Chapter 21 During the time Tessa had been gone , Ryan had felt that not a single day had been bearable . In his large house , he felt empty , and as he walked past the living room , memories of her flooded back . He missed the times they had curled up together on the couch , watching TV . With Christmas approaching , he found himself longing for the moments when he used to put so much thought into choosing gifts for her . Back when they had just mated to each other , Tessa had stayed up late designing clothes , working for two or three nights in a row , unable to sleep . She worked tirelessly just to make a little extra money , and on Christmas Day , she had given him a luxury watch . Ryan knew that she knew he didn't need a brand - name watch . But it was the first time he truly felt the sincerity and thoughtfulness of her love . Tears welled up in his eyes as he watched her work so hard , only to give him that watch . He held her tightly in his arms , silently promising to love her as long as he breathed . When had that promise stopped meaning anything ? Maybe he had even forgotten all those promises himself . He mocked himself for his own mistakes , yet he couldn't stop wishing she would come back . He had searched for her desperately , but there had been no news , no sign of her . His wolf , once so fierce and agitated , had become increasingly despondent , losing its vitality . Audrey had also recovered and left the hospital . Now , she spent her days quietly resting in the pack . Occasionally , she would pull out the journal Tessa had left behind , reading it over and over . Each time she read it , memories of the countless times she had been cold , unfeeling , and had pushed Tessa away resurfaced . Chapter 21 Dreame - Read Romance Stories D I looked at my hand still oozing thick sticky red liquid . I'm a werewolf . 4.4 FREE Installed Open 37.39 % It was like a knife piercing her heart , a constant reminder of the past she couldn't forget . How could she forget ? She had been the one to send her daughter away , the one who had driven her out of the house . But by the time she realized what she had done , it was too late . The house felt empty , and the memories of the year she had brought Tessa home haunted her . Tessa had been afraid that she would be sent away again . She remembered how , when Tessa was young , she would wake up early every day to attend Alpha training , while other children were still in bed . She never made her parents worry about her studies and always excelled , always ranking first in Luna classes . But when she brought home perfect report cards , no words of praise ever came . Chloe , on the other hand , was different . Whenever Chloe's grades improved even slightly , Audrey would reward her with gifts . Tessa , however , had grown wise beyond her years . She stopped trying to please them , realizing that no matter how hard she tried , it was all in vain with people who didn't care . After that , Audrey often stared out the window , lost in thought . Since the day she realized Tessa would never come back , she had lost all sense of joy . What mother wouldn't want her child to be happy ? Audrey thought about Tessa constantly , wondering how she was doing , if she had enough to eat , if she was cold and wearing enough clothes , and if she had enough money to get by . But Audrey would never know . They would never know that Tessa was still the same strong , independent person . She was already capable of supporting herself and had long since stopped relying on the Bloodmoon Pack . All their concerns were for nothing . Life went on in this quiet , empty way for a long time . Chapter 21 37.39 % Dreame - Read Romance Stories I looked at my hand still oozing thick sticky red liquid . I'm a werewolf . 4.4 FREE Installed Open Then one day , Ryan's phone rang . It was Nick , their mutual friend and the Beta's son . " Have you been in touch with Tessa lately ? Have you seen her ? " Nick asked . Recently , several people had called with similar questions, and Ryan assumed it was just another inquiry . " No , what's going on ? " He paused for a long moment before answering . " I'm currently in Naples , on a cruise ship . I think I saw someone who looks just like Tessa . ' Ryan's body tensed at the words , his grip tightening on the phone . " What did you say ? Where ? " ' Are you sure you didn't mistake her for someone else ? " Ryan's voice was strained , his disbelief obvious . Nick , sensing his doubt , quickly snapped a photo and sent it over . " There's no mistake . It's Tessa . ' Chapter 21