+25 Bonus
Chapter 134
(Siena’s POV)
t berfumes
The scent hits me before I see him pine and midnight, sharp and familiar event amid the and alcohol that saturate the air in the bat. It slices through the laughter and music like a blade, striking a part of me I’ve tried so hard to bury.
My wolf stirs immediately, het sleepy dormancy shattered by his presence. She whines softly, hopeful and yearning, but Lclamp down on her emotions, banishing the noise before it can grow.
I knew this would happen.
Of course, I did.
Returning to Windhowl, even for a short visit, meant the chance of seeing him was inevitable. I thought I was prepared. I rehearsed the possibilities in my mind, practiced my composure. But nothing could have prepared me for the way my body betrays me now–muscles tensing, pulse quickening, breath hitching–at the simple fact of his proximity.
I don’t turn immediately–I can feel him before I even see him, the weight of his presence like a gravitational pull in the room. My fingers tighten around the glass in my hand as I force myself to remain
still.
I’m not the same woman who walked out of his life nearly two years ago.
I won’t let him undo everything I’ve built.
Alaric, seated beside me, notices the shift in my demeanor. He’s too observant not to.
“The famous ex–husband has arrived,” he murmurs, his mediaterain accent soft and lilting.
I glance at him, raising an eyebrow. His tone is calm, almost amused, but there’s a thread of concern beneath it. Alaric is many things—charming, intelligent, and infuriatingly perceptive among them.
“Shall we leave?” he asks, his voice low and discreet, meant only for me.
The offer is tempting, more tempting than I’d like to admit. It would be easy to slip out quietly, to avoid the confrontation entirely. But I know I can’t. I won’t.
I straighten my spine, lifting my chin slightly as I shake my head. “No,” I say firmly. “I’m not running.
Alaric studies me for a moment, his dark eyes thoughtful. Then he leans back in his chair, a small, knowing smile playing at his lips. “You’re stronger than that.”
His words bring a flicker of warmth to my chest, but they do little to calm the storm raging beneath my
skin.
Raiden is moving closer. I don’t have to look to know it. I feel him like a shadow, his presence unrelenting, drawing nearer with every second.
dark and
I force myself to focus on the conversation at hand, laughing lightly at something Alaric says, though I barely register the words.
1/2
+25 Bonus
My wolf, however, is restless, pacing inside me, her excitement palpable. She doesn’t care about my pride or my progress. She only knows that our mate is here, close enough to touch, and she wants to close the
distance.
I won’t let her.
Rairity intercepts him before he can reach me, her stance protective. The sight of it brings a surprising warmth to my chest. Raitity has always been loyal, but seeing her step between us like this–shielding me, even subtly is something I hadn’t expected.
Raiden takes a step in my direction, but Rairity slides in front of him before he can get close.
“Not tonight,” she says, her voice low but firm.
His brows lift slightly, surprised, maybe even amused. “I just want to talk.”
She crosses her arms. “She doesn’t want to hear it.”
The music swells behind them, drowning out anything else. I can’t make out the words, but I don’t need to. I see the sharp twitch of Raiden’s jaw, the way his eyes flick past her to me, dark and unreadable.
His gaze holds mine, steady and burning. Once, that look would’ve pulled me in, would’ve had my heart racing with the reckless hope that maybe—just maybe he still felt something.
Now, it just hurts.
I square my shoulders and take a slow breath. Then, because not acknowledging him would be a bigger statement than I’m willing to make, I give the smallest nod. My face is smooth, emotionless—a porcelain mask I’ve worn too long to ever take off.
His mouth opens like he might say my name, but Rairity shifts again, just enough to remind him he is not
the one in control.
I can see the tension in Raiden’s shoulders, the way his jaw tightens as Rairity speaks. He looks past her, his midnight eyes locking on mine with an intensity that used to spark desperate hope in me. Now, it only makes my chest ache.
When politeness finally necessitates acknowledgment, I turn toward him, my expression carefully composed. I’ve perfected this mask over the years, the one that hides everything I don’t want anyone to see.
P
Comments
Support
Share
+28 Bonus
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.
