14. 2 years later...

Two years later...….

Annatoria sat in her office, waiting for the right time to sign out. No one knows she's the owner but regardless, she has her special seat there.

"Ma, the driver is ready," Jessica walked in to inform her.

"Oh, that's right. How about grabbing ice cream with Gaius?" Annatoria asked, walking towards the door.

Jessica nodded and a smile lit up her face. Gaius and Jessica awkwardly exchanged glances.

"By the way, a letter dropped in the wolf mailbox," Gaius added, closing the magazine he was checking.

"Did you check what it was?" Annatoria asked.

"No, ma. It's yours, not mine," Gaius smiled.

They handed the letter over to her. Too tired to even read any note, she threw it into her bag.

As soon as Annatoria settled her butt on the new leather seat of the car, her phone buzzed. The other two had already settled in the back space in the car.

"Oh, Asher!" she beamed.

It was Asher. He was probably calling to check on her. The driver paused, realizing she was about to make a call.

"Do you miss me that much?" Annatoria smiled.

Her conversation with Asher was more like a lovey-dovey conversation. Gaius and Jessica mocked her whenever she wasn't around. They always mimicked how they talked and interacted.

"Happy birthday, Annatoria Hawkins," Asher smiled, appearing beside the car.

Annatoria gasped in surprise, seeing Asher for the first time in a whole year.

"I'll see you at home." Annatoria grabbed her handbag and dashed out of the car without taking a second thought.

Gaius and Jessica laughed as soon as they saw her run off.

"That's the birthday girl," Asher's arms spread so wide as she ran into them. He curled his arms around her. She didn't let go either.

Asher had been gone for seven days, and though Annatoria hadn't admitted it out loud, she had missed him terribly.

Now, in his arms, the scent of pine and fresh earth surrounded her, grounding her in a way she hadn't felt in almost a year.

"You waited four hours?" she whispered against his shoulder.

"For you? I'd wait forever."

She pulled away, playfully rolling her eyes. "You're getting too good at this sweet-talking thing."

He smirked. "And you love it."

Jessica and Gaius exchanged knowing looks, still watching from the car.

"Come on, birthday girl," Asher said, pulling her toward his car. "I have a surprise for you."

They both got into the car and only then did Jessica and Gaius instruct their own driver to move.

As Annatoria and Asher settled in the car, she heard something move.

A pup!

"Did you get that from Korea?" Annatoria's attention got caught by the little, cute creature.

"It's cute, isn't it?" Asher exhaled a quiet laugh, watching her fondly.

She pressed her lips together before giving a small nod.

"I honestly didn't believe you'd make it," Annatoria breathed, tears welling up in her eyes.

"It's fine," He pulled her head closer to his chest, "You're acting like I've been away for a year." He chuckled, brushing his hand through her hair.

"I have other presents for you," He smiled, releasing her from his romantic grip.

Asher maneuvered the car smoothly through the city streets, the headlights cutting through the soft glow of streetlights. Annatoria sat beside him, cradling the tiny pup in her lap, absentmindedly stroking its fur.

"Where exactly are we going?" she asked, turning to him with a curious glance.

"You'll see," he said with a small smirk, keeping his eyes on the road.

Minutes later, they pulled up in front of a luxurious hotel, its grand chandeliers visible through the towering glass windows. The golden-lit entrance shimmered like something out of a dream.

"Asher…" she trailed off, raising an eyebrow.

"Relax," he chuckled, stepping out of the car and walking over to open her door. "It's just a birthday surprise. No hidden intentions, I promise."

She scoffed playfully. "We'll see about that."

Inside the hotel's private rooftop lounge, the city stretched out beneath them like a sea of twinkling stars. A small table was set up, a delicate black box placed at its center.

Annatoria arched a brow. "If there's a proposal hidden in there, I swear—"

Asher laughed. "Calm down, birthday girl."

He handed her the box. She hesitated for a moment before slowly opening it, revealing a stunning diamond necklace, its pendant glimmering under the ambient light.

Engraved on the back were the words: "For the strongest woman I know. May this always remind you of your worth."

Her throat tightened. She wasn't the type to get emotional over gifts, but this… this was different.

"Asher…" she whispered.

"I saw it and thought of you," he said simply, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

She swallowed past the lump in her throat and smiled, reaching for his hand in gratitude. "Thank you."

But he wasn't done.

From his pocket, he pulled out a small silver ring, aged but well-kept.

"This," he said, turning it over between his fingers, "has been with me my whole life. My father gave it to me, and before that, it belonged to his father."

