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TP : AD7

Prof Anthony’s POV

Weeks had slipped by, and the haunting absence of Daisy from my life became an unbearable void that I couldn't ignore. She had vanished, disappearing as though she had never existed. My search for her online yielded nothing; Daisy had left no trace on social media. It was as though she had evaporated from the face of the earth.

The desperation and worry gnawed at me relentlessly, and the void she left behind ached like an open wound. I couldn't stand the uncertainty any longer, and even Brianna grew concerned. She reached out to Mia, hoping for any hint about Daisy's whereabouts, but Mia was as clueless as the rest of us.

I was adrift in a sea of unanswered questions, my wolf growing restless and agitated with each passing day. The bond between a wolf and his mate was a powerful force, and the absence of that connection left a painful void in my heart.

After leaving no stone unturned in my quest to find Daisy, I decided to reach out to someone from my past, someone I hadn't expected to contact again for a long time. My decision was driven by desperation and the need for answers, even if it meant revisiting memories and relationships that I had kept at arm's length.

I picked up my phone, scrolled through my contacts until I found the number I was searching for. The decision to call him filled me with both apprehension and a sense of necessity. I knew that this call would bring me one step closer to unraveling the mystery of Daisy's disappearance.

With trembling fingers, I dialed his number, my heart pounding as I waited for him to answer. The first ring felt like an eternity, but before the second had finished, a familiar voice came through the line. The silence hung between us for a few seconds, the weight of my unspoken concern pressing down on me.

"Hello, Jack," I finally managed to say, my voice laced with uncertainty and hope.

"Hello, Brother," he responded, his voice carrying a mixture of curiosity and familiarity. Jack and I had a history, one that was filled with both shared experiences and distance that had grown over the years. The fact that I had to reach out to him underscored the gravity of the situation.

The urgency of the situation pressed heavily on my shoulders, and I knew there was no time for beating around the bush. I had to act swiftly, and I had to do it discreetly. The stakes were too high for mistakes or hesitation.

With a phone in my hand, I reached out to Jack, my voice hushed and purposeful as I began to explain the favor I needed. "I need a favor. I need you to send the information to Matt. I need him to find someone for me."

My words carried an undeniable force, reflecting the gravity of the situation. I wasn't concerned with masking my intensity, as the circumstances demanded immediate action. I was grateful that Brianna had been absent from home, for my unusual behavior would surely have raised questions I couldn't answer.

Jack, ever the inquisitive one, wasted no time in seeking clarification. "Can I ask who this strange person is?"

My response was firm and unyielding, allowing no room for further discussion on the matter. "No," I stated, the word heavy with the weight of my resolve.

"Okay, I will let Matt know you have a mission for him, brother," Jack acknowledged, recognizing the urgency in my tone.

Before ending the call, I added a parting message, one that brought both nostalgia and heartache. "Brother, send my greetings to Riley." The words, a simple farewell, were laden with the complex history that Jack and I shared. Our past was fraught with pain and separation, but in this moment, the bond of brotherhood transcended the years that had separated us.

The presence of Riley in my life was a constant, reminder of what I had lost and the web of connections that bound us all. She was Jack's mate, and there was a painful twist to her existence that I couldn't escape – she was the twin of my first mate, Racheal.

The memory of Racheal's disappearance still haunted me. It had been a time of turmoil when my world had been upended and the search for her had yielded nothing. The uncertainty, the not knowing, was a form of torture that had almost driven me to madness. No one, not even the most skilled trackers, could uncover her whereabouts, and the helplessness I felt was overwhelming.

But the most bewildering aspect of that period was the fact that Riley shared the same face as my lost mate. It was as if fate had played a cruel joke on me. Riley's features were identical to Racheal's, a constant reminder of what I had lost. Her presence was a paradox, for while her appearance was the same, the one thing that mattered most was absent – she wasn't my mate, and Rachael's scent didn't linger on her.

I couldn't help but believe that Riley felt a profound sense of guilt for the way her appearance had affected me in the Pack. It had led to my decision to leave the Pack, to relinquish my position as Alpha. I had done so to focus on finding Racheal and stop lusting over Jack’s mate, to uncover the mystery of her vanishing. The Pack and its politics had felt secondary to the need to locate Racheal.

Every time I looked at Riley, I was reminded of my mate, of the love and connection we had shared. It was an agonizing experience, akin to having an open wound. The resemblance was uncanny, and it stirred a mixture of emotions within me. There were moments when seeing Riley engaged in affectionate gestures with Jack was almost too much to bear. It was as if she was stepping into the role Racheal had once occupied, and the pain it brought was indescribable.

I had no claim over Riley, and the complexities of the situation left me feeling powerless. I knew she was Jack's mate, and their connection was strong, just as mine had been with Racheal. But it didn't lessen the emotional turmoil that washed over me whenever I saw them together. I had tried my best to be supportive, to respect the bond they shared, but there were moments when the ache of longing was too great to bear.

The past was a heavy burden to carry, and the unresolved mystery of Racheal's disappearance continued to cast a shadow over my life. The desire to find her, to reunite with my mate, remained an unyielding force within me and that had been the reason why I left everything behind except Brianna.

The gesture of sending my regards to Riley was laden with meaning, a silent communication between Jack and me. It was my way of conveying that I had no intention of trying to replace Riley as my mate. I was making it abundantly clear that the infatuation I once harbored for her was no longer a factor in our lives. It was time for all of us to move forward, each on our own path, each with our respective mates.

As I hung up the call with Jack, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. It was as if a weight had been lifted, and I had successfully navigated a complex and emotional conversation. The presence of Riley had been a constant reminder of what I had lost, but it was essential to communicate that my intentions had shifted. The past was just that – the past.

Despite my internal resolve, I couldn't shake the feeling of heaviness that had settled over me. It manifested in my behavior, making me appear groggy and distant. My longing for Daisy, the questions surrounding her disappearance, and the complexities of my relationships all converged to create a turbulent storm of emotions.

However, I knew I couldn't linger in this state of melancholy. The urgency of finding Daisy weighed heavily on my mind, and I couldn't afford to wade into the depths of nostalgia. I had already spent too long in the past, rehashing old emotions and memories. The present demanded my attention, and I had a mission to fulfill.

With renewed determination, I resumed my search for Daisy online. It was a task that had consumed my days and nights, a relentless quest to uncover any trace of her. The uncertainty surrounding her whereabouts was maddening, and I couldn't rest until I found her, until I knew she was safe.

As I continued to scour the internet for any leads or hints, a familiar voice called out, bringing me back to the present. "Daddddd, I'm home," Brianna's voice echoed through the house, reaching my ears even though she was a distance away.

The sound of her voice was like a lifeline, a reminder of the family that I still had, despite the challenges and complexities that had marked our lives. Brianna was my anchor, the one constant in a sea of uncertainties. Her presence was a source of comfort and strength, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for the daughter who had stood by me through it all.

With renewed energy, I called out to her, "Welcome home, Brianna." My voice carried a warmth that belied the turbulence within me. She was my reason for pushing forward, for pursuing the search for Daisy, and for confronting the complexities of my past. Brianna deserved a future that was free from the shadows that had cast their darkness over our lives.

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