better than the selfish man I had become. I had been no different from Killian. He had taken Astrid for granted, and now I was doing the same with Nova.

But I wouldn't be like him. I couldn't be like him.

I wasn't going to let this end the same way. Nova deserved more than just an empty apology or hollow words. She deserved the truth-deserved to know that I saw the damage I had caused.

Whether she forgave me or not didn't matter. What mattered was that I would own up to my mistakes. I would face her, and I would tell her the truth-that I had hurt her, that I had been selfish, that I had

taken her for granted. And I would accept whatever decision she made, even if it meant losing her forever. If that was the price I had to pay. It was the least I could do.

I let out another breath, this time more steady. The guilt didn't fade, but there was clarity now - clarity in the storm of emotions that had clouded my mind for so long.

I couldn't undo the past, but I could take responsibility for it. I could make things right, even if it was too late to fix everything.

I wasn't going to run away from this. Not anymore.

With renewed determination, I shifted the car into gear, the engine roaring back to life as I turned the wheel and headed back home, hoping that she'd still be there waiting for me.

I pushed the gas pedal down hard, the engine roaring beneath me as the car surged forward.

The road stretched out endlessly, winding through the trees like a shadowy ribbon, but I barely noticed.

I needed to get to Silvermoon. Needed to see Nova. Needed to make this right.

But the Nightsong Pack was too far from Silvermoon Pack and no matter how fast I drove, the distance seemed insurmountable.

Each second felt like an eternity, each mile like a thousand.

The landscape blurred past me, a mix of dark trees and the faint glow of dawn on the horizon, but my mind was fixed on one thing: her. Nova.

The sky was changing, slowly fading from the inky black of night to the soft grays and pinks of morning. Time was slipping through my fingers, and the more the sun climbed, the more the weight of everything I had done pressed down on me.

།

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, my foot pressing harder on the gas. The car shot forward, the tires

humming against the pavement as

the trees whipped by in a blu.

en FindNovel

SUMS

By the time I finally saw the familiar markers of Nightsong Pack territory, the sun had already risen, casting long shadows across the forest floor.

My heart pounded in my chest as I made the final turn into the pack grounds, the weight of everything I needed to say pressing down on me with each passing second.

I pulled into the familiar clearing and parked the car, the engine sputtering as I turned it off.

I stepped out of the car, my legs stiff

from the long drive, but I forced myself to move, my body driven by the urgency that burned inside me as if I had a wink of sleep from driving all day and all night yesterday.

I rushed inside the Packhouse and started searching for Nova. I was about to go up the stairs to look.in her room when I met Beta Caden rushing down the stairs to see me.

"Alpha," he calmly welcomed me, but his brows furrowed as soon as he noticed the concern written all over my face.

He already knew something was wrong before I even said a word.

"What's going on?" he asked, his voice filled with the same tension that gripped me.

I didn't have time to explain. I couldn't waste another second. I stopped in front of him, my breath coming in quick, shallow bursts.

"Where's Nova?" I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended, but I couldn't help it. The urgency in my chest was overwhelming.

Caden's expression shifted, his concern deepening as he studied me. And then, after a long pause, he spoke, his voice careful. "Drystan... she left."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut.

I froze, the world seeming to tilt on its axis as I tried to process what he had just said.

"What do you mean, she left?" I asked, my voice low, almost hollow. My hands clenched into fists at my sides as the weight of his words settled in.

Caden's gaze softened, and he let out a slow breath. "She left this morning with Michael. I thought you knew."

"Where did she go?" I asked him.

"She didn't say," Caden answered, leaving me with no clue,

I turned around, rushing to leave hoping that I could still catch up after her.

I won't easily give up this time.