Chapter 16

Weston

As the plane thundered to a halt against the tarmac, my first thought was the hollow ache left by Alex’s absence, the ache that mattered more than this high-stakes mission, the forbidden knowledge buried in Andes archives, even the shadow of Sebastiano lingering behind every security briefing. Italy’s radiant runway bore no power against the memory of her warmth, the steady cadence of her heartbeat against mine—she consumed my every thought.

For years I had worn Alpha like impenetrable armor, priding myself on absolute control—over my pack, my emotions, every threat that dared to cross my path. Alex shattered that illusion with unassuming brilliance; she taught me that true strength is forged only when you have something precious to lose, and standing on this foreign runway without her by my side left me more vulnerable than I had ever dared imagine.

Dominic’s voice cracked through my reverie as he leaned against the car door, his gaze fixed on the to