aide

a flash of my old life's fury through me. But I crushed it down. Anger

pe on my knee. I didn't spare him a glanc

rip was like a steel trap. I was stopped

oice was low, laced with an auth

ness from the direction of the estate. I heard the frantic bar

Vance would wake up. The story would be twisted. I would be the aggressor, th

o a desperate, c

myself against his chest, wrapping my arms tightl

prise. He clearly hadn't expected this. A scent, clean and sharp like

stirred. My dormant, not-yet-awakened wolf purred i

ide-eyed desperation onto my face. I pitched my voic

get me out of here." I made sure to load the words with a double m

flicker of something-amusement? suspicion?-in their d

r heavy footsteps pounding on th

in a harsh glare. They saw me pressed against this powerful, intimidating s

eliberate slowness. He wrapped it around my shoulders, pulling me

g on his lips. "Is there a problem, gentlemen?" he asked, his voice

ng presence to me, clinging to him like a lifeline. "Our apologie

g. "You mean this one?" he asked, his thumb stroking my shoulder in a

his lover, not a runaway girl. They mumbled their apologies ag

isappeared, I tried to pu

a low rumble right next to my ear. His warm breath sent an involuntary shi

was useless. So I relaxed. I let my body go l

ctionally. His confidence shifted to curiosity. He clearly thought he'd caught

only openin

my past life's muscle memory reacted instinctively. It was a nerve cluster, a weak spot I'd learned to targ

For a split second, pure shock overrode his power. No on

reaking my momentum, I spun and aimed a low kick

s widened with genuine surprise. A flicker of... respect? No, it was gone bef

ond of shock w

Branches whipped at my face and arms, but I didn't slow down. I

on me. And I knew, with a chilling certainty, that