Ch. Ch 19 Don’t come back Ch 19

Axel opened his mouth, but it took him a moment to produce any sound. 

As if trying to comfort himself, he repeated Willow’s words: 

“She’ll… she’ll come back eventually. 

“She’s a grown woman, she’s not going to get lost.” 

Ryker’s eyes burned red, misting with unshed tears. 

His hand trembling uncontrollably, he violently grabbed Axel by the collar. 

“She left with Derek! 

“I checked the school security cameras. She was dragging her suitcase, leaving with Derek!” 

Ryker’s voice shook more severely as he tightened his grip on Axel’s collar, nearly cutting off his breath. 

“Do you understand what I’m saying? She went with Derek! 

“Derek–do you not know what he’s doing now? Don’t you know?!” 

Breathing became difficult, but Axel forgot to move. 

After the enormous fear and despair, all that remained was a bottomless, yawning confusion. 

How could he not know what Derek was doing? 

As the pack’s Alpha, Axel himself, along with senior colleagues, had personally reviewed and approved the list of participants for 

the fifteen–year classified herbal research project. 

Derek’s name had been on that list. 

And several days ago, starting last Saturday, the research had officially begun. 

Where Derek had gone was obvious. 

Axel rose unsteadily to his feet and staggered toward the door, his soul seemingly absent from his body: 

“I’ll go look for her, bring her home. 

“Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice. Every year for the holiday, she always stays at home.” 

Ryker’s face trembled, his voice desperate: 

“Why did you have to listen to Willow? Why did we have to go to Norway? 2 

“We had promised to go to the Northern Forest. Ember had agreed to the Northern Forest trip!”