Romans de Jaylynn Maria

The hallway was a stark, silent stage for the aftermath of our clash. Justice, my fire, my defiance, had retreated, leaving behind an echo of her challenge and a simmering frustration within me. My wolf paced restlessly in my chest, a beast accustomed to absolute obedience, now chafing against the sting of her refusal. I allowed myself a moment to consider Brigid’s offer, a fleeting distraction, a familiar comfort, but even her cloying perfume couldn't erase the imprint of Justice’s fiery spirit. She was a different kind of challenge, one that ignited a possessiveness far deeper than mere desire.I walked back into the living room, the air still thick with the phantom scent of sandalwood and nightshade. Her words, "Then learn to dance, Niko

His jaw tightened, a muscle twitching at the corner of his mouth. The hint of respect I’d glimpsed had vanished, replaced by a glacial determination. He took a slow step towards me, his gaze never leaving mine, and for a terrifying moment, I thought he might lash out. But instead, his hand, the one that had traced my jaw so gently, rose again. This time, it didn’t stop at my lips. It cupped my cheek, his thumb stroking the skin just below my eye. "You are a fire, Justice," he conceded, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through me. "And I am the storm that will either consume you, or learn to dance with you. But make no mistake, you are mine to weather."The possessiveness in his tone was still a brand, but now, beneath it, I felt a tremor of something new. It wasn't quite

His grip tightened, a jolt of pain that ripped through my confusion and replaced it with a surge of defiance. The fear was still there, a cold knot in my stomach, but it was now laced with a potent anger. He had claimed me, spoken of possessiveness, yet his actions screamed of a desire to control, not connect. "I went out," I managed, my voice trembling, but with a new edge of steel. "I wasn't going to just sit here like a… a prize you'd won and then forgotten about." The accusation hung heavy in the air, a fragile shield against the primal storm I saw brewing in his eyes.He released my arm abruptly, the sudden absence of his touch leaving a stinging sensation on my skin. His eyes, dark and stormy, swept over me, a predator assessing its prey, but there was something else there too – a flicker of surprise, perhaps even hurt, quickly masked by a renewed display of dominance. "You do not question my orders, Justice," he growled, his voice a low rumble that promised retribution. "You do

The screech of Uber’s tires as it pulled away was the only sound that cut through the oppressive silence that had fallen over me. I stood on the curb, the familiar city lights blurring into streaks of color as a wave of confusion washed over me. Niko’s abrupt departure, the cold efficiency with which he’d dismissed me, felt like a physical blow. He’d laid claim to me, whispered promises into the charged air of his strangely alive apartment, and then… this. It was a whiplash of emotions, a dizzying descent from the intoxicating heights of shared vulnerability back to the harsh reality of his unpredictable nature. I clutched his card in my hand, the plastic cool against my clammy palm, a silent testament to the power he wielded even in his absence.My steps were hesitant as I walked into the dimly lit diner. The scent of stale coffee and fried food was a jarring contrast to the intoxicating aroma of sandalwood and nightshade that still clung to my senses from Niko’s place. I slid into a

Justice POV:The city skyline, a jagged silhouette against the bruised twilight, appeared in the rearview mirror as we drove. The hum of the tires on asphalt was the only sound for a long stretch. Niko’s hands, long-fingered and steady, gripped the steering wheel. I watched them, tracing the subtle flex of muscle under skin, a phantom warmth still lingering from the night before.“So,” I started, my voice a little too bright, “what’s the plan?” He didn’t turn his head, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. “Back home. Unpack. Figure out what’s next. You will move in with me. I'll have your stuff moved to a storage unit.” His tone was clipped, matter-of-fact. It was the same tone he used when discussing a business deal or the weather. And it was a stark contrast to the way he’d looked at me hours ago. I fiddled with the frayed edge of my jeans.“Right. Of course.” My heart did a little awkward flip-flop. Was it my imagination, or had the air in the car grown thicker, heavier? I tried to re

Niko POV:The silence of the hallway pressed in on me, a suffocating blanket after the storm that had erupted within. She was gone. Vanished like smoke, leaving behind only the lingering scent of her arousal and the bitter taste of my own confusion. I nursed the beer, its cold bite doing little to quell the gnawing unease. She couldn't be my mate. The logic was undeniable, the wolf’s instinct screaming a falsehood. Yet, the ache in my chest, the restless pacing of my wolf, argued otherwise. Was it possible? Could the fated bond be so… unglamorous?I threw the empty bottle against the wall, the shattering glass a small release of the tension that coiled in my gut. She was a distraction, a fleeting amusement. That was all she was meant to be. My primal urges, the raw need to claim and possess, were just that – primal. They didn't signify destiny. This human, with her soft sighs and wide, trusting eyes, was a creature of a different world, a world I was meant to dominate, not connect wit