CHRYSANTHEMUM Prisoners of war

The Alpha wandered the corridors of his immense home, his thoughts confused by painful memories of the one who had disappeared without a trace. He remembered her shy smile, her crystalline laughter that resonated in his dreams, constantly bringing him back to that night when he believed they had shared something true, something sincere. Since his departure, an unbearable void had settled within him, making him irritable, distant, unable to turn the page. She haunted his days and nights, an elusive ghost that he desperately pursued without ever reaching her.

Every piece of information, every lead he followed turned out to be a dead end. Fatigue and frustration exhausted him, but the obsession to find her kept him alive, like a dark and irresistible force. And yet, with each day that passed, his memory grew a little further away, like sand slipping through his fingers. How could she have vanished so suddenly, without a word, without an explanation? He had tried to convince himself that she would return, but the years had passed, and hope had faded, leaving only an insatiable need to understand.

That evening, an official event took place for the pack, bringing together allies, advisors, and influential leaders of the region. Usually, he didn't appreciate these kinds of social evenings, but his rank forced him to attend them. He tried to maintain a facade of calm, hiding his torment beneath a calculated coldness. As he crossed the room, he caught a burst of feminine laughter, light, almost familiar. Intrigued, he turned his head, searching with his eyes for the source of this laughter which reminded him of a bygone era.

And there, among the crowd, he saw her. She stood straight, elegant and confident, her charming smile lighting up her face. She wore a dark satin dress that hugged her curves to perfection, and her hair framed her face with natural elegance. But what struck him most was the expression of serenity on her features, as if she had never known pain or torment. There she was, radiant, surrounded by a few men who seemed fascinated by her presence, captivated by her charm and confidence.

His heart skipped a beat. How was this possible? He felt anger rising within him, a painful mix of relief and betrayal. She had disappeared without explanation, and now she reappeared, radiant and thriving, as if the years he had spent searching for her had been an illusion. Without further thought, he approached her, attracting the attention of a few intrigued glances as he passed. As he approached, she raised her head, and their eyes met. For a split second, he thought he saw a spark of recognition in her eyes, a reflection of their shared past. But she recovered almost instantly, a mask of indifference slipping onto her face.

"It's been a long time..." he whispered, unable to hide the emotion in his voice.

She raised an eyebrow, observing him with a polite but distant smile, as if he were just another stranger.

"I'm sorry... but it seems you have the wrong person, Alpha," she replied, her voice soft but icy.

A shiver of rage ran down his spine. How dare she pretend they didn't know each other? Every fiber of his being cried out for betrayal, for injustice. He took a step forward, closing the distance between them, his eyes staring into hers with an almost threatening intensity.

"Don't play this game with me," he hissed through his teeth, barely controlling his anger. "I remember every detail, every moment we shared. You have no right to deny what happened between us. »

She looked at him with a glint of defiance, crossing her arms, her expression remaining implacably cold. "I don't know what you're talking about," she replied, delineating each word with cold precision. "You must be confusing me with someone else. »