I know the chances of running into Daxon again are slim, he’s an ocean away, probably already moved on to his next victim, But I want to be prepared, mentally and physically, for whatever comes next.
I want to be strong enough to protect myself, to never again be at the mercy of someone who claims to love me while slowly destroying
- me.
“So where exactly are we going?” I ask as Leah pulls out of the parking lot.
She grins at me, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “To meet some friends of mine. They’re going to teach you how to fight back.”
The words send a thrill through me, mixing anticipation with fear. Fight back. It sounds so simple when she says it, but I know it’s anything but.
My whole life, I’ve been the one who avoided conflict, who found ways around confrontation rather than through it.
Even with Claire’s strength coursing through my veins, I’ve never allowed myself to be aggressive, to be the hunter rather than the
hunted.
Maybe it’s not too late to find my strength. Maybe I can still become the woman my parents raised me to be, strong, independent,
unafraid. Before Daxon systematically stripped away every piece of confidence I’d ever possessed.
Maybe I can still save both Claire and myself.
As we drive toward whatever Leah has planned, I catch a glimpse of a familiar motorcycle in my side mirror. Tristan, following at a discreet distance, probably thinking he’s being subtle.
The sight of him should annoy me, I specifically asked to do this alone, but instead, warmth spreads through my chest. He’s giving me
space while still being there, ready if I
him. It’s the kind of protection I can live with, the kind that doesn’t suffocate.
Instead of being annoyed, I find myself smiling. Some things never change, and maybe that’s not such a bad thing after all.
But tonight is about me finding my own strength, not relying on others to protect me. Tonight, I start taking control of my own story,
The city lights blur past the window as we drive through neighborhoods I don’t recognize. Leah navigates the streets with the confidence. of someone who knows exactly where she’s going, taking turns without hesitation, her fingers drumming against the steering wheel to
music only she can hear.
“You’re nervous,” she observes, glancing at me out of the corner of her eye,
“Terrified,” I admit. “What if I’m not cut out for this? What if I’m too weak, too broken?” I let myself be truthful for once.
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18:36 Fri, Jan 2 d.
Chapter 34
:..
“Athena.” Her voice is firm but gentle. “Strength isn’t about never being broken. It’s about what you do with the pieces.”
46
Leah stops in front of a cozy Italian restaurant, its warm lights spilling onto the sidewalk where couples sit at outdoor tables sharing wine
and laughter.
The scene is so normal, so human, that I feel a pang of longing for simpler times. When my biggest worry was whether to order the
carbonara or the puttanesca.
I raise an eyebrow, confused. “I thought we were going to train?”
She just shrugs, that mischievous glint still dancing in her eyes. “Trust me. You’ll see.”
The restaurant is packed with both humans and werewolves enjoying their evening meals, families celebrating birthdays, couples on dates, groups of friends catching up over pasta and breadsticks.
A little girl at a nearby table is trying to twirl spaghetti on her fork while her parents laugh at her technique. The normalcy of it all
makes my heart ache.
The smell of garlic and fresh basil makes my stomach rumble, reminding me I’d skipped lunch again. I’ve been doing that a lot lately, too anxious to eat, too focused on survival to remember basic human needs.
But instead of stopping at the hostess stand, Leah walks right past the dining area toward a door marked “Staff Only” in faded letters.
It looks like any other service entrance, completely unremarkable except for the small keypad beside the handle and the almost imperceptible camera lens positioned above it.
“Leah,” I start, but she’s already punching in a code, her fingers moving with practiced ease.
The door clicks open with a soft hydraulic hiss, and she grins at me. “Welcome to my real world, Athena.”
When we step through that doorway, my mouth falls open in complete shock.
The space beyond is enormous, easily three times the size of the restaurant above. Industrial lighting hangs from exposed steel beams, casting harsh shadows across what could only be described as a warrior’s paradise.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
