Chapter 31: Desperate Standoff

Ryan’s POV

Seeing Elina’s limp body and the stillness of her breath, my mind was instantly flooded with disbelief. She couldn’t have left me like this—it had to be a nightmare, one I would wake up from at any moment. I stumbled backward, as if retreating could help me escape the reality before me.

“No, no, this isn’t real…” I muttered under my breath, my voice trembling so much it was barely recognizable. Each step back felt like an attempt to flee from the fear and pain gnawing at my heart. But no matter how much I denied it, the cruel truth remained—Elina was gone.

Fenrir tried to explain something, but his voice sounded distant and powerless in that moment. “Ryan, I… I didn’t mean to, I swear, it was an accident!” Every word pierced my heart like a knife, shattering the last remnants of my sanity.