*NEW* Chapter XXV

Lydia's POV

"It's good we meet again," Arabella said, a slow smile forming on her lips.

I was surprised to see Arabella standing there, my heart skipping a beat. I quickly looked around, searching for any sign of Derek. Arabella greeted me with a wide smile, but I wasn't at ease.

"Derek is here," I warned, my voice barely above a whisper.

She chuckled. "I know."

Still uneasy, my mind raced. What if he came back and saw her here? Hell would break loose.

Arabella tilted her head slightly. "How have you been? Are you still interested in leaving Derek?"

I hesitated. "It's complicated," I admitted. "But yes, I want to."

"Then reject him. That's the only way," she urged, her tone firm.

I shook my head. "I have nowhere to go. And as much as I want to leave, this is still the best place I've been in a long time."

Arabella's expression softened. "Lydia, you deserve better. You should be free."

I swallowed hard, knowing she was right. I wanted to do something with my life—I was eager for it. But I also knew I had to be patient. At least here, I wasn't being beaten, harassed, or molested like in my previous homes. That was a cruel reality I had lived for too long.

My biggest fear was that Derek would use the mate bond to enforce himself on me. But he hadn't. In fact, he was careful—almost too careful—to avoid touching me at all.

Derek's POV

I saw Lydia step out of the store, her demeanor different—her head low, her lips pressed into a neutral line. Something had changed. When she caught sight of me, she startled slightly, and I couldn't help but frown. Was she okay?

I quickly masked my concern with a grin. "Didn't mean to startle you," I said, watching her closely. After all, we had been walking around for hours, and she had to be exhausted and hungry. "Let's grab something to eat."

She hesitated, and I held my breath. Would she refuse? I just wanted a few more minutes alone with her. When she finally nodded and said, "Okay," I exhaled in relief.

Without thinking, I took the shopping bags from her hands. "What do you feel like eating?"

She shrugged. "Anything."

I arched a brow. "Are you sure?"

She glanced at me, then sighed. "You've done so much for me today. I don't want to ask for more."

I scoffed. "I've done nothing at all. You don't have to be shy—I'd do anything for you."

She hesitated before answering shyly, "A McDonald's burger?"

I frowned. "That's lame. It's not even real meat."

She rolled her eyes. "See? That's why I didn't want to say anything."

Chuckling, I shook my head. "I'll take you to eat the best burger in town instead. Trust me?"

She studied me for a moment before nodding. That simple gesture sent a rush of excitement through me. My inner child was practically skipping as we walked to the car.

I drove slowly, savoring the moment. Who knew when I'd get another opportunity like this—to be just the two of us, close and relaxed? Every second mattered. A small smile tugged at my lips, my chest full. Was I getting through to her?

I took her to a small, understated restaurant in a quieter part of the city. The place was cozy, warm, and welcoming. Perfect.

As we settled in, Lydia watched the waiter pass by with a tray full of oversized burgers. "They're huge," she commented in awe.

I smirked. "Told you."

When the waitress came to take our order, Lydia shyly announced, "I'll have a double cheeseburger and a milkshake."

I grinned. "Good choice. I'll have the steak burger."

The waitress turned to me, a flicker of recognition in her eyes. "Welcome back, Alpha Derek. It's good to see you up and moving again."

I nodded, making small talk about my recovery, but my attention remained on Lydia. Every glance, every expression, every little reaction—it all mattered more than she knew.

She looked at me with curiosity. "How did she know you're the Alpha?"

I leaned back in my chair. "The owner is a werewolf—one of the last remaining elders from the Crescendo Pack."

She nodded, her eyes roaming the rustic interior. "That makes sense. This place has a certain charm."

Then, as if struck by inspiration, she lit up. "Can you take a picture of me?"

I couldn't help grinning as I pulled my phone from my pocket. She posed, and I captured the moment—then took a few more, unable to stop myself.

"How do they look? Can I see them?" she asked eagerly.

I glanced at my phone, momentarily stunned. She looked breathtaking. Lost in the image, I didn't respond immediately.

She frowned. "Are they bad?"

I snapped out of it. "No. You're amazing. Here, see for yourself."

She took the phone and smiled. "These are nice. I wish I could post one on my Instagram."

After a pause, she hesitantly asked, "Can I use your browser to upload it?"

I handed her my phone without hesitation, watching as she uploaded the photo with a satisfied grin. "Thank you."

I smirked. "You're welcome."

She turned to me. "Do you have an account?"

I chuckled. "Yeah, but I haven't been active in years. Barely have anything posted."

She laughed. "Sometimes I forget you're old."

I raised a brow. "I'm barely ten years older than you. You make it sound like I'm fifty."

She shook her head. "You act like an old man—serious, brooding. Today is the first time I've actually seen you smile."

I studied her in silence for a moment before replying. "Maybe it's because I feel like I've lived too many lives in just the past ten years."

She looked down. "I know the feeling. I've been through a lot too, but I just want to forget everything and be happy."

The words left my mouth before I could stop them. "I know everything, Lydia. And I wish I had come sooner."

Her eyes widened slightly. "How do you know?"

It clicked for her almost immediately—the same way she could see my strongest memories and emotions, I could see hers.

She lowered her gaze, the weight of our connection sinking in. Before either of us could say another word, the waiter appeared, setting down our drinks and announcing that our food would be ready shortly.

The moment was gone, but the knowledge lingered between us.

Fabian's POV

The punishment of being stripped from my Beta duties wasn't the lack of power—it was the boredom. Odd tasks, trivial assignments, and being left out of pack decisions gnawed at me. Today was no different. I had been sent to oversee a mundane pack business—a café in the city, one I had never paid attention to before.

The moment I stepped inside, I felt it. The faintest hint of something familiar yet completely foreign. A scent I knew too well, but couldn't place.

And then I saw her.

She moved behind the counter with ease, her hands skillfully crafting a drink, her focus unwavering. Human. She appeared human. But I knew better.

I took a seat, watching her closely. She didn't belong to the Crescendo Moon pack—I would have recognized her. That only left one question: Where did she come from?

She finally looked up, her gaze locking onto mine.

Recognition. Not from memory, but from instinct.

I leaned forward, resting my arms on the table. "You serve wolves here?" I asked, my voice casual, testing the waters.

She didn't falter. "We serve everyone."

A non-answer. Clever.

"What pack?" I pressed.

A smirk tugged at her lips. "You don't know? And here I thought Betas were good at gathering information."

The challenge in her tone stirred something in me. She knew who I was.

"You're not Crescendo Moon," I stated. "So which is it?"

She wiped her hands on a cloth and met my gaze head-on. "Would knowing change anything?"

Damn, she was good. She knew exactly how to evade without giving anything away.

Before I could press further, a coworker called her name, pulling her attention. But as she turned to leave, she glanced over her shoulder and said, "You'll figure it out eventually."

And then she was gone.

I sat there, gripping the table edge, frustration and intrigue warring within me.

I would find out who she was. And next time, she wouldn't walk away so easily.