Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Meanwhile, at the Lopez’s house, Evenly sat on the couch, tears streaming down her face.
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Her husband was beside her, trying to console her. Across from them, their daughter Gloria and Tracy, Amelia’s best friend sat in silence, pain etched into their expressions.
“How could he do this to my daughter?” Evenly cried, her voice cracking. “She was just laid to rest today, and he couldn’t even let her soul rest in peace before announcing his relationship with Sofia p>
The pain seared through her chest like a knife.
Evenly felt like she was dying inside. She could have endured Amelia choosing another man, even if they hadn’t approved of him–as long as she was alive and happy. But now, knowing her daughter would never return, that she was truly gone…
She sobbed harder, her heart shattering all over again.
“You should stop crying,” Greg muttered quietly. “Your tears won’t bring her back p>
Evenly’s body went stiff. Her hands clenched into fists as she stood abruptly, rage exploding in her chest.
“You’re really saying that?” she screamed. “This is your fault! She’s dead because of you! If you hadn’t punished her so harshly for marrying Aiden, if you’d just let her stay here with us, she would still be alive! But no! You drove her away. You killed her p>
Her voice echoed through the house. Veins popped from her forehead, her face red and swollen from hours of crying. Her eyes were bloodshot, her entire body trembling with grief and fury.
Greg said nothing. He simply stared at her, guilt etched deep into every line of his face.
“Mom, please… you have to calm down,” Gloria said gently, rising to touch her.
But Evenly yanked her arm away and turned on her.
“And you! You’re no different from your father!” she spat. “You’re just as much to blame. You both killed her p>
With that, she stormed out of the house.
Tracy stood quickly and followed behind.
Outside, Evenly stood silently, staring into the distance. Her mind drifted back to Amelia waving goodbye before she left. If only she’d known. If she’d known her daughter would never return… she never would have let her go.
The guilt crushed her.
“Aunt Evenly,” Tracy said softly, wrapping her arms around her from behind.
“You have to stop crying. I’m sure Amelia wouldn’t want to see you like this,” she whispered, her voice shaking. Tears welled in her eyes, but she tried to hold them back.
She didn’t want to break down. If she cried, Mrs. Evenly would only cry harder,
But she couldn’t hold it anymore. The grief burst out of her in uncontrollable sobs.
She had loved Amelia more than words could explain. She’d known her since they were little. Amelia was everything, her best friend, her sister, her constant.
And now she was gone.
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Chapter 20
The pain was unbearable.
“This hurt… it’ll never go away,” Tracy cried. “Not now, not ever. Especially knowing she was pregnant p>
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She couldn’t understand how someone could be so heartless, how they could kill Amelia and her unborn child. The cruelty of it twisted her insides.
“They killed Eva, and now Amelia too,” she wept. “How could they be so cruel? I curse whoever had a hand in her death p>
Evenly turned to Tracy and wrapped her in a tight hug. They held each other, sobbing until the storm of grief began to subside.
“Come, Aunt… let’s go back inside,” Tracy whispered, her voice raw.
But then Tracy heard a low growl.
Tracy froze. She turned toward the woods across the road.
Red eyes.
She saw them,briefly,glaring from within the trees. And then… nothing. The eyes were gone, but the feeling remained.
They were being watched.
A chill ran down her spine.
“Let’s go inside,” she said firmly, gripping Evenly’s hand and leading her back into the house.
Meanwhile, in the woods …
A massive wolf stood silently beneath the shadow of a tree, watching the Lopez house from afar.
Aiden.
In his wolf form.
He stared at Tracy and Evenly as they clung to each other, crying. His chest ached with guilt.
They would blame him forever. And maybe they should.
Especially after what he’d done, announcing his engagement like that. It was unforgivable.
He let out a low whimper.
Then he turned, slinking deeper into the woods. His paws carried him to the place where they had found Amelia’s body.
The blood was still there, dried into the ground.
He lowered his snout and sniffed. Her scent still lingered.
A broken, anguished howl tore from his throat, echoing through the night. The sound was raw, primal. A cry of pain that
shook the trees.
Suddenly he heard a rustling behind him.
He spun, teeth bared, growling fiercely… until he saw James.
James stood still, hands raised, a bag clutched in one of them.
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Chapter 20
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Aiden growled again, louder this time, baring his fangs. But James immediately dropped his head in submission. He knew better.
Aiden let out another low growl before shifting back to his human form. Sweat covered his skin. His expression was hollow.
James exhaled in relief and quickly stepped forward, offering the clothes he’d brought.
“How did you know I was here?” Aiden asked, pulling on the trousers and buttoning them.
“I just knew,” James said. “You’re still mourning her. I knew where you’d go. I also heard the howl. The whole pack did p>
He handed Aiden the shirt.
Once dressed, Aiden began walking. James followed, silently.
Soon, they reached Amelia’s grave.
Aiden stared down at it, eyes dark with pain. His fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tight.
Then suddenly… he paused. He sniffed the air.
His expression changed.
“What’s wrong?” James asked, noticing the shift in Aiden’s posture.
“I don’t know. But… it doesn’t smell like her here p>
James sighed heavily. “Oh, so now you’re saying she’s not the one in the grave p>
He shook his head. “Aiden… I know you’re hurting, and I know you’ll believe anything just to think she’s still alive. But she’s gone. She’s really gone p>
Aiden didn’t respond.
James continued, quietly. “Before she was buried, her body was treated with chemicals. They cleaned the blood, removed the child from her womb… covered the scent. That’s why it doesn’t smell like her p>
Aiden nodded slowly, eyes still on the grave. After a long silence, he turned and walked away.
James wa
art heavy.
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