I staggered out into the alley, into the narrow sliver of space behind the bakery where deliveries were dropped off.
The second the door shut behind me, cutting me off from the noise and the smells and the false security of the bakery, I collapsed against the brick wall.
I doubled over, gasping. My hands clutched at my chest as if I could pry it open, could force my lungs to work. But every breath came in broken, jagged gulps.
My body trembled like it was going into shock. My vision blurred again, this time from the burn of tears I hadn’t meant to cry.
I slid down to the ground, crouched in the shadows between a stack of crates and a dumpster, curling my arms around my knees. I couldn’t stop shaking.
My ears rang with white noise. My stomach twisted. I felt nauseated. Cold sweat drenched my back.
I was drowning in it. In him. In the memory of his eyes, the sound of that voice, the way he looked through me like I was prey. Like I was nothing but a loose end waiting to be cut.
My wolf, buried deep inside, was no comfort. Even he was caged. Pacing, wild-eyed, frantic. Cornered.
I wanted to be normal. I wanted to go back to the version of myself that laughed with Rafael and rolled dough with Beau and handed pastries to little kids with sticky fingers.
But I couldn’t unsee the blood. I couldn’t ignore his voice.
I just wanted to feel safe.
I just wanted him gone.
Tears streaked down my cheeks, hot and humiliating. I didn’t even know if I was crying from fear or frustration anymore. Probably both. I wiped at my face with a trembling hand, but it wouldn’t stop.
I can’t do this.
I don’t know how long I stayed there.
A minute? Ten? An hour?
The world had no meaning beyond the crushing weight of fear. Even time seemed afraid to move forward. Then the door creaked open again. The sound made my blood freeze.
I flinched hard, scrambling back against the brick wall. My nails scraped the rough surface as I curled in tighter, ready to run or scream or fight, but unable to do any of it.
My heart thundered against my ribs like it was trying to escape my chest.
For a split second, my mind conjured his face—Orin, calm and cruel, closing in with that quiet, mocking smile.
He’s found me.
He’s finally come for me.
My entire body locked up. Even my wolf, my usually restless, ever-present companion, was silent now, ears back, tail tucked, frozen with dread.
BEAU
Movement caught my eye.
Sean.
He looked pale, his eyes wide and glassy, like a deer right before the hit. His hands twitched at his sides, like he didn’t know what to do with them.
He mumbled something I couldn’t quite make out, but I caught the word bathroom before he turned on his heel and practically bolted.
My stomach dropped.
Something was wrong. Really wrong.
