Chapter 8

Carrie

"I know. It's your alpha, right?"

His words hit me like a sudden gust of wind, leaving me momentarily stunned. How could he possibly know about Noah? The realization washed over me, connecting the dots with my brother's late-night conversation with this man.

"Did my brother tell you about me and Noah?"

"Yeah."

"What else did he tell you?"

"Everything."

My lips pressed tightly together as a lump formed in my throat. It felt unjust. This stranger, who knew every intimate detail about me, remained a mystery to me, save for his name.

The weight of our circumstances bore down on me, amplifying the intensity of the moment. I locked eyes with him, drawing in a deep breath before gathering the strength to continue.

"Now that you know, I guess this is goodbye."

"What? Why?" His eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Seriously? I just confessed my love for another man. Are you trying to tell me—"

"I accept it," he interrupted, brushing aside my words as inconsequential. "It doesn't matter."

"