Chapter 42

Alyssa

My body is still shaking even though I've stopped crying. Every time I close my eyes, I see Adam's anger and feel his fingers digging into my arms. I'm cradling the bruises now, alone in our room, hurting in more ways than one.

Our fight keeps replaying in my head, the words cutting as deep as his violence. The raw pain in Adam's eyes, when I told him about Tobias, will haunt me for a long time. But I never thought his anger would become physical. The Adam I knew would never have hurt me.

When he grabbed me, squeezing hard enough to leave marks, I saw the monster I always feared lurking inside him. The wolf prowling under his human skin, ready to break free with gnashing teeth and claws. In that moment, I didn't recognize the man I called my lover. His harsh tone and relentless interrogation were foreign to me.

The shock on Adam's face matched my own when I cried out. He let go immediately, staring in disbelief at the damage from his rage. I stumbled away, holding my arm, unabl