Ronan kept a timer that counted down 120 hours shortly after Lucien left.
As soon as the timer hit 0h, 0m, and 0s, the Alpha sent his mate a message on the phone.
"Lucien, the five days are over."
He half-expected to get a reply right away, but the message remained unread even after ten minutes had passed.
When Lucien still had not read the message after 30 minutes, Ronan gave him a call.
Lucien did not pick up the phone.
The dark-haired man sighed. He predicted as much.
It did not matter. He planned to go straight to South Bedford City to pick Lucien up anyway.
Inside his car, a bouquet of hundred white roses lay on the passenger seat. They were plucked just an hour ago, fresh droplets of dew still hanging on the petals. The roses were bundled together with a bright red ribbon. A heart-shaped card was slipped among the roses.
Ronan was infinitely nervous.