Chapter 83\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
The reporters were practically living on the front lawn of the pack house, but I couldn\u2019t care less. As long as they didn\u2019t slow me down, they were irrelevant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In fact, I was almost grateful for the coverage of Ellie\u2019s disappearance. The more people who heard about it, the more likely we\u2019d get a tip that could lead me to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It shouldn\u2019t have been possible for her to vanish from the hospital like she did. I had ordered the best security available, and still, she slipped away without a trace. One minute she was there, then she was just gone, right out of her room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The cameras caught nothing. The staff saw nothing. And the timing was too perfect. She disappeared during the short window when Lance and Cassian had stepped away to get food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was the only time she had been left alone since waking up. Someone had been waiting for that moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She must have been kidnapped. There was no other explanation. Someone had taken her-either to finish what they started, or to use her against me. But if it was ransom they wanted, why hadn\u2019t they contacted me by now? The silence was worse than a demand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The thought made me sick. I ordered the full force of the pack into the search. Every stone in Silver Fang territory was to be overturned, every path, every den scoured. Yet, even after days, we had nothing. If she were still within my lands, I would have found her by now. I was sure of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Which meant whoever took her had likely dragged her into the Roguelands. And if that was the case\u2026 it would be nearly impossible to track her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I knew firsthand how dangerous that place was, how merciless. The thought of Ellie-injured, vulnerable\u2014 somewhere out there\u2026 I didn\u2019t have words for the rage it ignited in me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had always prided myself on control, on keeping my wolf restrained. But now\u2026 now it felt like something monstrous paced behind my ribs, clawing for release, desperate to tear apart whoever had dared take her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If I didn\u2019t find her soon-if I didn\u2019t find her safe-I had no idea what I was going to do.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ellie POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hadn\u2019t left Claire\u2019s apartment since arriving in Moonstone. I hadn\u2019t expected there to be quite so much publicity about my disappearance-which, in hindsight, was probably foolish. I was married to the Alpha of a powerful pack; the fact that I vanished in the middle of the night was bound to draw attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Especially in light of the very public attack that I was just a victim of. If it had been possible to wait, I would have. But it was clear that I wasn\u2019t safe there. Whoever was behind that attack, I sure they wouldn\u2019t rest until they got rid of me completely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For now, laying low was the best option. I\u2019d taken some small steps to change my appearance-cut my hair short, kept sunglasses on whenever I stepped out onto the balcony for air.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019d also asked Claire to call me by a different name. Going by \u201cElaine\u201d wouldn\u2019t help much, since that was the name plastered all over the news. Everyone knew me as Ellie too, so I\u2019d decided on \u201cLaney.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Still close enough to Elaine to feel natural, but not immediately recognizable to anyone following the reports. It would take time to get used to, but starting with asking Claire to use it felt right.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 83\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cassian had mentioned that an apartment in the same building might open up soon. If he could rent it for me, I\u2019d have my own place before the babies arrived. That thought was comforting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not that I didn\u2019t enjoy staying with Claire-she was funny, sweet, and incredibly caring-but if I was going to be in Moonstone for any significant length of time, I wanted space that was mine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The thought of moving into my own apartment made everything feel real. I was on my own now-or at least, mostly on my own. I was lucky to have friends looking out for me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNolan was on the news this morning,\u201d Claire said as she walked into the room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The memory of his face lingered with me all day. He looked miserable, more than I\u2019d ever seen him. There was something wild in his eyes, something I could sense even through a television screen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shouldn\u2019t feel bad for him-not after everything he\u2019d put me through-but I couldn\u2019t stop the flicker of guilt that came with seeing how frantic he seemed while searching for me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The reports had been clear: the entire pack was on high alert. Every soldier and officer at his command was looking. Neighboring packs were assisting too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If Cassian didn\u2019t know exactly where I was, I\u2019d have been terrified of being found here. But I trusted him to keep me safe and keep my location hidden. He was the only one who knew exactly where I was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s weird seeing people you know on TV, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Claire asked, sitting beside me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess,\u201d I admitted. \u201cHonestly, I\u2019m kind of used to it. The media back in Silver Fang could be\u2026 pushy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCassian mentioned that. He said the paparazzi there were worse than anything he\u2019d seen-really got in his face sometimes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDid they really? That\u2019s so annoying.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a way, it\u2019s a good sign,\u201d she said thoughtfully. \u201cIt means there\u2019s nothing serious happening in Silver Fang- no attacks, no scandals. So they focus on human interest stories. Of course, now that you\u2019re missing, this is going to dominate for a while. Especially since you haven\u2019t turned up.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve really run wild with conspiracy theories, haven\u2019t they?\u201d I said with a huff.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s just hope Nolan doesn\u2019t fall for any of them. Chasing false leads could drive him crazy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s stubborn, but he won\u2019t search forever,\u201d I replied. \u201cHe has to keep up appearances with a big search, but once the public attention dies down, I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll forget about me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know\u2026 he doesn\u2019t seem like someone who\u2019s going to give up easily,\u201d Claire said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s just feeling guilty because of the attack. That\u2019ll fade. Trust me, he doesn\u2019t have any real affection for me. That\u2019s not what\u2019s driving him,\u201d I explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even as I said the words, I wasn\u2019t sure I believed them. Things between Nolan and me had been\u2026 different ever since Felicity left on her trip. With her gone, he was easier to talk to. More reasonable. When we actually tried, we could almost get along.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And there was nothing fake about his fear after the attack. No one could manufacture grief like that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But still\u2026 Nolan and I didn\u2019t mean anything to each other. The mate bond between us was a fluke. We weren\u2019t compatible, and he had Felicity-she was the one he truly wanted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 83\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
With me out of the way, he could have everything he wanted. Why would he throw that away to chase me?\u00a0<\/p>\n
No\u2026 once the public outcry over my disappearance faded, so would Nolan\u2019s interest. I was sure of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Eventually, I wouldn\u2019t have to hide so carefully. I\u2019d be able to settle here in Moonstone and build a quiet, normal life with my children.\u00a0<\/p>\n
ENJOYING THE BOOK?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Give it a rating to show your support!\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A Cold Marriage That Turned Warm 83 Chapter 83\u00a0 Nolan POV\u00a0 The reporters were practically living on the front lawn […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23652","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-unremembered-mate-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23652","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23652"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23652\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23652"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23652"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23652"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}