Chapter 9:
*6:00am. Blackwood Tower. 60th Floor.*
I woke to cedar + rain. Damien’s bed. Glass crunched under sheets from last night’s sniper window. Security sealed it with steel at 4am.
Damien’s arm locked across my waist. He slept facing me, Alpha mask gone. Just the boy from under the oak tree.
“You’re awake,” he murmured, eyes closed. “Nightmares?”
“No. You breathe loud.”
“You talk in your sleep.” Eyes opened. Black, tired. “Said ‘don’t let go’ three times.”
My face burned. “I didn’t.”
“Liar.” He tucked hair behind my ear. “Pack council in 43 minutes. Chief Adebayo called the emergency session. ‘Unauthorized rejection reversal’.”
My stomach dropped. “He can do that?”
“He can try.” Damien sat up. “Council law is old. But still, law.”
He pulled me up. Didn’t let go of my hand.
