After I Torched Alive, My Alpha Went crazy novel Chapter 146

Carlos’ POV

I could tell the moment I laid eyes on Grace that something was off. She wasn’t the same woman I had known.

Her eyes, usually full of fire and determination, seemed empty now. It was as if she was just going through the motions of life, waiting for something to give.

It didn’t take me long to figure out what was happening. Grace wasn’t just playing hard to get. No, she was broken. She had been broken for a while now, and I hated the fact that I couldn’t do anything to fix it.

When I walked into the room, I expected Grace to look at me with the same warmth she used to. But instead, she stood there, her gaze cool, distant.

And when she spoke, there was no excitement in her voice, no eagerness to see me. "You didn’t have to come," she said quietly, almost as if she were trying to distance herself from me even more.

I was surprised. Grace had invited me to come, yet now she was pushing me away? There had to be more going on beneath the surface.

"You’re really going to turn me away now?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, trying to keep my tone light, but I couldn’t hide the hurt in my voice.

I was trying to stay calm, to not let my frustration show, but it wasn’t easy. I’d been anticipating this moment, hoping it would be different, that she would be different. But she wasn’t.

Her eyes flickered with something—regret, maybe. But it didn’t last long. "No," Grace replied, shaking her head slowly. "It’s not that. I just… I can’t. I’m sorry."

I felt a wave of intense worry. Something was wrong. Something had happened to Grace. I had known her long enough to recognize the signs of someone carrying a heavy burden. She wasn’t just upset with me; this was bigger than that.

"Why do you keep pushing me away?" I asked, trying to get through to her, to understand what had changed. "Is it because of what happened with Nathan? What he did to you?"

She stiffened, and I saw the briefest flash of pain cross her face. It was gone as quickly as it had appeared, but it was enough to make me pause.

"I don’t want to talk about him," Grace said quietly, her voice strained. "He’s not the issue right now."

But it was clear to me that he was. She was pushing me away, not just because of what Nathan had done, but because of the deep hurt she was still carrying.

"Carlos," I had just given my introduction when, without any other words, an urgent voice came through on the other side. "We’ve received information that the Dark Spectre Pack has moved. They’re targeting someone named Cyrus."

The words hit me like an atomic bomb. Cyrus? They were going after my son? I had to act fast. There was no time to waste.

"Get to him, now," I commanded, my voice sharp. "Keep him safe. Don’t let anyone near him. If Merhold’s men are after him, we can’t waste a second."

The response was quick, sharp, and professional. "Understood. We’re already on it."

The process had to be quick, every second counted. If Merhold’s men were closing in, it was only a matter of hours before they could reach Cyrus. I couldn’t let that happen.

I ended the call and stared at the screen for a moment. This was bad. Really bad. I had to protect Cyrus. I couldn’t let Merhold’s people get to him.

But more than that, I couldn’t let Grace find out what was happening. Not yet. I couldn’t risk it. I had to handle it on my own.