Alpha Amanda's Love Adventure (By Aurora Grey) novel Chapter 69

Chapter 69 Derrick Starts to Wonder

Amanda’s POV:

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The silence hung for a couple of seconds before Derrick finally spoke. His voice, as always, was calm and steady, not giving much away. “Come back with me.” I nodded, then turned to Samson and gave him a small wave. “We’ll head out first.”

Samson nodded and lifted a hand in return.

On the drive, I leaned back in my seat, watching the city lights blur past the window. For the first time, I had the strange feeling that coming to the Eclipse Pack really had been the right decision.

And yet … even though I’d developed emotions I never had back in the Glacier Pack, just like the Moon Goddess had asked, it still wasn’t enough to fully settle Alice. Why? Why couldn’t I bring her peace, even now?

Derrick’s voice broke the silence. “You don’t seem like you’re in a good mood.”

I blinked, pulled out of my thoughts, just about to respond, but he spoke again before I could. “Let me play something to help you relax.”

I simply nodded. “Sure.”

He turned on the car’s audio system, and a soft instrumental track began to play. The melody was calm, almost like a lullaby wrapped in moonlight.

“This is my favorite piece. It was written and composed by Avi,” he said,

I froze for a second when the tune hit a familiar note. Without thinking, the words slipped out, “You really like her, huh?”

He gave a small nod. “Yeah. Her music has a lot of depth, it’s the kind of sound that stays with you. Too bad she hasn’t released anything new in years.”

I nodded lightly, but inside, something stirred. “It is good. Actually, I’ve got a rare EP of hers that was never released widely. I’ll give it to you sometime,” I said.

“Seriously?” Derrick’s eyes lit up—just a little, but it was the first time I’d ever seen that kind of expression on him. He didn’t look so cold for once. There was a bit of that boyish energy, something more human beneath the usual ice. “That’d be amazing. I didn’t expect that we’d actually have something like that in

common.”

I didn’t say anything back, but something in my chest felt heavy.

The car pulled up to Ortega Castle not long after. Derrick got out first and opened the door for me, a faint smile still playing at the corners of his lips. “I’ll take you to school again tomorrow. Get some rest.”

“Good night.” I walked into the castle, locked my bedroom door behind me, and went straight to the mirror. Slowly, I began removing the layers of the ugly makeup on my face.

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16:41 Mon, Dec 29 M JA

Chapter 69 Derrick Starts to Wonder

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Bit by bit, my real face came into view. There were still traces of my younger self in my features, though now there was more calm behind the eyes, more weight in the silence.

I reached out and gently touched the mirror, and a wave of hesitation stirred in my chest. The authority Hugh had given me … it was too much. What if, one day, I had to leave the Eclipse Pack? How could I face the kind of trust he placed in me then?

Derrick’s POV:

The next morning, I walked through the front door of the castle with a bag of breakfast in hand, just in time to see Amanda coming downstairs. “Gillian’s busy this morning, so I picked something up. Hope it’s something you’ll like,” I said, lifting the bag.

I set the box on the dining table and watched her open it, then sit down with her usual quiet grace.

I slid into the seat across from her, my eyes drifting to her face. Her makeup looked lighter than usual today. A loose strand of hair had fallen by her temple, hiding part of her cheek.

I hadn’t thought much of it since the day she fell into the river and I saw her real face. But the way she reacted last night when she brought up Avi, that look in her eyes … it wasn’t the way a casual fan talked about a musician. It was like she was speaking from her own story.

you seemed

Avi … you

“You…” I hesitated, then asked, keeping my voice soft, “Last night, when you brought up Avi really familiar with her songs?”

Amanda looked up at me calmly, no visible reaction. “I’ve just heard a few here and there. Her lyrics are honest. They stuck with me, that’s all,” she said.

“Right,” I said. I didn’t press further. I just watched her quietly as she finished her breakfast.

“I’m done. Let’s go.” She wiped the corner of her mouth, picked up her bag, and headed for the door.

I grabbed the car keys and followed her out, opening the passenger side door for her. As the engine started, I caught a glimpse of her in the rearview mirror. She was staring out at the hunting grounds through the window. Her eyes were soft, not the sharp, guarded ones she wore around Regina.

Maybe there were more stories behind her than any of us realized…

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