After I left Alpha father and son went crazy with regret

Nora's jaw tightened. She turned away slightly, the tension in her posture barely visible except to those

who knew her well.

"I have something going on tonight," she said quietly.

She didn't tell him the truth. That she was no longer bound to Lancelot Manor. That this was the beginning of the separation neither of them had spoken about yet.

She didn't need to.

Alex's small hands clenched into fists at his sides. His lips pressed together, forcing himself to nod. "Okay," he murmured, but there was no mistaking the sadness in his voice.

Nora didn't let herself look at him any longer. If she did, guilt would take root-and she couldn't afford

that.

She turned away before it could.

The Next Day:

By afternoon, Nora had immersed herself in work, returning to STARLINE studio. The modern office

hummed with quiet efficiency-keyboards clacked, muted conversations filled the air, and the faint aroma of fresh coffee lingered.

Cole had arrived with his core team, ready for their scheduled meeting. His presence had become a

steady source of relief for her lately. His efficiency and calm demeanor had lifted some of the burden off

her shoulders, allowing her to focus on the tasks that required her full attention.

They were deep in discussion over final adjustments to an upcoming project when Cole's phone buzzed.

After saying sorry to Nora, Cole went outside and picked up the phone.

Arnold's voice came through, steady and direct. "My father is back and will be home for dinner tonight,

so I'm going to need to trouble you to look after me a little more with some work."

Cole understood that whenever Adrian returned to the Silvermoon Pack, a family gathering was held in Arnold's family.

Arnold would be too busy socializing with the elite werewolves in the various packs to have much time to concern himself with business matters these days.

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After I left, Alpha father and son went crazy t

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Cole's lips pressed into a thin line.. After a brief pause, he exhaled and responded, "Good."

Just moments after he said yes, a thought suddenly rose in his mind: so, is Nora going to the party today?

When Cole finally returned, something about his expression had shifted. It was subtle, -the way his brows drew together slightly, the way his fingers tapped against the side of his phone in quiet thought.

How to say.....

He pondered for a moment, resting his gaze on Nora, as if he had already figured out what to ask her.

Nora was deeply engaged in conversation with her team, discussing project updates and upcoming

deadlines.

The soft hum of the office filled the air as she spoke with effortless confidence, her mind completely absorbed in work. She didn't notice the way Cole's gaze lingered on her, studying her as if trying to

unravel a mystery only he could see.

As the discussion wrapped up, Nora rose from her seat, stretching slightly before walking with them to

the door.

Just as she was about to return to her desk, Cole, who had been watching her thoughtfully, asked

casually, "Still working late tonight?"

She didn't give it much thought and replied lightly, "Yeah, there's still some things to take care of."

Cole's expression didn't change, but his eyes darkened slightly.

That simple answer told him everything he needed to know. If she was staying late at work, she wouldn't be attending the dinner at Lancelot Manor. Which meant she had no intention of seeing Adrian. That, more than anything, confirmed what he already suspected-she and Arnold were truly over.

Even after work, Cole didn't leave right away. Instead, he lingered a little longer, making his way to the pantry. He stood near the coffee machine, pretending to be lost in thought when he saw Nora walk in.

"You're still here?" he asked, feigning surprise.

Nora glanced at him while reaching for a bottle of water. "I was just about to leave. What about you?"

ed bell wh

Cole hesitated before replying, "Actually, I wanted to ask if you had time to see Abby tomorrow. She's been asking about

you."

Nora smiled at the mention of the little girl. "Of course. I have time tomorrow."

Cole was quiet for a moment. He had reached out because he genuinely wanted to see her, but he also knew she had been overwhelmed lately. It felt selfish to keep asking her to spend time with someone

10:19

After I left, Alpha father and son went crazyth)

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else's child when she barely had time for herself.

"If you're tired, take a break this week. We can plan another time," he offered.

But Nora shook her head. "No, really. Tomorrow works."

Cole watched her for a second longer before nodding. "Alright. Tomorrow, then."

www

"Meanwhile at Lancelot Manor"noveldrama

After the formal dinner had ended, Alex sat cross-legged on the couch, playing with his tablet. He glanced

up at Arnold and asked hopefully, "Dad, can we go to the movies tomorrow?"

Arnold, who had been reviewing some documents, barely lifted his gaze. "I can't. I have work."

Alex frowned, twirling a stylus between his fingers. "Then... can Mom take me?" Arnold paused before replying, "You can ask her."