Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow-Chapter 452: Joyful Calls

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Chapter 452

~Ella’s POV~

Ares’s fingers were flying over the keyboard, eyes narrowed at the glowing screen in front of him.

"If not that we don’t know what’s really going on yet," he muttered, "I would kill Vera over and over again for hurting you. But that bitch is nowhere to be found."

I sat on the edge of the couch, twisting my fingers in my lap. The tension in my chest hadn’t eased for days, and despite Ares’s determination and resources, we kept hitting dead ends.

"She’s not my concern anymore," I murmured. "Zara is. I don’t know if she’s safe or if she made it back from her quest. What’s more, if Snow..." My throat tightened. "I keep thinking I should just go to Snow’s house, but I’m scared I’ll walk in there and... not be able to hide what I know. If something’s happened, I’ll break."

Ares’s jaw clenched. "You won’t need to," he said. "We’ll find them. And if Kayne’s involved in this... I swear to the gods, I’ll rip him apart."

Just then, my phone rang. I stared at the screen for a second when Richard’s name appeared.

I did not know what kind of news would come with that call or if it was a random check-in call.

Quickly, I snatched it up before it ended and pressed it to my ear, already breathless. "Hello, Richard?"

"Ella," his voice came through calmly, much too calm for my liking. "How are you?"

"I’m fine—I’m with Ares," I replied quickly, side-eyeing Ares as he turned in his seat toward me. "We’re trying to find Kayne. Or Vera. Some kind of lead."

"For now, no need," Richard expressed, which was shocking to me as my heart skipped.

"What do you mean?"

"Zara confirmed it," Richard said. "Vera is dead."

Vera... dead?

Wait. Zara?

I froze. "Zara?" I repeated, almost screaming her name.

Ares shot up from his chair, moving to stand beside me in a flash.

"Zara’s alive?" I asked, my voice cracking. "What happened? No, scratch that—where is she, Richard?"

"I’ll send the coordinates. She’s back. And Snow’s alive."

"What?"

A soft chuckle came from the end of the line. "You’ll see it when you come," he said, and the line went dead before I could say anything else.

I stared at the phone for a second, still processing all I had heard.

"She’s alive," I whispered. Then louder, "Zara’s alive."

Ares stepped closer, his hand touching my shoulder. "And Snow?" he asked.

I looked up at him, smiling for the first time in days. "He’s okay. They’re both okay."

Without waiting another second, I jumped to my feet.

Ares didn’t need to ask twice. "Come on," he said, already grabbing the keys. "Let’s go. I need to see her—both of them—with my own eyes."

As we rushed out the door, my heart beat faster—not from fear, not from grief—but from hope.

And for the first time in days, it didn’t feel so far out of reach.

My best friend was alive.

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~Snow’s POV~

Once everyone settled into their own pockets of conversation, the chaos of reunion slowly melted into a dull hum in Kaid’s house.

The adrenaline had finally started to wear off, and exhaustion was creeping in—but I was grounded, anchored by the bond humming inside me and the steady warmth of Zara’s presence nearby.

Minutes passed, and I barely noticed Aira walking over until she stood right in front of me, with her ever soft but unreadable expression.

She held out her phone.

"Here. For you."

I stared at the screen, which was blank and then at her face. She didn’t say who it was, but I had a feeling. A twist in my gut said it was either Dad, Storm... or her.

I took the phone gently and pressed it to my ear. "Hello?"

"Snow?" my mother’s voice came through so soft, so broken that my heart shattered all over again.

"Mum..."

There was silence on the line, like she was trying to speak but couldn’t find the words. And when she finally did, they trembled. "You’re alive. You’re actually alive."

Tears instantly welled up in my eyes, and I turned away from everyone in the room, walking out toward the quiet hallway for some privacy.

"I... I couldn’t feel you anymore," she said as her voice cracked. "Not even your wolf. Not a whisper. It was like you vanished. And I—I thought I lost you forever, Snow."

