Cierra:
The silence after Dane’s departure was unbearable.
It pressed against my chest like another wound — one I couldn’t see, but it bled anyway. The slam of the door still rang in my ears, and with every echo, my breath came shorter, sharper. My wolf prowled inside me, restless, still tasting betrayal on her tongue.
I didn’t look at Dominic right away. I couldn’t. His presence filled the room like gravity — steady, immovable, inevitable. He hadn’t moved from where he’d stood during the fight, one hand clenched at his side, the other braced against the edge of the table, as if keeping himself from reaching for me.
When I finally turned, the look in his eyes made my chest twist. Not pity. Not anger. Something far worse — understanding.
“Say it,” I whispered, my voice breaking in the
