Getting away with the Alpha's Pup

Chapter 194

Fern's Perspective

The moment I stepped out of the building, my mood hadn't fully relaxed, and the unease in my heart felt like an inescapable shadow constantly looming over me.

I knew Giovanni's instincts couldn't be wrong. If he had started to suspect me, it would only get harder to keep my secret. As time passed, I began to sense a subtle shift in my bond with him, as though I had unknowingly reestablished some kind of connection.

Every time I interacted with him, I could feel that attraction growing stronger, as if some invisible force in the underworld was pulling us back together.

But I couldn't let Giovanni uncover the truth. The past couldn't be undone, and I refused to let one bad decision destroy my future, or that of my children.

I walked into a café and ordered a coffee before heading to the corner by the window, choosing a secluded spot out of habit. The waitress quickly brought my coffee, and I pulled the cup toward me, stirring it gently. Lost in my thoughts, I was suddenly jolted by a familiar voice.

"Fern?"

My heart skipped so hard that the spoon in my hand nearly fell. I jerked my head up and saw someone I hadn't seen in a long time—Kyle.

Kyle had been one of my closest friends growing up. Before Giovanni took me to his pack, Kyle and I had been inseparable, training together, fighting side by side, and facing the harsh realities of werewolf society. But after I decided to separate from Giovanni and faked my own death to escape, I lost touch with Kyle. He faded from my life completely.

My gaze flickered with surprise, but quickly, I regained my composure.

"Kyle…" I said softly, trying to keep my emotions in check, making sure not to reveal anything out of the ordinary. "What are you doing here?"

Kyle's smile was as warm as ever, as though he'd never left my life. "I just got back to the city, and when I heard you were working here, I came to check it out. I didn't expect to run into you like this."

He sat down across from me, concern in his eyes. "You've changed, Fern. Looks like life hasn't been easy on you."

I flinched slightly, then smiled faintly. "Yeah, time takes away a lot of things, but it also teaches you how to be strong."

There was a hint of bitterness in my smile. Kyle might have sensed something was off, but he didn't press the issue. He simply watched me quietly.

"You seem a little off," Kyle said gently, but his words were perceptive.

I lowered my gaze, my eyes fixed on the surface of my coffee, as if I could find some answer within it. Deep down, I knew it was all the result of my choices—my decision to leave, to walk away from Giovanni, and the love I once shared with him. All of it had left scars on my heart that I didn't know how to heal.

I was silent for a moment before I finally looked up and said slowly, "I have a new life now, and new responsibilities."

Kyle's eyes suddenly sharpened. "New responsibilities?" he repeated, then frowned softly. "You mean... you've let go of the past? That relationship with Giovanni?"

My body stiffened slightly. Kyle's instincts were always so sharp. He couldn't hide the concern—and a hint of pain—in his eyes, making me feel a pang of guilt.

"Kyle..." I whispered his name, the pain in my eyes hard to conceal. "That's in the past. Giovanni... he has new responsibilities now, new plans. I have my own life to live."

Kyle watched me in silence, as if he wanted to say something, but eventually, he chose to remain quiet.

"Fern, I know you don't want to talk about this, but you need to understand that no matter how long you run from it, the past will eventually catch up to you." His voice was slow, tinged with concern that couldn't be ignored. "Is the life you have now really what you want?"

My breath caught, and my heart began to race involuntarily. Every word Kyle spoke felt like it was tearing open a wound in my heart, making it impossible to remain composed. I clenched my fists, struggling to contain the turmoil inside.

"I don't need your advice, Kyle." Fern's voice was cold, holding a note of finality. "I've already made my choice."

Kyle bowed his head in silence for a few moments. After a long pause, he looked up at me, his eyes filled with tenderness and helplessness. "You're right, Fern. I just..." His voice trailed off, as if he was determined to say something more. There was a glimmer in his eyes that I couldn't quite read. "No matter what happens, remember that I'll always be here. If you ever need help, let me know. And don't forget—if you ever need someone to lean on, I'll be there."

Those words hit me like a hammer to the chest. They brought back memories of the old days when Kyle and I trained together, trusting each other completely.

"Thank you, Kyle," I whispered, my voice almost breaking.

Kyle looked at me, as if something had finally clicked. He got up and patted me on the shoulder, his tone soft. "I just wish you had made a real choice sooner, and stopped living in regret."

"I know." I watched him leave, an unspeakable wave of emotions swirling in my chest.

When Kyle was gone, I stood there in silence for a while, staring at the empty desk. I knew I couldn't keep running from the past. Giovanni would one day find me, find that forgotten bond. And on that day, how would I face it?