جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 70

My breath caught in my throat at the dark, heavy promise vibrating in his voice.I could only manage a weak, shaky nod in response as the terrifying memory of the alleyway slowly started to fade.Ren searched my face, his pale eyes tracking the nervous sweat gathering along my hairline."You need some fresh air right now," he declared softly, making the decision for me.He didn't wait for me to argue or agree, keeping his large hand pressed firmly against the small of my back to guide me away from the dance floor.We bypassed the busy bar and wove through a group of laughing socialites, moving steadily toward the far edge of the room.A set of heavy French doors stood cracked open to the outside, guarded by thick velvet curtains to keep the chill out of the party.Ren pushed the heavy glass open with his shoulder and gently ushered me over the threshold.The loud, chaotic noise of the gala vanished the second the heavy doors clicked shut behind us.We stepped out onto a wide, private

I turned my head and looked out over the glittering city skyline, but I did not really see the bright lights shining in the distance.My focus remained locked entirely on the young man standing just a few feet away from me.Even with the cold wind rushing across the open balcony, my heightened ears picked up the frantic, erratic rhythm of Jett's heart.It hammered against his ribs in a fast, terrified tempo that echoed loudly in my mind and made my own chest ache.The sharp, bitter scent of genuine panic rolled off his skin in heavy waves, drowning out the sweet vanilla smell I loved so much.He just looked me right in the eye and lied about having a stomach ulcer.He wrapped his arms tight around his waist to build a physical barrier between us, and the quiet rejection felt like a heavy block of concrete pressing down on my lungs.I knew he was carrying a massive secret because human bodies did not react to simple corporate stress like this.My Lycan senses could detect the subtle, c

Ren and I finally left the balcony and walked back into the hotel.We stayed close to the walls and avoided the dance floor so Marcus would not see us again.The string quartet was playing a fast song, and the guests were laughing loudly near the bar.I kept my head down, letting Ren guide me through the lobby and out the front doors.The rain was still falling hard, hitting the pavement and washing away the dirt of the city.A valet waved a yellow cab over to the curb, and Ren opened the door for me.I slid into the back seat, and he got in right next to me, closing the door to block out the noise.The drive to my neighborhood was quiet, but it was a comfortable silence.I leaned my head against the window and watched the streetlights blur past us.The heater in the car was broken, and a cold draft leaked in through the window seal.I shivered, so I pulled his jacket tighter around my shoulders.The smell of cedar soaked into my shirt and calmed the anxiety still buzzing in my chest.

Monday morning dragged me out of bed before the sun even came up.My alarm clock blared from the nightstand, and I blindly reached out to slap the off button.I laid there in the dark for a long time, staring up at the water stains on the ceiling.Every time I tried to close my eyes on Sunday, I just ended up resting my hand on my stomach, waiting to feel another tiny flutter.The baby stayed quiet, leaving me alone with my racing thoughts and a deep sense of isolation.I finally threw the blankets off and forced myself to get out of bed.The floorboards creaked under my feet as I walked into the bathroom to get ready for work.I turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on my face, hoping it would wake me up.I grabbed a towel and stared at my reflection in the mirror above the sink.I looked terrible.The dark circles under my eyes were bruised and heavy, and my pale skin had a sickly tint to it.I opened my closet and shoved my tailored work suits to the side.I reached for a lo

I sat at my desk and rubbed my temples while the overseas investors droned on through the speakerphone."The third-quarter projections are lower than we expected, Mr. Sterling," the lead investor crackled over the line."We really need to discuss a new strategy for the upcoming merger before we commit our funds," another voice chimed in.I leaned back in my leather chair and stared at the thick stack of quarterly reports resting on my blotter."The strategy remains exactly the same because the foundation is solid," I replied, forcing my tone to stay level and professional."The numbers dipped because of the seasonal shift in the market, and my analysts project they will balance out by the end of next month.""We just feel that a more aggressive timeline would benefit everyone involved," the lead investor argued, refusing to drop the issue.I let out a slow breath and opened the first folder to review the financial charts.My eyes scanned the black ink on the page, but my mind was not