Chapter 4

The first line of the file was just one sentence.

ELLA OBSERVATION PROJECT: INITIATED

A handful of words.

They stabbed into my heart like a blade, twisting in the cruelest way possible.

Bleeding.

The pain was so intense I nearly doubled over.

Observation project?

What kind of observation project?

I’d wondered before if his gentle pursuit, his meticulous care, was all just a dream.

Now I knew for certain. All of it was a carefully crafted trap.

And me?

I was the test subject in his little project?

Or the clown he’d strung along, making a fool of at every turn?

A massive wave of absurdity and cold dread shot up from my feet to the top of my skull.

My whole body was shaking.

Shaking so hard I could barely hold the mouth in my hands.

But as my fingers brushed the rest of the entries, they were all trivial, mundane notes:

White Pine Valley snowfall today, her scar will probably itch, have the heating stones ready

She smiled watching the deer herd today, take her to the ranch next time

When pheromones spike, get them under control. Don’t scare her.

Pheromone spike?

I didn’t care.

All I could see was this was just another one of his mind games.

The mouth slipped from my hands.

It landed on the soft cashmere carpet without a sound.

But to me, it was like a clap of thunder.

It exploded in my head, leaving me dizzy, my ears ringing.

I stumbled into the bathroom.

I grabbed the cold sink, and started retching.

My stomach was in knots.

But nothing came up.

Only bitter bile rising in my throat.

Bitter and acrid.

I lifted my head, staring at myself in the mirror.

My face was as white as a ghost, my lips drained of all color.

My eyes were wide with terror and disbelief.

I looked utterly broken.

I finally understood.

He remembered everything.

He remembered the Omega cub named Ella

The broken Omega he’d driven out of the academy, forced to her knees in the snow.

He hadn’t forgotten.

He’d just been continuing that unfinished humiliation, in another, far more cruel way.

He didn’t just want to destroy my dignity.

He wanted to break my heart, too.

He’d watched me let my guard down, bit by bit.

Watched me fall into the gentle trap he’d woven.

Watched me think I’d found a happy home, become the Luna everyone envied.

Did he think it was funny?

Did it make him feel powerful?

What the hell was he planning?

To wait until I was completely in love with him, dependent on him, then cast me aside?

To tell me it was all just an observation game?

To watch me break, crumble, fall apart?

Just the thought of it made my blood run cold.

This man.

He was worse than any monster.

I turned on the faucet, splashing cold water on my face over and over.

Trying to calm myself down.

But it was no use.

My body was still shaking uncontrollably.

My teeth were chattering.

“Ella?”

Kane’s voice came from the bedroom.

Rough and sleepy, fresh from waking up.

He was awake.

My heart seized in my chest.

What do I do?

What the hell do I do?

Rush out there and confront him?

Tear off that gentle mask?

And then what?

What would he do to me then?

I had no doubt.

With his power, his reach, he could send me straight back to hell.

Or worse.

No.

I couldn’t do that.

I couldn’t let him know I’d found his secret.

A game…

He liked playing games, didn’t he?

Fine.

We’d keep playing.

Only this time.

Who was the test subject, and who was holding the pieces?

That was up for debate.

I took a deep breath, drying my face with a towel.

I forced a smile, just like the ones I always gave him, as natural as I could make it.

Then I walked out of the bathroom.

Kane was already sitting up.

He leaned against the headboard, the collar of his black silk pajamas open, revealing the smooth line of his collarbone.

His hair was messy, his eyes still hazy with sleep.

When he saw me, he smiled, just like he always did.

“Why are you up so early?”

I shook my head.

“Couldn’t sleep.”

“I’m gonna go look over the White Pine Valley projects some more.”

He didn’t push it, just gave me a soft warning.

“Okay.

Don’t overwork yourself. I’ll make breakfast.”

I hummed in response, turning and walking out of the bedroom.

I could feel his gaze on my back the whole way.

It was like a slimy, cold snake, coiling tight around me.

It made my skin crawl.

I didn’t look back.

I was scared if I did, the mask would shatter.

That I’d lose control, and drive a knife straight into that handsome face.