Getting away with the Alpha's Pup

Chapter 196

Giovanni's Perspective

I sat in a high-backed chair in my office, watching the city lights slowly flicker on outside the window. The night had draped itself like a black cloak, swallowing up the day's clamor in silence. The world before me seemed to blur, hidden beneath the mask of hypocrisy that veiled endless power and suspicion. As the leader of the wolves, I had long grown accustomed to navigating in the darkness, searching for every pivot point that could anchor me more firmly in place.

But tonight, my thoughts were anything but calm and clear. A moment ago, I sensed an unfamiliar fluctuation in power—a presence unlike any wolf pack member I'd ever encountered, and not from any bloodline I knew. It was a force of werewolf blood, primal and undeniable, impossible to conceal, and yet... familiar. In that instant, I stopped what I was doing, my gaze deepening as my brow furrowed in concentration.

Where was this aura coming from? I strained to sense it again, but every time, its origin eluded me.

Only when I closed my eyes once more and focused intently did I realize the force hadn't dissipated—it was still there, hidden, like an invisible tether connecting me to something far away. It was as if someone, somewhere, was bound to me by a strong and inexplicable tie.

Was it Fern?

I opened my eyes sharply, a sudden shock coursing through my mind.

I hadn't been able to let go of her over the past six years, despite her vanishing so completely that it felt like she'd disappeared from my world altogether. Every time I thought of her, of the way she had died holding my child in her arms, a wave of grief and confusion would wash over me. I'd wondered countless times if she might still be alive somewhere, and for years, I'd secretly blamed myself—if only I'd done more in that war, maybe she wouldn't have been driven to leave my world for good.

But now, this unfamiliar aura stirred something new within me. Was it possible this power came from an entirely unknown child? No, there was something about the scent—a trace of it—that felt vaguely familiar. A scent I once knew intimately. The scent of Fern.

I took a deep breath, standing up. Just as I was about to concentrate more on this elusive connection, the sensation abruptly vanished.

I closed my eyes again, trying to hone in on that faint scent, but no matter how hard I focused, the presence always seemed just out of reach. Every time I got close, the sensation would abruptly cease, as though a mysterious force was blocking it.

"Impossible..." I murmured under my breath, confusion and disbelief flickering in my eyes. A strong, nagging intuition surged within me—a sense that behind this aura lay a mystery yet to be unraveled.

I fell silent for a moment, before making my decision. Turning to my desk, I dialed a phone line I hadn't used in years.

"Tobias, come here," I said, my voice low and firm, as though I had already made up my mind.

A few minutes later, Tobias opened the door to my office.

"Alpha, what's wrong?" he asked, closing the door behind him and walking toward my desk, his brow furrowing slightly.

I sat down, my fingers tapping lightly on the desktop. Instead of answering immediately, I fixed Tobias with a deep, contemplative look, as if weighing something in my mind. Only after a pause did I speak slowly, "I sensed a child's power, coming from far away. That scent... it's Fern's."

Tobias' eyes widened in surprise, but the caution returned almost instantly. "Fern? You mean... she's still alive?"

"I don't know," I said, meeting his gaze with a mixture of longing and disbelief. "But the scent is definitely hers." An unspoken obsession shone in my eyes. "I need you to find out about the boy. Confirm his connection to Fern."

Tobias was silent for a moment, then a small, unimpressed smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Alpha, don't you think that sounds like a ridiculous speculation? Or is it just because Diana looks like Fern that you're entertaining these fantasies?"

My eyes turned cold in an instant. "You're wrong, Tobias. I know exactly what I'm doing. I'm not mistaken. That child's power mirrors Fern's aura. If he truly is Fern's child, you should understand what he means to me."

Tobias' expression grew more serious. "You're in a dangerous state of mind, Giovanni. You've already lost her, and you shouldn't be clinging to these illusions. More than that, you have greater responsibilities than just your personal feelings. The pack is waiting for you to make a decision. The elders are already putting pressure on you, and they're becoming increasingly unhappy with your refusal to choose a Luna."

A deep frown settled on my face, and a coldness swept through my eyes. "I know. I know what they want. But you can't deny that if I find Fern—and our child—every sacrifice I've made will have been worth it."

Tobias sighed, his frustration evident. "If you're sure you're not mistaken, I'll look into the boy. But I must remind you, the pack's banquet is scheduled soon. You'll have to face the elders for questioning in a few days."

"Banquet?" I frowned. I had no intention of discussing anything personal in front of the pack, especially not on such an occasion. I knew the elders were using this banquet as a veiled threat. They didn't care about my personal feelings—they only cared about my ability to ensure the pack's stability and prosperity.

"Yes, the feast," Tobias replied, nodding. "It's an opportunity they're giving you. While it comes with significant political pressure, you'll also need to publicly announce your choice for Luna. If you don't, they'll use it as an excuse to tighten their control over you."

I fell silent for a moment, my gaze turning to the night outside the window. A storm of complex emotions swirled within me—a mix of obsession with the past and uncertainty about the future.

"Go ahead and investigate, Tobias," I said finally, my voice lacking the firm resolve it had before, now tinged with weariness. "But remember, this is more important to me than anything else. If you can find her, or at least give me a definitive answer, I'll be able to make a decision."

Tobias nodded and turned toward the door, pausing before leaving. "Giovanni, be careful. If this really is Fern, things won't be that simple. Be prepared for all possible outcomes."

I didn't respond, just stared silently out the window at the city. I could feel Tobias' concern, but in that moment, there was only one goal on my mind—finding Fern, and finding the boy.

After Tobias left, I stood in front of the window again, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath. Unease and doubt tangled in my thoughts, but one truth was clear: there was no turning back now. No matter the outcome, I had to move forward.

My gaze sharpened with renewed determination. This pursuit was not only about love—it was also about responsibility. It was for the one I had lost.