LOGINVERA'S P.O.V
Hunter's palm struck my cheek, forcing my head to snap to the side. For a split second, there was nothing, just a ringing white noise flooding my ears—then the sting came hot. "What do you want from me?" My boyfriend questioned. "Hunter," I whispered, my voice inaudible. "I'm here now Vera, what do you want from me?" He repeated. My mind scrambled and my thoughts tripped over each other. What answer did I have to that? I had many answers because I wanted many things from Hunter. *I want a man who loves me. I want this to stop. I want you to treat me right, and if you don't, I want out.* But I knew better than to say any of that. "Nothing," I cried instead, too afraid to confront him. The look in his dark brown eyes changed, not anger exactly, but something much worse. Hunter lunged towards me; his fingers closed around my throat before I could even gasp. He drove me into the wall, claiming every inch of space around me—the impact rattling through my bones. He leaned in, his eyes met mine, and they showed no mercy. This was the first version of Hunter, the drunk one. The one that scared me and the one I had to deal with now, because if I didn't, there would be consequences...consequences I could not physically handle. Air slipped away from me completely, and my face flooded with heat until I knew it must be crimson. My eyes filled and then overflowed as fresh tears slid shamelessly down my cheeks. Then everything started to fade. My mouth opened on instinct as I searched for a word—a plea, anything to voice out, but nothing came. Just a raspy gasp caught in my throat. I was too breathless to speak, too overwhelmed to move. "Just a little more," Hunter growled lowly. My eyes fluttered, fighting to close— but I didn't let them. Hunter loomed over me, reminding me how small I could be, how little he could always make me feel. One hand remained on my throat, while the other moved to unbuckle his belt, throwing it behind him. He revealed his cock, hard, thick and throbbing. I watched through half-lidded eyes as he traced it firmly with his free hand, his motion controlled. Every line and vein was amplified in my vision, impossible for me to ignore. His hand ran over it as he continued to pleasure himself, stroking and twisting aggressively to his liking. Beating it harder while his fury eyes remain fixed on me. His fingers dug further into my windpipe and my eyes pleaded, but his grip only tightened more. A heavy weakness spread through me, and everything felt far away. Hunter, the room, even my own body—I was barely hanging on. If I gave up now, only God knew what would happen. I wondered if Hunter would stop if he saw I was passed out, if he saw his Baby girl was really, truly hurt. I knew one thing, I knew this was the last night Hunter would ever treat me this way— I couldn't give up now. *If I want to live tomorrow, I cannot die today. I have to endure, I just have to...* But my eyes gave up already, rolling to the back of my head. *Fuck no. It's just my eyes. My body is still present. It's not over yet, it's not...* Luck was on my side, because that involuntary act seemed to do it for Hunter. Watching my eyes roll back threw his body into an immediate fit. It triggered him and he reached climax immediately. A jagged groan ripped from his throat, and his head snapped backwards, his entire body tensing violently. Streams of thick fluid spurted from the tip of his cock, dripping onto my thick thighs, left bare. His hand shook against my neck, as it did, his grip loosened, and air gradually returned to my system. I drew it in, desperate for it. I forced my eyes open, then slid down the wall as Hunter lost his grip. My limbs were unable to support me, leaving me drowning in the pool of my unconsciousness. The air I longed for moments ago slowly began to suffocate me and every nerve in my body screamed with the intensity of it. Hunter moaned. "Fuck." He bit down hard on his lip and staggered forward. His hands reached out to grip the wall, holding on for a moment before staggering towards the bed, falling freely onto it. I remained in the corner of the room, exactly where he left me, afraid that even the slightest shift would draw his attention back to me. My face streamed with tears, and my hands clasped gingerly around my neck. I whimpered, crying with each touch, every brush of my fingers sent a fresh wave of panic through my body. *It still hurts, I can still feel your hands.* "Vera," he called my name, his voice softening suddenly, just like before. This was the second version of Hunter. The one that I'd wake up to the next day. The one that would swear he didn't mean it, or claimed to have forgotten, making everything worse. "I need you to be quiet." But I couldn't; his words didn't soothe me. I couldn't calm myself, not after everything... I just couldn't. My chest heaved as he spoke. "You know what happens when you don't listen. You know what happens when you cry." I knew, and yet I still didn't stop. "You're asking for something you won't like." His harsh words were followed by a low, humourless laugh rumbling from the depths of his throat. I heard the bed creak as he got up, I heard him walk towards me, his footsteps light and quick. "Get up." I should have listened, I should have stopped crying and done what he said. I feared for my life once more.HUNTER’S P.O.V“Tell me why you’re here today, Hunter James.”It had been weeks since Vera left me, and I hadn’t seen her since I took her to Ellie’s. She stopped showing up to work, I expected her to. I’m sure she resigned from Haven’s and relieved herself of the burden of seeing me every day. If it were up to her, she’d never want to see me ever again. Vera hated me that much.In some ways, I was grateful she resigned; she did us both a favour, me especially because I hated seeing things I couldn’t have. Her presence alone in that office would do much more damage to me, even worse than my current state. I couldn’t eat properly or sleep well. I couldn’t get things done like I normally would, even when under pressure. The other interns were noticing, the supervisor and even senior staff, they all knew something was very wrong with me. And even though the interns never asked, they knew Vera had a huge part in it, most especially because of her absence.I wished she could see me
