The heavy glass doors of the Grand Plaza Theater hissed shut behind them, cutting off the muted roar of the charity gala and the rhythmic pops of the remaining paparazzi flashes. The rain had finally arrived in full force, transforming the city streets into a glistening canvas of neon reflections and slick, dark asphalt.
Elena was silent as Alexander guided her toward the idling luxury limousine. Her mind was a chaotic storm of static, the phantom pressure of that cold, gloved hand still burning against her mouth. The stranger's raspy, malicious whisper lingered in her ears like a curse: *“The wolf is going to eat you alive. He knows exactly who your father is…”*
Her breath came in shallow, uneven intervals. She felt completely exposed, stripped of the fragile armor her emerald-green sil
