Chapter 76
Lisa’s POV
I sat at the vanity table, running a brush slowly through my hair. The red dress Rylan had given me lay neatly across the bed. It was shimmering under the light. My fingers trembled slightly as I reached for the eyeshadow palette. I needed to calm down. Tonight was the feast. I should be excited. But my thoughts. kept going back to the missing pendant.
Sierra had gone quiet. That made me even more nervous.
Just as I began applying a soft shimmer to my eyelids, there was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” I called.
Alexandra stepped in. She was holding a phone in her hand. She was half-dressed, her long hair still damp
from a shower.
“Hey,” she said, a little out of breath. “Is Rylan in here?”
I blinked. I was confused. “No, I thought he was helping downstairs.”
She sighed and handed me the phone. “I’ve looked everywhere for him. This phone was ringing nonstop. It’s his. I figured he forgot it here. If he shows up, let him know there was a missed call. I really need to go
get ready myself.”
I took the phone from her. “Sure, I’ll tell him.”
“Thanks, Lisa!” she said as she disappeared out the door.
I placed the phone down on the vanity and turned back to my eyeshadow. I tried to focus on blending, but curiosity pulled my gaze toward the phone. It looked ordinary enough. There were a few smudges on the
screen and a crack on the corner.
Then it rang again.
I jumped.
The screen lit up with a name: Anna Darling
My heart skipped. Darling?
I stared at it for a moment. I felt unsure. But my hand moved before I could think.
I answered.
“Rylan baby,” a soft and sultry voice whispered through the speaker. “Why have you been ignoring me? I’ve been calling you since forever. I miss you so much.”
I didn’t say anything. My mouth had gone dry. My fingers tightened around the phone.
“Hello? Baby? Are you there?”
I hung up.
My hands shook.
I tapped into the message app. My fingers moved like they didn’t belong to me. I wasn’t sure if I even
wanted to see what was there.
The messages opened.
There she was. Anna Darling
The chat was full of hearts, kisses, and nicknames. Honey, My love, Can’t wait to see you again.
My chest tightened.
I love you.
You’re mine, Rylan.
And worse?
I’ll never tell Lisa.
My vision blurred.
“Sierra… what is this?”
Her voice echoed gently in my mind. Lisa, don’t jump to conclusions. Look at him first. Trust your
instincts.
I clutched the phone and stood. My feet moved before my mind could catch up. I hurried down the stairs. My dress was still hanging untouched on the bed.
Rylan was by the main hall. He was helping the warriors move tables. He was laughing at something one
of them said. His smile was so natural, so warm.
But mine was gone.
He looked up and saw me. His face lit up. “Lisa! Wow, you look… beautiful, even without the dress. Are you ready for tonight?”
I didn’t smile back.
I held up the phone.
“Who’s Anna?”
His smile faded. “What?”
“Anna,” I repeated, walking closer. “Anna Darling with a heart emoji. Who is she, Rylan?”
His brows furrowed. “I… I don’t know.”
I handed him the phone. “Check your messages. Maybe that’ll help you remember.”
He opened the app and scrolled. His face went blank.
“There’s nothing here,” he said, showing me the screen.
The chat was gone.
“What? No, it was right there! I read the messages! I saw them!”
“Maybe… maybe it was a glitch. Or maybe she deleted the chat?”
I glared at him. “Don’t play dumb. Go to your call log.”
He did. The name Anna appeared again. Multiple missed calls.
“See? She calls you a lot. You know her.”
“I swear I don’t,” he said firmly. “Maybe it’s a misdial. Or someone messing around.”
“Then why is she saved in your contacts with a heart?”
He hesitated. “I save a lot of names. I’m an Alpha, Lisa. People from other packs, traders, allies, even
healers… they come to me. I save their numbers. I don’t always remember them all.”
I studied his face.
He looked honest. Frustrated, even. But not guilty.
Sierra? I asked silently.
She whispered back. He’s not lying, Lisa. His heart… it didn’t spike. It didn’t waver. He’s confused. Not
hiding.
I lowered the phone.
But the hurt was still there.
He stepped closer and placed a hand on my arm. “Lisa, I swear to you. I don’t know who she is. But I’ll find
out. I’ll block her. Whatever it takes. Just… please don’t shut me out.”
I nodded slowly.
But the doubt remained.
The pendant was gone.
And now this.
Something was wrong.
And I could feel the shadows growing closer.
