Chapter 49

Axel stood at a distance, observing the young woman as she walked towards a waiting taxi The tumultuous encounter still fresh in his mind. First, she had bumped into him, yelling in frustration, and then impulsively plunged her hand into the trash to retrieve a seemingly worthless ornament, resulting in an injury. He found himself strangely affected by her actions, going so far as to dig through the trash to retrieve her seemingly insignificant necklace.

Even after that he was still restless and had returned this time, with bandages in hand, he had even prevented her from almost falling, the clutched bandages still a visible reminder of the encounter, which he glanced down at with irritation.

He scrutinized her small, defeated figure, resembling a wet and bullied puppy.

Uncomfortable, Axel adjusted his glasses, then ripped them off in a moment of annoyance. With a sigh that mirrored his irritation, he turned away from the vulnerable yet doe–eyed woman who had exposed herself to harm. Clumsy women weren’t his usual preference, and he was unsure why he felt compelled to assist. In a wave of irritation he dumped the first aid. kit and bandages into a nearby bin as he walked by

She’s a grown woman; she’ll take care of herself Axel mused to himself.

With a determined stride, he made his way back to the bustling hall where Ethan lingered. The exhibition continued into the night, yet Axel’s thoughts lingered on the woman who had rummaged through the garbage.

In his contemplation. Axel pondered the significance of that seemingly cheap and damaged ornament to her. What hidden story did those large eyes, drawing him in with their intrigue, hold? Despite his resistance to being swayed by such encounters, Axel found himself genuinely intrigued by the mysterious woman. Axel couldn’t shake the image of her, helpless and small, sitting on the floor in that vulnerable manner.

“You’ve been out of it, absent–minded, Ethan remarked, his brow furrowed in curiosity. Axel had driven Ethan and Bella home after they finished at the exhibition. As Ethan. studied scrutinized Axel;his usually reliable assistant had made mistakes for the first time. He had disappeared from his side multiple times that evening, seemingly lost in thoughts. throughout the night. His attention was clearly divided, and he appeared preoccupied. Even when Ethan handed him a document, Axel took several minutes to register and move collect it.

“You’re probably just exhausted. Tomorrow’s a weekend. Take the weekend off. I won’t be needing you,” Ethan said, a calm dismissal of Axel’s services.

there was a hint of tension

apartment, right?” Ethan

slight nod accompanying

personal matters. Given the unique nature of his work, he had chosen not to live as a member of the pack, opting instead for a residence in a high–rise building in the heart of the city. By Monday, he

BOLTE

so he thought.

Axel pulled into his driveway. The sound of a whimpering dog reached his ears, and a puppy, about three weeks old, walked by. Spotting Axel, it sat wagging its tail. Axel stared at the dog, wondering where it came from.

house. Sighing, he stopped mid–way, glancing back at the dog. It now sat still, looking sad, its ears dropping

puppy in one arm, his tablet phone and car car keys in the other. Turning on the lights

it. “Oh, come on, Axel groaned. His floors now had wet paw prints. This was one of the reasons why he didn’t have pets; he hated being disorganized. Things like this would catch him unaware, and he had no space in his life for something like that. Holding the dog up,

he placed it back

from cries. He got up groggily to check what the noise was. The sight of the hairy puppy scratching at his bedroom door made him jump from shock. It took him some moments to recall that he had brought the dog in himself the previous night. Bending to the level of the dog, he scolded it. “Look, Buddy. It’s past two

crying. Sighing, Axel returned back to the living room with the dog in his arms; he couldn’t trust the dog anywhere around his bedroom. Settling on the couch, he drifted off to

and planned life with a strange dislike for animals, dogs especially took one in because it reminded him of a

bed that night with a

to visit the hospital and assess Daisy’s case had provided him with a feeling of accomplishment

observed as she sat at the vanity,

something good happen?” Bella quizzed, intrigued by

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