ログインI stopped in the doorway and gawked. The bathroom was spick and span. It actually smelled like cleaning solution and not… all of the other horrible things in public bathrooms.“How’s it going?” I asked, my voice echoing in the space.“Good,” he called back. He stepped out of the stall, wearing elbow
Ellie’s POVBefore Dominic could reach me, I ducked my head, pretending I hadn’t noticed him, and grabbed a stack of paperwork on the table. I turned and slipped into the crowd. Or at least, I tried to. But I only made it a few steps away before his hand came around my upper arm, pulling me back.“H
Ellie’s POVI was already sitting at the kitchen table with my coffee when they came back inside.Dominic entered first, holding the door open. Vivian followed, leaning heavily on his arm. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as I watched him help her over to a seat like she couldn’t do it herself.“
I took a seat, perching a little nervously on my knees. With the door shut behind us, the living room felt more intimate than it ever had before; we usually only used it for more formal meetings or guests. But now, it felt like it was being used for what it was supposed to be used for, and it was we
Ellie’s POV“Yes,” Amy said. “A sleepover. One night this week. I think it could be really beneficial for you both.”I looked at Dominic. He was staring at Amy like she’d just suggested we run naked through the pack grounds. It certainly felt that way.“That’s… Unconventional,” I muttered.Amy smile
“Oh, here we go.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Dominic, Lucas had nothing to do with it except for the initial invitation. This is my passion, and it has nothing to do with either of you.”Dominic gnawed on the inside of his cheek and stared at me like he was searching my face for answers.Amy,
Ellie POV Karina slams into me, fingers tangling in my hair as we go down together.She didn’t take that slap well, but with how I was feeling, I was itching for a fight.The ground bites into my shoulder, Karina straddles me, fury twisting.“You bitch,” she snarls.Her fist comes down once, hard e
My jaw tightens.“Did you also hear about the massive pitfall trap on that ‘easier’ route? Yeah, I’m quiet sure you did.”“And just what are you implying?!” Karina snapped.“That you messed with me before,” I hissed. “And people don’t change.”The room goes dead silent.Karina’s face twists. “Like I
Ellie POV I wake to the ache first. My back, my legs, the dull soreness that reminds me I slept on dirt and roots instead of a bed.Then my ankle snaps me awake, it’s throb slowly growing like my consciousness. The morning light was beaming down the pit, and my arm covered my face.Too bright.But
Ellie POV The tent smells like antiseptic and damp canvas.Lucas lowers me onto the cot with too much care. His hands hover even after I’m settled, fingers flexing as if he doesn’t know where to put them now that I’m not actively falling apart.He starts with giving me some pain herbs and meds, “I’







