---- His secret, surging Alpha possessiveness and desire to have Aria all to himself felt like a betrayal of his tragically deceased mother. He wouldn't allow himself to fall in love with that bitch's daughter. And he definitely wouldn't allow himself to feel anything for her beyond her being a 'tool for revenge.' But his beating heart, the instinctive Alpha attraction-how could he control that just by wanting to? By the time he finally realized all this, it seemed... it was already too late. While waiting in line for airport security, his hands trembled as he sent dozens of jumbled messages to Aria's encrypted number, the one he'd long ago set to one-way block. He rambled, pouring out years of suppressed true feelings he hadn't even dared admit to himself. He frantically expressed how much he 'owed' her and the heart- wrenching regret he felt now. ---- But after sending all the messages, all he got back was a cold, red warning: ''Message Undeliverable. Recipient has permanently deactivated this number." Aria had completely blocked all his contact methods. She had vanished from his world as if she'd evaporated into thin air. Like a caged beast, Connor frantically mobilized every resource he had and rushed to the search and rescue headquarters. He desperately asked about the search for Aria's crashed plane. But there was still no news of her. The head of the rescue team, an experienced old captain, regretfully told him the plane had encountered a rare, super-strong air current while crossing the mountains. It had disintegrated instantly, debris scattered across a vast valley. Ina disaster of that magnitude, the chances of survival were almost zero. Aria wasn't the only passenger or crew member missing. ---- He advised Connor to prepare for the worst, that perhaps he should start making funeral arrangements for Aria. That cold e-ticket with Aria's boarding information felt like a burning brand clutched in his hand. Holding it hurt. Letting go hurt his heart even more. Devastated, he returned to his residence. He pushed open Aria's door, which was now closed. Inside, every trace of her scent, every sign she'd ever been there, was gone without a trace. This room, the one he'd snuck into countless nights to wrap the sleeping beta in his Alpha scent. Every corner had once been filled with their fake tenderness and her careful breaths. Now, it was so cold and empty, it was as if she'd never been there at all. He just sat there, dejected, on the edge of the bed Aria used to sleep in. He lit one strong cigar after another, letting the harsh smoke sting his eyes