144
~Alex's POV
The car was waiting for me. Luca, as always, was in the driver's seat, his expression unreadable. I didn't need him to say anything. He knew better than to ask questions. I got into the car, and without a word, Luca started the engine.
The drive felt long, the silence pressing in on me like a weight. Luca finally spoke, breaking the silence. "We're almost there, Alpha."
I nodded, though I didn't look at him. My mind was elsewhere. I needed to see Bella. I had promised her I'd come, and I wasn't about to break that promise.
When we arrived at her apartment, I knocked twice, then stood back, waiting. Bella opened the door after a moment, and as soon as I saw her, I knew something was wrong.
She looked pale, almost sickly, her usually warm smile absent from her face. Her eyes were dull, and there was a tiredness to her that I hadn't seen before.
