Se connecterJay
Madison gasps, her eyes instantly swell with tears and her hand covers her mouth. One side of the gate hangs twisted inward, the metal peeled back like ripped flesh while claw marks score along the frame in thick 
JayVoicesspillfromthelivingroomjustofffromthegrandstaircase,screamingformyattention.IturntowardthemandfindMadisonnearthefireplace,withherarmswrappedaroundherselfsotightlythatitmakesmychestburnobsessively.Herfaceispale,herbodytremblesbutshewon’tbackdownthroughhersheerstubbornnessalone.She'sanAlpha’sdaughter,herbloodthickwithdeterminationandlonglineoflegacy.Ialmostadmireit.Alp
JayMadisongasps,hereyesinstantlyswellwithtearsandherhandcovershermouth.Onesideofthegatehangstwistedinward,themetalpeeledbacklikerippedfleshwhileclawmarksscorealongtheframeinthickstreaks.Theguardpostbesideitisbarelystandingwiththewindowsshatteredandtheroofhalfcollapsedin.Thiswasn’tarogueattack,thiswasamassacre.Nashjustdidn’twanttoadmitit.Myfooteasesoffthegasandthecar
MadisonTerrorclawsthroughmybody,burrowingdeepintomybonesuntileverymuscleislockedinplace.Shockisastrangething.Ialwaysassumeditwasloud,dramaticenoughtotearthroughyoulikelightningandleavenothingstandinginitswake.Butrealshock?It’smuchquieterthanthat.Itslipsintoyourbodylikecoldwater,seepingthrougheverylimbuntilyourbodynolongerfeelslikeyourownandyourthoughtsslidethroughyour&
JayYoucan’tbeafraidofthethingsthatmakeyoufeelalive.Idon’trememberwhereIhearditfirst.Maybefromsomeoneolder,someoneawholelotwiser.Someonewhodidn’thavetolivewiththeconsequencesofactuallybelievingit.NowI’mstartingtorealizeit’snotthatsimple.Becausethosethingsdon’tjustmakeyoufeelalive,theymakeyourecklessandeverythingaboutthisistextbookrecklessbutIstilldon&rsqu
MadisonAstingshootsacrossmyknucklesasIpoundonthedoor.Thesoundcomesofftooloudandurgent.Icringe,swallowinghardandsqueezingmyeyesshutlikethat’sgoingtoreversethedecisionI’vealreadycommittedto.Mychestistight,myjawlocked,myfingerscurlingintomypalmasIknockagain,harderthistime,becauseifhethinksI’mjustgoingtowalkaway…ifhethinksI’mgoingtopretend&nb
JayMy jaw shifts slightly, resentment coiling in my chest as Madison’s face flashes through my head and I cut the thought off hard.This is easier, simpler. Straightforward, with no strings attached. It’s just an outlet. A much needed release. “You busy?” I ask.A small pause passes. Then it follows with a softer, knowing exactly what I mean, “For you? Never.”It’s not like I expected anything less. I exhale slowly, something dark settling into place. “Come over.”There’s no hesitation this time. “Send me the address.”I end the call without a goodbye, already keying my address into the phone.I’m not even fully through my door before the knock echoes behind me. A smirk pulls on my lips, a reminder that she’s always been an eager beaver. My shirt’s already halfway off as I make my way to the door, fabric dragging over my shoulders before I toss it somewhere behind me and reach for the handle.The door swings open and she’s standing there already smiling, her long brown hair cascadi







