The way she said it made my wolf jerk in alert. There was something possessive and resentful in her tone that I didn’t like at all.
“This isn’t the time to talk about this, Seraphine. You need to rest, and we can discuss whatever’s bothering you later when you’re feeling better.”
I started backing toward the door, suddenly desperate to get out of this room and Athena’s arm, where I belong.
‘You should get some sleep. I need to head home.”
“Please don’t leave,‘ she said, and something in her voice made me stop.
I turned back slowly, dreading what she might say next.
“I can’t sleep alone. Can you stay with me just a little longer?”
Of course that wasn’t possible, I needed to be with Athena. Even though Athena wasn’t waiting, knew staying here would only encourage whatever misguided feelings Seraphine seemed to be developing.
“I’ll call Max to stay with you,” I said firmly. “Athena is waiting for me at home.”
I walked away without looking back, though I could feel her stare boring into me as I left.
It shouldn’t have surprised me that she still had feelings for me. She’d had a crush on me back in high school, constantly sending flowers and gifts and little
notes that I’d tried to ignore.
I’d thought when she became friends with Jess that she’d finally gotten over her childish infatuation.
Apparently, I’d been wrong.
I found Max in the hospital corridor and pulled him aside. “I need you to stay with Seraphine tonight. She doesn’t want to be alone.”
Max’s face lit up in a way that would have been amusing under different circumstances. He’d been in love with Seraphine for years, though she’d never
seemed to notice.
Even when she’d gotten involved with that worthless mate of hers, Max had waited patiently in the background, hoping she’d eventually see what was right
in front of her.
‘You’re leaving already?” Max asked, trying to hide his eagerness.
I gave him a look that made him straighten up immediately. “Look after her,” I said simply, then walked away.
The ride back to Athena’s apartment seemed to take forever. All I wanted was to get home to her, to hold her and forget about hospitals and suicide attempts and complicated pack dynamics. She was my peace, my center, the one thing in my life that made sense.
When I reached her building, I climbed the stairs, already reaching for my keys. Athena had given me a spare weeks ago, and I used it now to let myself in.
But when I tried to turn the key, the door wasn’t locked.
A weird feeling shot through my veins. Athena always locked her door. Always. It was one of the habits she’d developed, and she’d never broken it even after
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15:21 Sat, Jan 10
Chapter 155
moving out on her own.
I pushed the door open slowly, my heart hammering in my chest. “Athena?‘ I called out.
No answer.
The living room was empty, with no signs of struggle but also no signs that Athena had been there recently.
I moved quickly to her bedroom, but it was empty too. The bed was made, her clothes were put away, everything looked normal except for the most important thing – she wasn’t there.
“Ath?” I called louder, my voice echoing loudly through the apartment.
Still nothing.
Panic was starting to rise in my throat. Where could she be? She was supposed to be here, waiting for me. And she never went anywhere at night alone.
I pulled out my phone and called her number, praying she’d answer and tell me she’d just run to the store or gone to visit Sarah even though it was already
late.
But the sound that greeted me made my blood turn to ice.
Her phone was ringing somewhere inside the apartment.
I followed the sound, my hands shaking as I traced the familiar ringtone. I didn’t always react this
terrifying.
I couldn’t smell her close, or hear heartbeat.
way, but the thought running through my mind was
It was coming from the kitchen, and when I found it, my worst fears were confirmed.
Her phone was lying on the floor next to the kitchen table, the screen cracked like it had been dropped or thrown.
I knew immediately that my Ath has been taken.
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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.
