CHAPTER 131: RAN

Nathan’s POV

"Nathan, breathe," I whispered to myself, my hand gripping the steering wheel so hard it felt like my bones might snap.

But I couldn’t. My chest was too tight, my lungs refusing to take in air. My wolf howled restlessly inside me, clawing, raging, while my heart—my heart felt like it was being ripped into pieces.

Unable to stand it anymore, I shoved the door open and stumbled out of the car. It was still parked in front of Lila’s house, but I knew I couldn’t drive it. If I did, I would run over someone, or crash into another car.

So I ran.

I didn’t know where I was going. I didn’t care. My feet pounded against the ground, faster, harder. I was desperate, frantic, trying to supply air to my burning lungs, trying to outrun the ache tearing me apart from the inside.

And as I ran, the video replayed in my head.

"Nathan... the first time I saw you, it was at that festival. You probably don’t even remember. But I do. You were breathtaking. I was just a girl, fourteen, but I told myself right then—this is the most handsome boy on earth."

My chest convulsed. I stumbled, nearly tripping, but I forced myself onward. I was a fool... I could have had more time with her. Four years. Four perfect, wasted years.

"But then as the days went on, your attitude... it felt like you hated me. And I believed it. I believed you couldn’t stand me. Until a few weeks ago... when I realized the truth. You didn’t hate me. You were scared of loving me."

"Stop," I rasped out, but my mind wouldn’t. Her words haunted every step.

"Nathan, I never thought you could love me the way you did. But you showed me what real love is. You showed me what it means to be seen, to be chosen, to be cherished. Nathan... you are my perfect man. If there were another life, I would want to spend thousands of eternities with you. Just you."

I pushed harder, my legs burning as I sprinted faster, trying to outrun the echo of her voice.

"By the time you see this, I’ll already be gone. Please... marry someone worthy of you. Be the Alpha you were born to be. Because wherever I am, I want to hear about you. I want to hear how powerful you’ve become."

"No... Hailee, no!" I choked out, my throat raw, tears gathering in my eyes.

"Yes... my heart is torn between three men. But if there’s one thing I know for certain—it’s this: I love you, Nathan. I love you so much. More than words, more than life, more than myself. And I always will. Goodbye, my love."

The last words broke me. My legs nearly buckled, but I kept going, running through the sting of tears, through the weight in my chest, until my body carried me to the only place it knew to go.

The packhouse.

I collapsed against the massive gates, my chest heaving, drenched in sweat and tears.

The pack guards rushed forward the moment they saw me collapse against the gates.

"Nathan!" one of them called, alarm clear in his voice. They hurried to open the gates, surprise and worry written all over their faces.

I staggered inside, panting so hard my chest felt like it might explode. My vision blurred with sweat and tears, but I kept moving. I couldn’t stop. If I stopped, I would break apart completely and vulnerability was something I was groomed never to show to the public.

"Sir Nathan—what happened?" one guard asked, trying to steady me, but I shoved his hands away.

Then I heard my father’s voice cut through the chaos.

"Nathan!"

He appeared at the entrance, his presence strong, his tone sharp with authority, but laced with concern. "What’s wrong? What happened?"

I couldn’t answer. My throat was burning, my lungs screaming. The words wouldn’t come. If I spoke, I would break down in tears.

So I didn’t.

I pushed past him, ignoring his questions, ignoring the worried looks from everyone I passed. My legs carried me inside, up the stairs, down the hall I knew too well.

I slammed into my room and shut the door behind me.

The moment I fell onto my bed, the scent hit me. Her scent. Sweet, familiar, alluring.

My Hailee.

Her scent clung to the sheets, to the pillows, to every corner of the room. She had been here. Just yesterday. Just fucking yesterday.

I collapsed onto the bed, burying my face in the sheets, clutching them like they could tether her back to me. My chest convulsed with broken sobs I could no longer choke down, and for once I let them tear free.

"How could you do this to me, Hailee?" I choked out in tears. "How!" I sobbed quietly.

My wolf howled inside, restless and furious. He didn’t understand. He wanted to tear the world apart until he found her. He wanted to chase her scent to the ends of the earth. But all I had were these sheets. This room. Empty arms and a hollow chest.

I curled tighter against the bed, gripping the pillow so hard the seams threatened to rip. Her face, her smile, the way her eyes lit up when she looked at me—all of it flashed in my head, stabbing me over and over.

"You said you loved me," I whispered into the pillow, tears soaking the fabric. "You said I was your perfect man. So why... why did you leave me?"

The silence of the room pressed in on me, broken only by the sound of my ragged breathing and the steady beat of my wolf’s fury against my ribs.

A knock came at my door.

"Nathan."

My father’s voice.

I clenched my jaw, refusing to answer. I couldn’t face him. I couldn’t face anyone. Not like this.

The knock came again, slower this time. "Son, open the door. Tell me what happened."

I pressed my forehead against the mattress, squeezing my eyes shut. "I can’t," I whispered, more to myself than to him.

And then, broken and shaking, I screamed into the sheets. A raw, guttural sound that ripped straight from the core of me. My wolf’s grief merged with mine, the sound carrying the pain of losing not just a lover, but a piece of my soul.

When the scream finally faded, I lay there trembling, my fingers still clutching her scent like it was the only lifeline left to me.

I shook my head and sat upright on the bed. "Something isn’t right," I grunted. My wolf howled in agreement.

My brow furrowed, and with sudden strength I leapt to my feet. I needed to find her.