Chapter 5

I sat in the study.

I couldn’t read a single word of the project proposal on the desk.

My head was filled with that one line:

ELLA OBSERVATION PROJECT: INITIATED.

It was a curse, looping over and over in my mind.

I don’t know how long I sat there.

Until Kane’s voice sounded at the door.

“Ella, come out for breakfast.”

His voice was just as gentle as always.

I closed my eyes, shoving all my emotions down deep.

When I opened them again, I was calm.

I walked out of the study.

On the dining table, a perfect breakfast was laid out.

Maple bagels from my favorite shop, toasted to crispy perfection on the outside, soft inside.

A warm glass of deer milk, still steaming.

A hard-boiled egg, perfectly peeled, sitting in a small dish.

Everything was exactly the same as every other morning of the thousand-plus days I’d been married to him.

Meticulous. Thoughtful. Impeccable.

I told myself over and over not to fall for this carefully crafted illusion.

“Sit down before it gets cold.”

Kane pulled out a chair for me, setting out my utensils.

I sat down, sipping the deer milk slowly.

He sat across from me, watching me quietly.

His gaze was focused, adoring.

Like I was the most precious thing in his world.

His stare made it hard to breathe.

A sharp, stabbing pain and nausea rose in my chest.

I put down the spoon, lifting my head to meet his gaze.

I forced my voice to sound just like it always did.

“You remember everything I like to eat.”

He smiled.

His eyes crinkled, like they were filled with moonlight.

“Of course I do.

You’re my Luna. Who else is gonna remember?”

He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I looked at him, and smiled too.

“Sometimes I think your memory is a little terrifying.

Do you remember everything, even from when we were kids? Every little thing?”

When I said the words, my heart was hammering in my chest.

Like it was trying to break free.

I stared straight into his eyes, not missing a single microexpression on his face.

The air seemed to freeze in that moment.

His smile faltered, for just a split second.

In his ice-blue wolf eyes, a flash of pain and panic darted by.

So fast I almost missed it.

But I saw it.

Then, just as quickly, he was back to that soft, adoring look.

He reached across the table, covering my hand with his, patting it gently.

“Why are you overthinking this?

Some things aren’t worth remembering.”

His palm was warm.

But all I felt was a cold snake wrapping around my wrist.

After breakfast, he went to get changed, ready to head out.

He walked into the walk-in closet.

I sat on the couch, watching his broad back disappear.

A voice in my head was screaming.

There had to be more clues.

More evidence of this “observation project”.

The thought grew like vines, wrapping around my mind, choking out my sense.

I stood up, walking toward the study before I could stop myself.

My hand was already on the doorknob.

“Ella.”

Kane’s voice sounded suddenly, right behind me.

I froze, every muscle in my body locking up.

I was rooted to the spot.

I turned around slowly.

He’d changed into a suit, tie done up, standing a few feet behind me.

Watching me.

His gaze was deep.

I couldn’t tell what was hiding in it.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

My palms were already slick with cold sweat.

“I… I forgot to close the window. If it rains, the files will get ruined.”

I spat out the first excuse that came to mind.

“Is that so?”

He walked toward me, step by step.

“I’ll close it.”

He walked into the study, and didn’t come out for a long moment. When he did, he lifted a hand, brushing a stray piece of hair off my forehead.

The cold touch of his fingertips made me flinch, despite myself.

He made a soft sound in the back of his throat.

“I’m heading out now.”

He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.

Then turned, and left.

The front door clicked shut.

In that instant, all the strength left my body.

I slid down the cold wall, collapsing onto the floor.

My heart was still racing.

Had he figured something out?

I didn’t know.