Fake Mate Beta Rises to Alpha Heiress (Natalie) novel Chapter 19

**Chapter 19: Grievance and Anxiety**

**Landon’s POV:**

The image on my screen flickered, struggling to come into focus, but the name “Natalie” crashed into my awareness like a sudden storm.

My brow knitted together in confusion and concern. I instinctively reached out to enlarge the picture, desperate for clarity, but before I could comprehend the situation, Aaliyah’s frantic voice broke through the silence, urgent and impossible to dismiss.

As soon as I answered, the sound of muffled sobs echoed through the phone, sharp and heart-wrenching.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” I asked, my heart tightening in my chest. Anxiety crept into my voice, uninvited and unwelcome.

But no matter how I pressed her, Aaliyah continued to weep, her words lost in a tide of emotion. Feeling utterly helpless, I softened my tone, trying to reach her through the fog of her distress. “Where are you? Are you at home? Just tell me where you are, and I’ll come to you right now, I promise.”

Before I could finish my sentence, the call dropped, leaving me in a void of uncertainty.

A wave of panic washed over me, sudden and fierce, as if my very essence was being torn away. The energy crystal mine negotiations faded into insignificance. I quickly apologized to the client, my words tumbling out in a rush, and gave my assistant a few hurried instructions before I bolted from the table.

Thank heavens, I hadn’t touched any wine during dinner; my head was clear enough to drive. I pressed down on the accelerator, my heart racing, as I repeatedly dialed Aaliyah’s number. On what felt like the hundredth attempt, the call finally connected.

“Aaliyah, what on earth is going on?” I demanded, my voice laced with urgency.

“It’s not Aaliyah. It’s Sofia Baker,” a cold voice interrupted, slicing through my worry. “Get to the Moonlit Howl Tavern. She’s completely wasted.”

Sofia, Aaliyah’s close friend, owned the bar that catered to the local werewolf crowd. Memories flooded back of Aaliyah and me sneaking into this very place, our secret refuge during our clandestine romance.

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