Bound To The Broken Alpha (Amy and Daniel) novel Chapter 274

Chapter 274 A Love That Never Dies

CLARA

67%

+5 Pearls

The nonstop vibration of my phone hit me before I even opened my eyes–one long, endless string of notifications.

My brain felt heavy, like it was trying to stay underwater while someone shook the surface. I groaned and dragged my hand across the bed, searching for my phone.

When I finally found it, the screen lit up so bright it stabbed my half–awake eyes. My vision blurred for a second before it cleared enough for me to see the names.

Selene.

Elias.

Again.

Again.

And again.

Dozens of messages. All caps. Voice notes. Missed calls.

My stomach clenched. Either something terrible happened… or something unbelievable.

I forced myself to sit up and opened the first message.

Elias: >“CLARA, WE’RE FREE! NOT GUILTY! EVERYTHING CLEARED!”

I blinked.

Another message came in immediately.

“THE COURT DROPPED EVERYTHING. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE LEFT. ZERO.”

I scrolled.

Elias wrote: “They announced it an hour ago. No charges. We’re out. Officially.”

I stared at the screen, confused, stunned, and suddenly wide awake.

I had been running for my life, hiding like some unwanted rat, fighting shadows… and now, apparently, I wasn’t a fugitive anymore?

It made no sense. None.

But relief spread through me faster than the confusion could catch up. For once, something went right.

Something broke in my favor. I didn’t know how, I didn’t care. I just let the air leave my chest in a shaky breath.

A small, tired smile started to form on my face before three sharp knocks hit the door.

I stiffened for a second before remembering where I was. Mark’s place. His guest room. His rules.

11:34 Mon, Feb 2 DBB.

Chapter 274 A Love That Never Dies

I slid off the bed and opened the door.

Mark stood there, one hand braced on the frame, staring at me like he already knew everything.

“You read it,” he said.

It wasn’t a question.

“Yes,” I whispered.

He nodded once. “How did you do it?”

I frowned. “Do what?”

“Clear your charges. Get the council off your back. Someone had to pull strings, Clara.”

I shook my head. “I didn’t do anything.”

He raised a brow. “Come on.”

+5 Pearls

“I’m serious.” I tightened my grip on the phone. “I’ve been telling you I had nothing to hide. I never lied about that. You just never believed me.”

Mark watched me quietly, his expression shifting–slowly, but enough for me to notice. The hardness in his eyes faded.

The suspicion loosened. His lips gentled, just a little, into something almost… soft.

It was the first time since I walked into his apartment that he didn’t look tired of me.

And that tiny shift, that softness, hit me harder than anything else.

For the first time in forever, I felt like there was hope–hope that the old us wasn’t entirely dead. Hope that maybe he didn’t hate me. Hope that maybe, somewhere under all the mess, he still cared.

Before I could think twice, I acted.

I walked off the bed, crossed the little gap between us, and pressed a quick excited peck to his cheek.

He froze.

I felt the tension ripple through him, but I ignored it. Something warm surged in my chest, reckless and stupid and so familiar. I leaned in and kissed him properly this time, soft but determined.

He kissed me back.

That one second felt like light breaking through everything I had been drowning in. His hand came up, almost touching my waist–almost–but then he stopped.

He pulled away.

The moment was cut short and I understand why.

I stared at him, confused and breathless. “Mark…”

11:34 Mon, Feb 2

Chapter 274 A Love That Never Dies

He backed up a step, lifting a hand like he needed distance to breathe. “Don’t. Not yet.”

My chest tightened, but not painfully. Just… real.

+5 Pearls

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “I don’t want to rush into anything. A lot has happened. You know that.”

“I know,” I said quietly.

“I need time,” he continued. “To process things. To understand where we stand. To understand if this“-he gestured vaguely between us-“is something I can handle right now.”

I nodded. “That’s fine. I’ll be patient.”

He watched me for a moment longer, as if checking whether I meant it. Then his shoulders eased slightly.

“There’s breakfast on the table,” he said. “Whenever you’re ready.”

A tiny warmth moved through me again. “Thank you.”

He gave a small nod and walked away.

I stayed there for a moment, holding the doorframe, trying to slow the rush of feelings spinning around inside me.

He didn’t push me away completely. He didn’t yell. He didn’t shut down. He paused. He considered. He let himself feel something even if he wasn’t ready to admit it.

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