Page 92 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

Wilhelm’s face turned sad. “He had to return to Frankfurt earlier today. Gretchen, his wife, is in the hospital.”

Anna blinked. “Oh.” She bit her lip and dropped her gaze to the floor.

Alex stiffened. Had she been looking forward to seeing him again? “He said to tell you goodbye for him, and that he hoped to see you soon.”

Anna nodded and dropped her gaze to the floor. “Thank you, Master.”

“I’ll take you upstairs to your room so you can get ready.”

Alex walked back into the living room after getting Anna settled in one of the guest rooms and slumped onto the couch. The look of disappointment on her face when she realized Kurt was gone haunted him.

Vati looked up. “Are you alright?”

Alex frowned. “She was disappointed Kurt was gone.”

Vati’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “She spent quite a bit of time with him last week. It’s natural for her to be disappointed.” Alex let out a soft growl, and Vati chuckled. “You needn’t be jealous, Alex. I saw the way she looked at you when she walked in. She likes you.”

“More than Kurt?” Why was he so insecure when it came to her? He growled again, but this time at himself.

“She doesn’t know you very well, but I have every confidence you will change that.”

Alex thought back to his thoughts from earlier in the afternoon. “I’m going to encourage Aaron to ask her out.”

“Why?”

“Because she needs to experience life. She’s never even been on a date.”

“So take her on one.”

Alex shook his head. “I want to, but if I ask her out now, I’ll never know if she’s with me because she wants to be, or because she feels obligated to obey me.” He paused. “I wouldn’t have sex with her this morning, either. I want her to know that?—‍”

“You didn’t make love to her?”

“I bonded with her at the ritual. Isn’t that enough?”

“You need to be with her, Alex. It will solidify your bond. Until you do, she may not have confidence in her connection to you.”

Many of The Brotherhood’s rituals revolved around sex. All types of sex. Alex usually didn’t mind. He liked sex. “I don’t want her to think I’m just fucking her like every other man she’s known. I want her to know I’m different.”

Vati pressed his lips together and lay his book on his lap. Alex could sense his irritation.

“I want it to be different, Vati,” Alex repeated, running his hands through his hair. He was quiet for a few minutes. “I don’t know what else to do. I don’t know how else to be sure of her feelings for me. To be sure that she knows I’m different.”

“You are different, Alex. She will learn that in time.”

“I don’t want her to get hurt.”

“Part of being alive is getting hurt.”

Alex glared at his father. “Don’t you think she’s been hurt enough?”

Vati sighed and closed his eyes. His brows twitched and he shook his head before opening his eyes again. His voice was soft when he spoke again. “Yes. She has been hurt in ways we can only imagine. But avoiding her and encouraging her into a relationship that cannot last will not keep her from getting hurt.”

“Then what else should I do?”

Vati pursed his lips. “I don’t know, son. I wish I did.”

Chapter 38

---