BETA's LOVER

A song recommendation for this chap--- BACK FOR YOU- ONE DIRECTION .

While I was writing this chapter, I realized the lyrics resonated with the story.

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                                                                          MACKENZIE

FOUR MONTHS LATER :

I was doing better than before, numbing myself to the ache in my heart, but small things would still catch me off guard, triggering memories I desperately tried to bury.

Our project was a hit. Jack and I were doing countless interviews every day, which somehow dulled the longing. But it never fully left.

"Finally, tomorrow is the last day of promotion, then vacation for everybody!" Jack announced to both teams, mine and his. Loud cheers erupted in the hall, and I couldn't help but smile in pride. 

Jack's assistant opened a bottle of champagne, and the warm liquid sprayed into the air, showering over people as cheers, laughter, and excited shouts filled the room. The excitement was palpable, and I could see the couples in the office, some I knew and others I hadn't noticed before. It impressed me, and for a moment, my lips tugged up into a small smile.

I took a sip of champagne, leaning against the wall as I watched some employees share the good news with their partners over the phone. Their faces glowed with joy, and a quiet pang of longing stirred in my chest. A sharp ache that reminded me how alone I was.

There was no one here for me. No one waiting at home to hear my success, to share in this moment.

I sighed, my gaze drifting to the drink in my hand. The thoughts of Alistair crept in—his smile whenever he saw me, how it lit up his face, the way his dimples would show as he grinned.

There's someone waiting for you, back in the woods, my mind taunted, bitter and relentless. But you left him. He begged you for a chance, but you didn't give him one.

The words stung more than I wanted to admit. Despite everything my career had given me, despite the long hours and achievements, there was a part of me that remained hollow—an emptiness no success or recognition could fill.

Quinn's words echoed in my mind: "If you keep this up, you'll stay single your whole life. No job, no friends, can fill that emptiness in your heart."

I exhaled slowly, rubbing my chest as the ache there deepened. Maybe she was right. Maybe I had been running from something I should have embraced. But standing here, surrounded by people celebrating, all I could feel was that quiet loneliness, growing louder with each passing moment.

Later that night, when I reached home, my phone rang with an unknown number. Thinking it might be a client, I picked it up, only to hear Quinn's voice on the other end. It had been a month since we last spoke. I was shocked when I first got her call. She told me that Cylon's pack had a signal tower, and that's how she was finally able to reach me.

"Hey, girl! How have you been?" Quinn asked, her voice upbeat.

We talked about our daily lives. She congratulated me on the progress of the project and wished she could be here to celebrate. She mentioned how Cylon and she were doing great, how her decision was right, and how they had been exploring wolf culture together.