Page 45 of Alpha's Hidden Gem

I turn back to Lila, taking her trembling hand in mine as I gaze into her eyes, my heart heavy with the devastating news I must share. My wolf whines, yearning for me to wrap her in our embrace and shield her from the pain.

"Lila, I'm so sorry, but I have some bad news to tell you," I begin, my voice straining with emotion.

I pause, taking a shaky breath as I steel myself for the pain I'm about to inflict upon the woman I care for deeply.

"Your food truck... it's gone. There was a fire. It's been completely destroyed."

Lila's eyes widen in shock, her hand gripping mine with a desperate intensity as the color drains from her face.

Comfort her! Protect her!my wolf demands, his urgency bleeding into my own emotions.

"What? My truck? It's... it's gone?" she whispers, her voice cracking with disbelief and anguish.

Tears begin to well up in her beautiful hazel eyes, spilling down her cheeks as the reality of the situation sinks in. My wolf howls within me, desperate to chase away her pain and destroy those who have caused it.

Suddenly, a look of panic crosses her face. "Oh my god, Sophie! She could have been in..." she trails off, her voice catching on a sob.

I quickly shake my head, squeezing her hand reassuringly. "I didn't see Sophie when I arrived at the scene, and the firefighters didn't find any bodies in the wreckage."

Lila nods frantically, her hand already reaching for her phone. "I need to call her, I need to hear her voice," she says, her fingers trembling as she tries to unlock the screen.

The friend, danger, a threat,my wolf growls, his distrust palpable.We must be cautious.

I nod, understanding her need for reassurance, but also feeling the weight of my wolf's concerns. "Of course, love. Let's give her a call together."

As Lila dials Sophie's number, I keep my arm around her, offering silent support. When Sophie answers, her voice is filled with a mix of relief and concern. "Lila! Thank god, I've been so worried. Are you okay? What happened after those men took you?"

Lila takes a shaky breath, glancing at me uncertainly. I give her a reassuring nod, but also a subtle warning look.

We can't reveal too much, not yet,I send through our bond.

"Sophie, I'm... I'm okay. Axel and his friends, they helped me. I'm safe now," Lila says, her voice trembling. "But Sophie, the truck... there was a fire. It's gone."

I hear Sophie's sharp intake of breath, followed by a stream of questions. "A fire? What do you mean gone? Lila, what's going on?"

Lila closes her eyes, leaning heavily against me as she tries to find the words. My wolf surges forward, wanting to take control and protect her from the world, but I hold him back, knowing Lila needs to handle this her way.

"I don't know, Sophie. Everything's happening so fast. But I need you to trust me, okay? I'm safe, and we're going to figure this out."

There's a moment of hesitation on the other end of the line, and I can almost hear the gears turning in Sophie's head. "Lila, those men... their hands, they weren't right. There's something else going on here, isn't there?"

I tense, my grip tightening on Lila's shoulder. She looks up at me, her eyes wide with uncertainty. I shake my head slightly, silently communicating that we can't reveal the truth, not yet. My wolf growls in frustration.

The friend curious, uncover our secret, the pack at risk,my wolf snarls, his unease growing with each passing moment.Must protect what's ours.

"Sophie, I... I don’t have the answers right now," Lila says softly, her voice heavy with emotion. "But I promise, as soon as I know, I'll tell you everything. At the moment, all I needed was to confirm your safety and assure you that I'm fine, surrounded by people who will protect me."

There's another pause, and then a sigh of resignation. "Okay, Lila. I trust you. But please, be careful. And know that I'm here for you, no matter what."

Lila nods, tears streaming down her face. "I know, Sophie. Thank you. I'll call you again soon, I promise."

As she hangs up, I pull her close, letting her cry into my chest as the weight of the day's events crashes down upon her. My wolf wraps around her, his presence a comforting warmth in my mind, but I can still feel his unease, his distrust of the outsider who knows too much.

"I'm here for you, Lila," I murmur softly, stroking her hair. "We'll figure this out together. I promise."

She looks up at me, her hazel eyes swimming with tears and a flicker of determination. "How did this happen, Axel? Who could have done this?"

I take a deep breath, knowing the answer will only bring her more pain. "Gio's involved."

---