Chapter 65

Tyler. The weight of anxiety pressed heavily on my shoulders as I paced in my private quarters, my mind cluttered with thoughts of the mission. I had entrusted Nate with a crucial task – infiltrating the Crest pack to discover the whereabouts of Arya. But I haven't heard any feedback from him yet. The last time I spoke to Nate, he said he was in the hospital to check up on Lauren. Lauren. When I saw her at the hospital, guilt clawed at the edges of my conscience, a bitter reminder that I had failed to protect her and Arya. I needed to check up on her. At least it was something that would occupy my time for now. I had immersed myself in work, hoping the demands of my job would drown out the incessant worry gnawing at my insides. The relentless watching and waiting had taken a toll on my nerves, and the only way to fend off the anxiety was to bury myself in the never-ending pile of paperwork in my office. There were moments when I caught myself snapping at employees for the smalle