The mansion felt emptier without Alaska.
Security guards patrolled every hallway, high tech cameras watched every corner, and steel gates locked the world outside but none of it eased the tightening fear inside Alana's chest.
She wandered into his study, the scent of him still lingering in the air gun oil, cedarwood, danger. Her fingers brushed the leather chair where he usually sat, cold and abandoned.
"How am I supposed to breathe when you're not here?" she whispered.
Every minute without him felt like the edge of panic tight, suffocating, relentless.
She curled up on his bed later that night, wearing his black shirt because it felt like he was still holding her. But the shadows were loud. Every sound made her flinch.
She hated this.
Hated being weak.
Hated being left behind.
But most of all she hated that Alaska was out there alone.
Russia The Land of Frozen Sins
Snow laden air stung like knives as Alaska stepped off the private jet, Kenan at his side. Their convoy moved through the dim, deserted runway like ghosts.
Kenan checked his tablet.
"Contact from the informant. He's waiting at the warehouse."
Alaska nodded, cold gaze fixed forward.
Every movement radiated lethal precision.
Inside the car, Kenan stole a glance at him.
"You sure you want to do this yourself?"
"If someone holds the truth about Direndra. I'll extract it myself."
"You're different now," Kenan said quietly.
"Because of her."
Alaska's jaw tightened.
"She is the only thing keeping me from becoming the monster they created."
Kenan didn't push further.
He knew Alaska's weaknesses were few and Alana was all of them.
Back at the Mansion
Alana jolted awake heart racing, breath sharp. The darkness felt wrong.
She slipped from the bed, walking toward the balcony window.
A black envelope lay on the floor.
Her blood froze.
She picked it up hands trembling and opened it.
Inside was a single photo.
A sniper's scope aimed at Alaska's head.
Alana's legs almost gave out.
On the back, a message written in sharp, cruel letters.
"If he dies, you die with him."
Her vision blurred with panic.
The mansion was supposed to be impenetrable.
So how did this get inside?
Her hands shook as she reached for the phone.
"Pick up… please pick up…"
Russia The Betrayal
The warehouse stank of rust and gasoline. Alaska entered first, gun drawn.
The informant stood under a flickering light a gaunt man with fear in his eyes.
"You came…" he stammered. "I wasn't sure if,"
"Talk," Alaska demanded.
"What do you know about Kavron?"
The man's hands trembled.
"He's not working alone. Someone inside Direndra someone you trust."
Before he could finish
Bang.
A bullet tore through his skull.
Alaska spun guns up.
Kenan swore loudly.
From the rafters above snipers.
More men emerged from the shadows armed to the teeth.
Kavron's voice echoed mockingly:
"Welcome home, Alaska."
Alaska's eyes narrowed, rage simmering beneath icy calm.
"You should've stayed buried," he growled.
Kavron stepped out, smirking.
"You left your little doll all alone. Brave… or stupid?"
Alaska's heart punched against his ribs.
"What did you do?"
Kavron shrugged lazily.
"Just a message. A promise. That if you don't play nice… she becomes a grave marker."
Alaska fired first bullets ripping through darkness.
Kenan shouted, "We're compromised! Fall back!"
Explosions sparked. Metal screamed. Alaska fought like a beast unleashed swift, precise, brutal. Bodies fell at his feet like discarded threats.
But Kavron had already vanished like a shadow retreating.
The warehouse crumbled under gunfire, forcing Alaska and Kenan to retreat into the icy night.
Alaska's voice was a razor blade.
"Get me a secure line. Now."
The Call
The phone on Alaska's bedside table rang.
Alana grabbed it instantly.
"Alaska?"
Her voice cracked.
"I'm okay," he said, though the pain in his voice betrayed him.
"What happened there?"
Alana could barely speak as she clutched the photo.
"Someone got into the mansion. They left a threat. A picture of you… with a sniper scope."
A choked breath.
"I'm scared…"
Alaska's fist clenched so hard his knuckles popped.
"Listen to me." His voice dropped, deadly calm.
"No one will touch you. No one will come near you. I will end every last one who thinks otherwise."
"But,"
"No."
His tone softened, trembling with emotion he rarely let slip.
"I made you a promise. I will come back alive. Not for this war for you."
Alana closed her eyes, tears falling silently.
"Please hurry home," she whispered.
"I will."
A pause heavy with love and fury.
"And when I do… I'm never leaving your side again."
The line went silent.
Alana pressed the phone to her heart.
He was alive. But for how long? The Real Stakes.
Kenan checked the bullet wound on Alaska's shoulder, but Alaska barely felt it.
His mind wasn't on the pain.
It was on Alana.
"We move at dawn," Alaska ordered.
"No more waiting. Kavron wants to play with fear fine. I'll show him what fear is."
Kenan nodded grimly.
"You're not fighting for Direndra anymore, are you?"
Alaska stared into the darkness.
"I'm fighting for her."
Outside, snow fell like ashes on a battlefield yet to burn.
Inside his chest, his heart hammered one truth. No one threatens Alana and survives. And the world would soon learn
what a monster in love truly looks like.