Show Me You Love Me, Alpha Chapter 08

Show Me You Love Me, Alpha Chapter 08

The mission at the border was a complete success.

A huge crowd came to welcome us home.

Standing beside me, Julian grinned.

“Great. Looks like I’ve got a lot of competition.”

I rolled my eyes and nudged him with my elbow.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Noah’s face go completely pale.

My friends and deputies crowded around, laughing and jostling me into the center, chattering about where to drag me for a celebratory feast—at my expense, of course.

Noah stood alone on the very edge of the crowd, biting his lower lip.

For the first time, it hit me—he could be that invisible.

After hesitating for a long moment, he finally gathered his courage.

He hurried toward me, slightly out of breath, and caught my wrist.

“Anna, I need to talk to you.”

The chatter around us faded.

I tilted my head and looked at him calmly.

“Go ahead. I’m listening.”

Noah hesitated. His eyes swept over the crowd around us.

His lips parted, but no words came out. Even his fingertips had begun

—

to tremble.

I sighed softly.

In the end, I decided to give him one last kindness.

I led him somewhere we could talk alone.

Only a few months had passed. Yet Noah had grown painfully thin.

Dark circles hollowed out his eyes.

His golden fur had lost its shine. Even his beard had become messy.

He looked like a shadow of the man he used to be.

After a long silence, he finally spoke, “Anna… life hasn’t felt right without you.”

“Nothing feels right. I can’t sleep—every time I close my eyes, it’s you.”

“Even in my dreams, I can’t stop murmuring your name. I’ve never been like this before.”

“Without you, I’m just… lost.”

He looked straight at me.

“Can we… start over?”

If I could still hear his wolf, it probably would’ve been screaming.

This was the first time Noah had ever confessed his feelings so openly.

The once-in-a-century Golden Wolf, for the first time, had set aside his

—

pride, his dignity. Everything.

If I had been sixteen, I would’ve thrown myself into his arms.

I would’ve been too happy to sleep for days.

But I was twenty-three now. All I felt was peace.

“It’s too late, Noah. We can’t go back.”

I no longer wanted a love I could only understand by hearing someone else’s thoughts.

Over those seven years, I had caught glimpses of his affection, his reliance. But it was far too little.

I lightened my tone, trying to let everyone save face.

“We’re adults now. No one should keep chasing the past.”

“Look ahead. There’s still a long road waiting for you.”

Except this road won’t be ours.

From now on, there’s my path… and his.

He stood there in silence for what felt like forever.

Then, with a nod, he turned away, his steps dragging like an empty shell.

In the distance, my friends waved me over.

Julian walked up beside me with a teasing smile.

“So? Have you made up your mind yet? Ready to ditch the ex and give

—

me a shot?”

“Get lost. Who said yes?” I shot him a glare, struggling to keep a straight face.

“You ungrateful little thing.”

Feigning hurt, he tapped me on the forehead

“Come on. Everyone’s waiting.”

He still hadn’t given up.

If anything, my rejection only seemed to spur him on.

I laughed helplessly. I still wasn’t used to being loved so openly.

Since I couldn’t make him stop, I simply let him be.

The celebration banquet was as lively as ever.

Until an emergency news report interrupted the broadcast on the crystal screen.

“Breaking news. The gifted Golden Wolf Alpha, Noah, was found dead this afternoon after falling from Old Railroad Gorge at 3:43 p.m.”

“Cause of death remains under investigation. Reports confirm he was recently exiled from the pack…”

Silence filled the room. Everyone slowly looked at me.

The report continued.

“A note was found clutched in the deceased’s hand. Most of the ink had been washed away by blood, but part of it remained legible.”

—

Fated to fear the warmth, I dared not bloom before you.

When spring arrived at last, I could only embrace the dust.

I sat there quietly for a moment.

For some reason, my eyes stung. I rubbed them, then smiled.

“What’s that supposed to mean, anyway? I don’t get it.”

“Come on, eat up. What are you all gawking at?”

Sophia was the first to speak.

“Exactly! If you don’t start eating now, Lisa’s going to finish that grilled snow deer leg all by herself!”

Laughter and banter soon filled the air again.

It was as though a gust of wind had swept through—there one moment, gone the next.