I swallowed hard, guilt thick in my throat. "Mum, I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry."

"I wanted to come to the city, to burn the streets down if I had to. To rip every wall open with my own hands. But they wouldn’t let me. They said to stay, that it was too dangerous. That you wouldn’t want me to leave Storm alone... and your father... father promised me he’d bring you home."

Her voice broke again.

"I thought I’d failed you. I thought—" she paused, breathing heavily. "I’ve never felt pain like that, Snow."

I leaned against the wall, my own chest aching now. I had rushed in to save Zara no matter the cost because I loved her dearly, but my selfless sacrifice had caused me to hurt everyone ese.

"Mum, I didn’t mean for this to happen. It all... it happened so fast. But I’m okay now. I promise."

"Are you really?" she asked, quieter now. "Why did you do something so reckless now. Don’t you love me anymore? Is your family not worth it for you to survive?"

I looked through the hallway, my eyes flicking back toward Zara’s seat between Kaid and Tempest. Her fingers idly traced the edge of her shirt, and her eyes were tired but soft.

"You all are but... I couldn’t let Zara be hurt. I am sorry."

"Zara..." Her voice seemed to have softened the second I mentioned Zara’s name. "For love... I understand now. You are really okay, right?" Before I answered, mum bombarded me with more questions. "How is Zara? Are you two..."

"Yes, mum. Everything is fine. It worked out because Zara saved me. We are okay. And I am fine all because of Zara."

There was a pause as though she was contemplating something before she finally dropped the bomb.

"I want to see you," mum whispered.

"You will. I promise to come to you tomorrow. Zara and I will come to visit.

She didn’t speak right away, but I knew she was trying to hold it together.

"I love you, my son."

"I love you too, mum."

The call ended, and I stood still, just breathing for a moment. My chest ached, but there was peace now. A rare, gentle one.

Just when I thought I could take a break, Tempest walked over, clearing her throat and extending her own phone to me with an arched brow.

"A call from dad," she said.

I blinked. "Now that’s a terrifying sentence."

She smirked, and I took the phone from her hand, lifting it to my ear with a soft exhale.

"Dad?"

"Snow."

His voice was low, steady, and sharp—like ice cracked under pressure. But then there was a long pause, one filled with more emotion than he’d probably ever admit.

"I almost lost you, boy," he muttered. "Your mother nearly tore down the pack house. I’ve not slept properly in days."

"Dad..."

"I looked everywhere," he went on, his tone hardening again, but not cruel. Just... trying to keep it together. "Across Crescent lands, witch domains, and linked towns. We chased whispers and dead ends. I couldn’t feel you. I couldn’t find Zara. You both disappeared."

"I know," I said quietly. "I’m sorry. I should’ve..."

"No," he cut in. "Just answer me this—did you find her? Is Zara okay?

I smiled. "Yes. I found her. Or rather... she found me." There was another beat of silence. "She brought me back."

"...How?" His voice dropped lower. "One minute she was spotted near the Forbidden Fog, and the next she vanished into thin air only to reappear in the city. I did not know what to do but return. What happened?"

"I died, Father," I said, bluntly. "And Zara saved me. With the dragon’s scale."

A breath caught on the other end. It wasn’t disbelief. It was awe.

"She crossed into the Dragon Realm?"

"She passed their trials."

"Damn," he muttered, and then I heard him exhale—deep and long. "No wonder she was out of reach."

Then his tone changed. Softened.

"You... son, you married the best."

My chest tightened and my eyes burned.

"I’m on my way to the city with Draven," he added. "Give her my hugs and kisses."

I snorted. "Seriously?"

"And don’t be jealous, son."

"Never, Father."

There was a pause followed by, "See you soon."

"Yeah. See you, Dad."

I handed Tempest back her phone and turned to walk back into the room.

And as I looked up to see Zara watching me from the couch, smiling faintly, I realized something—I had everything I ever needed right here. And I wasn’t about to let go of it again.

"I love you," I mouthed to her.