+25 BONUS
Chapter 198
Sarah’s POV
The crushing weight of rejection pressed down on me as I made my way back to the living room, my legs numb from standing in the doorway for so long.
Every cell in my body felt wounded, aching with a pain that went beyond the physical. I collapsed onto the sofa, completely drained.
I’d tried so hard to ignore these negative emotions, to push them down and pretend they didn’t exist. But I couldn’t completely digest them, couldn’t make them disappear no matter how much I wanted to.
“It’s okay, Sarah,” I whispered to myself in the darkness. “You’re doing really well. It’s just a little sadness. Sleep, and by morning it will be gone.”
I sniffled softly, finding a thin blanket to wrap around myself. Curling up on the sofa, I forced my eyes closed and commanded myself to sleep.
But sleep rarely comes easily when your heart is heavy. I’d counted what felt like a thousand imaginary sheep before drowsiness finally began to claim me.
As I drifted in that hazy space between wakefulness and sleep, I heard the faint sound of a door opening, followed by quiet footsteps.
My sleep had always been light during times of stress–the slightest sound could pull me from the brink of dreams. This was no different.
Through the haze of half–sleep, I thought I saw a tall figure in the shadows. Alexander.
His lean silhouette stood near the door, motionless at first. A faint ember glowed near his lips–a cigarette, I realized–casting flickering light on the sharp angles of his face. For a second, I wasn’t sure if I was dreaming.
I hadn’t even heard him come back.
“Alexander…” My voice came out barely above a whisper, hoarse and uncertain.
He froze. I could see the slight shift in his posture, the tension that curled through his shoulders.
I sat up slowly, blinking against the dim light and rubbing my swollen eyes. My voice came out thick with exhaustion and stifled tears. “It’s so late. Where are you going?”
He didn’t turn around. Just stood there, a looming shadow near the door. “It’s none of your concern.”
Something in his tone sliced through me.
“Can I come with you?” I heard myself say it before my brain could stop me. “Sarah Winters.”
The way he said my full name–it was like a slap. Ice–cold. Detached. Each syllable laced with something darker than indifference.
“Don’t follow me,” he said, his voice low and cutting. “You’ll only make me despise you more.”
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Chapter 198
+25 BONUS
“Oh…” I tried to smile, though it felt pitiful even to me. “Then… please come back soon. To rest.”
Alexander didn’t bother to respond. He simply walked out of the living room, gently closing the door behind him.
I lay back down on the sofa, suddenly feeling the chill of the night air. I pulled the blanket tighter around myself, wrapping it like armor against more than just the cold. With a heavy heart, I closed my eyes again and tried to return to sleep.
Alexander’s POV
I stepped outside the suite, pulling out my cigarette case and shaking it lightly. Taking one between my lips, I felt the familiar weight of it–a poor substitute for the heaviness in my chest that I couldn’t name.
The lighter clicked, its small blue flame illuminating my face momentarily as I drew in a deep breath of smoke. With one hand shoved in my pocket, I walked away from that room–away from her–until I found myself outside Jeremy’s door.
I knocked firmly: “Knock, knock! Knock, knock!”
“Who is it?” Jeremy’s voice called out from inside.
“Me,” I replied coldly, already regretting coming here. But where else could I go? The ship suddenly felt too small, too confining, with Sarah Winters in it.
There was a second of silence before I heard hurried footsteps. The door swung open to reveal Jeremy’s grinning
face.
“Alpha Alexander!” His surprise was evident. It was the middle of the night, and in all these years, I’d never knocked on his door at such an hour.
“Quick, come in!” he said, gesturing enthusiastically.
I entered and sat in a chair, remaining silent for several moments. The words I needed to say felt like stones in my mouth, but I forced them out anyway. “Call for the helicopter. Pack your things. We’re going ashore.”
Jeremy immediately caught the significance of “we.” His eyebrows shot up. “But Alpha Alexander, what about Miss Winters?”
I scoffed, irritation flaring inside me at the mere mention of her name. “How is that my concern?”
“But didn’t you board this ship specifically to take Miss Winters away?” Jeremy reminded me quietly, his voice careful.
He should know better than to question me.
I shot him a look.“Do as I say,” I said flatly.
I could see the confusion in his eyes. He’d picked us up this morning, when I’d told him we wouldn’t be leaving yet.
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Chapter 198
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Now, barely a day later, I was demanding immediate departure. He was probably wondering what had changed, if Sarah and I had fought.
He hesitantly continued, “Alpha Alexander, you know this isn’t a safe place. If you leave Miss Winters here alone, she’s so beautiful… she could easily fall into danger.”
My jaw clenched involuntarily at the thought of another man’s hands on her. The image of that worthless Reid with his arm around her flashed through my mind, and something primal and possessive roared to life inside me. I tamped it down ruthlessly.
Jeremy was still talking, not knowing he was treading on dangerous ground. “You saw how much little Thea likes Miss Winters yesterday. If something happens to her, Thea will be heartbroken. If she gets upset with you over this, it could be very troublesome.”
