Chapter 12
Back at the Lotus Pack, Adam sat alone in his study, a bottle of liquor in front of him. He had spent the entire day drinking, trying to drown out the thoughts that had been gnawing at him ever since Amelia left. She had always been there when he needed her–caring for him, picking up pieces when he was broken. But now, in her absence, there was nothing but an overwhelming emptiness.
the
He took another swig of the alcohol, the burn down his throat a fleeting distraction. It had been days since he‘ d last seen her. Days that felt like an eternity. Where are you, Amelia? He thought, eyes bloodshot from hours of staring into nothing.
His gaze drifted toward the table, where several old photographs sat, one in particular catching his eye. He picked up the wedding photo–the only one they had taken together.
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Adam’s heart twisted painfully as he stared at their faces. People always regret things in the end, he mused bitterly. Just
like me.
He had never truly appreciated Amelia while she was with him. It wasn’t until the divorce papers, until the agreement with his mother, that he realized what she had truly meant to him. He had been so caught up in his grief over Bridgette, still thinking he loved her, that he hadn’t seen what was right in front of him. He hadn‘ t seen Amelia‘ s love until she was gone.
Now, he was left with nothing but regret. He had spent so many years ignoring the love she had shown him, blind to the quiet way she cared. But now that she was gone, it was too late to turn back. He loved her. and the realization hit him like a truck.
Meanwhile, in the sky above, Alpha Logan and Amelia were on their way to the Shadow Pack territory. The private jet they
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were in glided smoothly through the clouds, but inside, the atmosphere between them was charged.
Amelia had never imagined her life would take such a dramatic turn. The mate pull between her and Logan had been. impossible to ignore. Every time their eyes met, she felt as though a part of her soul was awakening, pulling her toward him in a way that she couldn’t quite explain.
As she stood up to stretch, her foot caught on the edge of the seat, and before she could steady herself, she stumbled forward. In a flash, Logan was there, catching her effortlessly in his strong arms. His scent–earthy and intoxicating-
surrounded her as she fell into him.
“Careful,” Logan said, his voice low and filled with amusement. “I wouldn‘ t want you getting hurt.”
Amelia’s heart skipped a beat. She looked up at him, suddenly aware of how close they were, how his embrace felt so natural,
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as if she belonged there. Her breath hitched in her chest as her pulse
quickened. Logan’s eyes softened with a mixture of tenderness and something
deeper, something raw.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, her voice trembling just slightly.
Logan’s eyes flickered with an unreadable expression before he smiled, a grin that made her heart race. “You don‘ t need to thank me,” he replied. “It’s only natural to want to protect my mate.”
Amelia’s cheeks flushed at his words, and for a moment, she forgot everything. around them. The tension, the bond
between them–it was undeniable. But as
much as she was drawn to him, she knew
she needed time to figure out this
connection.
As the jet began its descent, Logan spoke. again, breaking the silence that had fallen between them. “We‘ re almost there. I’ll take you to the packhouse once we land.
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You don’t have a place to stay, do you?”
Amelia hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She had no idea where she would stay in the Shadow Pack territory. She had planned on staying at a university dorm, but that was before her flight had been canceled and her life had taken this unexpected turn.
Logan seemed to sense her uncertainty, and a playful smile tugged at his lips. “If I may have the honor, can I invite you, my mate, to live in the packhouse?”
