ISLA
I should have waited for Gideon.
The thought crashed through my mind as I stared at Jaxon’s face, at the way his light brown eyes had gone almost black, at the way his pupils had blown wide, at the predatory stillness that had overtaken his entire body.
I should have waited. Should have let the Apex come with me like he’d insisted. I should have listened to the warnings, to my own instincts, to the tiny voice in my head that had screamed this was a bad idea.
But I was so sure I could handle this alone. So certain that I just needed closure, needed to hear Jaxon explain so I could move forward.
I was an i***t.
“Jaxon,” I said carefully, taking a step back. “I’m leaving now.”
“No.” The word came out as a growl, something not quite human. “You’re not.”
My heart hammered against
