45 Chapter 45 Morning of Truth
Elena’s POV
After indulging in the most luxurious shower of my life, with water cascading like gentle rain from an overhead fixture that belonged in a five–star hotel, I towel–dried my hair and slipped into comfortable clothes. The loose shirt and shorts felt like freedom against my skin.
The fireplace had transformed the room into a sanctuary of warmth. I sank into the bed and felt my body disappear into what had to be the softest mattress in existence. After years of makeshift sleeping arrangements, this felt like floating on a cloud.
The temptation to burrow under those sumptuous blankets and never emerge was overwhelming.
Morning sunlight streaming through the windows pulled me from sleep. The clock read nine AM, and I stared at it in disbelief. When was the last time I had slept past dawn? The luxury of uninterrupted rest felt almost foreign.
The night had been a mixed blessing. I had awakened several times, my body still adjusting to unfamiliar surroundings, but somehow I had managed to drift back into peaceful slumber each time.
Now, however, anxiety twisted in my stomach like a living thing.
I made my way downstairs, desperate for coffee and hoping it might settle the butterflies threatening to tear me apart from the inside.
“Morning. How did you sleep?” Gage appeared in the kitchen, looking refreshed and annoyingly cheerful.
“Really great. That bed is amazing.” The words came out automatically, though my voice betrayed my underlying tension.
“Really? I thought it was one of the less impressive ones in the house.” His eyebrows rose in surprise.
“I’ve been sleeping on a couch for the last five years.” The admission slipped out before I could stop it.
“Oh, well in that case, yeah, that bed is pretty great.” Gage’s expression softened with understanding.
45 Chapter 45 Morning of Truth
“Yeah.” I wrapped my hands around the warm coffee mug, seeking comfort in its heat.
“Are you alright? You look nervous about something.” His perceptive gaze made me squirm.
“I’m terrified.” The honesty felt raw leaving my throat.
“You’re scared that he’s going to find you?” Gage’s voice dropped to a more serious
tone.
“Of course I am.” The fear I had been trying to suppress bubbled to the surface.
“It’s alright. You don’t need to be scared of him. Damien isn’t going to let him know that you’re here. And if he comes snooping around, Damien will deal with it. He’s not going to send you back to that place.” Gage’s reassurance felt hollow against the weight of my dread.
“I don’t want anyone to get hurt because of me.” The guilt was suffocating.
“And they’re not going to.” Damien’s voice cut through the kitchen as he entered, his presence immediately commanding attention.
“You don’t know that.” I challenged, though my voice wavered.
“Yeah, I do. I just got off the phone with Marcus. He threatened me. He said that if you were here and I wasn’t telling him, he was going to rain hell down on us.” Damien’s matter–of–fact delivery made my blood run cold.
“He already figured it out.” The words came out as barely a whisper.
“He’s calling every pack that he can think of. He’s only threatening me because we spoke at that party.” Damien’s calm demeanor did nothing to ease my panic.
“But he has no proof that you’re here. We were careful.” Gage interjected, though doubt crept into his voice.
“And my warrior said that you left a blood trail from a staged car accident in the woods.” Damien’s approval was evident in his tone.
“I needed to slow him down somehow.” The memory of that desperate plan made me shudder.
“That’s brilliant. He doesn’t really think that you’re here then. He’s just making sure that no one has taken you.” Damien’s confidence was infectious, and I felt a small measure of relief.
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45 Chapter 45 Morning of Truth
“Don’t stress about it. Really. Now, what are we going to do today?” Gage’s deliberate change of subject was welcome.
“I really want to go and check out that college campus.” The prospect of focusing on something positive lifted my spirits slightly.
“You can take her to do that. You know a lot of people there.” Damien addressed Gage with the casual authority of someone accustomed to making decisions.
“Sure. I’ll be your tour guide.” Gage’s enthusiasm was genuine.
“I appreciate it.” Gratitude warmed my chest.
I retreated to the back patio with my coffee and a cigarette, seeking a moment of solitude. Several pack members passed by during my brief respite, their curious and somewhat suspicious glances making me acutely aware of my outsider status. Clearly, strangers were not a common sight around the packhouse.
After finishing my smoke, I headed back inside for another shower. The hot water helped wash away some of my lingering anxiety. I dressed carefully, choosing clothes that would help me blend in during our campus visit.
Gage was waiting for me when I returned downstairs, ready for our excursion.
We left the packhouse and began walking through the town. In daylight, the community revealed itself to be much larger than I had realized the previous evening. Gage insisted on walking so he could provide a proper tour, though he mentioned that normally people would drive to get around the pack territory.
The residential areas sprawled comfortably, with houses spaced generously apart, a stark contrast to the cramped conditions I had known before. The town possessed a clean, welcoming atmosphere that made something inside me relax for the first time in years. This place felt like it could become home.
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