?Chapter 0458


    The moon hung low in the night sky, its silvery glow filtering through the billowing curtains of our room. Its luminance should have brought tranquility, a stark contrast to the turmoil within my heart. But it didn''t.


    I was curled up on the edge of the bed, hugging my knees to my chest, lost in a whirlwind of emotions. The gentlepping of the waves from the cliffside below offered no sce. My cheeks felt damp, tears spilling over, my vision blurred by the brimming sorrow.


    Lost in my own mncholy, I hadn''t noticed the soft shuffle of footsteps until a warm handnded gently on my shoulder.


    Startled, I looked up to find Luke''s concerned gaze locked onto mine. Themplight from the hallway cast a dim, golden hue on his features, entuating the deep worry lines etched on his forehead.


    "Hey, you," he whispered, his voice breaking the quiet stillness of the room. "I saw you run off from the party. I got worried, and then... I heard you crying."


    Swiping at the tears staining my cheeks, I tried to muster a brave face. "I''m okay, Luke. Just a little overwhelmed. You didn''t have to follow me. You should be enjoying the party."


    He sat down beside me, his posture rxed, though his eyes remained earnest. "Of course I have to follow you," he responded, offering a soft smile."What are bodyguards for?"


    I chuckled slightly. "You''re more than a bodyguard. You''re one of my best friends."


    Letting out a sigh, I turned to look out of the window once more, the vastness of the ocean stretching out before me, seemingly endless. "Luke," I started, trying to divert the heavy atmosphere, "we haven''t really had much time to chat, have we? How have you been?"


    His soft eyes flickered with an emotion I couldn''t quite pinpoint, but he leaned back, a wistful expression on his face. "Yeah, it has been a while. Scout duties have kept me preupied. Lots of traveling between realms and all."


    I tilted my head, recalling his pivotal role in the pack. "You''re still scouting for any rogues or Crescents, right?" Luke nodded, exhaling deeply. "Exactly. Though things have been eerily quiet heretely. But that doesn''t mean get to rest. I''ve been spending more time in the werewolf realm, searching for Edward."


    Ah, Edward. The mere mention of his name sent shivers down my spine. The ex-school therapist who turned out to be not what he seemed. The story of Edward''s sudden disappearance months ago still haunted the pack. It still haunted me, every night, after what he did to me and my friends.


    "He''s elusive," Luke said quietly. "And every time I think I have a lead, it turns out to be a dead end. But we''ll find him, sooner orter."


    My fingers yed with thece curtain, anxiety gnawing at the edges of my thoughts. "Is it dangerous, Luke? Being out there, searching for someone like him?"


    Luke smiled, though it didn''t quite reach his eyes. "I won''t lie to you, Nina. It has its moments. But it''s my duty, and I''m good at what I do. But you know that."


    I could sense a weariness beneath his words, a weight he''d been carrying. I reached out, squeezing his arm reassuringly. "Just... be careful, okay?"


    He chuckled, the sound low and warm. "Always am."


    The two of us sat inpanionable silence for a while. The moon outside continued its ascent, casting long, shimmering reflections on the ocean.


    "You know," Luke finally broke the silence, his voice gentler, "I''ve been more worried about you than about myself these days."


    A soft smile tugged at my lips. "I''m learning to handle things, one day at a time."


    Luke leaned in closer, his warm presence a source offort. "And what about Enzo?" he probed gently.


    Taking a deep breath, I met Luke''s gaze, my voice quivering. "I won''t lie. The thought of being away from him for so long, of waking up in this massive house all by myself... it''s suffocating."


    Luke processed my words, his fingers drumming lightly against his thigh. The room was filled with the gentle rustling of the curtains, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.


    "Nina," he began after a pause, his voice soft, "I can only imagine how hard this must be for you. But you know Enzo loves you, right?"


    A tinyugh, more of a scoff, escaped my lips. "Of course I do. But what if... what if he meets someone else while he''s gone? What if he finds someone who understands his world better?"


    Luke shook his head, a smirk ying on his lips. "You''re being silly. Trust me, from the way he looks at you, from the way he speaks about you-there''s no one else for him. You two are fated to be together."


    Despite thefort his words should''ve offered, the gnawing uncertainty refused to relent.


    The vastness of our cliffside home seemed even more pronounced, amplifying my sense of istion. The tall ceilings, the huge windows, the sharp corners. It felt so warm with Enzo here, but suddenly all of those things felt severe and dangerous with him being gone.


    Noticing my continued unease, Luke added, "You''re not alone, Nina. You have amunity, friends who''ll stand by you. You have me."


    I gave him a grateful smile, appreciating the effort. "Thanks. But it''s not quite the same, Luke. Every nook and cranny of this house holds a memory of us. How do I stay here in this ce, with him absent?"


    He pondered my words, his gaze thoughtful. "Why not make new memories? Keep yourself busy, maybe even travel? It''s six months. Before you know it, he''ll be back."


    My lips quirked in a small smile. "Traveling. That would be nice."


    Luke nodded, his expression lightening. "That''s the spirit. And hey, remember, love isn''t measured by proximity. You two have something special."This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    Before I could respond, a soft voice resonated from the doorway, freezing the words on my lips.


    "Nina." There he stood, Enzo. His silhouette framed by the soft glow of the hallway lights, his soft brown eyes glistening with an unreadable emotion.


    "Enzo," I whispered, heart thudding.


    He took slow steps into the room, the tension palpable. When he finally reached us, his gaze was unwavering, locked onto mine. "I overheard," he began, his voice strained, "and I need you to understand something."


    I swallowed hard, bracing myself for what was toe.


    "Nina," Enzo murmured, reaching out to cup my face, "I would never show interest in another woman. You''re my fated mate. You know that."


    I felt my cheeks redden slightly, and bit my lower lip, staring down at my feet. "I know," I murmured. "I''m just..." "You''re just being paranoid," Enzo teased, sitting beside me so that I was seated between him and Luke, two of my favorite people in the entire world. "You know this isn''t like you."


    I nodded, taking a moment to nce back out the window at the silvery moon. "You''re right. It isn''t."


    Buttely, ever since everything had happened, I felt as though I was slowly moving more and more away from myself.


    And now, as I stared out at the cliff below our home and saw a shadow staring back at me from the edge, its eyes menacing and its spindly hand beckoning for me to take the leap with it, I never felt further from myself.