Aria's POV
I froze, my broom in hand, my pulse drumming in my ears. "I didn't do anything", I said.
James sneered. "Yeah, right. Like you'd dare. Must've been that pasta place I had for lunch—knew there was something sketchy about it. Always craving it, and now this."
He gritted his teeth, his legs pressed together like he was holding back the ocean.
"Keep sweeping! If I come back and you're slacking off, I swear I'll beat the hell out of you!" he barked before waddling off, shoulders hunched, his gait uneven.
I lowered my head, gave a small nod — the submissive gesture he wanted. My wolf hated it. Every muscle under my skin wanted to bare fangs, to growl low enough that only he'd hear it. But I stayed still.
When he was gone, I lifted my head and watched him hurry toward the public