HUNTER’S P.O.VVera sat quietly in the back of my car. She didn’t make a single sound—one would almost forget she was there.My eyes grew heavy from lack of sleep. The migraines that started after the accident were creeping back, pulsing right behind my eyes. I rubbed at my temple as I slowed for a red light.I watched her through the mirror. She sat stiffly, her back straight, and her gaze fixed on the passing streets. She couldn’t even relax around me anymore.It really had come to this.That stupid “break” had only been a softer landing. A nicer word for what we both knew was coming. Now she was bold enough to say it plainly— we were done.Vera was too good for me. I’d always known it, and I’d been horrible for her. *I fucking lost her.*The light turned green, and I pressed my foot against the accelerator, speeding up. It was late, but at least there’s no work tomorrow, so she could rest for the weekend.I kept driving, a little faster, so she could get home on time. By the time
VERA'S POV The car ride back to Havens was torture. I sat at the end of the car, as far from Hunter as the space would allow. I stared out through the tinted window while Attorney Dickson spoke lowly on the phone in the front passenger seat. The city blurred past me. My head ached and my eyes burned behind the layers of concealer I'd slathered on this morning. I had cried all morning. After slipping out of Hunter's bed while he watched, I made it outside before the first sob tore out of me. I sat on the steps for nearly twenty minutes, hugging my knees and burying and resting my forehead against them, crying so hard my ribs ached. Leaving Hunter had been the hardest thing I'd ever done; it was harder than watching him spiral, it was harder than the two times he'd almost gotten me killed. Because no matter how toxic it became, some part of me still loved him. I still loved the man he could be when his demons weren't swallowing him whole. But I couldn't stay, not anymore.
HUNTER’S POVImagine losing the best thing that’s ever happened to you, only to go to work the next day and see her act like nothing’s happened, while you secretly lose your mind. Depressed was an understatement. I didn’t know how to feel. I was numb, like it hadn’t dawned on me that Vera had left me.After she told me last night, I went mute. I didn’t know what to say.She kissed me last night, let me touch her for the last time, let my cock, slide between her wet folds. She let me push my way inside her, let me fuck her till she was well spent.The sound of our bodies slamming together mixed with her broken moans and my ragged breathing. I couldn’t stop kissing her. Her mouth, her neck, her collarbone, anywhere I could reach—while I fucked her like I could change her mind with my body.“I love you,” I growled against her throat, hips snapping harder. “I love you so fucking much.”Tears were streaming down her face. She held my face in both hands, forehead pressed to mine, staring
VERA’S P.O.VI woke to the low murmur of Hunter’s voice.“She’s stable now. Yeah...she was discharged a few hours ago.”My head raised a little too fast, but firm hands caught my shoulders.“Easy,” Hunter whispered.I blinked, slightly disoriented. I was in his bedroom.It was dark, only the dim glow of his phone lit the space.He reached over and turned on the bedside lamp, a soft golden light spilt across his face. He looked exhausted,“Why am I here?” My voice came out hoarse.Hunter sat up slowly. Only then did I realise I’d been lying on his chest, his arms wrapped around me.“You had an allergic reaction,” he said calmly. “Ellie wasn’t home...so I brought you here.”I tried to recall the past events that all led up to this moment. The awful smell that made me gag, and the nasty, taste of the drink Charles innocently got me.“The latte?” I asked.“Yes.”I sat up, ignoring the dizziness.I searched for my phone.I wanted to get my phone, get my things, then leave.Why was I here
HUNTER’S P.O.VVera left the moment the meeting ended, not wasting a second longer.Her friend Charles got up, following her out, too.“There’ll be a thirty-minute lunch break, then a brief meeting with the interns,” the supervisor announced as soon as the attorneys and senior staff left.The rest of us exited the conference hall, and I followed a few of the interns out for food.“Do you want to eat with us at our table?” One of the interns, Dana, asked me.The other two, Samson and Destiny, wait for my response.“I have to get something done,” I replied, declining as politely as I could.Dana smiled. “No problem, good luck with that.”I reached the canteen, and as I walked in, I saw Charles leave with two large coffees in his hands.One for him, and I assumed the other one was for Vera’s.I don’t know what to feel about him, getting close to Vera, buying her coffee, snacks, and even taking her home.All things I’m supposed to be doing, but can’t because of the dumb break.I’m not goi
VERA'S P.O.VA relentless knock rattles my door, each pound more insistent than the last. Whoever was on the other side had been hammering away for what felt like forever, and I could only hope they'd eventually wear themselves out and leave me alone.With a groan, I shoved my hand beneath my pillo
VERA'S P.O.VHere I was, seated beside Hunter, discussing the future of our relationship, when he brought up the question.𝐼𝑓 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛'𝑡 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑡, 𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑡, 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛?I watched him, my eyes didn't blink once, after asking his hopeles
HUNTER'S P.O.VThe street was empty, except for a few stray cats darting across the road; there was nothing. It was half past twelve. Vera was more than an hour late, but I refused to leave. I knew she'd come eventually. No matter how long she kept me waiting, I was staying. Whatever we said toni
HUNTER'S P.O.V(SIX MONTHS AGO)Birthdays are supposed to smell like cake and candles, but mine smelled like blood instead. "Ma, I'm home!" It was the day after my twenty-first birthday. My girlfriend, Vera, had planned a huge surprise party for me. Well, it wasn't much of a surprise because s







