Chapter 21
The phone on the bed buzzed nonstop, screen lighting up with photo after
photo–werewolves across the world reporting supposed sightings of Ariel.
There was so much information that Damon could barely tell what was real
and what wasn’t.
Too many people were chasing the reward. Even with a few low–ranking
Omegas hired to help filter the submissions, the workload was crushing.
At that moment, he began to regret making the offer.
But what else could he do?
Aside from the occasional breadcrumb Ariel dropped herself, he had no other
way to find her.
Damon sat on the edge of the bed, drowning in helplessness.
Then, a few betas forwarded several photos.
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Chapter 21 A Step Too Late
“Alpha, someone claims Ariel was seen in front of the church in Arendelle
Bondsville. We’ve already sent scouts ahead. You should get there as soon as
possible.”
His heart surged with hope.
Real or not, it didn’t matter–he had to try.
He couldn’t give up the only lead he had.
Every day without Ariel felt unbearable.
She was like air, like water–something he couldn’t live without.
The fact that he’d made it this far without her was already a miracle. He was
just a fish flailing for breath on dry land, struggling with the last of his strength.
Damon couldn’t remember the last time he’d rested properly.
Since she disappeared, he only slept when his body completely gave out-
and even then, only for an hour or two at most.
11:38 AM
Chapter 21 A Step Too Late
He was terrified he’d miss a single lead.
Even on the flight to Arendelle, he stayed busy, handling pack affairs midair.
甘
But when the plane landed and he went to collect his luggage, he didn’t know
that Ariel was at that very moment boarding another flight from the same
airport.
Once again, they missed each other by inches.
As Ariel’s plane soared into the sky, Damon rushed to the church.
He stopped by every nearby hotel, asking questions.
No one had seen her.
After hours of searching, he finally got a response from a small hotel tucked
around a corner.
“That pretty lady? She already checked out this morning. You’re late. If you’d
gotten here just a few hours earlier, you might’ve caught her.”
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Chapter 21 A Step Too Late
The friendly front desk clerk answered cheerfully.
Damon stood there, stunned.
He had been so close. Just one step behind.
If only he’d moved faster, he might’ve seen her again.
Is Lunelle really so cruel? Is he not even allowed a glimpse of her?
“Thank you.”
He muttered his thanks and walked off, hollow and lost.
In a foreign land, drifting without direction, he felt more alone than ever.
His thoughts slipped back to a time before Ariel–when he had no idea what it meant to love someone this deeply.
Back then, his heart was full of nothing but ambition. All he cared about was
building Thornfang Pack into the most powerful force in the region.
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Chapter 21 A Step Too Late
But the moment he met Ariel, everything changed.
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That sudden rush of emotion, that pull toward her, had been so unfamiliar-
and yet, it was the first time he ever understood what happiness felt like.
When he was chasing her, even a glance from her could keep him smiling for
days.
If the Damon from back then could see the man he’d become… He’d probably
want to punch him in the face.
નાસા સામે છે.
