His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace

As the conversation moved on, I found myself thinking more and more about the family. The tragedy weighed on my mind, and I wondered whether this program, as difficult as it was, could bring them some measure of healing-just as working here had started to heal me.

That evening, I attended a staff gathering hosted by the medical organization. Vesta had invited me, and though I wasn't particularly in the mood for socializing. I couldn't refuse her. The room was fThis belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

with people chatting, laughing, and sipping their drinks, but I gravitated toward the edges, content to watch from a distance.

Vesta had to leave for a moment, so I stood alone, nursing the drink she'd brought me. I wasn't paying much attention to my surroundings until I noticed Carlos standing across the room. He was wearing a long trench coat, his face as unreadable as ever. Even in a crowded room, his presence seemed to stand apart from everyone else.

I don't know what possessed me to do it, but before I knew it, I was walking toward him, the drink still in my hand. Maybe it was the wine, or maybe it was the unresolved tension between us, but I needed to talk to him. To clear the air. "Dr. Carlos," said, my voice soft but steady.

He turned toward me, his gaze as cold as ever. "You're drunk. Please stay away from me." he replied, his tone sharp.

"I just wanted to-"

Before I could finish, two security guards appeared at his side. Carlos didn't even glance at them, but with a small nod, he had given his silent command. The guards took my arm gently, but firmly, and began escorting me toward the exit. Chapter 36

My heart raced, humiliation burning through me. I hadn't expected him to respond like this.

As I stumbled outside into the cool night air. I tried to process what had just happened.

The cool night air hit my face as the security guards escorted me outside, their grip firm but not forceful. My mind raced, still processing the humiliation of being removed from the gathering like some kind of intruder. Carlos hadn't even looked at me as they took me away.

As the guards left me near the edge of the street, I stumbled slightly, the wine making my legs feel unsteady. I leaned against the rough stone wall, trying to steady my breath. The world around me seemed to spin, my thoughts muddled by alcohol and shame. Why had I even tried to talk to him? What had I hoped to accomplish? My head swam with a mixture of regret and confusion, and I felt my knees buckle slightly.

Before I could stop myself, I slid down to the ground, my back pressed against the cold wall as I tried to catch my breath. My vision blurred, and the lights of the street flickered in and out of focus. I closed my eyes, just for a moment, the exhaustion and dizziness overtaking me.

Suddenly, a familiar voice called my name

"Doris?"

A familiar voice, low and filled with concern, cut through the haze. blinked, my eyes struggling to focus as the figure moved closer. "Doris, are you okay?" the voice asked again.

Nathan. Of all people, it had to be him.

I groaned softly, trying to push myself up, but my body felt heavy. "Nathan... what are you doing here?" Chapter 36

"I didn't expect to see you like this. Have you been drinking?" His voice was soft, a stark contrast to the arrogance I remembered. Gone was the self-assured man who once thought the world revolved around him. In his place was someone who seemed almost fragile, unsure of himself. "Just a little," I mumbled, the words slurring slightly. "It's not a big deal."

Nathan sighed and gently took my arm, helping me to my feet.

I resisted at first, but my legs were too weak to hold me up on my own. Reluctantly, I let him guide me to a nearby bench.

"I've been thinking about you, Doris. I know things ended badly between us, but I haven't stopped thinking about you."

I groaned inwardly. This was the last thing I wanted to deal with right now. "Nathan, we don't have anything to do with each other anymore. You need to

move on."

"I can't," he said softly, his voice breaking slightly. "I'm in pain every day, Doris. Disconnecting from MATE... it's unbearable. My wolf cries out for you. It's like a part of me is missing, and I don't know how to fill it."

I turned to look at him, his face etched with a vulnerability I hadn't seen before. There was no trace of the arrogant man I once knew. He seemed lost, broken in a way that I hadn't expected. And for a brief moment, I almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

His hand shot out, grabbing my wrist, his grip tight but desperate. "I can't let you go, Doris. You're my Luna. You're the only one who can make this right."

I pulled my hand free, glaring at him. "No, Nathan. I am not your Luna anymore. You have to move on. We are done."

He stared at me, his eyes pleading, but I didn't waver. I had moved on, and I wasn't about to let his desperation drag me back into the past. I had worked too 11:59

hard to rebuild my life, and I wasn't going to let him take that away from me.

Before Nathan could say anything else, another voice cut through the night-sharp, commanding, and unmistakable.

"Let her go."