After I left Alpha father and son went crazy with regret

Charles didn't bother with small talk. "Arnold's getting a divorce."

Cole went silent.

Charles continued, lowering his voice, "And he's taking custody of Alex."

Still, no response.

"Cole?"

Then, without warning-the line went dead.

Nora had just finished a meeting at work when she stepped outside, only to see a sleek black car parked

in front of her office building.

She stopped mid-step, frowning.

Cole?

He was leaning casually against the car, arms crossed, his eyes sharp as they landed on her.

Nora hesitated.

Why was he here?

Cole pushed off the car and walked toward her, his expression unreadable.

"You're waiting for someone?" she asked, stopping a few feet away.

He shook his head. "I came to see you."

Nora blinked, then smiled politely, though there was a guarded edge to it. The crisp evening air carried the faint scent of rain, and the distant hum of traffic filled the silence between them.

The office building behind her glowed with golden light, its glass windows reflecting the streetlamps that had just flickered to life.

"If it's about Abby, I might not be free this weekend. I have things planned," she said, adjusting the strap of her purse over her shoulder.

Cole's gaze flickered, barely noticeable, but enough to betray the thoughts running through his mind. "That's not why I'm here," he said, his voice quieter than usual.

Nora tilted her head slightly, puzzled by his vague response. The Cole she knew never hesitated with

words-he either spoke bluntly or not at all. Now, he seemed caught between speaking and staying silent. as if he was weighing the value of his next sentence.

She glanced at her watch. "Well, it's getting late, so-"

"T'll give you a ride," Cole interrupted, the offer coming out almost instinctively, as if he hadn't planned to say it but felt compelled.

Nora raised an eyebrow, surprised by his insistence. "No need. I drove here myself."

Cole nodded in understanding, but he didn't step away, didn't move toward his car. He simply stood there, his expression unreadable. The streetlights cast sharp shadows across his face, emphasizing the tension in his jaw.

Something about his behavior felt... off.

Nora studied him for a moment, trying to decipher what was going on. His usual composure seemed fractured, like he was holding something back. Was it concern? Frustration? Guilt? She couldn't tell. Cole rarely wasted words, and he never lingered unless there was a reason.

After a beat of silence, she said lightly, "Well, I'll be heading out then."

Cole gave a small nod, but there was something reluctant about it. "Drive safe," he murmured.

Nora hesitated, just for a fraction of a second, before turning toward her car. The feeling that something wasn't quite right followed her, creeping under her skin. She couldn't shake the sense that there was more to this encounter than he was letting on.

As she slid into the driver's seat, she glanced at the rearview mirror. Cole still stood by his car, hands in his pockets, watching her go.

The moment he got into his own vehicle, Charles's voice echoed sharply through the mindlink.

"She's putting on an act, right?" Charles asked, his skepticism evident. "She's trying to get Arnold to come back to her?"

Cole stared ahead, gripping the wheel. His knuckles turned white against the leather, his jaw tensing. "No."

Silence.

Then Charles spoke again, more confused this time. "What do you mean, no?" 12:18

After I left, Alpha father dnoveldrama

Cole exhaled slowly, his thoughts a tangled mess. "I don't think she's pretending"

That answer unsettled Charles "That doesn't make sense. This is Nora. She woulders just the up like this"

Cole didn't respond immediately. His mind replayed the encounter-her composed demeren, her lack of hesitation, the way she treated him like nothing had changed.

Once, he and Charles had always been in syne when it came to their opinions of Nora.

But now, for the first time, he wasn't sure if Charles truly understood what was happening,

Nora wasn't playing a game,

She wasn't trying to make Arnold chase her,

She was leaving.

Cole wasn't sure why, and as much as he hated to admit it, the idea disturbed him more than he though it would.

There was also a hint of, well, indefinable excitement.

Nora sat in a leather chair in the law office, her hands resting gently on the smooth wooden surface of the table.

Today was the day of the appointment to meet with the attorney. Leo introduced her to an extremely well known attorney in Silvermoon Pack, Vincent.

The scent of aged paper and coffee lingered in the air, mixing with the room's air..

The office had a warm, inviting feel-bookshelves lined with legal volumes, a large window overlooking the hustling city street below.

But despite the comforting atmosphere, there was an undeniable heaviness in the room.

Vincent, picked up the divorce agreement she had just handed him. He adjusted his glasses and skimmed through the pages, his experienced eyes catching every clause, every carefully worded line. "You sure about this, Nora?" Vincent asked, setting the papers down. His voice was steady but not devoid of concern. "This is a clean break. Arnold is giving you a lot-property, shares, financial security-but once It's done, there's no going back."