182 Fractured moments…
Ramsey
I sat behind my desk, the warm glow of the morning sun casting long shadows over the stacks of documents on my table. The room was silent except for the rhythmic scratch of my pen against
рарет.
My concentration was broken by a soft knock, followed by Lenny entering my office.
“Alpha,” he began. “The doctors at the pack hospital just informed me that they’ll be discharging
Cassidy today”
I nodded, my eyes not leaving the papers before me. “Good,” I said simply and continued writing.
Silence stretched between us until Lenny cleared his throat.
“There’s something else, he continued hesitantly. “The lab called carlier. They called to inform you that the finished product for the anti–pheromone depressor is ready and can be used now. They want you to use it on the person it was made for so that they would know if adjustments
need to be made.
I paused for a fraction before nodding. “Good, then have it sent to the person it was made for.”
There was another slight pause before Lenny called out to me. “Ramsey,” he started, his voice was filled with irritation. “Won’t you give it to her yourself?”
“I don’t need to deliver it myself, I responded quietly.
“C’mon Ramsey, Lenny sighed. “You’ve been working on this for years. The resources you’ve poured into it, the time you’ve spent… you should at least…”
“I said it’s not necessary” I cut him off.
“What happened to all the plans you made? This was supposed to be your comeback path. Why are you still hesitating?
“She’s engaged to another man, Lenny. I’m not that stupid to break off their union. It’s over, Lenny”
He stood still for a moment, I could feel his frustration but he knew better than to push further. “Tine then, I’ll go about my duties. See you later, he turned and left the room, closing the door with more force than was necessary.
exhaled deeply, rubbing my temples. Lenny bad barely left when the door opened again. This time, it was my grandfather, Elder Eldric, who strode in holding a small stack of ornate papers. “I brought some samples for the wedding invitations, he announced, placing them on my desk. I glanced at the designs briefly before returning to my documents. “Pick whichever one you think is best, Pop I trust your judgment.
He hesitated, his eyes studying me. “You could at least pretend to care, he muttered.
182 Fractured moments…..
“I care,” I replied tersely, not looking up. “I just have a lot on my plate right now.”
He sighed. “Fine, I’ll handle it,” he muttered, lingered for a moment longer, then left the office, closing the door behind him.
Alone again, I leaned back in my chair, running my hands through my hair, the tension in my chest refused to ease, and for the first time today, I allowed myself a moment of stillness. I didn’t want to think about anything.
However, my moment of solitude was short–lived when another soft knock on the door came and the door opened immediately. I raised my head, irritation flashing in my eyes.
“I said…”
The rest of the words dried up on my lips when I saw Lyla standing in the doorway. She hesitated, her hand still on the doorknob as our gaze met.
“What do you want?” I asked, with a weary sigh. I wasn’t even angry.
She blinked. “I…nothing. It’s just that I’ve been trying to see you for two days now and we will be leaving tomorrow. I just wanted to come see you” As she spoke, she entered the office fully, closing the door softly behind her.
“I also heard Cassidy was injured. I hope she’s doing better now. That night, I wanted to explain…”
“Talk to someone who’s an expert in these things,” I interrupted, my gaze returning to my desk.
“I’m not.”
My brows knitted together as confusion and hurt crossed her face at the same time. “What’s with the cold attitude?”
“Not now, Lyla,” I murmured under my breath. “I don’t have time for things like that.”
She stepped closer, her voice was firmer. “I thought we were cool.
“We are, I replied flatly without looking at her. “I’m just busy.”
Her shoulders sagged, and she let out a frustrated sigh. “Fine, she said turning to leave. “But just as she reached the door, she paused again and came back to face me.
“I just wanted to thank you,” she with a trembling voice. “For everything. While I was here at the pack, even though you didn’t say much, I felt your kindness. I’m truly grateful for all your help.”
I nodded. “It’s fine”
We stood in silence for a moment, until Lyla spoke again. “Nathan proposed to me.”
My gaze didn’t waver, “I know,” I replied. “He came to me before the festival to ask for my permission”
Her lips parted in surprise, but she quickly recovered. “Well… I wanted you to know. And… I feel indebted to you, Ramsey. “I’d feel better if you’d let me buy you a meal. Just one meal, to show my gratitude”
182 Fractured moments…
“You don’t have to…” I said with an exasperated sigh.
“Please,” she interrupted, her eyes pleading. “I insist”
“Lyla,” I tried not to snap, rising to my feet. “You don’t need to feel indebted to me. Everything I did for you; I did because it was necessary. Because it’s my duty as Alpha.”
She flinched at the sharpness of my tone. For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then quietly, she said, “I see.”
Η
Without another word, she turned and left the office, the door clicking softly shut behind her.
I stared at the empty space where she had stood. My knuckles were white where they gripped the edge of my desk. The weight of everything I’d left unsaid pressed down on me like a physical presence, but I refused to acknowledge it. Instead, I forced my attention back to work…
Burying myself in the familiar comfort of duty and responsibility.
That was after all…the only thing I was good at.
