Uncertain

Alpha's POV

After a long day shopping for outfits we'd need for Alex Wong's gala, Daniella and I finally arrived at her luxurious apartment, perched a top one of the tallest buildings in San Francisco. The elegance of the place struck me as I stepped inside. The sleek, modern design and the breathtaking view from the large window sit was like stepping into a world of quiet opulence.

It was just the two of us here. Lucas had left to pick up Eric, and the two of them would be back later to brief me on my responsibilities during the gala.

Daniella pressed her smart key against the lock, and I watched her. Without even realizing it, my subconscious seemed to register the pattern of her movements. Before I knew it, the numbers fell from my lips.

"131313."

She froze mid-step and turned to me, eyes wide with surprise. "Wow... Do you have bionic eyes or something? How did you know my code?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. It's like... watching you press it, I could just feel the sequence."

Her brows furrowed, and for a moment, she looked puzzled. But she didn't press the matter. Daniella had been quiet ever since we left the hospital earlier today, and her mood had noticeably darkened. Was it something Brandon said? That venomous insult about me being her 'toy boy'?

"Make yourself at home," she said softly, walking over to the fridge and pulling out a can of beer. "Want one?"

I nodded and walked toward her, taking the beer from her hands before she could hand it over. "Ella, what's wrong? You've been distant since we got back. Did something happen? Did I do something wrong?"

She exhaled heavily, leaning against the counter. "You're the only one who calls me Ella. Why?"

I tilted my head at her question, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. "I don't know. I guess... I just wanted to call you something special, something that no one else does. You're special to me, Ella."

Her gaze faltered, and as I reached out to pull her into a hug, she side stepped, moving toward the large window overlooking the glittering city skyline.

Concern tugged at me, and I followed her. Wrapping my arms around her from behind, I whispered, "What's on your mind, Ella? Please, talk to me. If I've hurt you or made a mistake, tell me. I'll make it right."

For a moment, she stayed stiff in my embrace. Then, slowly, she turned around and wrapped her arms around me, her face buried in my chest. Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"What you said earlier," she began, "about doing everything for me because you love me... Was that just an act? Was it just to get back at Brandon, or did you really mean it?"

I cupped her face gently, forcing her to look into my eyes. "I meant every word, Ella. I wasn't acting. I'm in love with you."

Lowering my head, I moved to kiss her, but she pulled away, shaking her head. Her rejection stung, and I searched her eyes, confusion and hurt swirling inside me.

"Does that mean... your reply earlier, that you loved me too....was just an act?" I asked softly, my voice cracking under the weight of my doubt.

She sighed deeply. "I don't know, Alpha. I'm confused... and scared. Scared of what I feel for you."

"Scared because of what Brandon said? About me being your toy boy or underage?"

She shook her head. "No, it's not that. I know you're not underage. No boy could be as gentle and understanding as you. No boy could kiss the way you do. You may look young, but I know you're not."

"Then what is it?" I pressed gently.

Daniella stepped away, sinking into the plush sofa by the window. Her back was straight, her arms folded as if she were trying to hold herself together. I sat beside her, waiting.

Her shoulders rose and fell with another deep sigh. "I'm afraid of my feelings, Alpha. When I told you I loved you earlier, my heart... it raced like I've never felt before. And that terrifies me."

"Why are you afraid of that?" I asked, leaning closer, desperate to understand.

"Because," she whispered, her voice trembling now, "if my feelings for you grow deeper, and then... then you remember your past, and it turns out you already have someone a girlfriend, a fiancée, or a wife what will happen then? I wouldn't be able to let you go. I'd fight for you because that's the kind of woman I am. I don't give up on what I want. But I also don't want to become the kind of woman who destroys another woman's life."

Her words struck me like a thunder clap. I hadn't thought of that. If my memories returned and revealed I had someone waiting for me, what would I do? A girlfriend or fiancée could be left behind, painful as that might be. But a wife? A child? Could I abandon them for Daniella? Could she bear to be the reason for such pain?

The thought made my head spin. "This situation is so damn confusing," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "And the worst part is, I can't even remember if there's anything to worry about."

Daniella smiled faintly, a glimmer of sadness in her eyes. "That's what scares me, Alpha. Because if there is someone else... I don't know how I'd handle my feelings. On one hand, I can't bear the thought of losing you, but on the other, I don't want to be the kind of woman who causes another woman pain."

And in that moment, I realized how deeply we were both trapped,by our feelings, by our doubts, and by the mysteries of a past that refused to reveal itself.