Annatoria's eyes widened. "Asher… are you sure?"

He nodded, pressing it into her palm. "I want you to have it. You're family to me, Annatoria."

The weight of his words settled over her, heavier than any romantic confession ever could.

They weren't lovers. They weren't just friends either.

They were something deeper—soul-bound, yet untouched by romance.

And that was enough.

Asher loved their connection. It was far better than being in love. Even though he wanted to be in love with her, he still cherished the moments they shared.

"Asher, she still thinks about her ex!" His wolf called him back to his senses, noticing he was lost in staring at the beauty.

"Why? Because she thinks I'm not good enough?" Asher scoffed, his gaze softening.

He knew better than getting angry at his wolf, but it hurt him that he had to hold back his feelings for the woman he'd do anything to have. Asher would do anything to see her smile.

"The pup is yours," Asher said, as Annatoria grabbed the little creature again, her eyes widening in surprise.

Annatoria's heart skipped a beat as she gently cradled the tiny wolf pup in her hands. Its fur was soft, and its dark eyes stared up at her with an innocent curiosity. She could feel her heart swelling in a way she hadn't expected.

"Oh my days!" Annatoria gasped, her voice filled with disbelief and wonder. "You actually got me a wolf pup?"

Asher chuckled softly, watching her reaction fondly. "I know how much you love wolves, Annatoria. Figured this would be a good way to remind you that you're never alone."

Annatoria looked down at the pup, her fingers trembling slightly as she caressed its fur. It was like a piece of the wild, a living, breathing reminder of the world she came from, and yet something else—the unexpected warmth of a connection she hadn't known she needed.

Her breath caught as her chest tightened. Before she could stop herself, a tear slipped down her cheek.

Asher noticed immediately. His smile faltered, and he reached out, his hand gently brushing her cheek to wipe away the tear. "Hey, it's okay," he murmured softly. "It's just a gift, Annatoria."

But Annatoria's emotions were already starting to spill over. The gesture, so simple yet so profound, overwhelmed her. She had spent so much time guarding her heart, building walls around her that even Asher's kindness felt like too much to bear.

"I didn't expect this, Asher," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I didn't think you'd do something like this for me." Her eye color for the first time, changed to the Light Amber color.

He looked at her with a mixture of care and understanding. "I just wanted to show you that you're special to me, Annatoria. You've been through so much, and this is just one small way I can make things easier for you."

Her hand trembled as she held the pup closer to her chest. The tears came faster now, each one a release of the emotions she had kept locked away for far too long. She had always believed she needed to be strong, to not let anyone see the cracks in her armor. But in that moment, Asher's gift, his presence, everything he had done for her— it broke through.

"I don't know how to accept this…" Annatoria whispered, her voice filled with emotion. "I don't know how to let myself be happy again."

Asher didn't speak at first. Instead, he simply leaned closer, wrapping his arms around her in a tender embrace. "You don't have to do anything, Annatoria. Just be yourself. Just be here, with me."

She let herself sink into his warmth, the sound of her heartbeat thundering in her chest as she allowed herself to feel what she had been holding back. His words—so simple, so real—pierced through the walls she had built around her heart. And for the first time in years, Annatoria let herself weep freely in someone's arms.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice small. "I didn't mean to break down like this."

Asher gently pulled her away from him, tilting her chin so she met his gaze. "There's nothing to apologize for. You're allowed to feel. You've been through too much, Annatoria, and you deserve all the kindness in the world. Don't bottle it up anymore. Let me be here for you."

She took a deep breath, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, though the tears still threatened to fall. "I've just been so used to doing everything on my own… it's hard to let anyone in."

"You don't have to do it alone anymore," Asher said softly, his voice unwavering. "I'm not going anywhere."

The weight of his words settled over her, and for the first time in a long while, Annatoria allowed herself to believe in the possibility of support, of someone truly being there for her. Not as a lover. Not as a romantic partner. But as someone who truly cared, someone who understood her in ways others couldn't.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with gratitude. "I don't know what I did to deserve all of this."

"You don't need to do anything to deserve it," Asher replied, his hand gently brushing her hair out of her face. "You're more than enough, just as you are."

Annatoria took a shaky breath, her hand still cradling the pup. She looked up at Asher, her heart full. Despite everything—despite her walls, her doubts, her fears—she knew one thing for sure.

She was not alone. Not anymore. Her heart felt the warmth of having a true friend– a true friend who stood by her, helped her heal,plans with her.